VectisSaint

Blimey Ottery, had to look Steve Neville up. He was very much in my era when I attended every home and many away games (74-78) but really don't remember any of his 6 appearances. Still he was later manager of Clyst Rovers down in your neck of the woods.

I think this statement is open to debate. Even when WGS was here our midfield was woeful in terms of goalscoring, we relied on Beattie and Ohmygod. We have not had good goalscoring midfield for a number of seasons now. But to answer your question, loaning out 3 experienced strikers and relying on boys to play as a lone striker was a total disaster. It takes a lot of experience and not a small amount of strength to play as a lone striker.

Probably because he was released by Everton.

One slight difference, they are 5th in the League and still in with a decent shout of getting into Europe. For a team that does not have a Plan B they aren't doing badly, and with a number of key players unavailable as well.

We've really only been playing 4 home-growns for much of the season, James, Lallana, McG and Surman. Thats why Lowe's comments about playing young home-grown players has really been so laughable. The problem has been when we have not played enough experienced players, especially when Perry was mysteriously dropped. Things are looking a little better now, just hope that Rudi is not on his way after his recent comments.

Not neccessarily true. Clubs who take a player on loan can also pay incentives (win bonuses for instance). He probably thought I don't get any win bonuses at Saints so lets try Watford instead (OK, so he got it wrong this week). Also I would guess that Watford is closer to home that Southampton, so less travelling and no staying in hotels all week.

Allegedly

I think we got Seijs because Pearce was recalled, not because Cork went. Pearce's loan had been extended to end January because Killer is still not fit. When he was recalled suddenly JP had a problem. Cork's departure has meant that Wotton is back in the squad and with Spiderman fit again Cork has been adequately replaced (really not clear what happened with Wotton, thought he had gone to Brighton, but looking at their site there is no mention).

True, along with Mick and Dave Peach, these are true legends as far as I'm concerned (Tiss is too young to be a legend for me). Pass on my best wishes Tim, hope Ron gets over this swiftly. Hopefully the win today will cheer him up, like it has me.

Think its Mister Bates in this case

Everton seem to think he left them to join us (out of contract) http://www.evertonfc.com/match/transfers.html The Forest Green Rovers bloke is a right back by the way.

I reckon Saints might just sneak this. Seems an attacking side, why don't we play an attacking side when we are at home. Hopefully the ref might be on our side as well, with a name like T Bates we can hope.

LOL, all Dutch people speak English, usually far better than English people. You want to try living there and learning their language, no chance. The only exception I have ever found is Jan Poortvliet, he only speaks twaddle, usually after the match.

Mick Channon? Has lots of contacts with middle eastern business men who have horses. Pure speculation, but who knows.

Wotton back in the squad (and probably the team from the order given), thought he had gone.

They'll be signing Brett Ormerod next.

Assume Lowe has not made up his mind for him yet. If Saga does not play then that would be a criminal waste. he really should be just about the first name on the team sheet, and this ****** about him not having played for 2 weeks, crap, hopefully he will be more ready to go than the boysh who are probably tired after last Sunday.

Totally laughable. He may be trying to act in the best interests of shareholders, as he always has, but to even imagine he is trying to act in the best interest of supporters is a total joke. Lowe doesn't even accept there are supporters, we are customers, or we are the lunatic fringe, completely irrelevant to his plans, and completely ignored. You do at least admit that he is "trying" to act in the best interests, sadly "trying" is not good enough. He is failing, and his actions are taking us closer and closer to relegation and probably administration. The current situation is the result not only of the last 2 years (primarily caused by the man propping up Lowe's regime now, Judas Wilde) but also of Lowe's previous mismanagement. The fact of the matter is that Lowe is lauded by some as being some sort of financial genius, whereas the truth is that he is anything but a financial genius and on top of that knows absolutely FA about how to run a football club.

Van Rental I believe

City or Park Avenue?

5 actually - Fuller, Delap, Pericard, Davies and Higgy. Still at least we have Pulis. BTW has Rudi signed yet LOL I suspect once Jan reads this on Sky, that Rudi will sadly be shown the door a la Wotton. Speaking out against the experience that is JP is not allowed. I would be sad to see Rudi leave, I feel his experience has been very important in even keeping us on terms in some games. We usually look better when Perry and Rudi play at the back, even with James and A N Other. I think he also always had the potential to be a "star" for us, if only we had persisted in playing him in his favoured, if not his original position of LM. His fitness has sometimes let him down though. Expect to see him elsewhere within 25 days

Given that people in the banking industry don't understand how to deal with finances, hence the current recession, what hope is there that they understand football? They are just a load of *ankers.

Only if he can prove he doesn't :yawinkle: There has to be some reason for his ridiculous decisions and tactics.

It may have something to do with being in the top flight of Engliah football for 60+ years (compared to our 27), being League Champions twice and European Cup semi-finalists. Derby have a very long and illustrious history, and as a result have a very large following compared to our own. The urban area around Derby would provide the basis for a much bigger support base than Southampton, where the surrounding area is not the working-class football based population like the industrial midlands. Its not so much that Hampshire people are interested in football, its more that football is traditionally a working-class sport, and Hampshire really isn't very "working class" outside of Southampton and Pompey.