Bailey

Ricky Lambert and Andy Bishop would be good. Get Tom Carddock in too to provide competition. Simples.

Graeme Murty and Dan Harding were superb in the full-back positions. They got forward well, supported the wide players and looked strong defensively. It makes such a difference having proper full-backs, the team is so much more balanced and we we work a lot better as a unit. As for Wayne Thomas and Chris Perry, well it was certainly an improvment on last season's defensive displays. Thomas was pretty commanding, although he does look suspect at times. Still think we need one or two defenders to provide cover and add competition. Perry might not have the legs but he can still read the game brilliantly. I'm sure we'll see Pards improve on the defence in due course, but today's performance was very encouraging. I just hope that Thomas can stay fit until we get some cover in, otherwise we're in for a struggle.

Strachan in the Directors Box, Benali too! Loved the standing ovation for Le Tiss as he walked round the ground to fulfil his Sky duties also. Even better to see Liebherr with a Saints scarf round his neck! Great stuff!

Pards has already said he's looking to sign Jaidi, or if the move can't go ahead, then someone similar. I'm sure we'll sign the right players in due course. Lets see what sort of a side we've got out come the end of August/early September.

It's just my opinion, but if Saga and Rasiak believe they are too good for this division, they should pull their finger out and prove it. If they want their move, they should work their socks off for us and earn their transfer away from the club. I have no problem with them leaving if they don't want to be here, but whilst we're paying their wages, they should honour their contracts and put the effort in.

Leon was in attendance, sat just to the side of the Directors Box. No sign of Lawrie though. On a side note, good to see Benali and Strachan in the Directors Box too! Loved the reception Le Tiss got also!

I'll take that. Millwall are one of the better teams in this division, and considering Pardew has only had a couple of weeks in the job, it's really not a bad start. Could have been better, but very promising. It makes a massive difference having proper full-backs playing on either flank, with Murty and Harding both getting forward well to support the wide players. Thomas was commanding too, although he does look prone to the odd error here and there. Perry looked solid also, and although he doesn't have the legs anymore, he can still read the game brilliantly. I was impressed with James at right-midfield too. Admittedly he went quiet in the second-half, but he has potential and got forward well. I can see him and Murty linking up well together down that right side, although I'd like us to sign an out and out right-midfielder in due course. My MOTM however, goes to Morgan Schneiderlin. MS has always been criticised on here for not having any bottle and shying away from tackles, but he certainly didn't shy away from anything today. He got stuck in, battled away and held his position well. Had one of his long-range efforts gone in, we would have had an early contender for the 'Goal of the Season' award! Hopefully Pards can get the best out of Schneiderlin, and fingers crossed he'll reproduce good performances like today consistently over the course of the season. He's a very, very talented player, with superb passing ability, and I just hope we see the best of him this season. On the whole, a good start, although there's lots of room for improvment. Still, plenty of promising signs, and as Pards has said, it's only going to get better from here on in. It'll be very interesting to see how we are playing come the end of August/early September. Anyway, onwards and upwards! Now bring on Huddersfield!

As ridiculous as it sounds, I'd much rather be in our position. Yes we're in League One, and yes we're starting on -10, but I feel we have a lot of good times ahead, where as P*mpey's future very much hangs in the balance and their long-term future is uncertain.

Agree completely. If you watch the interview on SaintsPlayer, they show you some brief clips of training, with Murty and James working on getting to the by-line and delivering some balls into the box.

I really like what Pardew has to say in his interviews. He always gives an open and honest account, and it's good to hear him talking about the need for some new players! Very reassuring to hear that a lot of work is being done behind closed doors to improve the club at all levels too. From what Pardew is saying re: Jaidi situation, maybe I wasn't mis-informed with regards to why he hasn't signed? It's all a bit complex this one, but time will tell. Hopefully he does end up signing as I think he'd be a superb addition to the team. Still think Sam Sodje would be a good alternative if we can't sign Radhi for whatever reason, plus he's available on a free!

Sam Sodje would be a good alternative. He's a similar style player to Jaidi and he has proven himself at this level in the past, most recently last season where he was at Leeds on loan from Reading. He's available on a free too so would be ideal!

I don't want to start a conspiracy theory here! It's possible I've been mis-informed as to the reason why Jaidi hadn't signed sooner. I wasn't made aware that obtaining a work permit would be an issue, more of a formality. Also, it was suggested that Jaidi was holding out for more money, but that doesn't appear to be the case, with Radhi having agreed to the contract on offer from the club. Unfortunately, it seems that the deal can't go through due to the work permit being rejected, but with his track record and experience, I'd like to think we could sign him after a successful appeal.

To be fair I think the contract on offer is a good one, but at 33, soon to be 34, this is going to be Jaidi's last club so he has every right to look around for the best deal possible. Personally, I hope he does sign as he would be ideal for us, especially in League One, but if a Championship team do come in with a late offer, then I can't see us getting him.

Right, it would seem that Jaidi's agent is putting his client about a bit to get the best deal possible. Jaidi has been training with us and a contract has been agreed in principle, now it's up to Radhi to decide whether his future lies with us or not. As I understand, he's holding out for more money, but I can't see Saints improving the contract offer on the table. Don't be surprised if a Championship side comes in for him and we miss out. The fact that he's stalling on signing a deal with us suggests he's not totally committed anyway so maybe it would be best to look at alternative targets.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/plymouth_argyle/8186423.stm

Euell scored a brace in one of Blackpool's other pre-season fixtures too though!

I think I'm right in saying that Euell has now scored more goals in pre-season for Blackpool than he did during his entire Saints career!

Jaidi was at training today with the rest of the squad. Hopefully will be announced soon. Fingers crossed.

Jaidi was at training today with the rest of the squad. Hopefully will be announced soon. Fingers crossed.

Has this actually been confirmed anywhere other than The Echo yet? Nothing on BBC or SkySports.

Registered and have made my prediction for Millwall. Can't wait for the start of the new season now! Here's hoping for 3 points.

15K have been sold already, with sales expected to improve during the next week in the build-up to the game. If we can get near 20K then that would be a decent start to life in League One. Hopefully we'll get the 3 points to go with it too!

Sweepstake on what minute Holmes will go off injured? 34 minutes for me.

Made his P*mpey debut during their 4-0 defeat against Benfica, but only lasted 46 minutes as he was forced to come off with a hamstring injury. Good to see he's put his injury problems behind him then!

Another good, honest review from Pardew. It's reassuring to hear him talking about our defensive frailties from set-pieces, and no doubt he's working hard on the training ground to get this sorted. Fingers crossed he can bring in a player or two during the next week in a bid to improve our defence also! Good news re: Murty's situation as well. Hopefully he is close to signing a contract with us as he could be a very useful player for us in League One. He's got bags of experience and after seeing him a couple of times during pre-season, he looks up for the challenge ahead and well worth signing up. I just hope we don't have another Stern scenario on our hands!