Halo Stickman

Loved his reaction, sat behind Nige, when our third goal went in!

Firstrow worked really well for me today, having been poor the last few matches

Punch - superb performance today and great attitude all season. What a turnaround!

Fantastic result with impressive performances in all areas of the pitch, especially on the flanks where Puncheon and Lallana were superb

As they are such good mates, I’ve often thought it would have been better for the new state of Israel to have been constructed somewhere in the USA. Okay, so there’s no historical links and all that sort of thing but it sure would have caused a lot less trouble…..maybe!

Done

I’d like people to understand that the following two perceptions are not mutually exclusive and that it is possible for people to accommodate both perceptions simultaneously without being agendaists: Perception 1 In recent years, Nicola Cortese has overseen the resurrection of the club and in doing so has brought much happiness to the fans. Perception 2 In recent months, Nicola Cortese has overseen failings at the club and has alienated former players, manager, potential corporate subscribers, local businesses, local media and others. Also, I'd like to build the world a home And furnish it with love Grow apple trees and honey bees And snow-white turtle doves....

Saints alienate another local company; no big deal; other clubs do it all the time....apparently. All clubs alienate their ex-players, ex-manager, staff, potential corporate subscribers and the local media; it’s what big clubs do, right? Football: The Beautiful Game, The Premier League Experience and all that. Why would anyone want it any other way?

...

In my opinion

This is a fascinating thread with some truly excellent contributions from all sides of the 'debate'. For me, abortion is such a difficult, complicated and personal issue that I would be reluctant to offer my opinions even to my sons’ girlfriends – I haven’t got daughters – let alone strangers. I think everyone has the right to make their own decisions based upon their own personal circumstances; it’s really not up to others to advise or to judge them. There is, however, one thing of which I am more certain: years of studying the development of the human mind and body has led me to the same conclusion as CHAPEL END CHARLIE, namely, that life begins at the moment of conception. For me, life’s journey begins with the fertilised egg, complete with its full complement of DNA inherited from its father and mother. Others may chose to see life beginning at some point further down the line; for instance, the first heartbeat or when the body is first fully formed. But, in my opinion, these are just arbitrary milestones that could just as easily be extrapolated beyond birth. For example, why not chose the first signs of self-awareness that don’t occur until a child is several months old? By the same token, terms such as ‘viable human being’ and ‘independently life-sustaining’ are misnomers that could be applied, not just to the unborn child, but also to the very young and, in some cases, to the sick, handicapped or to the very old. I realise only too well that belief in life beginning at the point of conception raises difficult questions, not just for abortion, but also for the morning after pill and IVF treatment etc, but does this mean I condemn people practicing any of these things? No, it most definitely does not! Like I say, people must be afforded the freedom to make their own decisions in their own good time.

I firmly believe we are about to enter a winter wonderland! QPR – Win Newcastle – Win Norwich – Win Liverpool – Win Reading – Win I think I’m right in saying that a 6th straight win against Sunderland on Dec 22 would be a premiership record for us! All of which makes it particularly irritating that the world is predicted to end on 21.12..2012

David, I think you’ve missed the point of my original post. I presented that scenario to try to gauge people’s judgement from what they’ve seen so far of Gaston Ramirez -albeit a very limited number of appearances and the last two coming back from injury - and also of our defence; I’m interested in whether or not people see hope for out existing back four and, if not, what price they would be prepared to pay to improve it. Would sacrificing Ramirez be a price too high? I could have asked whether people would swap Ramirez for 2 defenders that would guarantee survival but, of course, that wouldn’t have been realistic because there are no 2 defenders that could afford us that guarantee. I’m sure you will agree that an important part of a manager’s role is judgement; there is rarely – if ever - such a thing as certainty in football. I’m simply offering a chance for others to make judgements - based on the limited evidence available and without the benefit of hindsight (rather like a football scout or manager has to do) – on our squad and the immediate future. But to answer your question – which I think has been asked on countless other threads – the team I would play over the coming weeks is the one which played last Saturday.

He thought the guy flogging poppies was a moonlighting programme seller

It’s November 13, you wake up and find yourself to be the new Southampton manager. It must be your lucky day because the moment you settle at your new desk a fellow premiership manager calls to offer you a CB and LB in the upcoming January window. Both have loads of premiership experience and both have been England squad players. Although they’re now in their early 30s they both have a couple of good seasons left in them. But, there’s a catch: he wants Gaston Ramirez in return. He says he will ring back in ten minutes for your decision. You ring the club’s backers to discuss the deal; they tell you it’s your call, but also take this opportunity to break the news that they will not be providing funds for further transfers in January. So this deal is the only one on the table, the only other option available is to play out the season with the existing squad. You’re well aware that a couple of decent defenders is just what the club needs right now but you keep thinking that by January our existing defence might have sorted itself out and Gaston might be proving himself to be the world-beater many have predicted. The phone rings; it’s your new premiership manager mate. In his best impersonation of an irritating bearded gnome he asks: ‘Deal or No Deal’ What is your reply? PS. I know I could have simply just asked if you would swap Ramirez for a couple of decent defenders, but, hey, just once, indulge me this painted scenario!

....but not as sad as some of the participants on this b i t c h fest. Why not take a break and look up cognitive dissonance; some of you lot are definitely suffering from it!

So it’s okay for me to drop a heavy object from my roof without knowing what’s below, so long as it doesn’t happen to hit a passer-by? In my opinion, Gazza’s pass was over-hit and inaccurate, and that is unacceptable whatever the outcome. However, I feel sorry for the lad because it seems fairly obvious that Saints’ keepers are under instructions to play the ball out rather than just hoof it. Also, he wasn’t the only Saints’ player to make a poor pass yesterday; it’s just that his was so obviously costly.

Saints fans siding with the CEO against former players and manager; surely there can’t be a more strident example of the changing face of football? What next, posts on ‘Top 5 football related business decisions’ or ‘Favourite football chairman of the 80s’? By all means, credit Cortese’s role in sorting our finances and successive promotions, but realise too the price we’re paying; a price that seems to include treating the likes of Le Tiss, Lawrie Mac and Franny Benali with petty vindictiveness. Call me an outdated sentimentalist, but if a club like ours can’t honour former heroes with the respect they deserve then, in my opinion, football is in danger of becoming a soulless - and, quite frankly, pointless – institution.

No, surely Cortese is solely motivated by his heartfelt love for Southampton Football Club?

Good point. I used to hate Branfoot’s style of football and would often walk to matches with my head telling it would be better if we lost in order to hasten his departure. Yet, come kick-off the heart would kick in and I’d be supporting the team as passionately as ever. Personally, I want Adkins to stay, but the point the above poster makes i.e. just because some have lost faith in him, doesn’t make them lesser supporters, is a valid one. Whether the same applies to certain people sat at their computer screens with just their personal agendas for company, only they can truly answer.

We need to embrace the South American clique and build the team around it First, replace the entire back four with llamas; they will remind Gaston of home and also they’re so much prettier than donkeys. Second, so as not to confuse them with our captain we should replace Lallana – and, whilst we at it, Davis and Spiderman – with some South American panpipe players; they can soothe our troubled nerves with ‘We Are Sailing’ and other relaxing songs from the Andies. Third, ditch Lambert and bring back Neil McCaan; although technically not South American, he’s as near to Lionel Messi as makes no difference

We should play Guly for the first 15 minutes than replace him with a South American deckhand drawn at random from the dockyard.

Forty-five years of misery, despair and heartache interspersed with the occasional brighter moment

Whether they back the team or moan when the going gets tough, a paying supporter is someone on whom the club depends. Whether they back the team or moan when the going gets tough, a non-paying supporter is simply someone expressing an opinion; they are of little or no consequence to the club.

Of course it’s hard to criticise Cortese: he has played a huge part in resurrecting our club, but that shouldn’t mean he’s beyond reproach. Riddle me this: three years after saving your life the same surgeon messes up your d i c k enhancement surgery. Do you sit on your hands, bite your lip and say nothing, or do you point out that on this particularly occasion he’s dropped an almighty b o l l o c k?