melmacian_saint

How about Fonte is actually better than Hooiveld?

Maybe, but last year whenever Lambert got marked out of the game and we ran dry in creating chances, how good would it have been if instead of a learning Rodriguez we could've got Defoe, one of the most famous impact players, on the pitch?

And so the new star on the pitch at Fatpipes is Painter, who has joined the wise-spending League Two club of the moment after being released from high-flying, high-spending Brighton and has therefore accepted a massive wage cut to play at the South Coast's own Wembley. Or maybe January can't come soon enough for Pompey's treasury..

Maybe a loan move until he sees off his contract, like Hammond and Sharp? I can't see us getting rid of once-useful players any other way...

Well done Rickie!! Time to up the game for Brazil!

Google maps shows a tag saying "Tudor City" around that area, so maybe a reference to the Boleyn Ground? Also Stoke on the upper east side is just wrong.

So true. I've never been a fan of the Monday night games (going down for Everton last year was a pain, especially in the middle of all the snow and icy paths, as was Norwich on the Wednesday) but I'm ok with it. What ****es me off is the constant Saturday to Sunday to Saturday twists. The match timetables should be more carefully planned and set. For example last year we just seemed to get loads of Sunday afternoon games which would start at 3, then 4, then 3 again, then 1.30....you basically have to plan your weekends around the games. I also play football on Sundays and had to miss loads of games because of the constant time changes.

As it's unlikely that I'll be living in Southampton in a years time this year is probably the top. Having said this my ticket actually costs less (I'm a renewal this year) so I'm actually pleased. However I'm lucky enough to live within an acceptable walking distances to SMS, I can only imagine the costs that other people incur on match days, especially if they come from outside the city (or even the county).

You could tell it was going to happen. First Martin Allen said he was going to offer him a deal, then he "just" allowed him to be part of Gillingham's preseason, and finally he left as they began to play competitively. Apparently he was "popular" in the dressing room, my guess is Allen didn't actually mean it and everyone was just keeping a straight face at the Priestfield whenever he was around. Lucky man, but from what I gather he is not the type of person that would've spent the last 5 years cashing-in and saving on the best contract of his career. Chances are his living standards will become unsustainable. Also if MLG's FM13 research is to be taken seriously, he was probably on around 2.5k/week after all the collective promotion bonuses (his lack of participation probably means he only got a small increase).

Calm down everyone. Season's yet to start. Let's hope we still think the same in two months time.

How can we rival a team from a town whose football fans have traditionally travelled up the A31 for PL football? Include in that the links between the two cities, the two clubs (Bournemouth have received our young starlets and other players on loan since I don't know when) and any attempts of a rivalry look fairly stupid. I also look out for their results.

Re. the train crash, I think you mean La Coruña or Santiago?

The Algarve (the area east of Faro in particular or the hills to the north) is ideal, particularly around late June/July. Nice temperature for the young one, nice beaches and a few little towns where you can stay in peace and enjoy nice views while sipping some fine wine. Avoid in August though as it's when the Portuguese masses from the cities come for their own holidays.

Fonte more whoopsie than Hooiveld?!?! I'm calling the alien task force, I've found real ones around here!

Surprising people are still claiming for Hooiveld to be on our starting 11 despite us having signed at least 2 players who will be a clear improvement on him (I would expect so after the money we've spent!). It's clear to me that one of Fonte or Hooiveld (I honestly hope it's the latter as he is the worst of the two to me!) will be out of the squad come the 30th, Sharp and Hammond style. I've accepted that Fox will stay for another long season, but Shaw should now be better prepared so no biggie.

Norwich's squad last year was lucky to have survived that comfortably. Their squad needed massive reshaping and it's good they've actually done something about it. Our situation is in no way similar to theirs. Therefore, I think we're ok.

I insist Norwich's problem this season won't be the playing squad, but rather their manager. Chris "****pants" Hughton is mediocre at best.

This. Our FlyBedrome needs to expand if it is to have a future. Something must be done about the airline's outrageous monopoly for a start (in trouble according to reports).

It's just aerodynamics I think. The first carriages are the ones where you feel the bend more, and the change in direction of the axes of the carriages is more accentuated than in the later ones as they are closer to the force dragging them. This is why the 2nd and 3rd were the first ones to lift up. The change in direction happened faster than what they are capable of absorbing. Plus at a higher speed their weight would feel much heavier than what their axes could deal with. Sorry but my physics knowledge isn't great, but I think it's something along those lines. I used to have Microsoft Train Simulator on my pc when I was in my early teens, and I do remember being very surprised in train rides gone wrong to see the carriages causing the derailment rather than my machine at full speed. Another thing few people have mentioned is that carriages themselves have speed limits.

I'm just not sure about Hooper. He just looks fat to me...

Don't know about Saints. As for managers like Keegan himself though...

A little kick up the arse. What I worry is that Jos Hooiveld is still to catch a single ticket out of Eastleigh.

Ok so a debate which I think is quite interesting. We all know everything about the "ambitious plans" our owners and managers have for the club, and with more or less controversy/ease the club has been progressing. However, it's when I look around SMS that I worry there is a ceiling that we won't be able to break: the potential/demographics of our city. On the "help" plate, I think that our city does in fact have a world rep thanks to our docks and their importance particularly on sea-related tourism into London. We are also important base for one of Britain's lesiure sailing hotspots in the Solent, and of course an important business centre for the South of England. We also form an important economic pole in the Metro area we share with Portsmouth (though sporting-wise this may actually hinder and can't therefore be counted for size measurment purposes). We are a surprisingly well connected city (port, good rail/motorway links and a sufficient although monopolized and expansion-limited airport) and of course we are peaceful enough for players to come and focus on their football without suffering from the bright-lights syndrome. Commuting is also easy from arguably some of the nicest areas in Great Britain. However, I think there is a lot that will hinder attempts of entering a european top 25. If you look at the regular qualifiers from Europe's top leagues, you'll see that the most regular ones come from cities which are either capitals (no point in comparing so we'll leave them out of this) or cities of important tourist/leisure attraction or even some of the most important areas of a country in terms of economics. Our city is at best of an average size, lacks any real tourist attractions and is quite frankly not a fantastic place to live or even vist. Yes you can walk around the tudor houses in the old town and have lunch in the Ocean Village/Oxford Street, maybe even walk up to the Common but unless you've got a Saints game to watch in the afternoon you might as well leave for another place. Coming here for a shopping break is also ridiculous as if you've got some money it's just rational to go somewhere nicer. We also lack some any urban life/activity as most of the city is soulless (also due to the considerable size of our temporary population), and poor planning has seen wrong developments being chucked into potential centres of town life (see poorly maintained council flats next to the Old Town area). Although we've come out better than some of the de-industrialised towns, the city overall is not fairing well economically particularly in tough times. As for players, there's also a bad side to a place that is not only quiet, but also unattractive: there isn't much to do after a couple of months here, and the city itself is very restricted in terms of places you can go and enjoy yourself with friends and/or family. The type of players we seem to be looking to attract also care about the kind of place they are moving into, and I can't see the city being a helping hand in their integration or appeal to sign. Do share your views!

Dreadful I'm afraid. Last year was good and the criticism was tradition-related. This year it's just appaling.

Just a little remark, NO TEAM, I repeat, NO TEAM in Spain other than Real Madrid, Barça, Valencia, Atletico or potentially (but VERY potentially) Athletic Bilbao and Malaga can offer 12 million euros for a player. No chance.