oxfordshire_saint

I think Wotte had a better understanding of the English game than Poortvliet, but I do agree with JP when he said that Wotte was here to backstab and planned in advance to take his job. I'm gonna see if any English bookies will take a bet on them being relegated.

Always knew he'd move on to one of Europe's big jobs http://www.goal.com/en/news/462/netherlands/2010/01/08/1732829/dutchman-mark-wotte-takes-the-reins-at-universitatea-craiova

I'm up in the North of Hampshire, we've had 2 power cuts last night, it started snowing at 6pm and still hasn't stopped! Let my dogs out into the garden earlier and one of them dissapeared, the collie was only just visible! Work near Basingstoke and still mulling over whether it's worth trying to use the roads......

Avram? On a serious note, I'm not sure, perhaps John Grant at Aldershot?

It was a bit naive to expect him to be Serie A quality, if he was, he wouldn't be here! I expected him to be a useful player at this level, I think he has proved to be (setting aside his understanding of the offside rule!)

No dig at Pards, because I think he is the best man for the job, but didn't we use to use the phrase "in Burley we trust" quite a lot? Despite the success AP has had with certain signings (Connolly, Lambert, Harding etc), I'm sure he's more than capable of making a crap signing too, all managers do. Remember when Fergie put his faith in Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson, Taibi, Bellion.......

Unless it breaks any FA rules, they can make it as unpleasant for the opposition as possible, it's standard practise in the lower leagues. Most older grounds have truly shocking away facilities, small, no heating, no light, dodgy showers etc. Sorts the men from the boys, the ones with the right attitudes will use it as motivation.

Against Colchester we had 8 shots on target to their 5, yet we lost 2-1. Lambert's fitness is ok, but Connolly it seems can't always play regularly in the midst of a fixture pileup. If one of them gets injured, we're buggered, plus it'd do them good to have some serious competition for places. Lee Barnard would fit the bill nicely.

Despite whether you think Shaikh was guilty or not, I bet the amount of people willing to be drug mules and carry gear into China has gone down now. Whether he was of sound mental ability is the only thing that should be questioned. The fact that the 4kg of heroin he was carrying is enough to kill 26800 people , I think China are well within their rights to give such crime the death penalty. The harder countries are on the drug trade, the better, because it fuels a lot of the problems in society, but it's a shame that it's often the mules that get caught and not the brains behind the operations. Here's a good example: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8418878.stm It's good to see though that the two girls just flatly admit they were stupid to get involved, not bleating on about their supposed human rights etc. No prison is nice, but I'm pretty sure a women's prison in Brazil is going to be particularly nasty!

He's got a turning circle like the QE2, an awful touch and no pace. I'd rather we spent some money and got someone a little more mobile.

He's currently on a tour of England's private schools teaching their hockey teams how to play soggy biscuits.

Not overly sure what to make of the whole thing. China are within their rights to execute drug dealers if they see fit, but the guy was clearly not right. Whereas this guy does indeed seem like a genuine case of mental illness, I think that people's scepticism may have been fuelled by recent incidents, such as Hannah Saaf, who whilst driving on a provisional license knocked down a young lad in Bristol, left him to die and then went on the run, she only got charged with causing death by dangerous driving and slung in a secure unit. There's also the recent attacks on Berlusconi and the Pope, both comitted by people with supposed mental illnesses. But back to the subject of Akmal Shaikh, it's a very sad affair. Apart from airing their "dissapointment" with the Chinese, would our government have acted differently if perhaps this had happened in Iraq under Saddam's rule?

With St.Ledger returning to Preston from Middlesbrough now, would Trotman get anywhere near their team?

I thought the lower tier is always closed, I've never seen it opened. I thought this was so their fans in the upper tiers either side can't chuck stuff down. Likewise though I'm quite surprised there's no news on this one yet, want to get my ticket confirmed, look forward to the usual Saints takeover of the Hole in the Wall!

Hit the nail on the head, he never moans, is happy to play wherever AP asks and always puts in a decent shift. People are forgetting this is only his 2nd season as a proper first teamer.

................a spell in a comfy cell with his chums Storrie and Mandaric coming up? Unlikely, but we can only hope.

Just back from the game, what a rubbish day out. You can criticise Colchester all you like for their style of play, but they got the win. Yes the ref and linos were p!ss poor and Colchester weren't great, but we were plain awful. Playing long balls up to Ricky and watching him get beaten up all day by two hulking centre-halves wasn't exactly silky football on our part either. I can confirm the shuttle bus service was a shambles, but the club can't really be blamed for that, in theory it works. Given it's the stadium's first season, they'll have teething problems. Boothroyd's own brand of anti-football has them 4th in the league on a budget, fair play, even if it is horrible to watch. It's easy to lash out after the frustration of watching the dross that was served up today, but I think people are over-reacting. If we timewaste when we're winning, we have a laugh about it and mock the opposition for getting the arse about it.

Great stuff! I wasn't sure if it was just people assuming it was Avram because the place is close to Pompey's training ground. If it's definitely him then all the better. I hate bagpuss but I'd rather see something help bring Pompey down than just Redknapp or Spurs.

Best Last game at the Dell!!! Thrashing Spurs in the FA Cup The home win against Pompey in the league, Marian's goal made that extra special The 3-2 vs Arsenal at St Mary's, I was in the beer queue in the Northam just before h/t when Beattie smashed his free-kick in, I can just remember it going mental and beer flying everywhere! Staying up last day vs Sheff Utd, a real rollercoaster and a quality pitch invasion, I'm not sure Surman knew if he'd make it out alive or not! Beating Liverpool when Riise scored a comical headed own goal. Not the greatest of games but I despise Liverpool, so happy days. Smashing Chelsea 4-2 on a New Years Day, Beatts free-kick was quality. Reading away last year, they seemed invincible going into the game, we were down on our luck and with a team full of kids. I really do believe our support made a difference that day, was awesome to see the whole end full of Saints fans. Worst Burnley game last year was pretty bad. Getting drubbed at Fratton. Leeds 4-3, nuff said. The Everton game where Beatts scored on his return and Marcus Bent smashed in that late goal. Swindon away this season, just depressing!

Certainly looked that way. I'd sign Antonio, see if we can extend Mellis' loan (worth having as cover, if Chelsea don't mind that!) but I think we'd be better off letting Trotman go back and signing a new CB with a bit more composure.

It's certainly looking pretty incriminating towards poor old Avram, but is it not conceivable that maybe 'Arry stopped off on his way home to Sandbanks from Spurs' training ground?

Would be good to see Lee Holmes given a chance. Is he fit at the moment or is that a silly question?

I was sitting right down the front of the Northam and I could hear their fans more than ours for the most part.

This is shaping up to be an awesome season. I'm planning to do my first GP in 2010, having driven past it last week, I'm in love with Spa, so it'll probably be there!