AussieDog

What a great way to wake up on a sunny Sunday morning "down under". Hope has been restored!

Although long term (as in when we get to the Premiership!) it would be great to have a 40,000+ seater stadium, it would give us a soul-less atmosphere with only 20,000 or less in attendance. I have the misfortune of going to see Brisbane Roar play to 10,000 in a 52,000 stadium and it is sh!te. Not trying to sound pesimistic but is it worth gambling on it now? I'd settle for "putting up" with full houses of 32,000 every premiership game rather than risk a half empty stadium if we don't get there. If we get established again, then I don't think funding would be a particular problem anyway.

A bit of realism would be good here. There was a club that needed to be saved, alot of adjustment of attitudes, and some fresh injection of players. I am only viewing from afar, but to me, all three of those boxes are being ticked. We're building for the future and there are still over 120 points to play for this season! I'm sure we will all be relieved when we get that first win, but some of the comments on here have bordered on the ridiculous. We're not even out of August, the cricket season is still on, and yet there are people predicting relegation or a season of struggle. OK...I am a bit of an optimist when it comes to Saints, but when I look through our squad and the squads of other teams in this league, I still believe we have the quality to make the play-offs this year...but saying that I wouldn't complain if we managed to inject some pace into the side before the transfer window closes!

who made the most of their talents? George Best?, Jimmy Greaves?, Paul Gasgcoine?, or MLT?? Who was the best player??? most importantly of all.....who had the best quality of life??? There are hundreds of other examples I could have picked, but whether or not you appreciated MLT, I very much doubt if you could find one true Saints fan who ever had aspirations of playing themselves, who would not have wanted to BE the player MLT was. We may have chosen to have made better use of our talents than he did - but that was his right to use them in that way. Rather than feel "cheated" over what he didn't (but could have) achieved, I still feel priviledged to have witnessed the majority of his magic moments. 'Nuff said???

Here's a true story from this evening. Walking through the local shopping centre here in Brisbane, Australia, wearing a polo shirt with a saints badge on it, and a complete stranger takes the p155 out of me for supporting Saints....but finished off by saying ""you lot haven't been any good since LeTissier retired" I have had countless conversations over here about saints with complete strangers (I even had a policeman stop me in McDonalds once - all because I was wearing a Saints shirt and he wanted to meet a fellow saints fan!) and in virtually every instance they have said what a fantastic player LeTissier was. How many years ago did he retire now??

We will get something positive out of the game....if we can sign a striker and a CB this week then I will go for a thumping win by Saints (4-1?)...if we don't make any signings . then first priority will be a clean sheet, so maybe 0-0

Although I'm disappointed we haven't had more signings, I do appreciate that this is a building process, and I would rather a few initial disappointments if it means that AP gets the RIGHT players in, rather than panic signings which end up bloating the squad and the payroll. I don't want players who are marginally better than what we have already got, I want players in who raise the bar significantly (and who can hopefully help us get the best out of the good younger players that are still left). I still believe that our current squad is better than at least 50% of the rest of the league. Only time will tell....but I am really looking forward to hearing (or watching if it is shown down here, but that's highly unlikely) the Millwall game. Confidence and a positive attitude can really make a difference. With a 25,000 crowd for the first game (well that's my prediction anyway) we can really get off to a flyer (stuff the Sky curse! - hopefully that left with he who shall not be named...)

My all time favourite goal, I think, and I was there to see it in the flesh. I loved the pass and move game we played back then with a mixture of old, classy heads and young willing workers (who also had a fair bit of talent too). That video should be played over and over again in the changing rooms before training and before the games. This is how the game should be played!

I think I might just take a few sleeping pills and sleep for the next 24 hours....the suspense is killing me and I REALLY need a good nights sleep. I just hope this isn't just a dream and we really are being bought by someone who has enough cash to take us forward, and we really will get KK in, and I can look forward to the new season for the 1st time since I left England in 2003 and we were still in the Premier League! Pinch me someone....no wait....don't...if this is a dream I don't think I want to wake up just yet...

Here's a suggestion...Name the Main stand after Ted Bates, and the other 3 after Terry Paine, Mick Channon, and MLT. We could then name the ground afer Lawrie and call it "The Big Mac Stadium". There might even be a potential sponsorship involved with that one!

I am totally gutted. We deserve to be relegated, but not this way. Everything about this stinks. If I was a Swansea or a preston Fan I would be pretty annoyed at the timing of the announcement. They would have been hoping for a Saints win against Burnley, as it would be their last hope of sneaking a playoff place. similarly with norwich, as they would want us to get a result against Forest (but not burnley...) so that they can catch them and get out of the bottom 3. This whole thing sucks and has ruined the last 2 rounds of the Championships season for several teams (and probably cost them money in gate receipts) What was the point in making the announcement today - and why were the club only informed of the decision 5 minutes before its release!

The end of my love affair with Saints because...well, too many reasons to list them all, but basically because my passion was for a hard working and honest team that I was proud to tell people I supported, but with the performances on the pitch, and the dishonesty off it (allegedly...) I can't do that any more

We only have to do marginally better than Forest and Plymouth......and their recent results have been worse than ours, so although we are cr4p, there are worse teams than us! My own personal opinion is that it will come down to the Forest game - but that a draw will be enough. Question is...which team will have the most bottle on the day??

Get rid of both, as well as John and BWP. With the money saved in wages, put a cheeky bid in for Beattie! I think Beattie and Saga would be ideal foils for each other. Hopefully Paterson will be a good backup.

What a tough call! I would be happy with either one, and all my great football memories were from Lawrie Mac, and who can ever forget his signing of Keegan out of the blue, let alone our cup win of '76 and our other Wembley appearances....BUT...Ted Bates gave everything to Southampton, and got us into the top division for the first time ever. He was also the first to get us into Europe too! I have to say that Lawrie would probably have managed todays primadonnas better than Ted. So today my vote is for Lawrie. If you asked me again tomorrow it would just as likely be Ted, it's that close in my eyes.

Wotte's comments so far appear to be aleniating the fans, although I am sure all would be forgiven if the team went through the rest of the season unbeaten! At the moment he is coming across as if he has no respect for the fans, or for what the fans have had to be put up with for the past 5 years. Whether or not he has the players respect....well that remains to be seen. To me the appointment smacks of the whole Gorman & Dodd affair last season - let's put the cheap option in and hope it works. Last season we at least had the players to get us out of the mess with the right motivator. This year I fear we have neither the right players or the ability to attract a Manager who can get the players to perform to their potential. To be honest...would YOU take the job of working for Lowe? If he stays you know he can't be trusted...if he goes, you are likely to be kicked out the door with him. What a poisoned chalice...

I would never, could never, support any other team. I currently "watch" Queensland Roar (what a stupid name for a football club), and next season I will "watch" the Gold Coast football team that is just starting up, But I have no passion for any other team. I barely watch the premier league on TV as it is full of money grabbing mercenaries. Looking on the bright side, I will no longer have an interrupted nights sleep every match day of the year through either getting up or staying up to check the scores...

If I could have been in the UK today, then I would have been on the march. Whether it does any good is anybodies guess, but if there are as many as 10% of the match attendance on the march then I think that would be an outstanding effort (1500?...2000!!!???). In my heart I feel that this is going to really surprise a few people, and that it is also going to make a cracking atmosphere for the match and even spur us on to victory. Please don't forget we are also playing a match today! Whatever enthusiasm you generate for the march, double it for the support of the team for 90 minutes. After the match, regardless of win, draw or lose, renew the protests against the board. I hope to be able to see highlights of both the match and the march on youtube tomorrow. COYR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Intersting to see that everyone is hammering Wotte for not picking his "best side" when virtually everyone on here is picking a different one. For what it's worth, here's my (unhelpful) team selection :- 1.KD 2.A right fullback 3.A left fullback Molyneux? 5.someone who can win headers in the box Saiejs 6.someone with pace who can stay goalside 4.someone who can win the ball 8.someone who can pick a pass Schneiderlin 7.someone who can cross a ball from the left and chase back 11.someone who can cross a ball from the right and chase back 9.Someone strong who can win headers in the opposing penalty box and make flick-ons 10. A goal Poacher Saganowski As you can see, I have no f*cking idea, other than Kelvin in goal, and a few suggestions for a couple of the other positions! All I want is for us to pick 11 players who play their hearts out, and get back to the basics. If we don't have players who can do the job, and if we don't have any cash, then I guess we are screwed!

I fired in a quick 1,000 too - plus another 100 for redknapp for old times sake...

Although my vote is likely to go with Steve Moran, I thought I would chuck another name into the hat....Peter Osgood. Honorable mention for Ted McDougall, too. Another lazy git who just happened to score goals for fun....lol

No...it's all MY fault. I am the lucky mascot. I left Southampton and the UK in Nov 2003 6 months after the Cup Final, and when we were in the top half of the Premier League and I moved to Australia. My change of fortune and good luck in the past 5 years has been the direct opposite of Saints fortune. I'm a bit busy until the end of March, but if you lot would like to club together to pay my wages over here and buy me a return ticket to the UK, I am more than happy to come back for the last 6 weeks of the season to see us gain maximum points, make up the 10 point deduction we will be getting shortly, and finish 4th from bottom and escape relegation. About $15,000 Australian should about cover it (I don't mind travelling economy).....so who's going to get the hat out for a whip round? I'll even buy my own tickets to the games....

oh...and I WAS joking about the cat.....

Doom....gloom...moan...moan FFS don't you guys have a cat you can kick instead? It was a poxy reserve game - have any of you even checked the "league table" for the reserves?? (last time I checked we were top). Get a grip!!

Unfortunately JP is tarnished by his association with Lowe. No doubt given a totally free rein (ie NO interference from "above" over player choices), and with a sensible budget, he would have done a far better job. I still feel sorry for the guy, but I think he has passed the point of no return now, and can't see how he can turn things around. The trouble is - what decent (or even half-decent) Manager would want the poisoned chalice of managing Saints while Lowe is still around? There is no point in sacking JP if we can't replace him with anyone better. Rather than harp on about a different Manager, everyone's efforts should be focused on finding LEGAL ways in which to force the Lowe and the Board of Directors out. I wish I had a clue as to what they might be, other than a knight in shining armour suddenly appearing out of nowhere (that reminds me...I really must remember to keep buying those lottery tickets...), but for the life of me, I am lost for ideas. It is just too depressing for words. When I left the UK in 2003 we were in the top half of the Premier League and I thought we would be pushing on from there. Now, I'm almost glad I'm 12,000 miles away and don't get to see first hand what a laughing stock our team has become....