saint1977

Totally agree Duncan. Him, James and Lallana were easily the three worst players on either side. No accident that our best players were Harding and Trotman, players that are hardly veterans but have not had the pampered existance our academy lads have. Hopefully we could get a fee for Lallana but the kindest thing we could do with the other two is release them. A mate of mine is a Bournemouth ST and said Thomson was poor there last season as well. Real footballers in future, no more of Rupert's academy rejects.

Brilliant, just brilliant! Great bowling by Broady and Swann wonderfully making the most of the pitch and backs up Warne's dismay at Aussies not picking a spinner. North was a bit unlucky but then Strauss and Bell were out off no-balls yesterday. Aussies look ragged and if England polish this innings off quickly, we can turn the screw. What's the weather forecast like?

As I type, Johnson's over is taking on Harmison-type levels of no-balls. Poor dismissals by Colly (who I just don't think is England calibre Test top 6 player, in spite of a wonderful attitude, yes he has saved us at times but one good innings a series shouldn't keep you in automatically), Prior and Freddie. Pitch is two-paced but need 350-400 even so. Cook got a good one from Siddle and Bell slightly unfortunate with an inside edge. Trott looks composed under pressure and with an adjustment to play slightly straighter should do well at this level. Welcome to England Test side Jonathon, where the so-called senior players (bar Strauss) leave you to do all the work....

Totally agree and most of the academy lads won't be taking up much space on the wage bill. McLaggon looked useful in glimpses last season but you won't see him back to full tilt much before XMAS, White needs a loan and couldn't make the first XI at present. Rasiak and Saga will be off. Pulis, Molyneux, Wotton and Lancashire are some kind of sick experiment on our supporters and Forecast sounded on a par with Norwich's Aussie keeper from the Grimsby reports on his debut. Shows the urgent need for another CB, 2 wide players with pace and at least one more striker.

Looks good to me and if he starts Saturday and Hammond makes a debut in midfield, that will strengthen two desperately weak areas. Should do a deal on Wotton's contract now, has nothing to offer Saints and glacially slow. Still think Jaidi will be coming in as well and that would give us a more robust spine. Now we need 2 wide players with pace and a partner for Lambert up front.

Good - Wilkins will know him well and Hammons gets his foot in having seen him play a couple of times. Means we won't be seeing too much more of Wotton hopefully. Feel a bit sorry for Colchester.

Shows you what I know - just seen Lambert posts. Perhaps that 7-1 win didn't do Colchester many favours. Would be a great time to raid them for Simon Hackney though.

Don't forget Boothroyd - ex-Norwich coach and still well regarded at Carrow Road.

Spot on - I would free Lancashire and Pulis as neither are anywhere near Football League standard. Lancashire should start with local/County football like Kevin Phillips did when released by us and see if he can work his way up again but we've subsidised enough rubbish like him and Molyneux, let alone Pulis, in the last 18 months. Wotton - whoever signed him should be shot. Rasiak and Saga don't want to be here, Rasiak will be gone next week I reckon, don't know about Saga. James has a lot to prove, out of position last season but despite some encouraging glimpses needs to improve now if he's to have a career at this level but I do think Morgan will do well this season. Thomas we are going to have to work with and bring in 2 more CBs as Perry is going to struggle as anything other than cover. Tough for Pardew - reduced prep time with a soft, unprofessional squad that are mentally shot and 2-0 down before they kick-off. Thank God for Kelvin as today would have been far heavier and we'd have lost V Millwall as well. Let's hope Cortese was watching and releases funds for 4-5 new faces in the starting XI for the Brentford game.

360-5 will be Australia's score after day 1 at the Oval. As for Saturday, 1-1 draw I reckon unless we bring in a decent CB before then.

I'm not writing him off but asking him to start 46 games is way too much. If Jaidi has a bit of the Flintoff about his knees, Perry may well be starting some games but not too many so as to keep him fresh.

We'll need him to partner Jaidi as Perry is 36-odd and Lancashire is not going make it as a pro - Pardew is being polite and saying he's not ready. Pardew is going to have to motivate Thomas to get through training sessions with a bit of pain. That said, Thomas has returned from a nasty injury last season.

Jaidi could be a crowd favourite I reckon. We haven't had that sort of centre-half since Svensson was in his prime - powerful, physical and a danger in the opponents half as well, particularly from set-pieces. Hajto had early promise but was disappointing in the end.

Anderson was transformed today but Onions is really starting to impress and seriously quick with it. Bopara lost concentration again but Bell looked better although lucky with that LBW shout. Strauss in the form of his life.

Tragic news but even before his cancer diagnosis he looked frail at the PFA ceremony a couple of years ago when Sir Alex Ferguson was presenting to him for a Lifetime Award. Great man and track-record speaks for itself. There will be a lot of emotion in Ipswich and Newcastle today where he is a legend. RIP SBR.

Some great additions above. Paul Davis was a coward of the highest order for that punch on Glenn. If he'd done that on Islington High St, he'd have been charged with GBH. Went on to disgrace himself further by joining Terry F*ckwit's band of less than golden oldies at Farton. David Speedie - clearly didn't want to join us (echoes of Kevin Phillips) and who can forget Branfoot's claim that him and Dixon would outscore Shearer that season? Is it just me and my dodgy memory or did some of our fans in the East Stand try and attack Speedie at the Middlesbrough game? Went on to really cover himself in glory with the alleged incidents in Jersey with Hurlock's hair. Missed the easiest sitter I've ever seen at Anfield from about a yard out. Must have been Paul Dickov's hero growing up in the 1980s I reckon. Fashanu - Could dish it out - just ask Gary Mabbutt - but no so good when it was returned with interest. Franny had the right idea at Plough Lane and I can remember him being neutralised at the Dell another time when MLT of all people clobbered him early on with a late challenge. Diouf - ah yes, the Celtic incident. I was in Southampton General at the time recovering from surgery and the bedside TVs at the time were showing that UEFA Cup game. I gasped as did another bloke on my ward who watching it on his TV as Diouf spat at the Celtic fan. More allegations of spitting in his time at Bolton as well. Seems to be a player other pros really dislike.

Not a good cricket day all-round. Still, can't moan too much after the euphoria of Saturday at Lord's.

Better hope for rain - awful bowling bar Swann. Garbage in particular from Broad and Anderson, Broad is only getting in the side at the moment as his face fits with the England management, he wouldn't get in the Hampshire side and perhaps not even Nottinghamshire. Broad just isn't ready to face top level Test sides yet.

Alan Smith - vastly overrated, not much good in midfield, wide or up front. Paul Dickov - average player and whiny Ashley Cole - overrated and that book summed him up Robbie Savage - great engine in his prime and could actually play but too little focus on actually influencing a match and more on the referee McGoldrick -those two penalties wound me up. He'll probably do well at Forest but never thought he gave 100% in a Saints shirt. Leon Best - cost us a place in the play-off final by having a stinker and then going to Coventry rather than making amends. He's then spent most of his time whining for a move to Forest. Should go back to Notts County - League 2 is about his level. Should get a nasty reception on any return to SMS with another team. Craig Fagan - animal in that play-off first leg. Still, Guthrie gave him a taste of his own medicine last season. Kevin Phillips - even comes across as a plank on TV. Missed that sitter in Romania and needless comments on leaving. Lee Hendrie - was telling the Colchester players how much he earned when on loan to Stoke from Villa and asked them if they wanted to clean his sports car. That said, Pardew could do worse. Kieiron Dyer - injury-prone waste of space. Could have learned so much from Bobby Robson but instead spent his time drinking (allegedly). His Agent Barnett is a spiv as well.

If he wants to stay though. Not too concerned if strikers of an excellent quality for League 1 (ie Lita was never going to drop back to this level) are signed by Friday but we really cannot leave it any later as McG has also been sold and Saga is almost certain to go as well.

A shame but seems that Pardew is working on numerous other deals so patience required - frustrating I know. There's no way Pardew would have joined had there not been significant scope to bring new players in. John - and I don't blame him - was waiting I guess to see if Palace were making an offer. However, it is looking likely that this season is one of consolidation and overcoming the -10, unless some really surprising rabbits appear out of the transfer hat.

We'll be lucky if the game nears any sort of result sadly, unless of course the forecast (not our reserve goalkeeper) improves.

The Skates must be desperate. Bit disappointed in Antti but not like he signed for them in his prime or anywhere near. They have also signed Finnan which is at best a CCC signing and over the hill at PL level. I know a lot of Pompey fans and every single one of them is very worried, would take 4th from bottom in a heartbeat and are only taking solace in the fact no-one will sign for Hull. The takeover does not appear to have any real money attached and they are hoping that the anonymous money men that wouldn't reveal their identities this summer show up later in the season.

Good post that man.

Hope the Aussies do play McDonald - decent bat but his bowling is county standard medium pace. Watson would more of a threat - if he lasts the match. Hauritz would need to play IMO to mitigate the risk of Watson's injury record as I don't think Johnson will be dropped. I agree with those saying it would be harsh to drop North but CA really believe in Hughes and when they've backed young players after a rough start in the past - Warne, McGrath (made little impact in 94/5 Ashes), Waugh twins - they have usually reaped their reward.