sambosa75

Did he go to the game then?

I'm assuming you've come to that conclusion only because Neal Trotman and Callum Davenport were on loan?

Definitely was on our books. Not sure if he actually made any appearances for the first team. Was born in Stoke and raised in Torquay. Could definitely do a job for us, he's been excellent whenever I've seen him play. Not sure his desire to drop down to Championship would be that great though. If Newcastle did get rid there would probably be other Prem sides showing an interest. If there was any chance though, it would be a great signing.

Looking at how well Norwich, Leeds and Millwall have done in the Championship this season there is no reason at all that we cant give promotion a right good go next season should we gain promotion to the NPC this season. I think the key has to be keeping with what we have done recently. Keep playing football but have that ability to be able to mix it up a bit when plan A doesnt work. Objective - For me, the play-offs are realistic. The higher we get in the Playoff places the better the chance we have of sneaking in to the automatic spots. Viable Player Targets (In) - I think we will need another strong centreback in the Jaidi mould. He's been quality but I question whether he can withstand 46 games in the Championship. Someone tall, good in the air, strong and vocal. Experience would also be a massive plus. Mike Williamson from Newcastle would be brilliant. I think Newcastle will be keen on retaining him but I did read today that they are after Ashley Williams from Swansea. If he became available he would be perfect alongside Fonte. Perhaps Michael Mancienne on loan from Chelsea if Wolves go down? I also think an experienced central midfielder would be good. Brian Stock, Brian Howard and Wade Elliott would all be good targets. Experienced at Championship level, all apparently Saints fans and could all add to the squad. Perhaps a move for Michael Antonio? I still think the side could do with a better, pacy option from the bench. His long throws would also come in handy. I would also bring in an experienced forward who knows how to score goals at this level. This would allow for us to give Ricky a rest every now and then. I reckon James Beattie would be willing to come on reasonable wages as his career begins to wind down. I am still confident if you get him fit and happy he will bang them in at Championship level. Players Out (Released/Sold) - Dan Seabourne. Despite his pace, he really does not inspire any confidence and will surely only struggle further if playing at a higher level. N'Guessan can go back as well. Not been impressed at all and Forte will do as our pacy "impact" player, as well as Antonio who I mentioned earlier. I'm sure there are a few reserves we could get shot of as well but not going to name them all. Tactics/Observations/Starting 11 - We have to keep going as we are. A footballing side first and foremost but able to change things round to suit the situation/pitch/opposition/occasion. I would go with something along the lines of: ----------------------------Davis------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- Butterfield---------Fonte-------------Williamson----------Harding ---------------------------------------------------------------- Chamberlain*-------------Schneiderlin---------------------Lallana ---------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------Howard----------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------Lambert----------Barnard**----------------- *if we manage to keep hold of him. I personally think he'll be sold. If thats the case bring in Wade Elliott (if Burnley arent promoted, he might well fancy it). **assuming he is not spending time as her majesty's pleasure. If thats the case he'll need to be replaced with a workhorse who is able to weigh in regularly with goals. God knows who though! Conclusion & Prediction I personally think the gap between the top teams in League 1 and the teams in the Championship is relatively small. Obviously a few tweaks will need to be made but in Nigel I trust. I would be disappointed if we missed out on a Play off position as Nigel supposedly has the resources at his disposal to ensure we have the quality throughout the squad to achieve this. My prediction is we sneak a play off place, perhaps 5th or 6th. Promotion would then be a question of form. If this was offered now, I would take it!

Because luxury cruise liners have a long, rich tradition of docking in naval ports dont they? What a nobber.

My mate goes there every year for a month or so and keeps trying to talk me in to going with him. He absolutely loves the place. To be honest, it just seems as if people go there for the ego boost. Thousands of pretty young girls available for very little money. Because it costs so little for these girls "company" they almost convince themselves that all these girls genuinely are interested in them and how they are keeping in touch etc... My mate isnt an ugly guy, he owns his own company which turns over between £250k-£500k a year and has actually had some stunning (albeit absolutely mental) girlfriends before. With every story my desire to go over there wanes a little bit more but it seems to be the case with anyone I speak to. Thai girls just fall at your feet. Yes, that is because you are paying them to FFS. I cant imagine anywhere in the world that has such a booming sex trade being altogether that much of a safe place to visit.

OF&H was the best TV programme ever made, let alone comedy. The specials and later episodes werent as good but they were made due to such high demand and still a cut above the majority of comedies made today. RIP and thanks for the laughs.

Come on Saints, lets open up a 2 goal lead ASAP.

Huddersfield 2-1

Yes come on Daggers!

Come on Saints. Up the pressure, we need a comfortable win today. We cant keep leaving things late and winning marginally.

nooooo.

Gulyyyyyyyyyyy, get in there

Come on Saints, comfortable win please. YESSSSS!!!!!!!!

Comment from Xavi: Paul Scholes receives special praise: ‘In the last 15 to 20 years the best central midfielder that I have seen — the most complete — is Scholes. I have spoken with Xabi Alonso about this many times. Scholes is a spectacular player who has everything. ‘He can play the final pass, he can score, he is strong, he never gets knocked off the ball and he doesn’t give possession away. If he had been Spanish then maybe he would have been valued more.’ Zinedine Zidane on Scholes: 'It's only natural to want to select your best players and there is no doubt for me that Paul Scholes is still in a class of his own,' the former Real Madrid and Juventus midfielder told The Mirror. 'He's almost untouchable in what he does. I never tire of watching him play. 'You rarely come across the complete footballer, but Scholes is as close to it as you can get. 'One of my regrets is that the opportunity to play alongside him never presented itself during my career.' No offence keithd but I will trust mine, Xavi and Zinedine Zidane's judgement ahead of yours. For me, the best player England has produced in my life time.

I'd imagine a fair few of them would have been Scousers however. Nuking Anfield would have got rid of a lot of the Liverpool fans responsible.

He's a football players player. Zidane rated him as best he ever played against. He invented the "Xavi" role but probably had an even better range of passing across longer distances. His touch was impeccable, he never lost possession, I really could go on. Probably the most under-valued England player in the last 20 years. The team should have been built around him, but he either didnt play or was shunted out to the left wing. An absolute joke.

The difference between him and Scholes is that Scholes produced it at the very highest level for well over a decade and is guilty of a few nasty tackles. Rooney on the other hand can only turn it on against the likes of West Ham and Blackburn, sleeps with prostitutes despite having a decent enough wife and mother to his kids and gets booked/sent off for dissent. Lest we not forget he miraculously escaped censure for that forearm smash. Cant remember who it was against (Blackburn maybe?). If I did that to someone on the street it would be GBH. Wayne Rooney is not fit to lick the boots of Paul Scholes. Even now, at the start of the season before he gets burn out Paul Scholes is Man Utd's best player.

My mate owns a catering company and has agreed to do a job at some massive house is Roehampton and I said I'd give him a hand for £100 cash. It is no doubt going to be spent pandering to the whims of a bunch of royal loving, hoity-toity, what-ho idiots but I fully intend on getting ******ed up and eating just as many of the organic lamb burgers with garlic and rosemary focaccias as I plan on serving.

I'd go back to 1985 and nuke Anfield so the Liverpool fans couldnt get English clubs banned from European competition. This would have meant Saints could compete in Europe when we finished runners up. That was a time when smaller clubs really could compete. Would have been interested to see how we could have progressed had we been able to offer European football to players we were looking to sign.

What I meant was guaranteed payments. None of this "we'll give you an extra £2m if he plays 20 times for England before he's 21" or "We'll give you £1m if he scores 20 goals in his first 2 seasons etc..." It should be £10m, £2.5m now, £2.5m next season and £5m the season after, guaranteed. Not a deal that is incentivised and we are left without a player, reliant on him to fulfil his potential for us to get a fair deal. If you want our player, stump the money up.

Again, what you are saying makes sense but it very rarely is actually the case. Leeds were improving considerably when Fabien Delph broke through and left at the first opportunity to go to Villa where he currently doesnt get a look in.

Fantastic news if the club has started expanded the scouting network at youth level globally again. Can only bode well for the future.

It's great news for the lads. I thought this news would be coming out soon because my nephew was given a new two year contract with the academy last week so it must be renewal time. Congratulations to all who were kept on.

A few people have had this debate with MLG. I admire his optimism but it simply wont happen. He will be gone and in my opinion I think he'd be mad to go to Arsenal instead of Man Utd. He will get a quality education at Man Utd but also the realistic chance of some first team football to aid his development. At Arsenal he will be stick behind Nasri, Wilshere, Ramsay, Diaby and Song in the centre and Walcott and Arshavin on the right. If the money we have now puts us in a position where we can tell clubs to put up or shut up, then I say we should sell him. Next season is going to be of monumental importance to the club and money will need to be spent on a few positions. If we could get c.£10m straight up for AOC and put that straight back in to the first team it would put us in a very strong position to win promotion at the first time of asking. That said, if clubs offer us incentivised deals like the Walcott and Bale transfers I would tell them to poke it. I am guessing this is the real reason Cortese rejected any offers that were made.