spyinthesky

Me too (unfortunately)!!!

Can we attach blame to Eric Black?

I do hope I am wrong but think the side suggested would flirt with relegation, possibly mid table obscurity especially as I suspect Romeu, JWP and Redmond would not take a pay cut and would probably interest some Prem clubs and have a saleable value. Our future will depend upon the ability to attract a Manager in tune with the Championship challenge and a suitable budget provided by our mysterious new owner

An increasing number of long standing season ticket holders I know are saying they will not be renewing next season Whilst appreciating Gate Money is not that important these days, it must be an objective of the club management to fill the stadium each week. Hopefully some sort of incentive can be provided to maintain spectator interest. However it is interesting to learn that some Bradford City supporters are complaining that their season tickets have increased by £20 to £169 ie £7.30 per game next season. Seniors/Students are £149, Juniors £99 and Under 11's £19. Top price for new season ticket holders is £299 Supporters can opt for a £75 Flexi Ticket which includes half price admission. Sounds a great scheme and wonder how many of our supporters would sign up if the same scheme was offered here. I would actually pay for someones season ticket (as well as my own) at these prices

I am not Charlie Austins greatest fan but, notwithstanding his fitness issues, he seems more of a natural goalscorer than the £12m Shane Long, £15m Manolo Gabbiadini and £19m Carillo

Expect this to be a crowd well below capacity due to travel concerns for a number of people

I vaguely remember the JPT Norwich game. Didnt we equalise late on before pens? I think I was hovering near the exit to leave when we equalised then, after a quick cup of Bovril, I went back to see the finale despite cold feet and hands!!

Agree that the Charity Shield game saw Saints fans at the game en masse Also the semi final game at Highbury v Everton in 1984 saw Saints fans being a bit naughty

Any idea how many Saints fans were at the game?. Understand the reasons for people not going but the away end looked very sparsely occupied on the TV

I cant remember if I went to the Rangers game If I did I got away unscathed and dont have particular memories of the game but someone I know got slashed with a knife in Bedford Place and ended up winning compensation from some sort of victim scheme available at the time.

Fortunately I didnt go but understand the trip to Marseille for the away leg of the European Cup Winners Cup game in 1976 was rather 'testing'

Forgot to say that I went to all the Saints games during the 76 Cup Winning year. Not many Saints fans at Villa Park for the 3rd Rd replay but there were 5 of us in the stand and needed some police protection when a large group of Villa fans made there way into the stand from the terracing. All dealt with OK West Brom away was generally Ok as we took over 10,000 there. Bradford City away in the 6th Rd was quite nasty and there were skirmishes before and after the game. We were sat close to Richard Dunn(who was the British Heavyweight Champion at the time) who took particular exception to Mick Channon. We kept our celebrations to post match on that day. Wembley was generally OK but there were a couple of Saints fans taking a pasting from a large group of Man Utd 'fans' after the game. Felt sorry for the two lads as they didnt look like troublemakers but think the police got to them before too much damage was incurred,

When me and my mates first started going to away games in the 60's, there was the occasional one on one problem on the terraces as fans were mixed (I remember some skirmishes at Cardiff during the 5-3 win there on Boxing Day 1965) and at Plymouth towards the end of the 66 season but nothing 'organised' We actually used to go to away games wearing our 'Sunday Best' In fact at the '63 FA Cup semi final v Man Utd, there were quite a few Saints fans allocated tickets in the Man Utd end (opposite the Holte) and it all went without incident. We even went down to Pompey a few times (1-1 draw and a 5-2 win, sticks in my mind) without too many problems although you could tell there could be trouble brewing. I think most fans were not expecting the organised violence that came with our first season in Division 1 in 1966. First game v Man City was fine then Chelsea came down and walloped us 3-0 on the pitch and caused all sorts of problems off the pitch. As they say 'it all kicked off from then' I also was fortunate to go to Wembley for the World Cup final and also saw one other England game at Wembley, plus the France v Uruguay tie at the old White City Stadium. No problems at all.

I agree with a recent comment by Sam Allardyce that outside the top 6, any team can have a bad run and find itself struggling at the bottom end of the table. Overall Saints aren't that bad a side but, as most of the fan base know, we are lacking in central defence and up front this year and this is the reason we could very well go down Oh and a relatively inept Manager hasnt helped!!

Some suggestion in the media that Sadio Mane is being offered an extended contract at Liverpool which will increase his wages to £80k pw Isn't this around the weekly wedge being paid to Charlie Austin?

I dont suppose anyone has got a copy of the photo from the Pompey News showing a banner draped over a bridge somewhere in Pompey welcoming what turned out to be the 'Fake Sheik'?

The U 25's are generally more passionate supporters (vocally) but have less disposable money than us old timers

I wonder if the club should look at a radical approach to season tickets eg offer up really reduced prices to Under 25's ie those who are less well off and more passionate It has worked at Huddersfield and Bradford and also down the road. I am a long standing season ticket holder and will renew next year whatever league we are in. However I am fortunate in so far as I can afford a season ticket but, at the same time, I am cursed by the fact that watching Saints is ingrained in me and, if I am honest, I havent really enjoyed watching home games for the last two seasons. That said, supporting a team like Saints, has always had its ups and down and the down periods make you realise how enjoyable the good times are when they (occasionally) occur.

Me too However I have no problems with those who don't renew. I put my situation down to a psychological condition inherited from my Dad The only two consolations are that my season ticket will be paid for by my October bet on us going down (which I am somewhat ashamed about but balanced by a degree of foresight) and the assumption that we will actually win a few games, albeit in a fairly empty stadium. Still I have the 'luxury' of going through all of this before during my many years as a loyal Saints supporter

I am not trying to defend Reed here, more attempting to provide a balance, but if Koeman wanted to go for a vastly inflated salary, it is difficult to force him to stay. Also Koeman didnt exactly bring success to Everton!!

There are been a number of occasions this season, second half today in particular, where I thought our first choice team would probably be mid table in the Championship God knows what the situation would be without some of our 'better' players!!!

Didnt Steve Moran get assaulted by a Pompey second string player in a bar somewhere which started off his back problem. As an aside Steve went to Prices Grammar School in Fareham so presume he was another one picked from a PO Post Code area

MLG That's my theory down the drain Thanks for correcting my error - should have checked!!!!!!

I reckon he is the reason why Liverpool have focused on so many Saints players over the years. They have never forgiven us for tempting away this midfield maestro 50 odd years ago!!!!