the saint in winchester

Give him a chance. He had 6 to 9 months out with a serious injury at Reading, so hadn't kicked a ball in anger until he came to us. By all accounts, he put in a sterling performance on Saturday and I hope he is offered a contract.

Nor me. I tuned in on Saturday hoping to hear commentary vs Hearts, but nothing.

He did. And he played well in a midfield being run by Dutch craftsmen. Believe me, I haven't rated MS at all since he came in a large fee, I couldn't see what others saw in him, but for 15-20 mins vs Ajax, I did see it.

Thanks for your comment, Mr Pardew. :-)

OK. I too was wondering what the status was with Murty, also with Stern John to whom we offered a contract. Has be accepted? Asked if he can consider it for a month? You can't rush a man from the Carribean, clearly. :-)

Not sure if Colin is impressed or not???? Don't know much of Jaidhi's work .. but in Pardew we trust.

oh dear, this has to be the funniest thread ever. I'm trying not to laugh out loud in the office. "sign Becks .. Satchel ...." priceless

As I see it, the season before last we played the experienced (=expensive) players and only just escaped relegation. Last season our finances dictated that we couldn't afford those players and they were sold or loaned out and we played with the younger (=cheap) players. It was the same on the management side. Poortvliet and Wotte were not necessarily adjudged better than Burley or Pearson, they were simply cheaper. Now our finances are such that we can again afford to play the experienced (=expensive) players again (or bring in newer experienced players). Sounds like the younger lads will be taking a back seat again?

I see he's in the squad listing on the OS, so that says to me has agreed and signed a new contract. Previously players out of contract weren't being included "due to insurance issues."

Oh it is that. I'm chuffed to bits. That's the left side sorted with Fish, Holmes and Harding - play any two, and we will reap dividends. Best left side pairing since Bridge and Marsden days. Seriously, this is a good signing and signals Southampton FC mean business. Pardew has me on-side with this signing.

I was excited while sat in the Kingsland on Saturday. Then the game started, and I was more attracted by watching the directors box through the binoculars. That doesn't mean to say that I won't be excited come Aug 8, after AP has got a team together and fit for purpose. Come on!

Already on SSN page - 13:47 today. http://www.skysports.com/football/transfer_clockwatch Will soon be on OS???

AP will soon see we need some pace up front. Apart from Kayne McLaggon, all the others are a bit slow and deliberate. Lita would bring the best out of Razza, Saga, John ... All IMHO, of course. Let's see what the great man does.

Lita's a southerner. He won't want to play 'oop north' at Leicester. I can see AP getting him in.

+1 The news breaks here first ... then hours later it appears on the OS.

OH GET IN!!!! YEEEEESSS!!! Pardew, you beauty. If anyone wants to check my post history, you will see I have named Dan Harding on a number of threads as one I would like to see here. I'm loving this. I'm loving the Dan Harding. I'm loving the Alan Pardew. YES YES YES YES .... now I know what was exciting Meg Ryan - it was Alan Pardew!!! I would hug Alan Pardew if he was here. In fact. I may hug him on Saturday. So if you see some nutter getting carted off my the stewards, that would be me.

Indeed. I did post that last week, but you are forgiven for not reading every post on here. :-) For our irregular readers, I work on Green Park, in the shade of the Madejski. Murty is on the teamsheet so I don't think his injury is too bad. He may even have come off on Saturday to save himself. 8pm kickoff. Be here or be square! http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1727410,00.html

Definitely No 1 and yes ideally No2 but agree your comment that untimately success breeds confidence. Most of them looked out of condition on Saturday, especially Saga (woah, who ate all the pies?) so FITNESS should be a priority. Also agree a few other comments on here that he should be getting to know everyone and listening to their views and assessments. He also should be making his own assessment of the players' abilities. The only comment attributed to him since the weekend was that we are 5 or 6 players short of a good side. Personally I'd like him work with the current squad until December and then in January bring in players that we need.

Quote: Originally Posted by the saint in winchester Have to say this post on 606 BBC site concerns me .... Sorry guys.We dont hate him at Charlton.He was just inept.Doesnt like playing 4,4,2,only 4,5,1,and he doesnt use gifted players when ordinary ones will do.Remember Tevez and Macherano? We had a few favourites he refused to use.Usually plays them out of position too.Good luck,youll need it. Same old same old? Toad of Toadhall responds : Don't worry about the tosh on 606. For Pardew its a past life and one I'm sure he would have learned from. Incidently whats your view on him as Saints manager? Well, thankyou for asking. I was initially disappointed and I had been taken in with the hype that WGS was coming back and I initially felt we had been sold a pup. But having researched his career stats, and discovered he has a sweish wife, I think he's a sound appointment, and keen to get behind him and his lovely wife (who sadly I can't find a pic of). Anyone?

Well, some do that. Others are mocking you, MLT, but it's a fact that several senior managements colleagues dye their hair grey as they believe it gives an air of experience and seniority. Personally, I prefer to dye from grey to brown, but it takes different strokes to row the world (or whatever the phrase is) ...

Have to say this post on 606 BBC site concerns me .... Sorry guys.We dont hate him at Charlton.He was just inept.Doesnt like playing 4,4,2,only 4,5,1,and he doesnt use gifted players when ordinary ones will do.Remember Tevez and Macherano? We had a few favourites he refused to use.Usually plays them out of position too.Good luck,youll need it. Same old same old?

Just read up on him at that centre of excellence - wikipaedia .... he has a Swedish wife! Welcome to Mrs Pardew, and we hope you will come and sit with us at St Mary's.

Aw shucks, guys, thanks. Truth is .. I heard it on the radio ... on the radio, oh oh ah, on the radio (one for the Donna Summer fans amongst us) .... have to say I awoke with a start this morning when they named him. My son said it was also on the Radio 1 news, so there may be some truth in the rumour .... If there's any other rumours I can clear up - like who Tevez will sign for .. let me know. :-)

I may be wrong, but I don't think it's Strachan. Here's a name out of left field - how would y'all feel if someone like ALAN PARDEW got the job? Remember where you read it first.

Haha, here we go again, eh Mark? We had this same conversation about 6 months ago. What is this - Groundhog Day? :-)