dubai_phil

Ah bless, there you have it. At long last nickh proves that he has eyesight problems by calling it a blonde wig so it proves he simply failed to see the ref's signal. It WAS a lousy job, but seeing as it meant we got free booze all night, I have no idea if it was worthwhile. Meanwhile, I reckon the forum match was almost as big a draw for the fans as the Hearts game is building up to be.... Don't worry nick - I'll bring the wigs for the rematch just for you & Hamster Tee hee shame EoA missed THAT photo with the blonde singer as well. Now that was worth looking a twerp for! (Oh and EoA use your wasta to get EK005 away on time tomorrow please, I have 2 pints of Marstons Pedigree waiting at LHR for me!) meanwhile back on subject ampshire, ampshire, ampshire.......repeat drunkenly oh and StevieG - would LOVE to collect my DVD from my mates place next weekend - cheers

Senior posters should have a breathalyser attached to their keyboards so they don't try and post at ungodly hours of the night after a few bevvies :-) However it does seem as if we have entered some sort of "phony war" period. Bit like when it gets all heavy and humid - you know a storm is coming, you wait for it but never know when it will hit. Our storm will be the non-stop parade of CL quality players being signed by AP in the next 3 weeks and the stories of our squad discovering what fitness and discipline means... (he hopes)

Sounds like it is as easy to score in L1 as it is in Rock Bottom. Perhaps we just need to feed our forward line a Bullfrog before the games... Or of course it could be that L1 players are not quite as technically adept as players in the higher leagues and make more errors of positioning and control that up and coming strikers or older experienced heads) with a higher degree of technical skills can exploit more easily

Good. He is by all accounts a very talented manager and has done a good job in Exeter. However at THIS moment in time, as a club we really needed somebody with experience, who had seen more than one way of operating and who was experienced of walking into a new operation. Tisdale has the quality, but he doesn't have that aura with an underperforming squad that someone like AP would have. I think he would have made a fine manager for us, simply at this time it would not have been right. Once we have been stabilised and then rebuilt from the groun upwards, then when AP does move on, I maybe we could set our sights on "the next Tisdale". Just personally I think we have had far too many "potential up and coming inexperienced managers" over the past 6 years..... Gray Wigley Dodd JP Wotte That's a heck of a lot of attempts :-)

You're talking about the Middle East. It will untie. Sultan Bin Trump is not the most popular chap, even down here, the boys have ways when they don't like people.

How strange, I thought I had logged onto the Saints Forum, seems I was wrong. Mods - please - we get the point, some posters don't like each other and manage to take their opinions into a surreal world of the Muppet Show, except the rest of us have paid a fiver for this drivel. guys, get a room or get Ally McCoist in for some Blue Collar (or whatever) Boxing sessions.

Just got back from playing golf. 18 holes with a 6:55am start. Seemed a good idea. Except when we got there the temp was already 38C and there was the remains of a fog, yep a fog at 38C, the humidity level was 87%. After about an hour the fog had burned off and the sun came out. When we finished the temp had hit 45C and the humidity was still at 85%. I just got back after standing under a cold shower for 15 minutes, I lost just over 3Kg, drank 6 litres of fluid and feel like complete cr*p. Think it was the single most stupid thing I have ever tried to do, not really eased by scoring 21 Stableford points on the front nine and 17 on the back. Took me 10 minutes to fish my Sand Iron out the lake after it flew out of my hands. Got me thinking, anyone else done anything really stupid or embarrassing for sport?

I shouldn't, but every time I see that name Munto, I get these flash backs. Wonder if their corporate logo is of the huge, brute, dense, cowboy riding a longhorn steer from Blazing Saddles.........

There, changed it for you, reads much better now. no longer customers we're FANS again!

and Drogba and Adebayor

I just love the comment at the bottom. One day soon I'm sure the peeps up there will laugh as much as us down here.

Simple answer - get the Cider Bus crew in from Glasto to run the bars. 200,000 people at the event, 30% always seemed to have their yellow paper cups, never had to queue for more than 2 minutes and yummy

We were probably sitting on top of you at the Ayling final - too it easy on the beer during the day but had a big night out after! I'm pretty certain it was Waqar who bowled to Ayling, we could hardly see and were full of doom and gloom and recounting memories of how dark it had been in various village cricket games over the years and how this was darker. We could see Waqar run in we could see Ayling swish but until everyone started hooting and hollering we had no idea what had happened, Thanks for the info on the bars in the Grandstand, am planning on bringing me flag, hope there's somewhere to hang it!

Good news, strengthens the case for the return of the dream team of nickh & D P Seriously though, sounds like they didn't have a clue, which COULD (after the Pilchards thread) be a GOOD thing. Shake up the system, teach them new roles/style ie how to actually PLAY football and then they get a kicking on the pitch. All part of change management - let them see that their version of reality is actually different and why you are telling them to do things differently. Expect a lot of lessons learnt tonight, agents being told to find their men new clubs tomorrow it's only pre-season - straws clutch etc

Amazing what happens when you allow employees to use 1) their own intelligence and 2) use the simple act of observing and listening Wonder who set that whole ethos "not allowed to do anything other than what the boss says throughout the club. (and TBF he isn't the only one in "business in general") Welcome AP and thank you for allowing us to finally see reality, and Thank God (again) that we have leaders with wisdom at long last. A lot of work to be done to undo 6 years of damage, as he says, a long journey

Amazing what you can use airmiles for these days

My point is simply the fact that he was Club President of the "Old Club". he did much good when he was here as asst to LM, and his role of "political hand shaker" was important. But when you start a new regime, at which point do you draw the line? Already (valid) questions are asked about LM, then LC, then a case is made for MC and you end up back in the old days and ways. How about people who used to sell the Saints lottery tickets 30 years ago and still sell the programmes today? They have done great service to the club, albeit not in such a public setting. (in some ways it COULD be argued that all the "political links" do not seem to have publicly that much "impact" in helping solve our demise, so again, so hard to pick sides) It IS very difficult, hence why I go with the complete change view. ML has stated that "officers" of the club are expected to pay for their tickets, so IF he intends to retain John in the President capacity, he must decide on how to place a "value" on his work. If he feels his voluntary work IS worth a 100 quid "hospitality ticket" each week then it is justifiable, but otherwise he is part of the old days (then the issue becomes one only for the tax man!).

two big squads Bet you don't see much of the second half - you'll be too busy checking the lino gave permission for a sub to come on

Wow, after last season, he's Sooooo OLD. We sign a 25 year old with over 100 appearances! Time to move the Scally on then

You know I am sure that is word for word what was said at the start of LAST season. While I have no idea about Derry's view of setting the side up for failure or whether the "friendly" was "important" or not, the fundamental issue about a malaise within the mental attitude and general approach is something really important and I think he has a point.

I think the key issue is "Balance" For example, nickh & myself had plenty of passion at the Forum match, heck I even had 4 matches experience with Coombe Bissett FC many years ago! Wigley had "coaching skills" but no experience and no passion. Burley seemed to have experience but no passion Tisdale seems to have a BIT of everything, but in our situation not enough of everything (IMHO). So what I have READ so far is that Pardew has the experience, he has (thanks Pichards) some ideas of how to get the team thinking in training, so some coaching nous, and seems to have some passion as seen in his "laying down the rules". Balance - what we missed on and off the field (and on here) for many years

Freaky they must have spent a long time reading this, I've said this is what was wanted from the start of the admin process. Yes there are many people who have played a role in the history of this club, but that history ended in a failure, now it is a new beginning. I have absolutely no issue with anyone from the "hangers on" club going to matches, even Rupert if he wants to, but I agree that they SHOULD all pay for their seats. Heck, even the MP's and the Mayor should, after all why should the FANS have to pay who have been a part of the club's history and yet a few z-list local celebs who could actually put the cost on expenses NOT pay...

Agree with Derry in many ways. We've had so much attention on "other things" these past years that the whole "running of the football side" seems to have become some sort of weird 'Multi-National Corporation" process driven operation. All very professional, nice players lounge at Staplewood with Schreiber furniture and PlayStations, but it just seemed that it was all about following some sort of rule book. No passion, no invention, no real blood and guts within the entire organisation. All very well trained soundbites. I was against a "young manager" coming in as I felt we needed somebody who really knew the ropes and would not settle for all this "corporate style cr*p" - I wanted WGS to come back as I felt he had that spark, the passion, but AP also fits the bill, experienced, has seen different types of set up and has the mandate to make complete changes. Enough kissing the badge on the shirt nonsense, time to prepare the teams to PLAY for the shirt

Oh dear, had been really happy all day what with the cricket and then you go and whoosh us straight back to darkest days. Alright so Georges can be a temporary appointment as we all know the REAL DEAL will be available at the start of the 2011 season after he finishes work at the Olympics..... Federer of course, who'd you think I meant!

Was way up high in teh Edrich stand, I'm sure it was the Tavern that he hit it into - 6 behind square on the off side off Waqar Younis at his best in the dark. Or was it the beer. Anyone want any Duty Frees?