Football (Soccer to those across the pond)

[Tillane]

And the Toon start their Championship season away to West Brom, followed by a home game against Reading. Tyne-Tees derby on 19 December, with the return fixture on March 13.

You know, this is going to sound a tad perverse, but I'm actually starting to look forward to next season. That'll probably change when we lose our first five games, of course...

[chopper]

the mighty wolves start at home to the Hammers - now there's a team who should've been in the championship long ago....

[Ursa major]

Originally Posted by Tillane

Yeah. The thing with those signs is that they're missing something - an expiry date, most likely of May 2010...

If it's still required that late in the season, I'm sure Wolves will give them a final push on Sunday 9th of May.

[Tillane]

It's okay, Ursa - we'll give them a kick on the way past.

[chopper]

Originally Posted by Ursa major

If it's still required that late in the season, I'm sure Wolves will give them a final push on Sunday 9th of May.

if we're still capable of pushing anything by then, of course...

Nenad Milijas and Marcus Hahnemann so far - not the stellar cast one might have hoped for as yet. as long as Stefan Iverson and Silas don't turn up again...

[Ursa major]

I hope you're not suggesting that Wolves may be trying to pull another team down into the Championship, chopper.

[chopper]

heavens forfend!

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by Tillane

You know, this is going to sound a tad perverse, but I'm actually starting to look forward to next season. That'll probably change when we lose our first five games, of course...

Going down is awful, and I feel for ya, Til, I really do.

Being down, on the other hand, doesn't have to be all bad. Okay, it's embarrassing being in the second tier, but as long as the team gets it together, it can actually be fun. You get to see your team win more often than not, for starters!

The season we were down, our average attendance actually increased. Hopefully a similar thing will happen to you, and you can bounce straight back...

...even if you have to do it by the skin of your teeth (playoff), like we did.

[Tillane]

Cheers, Seph.

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

You get to see your team win more often than not, for starters!

Hope so! Given that we only managed six wins from thirty-eight games last season, we really ought to do a wee bit better...

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

The season we were down, our average attendance actually increased. Hopefully a similar thing will happen to you, and you can bounce straight back...

...even if you have to do it by the skin of your teeth (playoff), like we did.

If you offered me that right now, I'd take it and be utterly delighted. As for the attendance going up...well, we'll see what happens. I suspect we'll be a little down, at least for a few games. If we start winning regularly, then it'll probably shoot up again. If not...

[Ursa major]

And talking of looking on the bright side, here's Pyan's chance to do so:

Former Southampton chairman Leon Crouch has refused to comment on speculation suggesting that Kevin Keegan may make a sensational return to the club.

Local newspaper reports have linked the relegated League One club with their former star player of the early 1980s.

Current boss Mark Wotte's contract runs out on 30 June, and he is due to clarify his position with the club's intended new owners on Friday.

But Crouch's Pinnacle group insist Keegan has not had a formal approach.

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | S | Southampton | Keegan linked to Saints takeover

[Tillane]

Is that crying I hear from the Southampton fans?

[pyan]

The Pinnacle Group's frontman is Matt Le Tissier...the Saint's fans are being given a glimpse of a real Dream Team here, as KK, of course, is also an ex-Saint, but wouldn't have the pressure to succeed at St Mary's that he had to cope with at St James's Park...

Me? I'm sitting quietly on my tentacles until I see more than speculation and rumour...

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by Tillane

If you offered me that right now, I'd take it and be utterly delighted. As for the attendance going up...well, we'll see what happens. I suspect we'll be a little down, at least for a few games. If we start winning regularly, then it'll probably shoot up again. If not...

Well, it has emerged that we're playing you pre-season! So there's a prime opportunity for you to get back to winning ways!


We all know how meaningless pre-season games are, mind you. But it should be fun. It's been a long time since our paths crossed (the Texaco Cup (?!) in 1973/74, when our 2-0 first leg win was overturned by a 4-1 home win at St James'...only other meeting was in the Fairs Cup in season '69/70, when you were defending champions, and beat us 2-1 at Tannadice and 1-0 at St James').

[Ursa major]

So has you (Premier League) club received Michael Owen's brochure?

BBC - BBC Sport: Phil McNulty: Is Owen still worth a gamble?

which has a link to this:

MICHAEL OWEN FOR SALE | Newcastle striker sends clubs brochure about HIMSELF | Sport | News Of The World

[chopper]

apparently Hull are interested.....

...thankfully, meanwhile, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has extended his deal at Wolves. so we won't be needing Owen.....