VectisSaint

The youngsters hardly ever get a mention on here any more. Good to see they are top of the U18s league after 3 games with 3 wins. Perhaps we will see Gazza coming on as an outfield player for last few minutes against Utd tomorrow to win some headers, like the U18s keeper. Interesting new tactic.

See post below, Drogba is apparently not free agent: http://www.itv.com/sport/football/ar...orts-nonsense/

I think Drogba can play CB actually, but I don't think he's a free agent. But we wouldn't want him because he has a poor attitude.

Swindon played like Barcelona (apparently), many teams struggle against Barca.

You can say what you want about possession and Wigan, fact was they were awful last week. Only thing they had was clinical finishing, twice, and even one of those was a gift when it really didn't matter. They may be reasonably well organised in defence but they were woeful. Trouble is we were even worse.

There were a lot of empties in the Itchen/Chapel corner. But we do suffer from having the away supporters behind the goal at the Northam end when the away team has shocking support like Wigan. The TV picks up huge empty areas and the casual TV viewer/Merson assumes its our lack of support. I think this season there will be a general drop in attendances, not just a Saints issue. Prices for games are getting really silly. I'm actually surprised we got 29k for Wigan, I bet if it had been in November we would have struggled to get 26k.

Jersey, I was wondering about a nice new cardie or perhaps a tank-top. Do people really still refer to football shirts as jerseys outside the USA? I actually prefer guernseys like they wear in Aussie Rules.

Michael Owen - still without a club, and Heskey as well, mouth watering prospects.

Steve and Kelvin Davis and, oh well who cares :-) 3 Olympic players, several other internationals and plenty of experience in decent European Leagues (Italy, Holland & Switzerland), oh and Scotland (LOL - Fox, Hooiveld & Davis). Adkins has experience of managing and winning in the Premier League (the Welsh one). OK, in fact Butterfield, Puncheon, Fox and Richardson have also played (briefly) in the PL. We should also take into account that Adam, Rickie and several others now have PL experience (2 apps).

If that is correct Clyne qualifies as u21 as well, as he was born in April 91. I previously had him down as an over 21 player. So that probably means only 21 players need to be named, and that assumes that we will name players such as Steve, Chaplow and Butterfield one or more of whom may still be considered surplus. So plenty of scope for free agent additions. BTW the squad can also be changed at the next transfer window (January).

Think you can add to it if you don't name 25, obviously only free agents can be added. Most clubs in the past have named less than 25, I would imagine with Billy & Deano going we have a space or two. By my reckoning we have max 23 players who we could name, leaves room for 2 free agents. So expect Owen & Heskey (please no) to fill the gaps.

Well, I guess you had to find something :-) Really like the fella, but looked a little short of class against Wigan. I feel the PL is a step too far for him, in any case Sharp and O'Driscoll work well together. We may see him back, I wish him well and thank him for his contribution but clearly he saw the writing on the wall.

OK, so at least we have some backup now. May not be the greatest signing but the lad is welcome for what he is. Only having 2 GKs would have been madness since Adkins hung up his gloves many years ago now.

Yes, have been for weeks. It is madness to only have 2 senior keepers available. Even that does not address the issue of whether Kelvin is good enough (which he isn't in my opinion). Unless that plan is for Adkins to don the gloves in an emergency we should have signed a 3rd keeper, especially if one of the options is recalling Tommy Fourpast (which I don't think is possible until next transfer window). Emergency loans are always an option even in the PL, and specifically for a keeper, but why are we relying on that option? There are keepers out there who are out of contract (Basso for instance) who would not cost the earth and would provide good cover and also help out on the training ground in the even of a problem).

Don Cortese is planning to p-p-pick up a penguin

That would have been Paolo

You forgot Spiderman and possibly Fox (though I hope we get a new LB)

Oh Mayuka He used to be a young boy but he's older now I've already got my coat...

I see Di Canio likened Swindon to us last night. Wel lhe likened them to Barcelona anyway, same thing.

The list of out of contract players on that article is so tempting, a who is who of washed up has beens relying on their names. BBC would have done more of a service listing some of the lesser names. That said, Basso was always decent at Bristol City, maybe a cheap 2nd option as backup for KD at least until next window. It would be great to sign a striked like Heskey, the thought of his prolific goal-scoring ability is mouth-watering LOL

Hopefully our recruitment department can at least get the names of the players correct. You are also probably mistaken if you think we are looking for a CB or CBs to replace what we already have, our problem in this area is as much about options as quality per se. Our only real option at the moment if Jos or Jose was injured (or suspended) seems to be Seaborns, because NA didn't even consider Stephens for last night let alone the PL.

Seems to me that we have several transfers in place, once the shirt numbers were announced this became quite obvious. This week seems to be about finalising deals that have been nearing completion for some time. Mayuka take the #24, Ramirez #10, #3 & #15 (LB & CB) hopefully to be announced soon to placate the folks screaming for defenders (and justifiably so to a large extent). Personally I hope there is still another GK to come. Must admit this bloke does look the dogs ******** on YouTube, his pace looks awesome.

I've heard we are bringing in Kevin Keegan as defensive coach.

I never get this, as far as I can tell Cortese is Italian. Seems a lot of people think he is Swiss. Perhaps he is, can't find anything definitive either way.

Oh dear, thank goodness school starts again soon.