VectisSaint

Williamson not turned out any good? Well he may not be the best but seems well able to cut it in the PL for Newcastle, even if not really their first choice, and still only just 29. I would suggest he has another 3 years in him at this level. In any case he was not really Academy, having joined us at the age of 18. Lancashire and Mills were both thrown in too early (in my opinion) when we were struggling and their confidence was destroyed as a result, but both make a decent living as lower league pros. Gary Monk joined us when he was 17, also from Torquay, so can be considered an Academy product (like McGoldrick etc). Over 200 apps for Swansea, he has proved he is a decent CB, though not too many of his games have been in the PL. On the question of keepers, Michael Poke and Scott Bevan were both products of the Academy and both seem to have found their level in L2, at Torquay and Bristol Rovers respectively, both having played for both clubs recently. Our connections with Torquay seem to be many and various. Problem with CBs and keepers, is that they both depend on maturity/experience and it helps in both cases if they are physically suited to the job (i.e. tall and built strongly). Very hard, if not impossible to spot this in young teenagers that would be right for the Academy. Its one reason why the Academy system does not work for everyone, it would be better if they allowed slightly older players to be part of the Academy system for these 2 positions (you could possibly make an argument for centre forward types as well).

Sorry, but completely disagree with this. There is no evidence that he is not as good as he was. He has stepped up and is clearly showing thet he is better than he was, or than anyone thought. The problem at the moment is that he is suffering from a lack of supply due to change of formation, and apparenelty less mobility, but I feel this is due to 2 factrs (1) heavy pitches and (2) speed of the ball off the wet surfaces. Big men always suffer a bit with these conditions, he is not slower, but is being made to look slower. I suspect if he was measure that you would actually find that he had improved his fitness and speed this season. That said, we desparately need a good alternative, J-Rod has been very disappointing as has Mayuka and Chung does not seem to have recovered from his injuries as I hoped and expected. With a midfield that lacks goals (Cork needs to start scoring a few) we do rely on Rickie more than is healthy.

Stoke actually play a lot of good football. They have developed quite a lot from the old hoofball days, but they are still a threat from corners and throws (even without Delap). But people should understand that there is a lot more to their game than the general concensus would have us believe based on the past 2 or 3 seasons.

It is a common enough term that usually refers to clubs outside the main conurbations (Greater London, Birmingham, Mancester, Liverpool, Leeds/Bradford, Tyneside). Clubs such as Saints, Forest, Hull usually fall into this "category". It is not based on any true definition of province as used elsewhere in the world, just a colloquialism.

Ah the experience of giving away one of the most stupid penalties I've ever seen (thanks Chris, your loyalty to Saints shone through yesterday). Think I would pass on that (although I would actually like to have Baird back, he is usually a rock). I also think Berbatov would be a superb addition to our current team, his play would fit in brilliantly with Ramirez in my opinion. Wasted at Fulham where no-one seems to be on the same wavelength.

I think its the FSA (Financial Services Authority) who are investigating, not the Scottish Football Association. May as well be the latter though for all the good it will do when Tory Ministers are involved.

Rickie seemed somewhat relieved on MotD, so I guess even he realised that it was not his best ever. Still he has scored every pen he has ever taken for Saints, and they all count the same. May be a good thing, perhaps he will not be blase in future.

It is not his fault, he is told what to do, who to sign, team to pick and formations to play by Cortese and Read, so you really should not blame him at all. Least that's what I understood reading this forum. In Nigel you do not trust, but please don't make the assumption that anyone else much feels the same way as you do.

I know this doesn't help if your transactions have been wiped, but on the assumption that they will get restored at some point, next time you go into your account take a copy of your account history and save it locally. Take a new copy when you purchase new tickets, that way you will have a permanent record and proof of entitlement to tickets in future. You should also have emails for each transaction. I know this doesn't help right now but maybe a good idea for the future for those that do not trust the TO.

The table is rather out of date, 14 matches in most cases. Could have changed a lot in the last 4 or 5 games. Maybe it is those fans that boo Guly that are knocking our points off.

No problems for my account.

He's 22 now by the way

One mistake, I guess you have never made one. As usual just because of who it was against you blow it out of all proportion. Troll.

Thanks, wasn't aware of that. Terry is probably more widely known, so is probably better for the Club, but John was always a great ambassador.

Assuming AL is not fit this would be my team as well. I hope Lee, Mayuka & JRod are all on the bench so we can change things up front if its not working.

Delighted for Terry, richly deserved. I am just a touch confused though, I thought John Mortimore was already Hon President. Do we have 2 now, or did John step down at some stage?

Gazza is fit, he had "recovered" from shoulder injury for last game apparently. [Not sure I actually believed he was injured in the first place, think it was probably a tactical injury]. I would play Lee and Lambert "up front". I guess Mayuka is trying hard in training at the moment to help get selected for the ACON. As things stand it would not be a surprise if Zambia didn't play him due to lack of games, even though he will be in the squad. I think anyway its another week or so until they go to the ACON. Usually just after the FA Cup 3rd round is played.

Not much chance of Brazil playing in the ACON, so probably not.

Best ever signing was probably Edric Bates from Norwich.

9 would have been sweet, then they would have equalled our goals conceded, but 8 will do nicely. Goal difference is shot to pieces. Now if we win our game in hand we will go above Villa. Ah, forgot our game in hand is against Chelski!!! Oh well, we can dream.

Eight

4 Brazilians have scored, maybe Guly will make it 5 when we play them.

7-0 now. The comforting thing is we only have to play Chelski 3 times this season

Possibly something to do with you calling people a retard. You really are quite a pathetic little troll. You don't even understand what you say is completely out of order, I guess because you don't actually understand what some of the words you use actually mean.

He is a much better defender than Bale was at similar age. But Bale is not a defender and is clearly world class in midfield where he now plays. If Shaw develops into a world class midfielder I would be very pleased (and surprised), but he will be a high class defender, much better at this role that Bridge was as well.