[Amelia Chaffinch]

    

Terriers v Saints

Saturday 22nd December

15:00

John Smith's Stadium

According to wikipedia, Southampton, the place, is noted for its association with the Titanic and the Spitfire. 

RMS Titanic leaving Southampton 

Spitfire production in Southampton

Southampton, the football club, are known as The Saints. Formed in 1885 as St Mary's Young Men's Association by members of St Mary's Church. Originally they played on The Common but, being the common, they were interrupted regularly by people exercising their right to use it. They moved to the Dell in 1898 and were there until 2001 when they moved to the St Mary's Stadium.

Thanks to Arsenal's paltry efforts on Sunday, Southampton won, putting them up to 17th and dropping us to 19th. Arsenal are therefore utter cockwombles. Until that their form looked at least as bad as ours, if not worse. Now it goes W, L, L, D, L, D whereas ours goes L, L, L, L, W, D. 

It doesn't get much closer than that. Last season was the first time we had played them since 2010/2011 and we managed a 1-1 draw at their place whilst it was 0-0 at ours. 

Chris Marsden played for Town from 1988-1994 and for Southampton from 1999-2004. 

Simon Charlton came through the youth system at Town to play for us from 1989-1993. Southampton signed him from us and was on their books until 1998.

Southampton have appointed a new manager, Ralph Hasenhuttl, since dispensing with terminally dull Mark Hughes. Hasenhuttl translates to rabbit hutch in English. Thumper, as I will now call him, is Austrian born, spent his playing career in Austria, Belgium and Germany. He went on to manage in Germany with his last club being RB Leipzig. Therefore, Thumper is relatively unknown here.

Lets hope Thumper isn't a happy bunny on Saturday and returns to his hasenhuttl with his tail between his legs.

So who do we need to watch out for? Well, Danny Ings is their top scorer on 7. In fact he got 2 of them against Arsenal. Other than him I'd say Charlie Austin who seems to be the striker likely to come on as sub. He also got a goal against Arsenal. He's on 3.

As for Town, Mounie's available again whilst we know that Mooy, Williams, Smith and Sabiri remain injured.

I know that some of you see failings throughout the team but all I see are good performances in the main. We generally seem to outplay the opposition and it's simply a matter of not scoring. I think, in some part, it is merely a lack of luck. We just need to get the rub of the green. We have the greater possession and more shots but don't score, whereas our opponents seem to get a solitary chance and take it! We have the fight. 

Our team needs to go the whole Hogg like we know they can. 

So come on, Town team, are you going to be the iceberg that sends them down like the Titanic or the Fokkers* who get shot down by the Spitfires?

"Oh when the Town 

goes marching in, 

oh when the Town goes marching in"

Lets not be hearing any of that Saints marching in nonsense.

The Twelve Questions of Christmas

1. Tree - real or artificial?

2. Snow or no snow?

3. Frosty the snowman or Rudolph the red nosed reindeer?

4. Slade or Wizzard?

5. Morecambe & Wise or The Two Ronnies?

6. Die Hard or It's a Wonderful Life?

7. Away in a Manger or Fairytale of New York?

8. Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve?

9. Christmas pudding or Sherry trifle?

10. Christmas pudding or Yorkshire pudding?

11. Tree up in November or tree up on Christmas Eve?

12. Leg or breast? 

And... once again... I never tire of this....

* using artistic license for comedic effect before anyone points out they were unlikely to be shot down by spitfires.