saint1977

Sauce? HP, Heinz?

Says it all really where the Mail is concerned. Still, interesting allegations around SFC yet again, what is it that makes our club such a magnet for these political wranglings?

Thanks for posting Ian. Wonder what the "minor" FL issues are? Hopefully the -10 isn't going to rear its ugly head again. Just want the deal finished so we can all look forward to next season and beyond. I might actually enjoy going to Saints games for the first time in more than a year, last season was a chore and not enjoyable as the club (and team) stank of impending mortality at most of last season's home games.

Yes SOG, I am also wondering how Pinnacle was considered the best deal, particularly for the creditors. Pinnacle could only have been the best deal if the funds were clearly there and of that there would appear to be doubt.

LM's role in helping Askham I do not condone and I think he has stirred at the club at times when it really didn't help. To call him divisive in the fanbase, let alone on the scale of Lowe or Wilde is well wide of the mark though. It is fair comment to point out that away from SFC - where his achievements will stand for generations - he did not fare so well. I personally wouldn't have him involved in the new set-up. One thing I will say Nick is that I wish some of the other posters (I know you don't do this) would stop quoting 19C/Flashman/Sundance on their posts - I have the attention-seeking nutcase on ignore for very good reason.

It'll be Fondue served in the SMS concourses now with a big cuckoo clock replacing the one in the Itchen Stand. Roger Federer to retire after tommorrow's win and be DOF.

I think Rupert was in a tough position and made the best decision for the club. I feel sorry for anyone put in Dave Jones's position and allegations of that type should recieve anonymity on both sides. Dave strikes me as a decent fella that still has time for the club and city and wrote a lovely piece in MLT's testimonial brochure. Have a feeling Cardiff will make top 6 and possibly even better in their new home next year.

I'd be inclined to keep Thomas if we could do a deal with him on reducing those wages. He's 29ish and probably settled in the area and seems hungry to play for us and he'd excel at L1 level and let's face it, we haven't had a decent CB play at the club since Svensson got injured and Claus slowed up. Baird's committment and two stunning goals got him the Fulham move but he wasn't that solid at CB - how many sloppy/late goals did we concede in 06/07, particularly from set pieces?

Sounds encouraging re: Doble and young Reeves. If I were the prospective new owners I'd look to retain Thomas, I think he'll shine at L1 level. Boyle seems to confirm early promising reports although have heard people say he is a bit lightweight at present but that can be changed. On the debit side, Pulis really ought to be given his cards, no room for nepotism in football unless you are Nigel Clough/Darren Ferguson and an oustanding player/manager in your own right. A new keeper must be a priority. Still, glad Gillett went well, alongside Thomas and John (if we can retain them), Mills, James and possibly Wotton, there is the spine of a competitive L1 side there.

Let's hope we are not being pr!ck-teased again...really want this deal through and united as a fanbase again.

Ha Ha. Don't be too certain of your takeover Skate, Campbell and Crouch don't think it is going to happen do they? Now go off with your tatooed Stella-drinking friends and set fire to a paedatrician's car in Paulsgrove.

Mills is now at the top of my keep list after Kelvin leaving. I thought he was out of contract too but perhaps he's happy to wait for the takeover outcome. If the new owners (if and when etc) can persaude Stern John to take a pay cut and bring in Murty full-time and Bennett and some more experience, we might have a half-decent side for L1 although probably not top 6 material with the points deduction. Thomas would do well at that level (wages again the issue), Gillett did well for Blackpool in L1, Lallana, James (as a RM). Haven't seen Forecast play.

Murty will free up James to play his proper position, RM but will also provide the leadership the side (and the whole club) has sorely lacked in the last 2 awful seasons. His fitness does worry me but his attitude may rub off on those around him which would be very positive. Bennett would be better off coming here than Brentford who want him on a free.

Would rather the club died than have scum like Batchelor involved. Honestly. We may be bankrupt but I would never accept people like him on board, it was bad enough having Askham's snout in the trough all those years. Hopefully the Swiss deal goes through as so will my ST transaction for next season.

We'll see him again for Carlisle - injuries permitting - next season.

I remember Southall and Flowers having some sort of goalkeepers competition in the early 90s. It was an open, end of season game with loads of chances but both keepers were awesome and amazingly it ended 0-0. Boksic was the culprit when Boro beat us Brad Friedel - who Souness couldn't get a w/p for - used to be a bogey keeper and WGS once said he should have been wearing a Superman outfit in goal. Can remember being 2-0 up on the opening day at Derby and we were murdering them when Tahar gave away a free kick 30+ yards out. Branko Strupar then unleashed a stunning free kick that rocketed in the top corner and Derby fans were as shocked as us Mark Venus's 30 yard missile in WGS's first game. Tugay also hit a peach the same season for Blackburn. Rooney's double goal MOTM performance for Everton as an 18 year old in a 3-3 draw, clearly something special. Scott Parker scored 2 stunners for Charlton at SMS, one of them must have moved a long way with the swerve, Niemi was beaten all ends up. Cantona's performance in a 3-1 win for Man U in Branfoot's last season

I remember that. Newcastle murdered us in the first half, their full-back Hottiger tore us to shreds with these solo runs. Kitson scored with an overhead kick and Bruce made a couple of stunners to keep it at 1-0. Charlton hit the bar for us and then with 20 minutes a tannoy announcement was made telling the Archers to sit down. This roused us in defiance and Newcastle panicked and gave the ball away as the Dell roared Saints on. When MLT equalised with about 4 minutes to go, you just knew - and so did the Toon Army - what was happening next. Even I didn't expect Newcastle to cave in quite like that though.

Dellhurst takes some beating, the roar when those two goals went in was deafening. I can still remember the lads up the pillar in the stand and Covent Garden taken over by Saints fans. No way was there only 10,000 of us in that ground. Spurs 4-0 in the Cup IMO is the best Saints performance since 1983/4. I loved that WGS side, we came from 2-0 down regularly, particularly against Fulham. A side with Saints spirit but also quality and fitness. Any number of great goals from MLT 1989 win V Liverpool, a young right-back by the name of Dodd made a name for himself. I remember the Family Open Days of the mid-80s and meeting Ted Bates, Andy Townsend, Mark Wright, Peter Shilton. Steve Moran scoring an excellent hat-trick V Ipswich 1984/5 I remember finishing us second in 1983/4, a feat surely never to be seen again. Of course, I was only young at the time and didn't know this! Sadly I also remember the semi-final defeats at Highbury & WHL, plus 1987 in the League Cup and Dalglish scoring a peach against us.

Lol! If only. Still, Hayling's coming into its own this warm summer although the Skates are bringing their cans of old wife beater on the beach at the weekends. Still, I've bumped into them all around their world so you can never escape them, here at least it is "their" area.

Southampton, in New York State's Hamptons. It has an amazing beach and does some great beer although lots of rules and regs on what you can and can't do. You have to be seriously minted to live there.

Spot on. Lowe = liquidation anyway.

I would agree with that except for the fact that they were taken in by Lowe and Wilde last season (and there was plenty of hype there). They were also taken in when Lowe had clearly lost his marbles before that (SCW circus post-relegation) so I wouldn't be too quick to gloat if I were them. I had my doubts about Pinnacle I have to say, not least with Leon involved and whilst his heart is in the right place, Tommac showed that his judgement is missing. However, like everyone on here (Jonah & GM included) I wanted it to be genuine without really believing deep down that it was. We are where we are now and we all just have to hope that one of these consortia remaining does the business. Thank you Guy Askham for creating this mess in the first place. This post isn't meant to be a pop at anyone (bar Askham), there's been enough division on this board already, I just hope a buyer comes in and frankly the boardroom plays second fiddle to the team again.

Agreed and also public sector debt is at record levels. The public sector recession has only just begun IMO even if the overall one started 15-18 months ago. Mind you, load of garbage on ITV News last night, whether the economy receded 0.5% more Jan-March is irrelevant, it's what it does from now to October and more p!ss poor media coverage will not restore confidence.

That's how I feel as well. Fry hasn't fancied Pinnacle since the beginning but based on their alleged higher offer felt obliged to do what could have been the best deal for creditors. It would appear however that Pinnacle were not the real deal and thankfully other developments with different consortia have been conducted parallel. Fry would have been concerned about the media's reaction to MLT's involvement not succeeding so he has added in a sweetener on the overseas consortia. His creditors will get less but it is more likely to be real money and it is still better than a wound-up club.

That is disturbing - knew Surman was going to go but "cover the wages" - doesn't sound like a deal done for the club itself in the next 48 hours does it? Surman will be one of those players that thrives at a new club where with a new environment where he will be moe inclined to listen to advice to strengthen his upper body and get himself as fit as possible. McCarthy might be the sort of manager to get the best of Drew as he has lots of ability but after a bright start last season looked very stale and jaded for the rest of the season and the previous season was similiar after a bright 06/07 for him. You have the question the quality of the coaching.