saint1977

Probably about right although it depends how much trauma the Tories go through in 2017 when the EU referendum takes place. I'll be strongly campaigning as exiting the EU would have a shocking impact on the economy and our further and higher education systems, not to mention the health services. Cameron and Osborne will be campaigning for staying in the EU I'd have thought. However, the election strategy, whilst very successful yesterday, may backfire when their huge multinational sponsors (who would be furious at a Brexit), key lobby groups like the CBI and the sensible left/centre of the Tory party are at massive loggerheads with the loony Eurosceptic right, which has been reduced by recent retirements but which is still large and could be easily mobilised by a nutter like Liam Fox. The public reception to the 'no' campaign could depend on whether Rupert Murdoch is still alive, Newcorp might be frothing at the mouth less in 2017 if he's dropped off his perch. The Mail is the Mail and Express circulation is too small to matter that much and everyone knows it's an official UKIP paper anyway. Look at the problems Major had after a similar result in 1992, and he had a 20 seat majority, not 5. Moreover, he hadn't promised a referendum either. Concerned that this may distract from continuing the recovery. Labour - need to get back to New Labour/Social Democratic line and work out a strategy for convincing a sceptical public, me included, that they can manage the economy over the longer-term. How they thought that yesterday's disaster wouldn't always be the end game with the two Eds in charge defies belief. LDs - feel sorry for them but Clegg didn't have a vision other than restraining the Tory right, valuable job though that was 2010-15.

Fidel Edwards joining early over the next few days so Hants will at least have someone bowling some adult deliveries with the new ball and not junior cricket pace like the arm of little wee diddy military medium we've somehow ended up with. Still need at least one more new Kolpak fast bowler signing to compete or we might as well start with the youngsters like Basil Akram and prepare for a return to D2. No more Berg, Adams or Arafat bits and pieces signings please Rod, it didn't work for England in the 1990s. Impressed with Hales whenever I've seen him, used to struggle in four dayers but great start to the season. Could be in the race for an Ashes spot. Notts are a strong side, Will Gidman in at 8 tells you they are hard to bowl out even with a far better attack than ours.

Feel you've nailed it there. Lallana is a better player than Tadic as it stands but this is Mane's first season in the PL and not yet had a pre-season with us and you have to say the same about Dusan, started really well but pace of the league has caught up with him as with Pelle second half of the campaign. Lallana was well established at the club and had a season in the PL to get a sense of how to improve. Judge Mane next season but I think his contribution has not been miles off what Lallana's was last year. Also, his sale paid for one of them and good chunk of the other once you take signing on fee, agent fees and taxes out. In terms of Rickie, gutted to see him go but there were plenty of disrespectful threads last season about Rickie slowing down etc (considering he is a legend) and he wasn't quite as dangerous in open play as previous season but link up play, set pieces and penalties still A1. Pelle was on fire Sept-Dec with some brilliant displays but has covered so much ground up front on his own with lack of midfield support that he is very tired when chances come along. Agree with many posters on penalties, can't do any worse than Tadic, I'd rather have Bertrand, JWP or Davis take them. Even Fonte smashing one would be preferable to a dribble down the centre of the goal.

I've been going about Deeney for a while, excellent player. The only reason the attitude thing comes up is that IIRC, he possibly had a run-in with the boys in blue when he was younger? Seems to have grown up and may have been a one-off anyway. Hardly the first footballer to have been in trouble anyway. He's got all the attributes to be 15 goal PL striker and more mobile than Pelle, together they'd be a handful. However, Watford are the form team in the C'ship and he'll surely stay if they go up? Afobe is another great shout you said but only just joined Wolves so might cost a bit. Exactly the type of player we need. Bamford might be a season long loan if Boro fade and surely Chelsea need to test him in the PL? I think they only signed him to stop other PL clubs.

I agree, awful news for Fraser and the club but the club will have learned from the J Rod saga just how hard these injuries are to recover from properly. Ronald did seem to fear the worst when he spoke to the doctor on Saturday. Stop gaps aren't the way forward, especially in the most specialist position in the team. If the new signing does well, Fraser will have to fight for his place but also it means that the club won't have to rush his recovery, not that I think you can with an injury of that severity anyway. You've also got to factor in that Toby and Clyne might not be around next season so the defence may not be as solid as it's been this year, or arguably last when we didn't need to use Gazza or Jos.

Don't think that line up is anywhere near good enough for the First Division or arguably even first class cricket! Hampshire should have pushed the boat out to for a younger and quicker bowler like Nathan Buck who went to Lancs, instead we end up with old military medium cast-offs like Adams and Berg is just an embarrassing signing. White is desperately trying to talk him up pre-season but with his injury record I'd be surprised if we see him much and he wasn't that good to begin with, let alone at 34. I can't believe Hants will start in a higher division in a weaker state than last season - poor planning. Are there any promising quicks or spin bowlers that can be fast tracked from the Second XI or Academy?

Leicester could look at him in the summer, knows how to get a club with proper financial backing (e.g. not Reading) promoted and would wipe away some of this term's negativity. No offence to the other Nigel who I like from his time here in 2008 but Adkins' brand of attacking football would give their fans a lift and win games, he never had the squad to do it at Reading as McDermott was quite direct in style of play. Would hate to see him go to a basket case club though.

Great game, Saints great and much the better side in the first half, even Maureen-inho had to admit that, Chelsea were right at it in the second and penned us in with champions' quality although we still caused them some moments of serious alarm such as Tadic run/skill and Long shot with the last ditch block and Toby's free kick. Forster's best game for the club despite being a bit slow on the cross but he's learning fast at this level. Toby superb return, Fonte excellent again although nearly a costly mis-header to let them in at the end. Jose must have Player Of The Season in the bag by now surely? Full backs did well and Morgan and Victor were just immense. Davis started well but faded a bit and Mane and Long tore Terry, Cahill and Matic a new one in the first half. They were still a constant in the second on the break. Tadic is miles better on the left and that was his best start in 2015 so far. Disagree with those who say Djurcic shouldn't have been brought on, I thought he stretched a tiring Chelsea backline quite a few times and brought a couple of clever fouls and yellow cards on the break. Would have brought Reed on instead of JWP for Tadic as JWP just isn't at the races at present. If we didn't have a risk of bans for Victor and Morgan I'd allow JWP to go on loan to one of the NCP teams chasing automatic promotion to get some key game experience and get some confidence back. However, it's too much of a risk in the circumstances but I can't see how we'll play himself back into form at the moment. Still back him to come good long-term.

Sorry to hear about your experiences and also those of Buctootim as well. Terrible. Makes me realise how lucky I am to be in a safe and happy marriage of a few years now. One of my friends left his wife after she punched him in the face during arguments - and they were proper punches too. Must be awful when someone you meet and fall for is effectively acting during the early stages of your relationship and then turns on you. DV is terrible both ways but I do think the feminist movement could do more to highlight DV both ways and to campaign for hefty measures against ALL those who carry out violence and abuse irrespective of gender, creed and culture. Got to feel sorry for any kids involved as well, must damage them for the years and relationships ahead in some cases.

I think if Koeman doesn't see improvement in Gardos between now and the end of the season and Stephens and Turnbull do well in pre-season, and that's even with not knowing Toby's future and any new signings if he goes elsewhere, I wouldn't be surprised if he was loaned out to the Championship to sharpen up a bit. He was superb at Old Trafford for 70 minutes so he can play at this level but his concentration - as evidenced v Palace and Stoke in the cups - is seriously lacking at times.

Wouldn't swap what we have now, very happy with current owners and set-up. Inter/AC are probably ripe for a PSG-type purchase or possibly Valencia?

Allegedly disruptive at Swindon but probably matured with age like most of us do. Agree with those that think we'd struggle to get him for less than £15m though. Long, although a great lad, wasn't the best use of £12m I've ever seen. Mind you, still great value next to Osvaldo or Gaston!

BIG yes please on the green and blue sash away kit, would definitely buy that. Prefer St Jim's amended home design but wouldn't be upset if the striped design emerged.

Depends on what you want out of life. For some (sad) people, yes, personal financial gain is the be and end all - you've only got to look at some of the absurd discourse in British politics to see that. However, the England team has been ruined for a generation by young players just grabbing cash and a 20 minute cameo in the CL - Rodwell, Sinclair etc. Way too soon to put Shaw in that category and I still back him to come good. Also, we got the best possible price for him. However, if he'd gone there age 21/22 with 150+ PL appearances for Saints and a dozen full England caps, he wouldn't be second fiddle to Rojo, which I think he may be over the next 18 months if LVG stays at MUFC.

That's what coaching by laptop, stats and sound bite does to you. Moores was woefully out of his depth first time around - everyone blamed KP but his helicopter style alienated other senior players such as Michael Vaughan too. Moores will get a county job again quickly as someone will start the season badly but appoint Vaughan for West Indies tour and NZ home with an experienced coach supporting. At least he'll undo the mental knots and several players he captained said that he encouraged players to express themselves which is badly needed. There is a decent core to work with - Root, Ali, Balance, Buttler, Jordan, Woakes and a couple of old hands I'd keep on the scene in Bell and Jimmy. Cook needs to get bat on ball for Essex before the Ashes so rest him and he'll come back hungry. Broad is finished as first XI player at the top level, OK squad player, but not too many ready options emerging to replace him.

Tend to agree, I was at the Sunderland game and awful as the opposition, our finishing was deadly and Mannone had to make a couple of good late saves to stop us reaching double figures. We also hit four against Newcastle and quite a few threes. The issue is psychological - Pelle is a real confidence player and Tadic going backwards so rapidly hasn't helped his supply. Mane looks the most confident forward when shooting. Long I'm not sure about - has scored a small number of good goals but doesn't get anywhere near enough testing the keeper. Midfield aren't helping Pelle much as a unit and I feel this the biggest difference. Cork, Morgan and even Victor were getting forward earlier in the season and the movement was much better. JWP isn't getting in advanced positions much and Davis never really has for the excellent other qualities he brings. Surely if Victor or Davis sit v Palace the others ought to bust a gut to get in the box and create some movement around Pelle?

Sorry Saint in Paradise, that is a fact unless Moores gets the sack again. If it rains v either Bangladesh or Afghanistan they've had it I think. I watched the batting and then the bowling on highlights the next day. Great innings by Root and by Buttler after copping a horrible bouncer which hit him over the ear first ball by Malinga. Morgan is miles out of form, Bell at least looked better but move him down to three and start with Hales and give him a proper run in the side. Feel sorry for Gary Ballance, was chucked in cold and hope it doesn't affect his Test confidence. Another poor decision by Moores and the selectors. Bowling - Anderson and Broad isn't working. How come Southee, Boult and Starc can all swing the white Kookaburra at will? Jimmy's varieties aren't effective as they usually are. Broad's bowled a couple of good overs and a lot of filth. I'd drop Broad and stick with Jimmy but bring in Jordan, Ravi and Tredwell. Finn needs to play some Aussie club cricket to try and get some pace and confidence back. Woakes is a useful option these days but needs to develop a yorker and a decent slower ball. Damning indictment on domestic cricket that he's reached this level without a decent mastery of those. On the positive side, at least they've haven't recalled Dernbach. Bopara coming back in will boost the lower and lower middle orders and his medium pace is another variety. As for the summer, England will do well not to lose 5-0. I actually don't think Johnson will do a lot in English conditions but Starc and Siddle will. The biggest issue is that I cannot see where 20 Aussie wickets will come from.

Sack him. I know Monk was hinting the club were exploring suing him but can't see the point, we've recouped some of the money from Juve's loan fee and time to take a bath. Don't want the club to pay any more of his wages or costs. We've also made a lot of money on transfers so let's call it a mistake from the Poch era and move on.

I'd much rather our young quicks got a chance than short-term, mediocre signings like Gareth Berg. How many old military medium keeper-up-to-the-stumps lags who can bat a bit do Hampshire need. Looks increasingly like Hants and Worcs have accepted 4 day relegation and will focus on one day cricket.

Wasn't a bad effort, just needed to bounce a fraction further in front to force a spill. Targett will learn, Bertrand shouldn't have been a plank V Swansea. Poor square ball by Morgan and Forster should have kept that out (again). Elia poor and not nearly enough movement around Pelle. Impressed by Yoshida again. Clyne and Victor decent games. Djurcic lively but hopefully more end product to come which has dried up from Elia. Rodgers has got away with that tactically due to our poor finishing first half. They've had one worldie and one shot on goal and 2-0 up and that's the difference.

OK, yes more of a risk on the counter but what was JWP offering us? At least Mane makes us look more likely to score. Would be very happy with a point from here. Poor decision to book Victor. Lallana subbed - predictable abuse and substitution. Lovren still on the pitch which with a yellow on a wet surface and quick players around surprises me.

Mane on for Pelle and Morgan for JWP at H-T please. One moment of genius but little quality after the first 15 minutes from both sides. That said, some dreadful finishing by us and some poor refeering. Didn't think first Djurcic foul was a pen but second is a clear one and Mignolet look like he blocked that outside the box - want to see the replay. Having said that, did make a great decision with Fonte tackle. Can still get something from this. Lovren will be sent off, confident of that, very clumsy. Would expect Saints to continue pressing but Liverpool dangerous on the break.

Nice to see some examples of people that can make tonnes of cash - fair play to them too - and STILL make their contribution to society (and yes Neocons it DOES and will ALWAYS exist. If you don't believe it, start writing your US Visa out and emigrate) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-31517383 I'll always support capitalism over socialism but about time there was global action to close the tax havens. British public always has to pick up the tab. Sad to see Telegraph struggling, once a very fine newspaper. State funding for parties will help, Tories won't have to answer to their sponsors, Labour to their funders and the Unions, Lib Dems to their funders and UKIP to Richard Desmond.

I don't have a problem with what of most he's said there but too much water under the bridge one suspects. Can see him being a pantomime villain for a few seasons and then it gets resolved when he finishes his career. I don't like what he's become at all but would rather support OUR players during the game although if Lovren features you can revise that! Someone also made a fair point about Nugent - booing affects some players negatively but spurs others on, that was probably the goal he's scored in his career.

Channon was as well, think he was taken to a mix of Saints and Swindon games as a kid.