The9

Not that it fits my argument or anything, but Dean Hammond didn't play a League match between 16 Jan and 20 Feb, during which time we drew 1-1 at Brentford beat Stockport 2-0 (they ARE bottom) and drew at Exeter Hammond's comeback League match was the 2-0 win at Norwich. The 0-0 draw with Wycombe which is roudly criticised on here (and that I was at) was the midweek immediately following that LEAGUE game. With hindsight, I'd say Hammond's absence may have cost us an extra 2 points in those 2 draws and it was tiredness after beating Norwich along with a wearing slippery pitch at Wycombe that cost us the points there. Cup ties had nothing to do with it, other than giving some squad players a run out which came in handy when we needed to call on them.

This isn't true, if Huddersfield lose to Colchester and they both lose their other games we can get in on 74 points. However, if only Huddersfield lose all their games, it's only if Colchester win all 3 that we have to win all 4. So Colchester aren't completely irrelevant, they are still relevant if Huddersfield lose all 3 games. You're right to say Colchester are irrelevant if Saints win all 4 - except that their result against Huddersfield could still be the difference in us going up or not.

That's because we had so many cup ties. FWIW I think losing Hammond in the new year was the biggest cause of dropped points over that period, just happened to coincide with our points-shedding. In terms of the gap to the leaders, that mostly grew because we played half as many league games as everyone else in January/February, with few home matches, rather than particularly poor form.

Not to mention the shedloads of cash it'll cost the club to ensure it doesn't happen.

Just for the record, it's actually in the Premier League's rules that teams are allowed to wear their new home kit for the last home game of the season. Chelsea will be doing exactly that (it has red on the collar) in the next week or so. Bloody ridiculous that it happens, even more so that it's permitted, even more again that they actually encourage it. Flybe meanwhile have had the entire JPT run out of us this season and the additional publicity THAT brought, plus if it was a problem Markus could just lob them some cash.

We'll see what happens to them when they get to the Football League, shall we ? Also, could someone point it out to Avram that even if they get the 9 back they're still bottom, and not only has the deduction has made absolutely no difference to their survival chances, but the Prem have even ignored a bunch of their rules in an effort to make them more competitive ?

Speaking of ancient and pointless arguments... Sturrock's record of P 13 W 5 D 2 L 6 would have seen us safely in midtable. In Hoddle's "successful" season when he jumped ship (00/01), he left us when we still had the teams in 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 11th and 15th place to play. His "success" was gathered by playing all but one of the teams in the bottom half twice, only Liverpool in the top half twice, and bailing out just before it got tricky. And then he was rubbish at Spurs and Wolves, and can't get a job in English football now.

Fly from Leeds and get a lift back up North from someone on here ?

I was over all of this mattering in August, what is wrong with you lot ? Enjoy yourselves, we win matches, we buy decent players, we'll be one of the favourites for promotion next season. This stuff is extremely old news and the fact that the -10 might be the difference between going up and not has been known for some 9 months now. If it was the difference between staying in the league and dropping into L2, then I could see why there would be a need to squabble about it. Meanwhile, in the real world, things are going pretty well for Saints.

Nothing to do with the FA...

Free in NOTW today, album seems to have 6 Prem players in it. Panini are the original and best, no gimmicks and no guff. I'm 37 and loving it

I'd like to take this post out of context with hilarious consequences.

Maybe... then again maybe I'm going to wait for it to catch on a bit more first. I've got a wedding to be thinking about...

Haven't been on here since I said "Eastville" but l'dol when I saw all the south west grounds listed, cos I've been to most of them ! Ninian, Weston-S-M, Gloucester... weirdly not Twerton though, despite numerous opportunities. And I got Elm Park and thought it was the Olympic Stadium pre-roof, fwiw. :prayer:

I'm surprised he hasn't had it tattooed on his forehead to save people pointing it out to him 28_F. I'm still not quite over seeing him standing on the halfway line and watching a colleague intercept a loose pass between the last two defenders, dribble 30 yards into the box and look for the simple cross and tap-in finish, only to discover McGoldrick still stood in the centre circle.

Clearly the equaliser v Norwich was the best goal ever in the history of everything (at the time). Not EQUALISER, not winner, it was a 2-2 draw after all...

You're never too old to learn. I have informed The Lung that I'm not dead yet and am not yet interested in such a prestigious position. Which is not to say it was offered. PS For the record, I already have Newport & District Sunday B and Sunday C Division Titles under my belt as a player/manager/secretary/coach/founder/top goalscorer.

Charlton managers : Alan Pardew 26-12-2006 22-11-2008 Les Reed 14-11-2006 23-12-2006 Pardew took over from Reed, who had a month in charge and had been promoted after Dowie was sacked in the November following Curbishley's departure in the summer of 2006. As you can see in this link, Les Reed left Charlton and Pardew was appointed : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2352827/Pardew-appointed-Charlton-manager.html We should probably bear the above paragraphs in mind when considering changing managers...

Bizarrely I bought a book by him the other day. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Official-Guide-Coaching-Football-Association/dp/0340816007/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271417939&sr=8-3

He hasn't appeared at all in 13 matches this season inc cups, and hasn't started a home game for Forest since 7th November. He also hasn't scored this year. Seems to get a start fairly often away, which suggests he only gets picked to play in the hole when they play 4-4-1-1 away. I'm shocked there's a McGoldrick thread in existence where I haven't already said he's rubbish. No awareness, too slow on the ball, usually bobbles his shots, poor control, nothing in the air and passing isn't up to much either. Would not have a hope in hell of getting in our current side.

It's ATHLETIC Bilbao (named in deference to their British founders and as opposed to Atletico Madrid) and they've been wearing red and white stripes since 1910, so the Fairs Cup theory is unlikely... ...though their founders came from Sunderland, Southampton and some blue place down the road, they played from 1898- 1910 in blue, and changed then for reasons which are unknown, but are suggested to be either a) as a nod to Saints/Sunderland b) cos they couldn't find any more blue kit at the time, c) they were the easiest colours to get in Spain due to local mattress makers.

Significantly less dumb than trying to claim a draw in 90 minutes is a win, when the win was in a penalty shoot out after the match was drawn. Just for the record France have never won the World Cup final on penalties either. Brazil did, in 1994, and Italy in 2006 (which I'd actually forgotten).

I was there and he clearly signalled advantage, having initially not reacted to the flag particularly quickly, thus enabling Puncheon the time to recover and beat his man. He was stood there with both arms out, slightly crouched down, that's "advantage" even from 90 yards away.

Don't forget Claus' preseason goal against Swindon, I turned up at half time and missed that one. Luckily I was in attendance for both his other 2.

Certainly are - new colourway Nike T90s - after the bloody horrible Ninja Turtle bright green ones Barnard still has :