VectisSaint

Ignoring ones already mentioned, Dave Peach, Steve Williams & Ossie. Special mention also for Eric Martin.

The needs have not really changed from the summer, a striker and a CB. They were our targets then which did not come off, and we still need to strengthen in these 2 areas. Jos is very good, but did not address the initial problem because Seaborne was badly injured. Despite having 5 CBs on our books we really only have 3 to select from, which is not enough. For strikers we do need something else despite again having probably 5 strikers on the books (including Guly & SDR). If I were NA I might be looking for another wide midfield, but I don't think this is priority. On yesterdays performance we should also be looking for a new keeper, but frankly we all know Bart is better than that, I am convinced that some Skate bastards kidnapped Bart and replaced him with a look-alike yesterday who had never played in goal before. Unless Kelvin is out long term which I understand is not the case, then we should recall Dovey and stick with what we have.

When you criticise someone you need to be quite sure that what you are saying is not equally stupid. Goal difference has not been the way "since the beginning of Association Football". Indeed it is a fairly recent change to the FL rules. The primary tie breaker was for most of the FL history goal average (goals for divided by goals against) introduced in 1976/77 following the first experiment in the 1974 World Cup. Goal average often (but not always) favoured teams with good defensive records over attacking teams, whereas Goal Difference should favour attacking football.

Seasonal part-time jobs to supplement their miserable wages

Not everyone from the Isle of Wight hates the Skates, but as he comes from Cowes he probably does.

Will come into its own when we have extra tier of seating on 3 sides of the ground and sunlight is more restricted than now :-) I look forward to the SaintsPlayer report on the new quick drying paint. It should be even less exciting. Think Andy Gray was actually a touch embarrassed that he was being interviewed about a new lighting rig. Wonder if it can double up for concerts.

Jos never played in a Glasgow derby. He only played for Celtic 8 times in total. Hamilton & Kilmarnock in 2009/10, Aberdeen, Inverness CT (twice), St Mirren & Hearts (2010/11) & Braga (home and away) in the Chumps League (he may have also played against Utrecht). Can't see that playing Caly Thistle is much of a comparison with the Skates (except that Thistle are better).

Anyone have the pin code for his answering machine?

Aha, the usual suspects emerge from the woodwork to turn anything negative. Of course Hammond should have come out and said what a load of tosh we are, that we are not good enough and will be lucky to finish 17th this season, but no he comes out with some rational positivity and the wrist-slitters pile in. God, this forum is becoming so predictable and boring. Really wonder what some on here actually expect and if they have any vague understanding of motivation, positivity or even football, because if they do they hide it bloody well.

It is the Skates support that will be ridiculed, not able to fill their crappy little ground for a local derby

We will not move onmany if any of the players you mention. Jaidi and Connolly are on 1 year contracts, no benefit of movubg them on, in any case Jaidi is crook and DC has been excellent and I'm sure will be again soon. Seaborne is out long term, so no chance of moving him on, who would have him? Why anyone thinks NA would get shot of Harding is beyond me. Holmes is playing again, so that would only leave Forte, Punch and Dickson. I'm sure we will try to unload Puncheon but as he is not costing us much if anything at the moment don't see how that helps, and Forte must be on about £20 a week (if value for money is anything to go by). Doubt Dickson will go anywhere either. Why the obsession with the wage bill?

Do we? How have you noticed this? Have you seen accounts. QPR are currently paying Punch's wages, but we were clearly prepared to pay them before he paid for his loan, so don't see that this is correct. Apart for Puncheon and possibly (hopefully) Forte can't see us "moving anyone on" in January. If NA says we need 2 new players in Jan and we are still in the Top 10 (which we will be), then NC will sanction them based on the anticipated income that promotion will bring. 2 players wages would be small fry in comparison.

On what evidence? In my view he clearly wants to continue to be paid as a professional footballer, but there is no evidence that he wants to be playing more football. Poor attitude much of which stemmed from his behaviour (disrespect) at the Memorial Service for Markus. He thinks (mistakenly) that he is a Billy Big ******** player who has been found out at almost every club he has blessed with his presence and who is a disruptive presence in the dressing room/training ground (allegedly). He also isn't really any good. I would be very disappointed if NA were to make a u-turn and allow the guy back into SMS. Good riddance.

Does he have a value? I don't recall any offers for him in the summer and he allegedly paid the QPR loan fee himself. NA has stated he will not play for Saints again. Should tear up his contract, pay him off and get shot.

I think it is mathematically impossible for us not to be in the top 10 come January. It would need a fluke set of results for us not to be in the Top 6, and I suspect we will actually be in the Top 2 or even still top. NA is just repeating the goal that he was probably set at the start of the season. Get us in the Top 10 by January and we will see what we can do to push on for a top 6 or top 2 finish with some business in the transfer window. The fact that we have far exceeded this goal is testimony to the fact that we are top of the league, 7 points clear of 3rd due to a fantastic home record and a slightly better than average away record. We have hit a poor patch at the moment, but still picked up 6 points from last 4 games (we were poor against Brighton except for a few minutes after half time and until they decided to give up). We have a small number of key players injured or not totally fit (Chappers, Rickie & Lallana) and we have the January window opening after 4 (or practically speaking 5 as Brighton is on the 2nd) more games. We are where we are because we are the best team in the league so far, thats what the league table shows. We have played 20 out of the 23 other teams in the league, the facts are really not open for argument (the usual arguments will come out that we have strong teams away in the second half, while ignoring the facts that we also have weaker teams at home - Donny, Coventry & Skates for example). For someone who is usually glass half empty, I still remain confident that we will achieve automatic promotion with this squad plus a couple of additions. I expect 2 signings in January, a striker (one of the ones we targeted in the summer but didn't get) and a new CB (again as we targeted in the summer)

I wonder if Man City have these negative supporters fretting that they are only 7 points above 3rd place (having played a game more). It really is quite ridiculous some of the reactions on here. Must admit I'm not actually too concerned with 3rd place, its the team in 4th that are more of a threat in my opinion. When are people going to start worrying that we won't even make the play-offs after all the gap is now only 12 points (other than Dalek of course).

FFS, its ****ing terrible being top of the league isn't it? Bad result agreed. Still according to Alpine this game was on the eve of our derby away to Skates, so no chance of putting things right at home to Blackpool next week, pity as I was planning on going to the game. I guess Hammers fans will be slitting their wrists, they don't even have home form to fall back on, I guess they will be relegated now. Some people just need to grow a pair.

I think in the end you are agreeing with me. Our away form is quite good (better than average) and if we were to win today our average away points would be 1.5 per game. That would leave us needing 47 points from 26 remaining games, 20 points away and 27 at home (W 9 L4, or W8 D3 L2, both of which are achievable. We clearly won't win all of our home games, thats just ridiculous to even consider, but unless something catastrophic happens we will still win a good many of the remaining home games, 8 or 9 more this season is not out of the question.

We must dispel this myth. If our way form was average it would be the 12th or 13th best in the league. We actually have the 8th best away record in the league, so are well above averaged. 12 points from 9 away games is much better than the generally perceived requirement of a point per game on average.

No, but magic lantern slides will be shown at the Astoria.

I sense the hand of Will Champion (Coldplay drummer for those that don't know) in the lyrics of Us Against the World on the Mylo Xyloto album, the second verse specifically.

Is Sam Vokes' Uncle any good? Is he a CB or striker?

I guess you haven't actually seen him play recently then. Have no doubts about Martin as backup at all, he is very assured and exactly what is needed as backup for Jose & Jos. We could however do with another backup because we lost Seaborne of course, but I think NA believes he has this covered with Cork or Morgan in an emergency. As for Barney, clearly too soon to judge after his long lay-off, but have said all along that we needed a backup for Lambert. Barney is not a backup for Lambert type player, but is probably more than capable of being effective in the Championship in his own way, and hopefully DC will be available again soon to give competition for that spot.

Perhaps he was doing lap of honour to mark that he was signing contract tomorrow when the agent blokey gets off the train early tomorrow morning.

I believe the record is 25 consecutive league wins (it is a Football League record, so would not include the FA Cup), so another 6 to go to equal Bradford PA (team with same name that lost to Totton 8-1). Solent were wittering on about beating Liverpool's record tonight, but not clear what record that is. Amazing to think that the last team to win against us at SMS in the league was the mighty Rochdale!!