Fitzhugh Fella

I remember after his first game when I said on here that I was not impressed I got slated by many who said they thought he had been impressive. If I could be arsed I would dig out the thread. People see what they want to see, especially if they are Saints fans and yet those same people are tonight saying "glad we never signed him". He is a good Div 1 player and he has gone to a Div 1 side. Good Luck to him he may yet improve but he is not Championship standard yet Adkins had been "targeting" him for a long time according to the Saints website when he signed which just goes to show Adkins doesn't always get it right. I will watch his progress with Charlton with interest, he is young enough to come again.

Thanks you three , my faith in the forum is rekindled!

The answer to the question is No. I lost my industrial tribunal on a split vote (highly unusual apparently) and therefore after 35 years am now unemployed. The verdict took 3 months to be given which I have been told is most unusual if not "suspicious". But that is all behind me now and life goes on, I still have my health, a supportive family and I would do it all over again because I believed that what I was did was right. The deal we managed to get is a good one, an honourable one and shows what can be achieved if you stand up to a bully.

Nor me

I don't think anyone is getting hysterical - merely observing that clubs who are being touted as promotion candidates have started spending money on players we have been rumoured to be interested in. There is surely sense in making signings in time for pre-season training, so the players have more time to gel. The fact we haven't is provoking debate which has been pretty sensible until you sarcastically dived in with your hysteria jibe and your rather ridiculous presumption that "we will make signings". Or perhaps you know something we don't.

Mike, it would be sensible to buy before the clubs became aware that we were suddenly richer by about £10m.

Maybe the "will" to spend is not what is was? If we are serious about going up it is going to take more than just a few bob.

Thomas Brolin

Don't think you will ever find a better "low key, low expectations" arrival than Jimmy Case (£40,000 from Brighton). We have never come near to replacing him mores the pity.

Depends by which criteria you measure it by. For me it would be average gate - therefore Leeds and WHU "outdo" us, Leicester probably equal, possibly Forest too while we beat Boro and Coventry. Not scientific I know but this way we are WAY above the blue few.

I stand corrected I do love a mixed metaphor mind.

The trouble is NickG a lot of our competitors don't cut their cloth according to what they sow. Whereas NC is the opposite - therefore we will lose out to the likes of West Ham etc who are clearly going on a sh+t or bust initiative. Its very frustrating thatr following the circus that was Pompey FC that other clubs are allowed to keep accumulating debt. Clubs that are run among proper lines are therefore penalised.

Its a shame you buy the Mail - otherwise I would say you were one of the saner people on here!

Don't put yourself out too much.

Do you remember the days clubs would sign a "name" just to boost season ticket sales? When we signed Osgood the next home gate was about 10,000 up and a percentage of his fee immediately covered. Those were the days!

Well, there must be a reason why we have only won one opening game in the last quarter of a century - if it is not because new players aren't given enough time to gel what else could it be? I do think our friendlies games are a bit too low key and we hardly have more than one pre season game at home. Obviously last season had something to do with the fact that Pardew knew he was a dead man walking and had lost interest, but even in settled years we started poorly.

Let's hope we make a better than normal start - making close season signings earlier rather than last minute could be one reason why we never come flying out of the blocks.

Have you ever wondered why we always start seasons so badly?

its all a secret!

After the game the gun totting cops came onto the pitch to face the 2000 Saints fans expecting trouble.....but as soon as the tannoy started playing "Chanson D'Amour" the whole Saints contingent joined in to leave the Belgium police looking really stupid. It was a helluva trip!

If he goes we must get a sell on because I feel this kid is better than Walcott

Christ is this thread still going? I look forward to some summer entertainment. I am meeting my original informer who gave me the info to start this thread tomorrow for a pint. I am sure he will have some more revelations.

The more money, clubs like United and Spurs make, the bigger the divide between them and us, which ultimately means it will be harder for us to hold on to our young assets like Chamberlain. Take European finance away from the big 4 levels the playing field. So, for Saints fans, cheering for Barca makes perfect sense (plus they can play).

say hello from me

The bubble will burst - it has to. As for me I couldn't really care less about getting back to the Prem. What would be the point - who can compete with the mega billionaires. Rather be in the Championship where there is a narrower playing field, less diving foreigners and a genuine competitiveness.