VectisSaint

T The Football League site says it will be open to Premier League Category 1 U21 sides only (which is odd considering this is the Football League trophy). A lot of the Category 1 Academies are Championship clubs, so presumably these will be discounted. Last season the BPL u21 league had 24 teams of which 16 were PL, including Villa, Newcastle and Norwich. This suggests there are 15 teams that qualify, including Middlesbro. So not clear who the 16th would be, unless one of the PL Clubs that did not have Cat 1 last season will have next. Don't think there is much doubt that Saints would be included. Really don't understand the negativity of this idea.

You don't remember the great Howard Kendall years? Really? Reid, Steven, Gray, then the boy Line-Aker. They were a very good side for 2-3 years.

Photoshop would solve that problem. Quick piccie on his mobile in the Caribbean and voila. I'm sure they could even find a blue and white scarf out there somewhere. It really is getting bloody annoying this delay, not because Everton can't announce but because we either can't move with getting new man in or at least can't announce same. If Les is as good as most think the new man will already be signed, sealed and delivered.

Must have been a Cortese signing, like all the bad signings have been. Oh wait. No loss, never looked up to it, hopefully will allow one of the youngsters to break into the squad assuming we get a new manager who has faith in youth.

Hurrah, I won something, even if I did fat finger a few words in my reply. Really irritates me when people do not have the courtesy to spell the great man's name correctly.

Markus had a dream that people would at least know how he apelled his name. It was part of the initial 5 year plan put togerher with his friend Cortese. Seems like one piece of the plan that failed. :-(

Winning it 4 years on the trot is. Only lost it last season on the last day. Also has lots of European exoerience.

Does he have a brother who can be his assistant though?

I suppose if they keep saying it, eventually they will be right (or wrong). Clearly they have no idea, like everyone else. Sky is running the story that the announcement is imminent, but when the guy from Goodison speaks it is clear he has no knowledge of anything factual at all. Do wish they would get the matter sorted, it is impacting on our plans for next season now. Hopefully Les already has the successor in place and lined up for an announcement as soon as Ron is gone.

Stopped reading when the author said he wants Moyes to replace Ronald. **** me.

3 or 4 actually.

Thank you Mr Wiki. You probably ought to add a link to the Commons Licence for this. :-)

It says hasn't. Completely contradicted by Blackmore.

Orlando Trustfull. Frank's brother Ronald was also inolved at Ajax.

Frank de Boer will be the next Saints manager. Whether that is this summer or next or the one after that remains to be seen.

What exactly has he actually done? (as opposed to allegations). As far as I can see so far he has gone on holiday and returned. He has a year left on his contract which he has always maintained he will see through. He hasn't signed an extension for us, but he has no need to because he already has a contract in place. So I repeat, what exactly has he done? Maybe I am a bit naive and have a belief in people's integrity, but I still expect him to be our manager next season. If not, then it will say much more about the Club than him, since the reason he might move on is as he has said if the Club do not match his ambition (he would not leave for the money, however attractive that might be). I expect within minutes of me posting this, the announcement will be made that he is a Toffee

But he is only 21. Must admit I didn't know Howe had any Pompey connections, but really 2 games in 2 years. Stokes, Channon and Big Ron played for Pompey many more times than that. More conserning is Howe's connections with Redkrapp.

Really find it incrrdible if anyone really believes this to be a possible scenario. Consider the compensation we would have to pay if nothing else. Ronald and Les agreed a 3 year contract and there is nothing to suggest yhat will not ne honoured by both sides. Whether rk extends next year is open to debate of course.

D i c k?

Football League representatiive matches were a regular event until the 1970s. Serie A matches continued into the 90s. Killed off by regular European club matches.

Because you respond to the thread?

Oi. Uncalled for and untrue mush . There are a few, and have been others in the past. James Hayter probably most notable recently, Simon Moore, Cardiff keeper (previously at Brentford), Lee Bradbury (OK, sorry to mention a Skate), Aaron Martin. In the past (our era) Wayne Talkes for us and Kieron Baker (Bournemouth keeper in the 70s). There have been several other prospects who did not make it, my "cousin" Brian Humber played several games for the Reserves at the same time as Talkes and later went to Aldershot for a spell). Jake Flannigan in the u21s was also scouted from the Island though I think he originates from 'Ampshire. Shouldn't forget the English Channel also includes those other small islands that have never contributed professional players (oh, except MLT and Le Saux). There is a reason why youngsters from the Island and Channel islands do not make it, based on the need to travel frequently to the mainland for training. It is not so much the time involved (lots of kids travel an hour or more) but the expense. Anyway, to be serious, the rules about where you can scout players for the Academy were altered about 3 or 4 years ago when we achieved Academy Category 1 status (or whatever it is). Incidentally Alfie Jones is also from Bristol. Would be interested to know from the article who were the "many other footballers from Stanbridge" who signed for the Academy.

David, you're wrong about Romeu. He played 33 games for Chelsea in 1 and a bit seasons, before he suffered a knee injury in Dec 2012 that kept him out for the rest of his second season. What happened after was a result of that injury and long absence and he never got consideration again, but not because he wasn't good enough as he demonstrated from 2011-2012.

They don't fit into a back line with Fonte and van Dijk, and no-one would expect them to. They need to challenge Yoshida and Gardos though, to be available when either for our first choice CBs are unavailable, or when we go three at the back. Fonte is coming towards the end of his career, maybe another 2 seasons, so need to be ready to step up then. We used 5 CBs last season (including Bertrand and Caulker) and will probably need 5 again this season. Is Gardos really that far ahead of Stephens? Or even Yoshida? That's the question. I would expect to see Stephens in the squad next season, and at least get some serious involvement in the LC, FA Cup and maybe the Europa. If he is not given that chance next season then quite honestly we may as well let him move on. Turnbull is a year or so behind Stephens, so not the same issue there.