CHAPEL END CHARLIE

The problem with Afghanistan is that historically it's been a cause of endless conflict when you decide to ignore it, and a even bigger bloody mess if you try to intervene. NATO will be gone in a few years time and what will become of the place then is anyone's guess. The western backed regime in power there seems both corrupt and ineffectual, so a 'South Vietnam' style collapse back into Taliban rule can by no means be ruled out. If that were to happen then all the blood that's been spilled there will have been for nothing.

Look, beating the league leaders is always going to be a irresistible story for any football show to highlight, just as MOTD would inevitably highlight Man City getting beat. Any editor worth his salt is going to feature this kind of result prominently, and before wasting time on some ludicrous BBC anti-Saints conspiracy theory or moaning about how hard done we are, it might be worth remembering all the 'rave reviews' we've been getting on this very same program recently - from a ex Pompey player by the way. Take it as a compliment.

My MK3 petrol engined Mondy was much the same and all it needed was a new coil pack, but that does not apply here as diesels don't have ignition coils of course .... People buy modern turbodiesels to save cash on fuel but (as a rule) they don't seem to be as reliable as their mechanically simpler petrol engined counterparts, so unless you'll putting a lot of miles on them a chap has to wonder whether that extra 15 MPG is worth all the trouble.

I've just bought a DVD box set of Star Trek: 'The Original Series' with the laudable intention of giving it away as a Christmas present. Unfortunately I'm enjoying the adventures of Captain Kirk and his valiant crew so much I thinking of keeping it. Yes Ive seen them all a 100 times and I'm a terrible Sci-Fi geek, but this really is all my yesterdays in a box. Disappointed with the new series of Garrow's Law by the way - I fear it's lost its mojoe

Like many lower league players I've hardly heard of him to be perfectly honest, but I see his manager is in the Echo today saying he's desperate to keep him. Now we all know football managers seldom admit that they want rid of a particular player, but I get the impression Coventry really do think this lad can play a bit. I wouldn't be at all surprised if we don't get the chance to see for ourselves before very long.

Having seem 'The Flaw' recently on TV I'm now a top class expert in economics and hence in a position to explain. The problem with ever widening pay differentials is that as the wealthy few a the top (in general) already have all the material possessions they could possibly want, so they tend to invest the larger part of their surplus income in things like property and other financial investments. The laws of supply and demand means that this river of cash flowing in a limited pool of property (for instance) forces the prices up to unsustainable levels - otherwise known as a 'bubble'. The 2008 credit crunch shows us yet again that bubbles do have a very unhealthy tendency to burst. It is argued that it is no only socially more just, but also far better for the economy as a whole, that ordinary working people retain a larger share of the national wealth because they tend to spend a much bigger proportion of their income on things like manufactured goods, food, fuel .. etc - things that benefit the real economy rather than just lining the pockets of the rich and those in the financial industry. Draw two graphs, one showing the rise in pay differentials, and the other the price of property, and they will match almost perfectly I'm told. I saw some merchant banker type on the news today trying to justify extremely high pay for top executives on the grounds that international competition is intense 'for the right people' and that we must attract these elite individuals whatever the cost. Well, it seems to me that these 'right people' are exactly the same types who got us all into the appalling mess we're in today, and if you pay any berk £5m a year then pretty soon he'll be convinced he's worth every penny.

Speaking as a bald headed illiterate black homosexual, with a limp and a embarrassing Volvo, I must say that I find all forms of prejudice deeply offensive. Thank Christ I'm not ginger .... or religious.

I can't remember Ricky Lambert failing to score a pen for us - did he ever miss one before signing for us ? For a player who doesn't always come across as the last word in self confidence, it's remarkable how as soon as we get a penalty decision, regardless of distractions, any sense of doubt is lifted from his shoulders and the opposition Keeper is left facing a Ice Man. I've a feeling in my water that the 'blue few' may learn the truth of this when we visit Fratton Park.

I couldn't agree more. They may be a place for some PL experience I suppose, but the main focus of our transfer strategy should be on the type of young ambitious players you describe. The first game of next season - which we can now dare to hope will be in the Premier League - should be the biggest game our squad have ever faced, and not just another pay day in a career that is on the downslope. I'm quietly confident that NA came to the same conclusion a long time ago.

Warning: The consumption of Doug Stanhope related products can prove harmful to Human heath. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYva71V3YRw

I love Ricky Lambert, indeed I'd marry him & populate Hampshire with a whole tribe of little scousers if only he wasn't already taken ..... but I'll eat my hat if he ever plays for England. Lambert v CMS on the other hand is a good question. Despite his limited impact yesterday, CMS a natural born goalscorer and I still think he'd have been a invaluable addition to this squad. Guly, Lambert, and CMS might (on paper anyway) represent something like the perfect strike force at this level. I wonder if the realization that he's signed for the wrong south coast club is starting to dawn on him ?

Just keep St Marys the fortress it has become this last 12 months and we'll almost there. Looking back on the last few games it seems to me that other teams are treating a visit to St Marys like a lower league version of an away day at Old Trafford - they set themselves up to try and get a single point here and as soon as that plan goes out the window when we score, they just know they're beaten. I said before the season started that I thought we'd a good chance of a top 6 finish and it's starting to look like I was being unnecessarily cautious ! Having seen most of the opposition now, and as long as we can keep our key players fit, then I can't see what there is to be frightened of in this division. The only thing to fear is fear itself. Just to balance things up a little I feel might be a good time for my customary note of pessimism to make a comeback. Whatever happens from now until next May, next season just can't be as much fun as this one is ..... can it ?

I've done Jury service - twice. Given the utter tedium of my horrible job and my experience that jury service is both socially useful and (at times anyway) interesting, I wouldn't mind doing it again.

On the comeback trail apparently: http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/9363495.Seaborne_getting_near_to_comeback/ Good luck to him.

Judging by the results of the last transfer window you may well be right. I suspect the Don will already have a firm figure in mind as to what he thinks this player is worth to us and he'll be reluctant to let Celtic move him that much. Everyone agrees this player has done very well for us - but if the price is not right then there are plenty more fish in the sea.

Yes, it seems a simple enough point to grasp doesn't it ? But I'm starting to think that it's obviously beyond the comprehension of some on here. I'd like to ask the many who opine that all supporters are somehow exactly equal in their commitment to the cause of Southampton Football Club (even if they haven't bothered to attend once since 2005) whether they extend that very same principle into other walks of life. For instance, is every doctor, racing driver, police officer, or politician, all equally good, or are some rather more equal than others ? I say this as a perfectly average (very non 'uber') fan who I must disclose hardly ever gets to go to away games (and even misses some Tuesday nighters) but some fans really are more committed than others. If that painful fact hurts your ego too much then I can only suggest you take a aspirin, because the truth does hurt on occasions I'm afraid.

Not Totton sadly, but I did get to go to AFC Bmth v Gillingham in the FA Cup this afternoon. A highly entertaining game that Bmth somehow managed to draw 3-3 after leading for most of the time and being easily the better side. Overall the quality was well below what I've become accustomed to at St Marys needless to say, but football doesn't always have to be technically impressive to be worth watching if you know what I mean. Trust me that Bmth's keeper (Darryl Flahaven) was so bad that even Tommy Forecast would need not fear for his place - a valuable reminder of how lucky we are to have Kelvin. The only player who really stood out for me in the positive sense was the home sides wide left player Scott Malone - no Adam Lallana but this lad can play a bit.

Very pleased to see the return of 'The Mentalist' after too long a wait, although I must say the relative ease of Jane's escape from the serious charges he was facing did seem a tad contrived. The new series of 'The Closer' on the other hand maintains this series very high standards - indeed, it's something of a mystery to this viewer why this fine show is buried on late night TV. But the highlight of the week may well turn out to be Sunday nights series premier of 'Garrow's Law' on BBC1 - If it's half as good as the previous series then we're in for a treat.

Live and let live ? I'm all for that, and when it comes to filling St Mary's it really is a case of 'the more the merrier' as far as I'm concerned. But should we be so mired in relativism that we've become afraid of passing any form of moral judgment, so fearful that we render ourselves effectively mute about virtually everything contentious ? 'Walk a mile in a another mans shoes before judging him' they say, but I'm not so sure this matter is all that difficult a moral question is it ? Hackneyed old cliche it may be, but the English language truly is a wonderful thing. The usage of the word 'Fan' (derived from 'Fanatic' of course) in relation to supporting a football club is particularly telling: fanatic (n) An insane person, mad, furious, enthusiastic, inspired by a god, pertaining to a temple So for my money to even call yourself a true football 'fan' then I think you have to recognize at least a smidgen of your own attitude towards our grand old club in the above definition. Without wishing to antagonize anyone, I can't really see how those who abandoned this club, those who were in a position to support this club, but chose not to, the missing 10,000 if you like, can even describe themselves as 'fans' as I understand the term. If you are only going to come to St Marys again because we are winning football matches more often and the prospect of Premier League football returning is on the horizon then welcome back .... but lets be quite clear about this, you're not a fan, you're a customer.

It's rather amusing to see so many 'on their high horse' because they assume they are being criticized when they have perfectly valid and understandable reasons for not attending games very often - be it living far away, serving on a ship, or even just being plain broke for example. Only a fool would presume to criticize anybody who falls into that kind of category and this season ticket waving business is pure folly. But lets face it we had 32k in St Marys when we were in the PL and around half that number disappeared pretty damn quick as soon as the glamour of top flight football had departed. I don't personally believe that all the missing 15k 'fans' suddenly emigrated, joined the navy, or lost their job back in May 2005. Now its a free(ish) country and people can spend their money as they will, if they didn't choose to stick by the club in its hour of need then that is their business. But are those who will only opt to return now that we being successful the moral equal of the fans who were there supporting this great club when we were bottom on L1 on minus 10 points ? Well 'No' would be my answer.

I often go dressed as a tramp - if you could see my latest bank statement you'd understand why.

Yes, that quote sends a chill down my spine every time I see this film.

As a Sven Hassel fan my personal recommendation would be Sam Peckinpah's much underrated masterpiece Cross of Iron. The scene with (real) T34's chasing Sgt Steiners rearguard platoon though a factory building should satisfy any armour fan. Other good WWII films, in no particular order: Das Boot - A true epic and one of the best war (or non war) films ever made. Should be viewed only in its full length, subtitled, version. Saving Private Ryan - An obvious choice perhaps but so powerful it's unavoidable. They don't come much better than this. Stalingrad - Another impressive German war epic The Cruel Sea - Everything you could possibly want in as realistic a war film as you'll ever see. The Battle of Britain - The term 'all star cast' comes to mind and still easily the finest depiction of air combat in my view. In which We Serve - Very old fashioned, but being the son of a navy man a personal favorite of mine Where Eagles Dare - Ridiculous but good fun - and with a impressive count of dead Nazis The Bridge at Remagen - Great large scale action sequences The Battle of the Bulge + Kelly's Heroes - Not favorites of mine by any means, but if you want to see tanks .... Anzio - War is hell, even if you're Robert Mitchum. Angels One Five - Upper lips were never stiffer Empire of the Sun - The war seen through the eyes of a (disturbed) child. A Bridge too Far - Big budget spectacular war movie & you can play' spot the star' to your hearts content - plenty of tank action as well. The Enemy Below - Shows the war from both sides ...oh and Robert Mitchum again All Quiet on the Western Front - Yes I cheated its about WWI, but a classic of early cinema & well worth seeing Hell in the Pacific - Unusual movie, the war reduced to two men stranded on a small island. Memphis Belle - Well I kinda liked it even if nobody else did Ice Cold in Alex - A absolute classic of its type Stalag 17 - The best POW film by a country mile - I must track down the DVD Downfall - Endkampf of the Reich! ... and the 101 other good WWII films I'll only remember after I've posted this.

My 5 year old, Ricky Lambert worshiping, Godson came to see his very first Saints game when we played (or should I say outplayed) Middlesbrough recently. He absolutely loved every minute of it, but at that age they only have a sketchy understanding of the game. In his innocence it might well be difficult to explain to him when results become much harder to come by - as they're bound to at some stage. Nevertheless, I'm hoping that he's on the hook now.

For that matter who is this 'font' bloke they keep on about ?