spyinthesky

You are right there. Quite understandably most neutral supporters and TV critics were on the side of Grimsby but I wonder if the two penalty decisions had been given against the plucky underdogs. That said a Prem side, even one as currently crap as we are, should really have overcome these debatable decisions. The only straws I am clutching at are Chelsea losing at home to Bradford City a while back and Pompey losing to non League Aldershot in the FA Cup not so long ago.

To make matters worse, Grimsby did not field their strongest side as ther were Loanees unable to play

I wonder why VAR didnt have a look at the bad tackle by the Grimsby lad on Lavia in the first half. Looked a definite red card to me and maybe if Lavia had squirmed around like a stuck pig as some players of the foreign persuasion do, then the Ref would have seen more of the tackle. We have had players sent off, after VAR review, for similar tackles. Even if Grimsby had gone down to 10 men, I am doubtful if we would have won in view of our general ineptitude.

Bad news is that Maddison is likely to be fit for the visit. I still have the awful memory of him being outstanding in that wet and cold day when we were mullered in the home 9-0 defeat.

I think Leicester had a more or less 2nd team (bit no place for Vestergaard or Bertie (always injured!!) I watched Fulham v Leeds last night. Both sides contributed to an enjoyable game with performances on a higher plain that what I have seen from the Saints for quite a while. The lad Soloman who scored a pearler last night to go with his winner at Brighton recently came to Fulham on a free!!!!!!!!!!

Agree, fair play to Grimsby fans. When we played them at Filbert Street, Leicester, in a 2nd replay game (1978?) they brought thousands of fans. Hopefully Saints can replicate their performance on the day (4-1 I think)

As mentioned in one of the earlier posts, it seems the owners were prepared to shell out a wedge of cash to bring in players. Unfortunately the majority of players, whilst young and possibly will improve, have done absolutely nothing to improve the squad relative to their transfer fee. To my mind Lavia has been a shining light and both he and JWP and KWP plus Salisu will be off in the summer to better teams and to ensure some of the lost income from relegation will be recovered. Tella is another one who may be sold for a decent fee as Burnley will have Prem money to spend. Apart from Lavia I have to say Bree may be one of the better 'value for money' players we have signed recently. He was rated as one of the best RB's in the Championship and arrived with a relatively small transfer fee and wages. Feedback from the recent Fans Forum is that finances are in order to deal with relegation and we must all hope that is correct. If we are struggling to finance a big debt then todays problems will be small in comparison. Top players wages in the Championship are around the £30k/£40k mark so some of our mob are either going to have to suck this up or look for other clubs. That said only Che Adams is likely to attract any interest from any other top league sides. There are some players, mainly from abroad, who will look to move away and others who the club will want to move on. No doubt our high class scouting system will be looking at loan options and that may be the catalyst for something better next season. Oddly I am somewhat past caring after the Leeds debacle. The weight of expectation has been taken off my shoulders. We are down but I will be there on Weds and will renew my season ticket next season. I have been a Saints supporter since the 1950's and have seen a few ups and plenty of downs. I am there at St Mary's until the day my health gives me the red card. Until then UTFS!!!!

I wonder if anyone has statistics relating to how many opponents goals have been scored at the Northam end? My abiding memory recently is leaving the ground with visiting supporters in raptures after a lateish goal in front of their massed ranks. I know there has been regular debate about the location of our vocal supporters but I do think the Chapel end is the best option but do appreciate this will require some supporters to move seats.

I think the worrying thin recently and seems more evident since our two expensive January signings have arrived, is that we once created chances that were missed, now the team doesnt seem to be able to crate any chances at all. Also at one time we seemed quite comfortable with the ball now passes go astray more often and our possession levels are poorer than they used to be. There was spell in the second half yesterday when the team seemed to be able to pass the ball well and were on the front front. This lasted about 5 mins then it was back to the mediocre style of play that has been so evident in recent times.

Its no good blaming individual players. The team as a whole is not good enougj even to get a shot on target in a relegation scrap. Leeds were much better than us and that is saying something

Never seen this before. Interesting. The Pompey lad in the green shirt seems a modern version of the 657 crew. Some other interesting things to consider. 1. There were far more servicemen passing through Southampton in most major wars eg Crimea, South Africa both WW1 and WW2 and arguably the Falklands than Pompey which is primarily a naval port. 2. There were no bad feelings between the two cities until 1960 when Saints were promoted to Divison 2 and Pompey were relegated from Division 1. From the mid 1930's until 1960 Pompey were the dominant team on the south coast and quite a few people from Southampton and other surrounding areas used to go to Fratton Park after WW2 to experience first Division football without any issues. 3. Pompey only had a best average of 37,000 when they won of their two league titles post war in a ground that had a capacity of 50,000. Hull City in the Third Division had a higher average. Many of the spectators at Fratton Park were sailors. 4. Not that is of much relevance but Portsmouth was once in the County of Southampton and I remember seeing a photo of a Pompey fan spouting off about the history of Portsmouth when he had an old map showing Pompey in the County of Southampton. 5. Interestingly Gosport had a railway station before Portsmouth.

Therese Coffey, who was best mates with a substitute Prime Minister, is now a Minister of Something or Other. She did a speech to an audience of farmers a few days ago. It went really well and it was fortunate that there is an egg shortage at the moment (she seemed to blame this on the egg producers rather than on avian flu) otherwise she may have suffered more than just being subjected to a chorus of boos. I suppose Therese Coffey has to be in the current Govt to show there is a balance of uselessness in Parliament as she compares favourably in this respect to Dianne Abbot from the other side of the chamber.

Suggest you research the archives of the Daily Echo (they can be accessed at Southampton Civic Centre Library) and also the Portsmouth News. The so called 'Docks Strike' caused by the 'Southampton Consortium/Consolidation of Union Men', an organisation that never existed, was a figment of a certain persons imagination, who died an early death mainly through excessive consumption of certain substances, and it was what Southampton Dockers called their counterparts at the Portsmouth Commercial Port back in November 1976 when Portsmouth Dockers reneged on a promise not to handle Brittany Ferry ships which were contracted to go into Plymouth. Hundreds of Southampton Dockers picketed the Pompey Commercial Docks between November 23rd - 27th and it was headline news in both local papers. There were reports that the brother of one of Saints ex goalkeepers was arrested by Hants Police who were out in force in Pompey to keep the peace The SCUM acronym was made up after a few members of the 'notorious ' 657 squad were forced to remain stuck behind the port gates until the Dockers went home each day at the end of the picket. Pompey fans have form on this as there were more recent reports that when Pompey were embroiled in the chase for promotion from League 2 with Northampton, their fans were lumbered with an unfavourable insult based on the so called actions of the 'Consolidated Union of Northamptonshire Tanners and Shoemakers' who apparently produced shoes for the Navy at much lower prices that workers in the Pompey naval yard.

John 'Petersfield' Awkward has been approached to provide the entertainment which includes blowing his own trumpet and urinating over the guests to remind them of the unique aroma of Fratton Park.

Pompey are inviting ex players/managers to their 125 year anniversary. One invitee, David Norris has been described as 'The Scourge of Southampton' Makes you wonder what he may have done apart from scoring a goal against the Saints. Maybe Danny Ings and Ricky Lambert, amongst others, could be described as the 'Punishers of Pompey'?

I thought my lad might change allegiances but he has hung on in there and actually made me take him to Milan. I think he now appreciates that being a fan of a team with not a lot of trophies to show and more defeats in most seasons than wins can be very disheartening. However he understands that winning games against 'bigger' teams and enjoying a run of good form brings heightened enjoyment that 'big club' supporters with a sense of entitlement can't replicate. As Saints fans we often suffer misery but I try to set this against being a supporter of Rochdale or one of the teams around the catchment area of the big clubs and remain rooted in the lower Leagues.

Notice that young Thierry only managed a place on the bench for St Mirren tonight in their defeat at Motherwell. Doesn't seem that great for his progress. Interesting that another player with Saints connections and expected to make the grade as a youngster, Calum Slattery, was on the bench for Motherwell.

No disrespect to Grimsby (who actually play in Cleethorpes, the San Tropez of Lincolnshire) any Premier League club should beat a team that is not actually setting League 2 alight. If we dont win the new Manager (and the players) deserve to be pilloried. I sincerely hope we win but also wish Grimsby fans an enjoyable visit as they are decent fans.

I was Lino at my lads U11 game a few years back. Our centre half and the opposing CF were jostling for position in the penalty then out of the blue the CF smacked our defender in the face causing a cut lip and bruising. The youngish Ref sent both players off despite the defender suffering a relatively violent attack. Our centre half went off to lay on the ground whilst his mother tried to comfort him and stem the bleeding. The centre forward walked off with a swagger to the back slapping and smiles of his adult supporters. Presumably he had done something similar before and no doubt would go on to achieve similar notoriety as he grew older.

Spot on there. Rugby players address Refs as 'Sir' and there is very little condemnation of Referees performances by Rugby pundits. I have Ref'd and run the at senior and Tyro games and the amount of aggression, often from the sidelines in Tyro games, mainly from managers/spectators who have little knowledge of the game was dispiriting.

At the game I was was surprised and quite disappointed that JWP didnt have a go at goal, especially in the last minute . However having thinking about it, the two free kick ploys were quite clever and could have led to a goal if the receiving players had been more alert. I think the challenge for JWP now is that opposing teams are looking to put a player back towards the goal to defend the area JWP would be aiming at. This might put more pressure on JWP but will offer up more opportunities for clever free kick options. I suspect though that at the next opportunity JWP will revert to his tried and tested option.

Not something that will resonate much with the whipper snappers on here but those of us oldies will remember the many songs that dear old Burt composed and produced with a whole range of performers and along with his original writing partner Hal David.. A proper musician and composer was Burt. Ironically I only finished reading a book on the Motown composers Holland- Dozier-Holland yesterday and realised how much music I have enjoyed from song smiths of that generation.

Any season ticket holders having problems accessing their seats? I have just gone on to book mine but its not available for some reason

Apparently most of the salaries are estimates based on a variety of sources. However some figures were noted to be correct and KWP and Che Adams were amongst them which I have to say surprised me.

We played Grimsby in 1978? and drew at home and away with a 2nd replay at Filbert Street, Leicester. A car load of us were amongst a hardy band of Saints fans vastly outnumbered by members of the 'Cod Army' We won, thanks to a brace by Phil Boyer, but the Grimsby fans were very enthusiastic and I reckon there will be a decent turnout from them at St Marys