kwsaint

So we have sold three players - but still have 5 or 6 that need to go (Hoedt, Carrillo, Clasie, Forster, Lemina, Boufal). Plus we still need another centre back. Going to struggle again unless we can move more of these players out. Les Reed has a lot to answer for. It's what comes of buying players without a clear idea of what you want them for or whether they will fit the club. Anyone got any inside info to cheer us up?

I assume we can talk about it now?

I'm still looking at the bottom of the table to make sure we're reasonably clear. I don't know if it's supporting Southampton or the endless Hampshire relegation sagas but this is my natural instinct.

Was on the site working out how to link two supporters club memberships and then just carried on and ordered two tickets. Was expecting to hit a check that I was not a member of the travel club, and didnt. Bizarre. The site also appears to be selling tickets from the front upwards, so picked one of the smaller corner blocks to avoid this

that's quite ridiculous isn't it

Remember this one well. Two very late goals to get it back to 2-2, and Moran had a shot cleared off the line in the very last minute

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/nomination-form-and-guidance-notes-uk-national-honour Link above. Anyone can nominate someone for an honour. Not sure about the knighthood, but recognition is certainly warranted (MBE?). Think that this should come from the club

1-0 Eastleigh

Bit close in the end but some cracking bowling to finish them off. Lead at the top extended.

Agreed. I think that we will have him for at least one more season. It will depend how next season goes. Get the key signings in the summer right (CB, striker, RB cover) and continue to clear out the deadwood, then we could well be back in the top half again next season. At which point it is anyone's guess and summer 2020 could be interesting. All I can say is that I am enjoying going to SMS again and long may it last.

Suppose it would make Sunderland feel better if we beat Newcastle by 10 not 8 and it's away.

not bad

30 runs in 20 overs. not a high rr for 5 bonus points. good opening

couldn't have happened to a nicer bloke

I was sat in the West stand centre at the Dell for the Port Vale game. Witnessed the directors being harangued by irate supporters. Lawrie had just come back as Director of Football, and Branfoot was gone by the Tuesday. I was driving round the M25 in pouring rain when I heard. I had also heard that Branfoot was a pleasant guy, just a terrible manager. Gates were plummeting and the football was hoofball. He didnt know what to do with MLT as he didnt really fit in a 4-4-2. He simply didnt listen to anyone else and was convinced that he was right, when all around him disagreed. Wonder who that reminds you of?

Remember the second leg was nearly postponed because of the weather, so we all got let in late. Great fun queueing outside the West stand terrace turnstiles in Archers Road as Leeds fan charged up and down the road. Terry Curran got the early goal and we just about hung on

Was it true that in the scottish cup they used to warm the Celtic and Rangers balls before the draw so that they could prevent them playing each other?

This. RH has wanted to get a group of players who would play his way, and play for the team. Those who left in January either couldn't (Davis, Gabbi) or wouldn't (Hoedt, Cedric) do this. The group of players are clearly much more together, as was shown by the reactions after Wednesday's game. For those who say that he shouldn't have let Gabbi go, my understanding is that he wanted to go -just didn't make a big fuss about it. Unlike Hoedt and Cedric who we are well rid of.

Park the ****ing bus

Recorded MOTD and watched the Saints highlights earlier today. One of the replays of Saint's second was from behind the goal. It showed the shot from Redmond, but in picture you could see JWP busting a gut to get into the six yard box just in case. Which led to the goal. It's the sort of thing that James Beattie in his prime used to do very well. JWP has clearly been coached well by RH, and is taking it on board. Plus he seems to have finally learnt how to tackle.

Never saw a problem with the half time relay. Kids got a chance to run on the pitch with a full crowd present and everyone had else could have a laugh when they fell over.

Sad to hear this morning that Gordon Banks has died. Not really Saints-related, but worthy of a place on the main forum Simply the best English keeper ever. Saw him play for Stoke against Saints at the Dell in my very first game in 1971

Three of our next four games are Arsenal and Man U away, Tottenham at home. The Fulham game at the end of the month is really a must win and hope we scrape a point from one of the other games. The table could look pretty bad come mid March. But the run in is not too bad, and the last game is home to Huddersfield. Fulham and Huddersfield look gone, and it is one from six. Think that we will survive, but only just.

It's a really tricky one. Saints want to do the right thing by FF but at the same time they are running a business. If FF is not well enough to either play or be transferred, then he could be deemed to be in breach of contract if it went on long enough and Saints could terminate it. In these cases coming to a mutual agreement is always better

Slight digression, but a significant factor in the BEA Trident crash was that the pilot was an autocrat with an underlying heart problem that affected his performance. My understanding was that although the Trident had the potential to stall, the lack of teamwork on the flight desk made the situation catastrophic when it did. It will be interesting to see what the root cause of the Sala crash was, and whether only having one less experienced pilot was a significant factor. Assuming that it is possible to work this out. I have always thought that having two pilots working together as a team gives better outcomes when facing potential accidents.