spyinthesky

Re Coutinho, I remember being at a pre season youth team game at Vospers (saw Luke Shaw play for the first time) and was able to overhear a conversation between a group of the Saints staff there which indicated the club had been let down on the Coutinho deal, so from this it would be appear we were definitely in for the player.

Any thoughts on what the current problems in Hong Kong will affect the relationship between China and the UK and the possible affect on Chinese (eg Gao) investment in this country. It seems there is already an issue with the Chinese owners of Wigan.

If Hojbjerg is valued at £35m what would the price for JWP. I have not been his greatest fan but got to say he has been spot on recently and a proper club player.

Doubt we will get much from Man City (H) and Man Utd (A) but it would be good to see us get a result at our hoodoo ground (Goodison Park) Dont know what to think about Bournemouth away. Part of me wants to see them relegated so we are the only local team in the Prem. However a more major part has a soft spot for Bournemouth and would like to see West Ham relegated.

What about Clyne?

I think there will be a number of Prem clubs in financial difficulties (us included?) if the money from outstanding TV games doesnt arrive.

One thing I remember was, as a 15 year old, playing cricket against St Marys and having to shout 'Howzat' Brother when appealing for a dismissal. Actually scored 22 off one over (short boundaries!!) and then being cleaned bowled the next over. Also ripped a brand new pair of trousers trying to jump over a fence after the game. My Mum wasnt too happy!!

Some young guy called Barron Trump. He has a growing interest in Soccer and has a low profile father who is one of the most successful businessmen in the history of the good old USA!!!!!!

I ve voted for him but David Batty boy at No 10!!

I was on a ski ing holiday at the time and used to drink in the hotel bar with a group of Watford fans. One of them told me about the Keegan story just as he was leaving for home. In those days we didnt have mobile phones and I thought it was a wind up until I bought a Daily Mail the following day when he was headline news in the sports section. Remember going to the Guildhall where the club had organised a public announcement of the Keegan story with the promise og more big signings to come. They were indeed heady days!!

Agree. Unless we were to go down!!!

Cant be true. Trump called CNN out on a report of his good friend Kim's reported death. Fake News he reckons despite the fact some reports out of China reckoning Kim ingested bleach to prevent Covid 19!!

And also the cringeworthy attempts by Fox News in attempting the defend the Orange Man.

According to some press reports the over 70's may have to self isolate for up to 12 months or until a vaccine is found. The Chapel Kop will be deserted when games re start. Good time to relocate the Northam Massive?

One of the greatest days of my life. The Daily Express reckoned we would lose 6-0 in one of the most one sided cup finals in years. I didnt care, just wanted to see my team at Wembley. We had £6 tickets near the Royal Box and when the final whistle went an old fella in front of us raised his hands in the air and said...'Thank you God, I am so happy, you can take me now'... I travelled up with a car full of mates and parked in a side street around Wembley. When I returned to the car, I got chatting to a lad who was waiting for his mates to arrive back. He was from Bournemouth and ironically had sat in the next seat to me amongst a small band of Saints fans who had gone to Villa Park for the 3rd Rd replay v Aston Villa.

It is difficult to understand what the effect of the current health crisis will have on club economics which includes transfer values. My personal view is the latter will see significant reductions and presumably this will have an effect on club finances. It would be interesting to see what 'values' are attributable to our loan players but can see that these must have reduced considerably in todays markets. That said, hopefully, there are bargains out there to be had, provided Mr Goa's finances are not completely shot.

Someone I spoke to sells white goods. He reckons he is selling over 20 freezers a day courtesy of food 'hoarders'

Fuel is 99p a litre at Costco now, one little bit of good news

Did anyone see the pictures in today's Echo of the long line of older and 'at risk' people who were queuing (some of them apparently from just after 6am) to get priority at the Lordshill Sainsbury's? I think this queuing may have been repeated throughout the country. Seems odd that these 'at risk' group would want to be in close proximity with others from their peer group, in the cold, waiting for food they could probably have picked up later in the day, no problem!!

It seems that our record level of employment figure is going to take a hammering. Everywhere you look there seems to be repercussions from the effect of the coronavirus on business. If the lockdown continues past the summer I can see significant job losses. Anyone on here affected at the moment? If so may I take the opportunity to offer my sympathy, it must be really worrying. Apart from public services and those in the food production and transportation business, I cant see any business sector not being affected,

There is some suggestion that a version of the Coronavirus will be with us again next year so the current situation may repeat itself It also seems to me that if suitable medical staff and police are not able to cover big sporting events how can events progress? It doesnt take much to imagine chaos on the streets if certain clubs supporters are allowed unrestricted access. In such circumstances you can see away support being banned

If the coronavirus ends up with the worst case scenario there will very significant repercussions on our 'comfortable' way of life. We are all likely to be poorer as economic conditions worsen and it will take time to recover. As a consequence we will still want to watch sport but, as far as football is concerned, who will want to pay the level of tickets for games, especially as there are lots of unemployed. It is likely that Sky/BT are going to re-evaluate their TV contract.

One of the Sundays led with a front Page about Diana (something about the French not releasing details of her death for 75 years)

If we believe half of what the Daily Mail is saying (ie Coronavirus will run through to Spring 2021 and 80% of us will be affected with millions dying) then the affect on our society will be similar to a major war. The virus is escalating in other European countries and will undoubtedly spread across the US and rest of the world. By common consent the worst is yet to come This puts our obsession with football into sharp contrast.

There is the likelihood that along with a number of industries, football could well suffer significant financial pain. Not only the lower league clubs but presumably Sky/BT would not be prepared to shell out to pay for games that are not played, if that is the case. I wonder if this will have an affect the wages players agents are currently able to negotiate?