spyinthesky

I agree the figures look bad but they include significant numbers of foreign students which, unfortunately, provide revenue for our hard pressed universities (perhaps there are too many in the country now and consideration given to skill based courses?) The question here is why do some students need to bring family members with them? Apart from this the numbers of Ukrainians requiring sanctuary will bottom out when peace eventually returns to their country (hopefully) On the reverse the arrival of people from Hong Kong may increase if the situation gets worse over there. However many of the people from Hong Kong are able to bring in skills which may improve the UK. All said and done we will struggle with accommodation and provision of services unless those arriving can add value to the country as a whole.

I am not so sure with regard to the 'desperate' comment. It seems that JWP is on a £100k pw and there are suggestions that he doesnt have a relegation clause in his contract so that would be a cool £5m a year in wages when the average yearly wage in the Championship is around £1m - £1.5m tops. Also JWP is a saleable asset at say £30-£40m which would provide some help with rebuilding against a scenario of £100m loss of revenue plus a similar debt incurring 9% interest.

I am amazed at some of the anti JWP comments on here. He is hard working player, rarely injured and, as far as I am concerned, has never given anything other than 100% commitment to the cause which is all I would ask for from any player in my very long association with the club. He is also a bright lad who represents the club in the right way. I do understand some of the comments re his lack of 'incisive' passing but this is primarily due to lack of movement by players in the final third of the field of play. In my humble opinion I think JWP has been a credit to the club

I wonder if the club will be looking at loan signings from Prem clubs. Quite a few Championship clubs have done this to good effect.

How about the club offers up the opportunity for a supporter (preferably season ticket holder, like me!!!) to be the Manager for The Day next Sunday? Cant do any worse than Selles in his last 11 (or is it 12??) games in charge. Alternatively we could have a select few to form a Committee to manage the team (as used to be the case in the 1950's with England games) Provided we can keep the score down to, say, six it will provide a bit of fun and PR presence.

I was amongst those who suffered excruciating performances during the Branfoot era. However the club was not relegated under his tenure whilst our performances since the 4-0 shellacking at Villa Park last season have been totally dire (apart from Man City for some odd reason) Whilst I do understand the reasoning behind buying in young players, improving them and then moving them on, rinse and repeat etc etc. The absolutely bizarre decision to spend around £48m on Tall Paul, Suiiemani and Orsic was absolutely ridiculous and their contribution to the season has been the square root of fuck all.. The only thing I can think of, at the moment, is for the Board to redeem themselves in a very limited fashion and offer up season tickets at a competitive price, otherwise those of us who will be daft enough to renew will be sat in a half empty stadium.

Whats the situation with the Polish 'keeper that has been on loan in Turkey?

It seems there are some of the female persuasion in this country who think having this sweaty blob of an individual insert his member into them for fun. Carrie seems to think this semblance of high jinks is Ok whilst Mad Nad wonders wistfully if she is ever going to have the opportunity. Meantime, at the other end of the spectrum, the living skeleton that is Lord Snooty, is also doing his bit with half a dozen offspring with the last saddled with the name Sixtus. The seventh will be named Septemus and the eighth named Octingenitals, poor sod!!!!!!!!

The money I will receive from the relegation bet I put on in October plus the money I put aside each week, will pay for 2 season tickets Whilst fully respecting the decision of many others to give up their tickets, watching Saints is too ingrained in me now although recent visits to St Marys is akin to going to the dentist.

Bradley Dack has refused a new contract at Blackburn. Supposedly one of the best players in the Championship. Any views?

My paper round paid for the train ticket to the first game but I put it on a ledge in front of the fire and it fell onto the coals and was burnt. I was pretty upset but my Mum and Dad paid for a replacement and a gang of us school boys took the train up to Nottingham (I think it was a 'Special') and I distinctly remember the noise from all our fans echoing round the station when we arrived.. The re-play at The Dell was only going one way until we scored, what seemed to be, a solitary consolation goal. However big George Kirby had been causing problems to Forest's young 'keeper Peter Grummit all game with some challenges that would not be tolerated nowadays. The atmosphere ramped up to something I had never experienced before at The Dell and the ground erupted when Dave Burnside scored the equaliser just before the end of normal time. No score in extra time and we all started preparations for the 2nd replay at White Hart Lane. We went straight from school on the train and secured a good spot behind the goal. However as the game progressed more and more Saints fans arrived and our view, as small teenagers, reduced. Bearing in mind that Saints were mid table Div 2 and Forest were a decent Div 1 side, we totally outplayed them with Ken Wilmshurst outstanding and we won 5-0. There were over 40,000 at the game and allowing for the fact that there were probably a few neutrals at the game and the Forest supporters didnt seem to show in any appreciable numbers, I reckon that more than 30,000 Saints fans were in the ground. The 3 games gave me one of the highlights of my early Saints career. Unfortunately the semi final at Villa Park was an anti climax but we were not disgraced in a 1-0 defeat. Our group actually had tickets in the Man Utd end but in those days it wasnt a problem. The memories of the Forest tie will always be with me.

Everton will be fine. They will use the Hans Segers 'Get Out Of Jail Card' in at least one of the remaining two games. For anyone who doesnt know who Hans Segers is, he was playing for Wimbledon a few years back when Everton had to win their last home game of the season and were one nil done until dear Hans was blinded by a number of large ££££ signs restricting his vision (19,000 of them by all accounts) Everton won 2-1 to secure their stay in the Prem and Hans had a 'blinder'

I too remember John Flood from my early days watching Saints at The Dell. A small tricky right winger as was the mould in those days. Then Terry Paine came along and the likes of Johnny Flood and Dave Chadwick had to play second fiddle. Sorry to hear we have lost one of the Saints family

Reckon the statement will be that Championship season tickets will be at the same level as this year and there will be upgrades to the food and drink outlets. Also they will sign Ail Dia's Mother In Law to play up front alongside Big Paul.

Well and truly tonked by a team who seemed well coached, could find a pass (or a series of passes), able to get forward with pace, seemed to have a semblance of ideas how to use corners and throw ins to their advantage and basically strolled through the game without their keeper being tested.. They also read the St Marys script ie contain the home team in the first half and ensure you score at least a goal or two (or three or four)in front of your own fans to ensure they are in full voice at the end. I reckon the current squad would not make it above halfway in the Championship so god knows what will happen when the three or four half decent players buggar off. Finally fair play to the much maligned Bednerak. Thought he was our least worse player today.

Perhaps away fans could be twinned with a home supporter and we could sit and learn how life is in the dark satanic mills oop north, share our cups of bovril and make friends for life,

I put on £50 at 13/5 for us to be relegated at the start of the season. Very disappointed that the Bookies will have to pay out but at least I will receive a bit of a down payment for next seasons ticket and probably another dose of regular disappointment.

I wonder if anyone could work out what our home record has been since Koeman left. I cant remember too many games where the team actually entertained the fans at St Marys.. In recent times I can only remember the 4-1 win v Brentford last season and the 2-0 won v Man City this year.

Just finished watching the concert from Windsor. Thought it was very well done. Very much a soul boy me but thought Take That brought the evening to a very rousing finish. The Military Band and the backing singers were top rate too. Tip to the Royal Family, you have got to lose the wooden attempts at dancing but fair play for giving it a go.

Every person in the US should be armed from birth to prevent this type of thing happening. They would then also be able to shoot anyone who is considering an abortion

Must admit to being a bit conflicted on the Coronation. Some of it looked similar to a Disney cartoon and I was given an admonishment from the wife for not watching the church service. However I found myself wiping away a tear watching the return to the Palace with the colour, the marching and the music which, by any measure, showed how good us Brits are for this type of historical display.

Tories are reaping the 'disasters' of the Johnson/Truss eras just as they benefitted from red wall voters turning against Corbyn. In my view Labour are pretty well odds on the be the leading party at the next election but may not have enough votes for an overall majority.

3-1 up against WBA and lost 4-3. Anyone know how this affects their promotion chances?

Paul Allen owned a number of yachts. He once owned the vessel (RV PetreL) which was bought by an American Research company and recently capsized in Leith Docks.

Notice that West Ham beat Arsenal 5-1 in the Youth Cup Final so this puts our semi final defeat in some sort of perspective. Perhaps we could look at getting a couple of their players in as loanees next season in the Championship