VectisSaint

Yep, hopefully we can find a gullible team to take him off our hands for next season if he is nearly fit again. Had high hopes for him beginning of season, but they were soon shattered once he actually got on the pitch.

What has watching Villa got to do with it? If you are a Saints fan, then you are paying £42 to watch Saints. Is that laughable? (The answer is probably yes, because it is a ridiculous amount to pay to watch a football match, but that's modern football for you). If you want to watch Villa why don't you buy a ticket from Villa then you can sit with your friends and fellow supporters.

It hasn't done them much good, 4 points off relegation, though they have improved over the last few weeks. Still only 10th this season though.

Glad I'm not the only one who can't remember much about it, like you I have very clear memories of the final, but apart from being there and a few vague recollections, the day was a complete haze.

We qualified for the UEFA Cup as runners-up. Winning the English Football League was still seen as the pinnacle, European competition was fun, but it wasn't the goal, it was simply a result of doing well in the domestic competition. You have to remember it was a proper competition then, home and away, 4 or 5 rounds at most (European Cup that is).

That's as may be but he is a top striker, probably the best in the world. Never seen him play in goal. Would have thought he was a bit on the short side.

Absolutely no clue, complete haze. All I can remember is where I was stood, looking at The Shed to my right. Don't know who I was with, how I got there, nothing. Guessing I msy have had the odd shandy.

I was there.

Well they are the second oldest professional football club, only that giant of a club Notts County can beat that.

Really? Apart from a couple of 4th places either side of the War, I can't conceive of how anyone could ever consider Stoke as one of the big clubs. Even when Sir Stan joined them they were in Div 2. They have struggled to attract more than mod 20k on average, usually much less.

Toby has -3cm more height than Yoshida. In other words Yoshida is taller.

Agree totally. Sometimes I would put SD as MOTM but yesterday he was not even a consideration. I think with hindsight I should have voted for Yoshida rather than Morgan.

He didn't struggle without Wanyama yesterday though. He was far better in the second half after Vic had been subbed. So the evidence of one game (Burnley) is not exactly convincing.

Davis did misplace a few passes yesterday and as you say did miss a sitter. Many players have a poor game when they come back from an injury. I voted for Morgan as MOM, he also made several uncharacteristic errors, misplacing about the same number of passes as Davis, but was superb for our second goal. It happens, there really wasn't anyone who played well yesterday (apart from Kelvin perhaps, and even he shanked one kick out which made everyone in the ground whince). The only other one I can think of that didn't make a notable mistake was Yoshida. Jose was guilty of slack backpassing and the result was almost calamitous. There are one or two on here who just show their complete ignorance, unless it is something else, every time they repeat their remarks about Davis being cack. They are probably the same ones who used to slate Matt Oakley. Certain "fans" may watch football, but are sadly incapable of understanding it and what certain players bring to a side.

Here is a good point that doesn't often get noted. He was very good yesterday in defence, at least two powerful headed clearances. I remarked to my neighbour about it, and we agreed that perhaps he would be better as a defender :-) He won both headers very cleanly and it was puzzling why he can't do the same up front. Very please that he scored yesterday, and maybe it will be the start of a new scoring spree for him, but have to say up until when he actually scored he was woeful as a striker, even blocking efforts of other players. Those who say his hold up play is good really can only be basing this on how it was early in the season, and not on the evidence of the game itself, certainly in the first half yesterday every ball given to him came back straight away. Then again he was really no worse than anyone else (Kelvin excepted) in the first 45 minutes. 10 men were absolutely dreadful first half, fortunately Hull are completely inept in front of goal. Trying to say that it was Hull playing well is a complete nonsense, we were awful, even Ron said himself that he did recognise his team during that period, which for Ron who seldom criticises is a daming indictment of the way we were playing. Second half much better, after Ron revised the tactics, some credit for this to JWP who looked much better yesterday, even aside from the goal.

On the other hand Dorset police would be delighted.

They'll always be a Hampshire team as far as I'm concerned, the boundary changes in the 1970s are completely artificial. Bournemouth was in Hampshire (or more precisely the County of Southampton) when it was founded in the 19th century. They are Hampshire's second club and long may they remain so.

Perhaps it was just his way of wishing Sadio a happy birthday.

Yes, sure glad that we don't need to sign any of those players again, Ball, Osgood, Mills (Mick), Armstrong, Keegan, Shilton, Worthington, McCalliog, Ruddock. ****e the lot of them Charlie was a big deal when we signed him, and he was top drawer but sadly only very briefly.

I thought this thread was about defectors, not defectives.

Yes, it is clear in the referenced article: ​ When the domestic cup winners also qualify for the Europa League through league position, their place through the league position is vacated. As a result, the highest-placed team in the league which have not yet qualified for European competitions qualify for the Europa League, with the Europa League qualifiers which finish above them in the league moved up one "place" if possible.

After 2nd Sunday in April, i.e. Sunday 12th. So one more game to go.

Its not hard to know that for a team that can't score goals we need more than just a striker to compete with Pelle. Obviously we will have to replace what goes, and I imagine Clyne and Morgan will go, but we have a major task to make things work up front and provide strength in depth if we qualify for Europa. Having JRod back will hopefully help.

Might help his international claims if he joined a team that was recognised by Les Bleus as having international players. He will not get recognised at Stoke whatever Sparky thinks. In The Times on Saturday, not sure whether Brendan McLoughlin (author) is a football man or not, and thus whether his opinion is recognised as valid by some of the dullards on this forum.

Fair point.