Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet
@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC
We’re all part of this journey.
From the stock room to the dressing room.
#MarchToWembley https://grabyo.com/g/v/rMH0cGd3Bej
Retweets: 3
Favourites: 9
...smolderingly instantiated by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary
Summary of non-mainstream articles: 22/02/2017 16:12:30
|
| EFL Cup final: Forster not focusing on IbrahimovicGOALDOTCOM |
|| Redmond targets EFL gloryCLUBCALL |
| | Man United legend priced up to bow out in style against SouthamptonNEWSLADBROKES |
| | Manchester United have world-class players in every position - ForsterFOURFOURTWO | ...eastwardly fabricated by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
Sourced from Optimus trousers’ RSS Feed rss feed
New content from (- Read Southampton)
| Gabbiadini settling well in England, agent reveals | Manolo Gabbiadini’s agent Silvio Pagliari has claimed that the striker is settling into life in England well. … 22-02-2017 |
| Adil Rami reveals ‘crazy’ nature of Claude Puel | Sevilla defender Adil Rami has revealed just how hands-on and expressive a manager Claude Puel was during his time … 22-02-2017 |Older content…
| Celtic to rival Rangers in Wilson pursuit16 hours ago |
...unsettlingly sired by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
| Forster confident with Stephens and Yoshida16 hours ago |
| Saints tracking Harry Maguire2 days ago |
| Which Way Forwards? A future selection dilemma2 days ago |
| Barcelona maintaining Cedric interest2 days ago |
| Caceres or Stephens? There’s a risk either way.3 days ago |
| Romeu praises ‘amazing’ Mourinho4 days ago |
| The return of the 4-2-3-1 for Saints?4 days ago |
Sourced from talkSPORT article
Liverpool transfer BLOW! Reds target Dries Mertens has agreed new Napoli contract, claim reports
Show/hide article…
Liverpool target Dries Mertens has finally agreed a lucrative new deal at Napoli, according to reports in Italy.
The Belgian forward has been described as one of the Reds’ prime targets following his form in Serie A this term.
Southampton have also been linked with a move for the 29-year-old, who has scored 16 Serie A goals in 22 appearances so far this season.
As talkSPORT told you back in November, Mertens insisted he was hoping to pen new terms with the Italian club, which came as a blow to the Premier League duo.
However with no agreement confirmed, both clubs had been given hope of potentially landing him this summer.
But it has been claimed Mertens is now set to sign a contract extension which will run until 2021 and include a significant pay rise.
In addition, the deal, which should be finalised early next month will also raise his minimum fee release clause substantially.
Go to the original article…
...entirely modelled by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
Sourced from Daily Star article
Mr Reliable: Which Premier League star has played the most minutes in all competitions?
Show/hide article…
WHICH Premier League stars have played the most minutes in all competitions this season?
Stars from EFL Cup finalists Southampton and Manchester United, reigning champions Leicester, north London rivals Tottenham and Arsenal and Champions league entertainers Manchester City all make it into the top 11.
Only four players have figured for more than 3,000 minutes in all competitions this season - and two of them play for the same club.
CLICK THROUGH THE GALLERY ABOVE TO SEE WHO THEY ARE.
Go to the original article…
...realistically manufactured by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article
U18 Report: Saints 2-0 Brighton
Show/hide article…
Goals from Javen Siu and substitute Tyreke Johnson ensured that Craig Fleming’s men recorded back-to-back victories in the Under-18 Premier League.
The match got off to a slow start at Staplewood and was very much in the balance until Siu’s stunning strike gave Saints the advantage after 22 minutes.
Picking up a clearance on the edge of the penalty area, the full-back shifted the ball into space and curled a sublime effort into the far top corner to take the lead.
The visitors quickly responded and almost equalised immediately from the restart, as Aaron Connolly burst into the Saints penalty area and rifled a warning sign into Alex Cull’s side netting.
Siph Mdlalose could well have doubled the score line just before half time. He latched onto a loose ball across the backline and attempted to lob Tom McGill in the Brighton goal, but his effort dropped just over the crossbar.
Craig Fleming made his first change early on in the second half, as Tyreke Johnson was introduced just before the hour mark.
The winger made an immediate impact and took just three minutes to extend Saints’ advantage. Mdlalose recycled the ball wide to Johnson from a corner and his in-swinging cross missed everyone to nestle in the far corner or the net.
The visitors continued to search for a way back into the match and it almost came with ten minutes to play. After a surging run Owen Moore slipped in Danny Mandriou, but his low effort was well stopped by the foot of Cull.
Mdlalose had one final chance to add to the score line moments before the final whistle, but he was unable to steer his effort inside the near post from a tight angle.
Go to the original article…
...jovially bred by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary
Summary of non-mainstream articles: 22/02/2017 17:12:34
|
...dishonestly fathered by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!| Ruled Out - Three Players To Avoid In The Fantasy Premier League Team This WeekendSOCCERSOULS |
| | Barca target Saints Soares? | Football EspanaFOOTBALLESPANA |
Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet
@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC
What a day this was for #SaintsFC against Sunday’s opponents #MUFC…
#MarchToWembley https://grabyo.com/g/v/kPNOVKLP77s
Retweets: 1
Favourites: 11
...advantageously generated by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article
First years making an impact, says Fleming
Show/hide article…
Tyreke Johnson netted to complete the victory on 63 minutes at Staplewood Campus, but it was Javen Siu’s exquisite opener that the game will be remembered for.
“It was a heck of a goal from Javen,” explained Fleming.
“He has got that in him, technically he is a very good player. I think it took him a little while to settle in, but he’s been outstanding for the last three of four games.
“It takes time for the younger lads because it’s a big step. Some people hit the ground running and are off straight away, but for others it takes time. We are seeing that now because the younger lads have been tremendous.”
Saints have now recorded back-to-back victories in the Under-18 Premier League, following their 2-0 victory over Swansea City last weekend.
And Fleming believes that is much deserved for the performances his side have been putting in.
“It’s good for the confidence of the players,” he continued.
“Though I think the most important thing – and I keep beating the drum – is that the performances throughout the season have been solid.
“But post Christmas we have taken it on a step and been fantastic. During some little patches we may have left ourselves down, but for the most part it has been fantastic.”
Go to the original article…
...foreseeingly developed by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
Sourced from Daily Echo article
Saints legends at pre-Wembley book signing
Show/hide article…
Southampton fans swept up in Wembley fever can meet two heroes from the club’s former cup finals to celebrate the launch of a new book reliving the 50 most memorable matches in their history.
The 1976 FA Cup final winning skipper Peter Rodrigues and Saints stalwart Jason Dodd, club captain when they were runners-up to Arsenal in Cardiff in 2003, will be signing copies of Southampton Greatest Games, recently released by Pitch Publishing, at Waterstones, West Quay on Thursday February 23 2017.
Rodrigues and Dodd, who played more than 400 games for Saints, will be in the store from midday until 1.30pm.
Supporters are invited to come along and meet club legends Rodrigues and Dodd and get their copy of the book personally autographed, along with co-author Alex Crook.
The shock ’76 triumph over Manchester United, whom Saints face in the EFL Cup Final on Sunday February 26, is one of the main matches featured in the book, which delves into the archives to relive all of the major games they have been involved in, from Bobby Stokes’ heroics under the famous Twin Towers to Saints’ rise back to the Premier League in 2012.
Expertly presented in evocative detail, Southampton Greatest Games offers a ticket back in time, from the glory days under Ted Bates and Lawrie McMenemy to their modern day European adventures and from Kevin Keegan’s silky skills which lit up The Dell to Rickie Lambert’s thrilling goal-scoring feats.
Go to the original article…
...roomily bred by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
Sourced from Daily Echo article
Claude Puel’s class of 2017 aiming to join an exclusive Saints club
Show/hide article…
CLAUDE Puel’s class of 2017 will be aiming to join an exclusive band of Saints who have scored at Wembley.
Only nine players have found the target for Saints at the national stadium since it was opened in north west London 94 years ago.
Here, the Daily Echo looks back at what happened to those Wembley goalscorers.
The man who scored Saints’ most famous goal.
Even if the club end up beating Manchester United again - this time in the League Cup final - that is an honour that will still belong to Stokes.
It will possibly be an honour that will ALWAYS belong to the Portsmouth-born striker who sent the fans of his hometown club’s fiercest rivals into dreamland on May 1 1976.
All these years on, no Saints fan - whether they were at the national stadium 41 years ago or not - will ever forget Stokes’ 83rd minute decider.
It was just one of his 55 goals for the club in 264 league and cup appearances - but by far and away the most important.
Stokes had announced his potential in April 1969, scoring twice in the first half on his debut in a 5-1 Dell trouncing of Burnley.
He would go on and score a lot of good goals for the club.
Fans will only ever remember one, though.
Within a year of inking his name into south coast footballing folklore, Stokes had played his last game for Saints.
Bobby Stokes would never ever go on to enjoy a similar moment to May 1 1976 again.
That is no real shock, for he had done something which every football-mad kid dreams about - and how many grow up to score the winner in an FA Cup final?
And he had done it for Southampton, a club which had never previously won a major trophy.
All these years on, it remains the club’s only major trophy.
Claude Puel’s class of 2017 can change that.
Stokes, sadly, is no longer around - he passed away in 1995 aged just 44 after contracting bronchial pneumonia.
But his legend lives on, as it always will.
The left back who helped Saints win the 1976 FA Cup put the club in front when they returned to Wembley three years later to contest the League Cup final against Nottingham Forest.
He was no stranger to hitting the target - as his record of 44 Saints goals in 282 appearances indicates. Most of those, however, were penalties - and Peach’s Wembley strike came from open play and a one-two with skipper Alan Ball.
Having made his Saints debut in February 1974 - when Saints crashed 7-0 at Ipswich - the player spent six years at The Dell before leaving to join Swindon in February 1980 for £150,000 - a lot of money for a club who were then in the third division.
Along with Peach, he is the only man to have played in two Wembley finals for Saints.
And, like Peach, he scored in his second - the 1979 League Cup final against Nottingham Forest.
It was a great goal, too - a fierce drive from just inside the penalty area which arrowed past future Dell colleague Peter Shilton and into the corner of the net.
That goal gave Saints, now only 3-2 down, late hope - but to no avail.
Southampton-born Holmes, a loyal one-club man, played 543 games for the club, making his debut in March 1974 and his last appearance in February 1987.
In 1999 he emigrated to Florida to set up a property management company, which he sold in 2004.
In July 2002, he returned to the local football scene when he was offered the manager’s job at Salisbury City. Under Holmes’ management, the Wiltshire club won the Southern League Premier Division title in 2004/05 and the Conference South play-off final in 2006/07.
That took Salisbury into the top tier of non league football for the first time ever.
He became Salisbury’s general manager in July 2009, with Tommy Widdrington taking control of the first team. Holmes left Salisbury the following summer by mutual consent.
No introduction is needed for the man still revered by generations of Saints supporters as ‘Le God’.
The one club man netted 209 goals in 540 competitive appearances for the club, making his debut in 1986 and playing his last game for the club in 2001.
One of those goals was at Wembley, bringing Saints back into the 1992 ZDS Cup final against Nottingham Forest.
Since retiring from competitive football in 2002, Le Tissier has carved out a high profile career as a Sky Sports TV pundit.
The centre half had already played 400 games for hometown club Grimsby Town when Saints signed him in the summer of 1987 for £150,000.
Then Saints boss Chris Nicholl had played alongside Moore, then 29, at Grimsby and signed his former colleague after Mark Wright had left for Derby County.
Moore played 35 league games in 1987/88 - the most he would ever manage in a league season for Saints.
His moment of glory at Wembley came when he headed in a Matt Le Tissier corner to equalise at 2-2 in the ZDS Systems Cup final against Nottingham Forest.
Moore would stay at The Dell two more years, playing his 185th and final game in April 1994 before joining a Fulham side managed by his former Saints boss Ian Branfoot.
Sadly, Moore was diagnosed in January 2010 as suffering from Pick’s Disease, a rare form of dementia. His former Dell colleagues rallied round to help fund raise for the 24-hour care he required, but he passed away on his 55th birthday in April 2013.
It was no surprise to see Lambert add his name to the list of Saints who had scored at Wembley.
Going into the 2010 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final, he had belted 30 goals in 48 league and cup appearances for the club after a £1m move from Bristol Rovers.
Goal number 31 quickly followed, Lambert opening the scoring from the penalty spot.
We all know what happened next - Lambert the undoubted talisman for Saints’ rise from League 1 to the Premier League.
The goals, though, have dried up since he left Saints to make a dream £4m move to Anfield in the summer of 2014.
He only managed two league goals for Liverpool in 2014/15, where he struggled for starts even though Luis Suarez had been sold and Daniel Sturridge was injured.
Moving onto West Bromwich Albion for £m, Lambert only scored once in 20 league appearances in 2015/16 (and that was a penalty).
Dropping down into the Championship last summer to sign for Cardiff, Lambert has four goals in 16 league games for the Welsh club, though he has not scored since the end of November.
Lallana, then 21, was enjoying his most prolific ever season with Saints when he scored the second goal in the 2010 JPT final success.
His header at Wembley was the midfielder’s 16th strike of 2009/10 - and he was to go on and add four more that term.
Like Lambert, Lallana would turn out to be a key member of the Saints side that went from the depths of the third tier to finishing in the top eight of the Premier League in 2013/14.
Like Lambert, Lallana was then tempted to turn his back on Saints and move to Liverpool in the summer of 2014.
Like Lambert, he was by then a senior England international.
Unlike Lambert, though, some of the Saints fans turned on Lallana for his lack of loyalty.
And unlike Lambert, Lallana has emerged as a key figure at Anfield. making over 100 league and cup appearances and scoring 20 goals. H He has also become a regular in the England set-up and earlier this season scored in three successive internationals - against Slovakia, Scotland and Spain.
The Senegalese international was brought in on loan by Pardew - though executive chairman Nicola Cortese’s Italian contacts had no doubt come in useful as well - shortly after the start of the 2009/10 season.
Then 26, the winger’s career was in need of a pick-me-up.
After making his Serie B debut for Verona in 2003, he signed for divisional rivals Cesena two years later.
After a successful time - where he was the highest-scoring non-Italian in 2006–07 - Waigo signed for Genoa for around £3m in the summer of 2007.
The following January, he was on the move again - this time to Fiorentina. There he made an instant impact with two goals in his first three games, including one in the 3-2 success at eventual champions Juventus.
For whatever reason, Waigo only made a handful of further appearances for the club and was loaned out in 2008/09 to Serie B club Lecce.
From there, he arrived at Saints on a season long loan, where he was mainly used as an impact sub by Pardew.
He was restricted to just 11 third tier starts, but made a further 24 sub appearances - scoring five goals.
He netted another five goals in the cups, including the brace against Torquay that ensured Saints avoided a first round JPT exit.
The lower division Gulls were leading 2-0 at St Mary’s and heading for a shock win when Waigo forced extra time with a second half double.
Saints eventually won 5-3 on penalties, taking the first step on a journey which would led them to Wembley.
Waigo was also on target two rounds later in another shoot-out victory at St Mary’s - this time against Norwich (who included Fraser Forster in goal) after a 2-2 draw.
At Wembley, Waigo pounced to head Saints into a 3-0 lead against Carlisle.
It was the 10th, and as it turned out last, goal of what would be his only ever taste of English football.
Returning to Fiorentino, Waigo was loaned out in 2010/11 to Grosseto and in the summer of 2011 was sold to Serie B club Ascoli.
After 15 goals in 40 appearances in 2011/12 he was on the move again, this time joining United Arab Emirates club Al-Wahda. Now 33, he is still playing in the middle east for Al Urooba, who he joined last year.
Then 19, the winger arrived on loan at St Mary’s in October 2009 - signed by Pardew from his former club Reading.
Antonio was never a regular starter in League 1 - making as many sub appearances (14) as starts.
But he did start five of Saints’ six JPT ties, coming off the bench in the other.
Antonio 's third goal for the club gave them a JPT Southern Area final first leg success at MK Dons in January 2010.
And his fourth goal, on his 31st appearance, arrived in the Wembley final - his low shot from just outside the penalty area putting Saints into an unassailable 4-0 lead.
The goal came on his 20th birthday.
Antonio scored the winner in a league game against Charlton soon after and then struck twice in another victory over Carlisle - this time a 3-2 League 1 triumph.
After helping Sheffield Wednesday to promotion from League 1 in 2011/12, Antonio’s loan move was made permanent.
He later won a £1.5m move to Championship rivals Nottingham Forest ahead of the 2014/15 season. Fourteen league goals in his first season at the club was followed by four in his first five league and cup games in 2015/16.
Such form alerted West Ham, who splashed out £7.5m to take Antonio into the Premier League.
To start with, it wasn’t a happy move.
He was restricted to inconspicuous appearances in his first few months at Upton Park, during which time a supporter tweeted a picture of Antonio to co-chairman David Gold, adding, “trying to raise awareness for my mate who went missing in Manchester a few weeks ago”.
Gold swiftly retweeted the picture, prompting widespread derision, before explaining his error by claiming he had not realised it was an image of Antonio.
But while the winger was not offended, the label stuck.
Antonio netted his first goal for the Hammers on his fourth start on December 28 2015 - ironically against Saints.
He also set up Andy Carroll’s winner in the same game, when his shot came back off the underside of the crossbar.
Antonio said afterwards: “If I am honest, for the first three months I was a missing person. I was sat on the bench, not playing.”
Antonio has since gone from strength to strength.
Last August he was named in Sam Allardyce’s first (and only) senior England squad for the World Cup qualifier against Slovakia.
After ending his first season at West Ham with nine goals, he has eight to his name already this term.
Go to the original article…
...contently produced by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
Sourced from Sky Sports article
Show/hide article…
Premier League questions: Will a fortnight off help? Can Chelsea steal a march? Will Leicester top the rot?
Will a fortnight off help? Can Chelsea steal a march? Will Leicester top the rot?
Ahead of the return of the Premier League this weekend, we ask the pressing questions that will be answered come Monday evening as we approach the business end of the season.
This weekend Tottenham v Stoke is live on Super Sunday at 1.30pm, while Monday Night Football sees Leicester host Liverpool at 8pm, both on Sky Sports 1.
Will Palace’s fortnight off aid them in their survival bid? Crystal Palace v Middlesbrough (Saturday, 3pm)
Palace’s two-week break may not have come at a better time. Following a humbling defeat at home to Sunderland and another loss at Stoke, Sam Allardyce’s side have had time to regroup.
The break was meant to take place in Dubai, but Beckenham was the ultimate destination for the struggling Premier League side after the club pulled the plug on their warm-weather trip following a string of poor results.
Middlesbrough, hard to beat when they sit in but not particularly exciting, stand in their way, and given what occurred last time out at Selhurst Park, it seems if Palace fail to score the first goal, they could crumble.
Will Burnley finally win away from home? Hull v Burnley (Saturday, 3pm)
Their shock FA Cup defeat by Lincoln aside, Burnley have been impressive since the turn of the year, but only at home.
At Turf Moor, Sean Dyche’s side look an impenetrable unit, but on the road they are the worst side in the Premier League. Just one of their 30 league points this term have come away from home.
They go up against a resurgent Hull under Marco Silva, who themselves have been in fine form at home, winning their last four games in all competitions.
Given the circumstances, Hull will really fancy this one, and the win would mean more to the hosts than Burnley, who are 10 points off the drop zone.
Can Everton continue their unbeaten form against the basement boys? Everton v Sunderland (Saturday, 3pm)
Another side with a two-week break in their lockers, Everton are not out of contention for a top six spot, given sixth-place Manchester United are still fighting on four fronts compared to the Toffees’ one.
Ronald Koeman’s side are on solid form, winning five of their last eight, pulling themselves to within seven points of the European places in the Premier League.
David Moyes goes back to Goodison Park with some unhappy memories of his last return. As Manchester United manager he saw his side dispatched 2-0 in 2014, his last game in charge before being sacked.
This time around, the clash is arguably just as important, with Sunderland deep in the relegation mire.
Can Bournemouth gain a buffer between them and the relegation zone? West Brom v Bournemouth (Saturday, 3pm)
After the turn of the year, relegation was not a word on the tip of any Bournemouth fan’s tongue, but four defeats in five games means Eddie Howe’s side have work to do to steer clear.
Those below them have narrowed the gap from 10 points on January 3 to just six now, and the Cherries have dropped five places in the process.
They go to the Hawthorns on Saturday, where the hosts have lost just once in seven league games, winning six of those. Another tough ask, but Bournemouth need to show some resilience.
Can Chelsea gain a mental advantage with three of their rivals not playing this weekend? Chelsea v Swansea (Saturday, 3pm)
Man City, Arsenal and Man Utd have seen their Premier League games postponed due to the EFL Cup final, while Liverpool don’t play until Monday Night Football at Leicester, meaning Chelsea can put the ball in their rivals’ court with a win at the Bridge.
They host Swansea and their former assistant manager Paul Clement, who has steered them clear of the drop zone with four wins in six Premier League games.
Jose Mourinho has already started the mind games by saying Chelsea have won the Premier League already, but Antonio Conte won’t be fooled. With 13 games to go, their eight-point gap is big, but not big enough for certainties just yet.
Can West Ham continue their resurgence without Dimitri Payet? Watford v West Ham (Saturday, 5.30pm)
Since Dimitri Payet decided to force a move out of West Ham, Slaven Bilic’s side have taken 10 points from a possible 15 in the Premier League, and now sit in the top half of the table, 12 points clear of the drop.
So what has changed? West Ham players have stated that the lack of Payet is not a reason for their upturn in from, but the Hammers have shown more fight and desire since the Frenchman caused a scene in early January.
They go to Watford at Saturday tea-time, with the Hornets having lost only one of their last five.
Will Tottenham keep up the pace with leaders Chelsea? Tottenham v Stoke (Super Sunday, 1.30pm, live on Sky Sports 1)
If Chelsea are to beat Swansea, it’s over to Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Super Sunday, and Stoke will be no pushover.
Mark Hughes’ side have been on steady form, losing just one of their last six games, and Saido Berahino is in line to start his first game for the Potters since his move from West Brom in January.
Tottenham have Jan Vertonghen back in their starting XI, and are favourites to take all three points, but another Chelsea victory will pile the pressure on Mauricio Pochettino’s men.
Can Leicester stop the rot and recapture the feeling from the last time these sides met? Leicester v Liverpool (Monday Night Football, 8pm, live on Sky Sports 1)
Just over 12 months ago, Jamie Vardy scored one of the goals of the season in a stunning 2-0 win over Liverpool to put Leicester three points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Fast forward a year, and Leicester have slid into a relegation fight, and are in danger of turning the fairy tale into a nightmare.
While Leicester have been consistently poor, Liverpool have been plain inconsistent in recent weeks. Their 2-0 win over Spurs was impressive, but came after just one win in 10 games after the turn of the year.
Top four for Jurgen Klopp is the priority, a title challenge now a bonus, but all eyes are on Claudio Ranieri as he looks to save his job at the Premier League champions.
Go to the original article…
...vauntingly brought into being by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
Sourced from Mirror.co.uk article
Nathan Redmond reveals humiliating picture used by Southampton’s WhatsApp group
Show/hide article…
Footballers are not a particularly forgiving bunch. With ‘banter’ the preferred social currency of every dressing room in the land, how do you think a group of Premier League players would react if their team’s assistant manager accidentally sent them all a picture that was meant for his wife?
Would they quietly and discreetly alert the staff member and forget about his unfortunate mistake? Or would they absolutely destroy him for it?
Unfortunately for Eric Black - Claude Puel’s No2 at Southampton - he has recently found out the answer to that question.
With the EFL Cup Final against Manchester United fast approaching, Saints star Nathan Redmond has been talking to Match of the Day magazine about the spirit in the Southampton squad.
In the interview, Redmond revealed that there is a group WhatsApp chat at the club, saying, “When the banter’s flying, it’s flying!”
The next part of the chat revealed just what he meant.
Explaining that the image on the chat is one of Black, their assistant manager, Redmond says: “He was meant to send a pic to his wife, but sent it to the group by accident. It’s him blowing a kiss in the mirror with a love heart in lipstick on the mirror!”
The lesson here? Always be very, very careful that messages intended for your wife don’t end up in the hands of banter-loving footballers…
To read the full interview, pick up a copy of Match of the Day Magazine this Tuesday.
Go to the original article…
...fancily moulded by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet
@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC
#SaintsFCU18s completed an impressive win over #BHAFC in the #U18PL earlier today. Watch back the action here: http://sfcne.ws/BHAFCU18Highlights
Retweets: 2
Favourites: 3
...lifelessly erected by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary
Summary of non-mainstream articles: 22/02/2017 18:12:39
| | Southampton’s lack of games puts Man Utd at a minor disadvantage, says Matt Le TissierSQUAWKA |
...toothlessly costructed by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
| | Catalan newspaper reassure Southampton fans with update on reported Barcelona transferSPORTWITNESS |
| | Barca to offer Southampton £15million?VITALFOOTBALL |
Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article
Show/hide article…
We’ve got plenty of Wembley Stadium information and travel advice to help you plan your #MarchToWembley.
Saints’ Ticket Office and Supporter Relations staff will be available from 12.30pm in the West Ticket Office at Wembley on Sunday.
Please note that there will be no sales and no upgrades of tickets on the day (for example a concession ticket upgrade to an adult ticket).
TRAVEL
Official Coach Pick Up Places and Times
St Mary’s Stadium: 10.30am
There will be NO PARKING available at the stadium due to the high number of coaches. If you are a Blue Badge Holder using SFC Official Coach Travel only, please contact our Operations Team on 02380 727785 for advice.
Eastleigh: 10.45am
Pick up point is the bus station next to Sainsbury’s
Winchester: 11am
Due to the high number of coaches, both ours and others, picking up in Winchester we have arranged an alternative, safer, more convenient pick up point.
This will be the St Catherine’s Park and Ride on Garnier Road in Winchester. Fans can park here FREE OF CHARGE for the whole day. Pick up time will still be 11am.
Red Funnel Information
We advise supporters to sail on the 8.15am Red Jet from West Cowes if they are travelling to Wembley by coach and to arrive 15 minutes before departure due to expected high passenger numbers.
Returning from the game:
We have Red Jet sailings at 45 minutes past the hour from Southampton, with the last sailing at 10.45pm. We have made contingency plans in the event of extra time/penalties, our priority is to get supporters home. The last car ferry departs Southampton at 10.30pm. The next car ferry crossing from Southampton is at 2.45am on Monday 27th February, this crossing has restricted passenger capacity due to hazardous cargo.
Our team will be monitoring the travel situation throughout the day and will be updating via our Twitter newsfeed @RF_Travel_News.
Trains
Along with the normal train plan they have confirmed two additional trains before and after the game that can be used by fans. These will be 12 carriage trains and will follow the below plan:
Pre-match
Departing: Southampton Central at 10.50am
Calling At: Southampton Parkway at 10.56am, Eastleigh at 11.02am and Winchester at 11.13am
Arriving: London Waterloo at 12.16pm
Departing: Southampton Central at 11.50am
Calling At: Southampton Parkway at 11.56am
Arriving: London Waterloo at 1.30pm
Post-match
Departing: London Waterloo at 8.50pm
Calling At: Winchester at 9.50pm, Eastleigh at 9.59pm and Southampton Parkway at 10.04pm.
Arriving: Southampton Central at 10.13pm.
Departing: London Waterloo at 9.50pm
Calling At: Winchester at 10.50pm, Eastleigh at 10.59pm and Southampton Parkway at 11.04pm
Arriving: Southampton Central at 11.14pm
Planned engineering works that may affect your journey can be found here.
Important Wembley timings
Ticket office opens: 12.30pm (collections only)
Hospitality doors open: 1.30pm
Stadium doors open: 2.30pm
Team warm-ups: 3.40pm-4.10pm
Kick-off: 4.30pm
Scheduled match finish: 6.15pm*
*subject to extra time and penalties
Safety & Security
• Supporters are advised to arrive early to avoid delays due to enhanced searching
• Do not bring large bags or rucksacks. All bags will be searches regardless of size.
• Musical instruments will be permitted only if approved in advance by Wembley/EFL – you should contact Southampton Football Club to make the request in advance.
• Visitors are advised not to bring food and drink to Wembley
• Persistent standing is not permitted in the stadium bowl during the match. You will be politely asked to abide by this rule and to respond to the safety instructions from the stewarding team so that all guests can have an enjoyable experience.
Alcohol
No alcohol will be permitted into the stadium if brought with you.
• No alcohol to be taken inside the bowl
• 4 x drinks per person at time of service
• All drinks will be decanted into plastic cups at service points
• Challenge 25 will be in force
• All soft drinks brought to the stadium will need to be decanted at turnstiles into plastic cups.
Flags
You may bring a flag without prior permission if:
• The flag is smaller than 250cm in size at the widest or longest point.
• It does not have an attached flag pole
• In the case of an attached flag pole, it is made from wood and plastic only and is no longer than one metre in length and 1cm in diameter.
• There is no advertising or commercial message on the flag
• It does not contain any abusive or defamatory message
Young Person Wristbands
As a safeguarding service, Wembley Stadium provides ‘Young Visitor Wristbands’ to assist in the event of a lost child. To collect a young visitor wristband please visit your nearest information point.
Re-Entry
Should spectators leave the Stadium, they will not be allowed to re-enter, unless under exceptional circumstances such as on medical grounds. Please seek the support of a safety steward if this situation arises.
PUBS
Saints fans can use the following pubs on the West side of Wembley Stadium:
The Green Man
Moore Spice
Blue Room
Liquor Station
JJ Moons
Thirsty Eddie’s
Masti
Flannery’s
Station 31
The Corner House
The Arch
(Information provided by MET Football Unit)
ACCESSIBILITY
You can visit the Guest Support Portal for Wembley here.
Services/facilities offered include:
Accessible transport service - a complimentary service to transport guests from the Green Car Park meeting point on Wembley property to any seat in the building.
Blue Badge Parking – book here http://www.wembleyofficialparking.com/
Disability Liaison Officer at Wembley contact details can be found here.
Listening Headsets/Devices - Devices are complimentary although a short form will need to be filled out to lend a device. They can be collected from Information Booths.
To find the one nearest to you click here.
Accessible/Disabled Shuttle Bus Service - Wembley have partnered with Brent Council to provide a shuttle service from Wembley Park tube station to the stadium.
This shuttle runs every event day. Please note that booking is not required.
To find the pickup point at Wembley Park Tube Station, exit the main ticket gates and stay to your right and head towards the accessible lift. Take the lift down to street level and then turn right and head to the area shown the picture below.
Wheelchair Storage – Wembley are happy to store and keep safe your wheelchair while you are there visiting Wembley Stadium. After arriving and entering through your turnstile, please look for an Information Booth, where staff will happily check in your chair.
RADAR Locks – you will need to take your RADAR key with you to use the accessible facilities, or request assistance from the nearest steward.
Accessible Facilities Concourse Maps & Accessible Seating Platforms.
Go to the original article…
...smotheredly begot by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article
Show/hide article…
What have you made of the cup run so far?
"I think it’s been a good example for others as to why you shouldn’t throw cups away. For me, it didn’t feel that they were on a march to Wembley when they beat Crystal Palace, but then you get that bit of genius from Boufal against Sunderland and another win, and once you get past rounds three and four you need to start thinking about getting to Wembley.
"The quarter-final at Arsenal, you can’t praise the team enough, to go to the Emirates and win again in the League Cup. That was the match that, for me, set it up. You hope semi-finals and finals are more even occasions, because it’s about players wanting it, so you don’t need motivating for a semi-final or final. But a quarter-final away at Arsenal, they could easily have chucked one in and thought ‘Alright, we’ve had a good go of it, but there’s no disgrace losing here,’ but they didn’t. The players that came in played really well, everything went perfectly, and that was the moment for me.
“The last two years, seeing them lose to Sheffield United and then Liverpool the way they did, you just wanted them to get past that quarter-final, third time lucky, and they did. I think it’s helped the manager, as well as the fans and the players in the season.”
How big an achievement would it be if Southampton can win?
"I think it’s a very big achievement on two levels. I think, over 131 years, only playing at Wembley five times is underachieving probably for a club that’s been in top-flight football for a lot of the last 50 years, so I think it’s needed. To win it would be massive for the club on that level, because they haven’t had a lot of silverware, but I also think to win it beating Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United – the three most decorated clubs in English football – would be an enormous achievement, on a much bigger scale almost than just winning it because the club haven’t won much.
“To me, that would be the massive achievement, doing it that way. They’ve beaten Premier League clubs all the way, and if they end up by beating the biggest club in British football and one of the biggest clubs in the world, that’s a huge achievement.”
What do you think their chances are?
“Even. It’s a final. They’ve done it in '76. I don’t want to keep banging on about that, because it’s not relevant to the day, but what it does give fans is knowledge that you can, as an underdog, perform. You can be Wigan in a cup final and win. These things can be done, so why not? Yes, you’re up against a team full of players who haven’t lost for a long time, but this is a Saints team that have beaten Manchester United twice at Old Trafford recently, that have won at Anfield, that have beaten Arsenal twice in cup competitions, that have knocked Liverpool out over two legs. If they win it, I don’t think you can overestimate how good it is.”
Who needs to really perform for Saints on Sunday if they are to win?
"You have to look at all three bits of the park. Mourinho isn’t turning up just to coast. He’s a trophy manager. He set his stall out at Chelsea by winning the League Cup. He’s done it before and that’s what he does. So if you’re going to beat a Mourinho Manchester United, you need ten of 11 players to be at the top of their game.
"At the back, you have to be compact, you have to keep Ibrahimović away from the six-yard area. He’s such a threat in the air, and with his skills on the ground, that I think Yoshida, Stephens, or whoever plays at the back and marks him has to have a great day. The rest of it, I think comes off that.
"If you can frustrate United and keep him away from the penalty area then you start to get into the game in the middle of the park, where Romeu has to have a big game, and I don’t have any doubt he will. If they play with someone alongside him, great. The backbone has to be strong – the two centre-backs have to be good, Romeu has to protect the back four, the tenacity in midfield has to be there. Then you need somebody to give you a moment of inspiration to cling onto.
“Ok, you might cruise it 3-0, but ultimately in my thinking is someone in the final third has to deliver a moment that then 32,000 fans and ten other players hold onto to push them towards winning. So, who’s going to do that? Is it Gabbiadini, the new hero? Possibly. It depends who plays on the flanks. I’d like to see Tadić have a massive game. When he’s on it, he’s a great talent. I think he’s come back a bit into form in the last week or two, he enjoyed himself at Sunderland, so I’m just hoping the two-week break hasn’t stopped the momentum for him. He’s massive for me, because he needs to unlock them.”
What would your line-up be?
“My preferred line-up would be in a 4-2-3-1 and would be Forster in goal, then Cédric. I don’t know about Cáceres’s fitness, so it’s going to be Cédric, Stephens, Yoshida and Bertrand at the back. The two full-backs are really important on the day as well, because they’re very experienced players now. I would then do exactly what he did at Sunderland. I would have Davis alongside Romeu as a two and I would have Tadić ahead of them and Gabbiadini in front of him. Then I think the top three is tough, and that’s a good sign, because it means there’s competition around. But I would have, obviously, Gabbiadini down the middle, with Tadić behind him and let’s just say Rodriguez left and Long right – I’d like to see all three.”
And, on a personal level, how much are you looking forward to covering the final?
"I’m looking forward to it a lot, because if you work in regional broadcasting, unless you’re in Manchester, London or Liverpool, you don’t really get too many national occasions to get stuck into. I’ve done a number of finals at Wembley, Twickenham and Cardiff, and it’s always fun. It’s one of those where you could over-prepare, but actually compared to say a normal league game I could turn up and not write as many notes and let the occasion take care of itself. It’s one of those where you can really look forward to it and enjoy it, and not get bogged down in the minutiae, because it’s about the occasion.
“When you work with the same set of players over a period of time, it becomes part of your life. What I do with Saints is a massive part of my life, personally and professionally. You get to know players over a period of time and when that happens you want people to do well. When I get excited about goals and things, it’s because I want the club to do well. There’s a lot of people at the club I know and have time for, or that I’m friends with. It’s great and I think when you commentate through the rounds of the competition as well, you build with it and get to the same point as everyone else. I’ve got to try and stay calm, but we’ll see how long it lasts.”
Go to the original article…
...wonderingly brought to pass by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
Sourced from A tweet by SFC_Foundation tweet
@SFC_Foundation - Saints Foundation
Just 1 day left to bid on our auction items!
Visit our NEW eBay shop here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/sfcfoundation
Retweets: 4
Favourites: 3
...defectingly invented by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
Sourced from A tweet by OficialCedric tweet
@OficialCedric - Cédric Soares
Let´s go Saints! #SaintsFC #WeMarchOn #MarchToWembley
Retweets: 21
Favourites: 175
...correctedly instantiated by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article
United Flashback: Saints net six at The Dell
Show/hide article…
From hanging up shirts in the club shop to hanging up shirts in the dressing room at Wembley. This is Jamie Ireland’s #MarchToWembley.
Go to the original article…
...untruly instigated by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
| 
