Toussaint

It was only a reference to the 20 years ago part of the original post. Just checked out the 98 squad, we had some match winners and characters in that squad… MLT, Beatts, Claus, Monkou, Mardsen, Dodd, and so on… I don’t believe we have the comparable match winners and strong characters in this bunch. I’m hoping between NJ and the transfer window that changes.

16

I don't knock your positivity, but in those "great escape seasons" we had game changing players and we had players with character. This is the worst all round Saints team i can recall. See below for our squad 20 years ago No. Pos. Name League FA Cup League Cup Total Discipline Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals 1 GK Paul Jones 13+1 0 1+1 0 0 0 14+2 0 0 0 2 DF Jason Dodd 13+2 0 1+1 0 2 0 16+3 0 1 0 3 DF Wayne Bridge 34 1 4 0 2 0 40 1 6 0 4 MF Chris Marsden 30 1 6+1 1 2 1 38+1 3 11 0 5 DF Claus Lundekvam 33 0 6 0 2 0 41 0 0 0 6 DF Paul Williams 10+2 0 1 0 0 0 11+2 0 3 1 7 MF Andrei Kanchelskis 0+1 0 0 0 0+1 0 0+2 0 0 0 8 MF Matthew Oakley 28+3 0 7 2 2 0 40 2 2 0 9 FW James Beattie 35+3 23 7 1 2 0 44+3 24 6 0 10 FW Kevin Davies 1+8 1 0+4 1 0 0 1+12 2 0 0 11 DF Michael Svensson 33+1 2 7 1 2 1 42+1 4 5 1 12 MF Anders Svensson 26+7 2 6+1 2 1 0 33+8 4 3 0 13 GK Neil Moss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 GK Antti Niemi 25 0 6 0 2 0 33 0 0 0 15 DF Francis Benali 2 0 2 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 16 MF Mark Draper 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 FW Marian Pahars 5+4 1 0 0 0+1 0 5+5 1 2 1 18 MF Rory Delap 22+2 0 3+1 0 1+1 0 26+4 0 2 0 19 DF Danny Higginbotham 3+6 0 1 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 DF Marcus Hall 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 MF David Prutton 9+3 0 0 0 0 0 9+3 0 2 0 MF Tahar El Khalej 0+1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 21 FW Jo Tessem 9+18 2 2+5 2 0+1 0 11+24 4 0 0 22 MF Federico Arias 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 MF Arron Davies 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 DF Garry Monk 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 26 MF Imants Bleidelis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 GK Scott Bevan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 GK Alan Blayney 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 29 MF Fabrice Fernandes 35+2 3 5+2 0 1 1 41+4 4 4 0 30 FW Scott McDonald 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 32 DF Chris Baird 1+2 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 33 DF Paul Telfer 26+6 0 6 0 1 0 33+6 0 4 0 34 FW Agustín Delgado 2+4 1 0 0 1 1 3+4 2 0 0 35 MF Cléber Chalá 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 36 FW Brett Ormerod 22+9 5 5+2 1 1 3 28+11 9 4 0

Your probably right, showboating would be out of character for him, its a shame, he look crushed immediately afterwards, if only he'd take his chances earlier.

We do seem a bit collectively broken, hardly surprising given the steady decline , that's why a prefer away games, much more positive atmosphere from our supporters.

The thing is, he could have had a hat-trick if he'd hit it on the first or second opportunity, it seemed he was showboating.

I think Aribo is a complete dud.

It reminded me of a lethargic early pre season game, which in some ways it was, the difference is the opposition were fully up to speed.

I wouldn’t read too much into that game, a very rusty Saints side who haven’t played for weeks with a new manager who is only just getting to know his players. We know we need to invest heavily.

On the upside, I couldn’t be bothered to go, so here I am, sitting comfortably in my reclining chair, contemplating a drink of something alcoholic before retiring to bed. Thereby avoiding a half hour walk to the car and a traffic jam on Millbrook road. You see, there is always a positive that can be taken.

Hope your arse gets better soon

That went flat

Well they need to make up their minds, i was told i'm not allowed to get my winkie out at football anymore in no uncertain terms, so if it's OK for women to expose themselves I demand the right to be treated equally, furthermore I insist they lift the "order"

I love the way Croatia play through midfield but I don’t see them scoring.

Are you on the twarpath again?

I'd be surprised if he couldn't and doesn't.

Dodged a bullet there!

How much is Villa’s goalie worth now?

Adrenaline is coursing through by veins, time to get blotto I think. Well deserved win imo, Holland 2 shots in goal.

I really enjoy watching them, Holland are dreadful to watch.

Why?

You need to get yourself a Gatorade and take a timeout dude

I vote the last one.

Sorry, can’t agree, couldn’t even bring myself to watch it with that cacophony, absolutely ruined it. I also wonder if the local tv production makes the best of any atmosphere, we sure do, when I was at Anfield a few weeks back you could have had a chat from one stand to another, when I watched motd it sounded like a cracking atmosphere.

I remain blindly optimistic that NJ will get more out of the squad than Ralph did over the last year, and the club will pull a rabbit out of the hat regarding adding to the squad, there is too much at stake for them not to take decisive action.