um pahars

J P Welch was his Father In Law's original painting/building company, the one he set up in partnership with his FIL was Luken Homes (named after his two kids Luke and Kenzie). Wonder if it's a family thing as the Welch's family home was "Karinya", named afte Franny's wife Karen???? I say was as the last time I drove by their old house I noticed it was no longer called Karinya. Franny didn't make loads out of Saints, a decent wedge by man in the street standards, but not the sums that get banded about nowadays. You only have to look at Matty's maximum wage at a comparable time to estimate what franny was getting. I'm sure he got a few end of contract bonuses, but by todays standards certainly not mega wonga (it must be even worse for those who played in the 80's who missed out altogether!!!!).

I totally agree and have always felt it is generally better to bring someone in permanently than just a loan, as like you I do worry that too many players without an affinity to the Club may be detrimental. Transient loanees or journeymen aren't really my cup of tea, but on the odd occasion when done well, loanees can most certainly do a job. I do agree that there might be a difference between being displaced by a loanee than say a permanent signing, but football is a tough wolrd and on occasions like this then the manager has to earn his corn. Aaron Martin might feel aggrieved with the arrival of Jos, but then again Dan Harding might feel just as put out with the arrival of Fox. I would argue a decent manager and a decent pro should be able to handle these things (if not then I might question their mental toughness anyway!!). But I also accept it could be something that upsets the apple cart. I don't think anyone is going even half as far as you suggest above, instead they are merely suggesting that in a couple of key areas we might be lightweight, something Adkins must have been considering when he spent all summer looking for a centre half and another forward. I'd say that's what the manager gets paid for!!!!! Personally, I think it would have to be someone happy to be third choice (behind Lambert & Connolly), who would be coming off the bench or fitting in if one of those two got a knock or suspension. Of course it might be an impossible task as players coming in on loan might be looking for a start, but it might also be possible to tempt someone who has been frozen out that they are at least going to be on the bench. Or (and happy to be shouted down) if someone really decent came available, I would consider even dropping Connolly!!!!!!

Credit indeed!!! As someone posted above I've watched the incident a few times and couldn't see a handball, it looked a very soft penalty and if it had gone against us I would have been a tad grumpy. However, that photo appears to show it quite clearly (but if I was a Watford fan I might be changing my complaint to that it looks like Sir Ricky is giving their defender a good elbowing!!!)

Despite the money attached to the 4th place, IMHO it's not equivalent to winning the FA Cup. In isolation, qualifying for Europe is a decent result and I used to be proud of Saints many finishes in a UEFA Cup place in the early 80's, but they were a consolation for not actually winning something. Even the Runners Up spot in 1984 didn't carry that much kudos at the time. Really proud, but the only benefit was a UEFA Cup spot.

Interesting that up until the transfer deadline Adkins also thought we needed a striker in (so he obviously had major concerns about our strike force and cover for them). Along with a centre half it appeared to be our main priority and with the bids for Rodrigues it also appeared that we were willing to spend big. Given our decent start, he may of course have changed his mind, but by the same token it may still be a key area for him to strengthen. If anything, given our fantastic start I would imagine it may have even hardened Adkins' resolve to bolster our forward line as if we are to capitalise on this great start then I would argue De Ridder (more of a wide man) & Forte (not up to it???) aren't best suited to play up front and there are question marks over Barnard (injury, off the field issues and ability at this level). An injury or suspension to the main two/three (Lambert, Connolly & Guly) and we start to look a little lightweight. As Adkins alluded to in that interview, getting the right person in isn't easy, but I don' think he would have spent all summer looking to strengthen his options if he also didn't have doubts.

I do think you've gone a bit OTT there. People just gave their honest "opinion" on how they see players. Posters should be ashamed if they've abused or barracked players, but not if they've given their honestly held opinion on a football message board.

I thought that was a very nice part of the interview when Adkins praised Pardew for the squad he inherited. Very magnanimous IMHO and a change from those who would try and take all the glory themselves. He comes across as a decent fella.

If he was as bad as some make out, then, without going over too much old ground, you do have to wonder about our managerial selection policy around that time and the choices we were making. When you consider that Wigley followed Sturrock!!!! (and who followed Wigley???) then my oh my, it was a torrid time for managerial choices at SMS.

Listgening live from the sofa in Ocean Village. About as live as you can get, although haven't got a clue what's going on (can't stand radio commentaries) apart from knowing when we've scored.

"E I E I E I O Up the Football League we go" is being heard loud and clear.

Presuming that roar means we've got our second!!!!! We make a decent racket at SMS, it's much clearer than I imagined it would be.

Can only presume Dazza's outrage should also be held against Channon, Ball, Davies, Stokes and a whole host of others who went east after playing for us (many having given us a decent and memorable service). But then again his approach is a tad hypocritical as on another thread he was saying that past players/managers had merely been paid to do their job, yet now he's asking for a kind of loyalty that would stop them from earning a crust (OK a fat loaf).

I do hope Connoly's knock isn't too serious!! Bit thin up front methinks!! Anyway, crowd seems to have quietened down a bit, so assume not much is happening.

Good atmosphere so far!!! Laid on Sofa, patio doors wide open and can hear the crowd loud and clear. Just waiting to hear what the roar is like when we score!!! Was that a little Watford cheer????

You may have a point there. I think Nigel's biggest challenge will be pushing us on even further, not just from the obvious results position, but as you say when he has to start managing egos and bringing in new players (as good as the current squad are, if we go up I would expect quite a few new faces to be brought in). I agree with NA in that I think we needed to strengthen some key areas over the summer, but as he alluded to in that interview, it's not just as easy as going out and buying players. Apart from financial issues there is the impact it might have on the squad. In the CMS thread I said I would have liked him to have come here, but would he have been happy beign third choice??? I don't think it's easy being a manager (even if you're successful!!!!). However, as we stand here today he's done a great job getting us out of the third tier and has started this season in a similar fashion. I like his positive attitude, can forgive him the odd cliche, and am really glad he is in charge.

Would it be fair to say that we are "slightly"punching above our weight in that our results to date are better than what the individual names would suggest??? In which case I think a lot has to be due to the managers motivational and psychological skills, as I think he really has brought out the best in this team. There can be no doubt that the team spirit and unity is at its highest for years (although winning does help as well!!!!).

Thought exactly the same and fair play to him as he has obviously got a squad that is happy and "together as one". Wonder if any of our targets over the summer perhaps didn't meet his criteria?

Bless him (and I'd say this in front of him), but Cooky is not really name dropping!!!!!

£50k!!! What a profligate waste of taxpayers money, many in the private sector get nothing (as I'm sure that's what some would say LOL).

On the pitch at half time, or GET Jack Bishop and Gilly involved and get a fight night up the Guildhall. Could even get some undercards from off these forums.

Think I'm catching up with Andy Cook over the next week, I'll ask him what he makes of your little rant.

Exactly, end of.

You're right for the home game it was indeed 4-0, but deffo 7-1 away (although the 4-0 drubbing makes it even worse). Not sure what division they were in back then (I presumed the old Second) and we had to rely on them to score an og in the second game!!!!!

I read Matty was out of order, end of, whilst Cortese was out of order, BUT......

A truly terrible night. Remember going with Tijuana Tim and being gobsmacked about how bad we were!!!!! We had a pretty decent team out (Crouchy on the bench!!!), yet were just abysmal on the night under the nightmare leadership of Wigley!! However, you young uns should think yourselves lucky compared to a League Cup nightmare 20 years earlier!!!!!! In the first leg we beat Watford 4-1 (a fairly easy drubbing). Problem was in the 2nd leg we got hammered 7-1!!!!!!