um pahars

Spot on. I'm sure when our lot meet up before the next game we'll all be chuffed about the great start, we'll have a chat about how well Cork is settling in, but I'm sure we'll also discuss "missing out" on targets in the transfer window and then we'll have 7 or 8 different opinions on who our weak point is. As you say most of the stuff posted up on it (from both extremes and all the the stuff in between) will happily get debated at the pub, pre or post match. It's been happening like that for years up and down the country. Football has always been passionate and it has always been about opinions. The way some people react on here is the problem, certainly not what is being said. I certainly don't agree with hounding those who are deemed "happy clappers" or "negative doomsayers", we all should be able to handle a different opinion without getting all het up. (and to answer your earlier point, as Hypochondriac points out Duncan has received huge amounts of abuse and baiting from a number of bedwetters. I mentioned a few days ago about the stick he got when he was repeating what he had been told about Pardew getting the sack, so it does cut both ways).

My little nephews went along and they had a great time with their grandad (I was up the cricket ground painting the pavillion!!!). Always thought the Club should be doing these type of days, so fair play to them. Minimal expenditure and a great way for some youngsters to see the players close up (and also good for the players to socialise with the fans).

Scary stuff. Just driven up London Road on my way to Waitrose and saw all the tape and police milling around. First thoughts were some sort of robbery, but having seen this thread it's obvious it's related to this incident. Hope the lad pulls through OK.

Buy a more compliant wife!

I'm sure he would have known (even via agents and other conduits) and also sure NA and NC would realise he would at some point find out, so can't believe they would have hidden it from him. Big story for me if we, or he, or both turned Everton down, as I think Lallana makes us tick.

We can only wait and see.

Here was original response when someone tried to resurrect this thread after we had been promoted (and I still stand by it): The only person who should be embarrassed should be you with your constant need of self gratification and worthiness, coupled with an obvious insecurity issue that needs to be fed by attempting to show up others. How any Saints fan can be embarrassed at seeing their Club promoted and seeing such joyous scenes over the weekend is beyond me. At this moment in time I would imagine that anyone who blew a gasket over the Wallsall loss is feeling something much more positive and joyous, and is not even contemplating being embarrassed. The overwhelming majority of the initial responses on this thread are from passionate supporters who were obviously frustrated at losing to a team fighting relegation, whilst we were challenging for promotion. Throw in the immediacy and the knee jerkiness of the interweb and it should be no surprise that people let off steam on threads like these. It is not a measure of their support, indeed I would say their passionate outbursts show how much this Club means to them. Methinks you really need to give it a rest with this approach and instead wallow in the delight and happiness of promotion (or see a shrink). HTH I even think Hypo says he "hates Saints" somewhere in his immediate knee jerkiness, and yet we patently know that is not the case. Using post match reactions to a frustrating and potentially damaging defeat to prove a point is a tad weird. You would only have to voxpop a handful of Saints fans after a defeat at SMS to obtain a rather caustic and annoyed response.

In which case someone should have a word with Adkins, Big Les, Cortese and others for wasting precious time and effort trying to sign people when we didn't need them.

It's a valid discussion considering up until yesterday we were looking to sign permanent deals for a centre half and a forward. Adkins obviously wanted to bring a couple of quality players in.

Heart says could be worth a shout, brain says probably not. So much would depend on Beattie's attitude and his appetite for the game. 33 isn't too old for someone with integrity, passion, drive and commitment (Connoly is older), but it is ancient if they're just looking for a pay day in the sun!

In the modern game, I think it's a bit naive to think that a lot of players aren't sounded out before you get too far down the line.

I would have said that the January window was the panic buying season (we certainly witnessed it under Redknapp in 2005). Surely the summer window is the one where you can take a couple of months to do your business and integrate players in to the team at the start of the season. I certainly agree with your assessment that TEAM ethic is a huge part in the success or failure of a team and Adkins has played a major role in developing what would appear to be a great spirit in the side. That will count for a number of points over the season, no doubt about it and it has contributed to a great start. I certainly didn't want "star names" to be signed (the 2005 January window and subsequent windows gave us a number of star journeymen), but with Adkins obviously being in the hunt for a forward and a centre half, I think there was a desire to sign a couple of players who could have improved the team. The fact that that didn't happen (no disrespect to Joos) means I am a tad disappointed at the closure of this window.

Maybe our start has led to a rethink???? Imagine initially the plan would be consolidation, then push on over next couple of seasons, but perhaps Norwich's performance and our fantastic start has led to a change of heart. The next few hours (particularly if some big rumours are coming off) might give us a steer.

Not sure many are actively booing him or getting on his back, just being honest in their assessments that he is one of the weaker players in our set up. It's a pivotal position and I think if we have desires to push on then we probably need someone a bit better at this stage. He's not a bad player and also one I think who will progress as he matures. He'll also get chances this season through injury, suspensions, squad rotation etc, just think he needs to be a back up rather than a first teamer. I think as we progress up the divisions (fingers crossed), there will be quite a few players who have served us well, but who may well struggle at a higher standard (although as in Seabourne's case, time is on his side to develop).

I'd like to share a pint with Dune or Manji, but only if it was during a quiz and they were on my team.

Rewind a couple of years and people were being slaughtered for suggesting Pardew and Cortese had fallen out!!!! They were right though!!! I wouldn't say great, but decent enough considering what he inherited. There's no doubt that some of the foundations that we are successfully building on were laid down by Pardew.

Have to be honest and say I wasn't overly enamoured with the timing, but thought Pardew had to go as things just weren't right behind the scenes. Remember when Fitzhugh Fella first posted that things weren't good behind the scenes and Pardews days were numbered before that season even started and thought in which case let's get rid, because it's not going to work if CEO and manager are at each others throats. Duncan certainly took some flak for that bit of info and can remember the usual bedwetters having a hissy fit, but it was pretty obvious that things weren't au fait behind the scenes and something had to give and it wasn't going to be Cortese!

He most defintiely did (15 apps as well according to wiki, but a bit like Paine in reality we shifted him out)

Not getting in to an argument, just interested who else you could/would deem as worthy to put along Brittania Road??? Channon (top scorer, 600+ appearances, but left for a couple of years and also played elsewhere) Paine (800+ appearances, almost 200 goals, but played elsewhere - mind you we released him) Davies (250+ appearances, 150 goals, great player but only here 6 years) Sydenham (400+ appearances, only played for us and Aldershot in the League) Benali (350 apps, one team man, but not the most talented) Holmes (500+ apps, one club man, solid but not spectacular) Rodrigues (Cup winning skipper, but only here a couple of years) Stokes (Cup Final goalscorer, 200+ appps) All worthy of "legend" status in their own way (and I'm sure there are many others), but not sure any of them match Matty when you take in apps, goals, contribution, one team man etc. Some get very close (Channon & Paine), but think Matty edges it. Personally would love to see him honoured and don't think we have to wait 40 years+ until he finally gets a transfer and leaves us!!

Agreed, we're certainly not shy in either spreading our net wide or picking up players already linked with clubs.

After being hammered 8-2, I very much doubt that the Gooner forums are full of rounded assessments this morning!!!!! As for the OPs question, then I think one drubbing and even a couple of seasons rebuilding won't mean it was a poor move. He's wedged up for life, playing in the top flight with a club that with a good record with young players (even if they poach some of them) and so is at One of the best clubs he could be with regards developing his potential. From a Saints point if view he's gone and we've moved in.

TBH I'm amazed, but wonderfully pleased, that no one has come in for AL. I'm sure he could hack it in the top flight!!!! Just pray we get to test that out when he is wearing a Saints shirt!! Maybe some clubs were waiting to see what he can do this season, so fingers crossed that he continues to want to stay here. Our best signing last year was renewing his contract.

When Cortese attempted to take on the media with his ban on photographers I could totally see the logic. He wanted to control distribution and generate revenue from them. Coming at it from that angle it made total sense to open up a new revenue stream. However, what Cortese didn't bank [sic] on was the media standing firm together and closing ranks on us. They "hardballed" us back, refused to buy the pictures and went on the offensive in their papers, and quite rightly highlighted that club sponsors and advertisers were being denied much needed publicity. So what started out as a well intentioned business idea turned in to a bit of a football faux pas. The reason I highlight this is that maybe the situation with agents is similar, in as much as I have no problem with Cortese alledgedly trying to shake up the system and playing hardball with agents fees, I just hope we're not prejudiced as a result of taking on such vested interests. The football transfer market is a nightmare, certainly full of sharks, and with £££££'s (hopefully) burning a hole in our pockets we probably seem a good target for those who want to make a fast buck, so I'm not knocking those who are working hard in the best interests of the club. Ultimately he'll be judged on results, and to date he is doing very well indeed (but don't see anything wrong with speculating or offering up opinions on an internet message board).

Best not or I'll quote this from a piece that predates our occupation of Gibraltar by about a century: "And as when bats, amid the far recess Of some great cave, flit gibbering and squeak low"