Minsk

Why do you think he would be a good signing for us? I know he is reputed to be very fast and he scored a lot of goals in the Irish League, more than 3 years ago! He is 24 years old (so not very young) and stands at only 5' 7" (so certainly not tall). He has been at Sunderland for 3 years, in which time he has made 5 starts and 14 sub appearances scoring a grand total of 0 goals. For the first 5 months of last season he was on loan at Dundee Utd, where he made 8 starts and 5 sub appearances scoring just the once. He then spent the second half of the season on loan at Blackpool, making 11 starts and 1 sub appearance and scored 0 goals. So a grand total in English and Scottish leagues of: 24 starts - 20 sub appearances - 1 goal Nothing there to get me very excited I'm afraid (although slightly better stats than Pulis Jnr). However, if AP does bring him in he wll have my full support.

Baird played the full 90 minutes for Fulham in a European match tonight. There is no way he will be coming back here. We are in League 1 FFS! As for the original question: 1 x RB on loan to cover the time Murty will be out 1 x CB Although I firmly believe we will sign Jaidi once the paperwork is sorted, and as he is a free agent this can be after the window has closed. 1 x Fast striker That is my bare minimum. A right winger would be nice also but I think Mellis will be playing at RM and I can't see AP signing amyone else for that position without (rightfully) giving this lad a chance to make it his own first. I think we will be okay on the left once Fish is fit again. (I also think we will be okay on the right once McLaggon is fit, but that will take longer.)

Soccerbase doesn't have that info, sorry. I will admit, however, that given the choice of Rasiak or Smith to pertner Lambert I would go for the latter. But, Rasiak does have a better 'average' scoring record than Smith both over the course of their careers AND last season. So my point that he isn't actually a bad replacement for Smith at Watford (and the fact that they will have in excess of 1.5 million in the bank should both deals go ahead as rumoured) still stands.

And I presume you accept that Greg had a far superior goals per game ratio?

You are so right. In fact let's look at the full facts/stats: Last Season, playing for the same Watford team - Tommy Smith scored 17 goals from 49 appearances = 0.34 ave Greg Rasiak scored 10 goals in 24 appearances = 0.41 ave Oh..........

Yes indeed, during their careers in England: Tommy Smith has scored 93 goals from 385(61) appearances = 0.20 ave Greg Rasiak has scored 62 goals from 131(44) appearances = 0.35 ave Oh............

If we had of won THAT penalty shoot-out at Derby I think the answer may well have been a resounding YES! As far as I remember it wasn't Greg's fault that we did not do so. And as for those saying Greg and Saga contributed to our relegation last season, or had a bad attitude, that is just laughable. Both were shipped out in what was an economical catastrophy (having goal scorers would have equalled wins would have equalled more bums on seats, etc - or even if it led to administration earlier at least would not now be on - and when Saga did eventually return he was certainly up for the fight.

Well, having just seen it on tv, the second goal (at least, they didn't show the first) came from an attack down our left and there was nothing James (or Murty) could have done to prevent it. I honestly believe Murty going off effected us badly, and I think the reason is that we lost our flow in midfield. In other words, the major problem was losing James from midfield and not the fact that our defence suffered because he was at RB.

Get in there Adam Lallana!!!!

I fully agree, plus I think Saga will be a better partner for Lambert than Rasiak. Oh, and if he is still here in a week's time Saga will have to work his arse off to stay in the Poland squad/earn a January move.

Head says 1-1; Heart says 3-1 to Saints

As it stands at the moment, I don't give a hoot if either of them go - so long as we replace with (at least one player) who will totally compliment Lambert (i.e. a grafter with pace who is also a proven goal scorer). HAving said that, I honestly do feel that if Saga is here after the window shuts he will have to play out of skin to retain his Poland place (and possibly to attract attention in January? but wouldn't care as to the reason, so long as he is doing the business for us). I don't think a Rasiak/Lambert combo will be very successful, as it will lack movement and pace - but should Lambert have to miss any matches it would be great to have someone like Rasiak to call upon as his replacement. I doubt Greg wants to play second fiddle though, so byeee.......

Well, they are still in the winning mind-set which many teams who get promoted as champions have at the start of a new season in a higher league. They have won 2 and drawn 1 of their 3 games, scoring 5 and conceeding 2 in the process. So, a decent team who are undefeated thus far this season; whilst, as you know, we are still without a win. If I was a neutral I would go a for a draw (as we are at home) but I still think we will win (heart over head and all that!)

That's pretty much the line-up I am expecting AP to go for, if Murty is unable to play. If he, Murty, is passed fit I would expect him at RB with James at RM and Mellis to start on the bench, coming on at around the hour mark to burn the tired Bees with his pace. Oh, and Saints will definitely win as I am at a work bbq tomorrow so will not even be able to listen to match (unless I slip away early, which will be hard to do as I will be easily missed being one of only a few men present and surrounded by loads of females).

He wasn't a loan. His contract was cancelled and we signed him on a short term deal.

Yep forgot about him, but (IIRC) that was an emergency one month loan though because we had no fit 'keepers. And he was also class during his spell with us. So I still don't see how 'lots of loans players' caused our relegation from the prem. :confused:

Can you please remind me of all the loan players we had when we were relegated from the prem? I can only recall two, Davenport - who was crud; and Camara - who was awesome.

You might not know anything about this lad but I suspect that Pardew and Wilkins do! How many clubs outside of the prem can you name who do not have at least a couple of loan signings? Come to that, a number of prem clubs also have loan signings! It's the way of the football world nowadays. And what's to say that AP doesn't have another CB in his sights? Maybe that player is not available right now (current club looking to bring someone in until they will release him, for examle - or the player is currently injured, ala Whitbread at Millwall as another example). Another thought is that this player is in keeping with our other recent additions: LAMBert HAMmond TROT(TERS)man

Only Hammond hasn't signed yet, but he will apparently do so tomorrow.

Great post Minty. I am liking this news more and more too the more I hear about Hammond. Come on Saints let's get this deal done very quickly please. I will now be absolutely gutted if it falls through.

I've amended it for you.

So, Moyes is totally responsible for a 1-6 home reverse and if AP adopts the same approach, with the same result, you would be quite happy? Personally my belief is that everything which has occurred so far at SMS has had everyone singing from the same hymn sheet, and that AP is totally in control of all things regarding the football aspect. I doubt this is going to change and if there is an incoming DoF (or any other terminolgy for the same role) then AP will be onboard with who is appointed and as to what their TORs are. Bu then again I suppose we can all be drama queens and up in arms over every little rumour, as some people usually are!

Yeah, I bet he's gutted at having only spent just over a million so far............... in league 1.

Ht: 0-0

Rasiak headers across the face of goal............. but he was off-side.