CheshireSaint

Pointless signing I reckon. As Saints proved, it's no good planning solely on getting out of the League 1, unless you plan on coming straight back down again. Signings ideally have to be good enough as is, with potential or a ceiling to better themselves in the Prem. If successful, Trippier and Jimenez will be another year older than now. Player tend to drop off a cliff rather than marginally deteriorate once past their best. We shall see.

Cherry picking then?

If this is a seperate competition, how can they include examples of other 'spying' during the league campaign to back up their case? If these ought to be included, then surely the playoffs can't be considered separately. It's cherry picking and needs to be called out. If these EFL rule contraventions go back to regular league games, then Wrexham have every right to contest Saints playoff place should be removed and their inclusion. They should have therefore, played Millwall whilst Hull would have played Boro in the semi's. The EFL cannot highlight discrepancies during the league campaign without opening themselves to further claims. I hope Wrexham do challenge the Hull v Boro game and as such, the PL starts in earnest with only 19 teams included and this cock up is firmly placed at the EFL's door and their fag packet handling of the situation and their seeming submission to Gibbo.

This isn't just the potential of 200 million down the swanny. We will lose sponsorship revenue, players that want to play in the PL will now be available at prices far less than we would have been able to command had we been in the PL final withstanding). Season ticket prices / sales will take a hit, along with other things not yet thought of. This could be reaching an effective fine of £300 million+. Ridiculous punishment. We clearly didn't receive an advantage in the first leg v Boro and in the league matches against Oxford and Ipswich, we got 2 points. If a player dives in the box and the subsequent penalty results in a 1-0 win, that's 3 points right there. No fine whatsoever. We did wrong and we should be punished accordingly but potentially £300 million + could kill a club like Southampton. If it were to happen again (don't tell me people don't commit crimes due to severity of sentence), to a club that doesn't make the playoffs, they will need to be punished at least to the severity of this example. If that's Oxford for instance (or probably 80 other clubs in the league), then that is a death sentence. To a club and all local jobs as a result of that club going under. It's a pathetic punishment. Fine Saints 5 million say, with an additional 10 million IF they go up. That's still setting an example, but a workable one at least.

This. It's like that gaudy gold furniture you can get from B&M et al. Change gold for blue (yes blue) and pair with blue shorts as per back in the day. Or black with black shorts.

As a Northern Monkey, can we not just fuck the Northern Monkeys off? Fooking North EAST Monkeys. Bored now.

Would any points deduction only be applicable to the EFL though? If we were to win the final and get promotion, could that carry over? I have my doubts. Nor could a deduction be suspended until such time as we return to the EFL which may not happen for 20 odd years (im optimistic). Would a points deduction be applicable if we lost the final (fair enough) or be time limited to say 5 years should we return to the EFL within that time period. Either way, i'd take that if that were sentence.

Bang on this. Saints can defend by co-operating fully, holding their cards close to their chest whilst maintaining the action was not sanctioned by the club. What will also be in our favour, is any decision makers will know that with promotion into the most lucrative league in the world at stake, Saints will throw everything into an appeal. The obvious thing to do is to punish Saints with something that tells us we have transgressed, but not to the point of denying us access to the Premier League. We would unlikely challenge a fine and Boro couldn't say we got away with it. It's the obvious play. Anything further would also set a precedent where clubs could openly seek out anything deemed nefarious by rival clubs in a bid to remove them from the competition. Slippy slope.

For 4 million, I can't see how we lose. Buy on clause set at 4 million based on not really being effective pre Saints. He is a hotter property right now (1 goal per 2 games) so let's see how he gets on next year and sell him for 6 million if he doesn't excel. Dead easy this Manager lark.

I think my point more relates to the physicality required to play in the American, Turkish, Belgian, Spanish and Dutch leagues wouldn't necessarily be the same as that required in the Championship. I'd think you may be able to get away with 80 / 90% fitness whereas not so in the Championship. If he hasn't been pushed to be in optimal condition, there may be a correlation with fitness and ability.

Whilst you raise a valid point, has he ever been this fit in his career? I've no idea but it could be that he is at the pinnacle of his career fitness, having played previously for Orlando City, Besiktas, Club Brugge, Real Valladolid, RCD Mallorca and Feyenoord. None of which i'd imagine call for fitness levels akin to those required for the Championship. I recall Jordy Clasie playing full 90 mins in Belgium or Holland after blowing out his hoop for Saints (albeit in the Premier) by the 60 minute mark. Perhaps the comparisons between a fitter than ever Larin against a pre Saints Larin, are not completely like for like. Perhaps this is a Larin never seen before....... Worth a punt should we go up anyway. As a consequence of his playing career thus far perhaps, I doubt wages are too much of a sticking point.

If anyone knows of 2 x spares, i'd be very grateful (and surprised)! Can pick up at the ground. TIA.

Sorry Stripey, I replied to Once a Saint before reading your post. Anyway, all good.

No problem mate. Ideal location. As you come out the hotel, to your right, you can drop down onto the canal and be met immediately by 'Harkers' (pub) which isn't £3 a pint and a bit pretentious (nice though). Next to that is 'Barton Rouge' Indian restaurant which is very good. If you go left from the hotel and go under the roundabout, following signs for Foregate Street (2 min walk), you will come to several pubs, all trying to undercut each other. 'Number 15', 'The Leopard' and the 'Queens Head'. The Leopard does £2 a pint on selected beers on a Tuesday. There is also 'That Beer Place' for your craft ales. You pay accordingly though. I would also recommend the Union Vaults which is only 5 mins from the hotel too (from the hotel entrance, cross the road and bridge, drop down the steps and turn right, you'll see it 50 metres yonder) and is the best example of a back street boozer you will find anywhere (my local), and possibly the friendliest pub you'll find too, especially if i'm in! Enjoy.

Might be worth considering for those that want to, when Chelsea played there recently in the FA Cup, they mobbed up in Chester (my home town) and took full advantage of £3 pint all day without loads of plod giving them mither. Plenty of them enjoyed it so much, they stayed and watched the match on the tele. They were well behaved too as everyone in Chester was also supporting Chelsea that day. Only 15 minutes on the train with trains running every 20 - 30 mins. Chester is also a nice city, whereas Wrexham simply isn't. You'd be made very welcome.

My wife was given a shiny Panini Saints shiny yesterday in her school. One of her pupils remembered she had a Saints connection (me). Having not had a Panini book for about 45 years, I am a bit of a loss as to where to affix it. I dare not ask for suggestions! My Laptop is probably favourite at this juncture. I know, I know, life in the fast lane....

Me too. I thought (and still do) that it was a bit of good man management, giving Archer an opportunity to maybe enjoy himself for 20-25 mins whilst the pressure was off. If Archer had have bagged a goal then that could only be a good thing. The problem is of course, he just isn't playing very well. Nothing he attempts comes off. It's getting embarrassing for him. He needs to garner some confidence elsewhere, Under 21's maybe. May not hurt to send Fellows with him. Build some confidence and understanding as a foil together too.

Are you related to Baz?

Wasn't that Hull or am I mistaken (probably)? Unforgiveable was that. His up and at 'em philosophy was tremendously exploited I recall at home (perhaps West Brom) when they simply lobbed it over the top and threatened repeatedly but he didn't make any change and I think they eventually won 1 - 0 with exactly that type of goal. Still, I'd welcome him back in a heartbeat.

Whitey, are you honestly suggesting the British Army ever made any nonsensical decisions? Sadly one of many. Many attributed to Officers whose only qualification to send 100's to their deaths, was money and privilege. Blackadder Goes Forth sums up many decisions of WW1 (and the conflict in general) so tragically yet funnily. Anyway, for those who came here for some light and entertaining reading.......sorry.

Same campaign but then you already knew that I'd imagine by the time of the CotLB, soldiers had already donned layers about their faces. I believe it was a little nippy.

They weren't. The ill fated Charge of the Light Brigade was the Crimean War some 40 odd years later (that's what happens when you don't get Sappers involved). Time enough for the Frenchies to come to their senses and understand not to mess about with the English (Prussians, Hanoverian's, Irish and Dutch). Follow the Sapper.

I reckon the team saw the inclusion of Archer and all thought 'what the f%^k'. Then when he misses an open goal from 5 yards, they all just thought (like us) 'what's the f%^king point'. Heads dropped and they've had enough. Posting just as Archer gives the ball away again. Hasn't completed a pass nor anything marginally constructive. Sj1thouse him and Tonda.

I thought it very odd that before Pompey had made any changes, and we were pretty comfortable first 15 mins of second half, Tonda blinked first in relation to subs. I'd have thought at that point, given we were leading, that any manager would wait for the losing opposition to sub first. Then he can weight that sub / formation change, and react accordingly. Why did Tonda play his hand first? Surely no one was knackered at the 60 min point? That last 20 mins was embarrassing and Tonda should be sacked for that alone. Real Madrid they are not.

I get the combination of Stewart and Fellows in tandem (if indeed TE is thinking along those lines). One would assume they would come on together in the second half against a tiring defence. Fingers crossed the game hasn't gone by then. Matsuki though.....that's a gamble right there. TE has some balls but it could be a defining moment.