um pahars

Had him clearly down as our 2nd best player, but if I gave him 8, then I don't think Lallana was worth 9 (at least that's my logic!!!). I'll change him to 7.5!!!!! or Lallana up to 8.5!!!!

Have to say that I'm not as enamoured as some are on here with regards the actual performance, but 3 points and 3 goals on the on the goal difference has me satisfied. Bournemouth's late winner was a bug6er, but overall happy (although I do think we're still not firing on all cylinders). Started off strongly, with Lallana just oozing class and should have been at least two up at half time. Very poor start to the second half that let Swindon back in to the game and all of a sudden we didn't look convincing. Two quick goals killed the game off and Swindon then retreated in to themselves. Have to say they were very, very poor and there for the taking, but we struggled at times to take hold of the game and stamp our authority on it. Davis - 6 - Looked OK, But was he too easily beaten for their goal?? Butterfield - 5 - Just not convinced. Good at times, sloppy at others Fonte - 6 - Decent performance and was sinffing for a goal (although no need to go down like he's been shot claiming a penalty) Jaidi - 7.5 - Immense. Strong at the back and impressive at set pieces Harding - 6 - Good at times, but caught out a bit. At fault for their goal??? Lallana - 8 - Different class. Brilliant first half, but in and out of the game in the second half. Chamberlain - 7 - Impressed at times, but still a bit raw and took the wrong option a few times Chaplow - 6 - Not one of his better games. Struggling for a bit of form?? Hammond - 6 - OK, but not stellar Guly - 5 - I like him, but very poor today. Showed glimpses in the first half, but off the pace. Lambert - 6 - Getting back in that act and showing some confidence Subs: Schneiderlin - 6 - Brought some composure to the game, but needs to push on Barnard - 6 - Looked a bit of a handful and has given Adkins a selection dilemna with Guly being off form. Well taken goal froma tight angle. Gobern - 5 - Not on that long, but dropped a shoulder for the 4th. Looked like a right old kerfuffle in the corporates after they equalised (mind you they should never have let him in with jeans on!!!!!). Would have liked a slightly bigger crowd with Swindon bringing down what looked to be about 1,500.

Ayia Napa, June 2000???? Spent a bit of time with all the Saints lads out there that summer (Beattie, Hassan, Davies, Monk etc) and Richards was always the life and soul of the party. He was the surrogate dad of that group of players at that time and well respected. Top bloke.

Player of the season in his first full one if IIRC. Only here for under two years, but made a real impression during his short stay. Tragic news for someone so young. RIP

Let's not be so naive to think that the Tories (as well as every other Political Party) have what they say is an ethical foreign policy and yet are happy to ignore it if they think its "in the UKs Interests" to do so. And if you don't think the current Government don't bang on about "ethical" and a foreign policy with a "conscience" and then try to trade off of it, then go back to last Summer/Autumn when Hague gave a number of speeches spelling out that the current Foreign Policy would have a conscience etc etc etc (with many commentators agreeing that he was saying much the same as Robin Cook before him in the late 90's). PS Margaret Thatcher's 1999 conference speech on Pinochet does not give a feel that he is "our mad despot". She was bigging him up massively!!! http://www.margaretthatcher.org/document/108383

You only have to look back through recent history to show that the "establishment" are more than happy to do deals, fraternise and trade with a whole host of despots, irresepctive of whether Downing Street is red or blue. IMHO, from Pinochet & Thatcher to Gadaffi & Brown, we've never been that convincing with regards our morality once away from our shores.

We certainly haven't been firing on all cylinders recently (although the Cup distraction and Lallana's absence may have played their part). Recent poor results : Losing to Tranmere Drawing with Notts County Drawing with Hartlepool Drawing with Peterborough (would probably have taken a draw before the game, but surrendering a two goal lead - twice - does make it seem like a poor result). Converting two of those draws in to wins (Posh & County) would have made quite a difference (2 pts behind 2nd place with 3 games in hand!!!). I'm not up for wrist slashing and we're still in the box seat with games in hand, but it's the manner of our performances as much as our results that have got me a tad jittery. Even the two games we have won recently (Exeter & Carlisle) have been rather unconvincing. We just need to recover the late December/early January form and get on a roll.

Have no idea of the success/failure comparisons, but history is littered with great players who didn't cut it as great managers, so you're right it is no guarantee of success. However, I've just got an inkling from having witnessed Poyet at Leeds & Spurs and now seeing what he is managing with Brighton that he might be able to make the transition. I think he could cut it in the higher leagues here or maybe even abroad (e.g. Spain).

I am 100% behind Adkins and fully support him in his efforts to get us promoted. As with others, I'm sure that support is peridoically up for reassessment (i.e. I reserve the right to have a moan if he takes us down!!!), but for now I am happy to be giving him my support as he endeavours to take us up. (However, if we're allowed to indulge in some Fantasy Football and won't be called traitors, backstabbers, bedwetters etc etc etc, by a few on here who seem to be a little precious, then I would personally rather have appointed someone of the calibre of Gus Poyet last summer. Given the resources at hand, Poyet does seem to have done a pretty remarkable job down at Brighton and think he will go far in the game).

An approach from Chelski could be interesting, although I think he would need to go somewhere in between Brighton and Chelski. As with players, you (meaning all lower league teams, ourselves included) very rarely manage to keep anyone decent nowadays for long enough. I also hope Brighton go up (and us accompanying them), not least in order that I think their long suffering fans deserve some payback after being hideously ripped off and taken for a ride for so long. I think it will be a rather emotional day when they manage to call somewhere their home again and I'm sure that many may have thought they would never see such a day when they were unceremoniously turfed out of the Goldstone. Fair play to them, after all the s*** thrown at them, I think they deserve their day (and longer) in the sun.

So what were you saying with this then???: I would conjecture that they are three clubs who are extremely proud (and quite rightly boastful of their history) and who recognise its value to the Club, its supporters and community and who hold it in high esteem and who don't only recognise their history when they are not doing too well. PS As for how often do you hear articles going on about their day, then I typed in Denis Law in to Bing and in the last year got: 1) A 2010 pre Derby story about how he was inconsolable about scoring that goal 20 years ago 2) How the Wayne Rooney saga of last Autumn reminded him of his dispute with Matt Busby 3) How he feels sorry for Berbatov, but all strikers including those of the past have lean periods 4) How last months derby will compare with the derbies of old under Mercer and Busby in the Mail, Telegraph, Mirror etc etc etc

Brand, brand, brand. I would like to think we're a Club, not a brand. And if you look at Manchester United, Barcelona & Arsenal, then I would wager that they are very conscious of their past and look to be as inclusive of it as possible. The 50th anniversary fo Munich for United was a big thing (as have been other parts of their history, including honouring and recognising their past greats), whereas for Barcelona their history is an integral part of the Catalan way of life. You only have to take a trip around their museum and the city itself to see what a part Barca has played throughout history. And Arsenal don't seem too worried about their past if you take a trip around their museum (I was priviledged to be given a tour by Charlie George on a corporate a couple of years back).

Have to agree. Lawrie has the ego the size of a house, but then again I don't he could have signed the players he did and kept them under control if he hadn't!!!, but you would have to be extremely bitter and twisted if you didn't find some bits in that piece that resonated with you. The way some people are reacting you would have thought it was being suggested that Lawrie should be taking training tomorrow.

Have to take exception to this part of your post (liked the rest though). As much as I don't like Portsmuff, I have to say in my pecking order you are comfortably third in that race. Of course it's all subjective and influenced by a multitude of things (not least to say there aren't any agreed checklists by which club size is assessed), but whilst I would accept there isn't much between us and Portsmuff, you guys are safely down in third spot (with Bournemuff comfortably in fourth). Not saying that's how things will stay, after all Portsmuff seem to be treading water, if not going backwards, whilst you're on the up (after suffering a number of years in the back waters). Portsmuff have got far more ooomph behind them than you guys at the moment for you to be claiming second spot above them.

I would wager that we will both be in The Championship in 3 years time. Brighton will have consolidated with their new ground providing them with a lift. If we go up this season, then I think we will take more than 3 years to make the next jump as i think the Championship and a number of yo-yo teams with big parachute payments will make it a massive challenge to get in to the top flight.

With games coming thick & fast and with no team showing any desire to take second place by the scruff of the neck, I think this will ebb and flow right up until the end. I think the bookies have us down for 2nd place, but personally I think we're in for a bash of the play offs.

I think I'm in two minds after tonight's game, then again I'm not so sure!!!!!!! Similar position after the game as before and no one managed to steal a lead on us, so sort of OK. Down side is I think we have gone off the boil somewhat since the Oldham game (I really thought that was the point where we had made our mark and were going to push on). Mixed reaction from me tonight. Not slitting wrists, but slightly concerned.

Indeed, and on the point of the new managers, I think if you take it in the context of writing a personal note to a new manager welcoming them to the area & letting them know what a terrific club they have joined and then wishing them well from a distance, and only wanting what is best for the club, then I think it takes on a slightly different emphasis (certainly not the arrogant & dismissive tone that some are intrepreting it as). I'm sure some might say what is this old dinosaur doing writing to our new managers and sticking his beak in, but I personally think it is quite a nice touch (even if there is a dash of ego involved in there somewhere).

As mentioned above, nowhere in the article does it state "they can give me a ring". Additionally, if you had read it in the context of the paragraphs that go before and after it, then perhaps you might not be coming to the conclusion you have above. Misquoting and taking things out of context don't really bring anything to the party.

And your opinion/interpretation is as valid as anyone elses. That said, I do find it hard to jump from a passing comment on how he wished more of the 76 team could have made it (for the benefit of all of those in attendance) to "how many official get togethers does he want?". The fact that a couple already had other commitments was referred to on the night. I certainly didn't read it as any dig at the Club, past or current, for not organising one, nor did I see it as fishing for more adulation. Interesting how different people can interpret the same text in different ways. PS Although you mentioned it wasn't intended to be a verbatim quote, there is no mention of anyone giving him a ring (and I have to say that I think your interpretation is somewhat out of context as well).

The article is split in to two bits. The first deals with the weekend celebrations, whilst the second deals with his relationship with Cortese. If the mods have no problem ref copyright etc, then I would be happy to re-type out the second bit.

Have you read the article??? Because if you have then I think you have taken it totally out of context. It wasn't a criticism of anyone, nor was it a desperate plea to satisfy his and others ego in demanding another. Instead he was merely stating how it would have been nice to get them all together on the evening, but that it wasn't possible. Strange how people comment on things they haven't read or twist things from how they were intended.

Undoubtedly the best Saints goal I have ever seen. Some of Matty's were phenomenal, but this pips them all due to the build up, first time touches and flicks etc.

I was thinking the same when I put his name up. Always saw Bally as the anchor man with Williams giving licence to push on. I soprt of qualified him by saying he was at least a centre midfielder!!!!

Probably my favourite player of that era (took that title after Williams departed for Arsenal), steaming in at the far post to score some crackers. We don't care if you've got no hair, Dave Armstrong, Dave Armstrong.