Minty

Agree wholeheartedly with this.

pap - i don't think your tone is really helping your argument, there've been some good questions and points made in the last page or two (something, I'll be honest, I didn't think we'd get on this thread at all), and Kelv's is a perfectly reasonable question. This being a football forum, if everyone could start playing the ball, not the man, it'd help keep things at a decent level. And bear in mind I actually agree with much of your constructive opinion about Thatcher, not least point 39 above - but I am willing to accept that it was not just her, personally, who was responsible for this. The whole list from Nick Cave's facebook status is undoubtedly an interesting one, and a good basis for (potentially decent) debate, but it is entirely correct and fair IMO, to acknowledge that it was not just Thatcher who put these things in place, just as all the good stuff was not entirely down to her too.

“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr

'Generated a bit of interest' ... ??? Generated a host of bites from people who don't have anything better to do than hang on every tiny bit of info coming from the club, more like, lol. Job done.

I could've told them that for nowt, but probably not as much as fun for them.

I struggle to understand any attempt to justify being pleased that someone has died. At a very basic, human level, that's pretty unpalatable IMO. I'll not mourn her passing particularly. I respect her role in British history, for better or worse (and that's still a major matter of opinion), and naturally pass condolences to her family and friends.

Slightly related, but not really all that related, point: Can anyone really believe that Fat Sam was previously touted for the England job?

You mean mine, up at post #18?

Seeing as we're playing West Brom at St Mary's at 1500, I'm guessing it'll be the usual morning KO... ;-)

No, and it's also worth bearing this in mind when considering final league placing: http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2012/06/19/premier-league-tv-rights-qa-including-where-the-money-goes-and-what-next-190601/ (Not sure if there is any better article showing what we might earn this season, it was the best I could find after a quick Google)

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/iain-macintosh-the-gamble-few-would-have-backed-227677.html?

These kinds of question are always a bit silly... it can make for interesting discussion if you're that way inclined, but there are too many variables and unknowns IMO to give it any substance. But while we're on the subject, here's another question: Would Pochettino have got us promoted from League 1 to the Premier League in two seasons, the same way Adkins did? All I know and think is that, overall, Adkins did a great job to get us in to the Premier League, and so far, Pochettino is showing good potential in taking us forward from there.

It amazes me that so many people do not see Adkins' talk for what it was - deliberately designed to focus on key messages of being 'together as one', being positive, and encouraging everyone connected with the club to think positively. And it worked. His background and study of sports psychology shows he knows what he is doing, and as much as some people don't like it, agree with it, or see a need for it, there is clear evidence that this approach can work. So it's no surprise to see him doing something very similar at Reading. But he is now Reading's boss and as such I'm really not fussed about what he says for their benefit. It shouldn't affect us and our game - we have a new direction under a new manager which is working well for us, and long may that continue. The King is dead, long live the King.

Such a load of ******** - it seems we're not happy unless we put people into boxes and make sweeping judgements about them accordingly. It is true that our respective wealth will influence things about our life, obviously, but the class designation that results, and much of the preconceptions and stereotyping of those in each class just serves to turn people against each other and degrade the very real problems and very specific issues that we all have, whatever 'class' we are in. We're individuals. It would be nice if we were all treated as such, but I know that will probably never happen.

trousers - purveyor of news links to previously lost threads since 2006.

There are some really interesting and healthy debates to be had, and dare I say it, we can all learn a lot from different points of view on this and many other topics - but as you both say, it's the point-scoring, black-and-white, "Tory's are great/evil, Labour are evil/great!" standpoints that some take, and that the media inevitably have to pursue to please much of their readership, that degrade the quality of discussion, and the validity of the ideas that are often put forward from all sides.

Highlights on Saints Player now of our 2-0 win on Friday night. Lovely assist from Gazzaniga for the second goal - his quick accurate kick to set Saints on the counter attack is a peach. If he can continue to develop his all round game, kicking like that would be the icing on the cake - not many are capable of it.

But would you actually turn up?

Oh, and I'll ask Al if he fancies doing some photos for you/us too.

I'm a 'possible' Steve, and would happily ref it if you don't get any other offers. Will confirm ASAP.

Give it a couple of weeks, they might be saying it again. Fickle? Fans? Never.

2 years ago, if a story like this had come out about a PL club watching Morgan or Rickie or Jose, I reckon there would've been a similar reaction by that clubs fans on their forum. Scouts and managers can see potential in players, and players will rarely realise their FULL potential in a lower league. We should've learnt that ourselves early this season - players do take time to adjust to the Premier League - they have to sharpen up, take less touches, be more aware of what's around them sooner - but it's difficult to do that until you're playing in the PL week in, week out, or training with players who are. We have improved a lot as this season has gone on, including players who were with us in League 1, so why couldn't someone like this make the step up? So, I would never write off any link like this... I have never seen the player, as far as I recall, but I don't think we should slip into the same elitist mindset that some other clubs get into, that we should only be looking to sign players from Europe's top leagues. We undoubtedly WILL sign players from those places, but perhaps more than most, we should recognise the potential value of the lower leagues too.

Well, sadly all is not going smoothly - signed up in February and booked the install for moving day, 1st March. The day before I got a message to say it was being postponed until March 12th due to technical reasons. Then got another message on Thu 7th March to say it was being postponed again due to them needing to get an area manager to look at the cabling in my street, because it is congested... estimated date for install therefore is now up to the end of APRIL. Now, if there is a problem that needs sorting, fair enough. It's inconvenient, but needs to be done. BUT, why did it take until Mar 7th to tell me this, when I booked it nearly a month earlier?! That's not on, in my book. So, not a happy bunny right now - may just have to make do with a mobile dongle for now, as the only other option is to cancel and sign up with someone else which might take at least a few weeks anyway because I'd need a new BT line before I can place an order with another 'conventional' broadband provider, and BT Openreach waiting times can be quite long too. This line speed better be worth the wait!

SO do I as a consumer, but as a small business owner, the problem is the cost to the business... for a small business with lowish turnover, the rates can be quite high, especially debit cards. Credit cards are a flat % which is fine, but when you get charged upwards of 25p per transaction (especially in first few years of trading) then it quickly wipes out the profit on goods of lower value.

I'm sure there will be better contenders elsewhere, but has Southampton even seen a worse attempt at robbery than this, just this morning?! http://www.wave105.com/news/Ram-Raid-At-Southampton-Jewellers/ No comment! More in the Echo: http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/10258215.UPDATE__Thieves_smash_lorry_into_jewellery_store/