CheshireSaint

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.

If everything black, was navy then were are on a winner.

Just stop going. Easy for someone 220 miles away I know. This has to be stopped somehow. Favourites to go up, going down at this rate. Someone has to be accountable

Get that chancer and SR out this club. The former is a symptom of the latter.

Baz rooted to his line again. Such a sh1t keeper.

Agree with most of this. Tonda needs to be looked at too. Willing to give him a post January grace period but so far, just because he improved results from a spectacularly poor baseline, a Messiah he is not. If he is being told what to play (3 at the back for example), then he is a weak charlatan. If not, he is a nutcase. Either way, not good.

It was. Could only get tickets in the 'away' end. We scored a goal that was ruled offside but too late, i was up celebrating. To be fair, there were pockets of Saints fan all over the away end. All went well in the end. Great day #greatescape

If Tonda doesn't scrap the back 5 now, we have made the wrong appointment.

Danny Wallace's overhead kick v Liverpool Friday 16th March 1984. I was 12. Watching that goal and win on a Friday night, I ran around the our close in celebration. Pretty much every football fan around was Liverpool. After that, Saints related, Rickie Lambert coming off the bench v Scotland on debut in 2013 and scoring that header. That's my favourite Saints (related) memory of my adult life (41). I went mad. JPT Final was a bloody good day out too.

It isn't just opinion though mate. The stats tell us he is pathetically bad. He is just p1ss poor, season in, season out. He's indefensible. Never mind City being investigated for bending transfer rules, they should be investigated for fraud and fined 50 points for pretending this fella can play. He is by far the worst keeper to play for Saints (Forepast included) in my lifetime and possibly the worst in top flight football in my time too. He really is as bad as people make out. He has the positional sense, physical prowess and technique of a Christmas Tree. Only difference, the latter is useful for about 3 weeks a year. Granted, he can pass better then a Christmas Tree but if that is essentially your scouting report, whoever signed off on his signing should be sectioned and all those colluding in this continuing farce, should be critiqued equally. Get rid now. AM to deputise until we can get a young up and coming GK in from the lower divisions if necessary. A bit like a proper plan from a proper club and something that should have happened 3 years ago.