VectisSaint

Slightly different though. Pardew wanted an outfield player as match day captain, we had almost completely changed the team and almost all the new signings were captains of their former clubs. We don't have a completely new team this season, indeed I could easily foresee a situation where all 11 starters against Man City would be players who were here last season, in fact I rather suspect this will be the case. Not saying that Jay Rod, Clyne and Davis won't play significant part in the season but at the moment at least that is the extent of the signings that will seriously impact the 1st team, with due respect to Gazza, hardly a new team. Still, we'll see, won't we. In my own opinion I would be more inclined to give the captaincy to Morgan.

The problem now is that it is much more difficult to work your way back into the managers plans. Once the squad is name in the first week in September that is it until January (unless you name less than 25). Even then you can only come into the squad if someone else is "dropped", so the question then would become who would you like to see dropped for Barnard to get back in, Lambert, Sharp, Rodriquez or Chung (because that is the reality)? I would hope none get a serious season-long injury. The other scenario is that Barnard sticks around and we get relegated (another scenario I hope not to see), even then would he get back in? Nope. Lets face facts, Barnard, together with Forte and Dickson are surplus to requirements and will I am sure not be around come the end of August, either due to transfer or at least a loan.

Seriously doubt it to be honest. You don't just parachute a new captain in, would be quite a kick in the teeth for some current players. Maybe Hammo won't be skipper but I bet it will be someone who has been with the club for a year or two min.

I think it may be this week, but would not really mean much until the end of the transfer window. Although squad numbers have to be confirmed, the squad itself does not have to be named until 1st week in September, so changes are allowed during that time. If Punch is alloacted a number all that we will know is that that number will either be with Punch or will be unused for rest of season (may be until end December, not sure). What may be interesting is if Punch is given a low number (1-18), rather than 42 or something high, now that might give us a clue.

In the case of Punch, I suspect he is on the fringe of NA's plans. In other words unless someone better comes along and assuming he gave a decent account of himself in France (which he appears to have done) NA will persevere with him, or may at least use him as a makeweight in a transfer. But if an opportunity to bring someone better were to arise Punch would find himself out of the squad. Different situation to Barnard, Forte & Dickson who will not figure under any circumstances, whose positions are already adequately covered in the squad and who will be set down from the bus as soon as a suitable alternative bus route is identified.

Unless we draw a lot of games of course. I am expecting somewhere about 12th. I hope we don't do so well that we qualify for Europe in any way, its a curse for newly promoted teams.

For English transfers the money is paid to the FA, who then deal with any sell-on clauses etc. Money does not change hands directly between 2 clubs. Not sure if there is equivalent for "international" transfers as in this case.

Think its bull as well, unless the Team GB Olympic team is there for some reason.

Who? (already mentioned)

Not bad that we can name 2 complete teams that both look quite good and still have De Ridder, Cork, Chung, Davis & Clyne not even involved. Yet we should still be looking f or 2 or 3 more players (GK, CB & MF). Not to mention that Barnard, Forte & Dickson have been left behind presumably as they are surplus to requirements.

Recently, Poke, Wright, Blayney, Bevan. Further back since I've been following Saints, Forsyth, Martin, Turner, Gurr, MacLaren, Davie, Middleton, Montgomery, Wells, Gennoe, Sperring, Kite, Granger, Nixon, Burridge, Andrews, Moss, Flahavan

Sorry Art, but cannot see why it would benefit our youngsters to play in the Scottish 3rd Division, we may as well loan them to Sholing, Totton or Salisbury. I assume that part of the deal was to reduce Davis' pay to allow us to pay compensation (not saying the whole800k, but at least a part of it), hence the addition of a 4th year to his contract to compensate. Seems like a bit of common all round. At least what we pay Rangers will presumably go to some of the creditors of the old club.

Forte, Dickson &Barnard are not with the squad, I think that answers 3 questions. Seems like Stephens has been converted to CB, so maybe only 1 more CB to come.

Rudi Skacel?

If Gazza is anywhere near as good as Butland has appeared so far then KD will have to watch out. MAYBE WE. Ould habe Butland and Gazza.

Getting some complimentary remarks about his assured, confident play from the tators.

I feel very very sorry for... Gillingham. I have mates who support them, no-one deserves this.

I always like the way incompetent companies blame inanimate objects for their screw ups.

Silly, Skates can't write

Seems that we are all getting the 3 mails, tried to find out from my online account what scheme currently on but there is no useful information at all. I just have this feeling that I will be billed 3 times.

Not sure I will believe this until it is sanctioned by The VMan

But only from those of us over the age of 16 because we are set in our ways and cannot cope with new concepts such as zonal marking, electric light, the internal combustion engine or FM. As long as we have someone on the post I don't really care whether we ZM or MM, as long as we do our job properly. Best way is not to concede corners in the first place.

We need 2 GKs and 2 CBs, anyone who does not think we need 2 GKs must be accepting that Tommy Fivepast will be in the squad. You cannot go into a PL season with 2 GKs, it would be suicidal. Likewise 2 CBs, I am not convinced Seaborne is up to PL level (I was not totally convinced he was NPC level and his injury must make him even more doubtful). The OP seems to think Harding cannot step up to PL level, Adkins clearly thinks differently, otherwise he would not be in Switzerland (he would be mixing with Forte, Barnard and Dickson in the stiffs). Harding is perfectly good enough for PL, especially as backup for Fox. We appear light down the left, not sure that i agree about Chung playing on the left, seemed to play for us in centre upfront, although his goal was from the left. So from my POV we are almost certainly looking to sign 5 more players: 2 GK (one youngster), 2 CBs and 1 LM. Otherwise I think we are very well set up.

Ok we're going to have to be a bit careful with initials going forward, it was bad enough when we used to confuse Rickie Lambert and R Lowe, now mixing up Nicola with Natty will make things more confusing again.

That was before Tommy kept a clean sheet last night.