saint1977

Tadic - FFS. Why not bring on Juanmi, we need to go past players, not hold up the rest of the side and given it away on the edge of the opposition. Thought the disallowed goal was a bit harsh.

Agree, Victor disappointing. Romeu has generally looked better although could have done without that early yellow. Don't know why the ref didn't book their skipper for a worse offence at the other end. Poor header from Fonte but he has my sympathies playing next to Caulker. Not sure Caulker would get a game at QPR or any Championship side, looks lumbering, poor distribution and not even particularly good in the air. Must think he won the lottery getting the move to Saints. Les has messed right up on recruitment at CB and CM. JWP - a couple of good crosses but forgot about otherwise. Pelle looks like he has goals in him and good in the air, need to be sharper around him on the second ball. Juanmi still not featuring but might replace J Rod after an hour. Targett better tonight against decent opposition.

Great achivement to have gotten there six years in a row, despite this year's four day struggles. Hopefully the momentum carries forward in all forms with Edwards and Crane carving through four day line ups. Agree on being second again and that it should be drawn but as Steve says, could backfire. Look, Hants have just got to play 100 times better than last year's SF and they could be too strong for Lancs. Buttler is dangerous but out of nick so no width at all to him. One thing that strikes me though is the ECB's scheduling. We've just had a round of 4 day games, then immediately T20 Q-Fs and then today key One Day Cup games. Way to go on the scheduling yet again with English domestic scheduling. Do the counties and the ECB actually want players to improve their skills and sustain them across the formats? Would still like to see 3 divisions for 4 day competition to get the intensity needed for the top level.

Couldn't agree more CB. Whilst I have no love for Labour, it would be an appalling vista for democracy if the current administration have no effective challenge, especially with the LDs decimated and rebuilding completely. Dislike Gordon Brown but he made some good points yesterday and glad someone had the guts to point out Corbyn's hypocracy over his rappraochment with Hamas and Hezbollah. We all saw what happened last time Labour drifted to the left and had a civil war - Thatcher squandered her initial few years' work which benefited the majority (taming the TUs) with increasingly extremist ideological policies (Poll Tax) which benefited no-one and cost billions of pounds to put right and billions more in uncollected monies. It's not healthy for anyone and hopefully Labour sort it out although quite how they managed to make the leadership election process so open and chaotic gives you a flavour of what a Miliband government might have been like.

Erm, whilst I have little time for the Labour Party as you know, some factual inaccuracies there on the economic side of things. Firstly, whilst Labour deserve a lot of stick for their appalling lack of oversight of Fred the Shred and in particular self-certification mortgages (the UK's equivalent of sub-prime and there were numerous warnings 2003-7 about it), neither of the main parties has a great economic track-record. For every of Labour's numerous economic bloopers - and there are plenty to choose from (Wilson's delayed devaluation, the infamous 1975 budget by Healey leading to 83% top rate of tex and 98% on investments) - there is an equivalent Tory shocker (Barber and Heath's reckless credit boom after Jenkins had left a surplus by the 1970 election, Lawson shadowing the DM, late 1980s poor regulation of consumer credit). Whilst I find the Tories more credible on the economy overall, facts get in the way of your partisan statements I'm afraid. Secondly, CEO pay has been reported to be 166 times the average wage today. Whilst I'm all in favour of the best people being rewarded for high performance, that simply isn't sustainable if there is to be genuine social mobility during the hoped economic recovery. There has to be far more 'trickle down' than that for the economy to recover in a robust way, no point having a recovery built on huge amounts of consumer credit (see Thatcher and Blair eras). The recent move to spread the living wage is welcome but far more needs to be done. Re: Rotherham, have a look at the discourse on the likes of Savile and Cyril Smith, not to mention the (hopefully untrue) allegations about senior conservatives. It was sickening but was a result of local and systematic failures at both local and national level by all parties.

A big ask when he joined midweek though. Shouldn't have taken until mid-August to get CM and DC sorted though, Juanmi is a nice bonus signing but in an area where we already had some depth and we've barely used him yet. Just poor all-round today and easily worst performance since Ronald joined, can only assume the injury has taken his eye off the ball temporarily. He's been let down by Davis,Tadic, Soares, Long though, all have been pathetic, particularly Tadic who I'd haul off. Fair play to Everton for the execution on the first counter but the second has been made far too easy. Need another beast in the CM area to accompany Victor and loan out some of the powder puff - JWP, Tadic. Won't criticise the CBs - other than Fonte's recommendation on Cedric - because the full backs are so poor they are constantly having to pull across and organise them. Roll on Bertrand returning but get Martina on for powder-puff Cedric because whatever his limitations, at least he'll make some effort at defending. Reed on for Tadic as well, would sub Long but we're 2 down.

Game over - Everton should be further ahead than 2 as well. This could be 4 or 5. At least it'll force Reed to stick or twist on VVD and further strengthening CM. Cedric isn't the answer yet at RB, and I'm being polite, need an experienced RB on a one year deal or loan. I'm not doing an Alpine but some unbalanced transfer activity in the DC/CM area has cost us the game today. Saints fans will expect this to be remedied before Watford.

Terrible so far, lucky Barkley missed that sitter - although good work from Stek - or that was game over. Basically we are far too lightweight in midfield bar Victor, Davis and Tadic very very poor so far. Long doesn't seem to know what his instructions are and full backs getting exposed although Cedric has less excuse than Targett. I'd bring Reed and Martina on because Targett is a red card risk and Tadic is a total passenger, we've only got 10 men already in effect. Don't think Romeu will be sharp enough yet. Might have to go more direct in style at the moment until Reed sorts out the extra couple of faces with some muscle we need at CB and in midfield. Hope Bertrand back sooner rather than later. Mane and Pella are our best hopes if we can get them some supply.

Welcome to the SWF. To answer your Qs: 1) Koeman has done a simply superb job, alongside his backroom team including his brother Erwin, who was a leading player himself and Sammy Lee (not a popular name with Evertonians I suspect). His strengths are his calmness - and boy we needed it last summer - and ability to make changes when he can see momentum shift in a game. 2) Our highest profile summer signing Jordi Clasie, the Dutch international midfielder, is looking unlikely to be fit for the Everton game but hopes are high for him. Romeu has just joined with a fine pedigree from Barca and Chelsea and may feature on Saturday. Juanmi joined from Malaga, recently capped by Spain as a striker/wide player and looks lively from the cameos so far. Caulker and Martina have been signed as back-up I suspect. We still look likely to make a couple more signings in the CM/CB areas. Rodriguez is almost like a new signing after 16 months out with an ACL. 3) Pelle's ability in the air - as demonstrated last Sunday. He's begun the season brightly, netting twice in Europe so far as well. Long is a livewire and ended last season well and has got a couple in the bag so far this term. Not prolific but quick and direct. J Rod will take time to get some match fitness under his belt but could be a devastating sub. Sadio Mane is another forward with rapid pace but has added unpredictability - if he continues to improve his finishing (should have scored a winner at SJP), he'll be our first £30m+ sale. Our drawback is a lack of goals from midfield. 4) As above really - Davis is a very consistent performer but not a good finisher e.g. Spurs home last year and JWP has shown promise to get forward but yet to deliver consistently from set pieces or making penetrating late runs. We've missed Morgan's defensive screen but Romeu should compensate for that along with Wanyama although hard to replace Morgan's to switch play. 5) Top 8 and a decent Europa campaign. Top 10 I wouldn't be disappointed by. 6) Hard to say, your manager has said you are probably 3-4 faces short and I'd agree although you should be top 10 even so. Baines being missing is a big blow for you but Lukaku is always a threat as is Mirallas. Barkley should improve after a noticeable dip last term. What Everton need is a better screen in front of the back 4 - the more open style worked a treat in Roberto's first season but teams starting working Everton out and Watford made late runs look easy last week. I'm not suggesting returning to the Moyes era but there is a balance between being attractive but harder to score against. 7) I like him and his approach to football but do think he could more pragmatic at times away from home. Lukaku! Ripped us apart in the first season back in the PL on loan at WBA. He's always a handful. Barkley could be dangerous getting forward so we must close him down quickly from range as he seems to be getting his mojo back. Coleman can also let them go from range (e.g. 2013/14 at Goodison) and Kone is back after a horrible knee injury so hope for J Rod. 9) Jagielka is a well organised centre half but with our pace from deep lying areas, could be vulnerable on the counter. If Stones leaves and with Baines out, you could have to knit a new backline together quite quickly in the early part of the campaign which always involves a bit of risk, as we may find out with our new look midfield and our own injuries cost us at Newcastle. Best of luck for the season apart from Saturday. PS - Any chance of another OG?

Sorry not Smith, I meant Jimmy Adams!

All over - win by 227 runs! http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/ECKO38128 Great win, playing some of the younger players is working. I'd bring in Weatherall or Alsop for Smith next game to further strengthen the batting. Vince finally found form when building a quick lead second knock - will that bolster his confidence for the rest of our 4 day campaign? Ryan McLaren signed to replace Bird, not as good a bowler but will further reinforce the batting. Great form from Mason Crane, has given everyone a lift.

I can see that huge banner working it's way across the Saints section of the Northam Stand and Kingsland Stand on Saturday. Markus's takeover has brought about - with a huge amount of hard work from within the structure which was subsequently put in place from starting -10 in League 1 - a golden era to be a Saints fan. We've got to watch some terrific players, each of the managers from Pardew, Nigel, MP to Ronald have been highly successful in their own ways, and there are memories which will last a lifetime. The successes have also been achieved playing a brand of football which hadn't been seen at Saints since Lawrie's time of the 1970s and 1980s, which has made them all the sweeter. Whilst football is a cut-throat and fast-moving industry where's there little time to reflect, it is important to recognise where the club has come from in such a short space of time and sometimes it's easy to overlook that or take it for granted.

Good work everyone - and another gem from Rallyboy. It's the skates own fault - I'd have kept quiet about those facilities frankly, for a club that has the 'aspirations' they have. That, and the Spinnaker 'going red and white' have given this thread fresh content. We don't need to generate content here - the skates offer it to us gift wrapped.

Couldn't agree more. He'll need time to settle in because he's had a lot of upheaval in the last 12-15 months but should do well once that happens. He'll need a good season because Saints are very strong in forward areas. However, Pelle will need replacing over the next 2-3 years so a chance for Sam to put himself at the head of the queue.

Come on you slackers, put some compare and contrast pictures up between the Skates 1980s youth club up and Staplewood! MLG or Trousers are just the people for this important task. Even the old Staplewood before the Liebherr superb makeover was in a different league (or even four) than that. PS - Why has Factless got it in for Ben Haim? Didn't waive money owed?

I agree with most of that, there are some huge societal issues to address but the press love red herrings I'm afraid. Wes - I broadly agree, most of them haven't taken a clue about everyday life or having a real career but to be fair I've met a few decent politicians from the different parties as well. They're usually the ones to realise that ideology - right, left, etc - doesn't put bread on the nation's tables. Chapel End Charlie - A lot of the regular polls - bit wary of their reliability after 2015 election but hey ho - indicate that 60%+ of the public would like see the railway network back in public hands etc and many left of centre answers but as you say a large turnout usually means a Conservative victory. Think this comes down to Labour's percieved - and often real - reputation for mishandling the economy which they need to address. Been reading Sambrook's White Heat book which covers the Wilson era and they were no better then. Where I disagree with some people on the Thatcher right is this mono insistence that spending is the only issue (although it is a big issue) - if you look at the banking crisis, public sector spending was dwarfed many times over by bailing out private sector debt. Don't get me wrong, some of Labour's huge waste on the NHS IT system and tax credits makes me sick and they must learn from that if they are to seriously be considered again. The bigger issue seems to be decision-making - Wilson holding off devaluation with horrible impact, misjudgemenyt over the real debt on IMF, banking regulation and self-certification of mortgages. If you don't get the economy stable, with commercial growth enabled, good wages and good job security, you won't have money to spend, public or otherwise and that's a gritty reality Labour members must consider when deciding on a left or right wing leader.

Thanks for the link GM, some interesting observations and comparisons in that piece. Certainly, it's true that both the main parties have acted to squash any genuine alternatives emerging (even when Ross Perot was throwing Jack Walker style amounts at it and going further back, Ralph Nader). Going back to your OP, I did hear on local radio (so it probably isn't true!) that Labour were considering re-running the ballot due to an unusual number of new joiners to vote for Corbyn. Can't see how they'll be able do that personally and not look daft. Not sure what Beckett was thinking of in the first place! Wes - the reason I don't like Fox is because he just bangs on about re-regulation endlessly as if he's some sort of standard-bearer in his party and also he is hypocrite on defence spending - whining about cuts when he left this country's forces dangerously short when he was responsible for that portfolio. We won't even go into his exit from government. Osborne tried to shut him up with the Beecroft review which in effect offered companies and their workers the chance to trade/buy core employment rights for shares in the company - e.g. No Fault dismissals like they have in the USA. The take up was practically zero yet even though he's been proven wrong he still bangs on about it, the country has rather more important priorities. Anyway, aren't we already one of the most de-regulated economies in the world? Thatcher was operating in a totally different environment in the 1980s - TUs out of control, Soviet infiltration - so the rhetoric from the time reflected that, and many of the reforms, such as the stopping of secondary picketing and abolition of closed shops, were much needed and long overdue. Labour should have supported Castle in implementing In Place of Strife but blew/bottled it at the end of the 60s. People like Fox don't realise that Thatcher was a political pragmatist and knew how far she could take the public down the neoconservative path - hence the 'NHS is safe with us' - and she should have listened to her first instincts on the poll tax which was that it was uncollectable and some kind of utopian fantasy for a small number of dogmatic loons in the DoE. They just repeat the same mantras they've learned. Redwood at least abolished the Poll Tax but many of his views aren't very practical - very fine intellect I don't doubt - but doesn't really understand the needs of the electorate.

Although Lovren was a mercenary, we bought him for c£8m, got a decent season out of him overall and then sold him to Brenda for £20m. Nice bit of business if you can do it. Toby was a loan that was very successful and cost Saints comparatively little in the end. Shame he went to Spurs but although I liked Toby, with his injury record last term we'd have had to buy/loan another CB with Gardos's injury anyway. Jos scored quite a few decisive goals in the NPC to play a key role in our promotion, obviously a liability in the PL but had some reasonable games (e.g. City home) in the first season back. Gardos showed promise last year, ACLs aren't something you can factor for and certainly not a 'blind spot' as suggested elsewhere. Based on the above, I think we can all trust the club to get the two CB purchases/loans required right.

There's some truth in this - and as professional doing quite well who has voted LD at the last 3 elections I'm probably an example of what you are talking about - but if you think there aren't some massive differences between the Democrats and Republicans you are a misguided missile. There are huge, often bitter, chasms over healthcare, gun control (which Obama has just expressed regret on not doing more on), Federal/State relationships, foreign policy and plenty more. The Democrats are essentially like the reasonable One Nation UK Conservatives (and if the party went back to this position I'd start voting for it again) and the centre right Tories and even the more pragmatic Thatcherites. The Republicans are lunatic, Laissez Faire and socially backward extremists for the most part, Romney as a more progressive conservative had to totally change his outlook to stand last time but the far right still alienated the electorate at large. Look at the crazies standing now, Trump is leading the early polls and he's even more extreme than Corbyn is for Labour, both are very scary. The Tories' Monday Club is the only domestic party grouping that comes close plus the likes of John Redwood and Liam Fox, two more extremists on the fringes. My hope is that the UK votes to stay in the EU and that destroys the worst excesses of the Thatcherite wing so we can have a centre right government without undue influence from the crazies. As for Labour, they'd be mad to vote for Corbyn, might as well not bother contesting the next election if they do.

Ronald's comments seemed to point to getting two centre backs, which makes total sense if he doesn't believe Stephens and Turnbull are ready and it appears he doesn't. Probably one high value first XI choice to replace Toby and then perhaps a more experienced CB in their late 20s or early 30s on loan who might be out of favour at one of Europe's top clubs. The European experience might be helpful too. Cruel blow for Gardos and Saints. Crazy to think that we've had J Rod, Forster and now him with serious, long-term knee injuries in such a short space of time. Essentially, they are impact injuries too so not sure the club could have done much to prevent them. Hope our luck changes soon in that regard.

Some of the very odd decision-making - as you highlight here - has reminded me of Saints in 2004/5 - and with the same results by the look of it! Would imagine there will be a massive clearout of coaching staff and List A players at the end of this wretched season. Giles White will be gone as well I'd have thought. Just astonishing the amount of talented cricketers that Hants have managed to ruin. It really has been a case of 'mind the gap this season'. The only positive is seeing the youngsters giving it a go - Crane and McManus this match - plus we've blooded the likes of Wheal this season. I'd give some more a game as the old boys are going to go down rock bottom anyway. Sad as many of them have given great service but they'll need to start thinking about the next phase of their professional life after playing cricket.

Someone has posted in the comments that the ESPN report missed off further quotes where he said words to the effect of 'just because they've had a few difficult seasons, doesn't mean it (Villa) still isn't a bif club'. So probably a non-story like the Clasie 'couple of years' thing although quite frankly, if either or both players play out of their skin for the next two years, Chelsea and the two Manchester clubs will probably be trying to buy them if we're honest. If that means Clasie has helped Saints keep in the top 7 or 8 then the club will have done well out of it.

Blimey, there's a blast from the 93/94 CM past! My friends who are Villa supporters were well-excited when he signed for them but can't remember him playing for them much or at Coventry after. Big Ron must have seen something on the training ground but it rarely seemed to translate to matchday. Two other star proteges on later editions I can remember were Cherno Samba (whatever happened to him?) and Supat Rungatsamee. The latter was always suspicious, the idea that Pompey's threadbare academy set up could ever produce a player like that seemed very far-fetched. Their best in living memory was Anderton and IIRC he only moved there after Saints fell out with Bob Higgins?

About right, although I'd say medium sized club as small clubs don't get 30k gates in League 1. Given how much Man U and Liverpool have had to shell out for Shaw, Morgan, Lovren and Lallana (between £90-100m), they see as tough negotiators but that we had a quality cohort of players who they felt would strengthen them and whom in 3 cases are English-qualified. The fees have helped Saints deepen our squad, which was very thin first season back in the PL, and make remarkable progress as a relatively recently promoted club.

Yep, true. Can't blame Delia for talking his player up though.