VectisSaint

Vignal was and probably still is available, we don't need any of the premiership mercenaries, we had a perfectly good LB last season (at least he came good at the end after a mixed start). He would also have some Frenchy mates these days with Spiderman and Gosmi (or whatever his name is).

Depends, if he is intelligent eough to realise that he would actually earn more by taking a cut in the appearance money (I never suggested no appearance money at all) then it would make sense all round. If on the other hand he is content to earn less money than he could then he must be more stupid than I thought. Conversation could go like this: RL: "Mr Scumbag (sorry I mean Mr Agent") would your player like to earn more money than he currently is?" Agent: "Mr Scumbag (sorry I mean Mr Lowe), of course my money-grabbing football mercenary would, thats what its all about these days" RL: "Good, then sign here to agree that appearance money is reduced by 50% and your man will be in the team on Saturday. I will square that with our Head Coach as I am also Director of Football. I will also inform the poodle Football Club Chairman next time he is over from Jersey". Agent: "Right sir, you are so gracious your Lordship" By the way has he signed yet?

Problem is that it is a double-edged sword. By not bringing in a proper LB (or RB for that matter) we have been left using a MF as an emergency LB. On top of that Drew is one of our best MF options but we have lost that. We need Drew in MF, probably in preference to Gillett, and a proper LB. personally I think Rudi is a better LB anyway. This nonsense about his appearance money should be addressed. After all, even he must see that he is not playing therefore not earning any appearance money, so renegotiate the contract to get less app money and he might actually get played. Surely Lord Lowe is supposed to be good at this sort of financial stuff, so Lowe, get your finger out and get the job done.

Excellent, lets look at our home league form, that will give us comfort. Oh bugger, we've lost both home games, I forgot:) It may only be 5 games but the signs are there for all to see if they just removed their rose-tinted blinkers, we really are in deep ****.

Anorak alert :smt103 Davies 2 (1 pen), Channon, Gabriel and og I don't recall the rain, but then I am also mad I seem to remember the Anderlecht game was also very wet, or perhaps I am mixing the two up, weather wise.

Funny you recall the rain but not the match and the result. We won 5-1 at home!!! I was there, brilliant night (l don't recall the weather though). That was the most disappointing European run, because we ended up going out to Newcastle on away goals, after 2 draws. To lose on away goals is bad enough but against another English team and without losing either game was a bit of a ****er.

I guess there must be 2 different people called Steve Claridge

You are clearly falling for the spin. He has just had 2 weeks break, and like the rest of the squad who were not on international duty he was given time off by the coach. Agreed he may not be able to play 7 in 21, but in that case play him in the first, when the other experienced CB is out, see how it goes and then maybe revise the plan. Crass stupidity to plan for this by dropping the guy for the first game, and have 2 kids debut at CB. Better plan would have been to partner perry with either Cork or Ollie, then bring the other kid in for the second game if necessary.

Can't say I heard 5Live yesterday, but if people could put their anti-skate hatred to one side, they would actually find that Claridge is one of the better co-commentators, and is almost always very complimentary towards Saints, despite the abuse he gets. We lost 4-1 yesterday, what i saw on Sky was diabolical in the main, who can say Claridge was wrong to be critical. Sometimes the truth hurts, especially when you cannot see past your blind hatred.

How can you possibly claim Bennett was either an old head or experienced? He is neither. Was probably the worst player ever to pull on a Saints shirt in his first game (and no I am not forgetting Ali Dia). Came on and looked OK when playing alongside an experienced CB. Bennett was certainly not the person we needed. Lucketti may have been a different kettle of fish. But the real answer to "Who?" which Derry initially posed, was Gregory Vignal. He fitted the criteria of being experienced and young and in the latter half of last season was beginning to look class. Whats more he proved more than capable in dead ball situations. We should have kept Greg, thus allowing Drew to play in MF (probably instead of Gillett who is lightweight). With Spiderman and the other new Frenchy as well he would probably have fitted well.

Interesting picture on Wiki of Theo, looks like someone is out to get him, a four-pronged attack from behind http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Theo_Walcott_3.jpg/225px-Theo_Walcott_3.jpg

I think Saints will win 2-1. Then Bernie and Flavio will complain to the officials, and the match will be awarded to Ferrari.

Agreed, I was only commenting on the sense of the deal that Crouch did in the circumstances, not whether it was good for any other reason. The original deal by Lowe was actually quite remarkable considering Theo could have gone for a tribunal fee (though much of that was down to Theo and his parents who tried to do the decent thing and acted very honourably). Just getting £5m was a good deal. The rest was a gamble, pure and simple, and as you say, because of the bad decisions made by many, including Lowe, Wilde and Crouch (not to mention Redknapp) we are in the mess we are in, and thus the gamble did not pay off.

Sorry, but thats totally incorrect. Swindon received a 5 figure fee from Saints when Theo was sold on to Arsenal. It was reported up here in Wiltshire that the then Swindon manager (can't for the life of me recall who it was, they have even more than us), personally thanked Mr Lowe for forwarding the cheque to Swindon without being asked. A bit of a windfall at the time (so much for the crass comment by the Scooby Troll who demonstrates once again that he knows nothing about Lowe or anything else for that matter).

Basically agreed, I think I already posted this earlier, the only thing I think is that it was £1m for each 10 appearances, so possibly we may have received a payment at the earliest in about 1 years time when the WC Groups stages end (assuming Theo plays in all 10 qualifiers). Fact still is, its no good having a future payment schedule if we go under bfore those payments are due. Crouch did a good job renegotiating the deal (assuming he did), otherwise as Lowe as pointed out we would be in a worse financial position now than we are actually in, and that basically means we would be in Admin reading between the lines. I sincerely hope it doesn't happen, but Theo could get injured tomorrow and not play again this season, then where would stage payments be. I prefer jam today.

Something we would not see a penny of until Theo has played another 8 competitive games for England. So thats about another 2 years at best (assuming he plays every WC match). If we qualify we may have seen another mill about 2 years later again, perhaps a little less. Still looks like a good deal by Crouch to me, despite what Scooby the Troll tries to imply. If not for Crouch and this deal we may not have even been around for these payments if Lowe and Wilde are to be believed. Still, fair play to the lad whatever the ins and outs of the deal. Just shows what gormless ****s Sven and Maclaren were not playing him. At least Capello has the balls to replace Becks with Walcott. Hopefully this will bring Beck's retirement forward and accelerate his interest in buying a club that invests in youth

Do the FlyBe logos come off in the wash when the players wash their kits? Do they have to iron it as well? This is a pressing matter, I think we should be told.

No :confused: Never really looked closely before, but I really did think the one 2nd from left was Golac. If thats Mick then its a terrible picture. I wish I hadn't posted now, rather embarrassing... New banner required urgently to save old fogies like me with fading eyesight from further shame

I worry about any bloke who cares whether a man looks better with or without hair. Is there something you want to make public?

Surely Paine should be on the right Must admit I think Channon and Paine should be on the banner (and Bobby?), as top legends of the Club, though I would be sad to see Ivan disappear to make way. Maybe KK will disappear when the going gets a bit tough as he usually does Personally I don't think current players should be on the banner, it should be real legends only, and it will be many years before any of the current crop earn that status (with the possible exception of Killer).

The most important factor that will lead to an increase in attendances is for the team to WIN AT HOME (sorry to shout but its a simple fact that some people, such as Wilde and Lowe don't seem able to comprehend). Nothing else will make that change, nothing. It really doesn't matter if we win at home looking like Brazil or looking like England beating Andorra, 3 points regularly at home will bring the crowds back. Actually, I will take back a little bit my dig at Wilde, because he did hint at this when he went on about St Mary's becoming a fortress, sadly no-one seems to have taken this on board. We have had 2 home league games this season and lost both, and last season we had one of the worst home records in the League. People have to enjoy going to football, and the best way to do this is to beat the opposition. Simple formula, win home games, increase home crowds

Beeb in accurate reporting shock. Most of us here know George Burley never managed Saints. The only time we did well when he was here was when Snodin was assiting.

Good point, TT get down to Beckham Mansion and get the little fella signed up for us right now.

Trying to ignore the ramblings of the resident troll, but this nonsense about the golden duo. What does Wotte do (if you see what I mean)? Other than manage the reserves his role is rather minor, yet originally he was touted as a major part of the revoluiion. No mention of him in Wilde's poodle parlour chit chat (does Wilde know who he is or has Lowe perhaps not introduced them yet). I thought he was going to be the one bringing in players, while Jan the Man did the coaching, but it seems its only Lowe and Jan involved (oh sorry forgot the lap dog as well), and not Wotte.

Have the Academy scouts been watching Brooklyn? We should get him signed up then Becks would be bound to take us over. Even if he was no good we could keep him in the team, after all Pulis would be nearing retirement age by then. I guess the only problem is that we no longer have scouts overseas.