swedish dave

just another win (how I enjoy saying that). I wasn't at the match but my son flew over from Stockholm took his children to the match and they had a great time. I watched online over here. Saints didn't quite get it together in first half, but looked better after the break, and the Leo's goal gave everyone some inspiration. Having won some of the more challenging games (like Wrexham) we must be sure to avoid any banana skin result , and then go all out to beat Ipswich. A win there would make the difference for promotion.

This above all shows the strength we have in the squad. Wrexham were the club to beat...and so we started with 6 changes from the Arsenal-beating side. We scored 5 times, and still hit the woodwork 3 times. The first 2 goals were scored by players who didn't get on the pitch for Saturday and Larin's goal was a great individual effort from a man with incredible speed for someone his size. Ross Stewart had few chances in his 25 minute sub. app but still showed how a real CF can score. Finn Azaz rightfully got his goal after hitting the bar twice. What more could one ask.

With the number of class players Arsenal have they ought to be good enough to beat us (on paper) but this is the FA Cup and anything can (and often does) happen at this stage.

Shame to say it , it's only two as (sadly) Archer's contribution is almost zero and we have midfielders who have scored more than he. After all the plaudits made regarding Adam Armstrong's goal contributions, his goals were invaluable - when they came, but his " dry spells ", were both long and embarrassing and to be fair, we have looked to be a much better attacking side since he left. Unless we see a remarkable upturn in Archer's form.. we may be looking for a whole new strike force next season.

a lot will depend on which league we will be playing in next season. There's no problem in having him as a striker - if we remain in this league, but despite having had a few difficult years in European football , there are signs that there is a good player in there somewhere. Tactically, he is a real asset, his off the ball movement pulls defenders all over the place, and he's not easily pushed around in the area. He's no Harry Kane , but 3 of his 4 goals have helped us become matchwinners. Will be interesting to see how he performs for The Canadian side in the World Cup, he seems to have improved as time goes by, and I don't see any problems when it comes to the " age question" as long as he continues scoring. Together with a fit Ross Stewart, they make a good duo up front. Without both of them , it's back to the drawing board and a lot of investment, (as we'd need more big money buys in other areas of the field, too). The question of having good strikers in a Premiership club is proving a big problem even for some established sides in the top tier, and when spending 50-60 million it's no guarantee of quality or goals, and just " one of that type" isn't enough with a view to injuries and potential loss of form. I think buying him (promotion or not ) is a no-brainer, and he wouldn't get a 3-4 year contract either.

I won't waste more time on my comments about the referee (on other thread). A very welcome 3 points from a scrappy game that lacked much in footballing skill. Peretz to the rescue once again, we surely must sign him in the summer. An excellent performance from Sam Edozie who put on a good show for the absent Scienza and was unlucky to have one goal ruled out, and a penalty shout that VAR would have OK'd. Downes and Stephens have redeemed themselves after all the early season criticism they received. Azaz too, has developed himself in a good role, after a rather uneven start to the season. Having got into the Top 6, our big challenge is to stay there until the season's end, and win the play-off spot.

I'm saving a post on this issue as you've almost read my mind. If he'd booked a few more in the first 20 minutes, it would have steadied the game down and we might have seen a better quality of football. At times it was like a Rugby game, with one or two GBH charges ongoing. In the end, he was booking people for coughing too loud.

Best goalkeeping display since ..(?).. putting aside the sojourn that Davis was in goal ..(mostly in the League 1 and Championship days). . I must think back to Antti Niemi's time with Saints in the Prem. Good command of his area, not afraid to "goad on" his back line, and very agile when it matters. Surely to be a " must deal " in the summer if we have an option to buy.

My final thoughts on the Coventry game (as this is about that game) revolve around Lampard's reactions. He made the sort of excuses that we did after the fiasco v. Hull at SMS. When with 67% possession and 22 shots we still managed to lose. (2-1) . Coventry's stats. on Saturday were not dissimilar. However, we looked the better side in attacking moments, and took two very "unusual chances " to score. The thing that seemingly miffed FL is that he must have been glad to get 1 point at SMS, (against a side who were 12th at the time), and after running a two-horse race against Midd'boro for most of the season, then lost (badly) at home against Saints - who are still not in the top six, and who played without our first choice CF, and Leo Scienza (who he admitted ) is one of the best wingers in this league. He must hope they have enough points for automatic promotion, and not have to end up in the qualifiers ..against Saints.

I think there was an incident early in the game when TP got concussed. As there were no obvious use of a sub. he played on, but Ramsey abandoned the use of wingers and changed the formation so that the final result is perhaps ...something that we should not complain about. At the time he was undoubtedly the best RW in the country, but Ramsey's new formation changed a lot of coaching ideas. Fortunately, Paine continued playing for Saints for a further 6 season (?) ..in our First Division squad.

Best game of the season? We were good all over the pitch, and won a lot of second balls . Lampard looked typically miffed, but not sure what he had to complain about - they had 20 shots (to our 8 ) and were lucky to be awarded a rather soft penalty. Good to see Downes and Matsumi scoring goals, they really are improving, but Peretz was MoM for me. Good week ahead. We have 2 home games .whilst Wrexham have 2 away games..COYR

to be fair, the whole team put in a shift to beat Fulham on Sunday (and kept a clean sheet) then to go into a game 3 days later against a West Brom. side fighting for survival was a big challenge. We had two (or was it 3) players just one yellow card away from a suspension meant they were a little more careful with some tackles. Not everyone is capable of playing upto his best level in every game, but I expect the likes of Matsuki and Edozie to perform a bit better v. Coventry. Larin is a real threat and experienced at dealing with defenders and holding the ball up, and has an amazing turn of pace when attacking. Scienza takes a lot of punishment in every game, and is not protected by referees either. Both he and Stewart may make good contributions for the remainder of the season ..if not forced to play 90+ minutes in every game.

I thought I chose that word carefully . According to after match stats. Fulham had more corners, and 24 shots to our 5, and total 68% possession. Whilst we looked good when we had the ball and had the better chances on the break, those figures don't lie.

...unless the game goes badly for Coventry and then he'll drag in every sort of excuse you can think of.

It's always been said that you need a bit of extra luck in order to win the Cup, and looking back at the 1976 win that was true then. It started in the 3rd round when we were trailing 0-1 at home to Aston Villa until Hugh Fisher scored an equaliser in 89th minute. The replay at Villa Park went to full time (1-1 ) before, Jim McCalliog got the winner in extra time. The 4th round tie v.Blackpool at the Dell went a little easier with a 3-1 win, then Round 5 saw us going to West Brom, where we went behind in the second half before Bobby Stokes grabbed a late equaliser, which was enough to earn a replay at The Dell, where MIck Channon plundered a hat-trick in a 4-0 win. Round 6 saw us travelling to Bradford City where the game was played on a v. poor pitch, and even McCalliog's " up-and-over freekick " was called " controversial. Crystal Palace must have fancied their chances in the Semi Final, but second half goals by McCalliog and Peach saw us through to the Final where Man Utd were odd-on to beat us, but Bobby Stokes scored the goal that won the game for us in 83rd minute, AND even that was called controversial, but there was no VAR to dispute against United's claim for an offside call against Stokes. Now 50 years on ....we've had our share of good fortune so far. The 3rd round game at Doncaster where we ran up a 3-0 lead by HT, but took our foot off the pedal and let Rovers claw their way back into the game and were lucky to come away as winners. The 4th round tie v. Leicester was some sort of "revenge match" and Tonda did well to pick a untried side that held out, but it needed James Bree to come on as sub. in Extra Time and score a winner. NOW with Sunday's game still fresh in mind we saw ourselves "outclassed statistically " by a good Prem. side, but came up with a last minute penalty from Ross Stewart that may become very important for the rest of the competition if we are to go all the way, and so we can ask ourselves - how much more " luck " will we need ?

Yes they did - I stand corrected, but they were still a bit behind the two automatic qualifiers, and got lucky, but I stand by my original post in that most promoted Championship sides only last one season, or two at most. The investment required in becoming a Prem. side is enormous, also to go along with Prem. level salaries and associated costs, and the most that promoted sides can hope for is .survival..as we have seen ourselves. The thought that an 7-8th placed side might get promotion will likely lead to bankruptcy in 3-4 years, unless they can get an owner with bottomless pockets who doesn't mind losing a few hundred million for fun.

the short term gain of promotion will become a long term financial disaster for the weaker sides. Sunderland seem to be surviving in the Prem. after finishing 6th last season, but of the top two; from last season ... Leeds will be glad if they survive ...whilst Wolves are already down again. The quality gap between the two leagues is beyond comparison, (as seen last season) when all 3 promoted sides came back down in their first season up. The cost of promotion starts with around 100 million to try and get some experience into the squad, then trying to fill the inevitable gaps in the January window puts clubs in debt and the impending relegation cuts in income when back down in the Championship, and the better player will want away. The later threat of points deductions may take the team into another relegation struggle , and Leicester are the prime example of a side who won the Premier League title in recent history. No sorry, it may sound exciting for clubs to dream of a season in the Prem, but that may be the beginning and the end of the glory.

.and YES ..he might have done OK --had he stayed, but time was running out whilst he was behind on the list trying to get past an in-form Ryan Bertrand, so his move away was needed at that time. You win some and ....

Despite the joy of Tuesday's result, there is still the ominous memory of Boxing Day, when we went to Oxford (and they were in the drop zone) with no form to speak of, and despite our 71% possession, we managed to lose the game. Ironically, many of the points we've dropped this season have been in matches where we had most of the ball -and even more shots than the opposition. When we get the ball we should attack even more - and not f**k around with dozens of back passes. Wednesday's current form makes our last season look half-respectable and despite the fact that they are already relegated - don't think that they won't put up a fight.

not one of Donald Trump's golf courses - is it ?

I agree with you Vectis ..that match performances are the key factor, but sadly when those expensive players finally leave the first question is always ....was he worth it ?. I guess (like me ) you have quite a few decades under your belt, but I always felt that our greatest successes were players who cost " next to nothing " to sign Paine, Sydenham, Channon head up that list, but the majority of those who broke our club record were a total waste of space. Looking back my list of exceptions starts with Tony Knapp and Ron Davies , but few others. Martin Chivers record transfer to Spurs gave us Frank Saul. To be fair, a mediocre player, who greatest credit was scoring a Cup Final goal, but his deal cost us a hefty 45K - and he was gone in 2 years with little to show in the record books. In the last 15 years, the best signings (Lambert and Fonte's name stand out as best) but the likes of the two Latin players (mentioned above ) but many later (post Koeman) additions were a disaster with the likes of Carrillo and Onuachu and Sulemana being the costliest. Nowadays, signing expensive players is akin to buying a lottery ticket where the selling club frequently gets the jackpot .

At last , someone else who appreciated Prowsey's input. Of course his performances were never good enough for some people, and the only downside was the fact that he was a bit " lightweight" and the average "bullyboy" in midfield often made sure to leave their mark on him, but his fitness record was second to one. Of course everyone talks about his freekick prowess, but that was only 30% of his goal tally and he had a good penalty-taking record, but his record for "assists" has never been published to my knowledge. David Moyes saw his potential and his first season with WHam was very productive with 8 goals and 8 assists but ironically WHam had other preferred choices for free kicks, but I noted that JWP gave a trademark assist for late goal in their recent game with Burnley. Sadly, we may never see him in Saints colours again, and if he did ever return, the obvious criticism comparing him as a young man would follow as was with Walcott and Lallana.

As I started this post (what a mess I made of it, too).. BUT most of you have grasped the nettle and the recent "comments on age " concerned Larin (who has helped us win 2 games so far). Just look back at the start of his thread and see who condemned him - simply because of his age. IF he were to stay..? he's unlikely to be getting a 3-4 year contract, but a player on form is certainly one to keep regardless of age, and he may even end up in the Canadian squad for the World Cup. My other reference to " 27 year old " came from the 2009 dialogue between Pardew and Cortese (who on his own admission knew f*** a** about English football ) and Pardew - already an experienced manager and former player. Fortunately Pardew convinced NC that his "age-bias" was unwarranted. Experience is vital in every side - especially one with quite young talents, and it was interesting to hear Cam Bragg praising the help he's getting from Oriel Romeo on a daily basis. Ironically neither of them will get a lot of game time for rest of this season, but the young man is learning from the older one's experience. Experienced players are the source of encouragement for the younger ones, and the storyline behind the success of Alan Ball's partnership with the young Steve Williams was part of Saints legend in the late 1970's

I never cease to be amazed by those who immediately condemn a player on age because (they think) he is ..too old. My response is ....compared to whom? Age is relative, (something I can relate to as I near my 7th decade as a Saints fan). Any player nearing, or even past 30 ....is often deemed to be too old by some on this site (although this is not a curse restricted only to fans. A classic tale comes from the period after Saints' relegation to League One (2009) and relates to a Sky Sports interview with ex-Saints manager Alan Pardew who was (at that time) our newest manager. Having taken over as Chairman (and holding the club's purse strings). Nicola Cortese was shocked when Pardew said he wanted to buy ..." a certain player," and Cortese asked him again....Do you really want to buy a 27 y.o ...for 1 million pounds?. The player in question was ...Rickie Lambert and that fee would be a record for League One club. The suitability, of any player to do the job may depend on fitness, or experience and doesn't depend on the year of his birth. Those of us who can recall the finer periods in Saints history will tell of Lawrie McMenemy's teams in the early 1980's in a period we saw a succession of players, (many over 30), who had captained an England team... at sometime in their careers. They were (naturally) all top class players and served the club well ..even for shorter periods.. but with great success. Players must be suited to the league they play in, and the role they are needed for, but age is not a concern - if good enough. Amongst recent examples, I noted that "the ultimate journeyman" Billy Sharp (who almost single-handedly dragged Saints over the line in our promotion season 2012) was (not for the first time) ..on the team sheet for Doncaster in our recent FA Cup tie - despite rapidly approaching the age of 40. James Milner began with Leeds at 16 and was still playing for Brighton at age 38, and they are not alone as we recall Saints one-time captain Stephen Davis was still a first-choice player in Prem. at 34, even before returning to Scotland where he played to almost 40. I hope those who see us being linked with "any older players" won't condemn before they can even see them in action.

NO ! I have a life outside of football (!) but I'm sure you are smart enough to figure it out yourself. The average Championship salary is probably between 20k-30K week, (due to age / experience). An average Prem. player (at our level ) between 40k-50k week, 60k or more for the best we have. Multiply by 52..and then by the years of his contract. Transfer fees are often published, so you finally end up with the overall cost, or at least something akin to it. Whether or not the player is " worth it " was the topic of an earlier post which related to my stats.. In general the answer is NO. Outstanding contributions to the club may be an exception, but no club is going to generate value when buying players for 100 million or anything like it, but billionaire owners live in a world we can`t understand and where extra zeros matter very little in search of bigtime success.