Alain Perrin

"Thomas rose like a a salmon....."

Please buy a used car off me.... If you pay the asking price everytime, you'll not get the best value for money. We've got money, true, but avoiding the impresssion that we're easy with it is important (else we'll get taken for a ride).

People forget what an important part luck plays in being a manager. Being at the right club at the right time - and knowing when to leave. By leaving at the right time you can appear to have the midas touch, when in reality you've been in the right place at the right time. Look at Darren Ferguson - last year he was the 'next big thing', where is he now?

I disagree with Swindon. I was there and everyone could see that substitutions were necessary (he had Rasiak on the bench for example). Pardew knew that. But he didn't do it, why? I think he was playing the long game, playing the players in a real match scenario to get to know his team. Bringing on Rasiak (who was going) would have taught him nothing. I think it was deliberate for the greater good.

I think it is interesting how fans, so quick to blame Lowe for getting through 10 managers in 10 years, would quite happily get through 10 in 10 games. Pardew is a good manager. A proven manager. He has strengths and weaknesses. Let him do his job (and by that I mean over a couple of seasons), rather than deciding after a couple of dodgy games. Hoddle was (IMHO) a great tactician, but he couldn't sign a player for toffee. Strachan was a good motivator, but rubbish tactician ("65mins, time to sub Fernandez" was his stock move). Burley couldn't be trusted to spend money except in a pub. Everyone's got flaws.

Thanks for the review of Holmes. It's really good to get an honest review of how he performed from someone who was at the game.

There's a danger people re-write history here. I thought in Strachan's book he said that Drogba was offered to Saints but he (Strachan) didn't want to sign him as DD was too similar to James Beattie. This would make sense given Strachan's habit of playing a big 'un and a little 'un. IMHO, and on balance, we had a very good transfer record under Lowe in terms of unearthing gems. Until the relegation season that is, when we had too many average players brought in by a succession of managers. Every club sees hundreds of players, a fraction of whom get trials, and fraction of those get signed. It's not like Saints were signing Drogba at his peak, it's considering him when he's a bandy legged 17 year old. You're bound to miss some and to use it as a stick to beat Lowe is a bit cheap in my opinion.

Elliot Ward is a cracking player and it's a pity we couldn't find a place for him. That said, a contract is only a contract when it is all signed and both parties have the right to walk away up to that point that it is binding. Pardew is building a team based on complementary positions and an eye on the future. He signed 'old guys' (Murty, Jaidi, Connely) to steady the ship, followed by 'middle aged' players to get us promoted and stayup (Fonte, Lambert etc.). Seabourne seems to be one for the future / cover. I fully expect to see Jaidi as your ball winner and Fonte as your ball player out of central defence this season. If Seabourne proves to be the natural successor to Jaidi then great. If not then it's a relatively small gamble for someone who is young enough. Ward on the otherhand would be on higher wages and perhaps not fit as well with Fonte. Don't just think about the player, think about how they fit into the team / squad.

Depends really. Elliot Ward hasn't yet signed so Sky are wrong to say he has signed. If there are still contractual issues then Sky have got it wrong and Ward is still a Cov player. Lots of things can still go wrong. If the Twitter guy is told "you will have first notice of any signings" and he/she hasn't, then he's not a knobhead. Personally I think we're all being a bit impatient and need to let things happen in their own time.

I am sure the same was said of Mike Willde post the launch of his manifesto...... If you are the CEO you have to hire and fire. If you have to do that you'll make some enemies. Enemies will stir up **** and muppets will jump on it as a reason to support their point of view. It doesn't matter if you are right or wrong, just be certain. Let NC do his job.

You are our Fonte, Our Jose Fonte, You make us happy when skies are grey. You might wear a silly headband, But with your bird, you're certainly not gay.

Not convinced. Has he had 'league above' interest?

LOL - this is the kind of post that gets cut and pasted onto other forums to illustrate the arrogance of clubs about divine rights to be in the Premiership etc. There are many clubs with as much / more potential than Saints (granted, many with less too). In our favour, compared to others in L1 we have a modern stadium, a good training ground and a rich owner. But when you look at Wolves, Birmingham, Notts Forest, Leicester, Derby etc. they're equally well positioned. It doesn't take billions to get to be a sucess, just enough. Potential is only any use if you make something of it.

Exactly the same problem for me. I suggested they sell pre-allocated tickets on Ebay instead. No need for a user name and password then...

It's not all about the players. You have to play with heart, tactics and guile. All things that the team last year (and for previous seasons) lacked. Pardew has started to instil this, but it's not something that comes over night. Players brought in should support this endeavour - on their own they're irrelevant.

Can't see the point really - there are better things to spend money on. If it freezes, postpone the game. We've had cold weather recently, but I cannot ever remember a game at SMS being stopped because of a frozen pitch. I think it came close once in the early years, but I don't think it happened. Anyone know? I remember a game being called off because of rain (evening match whilst still in the Premiership), but other than that we've been fairly lucky. One of the benefits of being on the South coast Riviera

Either you live in Eastleigh, or it sticks in your throat that the one thing that Lowe was genuinely responsible for (a bricks and mortar asset) is something that ultimately led to a bankrupt Saints being a better bet than a bankrupt Pompey. SMS is a better option than Stoneham everyday of the week (bigger, better facilities around and about, and more accessible to the community in which it is rooted - how ****ing useless is an airport if you live in Shirley?) For what it's worth I drive to SMS and park 15 mins walk away. Simples. Compared to an out of town place like the Madjeski Stadium - getting to, from and parking at SMS is simple. Many other examples of out of town places where you have a further walk. The only argument in your favour is Parkway and that would mean a train ride rather than a walk for the majority, not the few. I know you belong to the Lowe is Satan camp Richmond, but to try and take SMS away from him is a hate-blinded argument.... and it gives the rest of your often valid criticism less credibility.

Some people don't listen to the news. I know some people harbour prejudices about Lowe, but to drag this up at this time is just malicious.

I doubt he goes in the Junior Saints section....

I personally think the club should not allow Northam fans to go to the JPT final (if we get there). In the main they are hooligan yoof who bring shame, yes, shame, on this club. The sooner we eradicate these scum from our fanbase the better.

Merci, je ne sais pas ca! I never managed to take zee Skates down did I - zut alors! I am a **** manager It is natural though that I would rate Morgan, him being a countryman and all. My fundamental problem with (most) football opinion is it is based on show and flair, not on reality. In every team you need a mixture of thugs (Wotten), blockers (Trotman), opportunists (Lambert), speedsters (Waigo), inventives (Lallana) and link men (Schneiderlin/Hammond). The trouble is that most fans want every player to be everything - and that doesn't happen (even if - as is rarely the case - the player is capable, the role they are assigned in system in which they play won't let them). There's merit in the comment that Schneiderlin and Hammond are similar, but the roles they play are different. Morgan links the defense to the Midfield, Hammond does the same for the midfield to the attack. For what it's worth I think we should be praising Pardew for brave substitutions. It takes a good read of the game to sub your sub, once the match starts to go against you.

Most of those knocking Morgan are probably the same people who knocked Matt Oakley. I.e. They do not appreciate the value of a holding / defensive midfield player. Morgan is probably the player with most potential in our team. He still has a lot to learn, but much of what he is involved in is good. Ps. Although I rate Perry, I think he struggled in the air against their attackers. Better in the second half though.

Can't wait for the aeroplane style manouvre..... On a side note, just because a fan doesn't know about Shilton or Keegan, doesn't make them less of a fan. It just makes you (us) old

No extras though

Sorry! I meant "staying in the league"