suewhistle

Yep. They tried to sign Forster but he dropped the pen.

Yeah, and we'll all be jubilantly announcing that here. If they have been sent I'd very much hope Saints would have sent us all an email..

Overheard in a pub or taxi, club employee or someone related? I appreciate you're not claiming great importance to the rumour, but a little extra meat on the bones would be appreciated. Who the f.. is kevin badlycooked? I'm going to have to google, aren't I?

Eh, but you don't seem to appreciate or acknowledge one of the major reasons for that? Even some of the players have admitted that Pellegrino didn't wan't them to join in attacks, our lack of ambition and lack of defending from the front showed in our scoring record. There really is little point about harping on about only one aspect of the game in isolation.

I didn't see our first two goals but he didn't look out of it from the bit I saw. Another point that hasn't been made is how we pressed towards the end in little groups, none of the isolated attempts by a lone forward we saw last year. Target always looks so comfortable on the ball even if he hasn't got the pace we'd like him to have; worth keeping. So is Gallagher, deceptive pace for his size, and as others have pointed out, better than Long. It sounds like Davis struggled too: I think this is a season too far, which is a shame, but if he goes I hope to a decent team. Long, bless 'im, you can't fault his effort ever, but again needs to go to a good home.

Thanks. Just in from training. I'll wait for my shower!

NO.. My last post for the day, over and out. :-)

I don't normally get involved in forum tennis, especially with only 3 posts a day, but I would just observe: Boufal - probably the biggest disappointment given his skill. There were doubts expressed about his character when he arrived. Bear in mind we haven't actually sold him: who knows.. Forster - the objections have been that he was given an extension to an already long contract. There was no need, and signs of his decline even then. Carillo - plenty of doubts expressed at the time by those more knowledgeable, particular about French football. The other objection, and reasonable in my opinion, was that this was a panic January buy chosen by a manager with not long to go. Clasie - just not there physically (is it true he smokes?), but this is another one where people are just regretful, not hanging out Les Reed to dry. So I think for 2 & 3 we can be pretty critical, and all four have penalised us financially when we aren't a club that can afford such mistakes.

My hopes rest with a change from last season's attitude, which we've heard of from some of the players, let alone having to watch it, and the new outfield recruits who all seem level-headed and under no illusions that this league will be anything than a step-up. It's difficult to tell from the friendlies we've played, but Armstrong seems to push forward with a bit of pace, and if Bertie can put in first time crosses like he did against Dijon it'll trouble much better defences. Unfortunately I can't make the home friendlies, but it'll be interesting for fans to watch, and see what we can glean about what to expect against Burnley.

I think these two comments summarise it fairly well for me. 'Banter' can sometimes have a nasty edge to it. In certain circumstances I'd be quite prepared to say "give it a ****ing rest". In other enviroments I've worked in some banter might be verging on a disciplinary. I'm not sure if some of the "it's only banter, mate" know when to stop and what's appropriate.

I think that's a fair summary. He could have been the yeast in a very stodgy mix but he wanted to be the whole loaf. As you say, he did work hard, used to chase and snap back defensively for example, but there was something missing, and I could never work out quite what. If he was a true goalscorer he'd have been happy with a shin in from a metre, or setting up such a goal, and if he'd been a true professional he'd have ripped up that U23 match as if to say 'look!'. It's interesting to read what the academy player Enzo Robise says in his interview after coming over from France: how much more serious everything is here, but he seems to be relishing the challenge of leaving home and learning a new language, and that attitude seems far healthier.

Blow me, I _had_ bought a bottle, found a little space in my fridge. Val de Salis Chardonnay/Picpoul. Might have it tomorrow with a friend. Still no sign of Lemina in the second day's pics.. Maybe he's just shy.. My subscription appears to have run out, so I will only be making vital contributions like this one with my three posts.

Hooked!

I think that would summarise my view too. There are plenty of players who arrived late at the top and as Saints fans we should be aware of that. His career has been a bit disrupted and I don't feel giving him a place in the 25 man squad would be wasted. Him, Vestergaard, Yoshi and Stephens might combine to get one of those late goals from a corner or free kick that we used to get a few years ago and have been sadly missing..

Good innit? :-) I'm sticking pins in my map of France, and bookmarks in my Wine Atlas, so more contributions welcome. I'm partial to a Muscadet sur Lie and some of the Jura whites but my main wine interest is in ******* wines. I can't mention exactly because it'll upset Turkish, the delicate little flower. Back on topic, any sign of Lemina yet? I didn't notice Targett in the pics either.

Ta! I saw a sparkling Picpoul blend the other day in Aldi or Lidl, of all places; I nearly bought a bottle but need to make space first, I've been overdoing my new membership of The Wine Society.. As much as I appreciate the pleasure of en vrac I prefer the quantative safety of bottles.. I probably wouldn't when it's this hot!

Cheers. I don't know much about Burgundy, and mainly disappointments when I've spent more but I once opened a cheapish bottle from a shop in St Vaast near Cherbourg (!)and kept under my stairs for some years and it was so good I rushed round the neighbours to share a glass.

Nooo. It's dangerous. If you like wine and are a bit skint, that is. Still, the Leclerc just of the autoroute is handy for a petrol fill and they've even got some slow points for EVs. Thanks for the tip about Dijon, although isn't that the same for most big French cities? I fancy going to the women's world cup next year so may need to get some gen. Window Cleaner is somewhere near Moulins (I think) but I'm not sure the board has got much coverage elsewhere in France.

Saw an article about Liverpool's loss to Dortmund. I just perused the headline and first paragraph but couldn't face any more. I suppose I should expect it of ThisIsAnfield, but it reminded me of the nauseous, sycophantic crap we'll have to put up with now it's back to domestic football.

I think you're meant to predict, not say what you hope will happen. ;-)

Rowthron! Bloomin' Jack Stephens!

Cedric and Yoshida still on well-deserved holiday I see. 26 players including 4 keepers (including FF). Only Sims of the younger players, but at least Jones, Flannigan, Valery, Slattery and Vokins got a taster with the first team in China.

Dear Fan the Flames, please don't quote the ****. (See I'm not always nice.) Why he feels he has to make the effort to follow me around, specifically post on my threads and be an online bully I've no idea, but it's a bit sad. It obviously gives him some satisfaction and he appears to have time to waste. So yeah, just for his benefit, since he's obviously so interested, I have skied there. Did you know most of the itinerant knife grinders you see in London and around Europe come from the local valleys?

Cheers. Near Madonna di Campiglio where some of you might have skied. Most Italian teams seem to do summer camps in the mountains to avoid the heat and humidity of the plain. Good for the lungs too, from personal experience!

Abramovich loses interest after his visa troubles. Chelsea are magic, and disappear from the top division. Puel has interesting possibilities away from Leicester. BFS (wherever he is?) gets another chance at a team yet to be determined, around about Christmas, for a club rather more decisive than Saints. Klopp has an unfortunate incident when the wind changes and his gurning gets fixed in place. Everton remodel their dugouts as they realise they can't afford a new ground. Citeh continue to make the Premier League boring: playing great football.. Gallagher scores a hat-trick for Saints and the forum goes into melt down. We lose 3-4. Apart from that I haven't a clue.