Colinjb

I no longer hate the Skates. I pity them. But hate? Dover Athletic.

Or has decided to take an interest? Thanks to my influence one of my exes is now a fan herself.

Yep, taken three girlfriends to matches. It currently stands as 1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss.

What are your three moments Jamie?

What if they are 'only 'good enough to be the squad players that the likes of Sunderland and Norwich have spend a fair amount on this summer?

Delighted he has posted this. He is never right, looking forward to safety again this coming season. Personally I have decided to downgrade my prediction of 8th. 10th-12th feels more likely now, I will also remove Sunderland as a pick to go down. So: Top 3 Chelsea Man City Man Utd Bottom 3 Stoke Crystal Palace Hull City

tick - tock - tick - tock...... Poor Aussies....

A bit of an open topic now, something a bit different anyway to the bickering over transfer policy. Which moments in your time as a Saint have given you the most: Joy Sadness Amusement The most Joy for me was Sharp's goal v Coventry just over a year ago. Even more so then the FA Cup Semi final v Watford, the promotion from League 1 or many others. It just felt like it was culmination of effort and the end to an exile. The rest of that day was a blur. The saddest moment has to be the the opposite of the above, the end of the Man Utd game in May 2005 that sealed our relegation and knowing, just knowing that the way the club was being run at the time would ensure our absence for a long, long time. For amusement... Dave Beasant acting along to the 'shoot the pompey scum' song at the Matthew Le Tissier testimonial. Had everyone around me in stitches.

It would be Jay Rod's time to shine.

Mother nature has arrived! The series is ours.

The club has stated we had three targets and we have signed 2 of them. A 66.6% conversion rate with over 20 mill spent isn't inactivity. The areas for further improvement are obvious, but no point bringing in players for the sake of it. They need to be the right ones.

He may still deliver. Looking back at the goals DVD of last year it's easy to forget his contribution at times. He was important for us last year and will hopefully build on it.

No, the point I was going to make was moot. That wasn't too clear. Balls, first wicket already!! Come on rain!!!

We wern't getting rolled over at the end in the same manner and indeed played well for the most part (WBA at home being the obvious exception, that was on my bloody birthday.... left me fuming! ). However, for the form to dip so markedly is showing either a lack of professionalism or something more worrying. Particularly with our lack of cutting edge.

Edit. Just seen that the Aussies have declared. Point is moot.

I can see what they are saying there, but over a season a league table tells the whole story. Our form over the last 6 games was not great... it needs to all be taken into account. We were under threat for 80% of last year, that is not a season of mid-table safety. A decent start with enough form to keep is in/around 10th will show progress, if we get dragged into a dogfight then we havn't improved. That we have shown the capability to fight it out with anyone in the division is a good foundation to build on, far better that then squeaking safety on the final day after a season of pure grind.

Good move for Newcastle. Enough safeguards in it to ensure their backs are covered in the event of criminal conviction.

Then we shall see how the fringe players fill in the gaps. They are key to our fortunes this season for me, not the leading lights that we are well aware of.

Well, we havn't really achieved even that yet. Last year was a relegation battle which had the edge taken off it by a good run before the final stages. A true season of mid-table water treading would signify progress. So much has happened so soon for us in the last four years. I am content to be a little patient now.

At the risk of taking the thread off topic, it's probably due to the types of player we are going for. We cannot offer European football or instant glory, only a vision for the future. For many of the targets we are looking at that will put them off. A Brazilian international like Damiao being linked here rather then the likes of Spurs or one of the bigger Italian teams could be considered a reality check. I hope Isgrove can make it. Memories of that pre-season game v Kettering a few years ago stick with me, he was easily the best player on the park. So pleased to see him progress.

I am enjoying the talk of pushing for europe but a season of mid table stability would do for me. Our first eleven is capable enough to have a go at anyone but we will lack the strength in depth to be consistent. Our best hope of qualification would be a cup run. If Wigan can win the FA Cup and Swansea the League Cup why not us?

That hasn't prevented us in loaning out players who havn't been seen as good enough before even when we lack depth in the position. Seaborne and Martin being loaned out last year for example.

Can someone remind me again, how exactly is Fratton Park, as their fans put it, 'Ours?' Yes, the fans put just under 50% of the money in, but what control does the average pledger (I'm not going to call it shareholder...) have?

Right, Gotcha. Shame for the Aussies!

Why? A draw means the Aussies cannot win.