VectisSaint

Why? Andrew Sparkes clearly improved what we had, though he started from a low base. As long as they don't convert him to a general Coach.

You forgot 'arry. Jim Smith, Joe Jordan and the other fella whose name escapes me. What'Joe doing these days?

We did well getting shot of Ings when we did (perhaps I didn't think so at the time). He had one good season for us and that was his peak. He has been disappointing to say the least at Villa, no way should we consider having him back.

Top priority is to strengthen CM.

The domestic champions path in the Youth League is less onerous, with a knockout 2-leg format for first 2 rounds and then knock out for the last rounds when they join the CL teams. In reality qualifiers only end up playing about 3 ties if they are moderately successful.

Saints negotiated a contract with McCarthy last Summer, we haven't just given him a new one. There is no reason in the world why they can't sell him now (apart from the obvious, no one would buy). Things changed during the season, must admit the fiasco when McCarthy was injured would be the end of his Saints career (and might effectively still be except him covering for Forster's injury). Clearly the plan last summer was to clear out our goalkeeper stock, but having an eye on maintaining some continuity by keeping one as a probable backup to a new #1 - Macca's revised contract certainly was not as a guaranteed #1, as far as I can tell from the evidence of the reports/rumours at the time. Forster was in great form for a while while he came back in but has largely reverted to type more recently. McCarthy was actually OK before the Norwich game and then subsequently the game where he was injured. In my opinion what we should now do this Summer is offer a one year extension to Willy, make McCarthy available for transfer/loan, say bye bye to Forster (not forgetting we have already said farewell to Harry Lewis) and invest in 2 new keepers (No 1 and young No 3) - it sounds like the Pole is a done deal (despite the comments read today). We should also ditch 2 former goalkeepers from our coaching staff (not our GK Coach who actually has seemingly worked hard at improving our current keepers, even though you can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear) and employ some experienced "outfield" coaching staff to help Ralph and Richard.

Harry Lewis has agreed a 2 year deal with Bradford City (managed by Sparky).

Not sure how 45-33 is skating on thin ice, we were even ahead of them when we were last promoted. I used to go to Fratton (lived in Cosham for a couple of years), but always went in the away end, but as usual they were in the lower divisions then, 3rd Div if I recall correctly, while we were above them in the 2nd.

Nowhere near. Skates have only been in the top flight for 33 seasons, and that includes the 39/40 season which was abandoned after a week. I recommend you go back and read wiki again, on second thoughts perhaps that is a bit harsh, though it is interesting to note how many times they escaped relegation from the top flight by the skin of their teeth.

cough, Arsenal

He doesn't want to be here on the terms he was (supposedly) offered last Summer (reported in the Scottish Sun). That's the same as doesn't want to be here, unless Saints improve the offer, and there is little sign that they will. I suspect Forster is already set up for next season, he has had 9 months to get something sorted, his performances in the last 4 months won't have done him any harm if he had not already been sorted before Christmas.

Good luck with that, it ain't gonna happen.

All the evidence is that Stephens is out of contract in June. McCarthy is different the rumoured new contract was confirmed as a transaction (by the FA I believe). Stephens has also been completely missing from squads recently which tends to confirm that he is not in the plans for next season. Wouldn't surprise me to see him at Boscombe next year (unless he is going to Man U as an upgrade on Maguire).

The point is though that given it had to be at the home of a professional club, there was no need for it to have been 3 weeks after the regular season finished (which was already about 3 weeks later than originally planned) and also it need not have been on a Saturday, especially given that all League weekend games are played on Sunday. Just smacks of complete amateurish incompetence to me. They should have booked a proper neutral venue before the season started. Shabby treatment not just for Saints but Wolves as well.

Actually Southgate has called both of them up for England, just that one was more recently. As I said, hardly a ringing endorsement, the pool of England qualified keepers is not very deep.

Southgate selects Harry Maguire, its not exactly a ringing endorsement.

Mate's nipper is the Reading keeper. Mate is a Skate though so don't feel too bad.

That was the rumour, but McCarthy's contract was "outed" by the official FA information, whereas there was no evidence of Stephens' new contract. The fact that he hasn't even made the last couple of matchday squads would suggest to me that he is not in the picture for next season. Will please many on here (maybe he is going to ManU as an upgrade to Maguire).

Perhaps they could arrange to play Wolves beforehand, ridiculous situation that the play-off has been arranged 3 weeks after the last league game (especially when you consider the league was originally supposed to have finished about a month ago) and not only that arranged for a 3rd-rate venue geographically distant for both teams. Totally amateurish level of organisation at this level of the women's game. Sooner we win the play-off and move up to the Championship the better.

Cardiff on Sunday (last League game) then 3 weeks of nothing.

As fans "we" voted Chris Baird better than Gareth Bale, suggests he was rather better than you seem to credit. he was outstanding for us in central defence, converted from a LB, had the leap of a salmon.

When will people understand, we (Southampton) have not made a choice that McC is the better keeper. We offered both keepers a deal to remain, one accepted and one rejected. That's not stating a preference.

🤣

And why do you believe the Torygraph? It's a rag, and they have zero information on Saints, a bit like their knowledge of anything.

The trouble is that ultimately they have not won the League and Cup double (yet), that will only happen when the play-off against Wolves takes place. What we have done so far is won the League Cup and the Southern Premier Division. Shame really that the play-off is after our last home match of the season (assuming Liverpool is rescheduled before 22 May which it has to be).