Return To Summer 1996 Index
Return To Summer 1996 Index
Welcome to the New Millennium Magazine's Football column page or, to be more precise, The Southampton Football Club's alternative, alternative web site.
The New Millennium is a Southampton based publication and this will be reflected in it's football coverage. I shall be reporting on events both on and off the field of play as accurately and openly as the present libel laws allow. Readers should be aware that opinionated tongues are connected to minds of their own, in my case, normally planted firmly in my cheek.
Southampton Football Club is too much of a typing effort. So hereafter The Saints will suffice. For the information of those not born in Southampton, the name stems from the days when it was an embryonic club. They were a church team based in the St Mary's district of the town and attached to the church of the same name.
The reason I've started my football column after the season has ended may owe more than a little to my 'athletically challenged' editor Garf, a man who until recently was under the impression that adrenaline was a popular girls name in Wales. However, Saints fans, do not fret, I've got a feeling the close season may prove more interesting than the playing season
The end of the season is the perfect time to look back on the previous year and speculate on the forthcoming, which is exactly what I shall be doing in this first edition.
Last season was largely a disappointment with a few high spots: notably the 2-0 home win against Queens park Rangers, in November, a game in which Jason Dodd played a blinder, scored a peach of a goal and launched a brilliant individual season. The FA Cup campaign gave Saints their best run starting with the game which mattered most to all Saints fans. This was the FA Cup 3rd Round Draw against local rivals, Portsmouth. Saints proved worthy winners with a 3-0 score line.
Crewe Alexander proved more difficult, a draw at the Dell was followed by a game of two halves (football speak for a game of two halves, - I'm telling you they're all mad - the typist) with Saints going 3-0 up at half time but hanging on desperately for a 3-2 final score, thanks to Dave Beasant's heroics in goal and Simon Charlton's bravery in his own penalty area. After seeing off Swindon Town with a replay at the Dell (2,0) Saints then faced the mighty Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Saints rode their luck early on but went on to dominate the game. Shipperly had a perfectly good goal disallowed - re-opening the debate about bias shown to United by referees. But eventually they went down 2-0. It was a game in which the score mattered not (Huh? the typist), we were proud to be Saints fans.
My last high point was , of course, THE REVENGE : on April 13th Saints thrashed Manchester United 3-1 at The Dell (YEAH ! I was caught in the traffic jam on the way out - the typist). The infamous game in which after exhausting all other avenues available to him, Alex Fergusen-the United Manager- changed his teams shirts from grey to blue and white at half time. (incidentally Manchester United's kit manufacturer, Umbro designed the grey kit to be worn with blue denim jeans).
The generally dull season proved ultimately very exciting for Saints fans with premiership survival being guaranteed only on the last day of the season. A 0-0 draw at the Dell against Wimbledon being enough to send Man City and the reviled Alan Ball into obscurity on goal difference. However celebrations must be tempered by the knowledge that unless changes are made next season will prove equally precarious.
At least Saints have shown this season that they are not a one man team, an accusation often bandied about. Matt Le Tissier has been anonymous to say the least this season and the supporters' choices of player of season, Dave Beasant , runner of Jason Dodd and third placed Neil Shipperley bears testimony to the pool of talent at the club.
Hold on to you hats, Saints fans or 'Scummers' as we're affectionately known by our Portsmouth compatriots. Rumours are circulating which may have far reached effects on the club. At present seven players are out of contract which in the wake of the Bosman Court Case, whereby clubs cannot demand fees for such players is very worrying.
Simon Charlton one player in this position has just had a tow for one hernia operation along with Alan Neilson at the Clubs expense so I imagine he'll be staying. However I've heard that London side, Arsenal are interested in Jason Dodd and Ken Nonkov is being courted by another London club, Tottenham.
The only way Saints can hope to keep hold of their best players and then to improve the squad with outside talent is to offer better wages and be more aggressive in the transfer market. To this end I can inform Saints fans that I have heard from two separate sources that Guy Askham (Southampton Chairman) has been in discussion with none other than Richard Branson, self made millionaire and all round good egg, (that's what I say) with a view to investing much needed cash.
If any of you are still mystified by Dave Beasant's sudden disappearance from the team at the end of the season , it appears he had a training ground spat with Jim Magilton over who would and would not play if Francis Benali was on the team sheet. Judging by the resulting selection I can only surmise that Dave Merrington won hands down.
Stay tuned for the next thrilling episode of Virgin and The Saints.
(football, isn't that like Sensible Soccer only without the computer? - Tech Ed)
