Meon Valley lingo it’s Snamtun, I’m told…incorrect of course.
Its actually Sil’ampton or Sal’ampton.
I’ve been reflecting on the weekend to come, and how it differs from our last, ultimately fruitless, Cup Final. Last time out, we were facing Arsenal, in their pomp, much admired across the country and recently returned from a trip to St Marys, in which they had fucked us thoroughly at 6-1.
United are not Arsenal. Outside of Tottenham, who really hates Arsenal? There are the Big Four tussles, and they’ve gotten tasty at times, but no enmity not sorted by changes in the playing staff. At that particular point in time, they were awesome. People respected them for that, and they respected the challenge they presented to the Ferguson’s United.
United attract as much ire as they do adulation. It was not always so. Back in the '80s, United fans in Southampton playgrounds were something of a rarity. There were one or two I knew, but it was far more common for people to be Liverpool or Everton miniature glory boys.
Following the success, United shirts start popping up. Everywhere. Even in towns and cities that had Premier League clubs suddenly had lots of Manchester United fans, seemingly indifferent to the fortunes of their local team. Manchester United, more than any other club, came to symbolise the glory hunter fan, an insult to every mush, everywhere, that makes the effort for their local team of note. That is before you consider the huge rivalries with Liverpool, Leeds, and Manchester City, so monikered because they’re actually in Manchester, I believe.
Know two things, Sotonians.
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We will need an epic performance to contain and defeat this United side. We’ve got it in us on our day.
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Whatever happens at Wembley, when you walk into the stadium, a pub or your living room to cheer on the Saints, most of the rest of the footballing world will be cheering us on.
Come on you Saints.
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Agree with @pap ! This is the grudge match to end all grudge match! Probably the single most important event in all of sporting history!
I can’t hardly think of anything that even comes close! Muhammad vs Ali in the Rumble Jumble, or whatever it was. McEnroe vs Borg. Torville vs Dean. That last one particularly. I don’t think I’ll ever forget Torville grabbing Dean by the fanny, and lofting her battered corpse high above the Olympic Ice, all triumphant + emotions. Or maybe it was the other way round. Which one was the chick? I never saw it myself.
But you see what I mean. It don’t come round v.often, that the two most celebrated sportsters face off like this in a battle to the fkn DEATH. Once in a generation prob. It’s gonna be fkn epic! I mean, just look at the fkn trophy haul! Between us and United we’re talking like 20 league titles, 13 FA cups, 4 league cups, 3 European Cups, a handful of other Europa type cups, FIFA Club World Cup, and one Johnstone’s Paints Trophy. And now facing off for the ultimate prize. The EFL FKN CUP YO! That’s like one of the best things you can win as a footballer! In the top 10 at least, or maybe just outside.
Fair to say, the world will be watching this one srs! Simply not to be missed! When we’re all old and grey, and laid up in hospital, with our Apple iSexbot 18.4 standing at our bedside, one robotic claw clamped to our penis, the other hovering over the kill switch, it won’t be Jennifer Lawrence’s boobs we remember. It won’t be what we had for dinner last Thursday, or the faces of our children. It’ll be Steven Davis scuffing one in, or over, in the 93rd minute at Wembley, and how that changed Everything!
Make the most of it!
Bear Out.
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Only 2 things I’m certain of for Sunday;
1/ I will be there.
2/ I will be drunk.
This seemed to be a winning combination at Anfield so I feel obliged to repeat.
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This is great 'n all, but FFS @pap this was at Highbury.
Maybe stick to what you’re good at, ya know like web develop…
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Don’t make me like New Orlean Saints!
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LOL LOL LOL … almost choked on my fkn Golden Grahams … a measly upvote seems so inadequate
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What are the rules for this final
Saints to win in normal time is the favourite
But after that is it what?
Extra time then Penalties?
Extra time then rematch?
Straight to penalties?
Golden goal?
Extra time then pens … no replay as far as I know, it’s got to be decided on the day
Extra time until United take the lead
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This has to be done before we get to penalties - not sure the ticker could cope.
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It won’t go to extra time…it will only be extended if we’re having such a great time that we’ll continue playing just for the hell of it.
I’m going for the ghost of Bobby Stokes to score in the 83rd minute…1 - 0 to us and the whole World will go crazy.
BRING IT ON…can’t wait.
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I’m going for 0-0 until the final minute or so, then Yosh to score a header from a corner ‘against the run of play’. I definitely think Yosh will be the hero, purely because he takes so much shit from some of our fans who know very little about football - I would take great pleasure in watching them suddenly say “yeah, I’ve always said Yosh had it in him to be a great footballer”.
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Just checked in at Brisbane airport. This shit just got real! 
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Aaargghh, that’s so fucking cool.
Just hope our defence is better than the NO Saints (NFL joke there).
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Steve Grant wouldn’t have got that wrong…
Bear. I am sending you additional virtual upvotes (which obviously wont show up on your tally, but hey YOU know they have them, even if the cruel world denies their existence…such melancholy can dull life’s rich pageant) forwhat was without doubt a most amusing post. Well done Sir!
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Just been on the blower to South West Trains, after my bro started freaking out about trains being “sold out”. They’re actually laying on extra trains for the final.
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