Saint-Armstrong

The club media staff have no choice unfortunately. I assure you they all feel the same way as you.

Tickets.

He always comes across very well, be it video interviews, newspaper interviews or pieces like this. Using his position to gain coverage for an important matter, also good to see. Have seen him promoting/fundraising for Alopecia support groups online a few times now.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/southampton-champions-league-sceptics-laughed-4961395

Stop it, stop. Stop getting me all excited.

My favourite match report - EVER: http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/content.php?549-MATCH-REPORT-Manchester-United-0-1-SAINTS

He's ****ing ace, isn't he?

Our manager is ****ing ace. Post-match message to the fans via Twitter...

@DTguardian: Koeman not entirely happy with Tadic - it was "stupid" for him to be booked for removing shirt. "I don't like that and I will tell him."

LVG says we came for a draw and got a lucky win.

Well, if we win tomorrow we could go 5 points clear of 5th... gulp.

Rickie Lambert didn't make that team either - would that mean Mackail-Smith or Wright-Phillips are better and Rickie was just a bit better than average? I'd say Do Prado was a better footballer than Bennett and maybe Pilkington too, IMO.

SaintsWeb Preview: http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/content.php?548-PREVIEW-Manchester-United-vs-SAINTS-BarclaysPremierLeague

They seem to agree! Reply from a CF fan... 1) We WERE a dominant force in the days of Peter Wilt running the club: Nowak, Stoichkov, Wolff, Beasley, Bocanegra, Kubik, Thornton, Armas, Gutierrez, Razov, Ralph, Podbrozny, Okaroh, Sanneh, Rolfe etc. got us 6 major trophies in 9 years and two CONCACAF Champions' League 3rd place finishes. Since then we've appeared in the 2009 Superliga Final (N. America's Europa League) and a 2011 US Open Cup Final (our FA Cup, which we've won 4 times), but we've been mid-table this decade and really dipped into the bottom half of the league last season. 2)Yep 3) VERY unhappy. This is the first year we've made any big signings since we picked up Germany's World Cup centre-back Arne Friedrich (who helped us to a playoff finish in 2012) joined in late 2011. Andrew "Dollar Menu" Hauptman is the nickname. 4) Sadly, though this is the first season we've made some moves including nabbing a player you guys tried acquiring just prior to this season: Kennedy Igboananike. Apparently his transfer from AIK was settled on and then the dreaded UK work permit issue ruined it for you guys. Interestingly, it appears Guly will be his back-up. 5) Underperformed the last four years, despite just missing out on the playoffs in 2011 and 2013 and finishing mid-table in the last week of the season. Our MO has been poor starts to a season, then big July transfers to rescue us. It worked in 2012 and almost worked in the two years bookending, but FINALLY we are signing in the January window. 6) Traditionally the best youth system in MLS. At one point in the 2010 World Cup, the entire starting back line for the Yanks: Beasley, Bocanegra, DeMerit, and Spector, came through the Chicago system, as did others in the squad. Probably doesn't hurt that Bob Bradley was our coach in the glory days and he was the US coach at that World Cup. BTW, we just had a documentary, "The Southampton Way", run on NBC Sports here in the states. The youth and scouting systems are remarkably similar. Good luck to the Saints this year. I hate Chelsea, Man U, and Man City and love you're giving them hell.

Been speaking to speaking to some Americans, and they've said you have two types of 'soccer' fan in America. 1) Eurosnobs - Only interested in the big clubs in Europe, and do not follow MLS. 2) MLS fans - They follow their MLS club and generally take a wider interest, apparently. I received this message today, from a Chicago-based MLS fan. "We just had a documentary, "The Southampton Way", run on NBC Sports here in the states. The youth and scouting systems are remarkably similar. Good luck to the Saints this year. I hate Chelsea, Man U, and Man City and love you're giving them hell."

https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wiwsport.com%2FView%2FdetailNews.php%3FidN%3D17184

Been talking to some Chicago fans, and here's what they told me about their club. 1) Play in red (and white) 2) Extensive youth development set-up 3) Lower-to-middle side 4) Have a tendency to upset the big boys at home 5) Poorly run from the top 6) Owner tries to invest as little as possible so when he sells he can make a profit 7) Some decent history, but on a barren run Very passionate fans but don't sell the stadium out Some of those points resonate!

Well, I needed a totally random and off-the-wall reason to follow a MLS club, guess I found it.

http://tickets.sky.com/Sky-Bet-Football-League/Sky-Bet-Championship?aff_id=11066&dcmp=snt-bet-football-fl-0601-TicketGiveaway-TW Selected games have free tickets available. Used it all before myself, no catches. Max of 2 tickets, home end only. Just turn up on match day at the ticket office and show your confirmation email and collect the tickets. When they're gone, they're gone! First come, first served. Thought some may appreciate this, if their local clubs are listed?! Hopefully so!

Should we beat Ipswich in the replay, of course. http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/content.php?547-FA-CUP-4TH-ROUND-DRAW

How embarrassing. Peabrain.

Saints must travel to Portman Road midweek, between trips to Old Trafford and St. James' Park, after playing out a 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town at St. Mary's. SaintsWeb Match Report: http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/content.php?546-MATCH-REPORT-SAINTS-1-1-Ipswich-Town-FA-CUP-3RD-ROUND