suewhistle

No, can't remember the name now but it was just down the hill from the uni. I think complaints about attitude mainly relate to lack of professionalism and the 'couldn't give two sh!ts' approach you describe. Having a false view of one's own abilities is the other main driver, I feel.

Only if it's untrue. It's why I can tell you all about Boris Johnson, although even there it's difficult to find _exactly_ how many kids he's had out of wedlock, but it's a matter of record that he has. The thing about football players is that they are living in the community and they do get observed by others. Osgood and Steele went to a pub near the university when I was there and certainly drank more than I did! I can't remember which of my friends told me he saw Jimmy Case so **ssed on a night out that he pee'd over a cashpoint. So although some reputations may be unwarranted there will be fans who have seen or heard things first hand. I haven't so only comment about what I've seen on the pitch. Many years ago I saw a saints reserve side at Havant & Waterlooville, which is quite close to where I live, and they hoiked off one of our players for his attitude - you can hear a lot of what goes on on on the bench in those sort of games. For success you need a bit of attitude, but not the Nile Ranger sort.

If we can't get them to go what's the answer? Do we let them train with the squad when RH wants to work with his core to get them playing well together? Do we let them become the B team in training and hope they don't injure the A teamers?! Do we make them train with the U-23s? Do send them off on gardening leave? Do we accidentally leave them behind in China? Send them out on loan (Totton, Sholing, who knows) and pay all the wages? Ask someone from Chelsea how they manage it? Monk??!!

Just put them in special training together. Eventually Forster will clock Austin when he has enough of his 'bantz' and they'll both be fined a year's wages. Result!

'Scavenge', your spelling is worse than Mack's. Really letting the side down. :-)

I have to say I agree with a lot of what Qwertyell says: I expected a bit more speed and fitness from Slattery when he played last season. Not entirely ineffective but disappointing given the earlier stories about his potential. Perhaps he believed them too much.

Attention seeking? Don't be an *rse. Does anybody want to be all over the tabloid press? On the other hand you certainly fit the bill on this forum.

He's on the Austria trip.

Lots of mentions on The Guardian feed: "It’s been an impressive opening half from them, with Djenepo outstanding on the left"..

Time for a Rallyboy special anybody? He really puts the boot in well, mind you, he plays 5-a-side in a similar way! :-)

Incidentally, will we be getting any reports from AlpineSaint? He can be a bit doom and gloom but on the ground reports are always interesting.

Looking at surprising inclusions Smallbone, N'Lundulu and Klarer are interesting. Has Klarer come on more than Alfie Jones, perhaps? Hoedt is another surprise but presumably because we haven't signed a new CB yet whereas Carillo isn't as we have new forwards.

Would _you_ accept a promissory note from West Ham? Quite entertaining really.

But not smokers..

And even if they aren't all Glasgow delete them on suspicion anyway!

.. and don't think they had serious maintenance to do either..

Clasie looks nacked already..

First home game of the season: we live in hope!

In other thoughts, there does seem to be a bit more coherence in the signings this year and some idea behind it as to how they'll be used. Shame about Targett but he deserves to play more regularly. Now for a central defender who is faster than we have already, and that last criterion is, in the circumstances, probably easier to fill!

Where's your initiative? Cherry picker? Drone? I do like the thought of Pilchards scuttling away from Kelvin though... But thanks for all your past tidbits..

More news to come, I would imagine?

Is Pilchards installed in his favourite tree at Staplewood to watch the comings and goings? He'll have his phone on silent no doubt so let's hope he checks here.. :-)

I think that's unfair regarding what seems to be a general consensus here, which I share. No issues with his lovely left foot and his control of the ball, which are matters under his control. The positional abilities come with a bit of experience, but what everybody has pointed out is his lack of pace and maybe lack of a Shaw Nando's restaurant build, and there's nothing he can do about that. Pretty well everybody is wishing him well, which is the important bit, and no one is offering to drive or sedan chair him there a la Charlie Austin.

I've just deleted a response to Hypo, there really is just no point. It's why I venture on these threads very infrequently. Full of old or sad *uckers from a previous era.

Even that beer with alcohol isn't great. The Birreria Lambrate after the game, on the other hand, was great! Full of Saints fans but a really relaxed atmosphere too. Don't know his name (Tubby?) but when I saw him there too I knew the beer would be good: that crowd do hours of research! Glad I went, shame about the result and our inability to score. Perhaps the new ground will have paper in the ladies toilets.. It'd be nice to have another opportunity for a saints jaunt abroad in the next few years.