spyinthesky

Up and Away I admire your positive view. However, whilst I am sure that both Markus Liebherr and Cortese may have warmed towards the club all the feedback I have received, from various sources, that this was initially a purely financial investment where there was a chance of a return at the end. This is no different than the position almost all football clubs find themselves in so this is nothing to be unduly worried about specifically. Markus's death has raised some questions going forward but whatever happens I am sure Southampton Football Club is a more saleable proposition than many in Europe

Anyone know if he is still 'on loan' at Bromley?

TV Game = unlikey good result

After feeling very disappointed and a bit annoyed (I guess because my aspirations for the season have increased unreasonably in recent weeks) at the Brighton result, I was impressed by the measured and positive approach taken by Dean Hammond in his post match interview with Radio Solent In an age when the majority of footballers are relatively in articulate, he was obviously disappointed with the result but believed that the strong work ethic and team spirit allied to a talented and focussed squad would overcome the recent dip in results and continue progress towards the Premiership. This was all put across in a clear and concise fashion. Of course he may have really wanted to say something along the lines of ..'we are all gutted to lose, cheating opposition players, crap ref, worried about recent results, need more players etc' .... which I guess would echo the thoughts of the majority of posters on here. However the message he gave was..'there is no panic, we are all together, we have now played all the teams in the League and have not seen anything to unduly worry us, we are all determined to do our best for Southampton Football Club and achieve promotion. I just hope that his optimism is not misplaced.

According to Page 2 of the News, Pompey will soon be taken over by new investors (Chinese?) and the paperwork to pass the FAPPT should be complete within the next 2 weeks. Looks as though our friends down the road have got out of jail again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????????????????????????????????????????????

When I had a season ticket in the East Stand there was a youngish bloke who used to regularly slag off Mike Channon in the 'early doors' part of his career Later an older chap continually rubbished Alan Ball Ironically both the 'supporters' were Irish.

If last season is anything to go by we only need to match Pompey's results over the first first 23 games to guarantee a place in the Play Offs Of course there would be a great deal of disappointment if we didnt make the top two but it shows all would not be lost if there was a bit of slippage in the second part of the season With some stregthening in certain areas and good fortune with injuries/suspensions, we should be OK Didnt realise that Swansea lost 14 games last season but got promoted through the Play Offs

Magri looked a decent prospect when he played in Pompeys 1-0 win over our, depleted, side recently

So if this figure is extrapolated over 23 games at, say, a net of VAT, average figure of £18 the difference in revenue through the gate at SMS v the Fratton Arena is a tad under £5million per season Add in additional Executive Club and Box revenue at a conservative £500k then it highlights the revenue earning capacity of a successful versus a moribund football club

Went to the Palace game with an old mate over from the States. His first game at St Marys We were reminiscing about our teenage days going to the Dell. Some random thoughts which may strike a cord with others on here 'of a certain age' 1. Trying to get transport into Soton from outlying areas for Xmas games. No one we knew had a car so it involved a long walk to the nearest main road and then hitching 2. Getting to the ground early and standing near the front of the Boys queue (1/- to get in, 5p in todays money!!) and finding yourself pushed back as the older boys would arrive and push in at the front 3. Feeling ill in the Chocolate Box one Xmas, after too much rich food, and having to visit the First Aid Room (near the players entrance) and missing John Page score a penalty. 4. Buying cheap souvenirs from traders outside the ground (no club shop then) 5. Buying a penny on the ball ticket (you won the match ball if successful!!) 6. Listening to the Albion Band 7. The all pervading smell of tobacco (and the occasional whiff of strong alcohol) 8. On a couple of occasions someone playing 'Oh When the Saints' on bagpipes under the East Stand 9. Hardly any grass on the pitch 10. Not that many away supporters. 11. Trying to hit the people who carried a target around the pitch ( a large blanket in a frame with a fold in the bottom) which encouraged people to lob small change into the target, the money going towards the Albion Band. 12. Half Time scores being put up manually on the scorebaord at the corner of the Archers and West Stand. 13. Reading the programme in about 10 seconds flat as it only had half a dozen or so flimsy pages and no photos. 14. The occasional copper strolling round the pitch and Stewards in white coats!!! 15. The man selling hot Bovril from a container as he walked round the running track. 16. Hoping you could hold out to the end before succumbing to the urgent messages emanating from your bladder. If you went to Fratton Park last week you would probably relive the experience 17. The walk back to town after the game. People collecting their Bikes/Motor cycles from houses nearby where they had been left for a 1d parking fee. 18. Not necessarily at Xmas, but the number of red and cream Corporation buses parked up in various locations around the Dell ready to whisk people away 19. Paper sellers outside the ground Echo/Evening Standard where you could get all the half time results printed at the bottom of the page. No idea why this was popular 20. Walking down to the Echo Office on a normal Saturday and waiting with my Dad for a Football Echo so he could go home and check his pools All good stuff from my younger days but, in reality, wouldn't really swop this for the impressive and comfortable stadium we now enjoy and the enjoyable brand of successful football now on offer. Hope all the younger fans reading this will bottle it up to be remembered fondly in future years

It must have taken ages Wonder what was behind all the time and effort?

I have to say that Mr Ho is certainly beginning to show signs of irritation whereas before he was relatively measured in his approach I have said before that Mr Ho seems to be pretty well balanced ie a chip on both shoulders Recently I reckon he has become more unhinged

Barry I dont think this is the case Willing to be corrected but believe there are numerous safety hoops to jump through before you get a tick in the box re standing

Of course it is a real own goal for our friends down the road to adopt this stance when they need to keep the 10,000 or so stalwarts on side However I wonder what our corporate stance would be in similar circumstances bearing in mind the relationship with ex players?

ah there is the rub I am no architect but standing terraces were fairly shallow and therefore the ratio of standing supporters to space available was relatively high. Most new stadiums have much higher steps on the terrace to allow seats to be fitted. If seats were taken out from the Northam, say, you may be able to get perhaps 5-10% more standing places, subject to planning/safety, but there would also be a cost of barriers etc

I guess it is not only the fee (inc signing on fees and agent commission) but the wages Pay him top whack and it upsets the current equilibrium in the Dressing Room How much would it cost to get a foreign mercenary in the mould of Demba Ba in. Always a risk (eg Delgado) but they do come cheaper

Thing I cant quite make out is that the loan is predicated on another Hotel build when there is already one on site and an upmarket one planned for Ocean Village

Personally I am in favour of SAFE standing I dont think standing in an all seater environment is indeed safe yet it happens at most well attended grounds every week However most people would expect to pay less for standing areas but there would be the expense of special seats and crash barriers so perhaps the price would increase Would be interested to have feedback on how the introduction of standing areas would be dealt with from a practical angle

How many tickets did we get? Was it 2,500 or 3,200?

Shows how much Tommy Forecast is rated when our 3rd Choice keeper is not recalled Presume no keeper on the bench if KD doesnt make it?

I have heard from another source that Marcus's daughter has plans to sell the club as and when prem status is achieved as the vslue will be maximised Who knows?

Steve I think it is right to put a sense of perspective on this. To win 7-0 against any side is going some but, as you say, Sheff Utd are not as strong as last year and suffered a few injuries before the game so weren't at their strongest Would quite like to see us drawn against Pompey next round to test our full U18 side against their's rather than the weaker side we had to field in the recent 1-0 defeat

Ah well it seems we may have a better idea who was one of Pompey's previous owners. Step forward Mazher Mahmood, otherwise known as the 'Fake Sheikh, from that well respected publication the NOTW Fits in very well with all the intrigue down the road

I went to my first derby at Fratton in 1962 as a callow youth. Cant remember any segregation then but do recollect that both teams has mascots Pompey's was a man in sailor suit Saints had a young lad who used to run round the pitch with an old ARP rattle displaying team colours. A Pompey fan picked up some cinders from ther running track and threw it in the lads face This was before crowd violence between rival factions started at football matches but remember being shocked at the occurrence as football crowds were generally very well behaved in those days

This isnt the case. Everton was the original club in Liverpool and until Shankley took over at Liverpool, Everton were more successful and had the bigger support They also enjoyed the patronage of some wealthy Liverpool business people, like the Moores family