spyinthesky

Talking to a Bristol City supporter today who was rightly proud of taking 40,000 fans to Wembley for this years JPT final Walsall also did well to drum up 30,000 fans in a 72,000 crowd However it appears that our game v Carlisle still holds the record of 73,476 The JPT website say that we took a record 44,000 that year but, according to info from Wembley Stadium, there were 52,000 in the Saints and corporate sections plus just under 19,000 from Carlisle (and hats off to them for a long journey at difficult time of the day) and the rest were Johnstone Paint corporate tickets etc We also hold the second highest qualifying attendance (29,900 SF v MK Dons) after Coventry, who sold their tickets at £5 a pop

Couldn't agree more with this I am gutted that Fraser sustained a serious injury but he does need to look at and improve this part of his game in the future. He stands too far back in his 6 yard box

Couple of things about Burnley 1. They have done far better than expected with very little expenditure on players and presumably low wage bill 2. All their 1st team squad are British And also didn't realise that Lee Hoos is their Chief Exec

Presume you were an 11+ student too? Only the brightest went to University then but for the rest of us average performers there were a host of jobs out there to choose from (in the 60's and 70's) which is not the case today I am sad to say

Anyone apart from me and Sarnia Saint fly the Saints flag whilst in 'proper' education (eg school uniforms/caps/learning Latin and the like) within what is now the PO Post code?

Think this is a good summary In my experience one thing that is particularly relevant to 'keepers is the fact that they mature later and actually hit best form in in their thirties I reckon Forster will definitely improve his communication and positioning with age. However I fully agree that he positions himself too close to the goal line at the moment maybe because, with his height, he is not as fleet of foot as the likes of Lloris, Howard, etc

Another vote for Pro Glaze Had a couple of issues with door fitment and furniture some while after the fitting which they dealt with quickly and without fuss

Have to say I was more than a little miffed about the post match chat after our game on MOTD The playback vindicated what most of us thought ie we should have had a stonewall penalty and Mignolet should have been red carded for handball outside the box but no comment on how that could have changed the game. After that it was all about Liverpool and 'Bodgers' from Mark Lawrenson and Noel Gallagher. No surprise there I suppose

It is difficult to judge players on one appearance but Ronald must see something in him to give him a start after a bit part v West Ham and 60 mins in last Monday's U 21 game It is evident he has a bit of ability but, to my mind, went down too early for the first penalty appeal. Perhaps he is unfamiliar with the system but he seemed to be rather peripheral at times not tracking back and a bit lightweight in his challenges. For all his criticism on here, Pelle's long range pass for Djurcic's first goal attempt was outstanding

JB - Agree Wonder if both players will stay at Swindon next season if, as expected, they go up to the Championship and the standard is higher

My impressions from last night: 1. Not many there bearing in mind v low admission cost 2. Much colder than the night before!! 3. Difficult to work out the identity of players without the benefit of a programme or named shirts 4. Both teams had players with potential and it will be interesting how some of them, who possess more refined skills, will progress when they mature 5. Djuricic was the stand out player 6. Jason Mccarthy is a natural leader 7. Gallagher obviously still a bit rusty and, rather worrying, had to come off with a knee problem which had to be ice packed 8. Decent game though

Good news How many Academy players are still plying their trade in the league away from St Mary's? Baird Matt Mills Simon Gillett Williamson Ben Reeves Dyer David McGoldrick Leon Best Lallana Surman Lloyd James Walcott Chambers Oxlade- Chamberlain Bale Shaw Cranie

West Ham United Once renown as the 'Science of Football' team now reduced to 'hoof ball' tactics. Still they may well go down in the annals of football in these parts as being one of the very few, and possibly the only team able to despatch the ball out of the ground from a clearance. Congratulations!!!

Think Frog & Frigate has reopened

Have come across another 'justification' for the SCUMMER insult. Apparently there was an article in the April/May 1996 issue of the Fanzine 'Frattonise' which states that the term actually came out of a local fishing company dispute prior to WW1 which involved two companies with branches in Portsmouth and Soton. As per usual Pompey myths, the nasty men from Soton broke the strike, hence the Scummer tag. This has been taken as FACT by many in Pompey as it was included in a published version of a well known and impeccably researched fanzine so who would argue with such an esteemed publication!!!!!!!!. The fact that no date has been ascribed to the so called dispute, no company name offered, no understanding that Southampton has never been recognised as a fishing port makes it all the more laughable. Would be interesting to know how many 'excuses' for the so called strike are now in existence

When I was a kid, one of the comics I read featured Olac the Gladiator. He suffered damaged ribs in a set to with some nasty people. Fortunately he was able to wrap his torso in some sort of healing herbs and was OK to continue his gladitorial conquest by the following week. Shows that modern medical treatments are not all they are cracked up to be otherwise Shane Long would be back in action by now

Errata - Should be Portsmouth News!!

I wonder if the Portsmouth Mail will now resurrect their campaign to get Henry a Knighthood!!!!!!!!!! It still amazes me how many down that way signed up for the campaign

One thing that tends to be forgotten by Pompey fans is that the two times the team won 1st Division, the capacity of Fratton Park was 51,000 However their average crowd for both seasons (ie early 50's when most grounds were full post war and Pompey had loads of matelots in port) was 37,000 (ie approx. 75% of capacity) and one of those years the average was less than Hull City who were a Third Division team!!!

Puts the progress both on and off the field into perspective compared to our friends down the road who are struggling with the rising water table affecting the playing and training pitches at their 'state of the art' facilities

I guess they must be highly delighted with the exposure they are receiving Good luck to them as they spotted an opportunity and they are a local company run by Saints fans Having said that I guess the club will be looking at an higher profile sponsor with more cash on the back of this years increased media coverage

Another example of Pompeymyth Someone told me this morning that there is great excitement on one of their boards at the 'news' that we only took 257 supporters to Ipswich. Understand that the figure was 1,257. Nothing outstanding but reasonable for a mid week game, live on BBC and sandwiched between away trips to Manchester and Newcastle. I am sure this will soon become part of folklore down there

Liked the bit at the end where our old taxi driving friend Perry McMillan was sahring local football anecdotes with three lads from Upham FC Wonder if Perry ever had Rupert Lowe in his cab and if the old SISA crew still go to games?

I want Saints to win as many games as possible and should my wishes come to fruition the prospect of Europa League (and possibly Champions League) is a distinct possibility. I guess the upsides would be: 1. Increased profile of the club at home and abroad 2. Greater revenue 3. Ability to keep and attract better players Possible downsides would be: 4. Requirement to strengthen squad (would the cost exceed additional revenue?) 5. Increased wages/bonuses (would this impact on Financial Fair Play rules?) 6. Affect of travelling on our domestic form 7. Likelihood of additional match day/season ticket costs I heard a whisper before Xmas, from a well connected source, that the Board were willing to spend big in the January window if Champions league was a possibility. Champions League remains a reasonable prospect but, apart from a replacement for Mane, there doesn't appear to be much prospect of strengthening the squad apart from a possible reaction to Toby's injury. Presumably the Board are considering the pros and cons of further investment in the squad relative to possible benefits and wonder if Redslo or one of the other informative posters could provide a financial analysis of the likely considerations they may be looking at

Also met him in the past and share your view By all accounts takes after his Dad and some other minor royals who are brought up to expect fawning responses from the hoi polloi