spyinthesky

There was a game at Highbury, against Leeds I think, during quite a cold spell, when only just over 3,000 turned up.

Must have been around the 32,000+ mark. In all my many years supporting Saints at The Dell, I have never witnessed such overcrowding. I was glad I managed to get a seat in the West Stand for the game.

Good old Cuddly John Westwood who celebrates the violence of the 657 squad with a nice friendly tattoo.

I heard a rumour, from a fairly reliable source, that Saints have bought the former Gas Holder site with the intention of turning it into a Exhibition/Concert centre. Just wonder if anyone with connections with the club could confirm/dispute this? If there is truth in this, it would be good to have such a facility in Southampton.

You are correct that occasionally The Dell would accommodate crowds of up to 30,000 prior to the Taylor report but only twice in Saints history was there ever an average attendance over just over 25,000, for the season, before the move to SMS.

I think the club and us supporters have done a good job in more or less doubling the average attendances in the switch from The Dell to SMS. Of course there was a 15,000 capacity limit at The Dell but I can remember being in a number of less than capacity games at our old ground. Building SMS for £32m seems incredible value now when you look at the cost to restructure and build stadia today and even compared to modern transfer 'values'. If Saints were able to become a competitive Premiership club and the 'gentrification' of the Itchen waterfront progresses in the next 5-10 years (I am relatively optimistic this will happen) then a financial case could be made for an increase in capacity at SMS, part of which are looking a bit tired atm. Licensing an increased capacity by Soton Council is likely to be a challenge but I think the Council (of whatever colour) could see some merit in this, if there was creative solutions to the expected additional traffic concerns.

I wonder if there is a deadline for the transfer of politicians between parties and their agents are busily sorting out terms.?

Ironically a friend of mine was telling me about a neighbour who seems to have money for various body 'artwork' and other 'improvements' and drives round in a Land Rover supplied under the Motobility scheme. She has never worked in the 5 years they have been neighbours. However,she seems to go out in the car most mornings just after her son goes off to a special school in a Taxi.

No he didnt. I was sat down wind of him in the Itchen and he was singing 'Play Up England. England Play Up' until one of members of Turkish's mob confronted him and he had to move away for a 'comfort' break, which required the attendance of a plumber to unblock the pipes.

Nor does the River Test which meets the River Itchen at Dock Head and flows into Southampton Water thence onwards to the Solent. Next debating point. Could people go promenading or walk out to the sea on Wigan Pier????

As a card carrying pessimist, I am feeling a tad enthusiastic about the signings. However I have a noise in my head kindly placed there by fellow poster who reminded us that Boufal looked the business on You Tube as did Orsic to some extent and probably as McCann would have done before You Tube was invented. What you never see is talented players wandering back after losing the ball or other passages of play which dont do their profiles much good. I wonder how many transfers are made on the basis of video clips? Apparently Ted Bates would always want to see players he was interested in play both at home and away as there was often quite a difference in performance levels. Probably not so much nowadays as pitches and stadium facilities are generally similar not like back in the 'Good Old Days'.

Just a question for debate and feedback from those who might know. IF and its a biggish IF, the team get promoted this season, do the players get a bonus based on the 40%/50% of the expected reduction in their salary following relegation?

Meantime Sam Hoskins, one of our ex youngsters continues to be a hero at Northampton.

It seems that Scienza and Fellows will provide a decent amount of chances for whoever is in the opponents penalty area. Apart from Ross Stewart, who's fitness and sharpness has yet to be tested over a period of time, I cant see Archer, Armstrong or Downs having the aerial power to take full advantage. The last time us older fans would have seen flying wingers feeding a decent centre forward was in the 1960's when Messers Paine and Sydenham were providing crosses for Ron Davies, who then became the top scorer in the old First Division, mainly die to his unrivalled prowess in the air.

The feedback I have received from various sources was that KWP was on a low wage compared to the rest of the 1st team squad. If so it shows what relatively good value he was to the team throughout his time with us. I guess he, Fernandes and Dibling are seeing quite a bit more money in their respective piggy banks now.

More of a defensive midfielder perhaps?

But at least he had the pleasure of scoring against Pompey at Fratton Park😇

I am in the same sad group as Alex having suffered most of my long life as a Saints fan. Nothing can reach the excitement of Kevin Keegan's signing but after last years shit show, I am currently feeling a tad optimistic but feel it all disappearing after a 2-0 home defeat in our next home game🙄

Thats a sobering thought. Wonder what he is like against the ball?

Someone who came with great credentials and actually had a decent start at St Marys only to fall away very quickly. Hope our new signings dont follow his lead!!

Fair comment on If's But's and Maybe's. I have a mate who's son is a goal keeping coach at a high level club. In his opinion, Baz could not be directly faulted with any of the goals conceded this season. He also reckons that nearly all GK's improve with age and Baz is fairly young in comparison to the majority of keepers. Baz is not the tallest of 'keepers but has a decent 'spring' and is very quick off his line. He (and I) reckon that the criticism of Baz is rather unjustified compared to others playing in goal which my mate's son spends time analysing as part of his job. Hopefully Baz, and any of our players, doesnt follow fan's forums as criticism does little to inspire confidence just as booing opposition players generally increases their desire to play well.

I agree particularly about a 'proper' No 9. Also the squad is a tad lightweight and may be bullied by bigger, more direct, teams. All that said, I hope the excitement I'm feeling about the squad I see on paper will be translated onto performances on the pitch.

If it hadnt been for that save we would be on 2 points atm

Spot on quote. The new signings provide a sense of optimism but we wont see the real outcome for a few games when the players all get to know one another and Still gets the system right.

Just think, last summer Transfer Window we signed Maxwell Cornet. That went well!!!!!!