spyinthesky

I reckon that the stress level after we scored was very similar to the time I was waiting for a specialist to advise whether test results would show I had an aggressive or benign tumour.. Fortunately both results came out the right way. However this comparison makes me realise how ridiculous my long term obsession with the Saints is.

I doubt if there are too many people who remember the last game of the 1965/66 season (our first promotion to the top division) We played Man City away on the last game of the season and had to avoid a 6-0 defeat to ensure promotion ahead of Coventry City. The City Manager at the time was Malcolm Allison and he boasted about the fact that his team would look to beat us by that score As it turned out we drew 0-0 and I can remember going for a celebratory under age drink at the Manor in Portsmouth Road A similar 0-0 result would suit me fine Meantime if the worst happened and we lost the 9 goal difference and ended level with Swansea on goal difference what happens then?

Interesting article on Macclesfield in the press recently after they had just been promoted back to the Football League They had only one player signed on before the season started and they had to work hard to get a squad in at short notice. Their top earner is on £25k a year!! so their wage bill is far less than Eastleigh. Understand that Eastleigh will not only have to revisit their expensive wage bill but deal with some commercial losses that have been covered by the previous owner Perhaps Paul Doswell could be encouraged to return if Sutton dont go up as he has a decent wedge from selling his development company

TCWTB was sat not far from me for the Macedonia game. He was singing 'Play up England' until a very fired up Saints fan confronted him and TCWTB was escorted away for his own safety

Appreciate it is old hat for the youngsters on here but every year I wake up on the 1st May remembering the sense of anticipation in seeing my team walk out at Wembley for the first time. Despite expecting to be on the end of a drubbing (mid place 2nd Division team versus a very good, young, Div 1 United outfit) by the same time as I am writing this we were worthy Cup Winners. One of the greatest days of my life that will stick with me forever!!!

Heard Stuart Dennis on the radio last week saying that he was unlikely to get involved with the consortium looking to buy Sunderland. Seems there has been a change of heart and he has put Eastleigh on the market. To be fair to him Stuart has done a great job in getting Eastleigh into the National League and improving what were quite basic facilities. Question is, without his guidance and investment, what's the future for Eastleigh? I always hoped they could become a Football League club but doubt if that is realistic now.

Shows how we see games differently I thought Romeu was 8/10

A certain side to the east lose to the bottom team in Division 3 and left to consider yet another year in a lower position than us. Brechin City in the Scottish Championship - No wins & 4 draws in their relegation season. Minus 70 goals!!

Wonder if we will now sell out our 3,000 allocation? I am certainly thinking of going now

I know from a decent source that at least one home grown first team player has a 50% relegation clause in his contract. The worry is that there may be a 25% clause in other contracts - possibly transfer in players - who would be on quite high wages

Fulham to move to Wembley next year when they are in the Prem and share with a NFL franchise England to play all their International games at Craven Cottage as a trade!!

Just a thought but wonder if Ross Wilson/Les Reed were told by the ex agent of Ali Dia that Carrillo was a cousin of George Weah?

Rumour is that Boufal has had a bust up with Hughes and has been told to train alone!! Wouldnt surprise me if that is true

I guess there will one or two ex rattle owners/ hot bovril lovers who can remember George Kirby, the demon centre forward of the early 60's who used to launch physical assaults on all and sundry on the pitch but was a perfect gentleman off it. I was reminded of George on Sunday when Charlie Austin's 'goal' was disallowed. Dear old George would scare the 's***' out of opposing goalkeepers who weren't the physical specimens they are today For example Alan Hodginson, an English International keeper was 5'8". One of the best games (and best atmospheres) at the Dell was the 3-3 draw with Nottm Forest in the FA Cup 6th Rd replay in 1963 when George made the Forest 'keeper, a young Peter Grummit, give away an OG from a centre. George generally went for the player not the ball and generally got away with it. George (and many other players at the time) would not have lasted more than 5 mins in today's game but it was fun to watch.

Billy You provide one of the highlights of the forum with your reporting skills even though, in recent times, your analysis underscores my demoralised view of team efforts over the past season and a half

Agree Some good points made, especially the one for the club to sort out the Director of Football role first to ensure there is a clear view of strategy going forward, including appointment of a Manager for the Championship. If this is delayed then the sale and recruitment of players is held up and this will affect the strength of the squad next year

In these disappointing times, I am cheering myself up by a few random 'football highs' experienced in my long association with the Saints. * Coming back from 3-0 down in the last 12 mins to draw 3-3 with Nottm Forest at the Dell * Winning the 2nd replay at WHL 5-0 in front of 30,000+ Saints fans * Beating Wolves 9-3 and hitting the woodwork twice as well * Two promotion games at Leyton Orient * Winning the FA Cup * Beating Liverpool 4-1 the year after promotion from Div 3 * Winning by the same score against a very good Liverpool side with a load of 'nippers' in the side * A wonder Mike Channon goal in an evening 4-0 win at Oxford * Signing Kevin Keegan (and Peter Shilton and a number of other very decent players in the McMenemy era) * Beating Man Utd 6-3 * Any number of Mattys wonder goals, especially the wonderous late winner in the final game at the Dell * Moving to a shiny new stadium from the cramped Dell. * Beating Sunderland 8-0 * Watching Saints at the San Siro with 8,000 other Saints These are just some of the highlights (and there are many more) with have been accentuated by a good deal of dross I have had to put up with during many, many years supporting Saints (thanks to my dear old Dad!!)

Stephens will see his weekly wage by 50% next season

Did Chelsea sell all their tickets in the end?

Ottawa To be fair we are no different to all bar 6 clubs in the country. The likes of the two Manchester clubs, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea have the financial backing and commercial revenue to be always challenging for honours. Apart from the 'miracle' that was Leicester City the rest of the teams in the Prem are one season away from trouble after suffering from poor recruitment/poor managers/crap recruitment We will now go down to battle it out with a lot of similar sized or arguably bigger teams than ourselves. If we can make use of the Parachute Payments, maximise transfer fees from a host of departing underachievers, get a decent manager and recruitment staff and buy in suitable replacement players we may have an enjoyable time. If not and we have a new owner keen to repatriate his buying expenses and trying to deal with uninterested players on huge wages then there is a Pompey style scenario in the offing!!

Any ideas when details will be announced? Can't wait for the excitement of being told I will be getting 3 extra games for the same price as this year plus a bit added on for inflation. Think season ticket take up will be around the modest 10 - 12,000 mark next season, if the Board dont take a sensible line on pricing, so the likelihood of some crowds of 15k ish on cold nights when we are mired in the middle/bottom half of the table could be on the cards. Still it might be good to actually witness an occasional 'WIN', whatever that that feels like.

Story in Spanish media outlook picked up by Liverpool Echo is that Dusan Tadic is attracting interest from Inter Milan/Juventus/Valencia/Zenit and Everton following our relegation. The transfer fee mentioned for the 29 year old playmaker is £40m!! No its not 1st April.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have Chelsea sold out yet?

No disrespect to Shane Long, who at least shows some passion and commitment, but it comes to something when our main goal threat recently has scored (correct me if I am wrong) 2 goals this season and, apart from one relatively purple patch, has not exactly been profligate during his time here. Even in today's inflated transfer market paying £12m for an average Championship forward was poor business but, of course, this pales into insignificance compared to Carrillo and possibly Boufal and Gabbiadino

Anyone hazard a guess what the odds would have been on the teams finishing 8th, 10th and 13th in last years Premier League being relegated and all three newly promoted clubs staying up? I believe it is very rare that all three promoted clubs stay up and I guess the odds that Huddersfield seem on course to do so with a limited transfer budget and comparatively low player wages puts our plight into sharp focus!!