I think the reasons Saints fans find it so odd is that Saints fans generally quite like Bournemouth. I recall when they were first promoted to the PL there was a survey about fans favourite/least favourite club in the league (other than their own). Bournemouth were Saints' fans most liked club whereas Saints were Bournemouth's least liked!
Yeah I totally get that. But times change. Bournemouth are no longer some plucky little club punching above their weight. They're a well-run, established Premier League side that's been our equal, and even better than us, for quite a while now. Personally I'd rather we beat them, than say, Forest or Fulham. If they weren't a rival then I wouldn't feel that way.
I always have, and always will, see them like a younger brother. Now granted, they're a younger brother who is no longer 12 years old. They've grown up, are married with two kids, and have a better paid job than us. But they're still the younger brother. I can't feel any dislike to them.
Last time I went to a Saints Bournemouth game, there was a large group of Bompey lads singing “I’d rather be a **** than a Saint”. I think that left a permanent impression on me. Absolute idiots.
I’d give tall paul a go. We actually have a lot of players with a decent cross on them this time around.
Yeah I like Bournemouth, the town and the club. I lived in Bournemouth and Poole after I graduated, fun times. I was happy when they got promoted. It’s not a derby because they’re close, a derby has to be a long running rivalry. Maybe in 20 years it will be a derby, or Pompey go bust or something.
I think we should make our love of Bournemouth more public a) because I live in Dorset and have no reason to dislike them and b) because it seems to wind them up Maybe we should start faking love for the blue few to wind them up? Long ago, we played a charity match with the Bomo to help them stay in business. We truly are Saints
