david in sweden

most certainly. there have been times when "the squad " had international palyers in reasonable numbers (mostly in McMenemy's 80's sides), but never so many on international duty at the same time .

I could have written the same post Martyg. ...went to SMS with my eldest ...some years back.....and it was a great feeling, but difficult to compare (for better or worse) with the Dell.

if Roy is hoping to emulate our performances...? he must play all three at the same time. Expecting those other England dead-legs to keep up with our pace would be a waste of time.

Roy ...if I come to every home game - can I come in for free? NC....Sorry, you've had your freebie. You can pay like everyone else.

well it was state of the art when built ....over 100 years ago, and SFC were revolutionary in introducing floodlights for evening games sometime after World War Two. However, the finance was never there to make vast improvement and the idea of a new stadium was a pipe dream for over 40 years. As others might say the ground was cramped -when there wasa full house. Uneven terraces in concrete for most of the standing fans , and hard wooden seats for those in the stands. If you were unfortunate to be standing behind one of the many iron girders supporting the stand, you were dry when it rained, but had to look to the left and right of it to follow the game from end to end. but what was it like -----as an arena for football. It was tremendous. The walls alongside the pitch were so close that you could almost reach out and touch a player taking a throw in and taking a corner meant the kicker had his back against the wall in front of the crowd. The acoustics seemed to be the greatest attribute and a crowd of 20,000 could sound like double, and with fans singing when the Saints go marching in it would echo around the ground and could be heard a mile away with the wind in the right direction. Visiting players said they feared the ground, because it was a so compact and intimidating when the crowd got going, and Lawrie McMenemy said the crowd were worth a goal start. I wouldn't wish back there because I love SMS, but there was something about the Dell ....with its singing fans and closeness to the pitch that the new stadium lacks abit...but like changing managers .....it's nice to have good memories, but the reality of the ground today is good, too. maybe in ten years time .....someone will ask ....." what was St.Mary's like before the extension was built ...when the capacity was only 32,000 ? "

well I hope you're joking. Niemi was a great player for Saints and only left when we were going down and he was still good enough to play in the Prem. The article it seems was translated by Google, and that is composed of user contribution. I don't know what the word means but it's obviously not been used on Google before. As I recall Niemi's English was quite passable, but Finnish is a totally different language family to the other Nordic countries and so it doesn't surprise me. I've used Google on occasions, but never for more than odd words and an occasional sentence. Putting in a whole text is asking for trouble, when it turns up tripe like this.

EXACTLY ! He might make a few people nervous when he puts on a first team shirt, but if he's genuinely helping Luke find his feet, then he's worth every penny of his salary, whether he's playing or not.

it's all a waste of time..... .....by the time that Climate Change is in full swing, they'll be having blizzards by then........

Oh! panic, disaster....... ** Lawro has predicted us ...to WIN ! Is this the end of football forecasting (as we know it )....from the " TV experts " ? ** If he's a TV expert , he can come and fix my satellite dish on the roof.

and having been around even longer than that I know exactly what you mean. But I can recall times in the past when Leeds and Liverpool were " ordinary " Div.2 sides, and even Man.Utd had their ups and downs between Euro triumphs, and Man.City's name was just a joke. We have come to a place where the players seem to go into a game fearing no-one. It will, it seems, take a bit longer for a lot in our fan base to get the same motivation.

I think Danny Fox realises that his days are numbered, but (if true) he's showing a good side to his nature by giving Luke advice and tips.....for the good of the club. We could all make a short list (or a long one) of Fox's shortcomings, but he does have a "gritty" side to his game and doesn't flinch from tackles....something you see more in Luke's game now, as well. I find it encouraging that a man who surely knowsthat he condemned to the bench for the rest of his club career, should go out of his way to " help " his successor. Nice one Danny.

agree this is a phrase that continually repeated by all the media hacks.......(and they can stop ranting about Wenger signing Schneiderlin) as well. I'm really looking forward to the next two away games.....Chelsea and Arsenal. Perhaps two of the toughest away fixtures we'll have, but it will be the ultimate test of how good a side we have become and how good we really are. For my money, getting one point from each game would be a satisfactory answer.....

Yes you got that bit OK "winner ". One of the few occasions that I can recall that we'd had a " settled " side, although there have been a few odd seasons since then. I don't know if we were bored, or satisfied that we had the same team week in and week out, and they weren't world beaters either as there were a few bad results in that 62-63 season, but the team remained the same (except for the odd injury or case of flu') ....and soon everyone could pick the team even before it was announced. However, as we've seen this season, a settled side can produce some great results and the 1962-63 cup run (made it to Semi Final) is still one that remains fixed in my memory-even 50 years later.

with all that double-training and the right diet who knows what they'll be like by the time they turn 21 ........

Martin was of course never a regular, but a useful replacement when Fonte was out for a long period around Christmas / New Year in the Championship season, and played a dozen or so games that season. He also came on for the injured Hooiveld (in the SMS game v.Derby) and scored, (although it wasn't a vital goal to the result). Can't say he ever let the side down, I think he deserved a mention. Barnard had one (and a half) good seasons..in L1, .........and Forte one good game (v MK Dons.)

of course a good question will be - will they all three get on the field of play at the same time?.. It has happened before. Back in " the good old days ..in the 1980's" ; Peter Shilton, Steve Williams and Mark Wright played in 3 internationals together between Sept. and November 1984. there were others, too. Kevin Keegan and Dave Watson two games together in 1981, David Armstrong and Peter Shilton both played against WEST Germany in 1982 Shilton and Williams 2 games -"- in 1983, Armstrong and Wright, 1 game v. Wales in 1984 Danny Wallace and Mark Wright v. Egypt in Jan 1986 " .those were the days ....my friend..." and a little more recently ....James Beattie and Wayne Bridge were both in the England team that played Serbia and Montenegro in 2003. Would be great to see Adam, Rickie and Jay Rod turning in good displays and see if it could break the " Man.Utd monopoly " on places....

Sadly not a game to remember fondly.....losing 1-4 at home to the eventual champions LEEDS UTD. Although just in that game there were a few changes to those you mentioned. Ron Reynolds had played his last game in September (having been injured in the game at Fratton Park) and Tony Godfrey was in goal, and Ian White played instead of Wimshurst , and in John Sydenham's absence it was the last ever game for Harry Penk on the Left wing BUT I'm another one who could recite that line-up off by heart. During the second part of season 1962-63 that line-up was almost unchanged for 20 or more matches.

three players who made a small, but vital contribution to our progress in the lower divsions, but sadly for them will never get a look in considering the standard of football we are playing now. Can only hope they find good placements ....at a suitable club.....in the near future.

remember it well when he arrived and quickly put aside the idea that Ted Bates had bought " an old soldier " (Stuart was 32 by then) and really showed his class- right upto his last season (aged 36). Playing at right back, he had great vision, calm and a good passer of the ball, he helped the young Terry Paine become the great player he was. Remember the 1963 derby game v. Pompey at The Dell, when he went off with an injury and returning with a bandaged head (no subs.in those days) to play on the left wing...then going up for an attack and scoring a goal right on HT. A real professional and a great role model for younger players at that time. RIP

I'd pretty much go with that one Minsk, Lee has got himself back on the bench - at least- and deserves an outing. Ramirez 'cos he cost £12 million and must retain his value whether he stays or goes (in January). Jay Rod because he's the in-form striker, and Osvaldo because he's not

well it's not uncommon....first comes to mind is Nigel Quashie who played U21 for England but was eventually selected for Scotland at full level, but there have been others I'm sure. Once a player has been capped at full level, he can't change countries, but until then it's no problem if another country can " claim him" provided he qualifies for them through parental birthright.

Who? ....where are they in the league?

Mmm. a lot of difference between the standard of the Prem. and Allsvenskan. ....but you never know.

Matt Targett ?.....OK. He hasn't seen first team action yet, but has already been selected (with Calum Chambers).. for the England U19 squad....

Brighton ?......Rivals ?........hahahahahahahahahaha:lol: - for what? .. best summer weather ?