derry

When I phoned I was told to send them back and when they received them they would post the correct book which in the light of the IDs required etc sounds more like it. I went down this afternoon to the TO and exchanged the book. I received one ticket ok but the other missing vouchers.

And the latest TO cock up - matches 1-8 missed out of some of the ST books by the printers and still sent out by TO. I received two STs one ok the other missing the first 8 matches. Changing the printers from Cedar to a Pompey company worked a treat as did David Luker leaving.

Probably only Guly and Fonte but possibly Bialkowski and Schneiderlin. Otherwise probably the rest of the squad qualify with the possible exception of Forte, a Barbados? international. Something like 3 years at club in UK by 21.

It appears to me that as a 17 year old Alex is very advanced and hence in demand, but if he becomes 19/20 and hasn't developed as fast as he needs to, then whilst he would still be a good player, he would be nowhere as valuable or unique to the Premier clubs as he is at the moment. His side may well be thinking this way and are desperate to move him on, just in case there is no golden goose in due course, whilst for Saints it is about keeping a valuable asset to use this season.

The lad is quicker than the average opponent, is confident, creates chances and scores his share of goals. He is still very young and has been extremely lucky to be in a club that has given him opportunities. Having said all that, he is not a brainy or subtle player and often disappears or gets himself into positions that completely negate his pace. He will be up against better players, teams and defensive organisation than he was last year. He may yet find that the team as a whole will find a level in comparison to last year that will entail struggling to make an impression on better sides and cause him to be needed to be more aware of defensive duties. I think he may struggle next year unless we find players that are able to give him the sort of incisive passes when we are under pressure that will allow him to run past defenders. I personally think in the light of his fathers influence and the obvious preference to move that it would be better to let him go and bring in a proven mature championship attacker, plus a couple more than we would otherwise have brought in. The club announced on BBC Solent this morning that nobody except Arsenal had been in touch since Liverpool's derisory bid last year and they didn't want to pay up front but wanted a staged incentivised fee and loan him back for a period. It appears that Premier clubs don't value him at the same price as Saints because he is for 2/3 years time for them, whilst he is currently in Saints first team and therefore is valued as a first teamer here. I'm not sure a deal can even be done and that he and his family are hoping to force a deal at Arsenal's terms rather than Saints. If we can get the deal we want or near, we should let him go, because this won't get any better in terms of him being settled or causing disruption. The boy may never get much better or he could be a star at the highest level but at the level he is at at the moment we can replace him. It may well be that nothing will happen because Cortese will hold out and Arsenal etc will either have to **** or get off the pot. In which case Alex will have to perform or be treated like Puncheon which will do him no good at all as he needs to play and impress or he will go nowhere.

Could it just be that the father wants him to cash in, while it's not that important to the player who probably wants to play first team football not be back in the reserves/U18s no matter where it is. A lot of previous quotes/articles show the father/agent? appears keen/desperate for the move but all the chance contacts with the boy show a different focus.

Mike, A mate of mine had his knee replaced 5 weeks ago. He had considerable discomfort for about a month, his knee is swollen and numb (can't feel bed clothes on it) but he was out last Saturday with me riding on my golf cart and carefully walking about without a stick. He is determined and follows the exercise regime and is now looking forward. I will check with him to see who did it at Southampton General and pm you.

I realised what he was saying, but he obviously didn't bother to find out the Saints Chairman's predictable attitude to the media. Unless Adkins is capable of persuading Cortese to overlook it, it's a dead deal.

Well, that'll work, now that it's in the press Cortese will be rushing to negotiate, thick idiot!

Ian White missed

Mills? Anybody know?

Ron Davies and Terry Paine

Am I missing something? Didn't we sign Martin on a one year contract with an option to extend. We have just signed him up for a further 2 ? years.

Last year the first time the first XI played together was against Plymouth and what a mess that was. The final fixtures needs the first team to get into a rythm playing together without 6/7 players that will not figure anywere near the first team for the rest of the season.

Spot on. Plus one of them a proper leader.

If he really wanted to be here he would be already signed. It looks like he is hanging on, hoping that a club he is interested in comes in for him. If that is the case, it is better he goes somewhere else.

With all the restrictions, evidence of age , DDs etc, it's almost like they don't want season tickets. It just makes me wonder if their transfer negotiations are carried out in the same pedantic way.

Ask the ticket office to Fax or post the DD form to you, sign it and Fax or post it back.

Take out the second sentence, then the remainder has been put forward by many posters this close season. The first sentence is a very valid point, whilst the last sentence is a possibility, although I feel unlikely. I would have thought that scouring the lower leagues and even non league (McHail-Smith, Long, Doyle, Kightly amongst many others spring to mind) is important.

Good, because I can then blow the bastards head off in self defence.

+1.

Norwich strengthened considerably, striker, centre back, midfield, for a start and if we are to compete we need to do the same. Apart from two or three this squad lacks pace and in the higher division we will be found out.

It isn't a guard dog it's a pet. The message is clear, if he is out the security lights are on, to get to the dog a 6ft fence has to be scaled. The dog will bark so the intruder who doesn't get the message has wilfully disregarded the visual signs. It is a dwelling house and the dog sleeps in a conservatory with the door open. It is a great deterrent.

Mind you, my 10 stone dog roams around the garden at night, I probably would have to pick up the bits next day. What do I get for that? and no the dog can't get out as there is a 6ft fence surrounding the garden.

Maybe that worked when the police used to come running. Calling the police now is a waste of time they take longer to respond than a letter to Australia. In cases like this it's about time the powers that be realised in the real world, that a householder under threat either has to surrender or fight any way they can, unless the burglers run for it. As for the knife, we all know there is an epidemic of knife carriers on the street again nothing being done about it. The authorities sadly have surrendered the streets to the criminals and have no interest in supporting the population.