Chez

tremendous gesture. Surprised Wolves agreed to that though (and they have to) as they get 45% of the income.

no we won't. Dobie will be back as will John. If we are lucky and we can offload both then we'll get another loan in. Jan might even keep Pakhard and Robertson (hope not).

does the stadium need to sell out before the corners are then sold? Will people who have bought a ticket be able to trade it in for an Itchen corner seat?

spot on. I think people need to realise that Rasiak was on £20k a week at Spurs. He didn't leave them to earn £10k a week. He will be on £17k a week for sure. Thats £884,000 a year. Stern John was a Premiership striker. How many of those are on 10k a week these days? These guys are on monsterous wages and thats why they are still here. No other reason.

Very good post this. Totally agree about Lowe wanting (and probably doing everything in his power) to offload Rasiak, Saga, John, Thomas and even Davis. It's their wages that cripple the clubs finances. Players like Lallana, Surman, McGoldrick etc will be on absolute peanuts compared to Stern John. Loaning players out is no good either. Yes it gets players off the wage bill temporarily and if you close your eyes tight and try really hard you might just dream that Bristol City and the like are paying a small loan fee, but they will be back come June 1st and then you face 10 weeks of summer wages (if not more if we can loan them out in the window). Try Rasiak and Stern john on a combined £35k a week x 10 and see how quickly the FA cup game money dissapears. I know Saga et al have their fans, but I personally will be mightly pleased if he and John can find perment homes come January (and Rasiak if at all possible). Sadly I fear they will both come back and we'll have no choice but to sell Surman for buttons to keep the overdaft under £5m.

we are going to out our SKY voodoo to bed on Monday night. You heard it here first.

45% of revenue goes to Manure. Of course this game is not going to clear the £5m overdraft so Lowe is spot on. A reply would make a massive difference though.

that mighe be true, but we certainly could do with a little more physical presence and height up front - just look at the difference when Euell came into the side and put himself about. We need someone we can play long to now and again because short stuff all the time becomes predictable and easier and easier to defend against (although you wouldn't think it looking at the second half display on Saturday). If you throw in a long ball, a ball over the top, one down the channel and then a shed load of neat passing in between you have a great mixture of attacking threats. We could also do with a few freebie goals. What I mean by that is goals like Pearce scored directly from a corner that didn't need 28 passes, an eye of a needle ball and a defensive mistake to score. A lofted ball and a big man forcing a poor defensive header and then someone following it in to score `cheaply'. Patterson appears to be better in the air than any of the other strikers and that alone makes his inclusion appealing. In short he looks like he does what Pekhart was brought here to do. Be the big man leading the line. This I think we need not some lazy arsed poacher that stands around waiting for a chance. Having slated Robertson's last two showings he'll probably score a brace on Saturday to put me straight. I bloody well hope so otherwise lets get Paterson on with half hour to go not 10 minutes.

lazy, overated and bankrupt, no thanks. I hope both are bought on Jan 1st enabling us to keep Surman and Lallana. Fat chance though. I wonder how many more of you want to pay those two for 4 months using all the transfer fees for Lallana and Surman.

Skacel looks and plays it long to him every single time. When he's not on the pitch Skacel doesn't bother playing it directly up to the striker as he knows it doesn't stick. Pekhart and Robertson have looked average. Send them back, cut the wage bill and give the lad the shirt. Far too many strikers on the books if you ask me.

total wipping boy for fans that should know better by now. How many more players are going to be lambasted on here before they have had a real chance to show their true talent. Fuller, Jones, Davis, Davies, Surman...

nicely argued. But for the money we pay him, Saga's goal record was ****e last season. Putting goals to one side Saga's all round game is poor IMO. I've never seen any striker give the ball away so cheaply so often in all my days. Before anyone responds with `great workrate' I say ********.

why write McGoldrick off. Are you old enough to remember MLT's early seasons - he was very hit and miss. If you are slightly younger than cherck out BT's scoring recorfd early doors or if you and nipper than perhaps Jones' first couple of seasons. You have to give these guys time. Personally I'd start McGoldrick ahead of Dobie even ignoring the fact he's probably on 3, 4 or 5 times as much a week.

McGoldrick has ability. Give the lad time and he'll become a top player for us or at least a sizeable cheque.

ST holders should be given whatever they want. We even face redicule and at times hostility from posters on this board and anyone brave enough to buy a ticket in March when we looked like we would be in League 1 deserves a medal IMO, never mind first dibs on extra tickets. Everyone that wants a ticket will get one thoguh IMO.

as did Dobie in two spells at Carlise... whatever way you look at it the guy is not wanted here (apart from by a percentage of the fans) and I just hope we can offload him permently as I don't want us to start paying his wages again come May 16th (or whenever the season ends).

didn't see him getting beat in the air at the back post every single time then? He's a liability defensively.

He was as good if not better against Reading. I also rate McGoldrick and trust my judgement of a player against anyone on here. He was too lazy early doors but since Stern `Lazy' John has gone he has come into his own in terms of workrate an effort. Funny that.

Its a big jump up but I've seen enough. He looks a better prospect than Robertson and Pekhart. I'd be interested to know what his scoring record is like for the reserves/youth team. He looks a decent target man to me so goals won't be the be all and end all anyway but an added pysical presence would be great and he looks like he has it.

I've been a massive supporter iof Davis over the years but he's not England quality. Hope he keeps up the good work though. I wonder if any Premiership side is watching him perhaps for cover?

playing three central midfielders to their two had more of a bearing IMO.

I disgaree about James. Whenever a cross goes tot he backpost he is beaten. We were very lucky indeed on Saturday when this happened. He is absolutely terrible in the air (even Skacel is better) and he is slow. He also get drawn deep far too easily leavign space behind to expose. Thsi has happend several times recently including the goal at Reading. He is a decent player IMO but as a right back he is a liability. I also disagree about removing Surman from the middle. He is playing really well and without hsi forward runs from midfield you watch how stagnent we quickly look. It is extremely important to have people runniung off the ball and he does more of that than anyone else.

has he not scored goals at youth team level?

I doubt Manyoo will sell out. It wil be on the box and Saints fans have got out of the routine now. If you want a ticket you will get one.

As the thread title says I think it is time to start with Patterson up front. I've seen him come on two or three times now and on each occasion he has looked excellent in my opinion. He appears to have a decent first touch, strength to hold the ball up and can lead the line. This is perfect for McGoldrick who needs a big number 9 to play off. Skacel also loves him for as he offers a great out ball (allbeit long) and it actually sticks unlike with Robertson. I also like his work rate and his desire. A miscontrol is followed by a fully fledged tackle not a shrug of the shoulders. Patterson also offers decent height in both boxes which Robertson doesn't. In fact what does Robertson offer us? For staters he lacks pace, goals, strength, first touch and in the end he is a Sheffield United player so whats the point in us giving him time to develop (unless of course he is going to be here long term which must be a possibility). Patterson on the other hand is ours and perhaps just needs games. The time has come IMO.