suewhistle

Bit of a drive back to Italy so I'm unwinding over a beer which I couldn't have earlier. I'll give you the benefit of my view but I'm completely confused by who is who these days, especially without seeing a teamsheet! I thought it was Forecast in goal for the first half: if it was Davis I dunno what he's done with his hair, lost a bit, looks like! It was a good work-out, make no mistake: Thun looked sharp and start their competitive season this weekend and they had a bit of pace throughout the side. Far better to play them (on a very good pitch) than semi-professionals like Havant & Waterlooville etc, and a team far better than pretty well all in League 1 if a little less physical. Dickson got skinned a few times and his passing was poor: as noted, he gave away the pass for the goal. I didn't realise it was Callum McNish playing, and he's not quite there yet against this level of opposition Different game in the second half when Schneiderlin, Lambert and Connolly all made a big difference. Connolly did look bright, with good movement. Oxlade-Chamberlain did _very_ well: pace to burn, still needs a bit of experience to make the right decision and the final delivery but the sort of player you're going to look forward to seeing coming on. He went off with cramp, but he'd worked very hard, including covering his full-back. I think all the planned subs had come on as they sent on Jaidi: gawd, he looks slow and could have been in the book in a non-friendly and in fact after the end of the game he was doing sprinting training with one of the coaches. Mills came on for Dickson and looked OK. A bit slow for raw pace perhaps but did a good covering tackle and looked comfortable on the ball and in his interpassing. Martin I think could certainly make it in League 1 if not higher, and has done well considering he came into football late via Eastleigh: he's a talker and I think has the intelligence and basic pace to improve. We played some good football and I'm reasonably optimistic, having actually seen the game;-). No need to cut your wrists on a first friendly, honest. For a first match I enjoyed it, and it was far better than some friendlies I've seen with some good interpassing. We obviously need to cut out some of the mistakes and improve some of the positional play, but nothing that can't be achieved. We've got a good team, especially if Lallana plays!

I've heard a few good things about how much more professional the set up is now. Whilst browsing the Thun FC web-site I notice they don't have a "reserve" side as such but U-21, U-18 etc, so this would fit in with the plan to play foreign sides. Anyway, I'm off and will be in Switzerland in less than an hour.

Could be me age but PMSL

Yep, rain here too after a steady build up of heat and humidity all day .. and just heard thunder again. Don't think I'll make Fribourg: need to find out first what the taxman here is going to sting me for on my pitiful earnings!

Just checked, it's free entry.:-)

Don't you mean *sn*gger*, or *chortle* or *choke* or even *mwahhahahaa*?

Just filled up the tank, got the picnic stuff and ready for a day out in Switzerland tomorrow. I'll probably go over the top: Great St. Bernard pass (as opposed to the tunnel) as I've never done it and I need to cool off after the weather these last weeks. Then get a multi-ticket for the tunnel on the Swiss side on the way back as they don't charge VAT! Now to print a couple of viamichelin maps, put a fiver in my purse as my subs are due and in case I meet Steve Grant . Any idea how many other nutters there'll be?

..and still the Dutch coach had the cheek to criticise Webb. What would have happened if he had sent a couple of players off, which he'd have been justified in doing? Basically he was on a hiding to nothing: the game was a real poison chalice given the approach of the Dutch. If I were being cycnical I'd think that the Dutch were banking on it being the final to get away with it more than in some less important game.

If you want to see how the tabloid press distort information for their own nasty agendas and have a laugh at the same time listen to The Now Show about 22 minutes in: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00sy4yp

Ask a chub angler to come and get them: wasp grubs are a great bait for chub!

Not particularly, in my opinion, they just stand out amongst the many right wing views on here. Plus I wouldn't get too hung up about the UK. Nobody would move to Italy for example to earn more money or keep more of it from the taxman - unless you are a politician or corrupt businessman, in which area we're well provided for over here. Same with Spain, Portugal, Latvia or Greece, anyone?? As for manufacturing I'm sure our Sheffield friend has something to say about it: Sheffield Forgemasters ring any bells? And if anything does get invented here it won't be built here because the banks don't do long term and nor do the owners: they cash in as soon as possible. It wasn't the workers that were the downfall of our car industry but the bad management at the top and lack of investment. Those car workers in Sunderland are very productive, but there's no British owned company left. Lack of investment in our railways over years left us catching up and with no indigenous rail manufacturing capacity either.

Hmmmm

Ta! True or not you are either a good mate or a bastard!;-)

Oh, and in a further spirit of football friendship can I point you in the direction of a thread on this board. Absolutely fascinating, entertaining, shocking and worth pointing out to your mates: http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?14620-Pompey-Takeover-Saga :-)

I think there should be a comma after "I know"... Sorry, English teacher here... Anyway, welcome, as unlike some opposition fans here you seem to talk sense - even if we disagree radically with your opinions. ;-) anyway, I've seen Saints away in Sheffield, but so many years ago I can't remember which team.. nice beer though....

's'OK, you can get me one in somewhere: The Platform Tavern, The Junction, The South-Western, even The Waterfront if you want.:-) By the way peeps: what does Steve Grant look like? I reckon my subs are soon due....

Tell you what. Apart from being at Thun (I think...) I'll be at the Plymouth game and if you buy me some wonderfully big glasses of beer (a couple of Summer Lightenings should do) I'll wear a serving wench top... It'll be me last fling before the diet and pre-season training. At Thun I might wear a FP shirt, but it's so hot and humid on this side of the Alps that I suspect a red and a white vest top is as heavy as I'll go.

Well, bruno is also wanted by Napoli and according to the Gazzzetto dello Sport "è stato seguito da uomini di fiducia del Napoli." which sounds like they're going to make him an offer he can't refuse.;-) The article also says he's well built and according to Argentine observers has more potential than his brother. Possible loan signing for a year is the only way I can see us getting him.

I train twice a week and play occasionally and I can't afford £65 boots! With my size feet in Italy I buy men's boots but there are some different colours which might be more attractive to a younger lass. One of our players has posh boots where she can change the studs arrangement, but it's very rare here that we wear heavy ground standard 6/8 studs. Moulded is definitely the way to go, I'd say and keep an eye out in the sales.

Nah, first few days leave it to the fitness coaches mwahhaahaahaa. Which reminds me, when does my team start pre-season training?:-(

Anyway, I might do a day trip in the car from Italy and that way I'll save on beer and restaurant and hotel and camping bills, me being on Italian poverty wages and all... So look out for the Italian plates and Saints sticker!

It could be that his English is still lacking a little. You only need a reading age of 12 to read The Sun.

Oh, I can quite believe this. Let's face it, the bonuses (probably for making the first team) don't actually have to be that big for Poortsmouth not to pay them. Seems like the lad is being very sensible and he can see which way things are going. You don't have to be a rat to realise the ship is sinking and leaving it.

Imagine having to teach a class fullof little Dunes! It really doesn't bear thinking about. At least teaching English as a second language you get a nicer class of student.

@matthewlegod... love the comment after the article: "Steve you shouldn't have mentioned that cheltenham have a good training ground, Now they'll all want to go!!"