VectisSaint

Its true that some clubs were following suit, but it seems that at least one of the clubs that we "followed" (Tottenham) with the benefit of more experience than us with having a Prem League squad are re-considering because they are finding that the opposition that they can find is not up to the standard they perhaps expected and it is not helping them get their fringe players prepared for introduction into the prem league. I can see it is a bit different in the lower leasgues, where the standard of opposition in the Combination is quite awful (even some non-league teams competing). There are also other considerations for smaller clubs, not least cost which may make them take the decision not to run a reserve team. But is playing against Hoddle's academy really the right preparation for fringe players? Still it will be interesting to see if we have entered or not, I'd like to know when the fixtures come out, because it would impact what we need to sign to support a reserve team.

I haven't seen anything yet that confirms one way or the other whether we will enter the Premier Reserve League next season. Saints seem to prefer the approach of not committing to reserve team football. We are not alone in that view, there were only 16 teams last season, and all three relegated teams were involved so numbers could be as low as 13 this coming term. There are moves afoot to restructure the Reserve League next season (2013-14) but it would be interesting to know, from the point of view of having players available what is our strategy this season. I guess the fixtures will be out soon and we will know. In the meantime here is an article about Spuds who were one of the teams that went the same route as us, and now may be re-considering whether the experiment has worked. http://www.footballfancast.com/2012/06/football-blogs/is-it-time-for-tottenham-to-contemplate-a-return

Did I miss Brazil and Argentina?

Who's to say, long term he may have done us a favour, would we have been taken over by Markus Liebherr if we had not gone into Administration. We might still be struggling along under the guidance of "he who shall not be named" if we had won against Derby and then been promoted under Whisky George. Then again. Still wouldn't really want him back, he is unfairly maligned but he is still not really that good and always gives the impression of not being arsed.

I guess if we were selecting this team to play at altitude we could include Delgado, and maybe even his buddy.

Maybe Kanchelskis on the right would be a good addition. OK, his single appearance for us was not exactly memorable, but he wasn't bad in his prime.

Peach was better left back than all of them (Holmesy was better LM) Sadly Bale would not make my team as I would have Big Ron up front to take the Welsh slot. Le Saux at LB if each of the Channel Islands can be represented, if not then Skacel made a decent fist of the job, but not sure if he ever signed. Niemi, Golac, Lundekvam, Svensson (M), Le Saux, Berkovic, Le Tissier, Schneiderlin, Pahars, Davies R, Channon

Millwall 40k, Luton 30k. Difference is we could have taken many many more but were not allowed.

I found watching Svensson the other night quite embarrassing. I was never his greatest fan, always flattered to deceive and was very powder-puff in my view. But the other night he appeared to have turned into a hatchet man, his tackling was atrocious and he should have been yellow carded at least twice (so sent off). I never thought he had it in him to do a passable impression of Hurlock. I know its not serious but would not want him back under any circumstances.

Aaron Martin is from the Isle of Wight (like me). We were having hippy festivals well before Glasto, doesn't seem to have done him too much harm (but it may or may not have blighted my Saints career).

Has anyone checked out who his Dad (or Mum) supports? No good bringing the lad through if the old man will be after a contract with Arsenal or Yeovil Town as soon as the boy is old enough. Only kids whose parents are both season ticket holders at Saints should be allowed into the Academy. I also dislike this idea that kids aged 8-15 are not allowed to play for their local club side if they are part of an academy set up. In some cases where 1 or 2 kids have been banned like this from playing for a club because of this elite set up the club teams have folded, leaving several kids who are not elite standard with no football at all. If the lad at the academy does not end up making the grade as will happen in 95% of cases, they will have been denied local club football throughout their childhood. I no longer coach largely because of similar scheme introduced here, we lost not only players but coaches as well (because the coaches were parents who were no longer able to support the Club because they had to become taxi drivers for their kids).

Its you that is missing the point. Kids football, Sunday League, lucky if you can get a referee let alone 6 officials, and the cost of Hawkeye is way beyond the reach of these types of teams (at least for the foreseeable future).

Never been totally convinced that Collina is a human being. I think maybe he is the Mekon. I only have one problem with goal line technology, and that is that it cannot be applied at all levels of the game. The cost is enormous, and would be prohibitive even at semi-pro level, can you imagine the Tyro League or other kids footy having Hawkeye systems installed? But it will come because football is no longer a sport or a passtime but a multi-billion pound industry. Its the same as having 4th officials, we have a desparate shortage of referees in this country, yet every week now hundreds spend their time standing on the touchline holding up boards with numbers on, and checking that players studs are ok before they come on the pitch. You don't need to be a qualified ref to do that. The game's arbitraters forget the beauty of the game, that the rules are simple and can be applied universally.

Now we have the embarrassing fact on show to all the world because we threw away the title last season: League Titles: Division Three 1959-60 (they could at least have included out Division Three South title 1921-22 and maybe the 6 Southern League titles. (1896-97, 1897-98, 1989-99, 1900-01, 1902-03, 1903-04)

Surely its too soon to have made a decision about what will happen to him. All he knows at the moment is that he won't be in the 1st team squad next season, personally would have been shocked if he was (not good enough for the Championship so unlikely to be good enough for the PL). Saints will therefore be looking to either loan him or transfer him to recoup some of their investment. That process may continue until end August or even longer. Maybe we will look to use him as part of a transfer deal, or maybe if we can find a buyer we will sell him straight. I think people are forgetting its still only mid June, we have over 2 months to go before the transfer window shuts and even then there is still the loan window. Also, relevant point, do we know yet whether we will be playing in the Premier Reserve League next season or not? If we are then we will need a hell of a lot more players than we currently have (I suspect we won't though and will contine with Development Squad at least until 2013/14 season when the Reserve League is supposed to be re-structured).

Perhaps someone ought to tell him Hull have already been in the Premier League. Difference between Hull and the others is that the others have managed to stay up, Bruce will never achieve that with Hull because he is a crap manager.

Crappy weather, just spent an hour watching some great video clips: http://www.mickchannon.tv/page/extras/football Nostalgia, it ain't what it used to be. Brian O'Neil, style icon.

No, think he would struggle to run at all these days, but his horses can and do so frequently unless I bet on them.

Mick Channon is more likely to be honoured when he retires from racing or perhaps after he hopefully wins a British Classic.

What an insightful post, you contributed so much to this thread. Still at least we all know now that one of the bunch you refer to is you. Well done.

Lowe. Jordan. Couple of big tits.

Comparisons between the two are meaningless as they have different roles. But if you are going to compare then there is no contest. Morgan is a defensive midfielder whose game is to sit in front of the 2 CBs, break up play and then get us going again. He is supreme at this, hardly ever gives the ball away and has great first touch. he is not there to score goals, but still manages more than Cork or Hammond (just). Cork is supposed to be more of an attacking MF, but has relatively poor touch and cannot score to save his life. Hopefully he will improve this aspect of his game because we cannot afford to have an offensive midfielder who is unable to socre goals.

Really can't stand that miserable scottish **** when he is on MOTD. Didn't know he could sing either.

Doubt it. I am not ITK, but these things are usually payments when a certain number of appearances are reached, not each time he makes an appearance. I would guess it is when he has made 10 competitve appearances. So maybe we will be 30% there by end of this tournament. It is the same with domestic payments of this type, bit like why the Skates could not pay a player after so many appearances because one more game would trigger a payment to his previous club. Look for AOC being withdrawn from an England team when he is about to make his 10th (or whatever it is) appearance.

Almost certainly only when a certain number of appearances have been reached, not an individual payment for each one.