Gordon Mockles

Positive outlook Phillip! ;0) I am over the moon with the Fonte signing &, funnily enough, met a Palace lad last night who had nothing but good words about José. Sadly, I didn't ask about Dann's as I didn't know about it until today. I am loving this new board (& transfer policy) who prudently care about the FOOTBALL & the ambition they have. A sentiment that's evaded all recent predecessors! However, I entirely agree with you Phil. Crying out for a right back (but I have faith...please Alan!) & really need striker cover for Lambert. Being greedy, a wide left player too (outside left, not a WIDE, FAT player!) Seems we're building for the next phase - The Championship! GTFI

I never expect it Utaka to happen, merely hypothesizing. I can't believe he was on as much as 80k though. That's obscene! I'd love to see Ward at CB & I am still desperate for us to SIGN A BLOODY RECOGNISED RIGHT BACK, as well as midfield, wings & back up forward like Jackson, Barnard or similar (just not Pericard, please no!)

Exactly! I've seen forum bandwagoning before but the over zealous criticism of Antonio is completely unjust. I reckon half are just inhereting opinions from other members without even watching him at matches. Regardless, he is quick & strong & certainly could develop into a good player. Everyone banged on about Dave Mc Goldrick & how much potential he had. Personally, I thought he was gash with a strange attitude. League One was his level but his ego thought otherwise. I think Antonio has more potential. More to be realised anyway!

I saw John Utaka transfer talk on Sky & thought the same. Despite being a large wage drop & bitter rivals, if all personal terms could be agreed, it must be tempting for a player if he's settled. Half hr up the road. Chopping & changing & moving home is the life of a footballer though. I guess they're paid enough to endure that hardship! Regardless, it's always gonna be hard, no matter what you offer, to expect players to drop 2 divisions (although, clearly, he'll be dropping a division this season anyway & we could push for play off places so a slim posibility we could meet next season) & more so with international players wanting to boost their chances of an international place with the World Cup coming up. In Pardew we trust. I'm just relieved we are (after many years absent & clueless due to the past chairmanship) in the market & have a seemingly good scouting network in place (any network is an improvement to Lowe's debacle!) with funds available from our board (for a rare change - people that run Saints for the football & shrewd financial planning). I just hope we bolster the squad across most positions - RB, CB, wingers, back up forwards & midfielders. Clear out the dross the last idiot brought in!

It's a shame we're not a season ahead & pushing up the Championship as I see Giles Barnes is out of contract from Derby. What a great player to spearhead our attacking play from midfield (or even wide). Good, creative player. We've no hope in League One but if we did manage to get promoted, this is the calibre of player we want to attract. Barnes will be going up no doubt, no downwards, attracting serious interest from Birmingham, amongst other clubs.

No sure if it was posted (too tired to read every post) but apparently Donnie have made an offer for Gillet after his impressive loan spell & we're considering it. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_5841482,00.html

Hope not. He really was useless before, f*ckin waste of uncommitted space!! Total dogsh*t!

WHY?! I think it's more than likely transfer targets have already been discussed, approved & identified. Cortese has stated his intentions & prudently embarked on his campaign to take the club forward & strengthening the squad is paramount to achieving progression & taking the club forwards!

I had drinks & a curry/Chinese with Jimmy Case Monday night. I had a lamb pathia, he had chow mein (extra onion) amongst other dishes shared & we got a free calender from the Chinese upon Jimmy's recognition! You don't get much more showbiz than that! ;0) Merry Xmas!

I think Pardew's been working their fitness extremely hard. Certainly the fat burning. Having seen Bart on Saturday, he looks like he's lost loads of weight. Looked positively thin. He was much stockier before. So much so, I didn't realise he was over 6' 4". He looks taller now he's shed a few pounds - obviously helped him leaping about against those spot kicks!

Would they? Huge piece of salt and hindsight and inane speculation, but I do realise you're taking the p*ss! Without going off on one and being too serious and devoid of humility - Let's be fair, the old regime would never have invested any of their personal wealth to faciliate and progress the club forward. Nor would they have invested in players and shrewdly ran the club. They preferred to thrust forward (largely) inadequte youth team players to the detriment of the professionals, farm out all performing youth players hitting form for the first time in first team football and put the money into dividends or shareholders pockets. Pas decisions weren't all bad - the investment and focus of the Academy was important and well received (by me) but any chairman should realise this, as Cortese and most clubs do. It's the future and an important revenue stream for smaller/selling clubs like Saints and should be obligatory. Pardew has gone one better and seems to also be targetting non league players that may make the grade. Focusing on Academies like Glen Hoddle has set up may also be a good option for clubs of smaller stature. Lallana, for instance, would be gone under past regimes. Key barometer of the difference in mentality from past Chairmanship - Player 1.) Bale had interest from other clubs. SFC Chairman made a derisory contract offer to Bale so he had no choice but to progress his career - he left for Spurs. New scenario (Player 2) - Clubs come sniffing around Lallana, Adam is mildy unsettled. The club issue a hands off statement and Pardew makes every effort to persuade Adam to stay, the club support Lallana and he continues to be an important part of first team plans and hits the best form of his career. One word - ambition! He may well want to move on come Jan or next season but we have MADE EVERY EFFORT to keep the player, that's all we can do. Well done Saints and the new regime. Finally some competency, ambition and frugal transfer policy and rebuilding (coaching set-up, through to Dodd and the Academy). I am confident we're in very good hands.

Doubtful, went to go in the other week only to see the place boarded up...SHUT DOWN! Sad sign of the times when you consider the history and time it's been there

Think you answered your own question there! ;o) Assumed you were being tongue in cheek.

Emirates is a great stadium but the changing rooms aren't anything special. Prefer Wembley - they are nice! Great news if Cortese & Markus are putting in funds to spruce things up a bit. I could never understand how the club were in dire straits financially yet having expensive specialist drainage injected into the pitches at Staplewood?! Bizare!

Thanks for the help peeps! Appreciated!

Quick & simple thread - Has anyone had a call from the club regarding a deal for Saints player for £4.99 until 30.01.10? Recently, I've had a telephone call from the club quoting my user name & password hint (which I didn't give out) but wanted to check with other fans for security purposes. The company were 'Perform' (I think, didn't quite catch it). Just struck me as mildly suspicious when I asked for a name & *details & the call was quickly closed off. Maybe because they realised they weren't getting the money there and then (& a huge database of fans to call!) but I thought it worth checking with fellow fans.

Yes he has. I can't comment on Norwich or Hartlepool but in the preceding games he's been very poor & all over the place. He began his loan in a much more assured manner. Against Brighton he wasn't even winning a large percentage of headers which is the strong part of his game. Also, positioning & distribution have been pretty haphazard. However, don't take what I said out of context as I do believe this is merely fluctuating form!

To be fair, he sounds dreadful. HUGE but I can't imagine he'd be that quick and nimble. Just an instinct!

Why is BBC site quoting 13 then? (follow my link to the BBC site) Have you taken account the Bristol Rovers goal before RL's transfer? I'm not saying you're wrong I can't remember all the goals or have time today to double check. I just trust the BBC more so than other websites!

Thought it was 12 for us (13 in total c/w Bristol goal). http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/top_scorers/default.stm

Must admit, this made me chuckle. Cup tied in earlier rounds, had a shocking few games for us and suddenly he's not cup tied anymore. Is that cos PNE aren't bothered anymore after recent performances? haha To be fair, everyone has bad form (look at Morgan - Useless recently and anonymous!) and I believe he'll come good again. Typical Centre back distribution though (hoof and hope - makes us appreciation Claus and his little runs on the ball and breaking up the oppositions play).

As stated on an earlier thread, he is top scorer with 13 League One goals... http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=18211 But, we're not talking about ratios. We're talking about goals and he is top.

So, it is 13 then as League Goals carry across clubs.

Rickie Lambert - 13 goals. Finally above Beckford! Please stay injury free & keep on keeping on as I have a bet on both Lambert & Lallana to be top scorer (couldn't not put a bet on with Adam's odds early season!). It will make up for the numerous 3-1 bets I have made this season but forgot to make tonight. Lallana 7th place on 9. Hoping the BBC website is up to date. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/top_scorers/default.stm

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