Alanh

Go for 17th again next season. I think a lot more people will be prepared to go with your prediction.

I liked the new qualifying programme. The edited format cut a lot of the fat out of the previous live coverage and as a result the viewing experience was much better. It was probably helped having an exciting and unpredictable session. If the BBC extended highlights are as good as that qualy programme I don't think I'll miss the live coverage as much as I expected to (provided I can keep away from finding out the result on raceday).

If Wigan go down I'd like to see us enquire about Al Habsi, their keeper. He always looks like the best player in their defence, possibly because he is kept so busy. We will definitely need a CM and a RM and there are some good suggestions on this thread. It would be good to break out transfer record this summer though.

I remember a game against Leeds at the Dell which we won 1-0 with Kachloul scoring inside the first 10 mins and us then hanging on for the rest of the match. Nerve wracking but eventually it got to the stage where you just knew that the game could have gone on for another 2 hours but it just wasn't Leeds day to score.

It's a great idea, but I don't think it's really necessary for schools. Is this machine able to do anything that a regular Windows desktop can't already do? I know it's running Linux but relatively few kids are going to understand the differences between operating systems. Most schools have pretty extensive ICT facilities having teched-up over the last few years. They use them in a variety of ways, some much better than others, but they have the hardware to be able to teach programming. The investment needs to be in software, curriculum development and training for teachers to be able to teach programming rather than a nerdy looking motherboard masquerading as a cure for the country's computer ills.

Two reasons really. The9 is fascinated by all kit related matters and so generates these discussions with more passion that just about anyone else on here. Secondly, our new kit will be out in June / July this year as the current is a one season only design.

Good win but a pretty poor game. We controlled things all over the park but never really got our fluid passing game going. Lallana going off probably affected that as much as the pitch which looked rough and Puncheon wasn't anywhere near as effective as he has been at home recently. Lambert and Lee caused their defence problems all match and their main solution was to punt the ball long, but without anyone up front who the ball would stick to. I thought Schneiderlin had a very good game; he battled for everything in midfield and was generally the one looking to make the passes rather than just lump it forward. The penalty was soft. It didn't look like Lee was going to make the ball. Hopefully AL and RL injuries aren't too serious as Leeds will be much tougher than this match was

I've spoken to a mate who is a Brentford season ticket holder and he says Dean is doing OK. Has made a few howlers, but is obviously now adding goals to his list of achievements so he is contributing more. This sort of loan is ideal for a young player and I hope it stand him in good stead for his career either with saints or another club.

He's a chequbook manager. Give him the money and he'll assemble a squad to do a job. That's the one thing you can't do as England manager, you are stuck with a pool of players. I think he can man manage a team as well as most other managers but I wouldn't put him in the Clough / Ferguon / O'Neill category of man managers. I'd go for Roy Hodgeson as England manager. He's got the Internation, European and Prem experience that you need and seems to be able to get his teams to overperform i.e. Fulham in the UEFA Cup. I think that's a much better CV than HR.

Not sure if anyone has already posted this but it offers a few minutes light entertainment http://www.mousebreaker.com/games/bungabulldog/playgame

I don't think there was an alternative last night. LB isn't ready to start yet, Lee has only just arrived. Sharp wasn't eligible, De Ridder has hamstring problems and Guly was injured.

I think the central midfield improved massively from the Leicester match. Last night we were winning second balls regularly from the start and despite being 3 v 2 in there they didn't get dominated for any period of the match. The problem as I saw it was Cardiff were set up to cut out passing options and then hit us on the break. Their fullbacks and wide midfielders pressed our players resulting in them receiveing the ball with their backs to goal and nowhere to pass bu backwards. McPhail was cutting out through balls just in front of their back four reducing our options. We couldn't find our passing range until NA switched the formation and after that the midfield were much more effective.

Bad performance last night. Leicester deserved the win as they were better than us in every department. They closed down our defence when they had the ball leaving them with few passing options. Guly is not a 'hold up' player so was never going to be able to play the Lambert role. DC looked like he had a Bart sort of game after fluffing the early chance. The midfield could not get hold of the ball for any period of time because Leicester pressed so hard and once they had the two goal advantage knew that they just had to cut off our supply lines to the attacking players. We won't play that badly with Lambert, Lallana, Fonte, Chaplow in the side and the addition of Lee should help. I'm guesing that Falque and Harding started ahead of De Ridder and Richardson because the latter were both unfit for a full 90 mins. Hope the injury to Hooiveld isn't too serious but we need CB cover in anyway - someone in the Jaidi mould would do the job for me.

De Ridder tried hard when he came on but by that stage the team were mentally defeated so he had little support. Leicester were also in cruise mode just soaking up anything that we could put together. I'm guessing he's still not 100% so that's why he didn't start and Falque did. Falque looked just like a young kid with little first team experience. He seemed anxious to complete a pass so often played the simple ball that did no damage to the opposition. Give him time and hopefully he'll contribute more. Not too sure about De Ridders long term future. He's got pace which can always trouble a defence but I haven't seen him change the nature of a game often enough when he's on the pitch. If we get promoted he'll stuggle to hold his place in the matchday squad in the Prem. if we are still in the nPC next year he should have a role to play. He did do pretty well over Xmas before his injury.

You do realise that this 'bid' is made up by the Mirror journalist in a sarcastic reply to the previous comment about Jason Puncheon. You statement saying WHam 'could' bid might just as well be about Messi as Lambert because in theory WHam could bid for him as well. Nonsense.

I'm sure Ruth Jones will be very pleased to hear that she has such a big fan. Have you read Endless Beat - all about the Salisbury music scene from mid 70's to early 90's. It was a good time, especially the Passenger Club era at the Arts Centre around the lat 80's early 90's.

I'm sure there's a 'Heaven knows I'm miserable now' gag here somewhere if only I could find it!!!. Only joking Alps

Echo & the Bunnymen

I think too many people are assuming that an in form nPC striker at another club would have an immediate impact for us. There are countless examples of players moving clubs and not being able to replicate their previous form at the new club. Torres and Carrol spring to mind immediately. The only solution is to wait and see. Speculation about how successful he will be or how successful anyone else might be is just guesswork and therefore you can't compare the relative size of the gamble.

I don't think NA or NC are the types to react to perceived panic or indeed to panic after a few poorer results. Neither of them would have got to where they are if they panicked after the month we have just had and the position we are in. I think that the statement on the OS is there because information was in the public domain so they felt the need to clarify the club's position and intentions. It might be part of the negotiation tactics or a way to demonstrate to the authorities that we are serious about getting a work permit. I agree it's unusual to hear this type of information onthe OS, but then it's unusual for us to sign players from the J-League and so there might need to be some alteration to our usual MO.

Against Bristol City and Doncaster we had most of the play and they defended like the away team, hitting us on the break in both matches. I don't think Pompey's crowd will allow them to do that and they'll have to attck. That should suit us and allow us to create more opportunities. If NA has got the psychological preparations right I can't see us losing. I'd take a draw now but believe we can win 2 - 1.

I'm certainly reading it as a bit of crowd pleasing PR. I'm sure he prepares the squad for every match individually so in that respect its business as usual. The local derby element just gives the opportunity for a bit of PR spin to keep the fans happy.

Hi Pugwash I've gone for an alternative plan so won't be needing to buy your Macbook. Good luck with selling it though.

That's fine. It's an Xmas present so I don't need it immediately. Don't sell it without letting me know though.

Hi Pugwash I'm interested and if I'm the first bidder I'll offer the £500 you mentioned. I'll be down for the match on Tuesday so if you are in Southampton could pick it up then.