......than to let something as transient as football make me feel a bit bothered.  But then after having lived with the vicissitudes of being a Southampton fan since my father first took me to The Dell in 1946, maybe it is inevitable.  It`s mad; it makes no sense, but each week when Saturday comes I find myself fretting about whether the Saints are going to win, lose or draw.

And I have this theory that the football club is a victim of the same malaise as most of its loyal followers, both of whom live in a permanent state of uncertainty, not to say bewilderment - the default condition of both the club and its fans.  It`s not surprising really, given the ups, downs, ins and outs throughout the years but you would think that, by now, I might have been able to get a bit of a life, if not grow up a bit.

Take last Saturday, for example.  The Saints go to West Ham, who were lying in the relegation zone;  the Saints are comfortably placed in mid table and all sense of reason suggested that whilst it might be a tight game the Saints ought to have gained at least a point.  Didn`t happen of course - West Ham were far superior in just about every part of the game and I can have no complaints at their 3-1 win.  C`est la vie and all that.

It was, however, especially galling that Michal Antonio was largely responsible for the Saints downfall with his aggressive running at Saints` central defence which had no answer to his power and strength;  for it was Antonio who played for Southampton in our League One/Championship days and featured in the FA Trophy Final at Wembley when Carlisle United were dispatched in a comfortable 4-1 win.  We should never have sold him.

And that pattern came to light again in the surprise defeat of Liverpool by Watford, with Liverpool having no less than five former Southampton players in Saturday`s line-up.  Perhaps mature reflection might suggest that that was at least part of the reason why Watford galloped to such an impressive victory.  Maybe we were right after all to have sold  van Dyke, Lovren, Mane, Lallana and Oxtail-Chamberlain to Liverpool, whose first defeat since records began must surely point to a downward slide.

In other teams I follow, my neighbour is in deep mourning following Gillingham`s home defeat by low flying Wimbledon, whose captain was none other than our street`s local hero Scott Wagstaff . All this despite the Gills having two Saints players playing for them on loan.  I`m sure there will be a tense stand-off in our street for a few days.  Elsewhere Forest Green Rovers and Fort William had their games called off due to waterlogged pitches, Maidstone United were clobbered 5-1 away at Weymouth and so the only comfort for me this weekend was Truro City`s impressive 4-1 win away at Hendon to maintain top spot in the Southern League South Division.

I`m quite relaxed about the `working week,` it`s just that Saturdays keep coming round and there are times when I wish they wouldn`t.  Roll on the cricket season.