Horton Heath Saint

Kevin Phillips He didn't want to come to us in the first place, saw the pound signs. He even said after that he should not have signed for us. How ironic he ended up with Brett Ormerod at Blackpool!!

How much a month were you on at Burnley and how much on you are on now?

What was your monthly wage with Burnley and what is it now with Saints?

What would he think to where we are now! He would be so proud, I can see his grinning face now!!! However, would he have enhanced the 'doings and goings' of Mr Cortese now? We all know the fact that Mr Cortese had the 'cart blanche' under Markus. Would Markus have been more involved now?. Not on the outside, but within?? We had that fiasco with press photographers not bring allowed in the ground, Mr Cortese relented when our football club NAME was not mentioned in 'write ups' in the papers. Car parking charges, programme sellers. This on going ridiculous feud with MLT and Lawrie Mac. Not respecting our history. The awful change to the club strip we have now. We ARE RED AND WHITE STRIPES AND BLACK SHORTS. Saying all this, we don't even know what what Mr Cortese has achieved behind the scenes, a massive amount has been achieved for lots we don't even know about. He has kept everything low to the ground and private within Southampton Football Club. How much of this is are the family of Markus involved with? Wonder what would be, if Markus would be with us now?

We've done our 5 year plan, made it in 3 years! Brilliant. What's our 5 year plan now?!!

We got to the Premiership inside the 5 year plan. Before Markus, it looked like a 100 year plan.

Don't suppose there is room in The Club Shop? They barely found room to display a new historical book called ' Suited and Booted '

You are the manager. Pick our next two teams.

Top marks to Duncan. Also to his designers Rob and Elaine.

The knowledge!! Top man!!

Apparently, a team that plays in all red wins more games than any other colours? Have we been duped in sake of our red and and white stripes, I miss them so much.

Very well said sir! Duncan has done a magnificent job, along with his designers Rob and Elaine, full credit. It it such an important document of Southampton Football Club.

Another International break. All is not quiet!! Where we have no game this weekend, not all is quiet at all clubs across the country. Part one of the first managers to come and go. The boardrooms across always think two weeks before the break to sound out potential candidates with agents etc etc. sort finance agreements, their targets will have been sounded out, verbal agreements agreed, contracts agreed, hotel sorted to live in for whenever. We have looked at the players you want to ship in and ship out, leave that with us to sort. You are our first choice. The manager will always rent a house in the area.

Brilliant analysis. NC & NA would have sat down at the start of the season to analysis and pinpoint every fixture for the season and hopefully would have come to the conclusion of a mid table position. There would always have been a target to meet, as in all businesses. Where NC?

Yes, my thoughts as well. Give NA some time at least. He's worked hard to get us where we are now. Bit of loyalty needed.

Another massive game. Think our supporters have been magnificent this season.

He used to come on at half time at the Dell with microphone and relayed supporters messages, Happy Birthday and all that.... then he would wind up the Saints fans for the team just as they came out for the second half, which they did! Remember one game at The Dell, when he crouched down on the halfway line opposite the dugout, for the second half, to wind up the opposition, think he got away with it, then asked to move on. He loves Saints, still see him sometimes at St. Mary's. He is red and white, still lives in Chandlers Ford I guess! Legend!! Get in touch Dennis.

Next step will be the guys who sell the rosettes, guess I'm showing my age! Seriously, hope it is not true, it's all part of the day. Pub, burger, programme, enter St Mary's.

Yes Fatty Arbuckles! People eating there always called it Fatty Arbucks!!!!!! One evening match back in the Prem I was having my pre match burger and in walked Gordon Strachan and his assistant manger, Gary Penderey? to watch Saints their next opponents I guess. Looked at what they were eating, as you do, a double fat cheeseburger and chips with sides and pints??......No, salad!!! Wonder if Gord ever dined there again? Think he still has house in Hamble.

After the move from the surroundings of The Dell to where we are are now, don't you always think we could have done better? We are Premiership, how many clubs have got such crass surroundings, not very inviting is it? The old gas station, industrial workings along the river. No decent eating, drinking places near to ground, bit dross and depressing. At least at The Dell, we had Bedford area, loads of decent home pubs, eating places bet they are missing us now!! There was always a good vibe around there, Pensioners, Red Lion, Bedford, Wine Bar, Cricketers. Can you remember Fatty Arbucks?? Those were the days. Can't have it all I suppose!! Your thoughts?

What exactly do they say, who's doing the talking? My drift is maybe.....''Common on, there are 30000 supporters here today, we want to win for our supporters, dig in, play hard, work for your nearest man to get the the ball, be as one together, our week will be so much better if we win today, come on!! If we win...... Go home, pasta for dinner watch Match of The Day will be so much better to watch tonight. Then bed. The boss will give us Sunday off and a lay in Monday morning.'' However if we lose....go home home to watch X Factor, go to Hungry Horse for meal, drink, stay up late, go clubbing wobble into Staplewood next day!

Well said. We've got to believe. It's not just NA, the whole coaching and backroom staff know where we are at, bet they are working as hard as ever to address the situation. They want it, we want it. The Club wants it.

Brilliant article, glad someone is on same wavelength as me. We all knew it was going to be tough, it is such a different Premiership from the one we last played in, the levels are so much higher.

As I said, think we have have done massive over the last few years. Think of those dark days, Rupert PLC crap, no investment, because there was nothing coming in to invest into PLC. All those guys wrecked this club. With massive salaries paying the board, Sir Clive Woodward, his clony Simon whatever his name, then bought in Harry and his gang, Bond, Smith with our beloved Rofe, how much did that lot cost? He made huge mistakes appointing Stuart Gray, Steve Wigley {who i both saw walking the streets together in Bishops Waltham having a laugh together last year, both still live local) I didn't find anything to laugh about. Appoint Paul Sturrock from the the third division, done well at Plymouth. Excuse me, we are Premiership. Guess I should have seen the signs. The club was losing huge amounts of money, the salaries were way too high, the plc were raking the club with no thought whatsoever, lining their pockets, Wiseman etc. This all continued I guess, when Michael Wilde smelt a rat. Or, I will become very popular when I offer a couple of million quid to oust Rupert and be the saviour, hero and be popular. He was!! Trouble was, he had enough money to oust Rupert and be the biggest shareholder, but alas that's all he had along with enough money to give to George Burley to have one 'crack at it'. **** or bust. We never made it at the last hurdle, losing to Derby on pens play off. If we made it to the Premiership, Wilde thought the floodgates would open, alas not. He invested every penny just to get us there, salaries were being payed to his board to run the club and find investors as he did not have the finance there on. He almost pulled it off I guess. But could you imagine him trying to be were we are now, don't think so. It would never had happened. Re enter Rupert.....another story. Dark days. I love it where we are now compared to those dark days.

The sushi chef for our two Japanese signings.