Saint 76er

Just listened to Solent's 1.00pm news and no mention whatsoever of us or JRod. Only mentioned Ings transfer and a failed skates bid (lol) for Ledbitter of Ipswich.

The incident at Eastleigh probably precluded this and it must tell Fourpast all he needs to know about his standing at SMS as the gap between the NPC and Thurrock is huge. This would appear to be something of a banishment as there is nothing in it for Saints other than getting him out of the way, even though it leaves us short of a third choice keeper and bearing in mind Saints will still be paying his alleged 4k wages (cos Thurrock certainly won't be!). In L1 we seemed to run into endless keepers in top form, surely one of those could be recruited for the third keeper spot with a view to future advancement?

He'd be handy when we play the skates ....

Haven't the numpties just jumped back on to that merry-go-round? .....

Stevie D ... sounds good to me.

Nige's preferred starting eleven seems apparent from this list! Chaplow and Seaborne seem to have fallen rather in the pecking order and perhaps Hammond too as the captain may have expected a single digit number. Not sure what Dickson's number means in regard to his status. Nice to see JWP as a part of the first team group. Also Ben Reeves who may feature a bit this season.

This is a very nice kit, and well done to that arch fashion designer Mr Cortese for his alleged input! The extra white on the shirt gives it a brighter more modern visage and the red socks give balance to the overall appearance to counter the white. For those with a sleeve fetish don't forget that the NPC logo thingy will need to be applied and will go some way to offsetting the white. Am wondering if the players name will largely utilise the white patch at the top of the back view? This would make that area relevant and the name easier to see than set amongst stripes. Also is there some sort of embossed logo in the back white section perhaps? Best thing is that (AFAIK) this appears to be bespoke and I loved the fact that last year our kit was unique and not the same template as other clubs and hopefully once again we stand alone among the Umbro family. In which case full marks to NC for arranging this.

Perhaps Fish being considered by Preston as part exchange for Keith Treacy who it was rumoured on previous thread we had bid for ...

Just seen the OS announcement for the new ML lounge and they are using the same basic badge as above but with ML in place of the bear. Maybe Pat was on to something as a pattern now seems to be forming. Perhaps it's strictly a Markus related badge, but it's clearly been professionally designed and what we are seeing may perhaps morph into a new official club badge. The white semi circle, for example, may turn into a halo perhaps. It would seem a modern marketing idea to adopt a badge that can be adapted to represent various campaigns the club may run, whilst still retaining the identity of the full club badge. The badge, after all, is the club's corporate symbol and it's most important marketing tool. After a successful team, of course.

Could be seen as an indicator of the Liebherr family's continued commitment perhaps? Hardly likely to be doing this if NC expects the family to sell out any time soon. Also the Swiss trip, once again, is presumably to give the owners an opportunity to see their investment in their own back yard so to speak. All of this would appear to indicate continuing good relations between NC and the Liebherrs and hopefully family members will be over to see the memorial cup and inspect the new facility. Meaningful tributes to Markus are now starting to come forth, which is what most Saints fans have been wanting and a club bond with his family members may well be strengthening.

So, last pre season all new player signings were photographed/photoshopped in the new sash kit in the dressing room. None of that waiving a scarf amidst the Itchen seats in our brave new era. Assuming we sign someone before 20 July, then presumably their introduction will not follow last years script (they were awful photos anyway) or we will all know the identity of the new kit before we are officially allowed to. So, back to waiving scarfs then ...

Well, they've probably had plans in place since trawling the lower leagues looking for a cheap football club to buy ... just suspect those plans may not have a lot to do with football though. Nobody in their right mind would be interested in the likes of Bompey and P*mpey and all their debts if they wanted to acquire a successful and profitable football club. Plenty of more likely targets they could have gone for. Why do the skates always seem to attract new "owners" of doubtful integrity and who never seem to want to appear in public? At least there is some evidence to suggest the latest ones do actually exist ... so bonus points to the FL for getting that part of the FAPPT right for once!

Have Birmingham really fallen that far? Replacing McLeish with Clot ... sad days indeed for the Blue Noses. But who in their right mind would step in to replace Clot if he does go? Oh well, Awford it is then, I suspect .....

Cork is a solid receive and pass CM and yes in a similar vein to MS. Cork is also versatile which adds value to the squad. The real difference maker, however, would be Danns. Pace, skill, delivery, set pieces, goals ... this is the attacking piece we are desperately missing and NC should let bygones be bygones and make it happen. Of course, it would be handy to have Cork in CM to give Danns the ball ...

Perhaps swipe cards worked out a tad expensive to instal. In any event they seem to have devised an instalment plan that requires payment up front for each segment of games and you don't get access to further games (second ST) unless you have paid in advance. Previously one ST covered the entire season. If this system works, maybe no need for swipe card thingy's after all ...

Just like that lift in 'Are you being served' ... WE ARE GOING UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If there is a God, and today there just might be, then Markus is sitting there with his Angel's wings on watching all this with a smile on his face and a very small camera! Another huge smile (of relief?) will be on the face of a Mr N Cortese right now. Sure hope Nic's got big plans to mount a serious NPC campaign next season. Finally to Big Nige and the boys ... bloody brilliant, great work everyone (yes I'm in a good mood so even to Pulis and Forecast as well!). Has to be said that Adkins has been superb for this club, bet he gets a big bonus and well deserved too ......... COYS

Great effort by a banged up sixers to take a game off Miami. Jrue and ET have stepped up in post season and that is really good news for next season. Yes, Howard is a FA and is a freakin monster, he would almost make the sixers contenders (maybe), but how on earth would they get him ...? Chris Paul is also on the market and has been awesome in PS. Phils just lost two in a row @ Arizona, what's going down with that? Cliff Lee struck out 12 which is major, but let down by offense. Cole Hamels on mound for final game and they'd better win. Over at the Eagles, Big Red better get to SB this season (if there is one) or he's out of there! What a story Mike Vick has been since getting out of Leavenworth, he's simply huge in the States right now. Shame there's a lockout as Iggles can't trade his backup Kevin Kolb for a top draft pick, still can't wait to see who they pick this year though. Unfortunately, Andy Reid's drafting strategy is usually considered a comedic event in Philly! Finally, don't worry about the kid (nice though) but find a vid of DJax punt return last season (i think it was v Giants) in a game both sides had to win. Giants (if it was them) coach instructs his punter to kick it out of bounds to win the game as they are ahead and this is the last play. Punter has a brain explosion and thumps it down the middle into the waiting arms of our hero, who promptly drops it on about the 20 yd line. DJax turns round to pick it up and when he looks up the cavalry is arriving at pace. Bearing in mind that any tackle ends the game, the next 10 seconds passes into Eagles folklore as DJax sees an opening (thanks to superb blocking) and sprints into, through and around a mass of bodies to literally weave his way almost the length of the field through their entire team for the winning TD. At one stage the last defender is picked up and thrown away by a smaller Eagle to make room for the final dash to the line. For comedy value the irate coach chases his errant punter around the pitch post match and starts attacking him! Heady stuff and I would have loved to be in a bar in Philly while that was happening!! Must have been the Giants as that game, I'm sure, is now known as the miracle at the meadowlands ...

sammy, time you went back to Philly ... wachovia center is no more! Now called Wells Fargo Center, got changed about last June after WF bought out wachovia bank. Things are changing, even the Spectrum got pulled down recently. This is a good opportunity to bring up US sporting facilities compared to UK. What they have in Philly is incredibly impressive and has no rival in UK perhaps other than the new Olympic park. Over there the local government actually pitches in and provides land and planning arrangements to make these things happen. The city of Philadelphia has a huge sports park in south Philly where all their major league teams play (except Union). There is 76k Eagles stadium, 45k Phillies stadium and 21k indoor stadium for Sixers and Flyers all over the road from each other and surrounded by vast car parks. Broad Street rail line goes straight there from central city and airport is close by for good measure. Also have a look on the Philly Eagles website and check out their training HQ at the NovaCare center! Sad to say my 76ers will meet an inglorious end tonight (probably), but it's been a great season of promise and progress after last years abomination and lot's to look forward to come November. In better news the Fightin' Phils have rebounded with four straight wins and hopefully will sweep the Padres today at the unusually named PETCO Park. Phils are joint top in the standings nationally which bodes well for a team known as slow starters. Finally, for those interested the NFL draft starts this Thurs with Round 1 picks. Rounds 2/3 is on Fri with Sat bringing Rounds 4/7. Carolina has first pick overall and Philly Eagles #23, although they usually trade up or down and picks can be traded up to the last second. Clubs have 10 minutes on the clock to call their choice and GM's use this time to work the phones back at base, so you are never quite sure in advance what picks clubs will actually end up with.

Hope Markus enjoyed that one! First home defeat for them ... bet they really do hate us now !!!

Hi Chris, yes a slight dip right now for the Phils. Doc got trashed against the Brewers last night, but that's his one bad game for the season out of the way. Cliff Lee up next so expect the Phils to fight back. Roy Oswalt hurt his back last time out but is expecting to start @ Padres in upcoming series. Offense needs to pick up again, after a hot start things gone quiet. Chase Utley is a big loss and sooner he gets back healthy the sooner offense will fire. Go Phils !!

You know what Deppo, you're not a million miles away with this! I like the idea of a graffiti spray effect or some really modern script (font) to replace the block lettering. If we ditch the scarf and ball and tidy up the tree then we have a neat shield and could have Saintz .. better make that 'Saints' (with a halo over the 'S') on top and 'Southampton FC' below, all lined up so there is no sticky out bits, and that would be a big improvement. You're right though, our badge needs to be cool ...

Whilst we have a nice predictor thread running about our stylish new shirt for next season, perhaps it's time to focus on exactly what badge will be appearing on it. The badge was subtly improved to commemorate this 125th year, but next season we are 126 (and some days I feel it!) so presumably a further change is due. They could, of course, revert back exactly to the pre existing badge and leave it at that, or they could keep the updated design but change dates to 'since 1885' or similar and maybe bring back the football instead of red 125 circle. I hope they don't go back to the old badge as it really looks a little tired and dated nowadays and the scarf and football always looked a bit comic book to me. Also that tree truly does look like it was drawn by a pre schooler! The badge is the club's main corporate symbol and I would be surprised if Mr Cortese does not consider updating it altogether with a streamlined new image suitable for modern marketing and something more reflective of the football club itself, rather than a travelogue of southern Hampshire! The strongest corporate image of the club is 'The Saints' and that is what the badge should clearly represent I believe. Perhaps just the words themselves, cleverly scrolled in red and white stripes with a halo above the 'S', all in a modern shield. The above is no more than an example to start the discussion, but coming off a one year commemorative badge, surely now is the perfect time to propel this important aspect of the club's image into the 21st century ...

So, now we've all calmed down it's on to BHA next week. Impossible to know what state of mind they'll be in, or us either, but if we get turned over there then Udders will likely go above us and Posh along side us. Pressure will really be on then and no Barney by the sound of things. Strangely, we may well have only won because of his injury! Hope AL is back next week to give us a lift as others are falling like flies now ...

Perhaps this can be the tradeoff then ... Ditch the smiley thingy on the shirt and get a free name AND logo on the shorts as well. Genius!