VectisSaint

Happy Clapper.

This has [almost] nothing to do with Ralph. This is based on figures for financial years up to June 2014, so apart from about 4-5 months Ralph cannot take any credit. Gareth and Les for sure (is Dave Bence new or has he been with Saints a long time, he has replaced Gareth as CFO but I don't know if that is a promotion from within). Credit for this must go to Cortese, Markus and for the last year or so to Katharina as well as Gareth and Les. But just to put some perspective on this, the reason we have done so well is because we started with virtually nothing 5 years ago, therefore the increase in percentage terms is enormous, but not in real terms. The reason is almost entirely due to promotion to the Premier League and staying there for 2 seasons. Fact is as the new board have also said our commercial income (outside of broadcast rights) is actually very poor (Cortese's fault). We could have done so much better.

Its not nonsense, why do you think that players can play equally well on either side? Claus and Killer played right and left respectively. Jose plays right centre, he would struggle on the left. Toby seems able to play either side but thats because he is just such a classy player, he can also play RB. Yoshi can play left back, bit never ever let him play right back, he is absolutely ****ing useless there. It takes a very special player to play either side of the centre back pairing (Toby is such a player).

He was never going to be back before January.

Unless West Ham win against Swansea and we lose

Koeman's side were well beaten by City but they were competitive against the Gunners and it will be the same against United, especially because they are at St Mary's. The usual stupid comments from Lawro where his prediction has no bearing on the comments made. We will do well against Manu because we are at St Marys, as opposed to when we played at Arsenal and were competitive but got well beaten against Man City at St Marys.

Clearly you must be watching a different player called Mane to the one I see. I'm not knocking him and of course he avoids it by turning inside his opponent on many occasions but he seems to bounce off players so easily. Against Man City it was almost laughable (and it has been the same at other matches to a lesser degree).

Its disgusting that this sort of thing happens, and I feel very sorry for Franny and his family, but there is no excuse for losing treasured family photographs on a laptop, simple backup procedures would avoid this.

If we all wave our arms around enough it might look like we are signing it.

Compared with Mane Gaston would never be easily knocked off the ball. Every time a player goes near Mane he ends up flying through the air because he is so lightweight.

Probably says more about how many girls you "know" than anything else.

You were at Arsenal, what did you expect? It used to be called The Library for a reason (though i think that was Highbury).

Sound familiar at all: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30339482 I guess we should be flattered.

BT Sport "commentator" was on about Arsenal. Apparently there was no other team playing in the match. He did manage to mention Pompey at least once (reference Ramsey when he played in the FA Cup Final for Cardiff who it would seem managed to lose to them). His sidekick, Michael "ever so interesting" Owen was equally plank-like. I don't get BT Sport (was watching on a stream) and it is unlikely based on the show last night that I ever will. The only thing that could make their show worse would be if Andy Townsend was involved.

Targett probably would not have started under MP if Shaw was still here though (unless he was injured). Problem for Targett is that there is someone better in his position. You're probably right about Reed though. Trouble is, this is really the extent of our youth backup now, with Gallagher injured, Turnbull, Stephens and Sinclair out on loan, that only leaves McQueen and Isgrove as potentially involved (other than goalkeepers). I don't know what has happened to Isgrove, has he been injured? Not much sign of anyone else joining the first team squad.

Not much choice, will be interesting to see how we fill the bench, because sure as **** we are a bit short of bodies, much as expected.

Just like last year. We should have learned this lesson in the summer. Its not bad luck. Its what happens when games come thick and fast against good teams and in the colder weather.

What youngsters do you suggest we play? Only Reed and Targett have been near the first team, and Targett is not needed because Bertrand is fine. Some people need to wake up and realise that the back up of youth of last season is not there this season. It has been apparent to some since the summer.

Deja vu, last season all over again, said many times that this would be an issue. We need a bigger squad for the December games when it is cold, injuries happen more often, especially hammies and games come thick and fast. But, fair play to Fraser, played very well tonight, made a string of top class saves. Nothing up front again, we really have lost our way in that department. Defence looked very sound again, at least until last few minutes, never felt too worried while we had 11 players.

Definitely. Poor old Spuds now they have our former head of recruitment, they will be **** (or more **** than they already are)

I think we can safely blame Paul Mitchell now.

Do they decide who qualifies for the CL at Christmas now? That must be a new rule. What happens when we get a run of "easier" games again, you know, all the teams that we have beaten so far this season already, I understand that we have to play them again this season.

People selling them by the Alfred/railway bridge said these are the result of us "being in the big time". Their words not mine. I cannot see any justification for anyone ever buying a half and half unless you are a complete plastic.

You do know who Yoshida is I take it? Your response would indicate otherwise. There is a picture of him on the Echo report if you need help with his identification. Blaming him for 3 goals on Sunday is just plain stupid. He is just what we need in a squad where we need 4 good CBs with two able to come in seamlessly in case of a problem with either of our first choices. And if Toby does not sign on again who knows whether Yoshida may be first choice again next season. the question is though whether Turnbull and/or Stephens might be ready, the rest of this season in L1 with Swindon might mean one or both can make the step up, but difficult to judge. Yoshida is still a better option than Gardos from the evidence (of Gardos, admittedly very little) so far.

Apart from the irregular fans. What we don't want to encourage is the ones that just come along every so often, such as when we are playing ManU or Chelski or Arsenal. Ticket policy clearly makes these people unwanted, quite rightly (unless they are mates of season ticket holders in which case they are OK). Actually good update, means I can buy tickets now for others on occasions.