StratfordSaint

Last time I looked at this several years ago, we were valued at around £93m. Wow have we shot up! However, just like getting higher that 7th in the league will be hard, to jump a place in this table will take a lot too… http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/premier-league/startseite/wettbewerb/GB1

Watching on YouTube now. Have to say it's slicker than I thought it would be. I'm enjoying it!

Sold now!

Can't make the game now. Face value £20 plus the £1 booking fee. I'm at the villa home game on sat so can hand over to anyone there. No idea how to do private messages so hope you do if you're interested. Otherwise I'll have to post my contact details here.

My business partner big villa fan. Pay back time cow he said we'd go down last year and year before!

I preferred Liverpool and Spurs when they were sh1t...

Had to laugh - the 2 guys sat behind me were having a heated argument with another guy a few rows back who was blurting out hate towards Mane saying how **** he was and a waste of £12m. Five mins later he scores the winner! He changed his tack and celebrated with the rest of us.

You're right, closer than I thought/remember according to google! That's what I'll do then, cheers.

I'm never usually thick when it comes to IT but I cannot find a way to view any photo gallery on the saints website full screen, or at least bigger than the tiny window that is the default. It's not a biggie but has always annoyed me slightly. Anyone know any better?

Any suggestions for a pub to watch the spurs v aresenal match before game and poss scouser derby afterwards? My train times mean I will have a lot of pub time in between and http://www.footballgroundguide.com/queens_park_rangers/ says no pubs close to the ground, have to go up to Shepherds Bush (which means a longs walk or buses/tubes again).

In 1979, as a 13 year old I supported Arsenal and they had just beaten Man Utd in the FA Cup final with a last minute goal by Alan Sunderland. However, that summer my family bought a pub called the Brewers Arms in a village called East Dean near Romsey (we previously lived in Slough, Berkshire), and I would move schools to Stockbridge. As a bored teenager living in a very rural village there was not much to do and some of the regulars at the pub were season ticket holders at the Dell, and took me along to see matches. Coupled with the fact that a lot of my school mates supported Saints, meant that to fit in I decided to change allegiance to the Saints. Anyhow, the pub didn't last long, my parents split up and I moved back to Slough. I kept on supporting the Saints though! I remember the nerves during the 83-84 season and my desperation to see us defeat the big boys, and finally the pride of coming 2nd. Pride in signing Keegan, Shilton etc just made it better. From the age of 13 up until 5 years ago we were always in the top flight, something I didn't think would ever change. However, we did get relegated (tears did flow). Our first few seasons in the Championship I followed just as avidly and coudn't watch the final few minutes during the playoffs and missed the last minute winner that took the tie to extra time. 3rd season in champs I didn't get to see a single live match, but was compelled to go to the final match of the season to try and cheer on a win against Sheff Utd, which we duelly achieved and the pitch invasion and celebrations brought a new tear of pride to my eye. Relegation to League One. A new low. I remember talking football to the 8 year old Arsenal supporting son of a friend. He was taking the mick saying how rubbish Southampton were and how great Arsenal were. I told him, any small degree of success for me as a Southampton fan is memorable for life, and the joy received so immense. He was listening, but was just annoyed that Arsenal were not winning EVERYTHING and EVERY game. He is now 14 and we sit above Arsenal in the league table! Anyway, last 5 years has been just so fantastic. Loved every minute of promotion seasons from League 1 and Champs, performed beyond my expectation. So proud of first season back in Prem, where we were written off after 10 games. Loved our playing style under Atkins and Pochettino. Was VERY worried in the summer and felt stabbed in the back by Lallana and Lovren. Even become a season ticket holder now even though journey is 2.5 hours, and a lot of away games under my belt too. The future is bright and I will always be a Saint.

I think that's spot on. I so want us to achieve something this year that I feel the pressure too. But am lapping it all up this season. Very very happy!

Is Elia available for fa cup games? Ie palace next week? Not sure why he wasn't in team vs Ipswich.

This is not meant to be another "we should/shouldn't expand" thread, it was just that I personally did not know "St Mary’s is designed, ultimately, to accommodate around 42,000 spectators with a minimum of deconstruction work." I'm sure the information has been around for donkeys years but there is a chance that some people on this forum never knew that and I posted it because its interesting info to know if you didn't.

Just found this: http://www.deftlyhallowed.co.uk/st%20mary's%20stadium.html. Not seen it before, don't know if it's been discussed on here. "Barr, worked in conjunction with The Miller Partnership, architects, both firms have a reputation for delivering large projects, particularly sporting arena, on time and on budget. One of the most important facets of the project was its flexibility. St Mary’s is designed, ultimately, to accommodate around 42,000 spectators with a minimum of deconstruction work. There is little doubt that had it not been for Saints’ extended exile from the Premier League we would now be supporting them from a substantially larger stadium." I've seen various ground extension forum posts over the years, but thought the line "minimum deconstruction work" interesting, which I take for meaning not much cost! We'll see if it ever happens, but I'm personally happy with how St Marys is right now.

I asked the saints store last week - said they would be getting all sizes back in 1st or 2nd week of Dec, ready for Xmas.

Anyone interested in car sharing from Stratford Upon Avon - Junc 15 of M40 for those that don't know!

I think I'm right in saying Ricke scored 34/34 pens for Saints (had to google it to remind me though!). Dusan scored last night - I was there! Not as great a finish as most of Rickies, which got me thinking: How many penalties out of the next 33 will Saints score? Currently on 1 out of 34. Odds are not stacked on 34/34 but I've no idea what a good conversion rate is these days. Anything over 28 will be good for me.

We played very well vs Liverpool, especially 2nd half. My question is - if we could have had only one of our outgoing players in for this match, who would have made the most difference? For me it would have been Rickie - Pelle didn't quite cut it but hopefully will get better. Rickie would have held the play up better, and I think created a few more killer passes. Everyone else in the incoming brigade I was happy with. COYR.

We played very well vs Liverpool, especially 2nd half. My question is - if we could have had only one of our outgoing players in for this match, who would have made the most difference? For me it would have been Rickie - Pelle didn't quite cut it but hopefully will get better. Rickie would have held the play up better, and I think created a few more killer passes. Everyone else in the incoming brigade I was happy with. COYR.

Daily Echo: The change from Pochettino to Koeman is not a massive one in terms of style of play, but Ward-Prowse admits there are significant differences on the training pitch. “The physical work we are doing in training is not as intense under the new manager,” he said. “The way he wants us to play in terms of passing the ball and pressing the ball is pretty similar. Can we be as successful at this as last year? My understanding was it required a very high degree of fitness, more than most other teams. We probably have more options than last year (plan b, plan c etc), but seems Plan A is the same as last year. Just wondered if people think yep, we can do it all again the same.

Probably been mentioned here somewhere but... Didn't know anything about him, so looked on wikipedia and "Solomon Benjamin "Solly" March (born 20 July 1994) is an English professional football midfielder who plays for Premier League club Southampton FC." Fancy that hey!

From the beautiful Stratford, the one nestling on the Avon. The other one is ok too I suppose, if you like that sort of thing.

Yeah, I don't take sides. Oh what the hell, what a ****. Serves you right for being rude.

You just have to see this - sorry if posted elsewhere but it has made my night!!!