Doctoroncall

So it's only two clubs we have peed off some time ago then. Easy to take that hit.

...and what clubs are those then?

Nice article, a shame about the comments regarding LM and MLT. It would have been best to leave that out as there is so much good occurring at SMS now and NC has certainly set some ambitious goals.

Great, after reading that it's now stuck in my head too!

This is the dichotomy which was mentioned above, it's great to be competing and achieving but all that does is lead to promotion where the oppostion is tougher. However, the way the club has been built is to steadily grow and has improved the critical areas to do that - the management structure, the academy, the identification of the 'right' players, the scouting network, all towards being able to compete in the PL. The team is playing together as a team and with a few additions that will no doubt join will do well. This to me of having a club maximising what it can do by spending sensible money in the right areas to build a team is more enjoyable than a Man Citeh approach of trying to buy the title or a Wigan buying whatever players they can trying to survive.

From what he's done since leaving us, he's in the last chance saloon with the barman pouring his final drink!

Has Saints Player moved to the old SW server? I've only managed to listen to about 10 minutes!

The new UEFA financial fair play rules will come into effect next season and although they are weak at the moment I would expect they will get tougher as the years go by and this is one reason why they want to produce there own rather than buy the talent needed. £100m is a huge amount to invest in youth development.

I think there are many ways to solve the puzzle of developing youngsters good enough for the first team squad. It looks like Citeh are going for volume input with 400 youngsters. Just how many are they expecting to make it in their first team squad each year with those numbers? There are going to plenty of disappointed boys that don't make it.

There has been a number of threads on this so take your pick... http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?32362-Academy&highlight=Luke+shaw

Another vote for Forecast. He should be well within budget.

Derry - this is an update with new information on that very good book.

For those interested in tactics and formations, Johnathon Wilson has produced an article about the origins of the W M formation. It mentions Saints in it quite a bit... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/sep/20/arsenal-herbert-chapman-southampton-tactics

This. Apart from Matt it was difficult to come up with boys names which weren't associated with kn0bheads! Also check the combination with surname that it is easy to say and if the first name is shorten it does cause problems... I knew a Jennifer Taylor and a Christopher Peacock at school. They had a tough time!

Didn't QPR and Brighton stay top for most of season 10/11? Just saying, not expecting.

Best start to the season in 103 years.

... don't forget the trees too.

Yes... off and on. They think Cork is on loan from Chelsea.

At least one more place by the end of tomorrow with the Ipswich Coventry game.

Carr should have gone.

Well done ;-)

chaplow!!!

Chaplow on for Guly

half way through the second half, time to change the line up with Birmingham in the ascendency.

just over 22k with 850 Birmingham fans.