VectisSaint

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.

Odd that he was caught on CCTV, and like BWP it was possible to identify who he was, but the other three who were involved were also on CCTV but no-one is able to identify them. Just shows how useful CCTV really is, unless you are a (very) minor celeb, the chances of being apprehended by CCTV is nil. Its a long time since I've been to a Club, don't people have to be signed in these days? It seems to me the poice here just wanted the easy option, instead of doing some investigation. Everyone has the right to remain silent when questioned, I suspect this is what Dyer did. Still does not condone what he did, the guy is obviously a total plank, but at least he did take the rap for it and didn't try to get his sentence reduced by blaming it on someone else.

Because the share of brain cells is inversely proportional to the amount of shares held. Lapdogs do not make good decision makers.

was he packed in a brown paper bag?

was he packed in a brown paper bag?

England are playing? I really couldn't give a stuff. International football is totally irrelevant and I wish it would go back to the times when we played about 3 or 4 times a year. Football is about your football club, not country. It may be a great honour for the players to represent their country, but they don't usually show it much these days. Also watching international football (Especially England) is about as exciting as watching paint dry - agreed there were a few good games in Euro2008, but not many. Strange thing, for football, club is better standard than international, and more relevant, whereas for rugby it is the other way, club rugby is deadly dull, while international is good to watch. I think it is really only the plastics who get over excited about international football, true football supporters know that your club comes first.

England are playing? I really couldn't give a stuff. International football is totally irrelevant and I wish it would go back to the times when we played about 3 or 4 times a year. Football is about your football club, not country. It may be a great honour for the players to represent their country, but they don't usually show it much these days. Also watching international football (Especially England) is about as exciting as watching paint dry - agreed there were a few good games in Euro2008, but not many. Strange thing, for football, club is better standard than international, and more relevant, whereas for rugby it is the other way, club rugby is deadly dull, while international is good to watch. I think it is really only the plastics who get over excited about international football, true football supporters know that your club comes first.

Reckon you had a few beers too many He was responsible for nearly everything Blackpool did until he went off injured. And Blackpool had so many chances he must have been doing something right. Just showed to me how incredibly stupid Burley must have been last season to have not got more out of this guy and to have let him get into the state he did with his fitness (Fat Boy he certainly was but he isn't now). Burley has a hell of a lot to answer for as far as last season is concerned, lucky the Jocks came along and took him off our hands otherwise I doubt we would be in this division now.

So as I said, Norwich are actually in the **** even deeper than we are. Delia has bailed them out to keep them afloat, and now someone connected with Big Brother (I think thats who Jade Goody is, though not sure) is looking at taking them over. My God, I'd rather have Mike Wilde in charge than anyone connected with that slag (and I don't mean Delia)