the saint in winchester

Don't agree. He needs MORE game time, not less. He is a confidence player and needs to be playing. Pulling out of the Reserves league has meant he has spent games on the bench. I wouldn't give up on Bart, he just needs to get his confidence back. Remember not so long ago when he came in for an extended spell, and when KD was ready again, may fans wanted Bart to retain the jersey. He can still play at this level IF he can get his confidence back, and that means playing more regularly than the odd League Cup game.

Agree with the last two comments. Phillips was really good for us, formed an excellent pairing with Crouch - the old big one and a little one. IIRC he only left as with relegation Lowe was threatening to invoke the 50% pay cut clause in his contract. Like most players, he thought "I'm off then." I never held that against him and he was consistently good with clubs after us, and I'm sure will get more goals this season. Kevin Davies - don't get me started - completely under-used by Saints. Was delighted we got him back for a second stint then annoyed he wasn't given a chance to stake a claim for a regular starting place. Was always arguing for this with fans around me and they all said "not til he loses some weight and gets fit." He was never given a chance, and I'm pleased for him his career got back on track after Saints. As noted above, a top player in the Premiership now.

Just read about him on BBC Sports and was going to post this suggestion, but you beat me to it - by 6 hours. Get, get him in. Problem is he wants game time. We want a standby.

what a surreal thread ... anyway .... any chance this nipper is good enough to be thrust straight into the first team and can play the first 60 minutes until SDR is unleashed?

We don't have a large pot of money (check) - we don't need one (check) - just pay modestly for the backup roles .... do think we slipped up by not giving Beattie a 3 month PAYP deal .... but that's gone now ... And I don't get annoyed at Dalek. He has always amused me with 117 different ways of saying "Hoddle is God" and "we're gonna finish no higher than midtable." I don't agree with either statement, but he has a right to post his lunatic comments.

No shirt, just skins. It'll be a cold day, no doubt, but we're hardy sorts. Topless, innit.

Why didn't you call me? I could have met you and your friends for a swift one.

If you check the interview with NA on SaintsPlayer, Adkins said he told De Ridder to play "up front" as striker alongside Guly. Morgan was told to play RM. What happened was that they interchanged, and it was Morgan that went through on goal (as a striker) one on one vs the goalkeeper. I'd keep De Ridder as supersub, play Lallana as RM, Holmes as LM and tell him to get outside the defender with his crosses. In the 2nd half, bring De Ridder on as RM and Lala can go back to LM. It will confuse the opposition, and likely many of our team/fans.

We have to sort out the away form or we will slip away...... we really are Jekyll and Hyde.

Can't afford any more off games. Fortunately WHU also lost, but that will encourage the teams in positions 3 to 10 that the top 2 are catchable.

From David in Sweden Meantime there are still 15 points to be won - or lost between now and December 31st. Not having back-up for Lambert (though I hope he's fit enough to play today) could be a costly error if we are without him during that period. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You are already right, David. Our whole play is based around Lambert. Without him we look like a jelly that hasn't set.

OK, Clarkey, thanks - just uninstalled it.

says you have to download iLivid. So I did, Still nothing to view......

I did wonder about that, too.

That would be my shopping list as well. Someone to play up to the 70th minute, when SDR is allowed to come on and terrorise weary legs!!!

Haha, there's a note that "this game will only be shown if nowt else is working; even then, it probably won't work either" (or words to that effect). We're a last resort game, chaps! If all else fails, they'll put us on for public streaming.

I like the explanation that he is getting a late train out of London tonight (at whatever time) to broker a deal in the morning (at whatever time). Said deal to be announced (at whatever time, on whatever day.) Just don't break a leg tonight, Jos, that would complicate the deal.

I hope this is the case ... but at the risk of being pedantic, there is no 11:45pm train out of Waterloo tonight. There is one at 00:05, gets into SOT at 01:38, but hey, who will be around at that time to sign contracts???

Just popped to get petrol and heard them talking about "Shay Given wiping tears from his eyes after the news about Gary Speed." Just dashed home and gone online. Suicide? Why? Oh boy, he had so much to live for - family, success .... I guess I'm not a mental health counsellor and we await an explanation ... if there can be one.

Would have preferred De Ridder on - pace pace pace

oh Crabbie, that's brilliant!!!

That was the one that came to my mind too. David Armstrong given offside when he was played no part in the move, but was deemed to be interefering with play as he was in the keeper's line of sight! Bizarre.

Give over, she's a babe.

Sam Vokes has just joined Burnley on loan ... so does that mean J-Rod is coming available? I don't know much about any of the candidates, so will leave it to NA and NC.

POST OF THE WEEK. Every thing you say is completely the case. My father would affectionately call people 'darkies' but I promise you he wasn't racist - it was the language of the day. I would say him "Dad, you can't use that word these days". Any of you under 30, see if you can find a playback of any episode of 1970s sitcom "Love Thy Neighbour". Yes, it was a comedy. They can't show it these days - OFCOM would be inundated. Times change, expressions change. I haven't heard the interview with Poyet yet - I will later from home - but Bletch has explained it well.