saint1977

They're coming for you, they're coming for yooooooooooooo Customs & Revenue They're coming for you A few quick chants of 'Storrie's got your money' and 'We'll never play here again' would also do the trick. I agree on the garden shed chant but something about their awful dump of a 'stadium' is essential. I remember 'Does the social know you're here?' wound them up a bit in 2003/4. Or maybe 'Sacha's got your car park'? Waving money would also remind the fishy few of their immenent plight. Is the decision due before the game on any FL sanctions? If not, 'Minus 10' repeatedly to the tune of 'Here we go' should wind them some more.

Bart's performance understandably got the headlines but actually the mistake didn't concern me as much as his all-round display which was disturbingly 'rabbit in the headlights'. The problem looks to be mental rather than physical but Adkins could help him by arranging a midweek friendly if Reading or West Ham wanted to send some reserve players and also giving a few fringe players a chance (Barnard) to get rid of some rust. Even so, the main reason we didn't win the game was the fact we only have one fit striker at the club - Lambert. Fortunately, he also happens to be an excellent one but Adkins and Cortese really should be agreeing fees for strikers now ready for 1 Jan arrivals. Guly had a good all-round game but collided with Jos when an open goal was gaping and missed another slightly harder chance from 6 yards. Morgan also played very well but again missed a couple of opportunities that should be at least working the keeper at this level. We also messed up several times with sloppy final balls, particularly De Ridder at the end. How Ian Holloway could make his post-match comments with a straight face I've no idea. De Ridder is a useful impact sub but I can't see where he'll fit into our set up after Xmas? He seems to be best playing off the strikers but this would block Lallana's good work around the edge of the box. Lallana looked sharper and I thought our centre backs did well considering the carnage behind them and delighted Fonte avoided a caution. Fox needs swapping for Harding IMO for Fratton, we can always bring Fox on for his set pieces if it's going pear-shaped. Bottom line - Blackpool were good in midfield, esp Ferguson but awful at the back and considering the amount of clear chances we had, 2 is a pathetic conversion rate. Get a decent striker and winger in with pace and we'll pull away at the top again but we can't mess around well into the January transfer window, we MUST have them ready for the Brighton game.

I think our squad has done superbly to get us to where it has done, beyond all expectations. However, I'd echo the views of those urging fresh faces and we need NA and NC to be agreeing fees now with selling clubs so that we can get players in for talks so that deals are ready for 1 Jan registration and we can get a couple of them ready for the Brighton away game. I'd agree with those also that are calling for a speedy winger to come in, I had wanted a pacy striker but actually Saturday confirmed our fears on what happens when Rickie is injured or not fully fit. Another taller striker would be better. A loan CB from the PL might suffice whilst Dan recovers but we obviously need more cover in that position. Barney needs a loan out until May provided a recall clause is in place - Coventry might be a destination if we pick up the wages. We could loan him to a L1 promotion chaser who could pay the wages but we won't find out whether he can do it at NPC level.

Martin has always impressed me but that's only one CB in reserve and Fonte and Jos could pick up bans or injuries before then. Anyway, Jos was brought in BEFORE Dan sustained his horrific injuries in Soton City Centre. Cork struggled at Palace and hasn't really got the height or physical presence if we come up against a Darius Henderson-type opponent. We don't need a superstar but an up-and-coming PL young CB would give us enough cover until Seaborne is ready again and/or the window. We could get an emergency loan if it came to it but surely you'd want them to be more embedded in our organisation and systems?

I'm less worried about the L-J story and much concerned about the last part of Sibley's statement - we are still at least a centre half short and if we get bans or injuries we could be stuffed.

I'd have to agree on this point, I'm not sure what else Lowe could do in the circumstances, particularly as we were committed to building SMS then and still had 18 months to go at the Dell. I was also at the FA Cup game at Villa and we were pathetic and the less said about the Newcastle debacle the better. Hoddle got us better organised. Dave Jones generally bought well and is a good Championship level manager so he would be best focusing on the next decent opening at this level.

Reminds you of what an odious club Luton were in the 80s and judging by their last visit to St Mary's they haven't improved much. I don't agree with the awful behaviour of Millwall who smashed the place up but to ban all away fans, plus that awful plastic pitch was really tantamount to cheating. Plus they had David Evans as a chairman. I remember the ID card scheme being really controversial, even a lot of die hard Conservatives at the time were threatening to switch their allegiance if it came in.

I don't know why you lot all rise to the bait. Who cares what they won in the 1930s? Do you hear Preston or Blackpool banging on like that? Our gates have been two to three times theirs recently and Example A was Saturday - 14k with probably 2k Forest and an unpopular ex-manager visiting. These are great days for Saints and our infrastructure is all in place to be successful again. Pompey are stuck at Fratton and wasted the PL money which should have gone towards giving them some parity with us. Yes, we probably have underachieved for the size of club - held back by Askham and friends - but I've got a feeling we are about to put that right with this Chairman and Manager. What Pompey do is up to them but I know which club I'd rather support.

Totally agree with that and I think the primary areas are CB and CF. Barnard's injury seems a bit more long-term that first reported - hopefully it's not Marian Mark II but his ankle problem is a serious concern. Connolly is a useful impact option but not really as a starter so we are very light if Lambert of Guly get a knock - we may need a loan before the window to keep us going there and CB as Jos and Fonte must be within a couple of bookings of a ban. Martin is capable but Cork as a CB is only an emergency option. I think are CM options are a big factor behind our start to the season - all 4 of them have played superbly so no need to spend there. However, one more pacy wide option would be welcome if Guly continues as a striker - and on current form why not? He adds a better ariel presence and ability to run in behind.

Even Peterborough's website thought it was a merited sending off! I dont like seeing players appealing for an opponent to be sending off but I'm not sure our players particularly did and also the ref might always intended to have issued a second yellow anyway. I think the sending off actually caused us to lose our flow and certainly didn't help us.

Adkins had no choice but to make that number of changes as surely the priority is winning the Boro and P'boro games? We are depleted at CB and striker positions so we always had to protect key players (Fonte, Jos, Rickie) there until we can buy new players to help those key faces out in January. Good to see Barnie back at last and I'd wanted Forte to be given another run, he hasn't taken his opportunity and he may not get another. JWP and Reeves will have benefited from the experience but the main thing is that key players are fit and firing for Boro.

Not too fussed at going out, our squad has plenty of numbers but lacks depth of quality so until we can bolster it in January - and it sounds like Adkins and NC will be very active from the comments post match and also in other recent games. Sadly - as we need pace badly - it sounds as if Forte wasn't listening and seems Butterfield and Harding have cemented their position as reserve full backs. SDR - refreshing to hear his honesty and we'll see more from him. Well done JWP, tough game to make your debut in and bodes well for the future and it sounds like Reeves has made a push for Saturday's line up with Connolly horribly out of form and energy although Barnie's cameo should shake things up a bit and you'd imagine Barnard will be an automatic starter once fully fit. Bit worried about Fonte's fitness, if Martin or Jos get injured or banned we are in huge trouble. Really need a CB coming in on loan still.

Agreed, bit harsh on him. He had some decent games last year such as Orient away where he made the first goal and got a lot of praise on here. Not to mention the goal at Plymouth as well. He only made one mistake that I can think of V Man U. He clearly isn't in Adkins plans and won't get past Fox, Harding and the players coming through the academy in wide left positions plus Seaborne can play there once fit again. Some of the stick he is getting is very unfair and that goes for Forte as well. Forte has scored in most of his games and added pace to a very pedestrian but talented side when he's appeared. Connolly started the season on fire but has been appalling recently and very, very slow but he's taken nowhere near the stick Forte has. Start with De Ridder and have Forte on the bench until Connolly gets his buzz back. Great to see JWP get a start and also Reeves after a promising debut v Preston. Talking of talented academy players, wonder if Luke Shaw will be on the bench as he was for Preston? I'd have had Jake Sinclair on the bench too as I think we can have more subs for the League Cup?

Spot on and I also agree with the poster below about Connolly. Guly takes a lot of stick and he was poor on Saturday but still contributed a sublime flick for the goal and his workrate was there. Connolly was great early on but Eddie Howe and now Heston Blumenthal at Reading have worked us out - no pace so press however much you like. Give Connolly a rest for a few games to get his zip back and give SDR a start and Forte on the bench until Barney is fit, that'll enable us to turn teams. Or, play Guly up front and tell him to run in behind once Lallana is fit again?

Sounds fantastic and well done, like I say I need to join this site full time and I'll PM you and buy you a pint. In terms of pubs, we use the Manor Inn at Galmpton - that's a good one for food as well as beer Hypo when you are in the area and it is near the lovely Broadsands too. Exeter has some good ones as BTG alluded to - Old Fire House Tavern is my favourite and you've got the Well House Tavern opposite the Cathedral. The one I want to visit badly is the Tom Cobley Tavern at Spreyton - 26 cask ales or thereabouts. Like having a beer festival every week! Only the Fat Cat in Norwich has a selection that I've ever seen to rival that although I've heard it's namesake in Sheffield is pretty hot as well.

Good suggestions Jay, you must live near me. Pick a clear day for Haytor but the views are fantastic, easily accessible from the main road and climb isn't too bad. You could visit the brewery and prison at Princetown and there is a wonderful pub called the Rugglestone Inn at Widecombe. Lydford Gorge is spectacular (but please wear proper footwear as it can be slippery with the waterfalls). East Devon, including Sidmouth is lovely and quite unspoilt, there are some great walks near Branscombe and Beer. Topsham is a pretty little town near Exeter and Dart's Farm has a great beer and food selection, Tucker's Maltings in Newton Abbot is great for this as well. Salcombe is very pretty and in terms of Torbay, Berry Head is stunning if the wind isn't up too much and the best hidden gem is Broadsands. Plymouth is quite interesting, the NMM plus the Gin factory on the Barbican. Further afield, in North Devon the Valley of the Rocks is spectacular at any time of year. It's a great region to live in but I do need to become a full member on here and car share for games with some of you as my fuel bills are getting too much!

Spot on. Burnley played very well on Saturday and it was only when Morgan and Chaplow came on that it neutralised Marvin Bartley's dominance a bit. Teams have worked us out, it was always going to happen with a newly promoted side and we have to now change our plans accordingly. Connolly is a good impact sub but this is probably the most games he's played in a row for 4 or 5 years so he's bound to reduce to Neil Shipperely pace. We need to start with De Ridder v Watford and have Forte on the bench to give tired back fours something to think about. Rickie is probably tired as well, he had to do a lot of running in wide areas at Burnley because Hammond and Guly were poor. It's the first league game this season where we've been poor so let's give the team some credit but the mistakes HAVE to be recitifed before habit sets in: proper goal kicks please, centre halves to attack bouncing long balls, automatically at least one player with express pace starts and another on the bench (remember we have players fitting this description in the academy that could be impact subs), Harding over Fox when Harding is fit. If we do those things, we'll win lots more games and finish top 6 IMO which would be brilliant for the first season back in the NPC. Even top 10 would be very good IMO.

I'd agree with that but would go further and replace Hammond with Morgan and play Chaplow on the right. Deano has done well the last 6 months but was definately running on empty at Burnley and was lucky not to be subbed before he was. I'd like to see us start with De Ridder up front, Connolly was dropping way too deep on Saturday and we need a pace option to stretch Cardiff but Connolly is a very handy sub to have.

Quite. As the Kraken rightly states below, we still have the likes of West Ham, Brighton, Skates still to come at home and would imagine those games would be upper 28-29k and sold out for Skates. I couldn't go yesterday as had already bought tickets for other games coming up in the next 4 weeks - economic reality means making choices. Petrol to SMS costs me at least £40 and often more for away games. Andoverian - I understand your frustrations but if you have the chance to go and watch this team, please do as they are the best to pull on the shirt since 2002/3 and we should be proud of them.

I feel sorry for Griffiths Weston, he's had no luck at all with injuries. I can see what you are saying re:pace but you need to be to get the ball through on flatter pitches or to be able to do something different. Irvine has quality as a batter, his quality at Lancs proved that, but we need moe consistency if he's going to hold his own in the top 6. Dimi keeps it tight but I still think he seems to have lost a bit of nip since his injuries to get people out but that's just opinion. Ali and Jones can't help being injured Weston but Jones certainly had a poor injury history prior to coming here and I seem to recall Ali may have been out injured for quite a while the season before he joined us so signing both was risky rather than signing one as a calculated gamble. That's without having De Wet on the books at the same time this season! At least with Lumb, Corky and few others moving on it gives us a more sustainable wage bill although Corky was brilliant for his furst 2 seasons so wish him well in particular. As with Saints, the academy is producing good young players that can push for national honours with the right development and direction and that gives me hope for 2012. Your posts are always informative and well worth reading Weston.

On paper I agree with you but only if White is sacked. Inexcusable underperformance with such a huge wage bill - a bit like if Saints had finished 22nd in League One last year. We will not be promoted whilst White is in charge (a contradiction in itself judging by other posts on here). A new coach with clear thinking must get us fit and ready for next season - no Myburghs or De Wets. Balcombe has been taking wickets for Kent - why not for us? Vince is learning and will score loads in Div 2 although has to tighten up when the ball is seaming. There isn't room for Dimi and Irvine - it is blocking younger players, like Riazhuddin who bowls 10 mph faster than those two, and we only need one part-time medium pacer so one of them needs to be released, prob Dimi sadly as Irvine signed a longer contract. Wood is developing well, as is Bates and if we can get Griffiths fit for any length of time with Tomlinson also in the bowling pool we could do well. Must keep Briggs. Ali, Jones and all the other crocks/wastes of space can go.

Re: Lowe I was never a huge fan but Askham and chums never would have gotten SMS or any stadium built. Anyone who gives Ian Branfoot a 3 year contract extension or doesn't add a sell on clause to Shearer's move to Blackburn cannot be competent and are not fit to run a football club. With the history and names we've had over the last 40 years, if we hadn't moved when we did the club would have gone into total freefall as the Premier League became even wealthier and the club's prestige would have suffered badly. People also forget that after taking a while to get our first home win, after that we had 3 very good seasons that we would not have had at the Dell (we couldn't have spent the money on M Svensson and Antti and would have sold Beatts). We didn't kick on from there but that's history now. The mortgage was affordable but we took our eye off the ball. Remember, our turnover was/is much better at SMS too. I think we'd have been League Two at best, weighed down by our history, like a higher profile Plymouth. People point to the Skates but they had Mandaric (even though I can't stand him) and we know what happened next. Farton is also 5k bigger than the Dell was which makes a difference.

Burley wrong? Surely not? Instead he played Wright and Idiakez - the latter was a superb player when younger but could barely run by the time Derby offloaded him. Mario would have been comfortable in this team with either Cork or Hammond alongside him. Mario did well when Pearson gave him a chance and but for our precarious finances he'd probably have got a new deal. Still with our current four CMs available to pick from we can only be happy Saints fans these days!

My old man put a few quid on David Peach for the first goal as he took our penalties and got offered a daft odd of something like 16/1. Back in 1979, that was a very handy winning.

I thought Jos did okay actually but Rasiak 9 has taken the emotiveness out of it and analysed exactly why we are shaky at the back - a lack of leadership. In midfield we have Hammond and Rickie very much leads the forward line but there isn't enough responsibility being taken at the back for keeping our shape as a cohesive unit. Let's give Forest some credit though, the second goal in particular was very well worked. If Seaborne is going to be long-term - and it looks likely, we do need to get another loan CB in this week in this area as Jaidi won't be match-fit much before Xmas I'd imagine (he's been 2 weeks away since August) and if we get any injuries or suspensions at CB we could be in trouble. Again, Fox had the same trouble, to compare him to Harding is a bit harsh given that Kelvin and Harding are founder members of the current defensive set-up so Harding has played 100+ games with the likes of Lallana. Good 3 points that and nice journey home but do need to strengthen with loans at CB and also striker as can't see Barney involved that much over the trial period and again, we are vulnerable in that area to injuries and bans.