VectisSaint

As is so often the case, a major point is missed in these articles. The crunch last season coincided with a string of injuries and suspension, starting with Boruc breaking his finger. The issue is going to be whether we have a similar problem to overcome this season which would once again stretch our paper-thin squad. we actually have a smaller squad than last season (after shipping out 18 players over the summer), though it can be and is argued that what we do have is more strength in depth. But can we cope when we have potential injuries to Davis, Morgan and possibly Tadic (and maybe even Pelle, who knows why he did not participate in Italy's friendly with Albania) on top of the long term injuries to JRod and JWP. It will be interesting to see. I also had to laugh when the article suggested that we brought Long in to replace Billy Sharp. Surely either Long or Mane were brought in to replace Guly and/or Gaston. I see that Forster is also heralded for only conceding 5 goals, whereas Boruc had also only conceded 5 at the same stage last season if my memory serves me right. Yet no mention of this perhaps being largely down to the excellent form of Morgan and Vic (strangely omitted from the list of transfers in under Poch's reign). Its clear that some of these people who write this stuff still don't really get what has gone on in full.

Actually we don't. 18? players out in the summer and 7? in. Where is Guly when we need him?

What is Eira? According to Google it is a neighbourhood in Helsinki, Finland. Have we re-signed Niemi as back up for Forster?

In 18 months yes, or we could lose him for a fee in 6 months, or we could lose him for a bigger fee if we offer him a new contract. However in all three scenarios the one thing that is common is that we lose Clyne. Having an extended contract has bugger all effect on whether a player goes or not, the evidence of last summer is clear for all to see.

Bench = please refer to R Lambert or A Lallana.

The only thing it would guarantee is a higher transfer fee. Contracts are otherwise worthless for the club.

Has he gone yet?

Good thing about being a Skate is that he won't be disappearing any time soon to rejoin his boyhood team. Unless he wants to slum it in the lower reaches of the Football League (or perhaps the Conference). Good to see the Shots did the biz tonight.

Is JWP any good at nasty, niggling fouls? I thought Harrison Reed was being lined up as the new Scholes due to his hair colouring.

Presumably the FA want England fans to chant pro IRA songs instead. I watched the game on TV last night and heard nothing and therefore could not be offended. But the media then go to town to ensure that everyone knows what was being chanted. On 5Live apparently it was "no surrender, no surrender, no surrender to the IRA" to the tune of "Sing Hosanna", the traditional Glasgow Rangers song sung to stir up religious hatred at he Auld Firm games. How anyone was surprised that this happened at Celtic Park in an Auld Enemy match is beyond belief. Naive to say the least.

So three made it into the England squad but not you. Life's a *****. :-)

So in summary people think this is a great article, but that the fundamental conclusion is wrong and that people who agree with that fundamental conclusion are daft. Hmm, thats good. The bit I particularly liked reminded me of the days before the smoking ban in stadiums: "but his majestic control and ball skill soon endeared him to the fans that lit up when he warmed up down the touchline." Maybe this is why Le God was not as fit as he could have been, inhaling all of the secondary smoke from the fans at The Dell when he was warming up.

Looked fine when I saw him in town yesterday afternoon. Certainly no obvious injury.

Jos has already gone (technically on loan till his contract runs out). Gaston back next season.

Kenya failed to qualify for the group stage, knocked out in July.

Seems to be a fair few of us driving Alfas, given the relatively low numbers of them on the road.

Doubt that he will be on 6 months, especially as he has only been with us a couple of years, but I would think 3 months is quite likely, even though he probably doesn't get involved with the contract side of player purchases. 3 months is fine, takes us beyond next transfer window. Our targets come next summer likely to be somewhat different, and he will not have the same detailed knowledge as he would now. As I said though, just because he has handed his notice in doesn't automatically mean he will go, I've done the same a couple of times in my 40 years in industry and been persuaded to stay.

Odd then that he is described thus: "Mainly a central defender, he can also play as a left back." Point is that he tends to be left sided, whereas Toby is more generally right-sided, except for Saints. The connections is obvious anyway from Feyenoord, perhaps Ron is just strengthening to give us more options.

Wonder what his notice period is, 3 months would be nice (for Saints). Gardening leave until its complete I would imagine, assuming his notice is accepted and Saints don't make him a counter offer that persuades him to stay.

CB/LB, more of a competition for Bertrand than Toby. Maybe if Maya is not considered long term then it makes some sense. Perhaps Ron is thinking of going to 3 at the back?

Why are people making predictions on a predication thread?

They should have compiled a list instead of complying one (OS mistake not yours) It really is a badly proofed article on the OS, apparently Japan and others are playing on Friday 13th November.

how can he show remorse for something he is adamant he did not do, and even more to the point he is appealing against. If he were to show remorse that just means his appeal collapses. This whole thing about remorse is so misunderstood by so many people who do not understand how the legal system works.

Very unlikely, at least until his licence period ends, presumably in another 2.5 years. He is out on licence and is restricted in what he can do and where he can go. My view at first on this is that there is that there should be nothing stopping him play, and all this role model stuff is complete rubbish. But a good point was made yesterday, that he expects to work with young players at the club (I assume Sheff Utd have an Academy), and if anything like most clubs would be expected to play his part in community work with youngsters. But how can that be squared with him being on the sex offenders register and really needing to get CRB checked to work with kids. He really cannot fulfil his obligations as a professional footballer under these circumstances. I wonder what would have happened at Saints in 1984 (?) if Steve Moran and/or Mark Wright had been convicted of the same offence after the Norkopping game?

Yet its our midfield that are doing the business at both ends.