Weston Saint

Excellent review.

Car crash in slow motion.

Depends if you know someone with access to both sides. Enough said! I will now withdraw from this thread.

OK, after some discussion with others this represents what I think could have happened: I suspect the Echo have been waiting for this to happen for a while. Our Chairman is a bit of a tyrant by some accounts. A recent high level departure from the club is perhaps testament to that view. (I personally think he is the best thing that has happened to our club in a long while) I believe the club had no problem with stories saying the club had applied for planning consent as that it was in the public domain the day New Forest District Council put it on their website, as required by law. I understand they had originally intended to hold a press conference but postponed it as there were significant changes to the application (involving building a new main entrance to the training ground) The club were happy for the Echo to run stories saying that the club had applied for permission, but because of the changes, asked they hold off on details, including publishing images (which were on NFDC's website). Initially the Echo agreed to hold off ahead of the original press conference, but then the story began to leak and I suspect the Echo felt the moving of the new main entrance was not sufficient reason to stop them running the story, with images of the buildings that was in the public domain. It has been suggested they had complied with the clubs first request to hold off the previous week. The argument seems to be that the club say the Echo was the only media organisation who did not comply with their request for a favour but the echo are of the opinion that Radio Solent was the only other local media and are not able to show images . Sky & BBC probably did not warrant that depth of national media coverage. Not sure what BBC South or Meridian position was. Then there was a stand off with threats which were then carried out by the club. The club were a little naive, and the Echo a bit petulant in their editorial. What happened then was like two little boys trying to assert some authority. Echo banned but senior editorial people turning up on match day demanding a meeting. Silly situation and the club should reconsider, lift the ban but make them pay for their tickets. The Echo do not come out of this well either but good to see they are still reporting.

And Ice Cubes falling out of the sky!

Nothing wrong with asking Nick for an opinion. You seem to have conveniently missed the comment from Mike O’Callaghan the "leader" of SISA. If they are approached for a comment (and I assume the Echo has their contact details) what should they say..."no comment"?

Portsmouth are bottom of the league at Christmas. What a present for Saints fans

Nope, I have been saying for a while that we are not good enough yet. This result proves it. Some good football this season and I can't argue with the entertainment value at times and the great run of results but this team will fall short in the promotion stakes this season because of the -10 points and our poor start.

Very disappointed. Did not see the game so cannot comment on performance but this was our chance to set a marker against arguably the best team in this league and we failed. Simple as that.

McMenemy, the Manager, is not a legend in football but he has earned the title, Southampton Football Club Manager Legend. Results, player signings and the fact Southampton FC gained exposure to the wider world is testement to that. Le Tissier is not quite a football legend as he did not prove the same (because of his individual style) at international level but he has earned the title Southampton Football Club Player Legend. His contribution, individuality in a struggling team and the warmth felt by the majority of supporters is testement to that. Legendary status can be tarnished by later actions but it cannot take away what that person/persons achieved in the past. As for Strachan, he was a decent manager who kept a struggling Coventry in the Premier for longer than many expected. He lifted Southampton to a level only previously achieved by McMenemy. He did a decent job at Celtic but failed to take them to the next level, a competative European side. Southgate should have gone last season but as Gibson stuck with him through that I was suprised he was sacked so early this season when they were competative. However the home crowds were voting with their feet by not turning up in the numbers expected. Has Gibson taken the right decision? Well I think he has installed a better and more experienced Manager that Southgate but time will tell whether Strachan is the right choice. I hope he does the business as, like many Saints supporters, his period with Saints was a happy footballing memory

Very good Frank. Enjoyed that

First comment on this issue as I do not have the clubs side of things only the article in the Echo. Let's assume the club have been giving information (exclusivity) to the Echo and good access to all matters. Then comes pay back time when the Echo are asked to hold off for a day and let the club formerly announce the development. The Echo refuse and this upsets the club. That said I think the clubs reaction, IF the Echo is correct, is a little over the top. Hopefully this will or has been resolved behind closed doors. If the club were giving some exclusivity to the Echo, withdrawing the same (and that includes any free tickets over and above press passes) is the correct sanction. No more. Responsible freedom of the press is a cornerstone of our society

Thanks for the confirmation. I was going to speak to David about it at half time but as he came down the steps he had company so I thought better to leave it.

You know I agree with you, we have discussed it enough. I also agree Lallana is the best player to have out on the left but why was he firmly in the middle all game. It can only be what he has been told by Pardew and the coaching team because none of them ever called him or pointed for him to go wide. WHY NOT!! It is mystifying unless the idea was that Schniederin was supposed to perform that role but he did not!

thought you were going to contact me when you were over for a beer and a chat?

I specifically did not mention Lallana by name as he seemed to be in the central midfield role all game. From his positioning throughout the game I suspect this was at Pardew's request but have yet to receive confirmation. I am blaming the team and Pardew for this narrowness. If Pardew's tactics was for a wide left why did he not correct the player who was supposed to be out there. He did not in the first half or at half time because they came out the same!

No going over.

Shares suspended on the Stock Exchange this morning. Administration likely?

OK down to earth time. Good first half from both sides. This was not Div 1 football it was far superior. 1-1 at half time was a fair reflection on the game. Worry was we were too narrow again, gave Norwich too much room on their right, our left. Assumed Pardew would correct it for the second half but he did not. Second half Norwich were the better side. Not saying they stepped up a gear, we stepped down one. Last gasp equaliser was thrilling and the penalty shoot out top class. Every penalty on target for both sides and some good saves from both keepers Happy again tonight.

Ah thanks for that. Learn something every day

3 loans from british clubs and one from a foreign association. Looks in order to me.

If you rest him then put James at right back, move Thomas in to replace Jaidi and put Wotton in James place on my list (holding midfielder) leaving Waigo on the right midfield, bring in Mellis and just Lambert up front (Connolly rested or as seems to be reported on here, injured)

My choice Bialkowski Thomas, Jaidi, Trotman, Mills Waigo, Schniederlin, James, Lallana Lambert, Connolly (or rest one of them and bring in Paterson) On the bench Antonio, Wotton, Perry (rested ready for Leeds) Paterson (or the forward rested to give him a start) Forecast, Mellis, and Harding (just in case) Looking at the squad list there is very little left. May be Holmes will feature somewhere?

Yes we do, Davis & Murty. With Harding, James, Jaidi, Hammond and Schniederlin all on 4 yellows and with the prospect of an automatic ban against Leeds I suspect at least 3 of those will be rested. Norwich have hinted at not fielding a full strength team.

We have been told on several occasions this year by owners, prospective owners and executives that the club would be moved to new levels we would not believe. The various parties involved with Pompey were not lying. The new level was downwards and into the Championship....YOU HAVE GOT TO BELIEVE IT We do