Matthew Le God

They are playing on Sunday.

Saints were at St Mary's for four years in the Premier League, three of them were mid table (8th, 10th and 12th), one was relegation (20th). All of them had average crowds over 30k. None of them had any real investment from Rupert Lowe, hence why the club went backwards by 2004/05.

Cork, De Ridder and Fox not improvements that "strengthen the team"? Beating Leeds United 3-1 in the Championship and Torquay United 4-1 in the Carling Cup with Saints reserves, not "hitting the ground running"? Explain how these teams are stronger than last season, Burnley, Leeds, Cardiff, Middlesbrough, Millwall, Reading, Blackpool, Birmingham? All of those strong Championship teams last year or relegated teams from the Premier League, all have lost a number of key players and not replaced them with like for like. Norwich 2009/10 earned 95 points Saints 2010/11 earned 92 points Not exactly a lot in it over a 46 game season!

Based on what exactly?

Do you disagree when I say Burnley, Leeds, Cardiff, Middlesbrough, Millwall, Reading, Blackpool, Birmingham and a number of others are all weaker than last season? How do you think newly promoted Norwich, Leeds and Millwall came 2nd, 7th and 9th? Do you think their squads are better than Saints'? Didn't look in in the second half of 2009/10 when all in the same league. I'd still love you to name the 16 teams...?

Saints have already managed to do that under Rupert Lowe, who didn't invest in the club during that time to achieve it. Imagine what could happen with some proper investment handled sensibly by an ambitious chairman...

Care to tell us more (if there is anything more)?

It wasn't just a theory, it was a question. Which are the 16 better teams? And why do you think those in particular are stronger?

Exactly. That is the 8th place team from the Championship 2010/11 out of the race (possibly). Plus Leeds, Cardiff, Middlesbrough, Millwall, Reading, Blackpool, Birmingham and a number of others are all weaker than last season.

Which 16 teams do you think are better equipped than Saints over the next 45 games? List them? Your prediction also ignores it is very likely Saints will make some big signing(s) in the next three weeks and many other Championship clubs have been significantly weakened compared to last season. Quite who these 16 teams are, I'm intrigued to know (along with your logic for picking them).

You seem to like killing chickens before they have hatched.

What exactly did you hear today?

Nonsense, as I outlined ages ago in this thread, on the day you made this thread all this had already happened... Why did you discount this "evidence" you speak so highly of wanting?

Not a difficult question, he is a left back and will play left back instead of Dan Harding.

What makes you think Maynard is only a "minor improvement"? You admit yourself that you hadn't heard of him, yet he is a well established Championship striker.

Burnley's media manager... Jay Rodriguez is NOT for sale! #twitterclarets #clarets 59 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply http://twitter.com/#!/dazbentleybfc Although he said the same of Mears and Eagles before they went to Bolton, so it would appear the club don't tell their media manager what is going on!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/8479233.stm

I mean technically, because the academy system didn't start until 1998, and all of them came through at Saints before then. Bridge being right on the edge of the change. Yes, they are still Saints products though. But there are significant differences between youth football before and after 1998.

He scored 4 goals on Tuesday night and got the matchball. One of his teammates wrote what seems to be "bye bye Jay Rod" on it...

I know, sorry couldn't help it. Williamson and Jones definitely aren't though.

The academy system started in 1998/99. Bridge turned 18 in August 1998 and was playing for the first team in 1998/99.

Williamson and Jones aren't Saints academy products. Nor are Bridge, Monk, Oakley or Phillips technically.

I want "our Alpine" back, you are clearly an impostor.

Why would you drop Lambert?