Miltonaggro

Paulsgrove...

Deluded, bitter, thick c*nts. Who were the 'famous five' - Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch? Perhaps they are getting confused with the McMenemy side in the 80s which famously fielded five England captains! Lambert's going to shine...

Well done big man, overdue and well deserved. I for one don't think Lambert will be a flash in the pan for England, if he turns it on he will make a lot of people sit up and take notice - Woy and most of the press corps think he has called up a version of Steve Bull, what he's actually called up is a contemporary version of Teddy Sheringham - who won his last cap at 36...

I reckon that's about right, and can see us finishing anywhere in the middle huddle between 7th and 13th...

Liverpool are a big club with an international pedigree, so that obviously influenced his choice. Not every transfer is as clear cut, big Vic being a perfect example. At the moment Saints will win some and lose others, it's still nice to be in the frame for top quality at this stage in the journey. Wouldn't want to do a Portsmuff and buy a posse of Romanian road sweepers on £80k a week every close season...

With the current squad we are looking at holding our own and mid table obscurity. I don't see us struggling fighting relegation but I don't see us pushing on either as things stand. We seem to have a problem attracting our top targets, and in one respect this is understandable, only returning to the top flight last season - to the most avid South American 22 year old football fan we have been away from the big league a long time. However, the nearer that window gets to closing the more likely we are to get one of our major targets. The one thing that has surprised me, pointed out by earlier posters, is the apparent lack of impact of MP in pulling a few rabbits out of the hat from his long tenure in Spain, even an older player (like Gamez) in a Telferesque move would have been a welcome addition to what is a good team but a threadbare squad. So, if things stay as they are, treading water, couple of quality additions (and some cover with nous) before the window shuts, we'll have a decent chance to push on in the league and have a decent go in the cups - if we are serious we must start winning trophies to build momentum. Tick tock...

Blyth Spartans...

If we want to be seen as a 'big club' this is one of the hurdles we have to jump. However distasteful...

Never say never, but about half that fee (if that) given the baggage and upcoming court case. Good player, but doubt a Saints type signing...

WAG?? Osvaldo's Missus! He must be having a medical...

It was certainly more balanced and pro-Saints!...

Absolutely! We are Legion...

Jesus H Corbett! Is it WUM Wednesday yet?...

Spot on!...

A favourite story of mine is that we were visiting family who lived in Manchester in August 1981. I went to a local park for a kick about with my cousins and whilst there saw two local kids wearing Saints Admiral candy stripe shirts, both with a homemade number 7 on the back. Later we drove to a local pub and on the way passed another gaggle of kids with a football, amongst the Man U and Liverpool shirts, one was sporting a yellow and blue Saints away shirt. Success breeds success...

Would have been a throwback to the second Patrick kit. Much more acceptable...

Damned right!...

Watching Norway v Denmark in the women's football, and can't help thinking the red Adidas Denmark shirt with the black piping would have pleased most of the people most of the time. Combined with black shorts it would have been a good kit for Saints. Missed opportunity by the SFC sartorial junta...

Since supporting Saints in the late 70s Man City my memory is of Man City as a basket case of a club until the recent takeover. The same could be said for Chelsea in the same timescale. So, it must be possible for clubs to appear under the radar - Sheffield Weds or Leeds with a spendthrift Sheikh in tow perhaps? Looking at Saints recent signings / targets it looks like Cortese is going for a 'third way' buying / developing youngsters in the hope of a 'Busby Babes' alchemy scenario. Hasn't been done before, may not work, but the ride is fun, and for the optimists there is always an outside chance - league win, probably not, challenging at the top and ****ing over some 'big' clubs hopefully yes!...

This was on the back of Newcastle finishing second, he was probably dictating it, shouting with headphones on and eyes narrowed! Provincial clubs, like Saints, Sunderland, Newcastle, Leeds, Derby and Forest could never challenge for the league, the very concept is absurd...

Good shout Naughton, strong and quick and cover both sides. Would appear to be an excellent fit...

Thanks for posting FF, and well done to Tim and James for the updates and campaign...

There must be some room left for an optimistic hope for good old football alchemy. From the late 70s to the early 80s Notts Forest were the best side, and most successful club in British football. When Saints beat them following promotion it felt like a real scalp, akin to beating Chelsea 4-1 now. Forest stayed a good side through the 80s but have faded, and would not be on the 'big club' radar of young fans now. Everton and Spurs on the other hand have always been there or there abouts, but without sustained success (particularly in Europe) - Everton's last major trophy win was 1995, Spurs 1991. So the key would seem to be for the club to enjoy a period of sustained success via a talent catalyst, and then continue this for a number of years. The real cause for optimism is the fact that Cortese is not following any pre-conceived blueprint or 'respect' for history, so there is a chance - had we kept Bale, Walcott, and AOC on the books we would have been building on some foundation!...

The closest you could get would be to nail it to a tree in Dogsh*t Park...