dubai_phil

Fair and valid point, deserves a fair answer. I DID consider that, but then the problem was that it would make the report "my interpretation of what Matt said" rather than the "feel of the evening". It crossed my mind that to tell all the punchlines to the jokes rather than to say "there were a lot of anecdites about" would be a bit unfair on others who may get the chance to go out and be entertained one evening. It's like "the worst Saints player other than Ali Dia" answer it actually lasted about 2 minutes while he said well if you accept that this, and that and then you look at the way he did this and then that game at blah blah, is a little different from me saying "he thinks Jon Gittens was almost as bad as Ali Dia! The pre-season training/Alan Ball story was a rollicking good 5 minutes and I already got moaned at that the OP was too long . Heck, the "way" he told it meant that even my G F who's never heard of Dave Beasant or Ian Dowie could immediately understand and see the funny side, just wouldn't have worked in print!

But unfortunately Sir, it appears you reach those limits quicker than you think you do.... Don't worry, it's only anti-social behaviour now, not even rated as a Police problem anymore. Give it another few years and the problem will be solved, once the locals start arming themsleves with machetes and reclaiming their streets But on a serious note, the "Saturday Night in Town" is the one thing that I notice that has really changed in the years I have been away. It has taken years to get to this mess and no matter what happens now it will take years to get out of it. Hanging's too good for them, bring back the Birch, raise the legal age to 30, Sue the landlord for serving them too much alcohol - ah ha now THAT one works in the US.....

Good OP question. Nick Holmes - great servant, gave his all, yet why do fans today regard Benali in higher esteem. Perhaps one definition that could be used would be "A player that fans of other teams wish to go and watch" So for example, Best Charlton & Law were footballing legends as when we were "kids" we all wanted to see them play. Did other fans feel disappointed when Benali or Claus weren't in our team? :-) So, following that train of thought, perhaps we should look at Legends as being "Players Saints fans WANTED to watch play" But no, then that means Skacel, Charlie George, heck Lee Holmes sometimes.... So for me it would have to be a mix of "breaking records" while at the club. Making that extra effort when playing for us, doing something "special" on regular occassions and, most importantly having risen above the parapet so that other fans would have some respect for them, AND "becoming an International or Internationally known player" while at Saints. (ie not an imported International so sorry no Claus)

It is a shame that you posted so eloquently on some of the more religious threads, and yet have missed one small point. I believe there is something about forgiveness, and something about confessing to sins? Never mind. MLT is not a hero of mine, he is a hero of my football club. I have others who have inspired me. (and would fit your criteria far better) MLT holds the record for the most Premier League goals scored by a midfielder. MLT as I mentioned was one of "two football blokes" who provided an evening of extremely high quality entertainment to an audience made up of 90% NON Saints fans. Again, a shame that the Leeds and Preston fans also sat at our table regarded him as a legend. Shame that the Aussie guy thanked him for his openess on the issue and how it had restored his faith in "a true football legend". Which part of "he spent around 40 minutes explaining everything in great detail and the circumstances and it's impact on his life did you not actually understand?" Resorting to snide side swipes about PR, toadying and "excessive alcohol consumption", poor debating technique my friend, surprised you stoop so low. Again, WHAT question is it that you wanted to have answered?

Oh dear, my bad and I do sincerely apologise. I posted the review as I don't have the intellect of some on here and I found it rather difficult to recall the exact wording and nuance used in around 2 hours of chat and discussions, hence my attempt at summarising. To that end I distinctly recall Matt using the words "I'm planning to try and get away to the xxx game" (because his work interferes with his ability to get to games). Only now, after checking The Prediction League, have I spotted my mistake in interpretation. The xxx game he referred to is actually Wycombe at home, but as I didn't have internet access during the chat it is clear he was planning to try and get away (from work) to the Wycombe game He mentioned that he is planning to try to take some time to watch Europe's leading golfers in the Race to Dubai Pro-Am tomorrow. I cannot promise that I will find him amongst the crowds, but I do commit to try. 19C can you give me your seat number so I can ask him if he could seek you out and answer your (still unasked) question?

David, agree with you. But then you have the problem, how do we accomodate Connelly? I think a 4-5-1 with Lallana, Connolly, Antonio/Papa & Lambert would leave us short of passing ability in the midfield. With the goal scoring run he has been on, it would take a very brave man to leave Connolly out the team. Hammond picks himself, MS plays much better with Wotton behind him so we are back to Lallana or Connolly or the "Pacey Winger". I think we should revert back to 4-5-1 with the option to switch after we have "imposed ourselves". It does give us the option to change, where as to get from 4-4-2 to 4-5-1 in theory we'd have had to take off a striker when we were chasing a game? That's why we are armchair pundits, not managers

For a team that supposed to be playing 4-4-2 last night there seemed to be an awfully big distance between both full backs and the supposed midfielder in front of them. Lallana wanders, how many times did James/Antonio work an overlap? At least Papa seems to understand the need to cover back when the FB goes rampaging up the pitch. For an opposition manager to spot that weakness - the space in front of (and then behind) the FB's isn't rocket science. Make sure your wide players know about it, watch for the space then play a long quick ball into the space and bingo - you have the reactions you see on here - FB's were useless etc etc etc. Tactically we've been sussed out. We cannot play Lallana in a wandering role in a 4-4-2 as it leaves the gaps. And as for overlaps, heck how can you work an overlap when the RM is 40 or 50 yards away from you and the LM is on the right of the penalty box pushing Hammond out of the way for a header at goal? On the OP, Hammond seemed to take a knock a few games back and hasn't been as effective since. Maybe time for a rest? But can understand the reluctance to do so.

An interesting comment, so you've spoken to him on this subject? Let me assure you that you are totally incorrect. I specifically posted, when we found out he was here, that if anyone had any questions they wanted to be asked they should let us know. As you did not reply, we clearly were unable to read your mind as to the exact wording or statement you would have liked us to have obtained. Not being the intellect that you are, we were going to try to formulate something on the subject, however as I pointed out, it was addressed numerous times before the "Actual" question was asked and I can assure you that it was "served" to him with full venom even comparing his "misdeed" with Andre Agassi. To ask for it to be addressed on Soccer Saturday is like asking Gordon Brown to solve the economic situation and immigration in 10 minutes or expecting you to pay for dinner with Mr & Mrs Lawrie Mac. A simple bland statement would leave people like yourself expecting more, and, like GB being effective, anything else simply will not happen. A 30 minute public explanation is, not surprisingly, almost a full chapter in a book. (Did I forget to mention that an extra chapter is being written for the paperback version?) I pointed out that the entire explanation took something like 30 to 40 minutes from start to finish, so that no part of the context, the thought processes at the time, the thinking behind deciding to include the story AND the aftermath, impact on him his family and friends took a LONG time. And as for the "only a privileged few jibe". He was at a charity event a week or so ago just outside Southampton, I suppose that was too far away as well, and donating to charity instead of paying for a function at a golf club also does not meet your standards. If you want to know the story and to have him answer your own question, then seek him out - he does attend many events - and ask him. If you had asked us the question, we would have happily recorded it word for word if you had wished. But again, it must be the Bullfrogs, but my mind reading ability isn't as good as it was. You are entitled to your opinions on here and of him but you have used a comment in your post about his attitude which shows even if it could be arranged to get Matt to spend 30-40 minutes with you answering your specific questions, you simply wouldn't listen. Deliberately designed internet personas are one thing, but what we down here, always do, is everything in our power to deliver when we are asked. It's a cultural issue handed down by the Bedouin of hospitality to fellow travellers on the journey through life. But, as an old boss once said to me, you don't ask you don't get.

Dear oh dear. I will fight for ANY poster's right to freely express their opinions, but FFS at least have the courtesy to explain your thinking behind those opinions. Hoofball? Sorry, you obviously never watched Wimbledon, the definition of that is the Keeper or CB's belting the ball into the air. It is NOT a full back trying to cross from 40 yards out on the touchline. At least get your basic facts right. If ANYTHING, we tried to play too many passes across the pitch - and then get the ball to James who tried to hit it into the box that is tactital naivety, it ain't hoofball. Yes, blame James for not trying to work overlap positions, blame Lallana for being the player to get in to a couple of clear cut heading chances on goal, but Hoofball? Good grief, you'll be wanting Lowe back next.

Spoke to a mate just now, apparently something "kicked off" near the station and all sorts of problems and road closures happened on his way home. Bad news on bad news

Oh, and I hate myself for saying this...... Think we missed Paul Wotton... ouch

Oh well, that's what complacency gets you I suppose. Luckily we missed the first 15 minutes because despite the promises it wasn't on telly here but the hero bar manager got a stream and fed it to a couple of telly's for us (Thanks again Eric for txting the link) We looked a lot better when Thomas came on. Nice pretty football, (effective would have been better though) but FFS, crosses from 40 yards out on the right touchline didn't work when we had Frank Worthington in the team, how on EARTH can we still be trying that? If it's a tactic then AP needs a slap. If it's Lloyd James's idea of attacking then he needs a slap. Second half, well, another day we might have troubled their keeper properly, wasn't to be. Third goal, well, if you are going to play 3 at the back as Fish signalled when he came on, that means the 3 players move across to fill the space, not leave a fecking big gap where the missing player went. OK, there isn't a Sky Curse, there's a "Dubai Saints fans getting together in the pub to watch a game curse". Sorry chaps (and chapesses) won't happen again I don't put it down as a blip or even as a bad day at the office I blame TWO factors 1) Effing Alpine Saint for changing his Avatar to Mr Happy & 2) The fact us fans AND the team needed a good kick up the backside and a reality check. The next week is now important, not this result, it is how the manager & players react. Time for AP to earn his keep, which I am sure he will do. At least the band in The Seaview provided quality entertainment as always. If only Saints were as reliable ho hum kick up the bum accepted, move along

A pleasure having a fellow fan in town as always, was good to tie up with Goodfellas Jay again, and no, it wasn't a late one, even though we felt we just had to pop to a "Happy Place" after that game - The Seaview and the Band, who were, as always fantastic. What's more, home at a sensible hour.

Thanks again to the MLT night, we discovered that CCC & L1 TV rights down here were passed on to Al Jazeera, so that means 4 of us will be off down to our old haunt of Goodfellas (Of course, being an Arabic channel, which advertises their schedules in Arabic, it's only taken us a thrid of a season to work this out - doh) (sans Eric this evening - think he failed a fitness test after last night) ok ok he's working

You in town? If so may try and find a pub to watch The visitor is probably up for that as well. EoA working so can't make it. Your mob still end with 475?

It was reading 29C on the taxi dashboard when I left home so maybe dropped a few C during the evening, but was a Polo shirt affair. (HTH) The visiting TSW member caused hysterics when, at about 11:15 he commented "brrr, it's a bit chilly"... I can assure you he got a volley of stick. No, no Russians, only a few quips about ex wives, felt the "did he prefer playing Home and Away gag" was better done as "favourite Ground you played on?" - "Wembley, because as a Kid you dream of walking out there and I was lucky enough to do that - only goal I ever scored there was the ZDS cup final", but yes he did pose with a photo with my Polish GF which caused a flurry of wow, "you're not as fat as Saga" jokes. Yes, I asked Rob if he'd taken him out for any Bullfrogs yet. "What's that? oh God those, ha ha ha no bloody way" no was the reply . One other nice moment. (Amongst many more) One question from the adjacent table was "Can you sing?" It's John's (bloke's mate on the table) birthday today, and so yes, Matt & Rob sang Happy Birthday And just for the Golfers, his favourite down here is The Els course Am sure the visitor will recall a few more moments when he gets back from work, as will Eric when he finally wakes up

Yes. It is not a "diificult" answer but with the context it is not a short answer I won't post it on here as it would be my memory of the conversation after a few beers, which then gets interpreted for every nuance. I think the only fair answer is that he is happy to answer the question, there is an answer, and it is best that those who really want to know the why's and wherefore's ask him at an event and listen to his reply. Nothing I say would do anything except open another rat hole. He hopes to be at an away game pretty soon, I'm sure if anyone finds him and he has a few moments he'll answer it, look him in the eye and then you will know.

As posted on the Graham Potter thread - Jon (sic) Gittens.......... So bad we signed him TWICE!

MLT was asked last night Who, APART from Ali Dia was the worst player you ever played with? The answer was John Gittens. "and what was worse, was we thought we'd got rid of him then Chris Nicholl went and re-signed him)" Have to say I'd forgotten him but yes... HTH

To avoid the pitfalls of the last thread have started a new one, about a (for us down here) rare and very special evening we were lucky enough to have the chance to go to last night MLT is in Dubai holidaying with his family and working with Rob McAffrey (ex SNN) on Showtime. He's stayed with friends and it is a mix of work and vacation that he & Rob have been planning for months. Emirates Golf Course holds regular "evenings" for it's members and last night hosted Rob & Matt at their standard function cost of 25 quid for members and 30 quid for us "outsiders". They put on a fantastic buffet spread (including a superb Honey Roasted Baked Gammon Ham!) and an array of large screen tv's to watch the Eng Brazil game. Rob started proceedings giving a quick intro to MLT and discovering that in the audience of about 70, 8 Saints fans had made it (think that is a record in one place for us down here!). Rob explained Matt would do about a 20 minute chat and then at half time and after the game would take questions, and made special mention that it could be on any subject, especially spread betting His chat was, relaxed, funny as heck and full of little anecdotes and memories, some :cool:'s for us Saints lads and some more general which had the non-committed in the audience laughing along. Basically a bloke in the pub chatting, a story-teller, not a pretentious "after dinner speaker" How he supported Spurs as a kid, played against his hero in his debut and how he came to "regard" Hoddle, but after that it was all about "My Team". How he got as much satisfaction from creating goals as he did from scoring ("do you have ANY idea how hard it was to put actually put a ball onto Ian Dowie's head so that he could score?"). For the wider audience he talked a bit about International football, why it was different, about taking penalties (lots of Mark Crossley jokes from Rob) and why he couldn't understand how England practiced them but didn't coach them (big lol at the Brazil miss of course). He told a great story about Alan Ball & a pre-season tour in Bangor - even had the GF's & wives laughing, especially with the Dave Beasant joke at the end. Sound bites about Grobelaar, Ken Monkou, Shearer, Hoddle again (great bloke until he found God - always was good at the long ball), the England B hatrick, taking the time to seek out Hoddle a few years back to make up and do the "life is too short bit"... lol The Q&A session moved onto to Favourite Goal - beating Tim Flowers against Blackburn, most emotional - the winner against Arsenal (lol - how he almost hugged the Arsenal keeper after he saved a last minute effort from CMFG so he would have the honour of the "Last Goal"). Stuart Pearce - most feared opponent, Neville Southall - best keeper, Cantona, probably best player of his era, an anecdote about Shilton in there as well. Oh and who was the worst Saints player OTHER than Ali Dia - THAT was funny, probably one for another thread one day. How he was "moving" to Spurs, being talked out of it by (the now ex) wife, Chelsea & Liverpool also looked to sign him, not Man U (answering a Manc question). How Fergie only got that job as Matt scored twice (1st Saints goals) in a 4-2 League Cup win that got Atkinson sacked. Some funny stories about Soccer Saturday, Rob & Matt did a really good job of explaining just how hard that is and how good Jeff Stelling actually is with his research and knowledge etc. One really funny story about Sunderland player missing the vital penalty in playoff final against Charlton, probaly for the Lounge one day. He was asked about his golf, his "almost" new career as Caddy to Richard Bland - very funny, and his "meeting Ernie Els moment, which was probably even funnier. The pal that he is staying with then asked the "Spread Betting" question which led to a few more digs from Rob, Matt spent a good 10 minutes setting the scene, and answered the question, publicly, with tremendous honesty, and the tale probably took 20 minutes to tell. Honest, poignant, serious, painful and also done in a very self-deprecating way. Those who are concerned about this issue, the only solution I can suggest, get yourself along one day and ask him yourselves, or you'll just have to accept the introductory comment of - "yeah, I have to write a new chapter for the Paperback" comment He then spent time chatting to us and doing the photo thing, yes I asked about Mr Fialka, and yes he answered it. (He had also mentioned before that no, he has no active role or connection with the club, other than he is a fan and around work commitments wants to get to watch as many games now as he can.) A visiting TSW member also had a magical moment when Matt rang his home and spoke to his wife (also a regular poster on here) and his 10 year old son for about 10 minutes talking about his Youth Football team. So, in summary the audience really enjoyed it, there were questions and genuine interest from Aussie, Polish, Locals, hell even a Leeds fan (we managed to stop the only sk*te in town at the security gate). Even the "wives/GF's" were asking questions. The guys hung around and were the last to go having watched as much of the Ireland game as we all could before the locked the doors up. No premium price for the event, and it came across as a couple of football mad mates (Rob & Matt) having a relaxed, fun evening and which my GF admitted afterwards was one of the nicest nights out she's ever had in Dubai. In fact the only down side to the whole evening were the gaps caused by the dross which was the England game And of course, the prize for the best question of the night went to Eric... "Matt, Malibu & Coke, what's that all about?".... He's golfing the next few days and will be back on your screens next Saturday. If last night's anything to go by a good few pounds in weight gained (he had 2 helpings of desert FFS!) (Oh and he's managed to get to 2 games so far this season and hopes to be at an away game soon - there you go - the official ITK bit right at the end )

Great evening out, MLT was supposed to summarise the game.... That took about 3 seconds... got back to important stuff - ie talking golf More excitement in 1 minute of the Irish game than in 90 of the England game, no wonder nobody was bothered

Found out this evening that it will be shown on Al Jazeera TV here in ME region so anyone out this way or the surroundings should be able to find it in a sports bar So possibly Iraqgoals may have it

hehehe

FC, you are perfectly correct in saying that such a deal would have placed a "burden" and held risk. Unfortunately, you say that with the wisdom of hindsight. We were effing lucky that NC discovered the opportunity in April (his words) and persuaded ML to close the deal. But, if you truly think back to the dark days out of the 36 or so interested parties, how many moved to a bid situation? What IF at the time, the options are simpler Budget to survive or budget to have a dream solution.... The reality was, before ML "did the deal" the question was simple - Could the club be saved? Again, you assume that for someone like a major creditor cash is important. For us, and for a football club in a recession with all forms of income reduced, of course cash is King. But for major corporations and their marvellous accounting systems, that is not always the case. Just look how much effort the major banks around the world have put in to "avoid" writing off "toxic" debts. Doesn't mean the debts aren't toxic, just that there can be creative methods of avoiding a major hit on your balance sheet (and profits) at the wrong time. I'm not trying to say that my interpretation is the right one, just that with so many stakeholders involved with so many different angles, what would constitute common sense for all of us in our normal or our business lives may not have been in play and we should understand that WE WERE LUCKY. Hell, the process that got us into the mess in the first place bore no relation to any sane person's versions of reality

You had to laugh though at the whole "holding computer printouts thing" If they had just kept going instead of trying to read what they should do they should have won. That said, great last over by Anderson. Hope they feel gutted by that - they keep getting screwed by DL lol