James replied on Glensider’s match report and it deserves a wider audience.

Hi Glensider,

I’m James an Aussie and long time Southampton fan. Incidentally I was born the same year you first went to the Dell in 1967. Even though you are not a journalist, its great to see your article is written very well. I enjoyed your story, it made me smile, laugh and I also felt sad about your friend who is ill. I’ve never been to England apart from a stop over at the airport in London.

So hearing your story about your travels, is no different to the many that I’ve had around Sydney following another English game called Rugby League.

I am so pleased as you would feel that my Saints turned the corner, unfortunately wining in that fashion against Villa, I would of preferred beating Manchester United 2-1. However, I don’t believe the Saints team has played all that bad this season apart from the kick in the bum we needed against Arsenal.

I think what happened against Villa, we did learn from experience being in the same position against United at home when we were 2-1 up. I was worried that Villa would turn around and do the same thing to us as the two Manchester clubs coming back from behind to win 3-2. However, I think the team learned much from those earlier defeats and once they got their nose in front they were determined to finish the opposition off.

Sometimes in football its all about desperation, I just think Villa came to St Mary’s at the wrong time because Southampton were under pressure to win and the players wanted it badly for the manager and also for themselves.

What is amazing about life is a player like Ricky Lambert who is in his 30′s has now scored goals in every division including 4 in the PL and tops the list as of today 22/9/12. He has now scored 92 goals for Southampton and he seems to be getting better with age like wine. He is even talked about as a possibly England player. I think England will be mad not to pick him because he has presence and is a big lad and will cause opposition headaches. He kind of reminds me of an old Australian Leeds player Mark Viduka.

I really don’t know much about Villa or much about the premier league since Saints got relegated last. Unfortunately I have been following the lower leagues while Nigel Adkins men were climbing back up the ladder again. England needs Southampton in the Premiership because some fine young talent has come from there and being a Catholic its great supporting a club called the Saints who play at Saint Mary’s.

My dream now is to visit and sit back and enjoy a game like today even though it was against your team. Perhaps to sit back with loyal fans like you.

Good luck to Villa for the rest of the season.