Minsk

I am sooo gutted that Bate Borisov didn't get an English side. I shall still probably go and watch them play against Real, Juve and Zenit though (unless work or better games on TV dictate otherwise). And on a Saints related note, I hope that Saga puts a few past ManUre and Celtic!!

=D>=D>=D>=D>=D> Post of the week!!!!!!!!

The future is more than bright, the future is Orange! Sorry, couldn't resist!! I will be very happy when I hear the news that Adam has signed a new contract. 2 goals in 2 games (even though one wasn't credited, and there is no doubt it crossed the line when you watch it on Saints TV) and I reckon it will be at least 3 in 3 after Saturday.

It's a long old season where there will be planty of injuries and suspensions, let alone allowing for some players to be rested and thus not suffer from 'burn-out'. Plus it is always good to have competition for places as it makes those with the starting slot work that bit harder if they know they can easily be replaced. IMO there should be enough in the squad to allow for 3 players to fill every position, but with some of those players covering more than one position (i.e. a 25 man squad, not a 33 man squad) and I think we are just about there, even if BWP and Euell do go. (I personally want Skacel to stay.)

I think a CB partnership of Cork and Perry would be too short and would not win anything in the air against 6'3'' Burgess. I would go with the same 11 that started against Derby, with a bench comprising: Bart, Cork, Wotton, and 2 of Thompson/John/Pekhart (depending on how the latter has looked in training).

Seeing as this guy is an Am I doubt he is being brought in to cover any of the 3 you mentioned above. More likely (fingers crossed) is that the rumour about BWP going to Guzz is true (or that someone is sniffing around for Euell, or both).

I can definitely remember him playing up front, in midfield and at RB, I'm not sure he played at CB or not.

I am in the minority in that I always liked Higgy, but only as a CB and not as a LB. However, I would be very surprised if we did make an offer for him and I don't really think we need him now either. I think in Killer, Perry, Thomas, Cork, Lancashire and Wotton we have enough cover at CB. So, in summary, I don't think he will be coming back any time soon and I am not at all disappointed in this.

I'm pretty sure that I saw Hick Holmes play in every position on the pitch, except goalkeeper, for Saints. But this was, of course, in the days when clubs and much smaller squads and were only allowed one sub.

IMO, and especially in this Saints side, Paul Wotton!!

Despite listening to the match I didn't have chance to post last night, but I just felt I had to say: Fantastic! Back to back wins, and clean sheets, against teams who were plying their trade in the Premiership last season! I am really looking forward to watching the game on Saturday, and to coming over there for the Norwich game next month!!

I fully agree. I wonder if all the people wishing for a trip to Old Trafford, The Emirates, etc, and saying 'we won't go far in the competition anyway' were saying the same things about the FA Cup in 2003? Think about how we got to that final, and thus into Europe. Apart from Spuds (who were very poor that season anyway) every other team we played was from at least one division below us. Therefore we qualified for Europe by playing (and losing to) only one decent team in that competition. Does the winner of the League Cup still qualify for Europe? Or did they scrap that a while ago? Whoever we get in the next round it will be best for our finances, and for progressing to the next round, for it to be at home. The financial reason is the only reason that I would be even slightly happy if we get drawn against one of the big 4. Not only for the attendance that game might bring, but so that if the lads again show how well they can play maybe some of those who have stayed away (until that game) would start coming again. Personally I am already getting very excited about the Norwich league game as it will be my first opportunity to see them at SMS.

YES!! Well done Saints!!!! I feel sooooo happy, and relieved, right now.

Sorry! I put it down to hangover/sleep deprivation/my nipper driving me up the wall today. P.S. When I google imaged 'wooosh' this was my first result :confused: I hope it makes up for my stupidity:

Yep, I noticed that too. Also there is no mention of Wotton or Cork. Hopefully this is just an OS mistake. If not, this bench is even more mad than last weeks!!

Well, maybe he had grown up a bit when you met him. As I said, this was when he was about 18. Maybe he was just trying to show off in front of Rush? I don't know, but he was certainly a tosser on the occasion that I met him. Not crap, merely the opinion of myself and all the others who were there at the time as well.

I've just checked and this is definitely the lounge and not the muppet show!!! This comment is about as funny as a kick in the ********! If you had ever really met, and talked with, her you would not have posted such crap as she was a very lovely lady! But as for tossers.... I met Ian Rush (in his prime) and an up-and-coming (had made a few sub appearances for the 'pool) Robbie Fowler in The Cavern Club in Liverpool many years ago. What a complete and utter pair of knob-ends they were. Tom Clancy is a very intelligent and funny guy, for a Yank! Oh, and one other I have to mention, Sir Alf Ramsey. I sat opposite him on the train from Eastliegh up to Waterloo when I was about 8 years old. He spent nearly the entire journey talking to a star struck little boy about England and Saints. A true gentleman, and very much a Saint!

Right, hence why he plays predominantly at RB for England U19's.

Well, there is always one who will try and turn some good news into bad. Whilst it says that he can lay anywhere across the back his better positions are RB and DM. From what I have seen, read and heard he definitely right footed, so bringing him in as a LB would not be a good idea. He is, however, fantastic cover/competition for James at RB. And I would imagine that, if circumstances dictate, Wotton would be used at CB with Cork at DM as opposed to the latter being used as a CB. Or even Cork at RB with James moving into midfield. Whatever, this guy is a great addition to our squad and will give us far greater flexibility and cover.

Excellent news! I am very happy to hear this.

I would be very happy if Jack Cork came to SMS. He captained England U19's, whilst playing at RB, when they played here in Belarus a few months ago. From recollection he had a pretty decent game that day.

As far as can tell Davies wanted to go and there wasn't much we could do about it, and Drew is still here. :confused:

As far as I can tell he hasn't even joined us (I am hesitating to write the next word .....)yet, and may not even do so. Can anybody point me to creditable site that says he will be coming to SMS? Surely if it were as part of the Davies deal he would be here already? Davies signed for them yesterday!

When did we sign Pulis? Where did you see this? I can't find anything about it on the OS, Sporting Life, BBC, etc.

You could also add in Claus, Poke, Baseya and Dutton-Black. Are there any others? But then again the important thing is not what team you could make from those who have gone, but how much money per week we are now saving. As well as all those players we have also seen Pearson, Dodd and Gorman leave, with JP and Wotte alledgedly on one third of Fearsome's wages! We do, of course, have to then calculate in the wages for the 4 replacements (Wotton, Holmes, Spiderman and Forecast) for the 20 above who have gone - but not necessarily the wages for Perry as we were paying him last season too. All in all our wage bill is now probably 120k-140k per week less than it was in May! That works out at 6.24-7.28 million over a year!! And even if I have overestimated some wages a saving of 100k per week is still 5.2 million per year!!