derry

We needed a right back as soon as Richardson was known to be out for three months after the operation on his shoulder.

I can understand your comments but the man in charge of the rig was BP. I understand the operatives were overruled regarding four procedures that were considered vital but not carried out. I have been told that the lockout valve which failed was not tested and there was no bridge reinforcement in the concrete cap, the other two procedures I wasn't told but it certainly appears that cutting corners was the problem.

Two pieces of advice, get off Facebook and don't be a Union rep it's a mugs game. Do the job and don't make waves, leave that for the mugs. If you subsequently have a problem where you are in the right, then go in hard and ramp up the consequences rapidly for the problem maker. It's amazing how quickly things go away if both barrels are shown quickly and the lawyers/law/tribunals loom.

Whilst I empathise with those who are either/both disappointed or disadvantaged by the short notice withdrawal of the instalment plan, I am one of those that it makes no difference to, as I have always paid by credit card and settled the bill before interest kicks in. The consequence for me is I have no problems with the way the club have treated me. To the club the attendance is anonymous so the issue that one person or another occupies a seat is irrelevant. Whether a ST holder from last season who has decided not to renew goes to a match or not, will be an irrelevance to the club. For them the revenue for each match is their only concern. Whether to renew or not, to boycott or not is an issue for the individual. The club is now a private business which runs the club the way it sees fit. Sad to say for the average supporter the club no longer needs the revenue, so the football club supporter needs the club more than the club needs them. If the club's decisions serve the intended purpose, whatever that is, they will be comfortable.

I've always hated the idea of injections to keep players playing with injuries. A lot of the time it is cortisone which doesn't cure the problem but just takes away the discomfort, which in the end just makes the injury worse.

After taking 50,000+ to Wembley and several sell outs I suspect the club have worked out and possibly gambled on the anticipated success of a top team in the league, that the random supporter filling the stadium on a sporadic basis rather than the same ones every week will bring in greater revenue. Provided the team is at the top of the league and regularly winning well, the club could well have a point. Time will tell.

Isn't Granger involved with some football/coaching company developing original concepts used by Saints and other clubs?

We'll just have to sit on our hands for a bit longer. We have bought our tickets for next season plus John and Eric for the first time.

Started on the Heralds at Southampton with BIA, due takeovers retired from First Choice in 2002 flying 757/767. 32 years as capt.

Hi Bert, It is a bit disconcerting especially as I thought with the clearout they would have lined up replacements a while ago.

If what is required is a competitive division one side, yes but if what is required is a championship winning team, the cover has to maintain the strength of the team. If like last year there was a run of injuries, three or four inexperienced youngsters being thrown in together would weaken the team.

The present squad has no right back only four proper midfielders and two strikers. you are quite right about mix but it hasn't stopped us having three left backs, the requirement is at least two full backs, two midfielders, replacement for Waigo/Antonio and two strikers including a target man to cover Lambert and another centre back wouldn't be out of the question. Two or three high class Premier youngsters plus experience would be about right but apart from Dickson plus 'maybe signings' Bialkowski and Connolly with Murty doing pre season there has been no signings.

You are right, he figured so little that I completely forgot him. I thought he was a decent player but it looks like Pardew still doesn't rate him. You could add him to the bench at best.

If a couple of the experienced centre backs are injured no matter how well he is or isn't performing he will have to play, and if there are a couple of injuries in the middle/front that team will be poor. He played two matches and looked a decent prospect but that won't get us promoted. We need experienced competition for all positions or all the pre season hype will be just that.

At this time we have a first team squad of one goalkeeper, three left backs, three centre backs plus Aaron Martin, two central midfielders plus Paul Wotton, two wide midfielders Lallana and Puncheon, only two strikers, Bialkowski and Connolly have not signed yet and Antonio and Waigo have not been replaced. This gives us only 10 starting players in their correct positions with Harding at right back and a bench of Forecast, Seaborne, Martin, Mills, Wotton, Holmes plus youngsters provided nobody is injured before then. This squad needs radical reinforcement or we will be playing four or five youngsters by October as injury attrition kicks in. Seven to nine players need to be signed to turn it into the squad some people think it is including resignings, free transfers, loans, and bought players otherwise we are going to be mid table at the best. If we don't sign good reinforcements some of the better players may see this as a sign to look for a move to a better team before the window closes.

Well done Mike. Congratulations from your friends in Block 5.

The first thing is to have the right equipment fitted then have the lessons. As the skill element improves the fitting process may well need to be carried out again as posture will change. If the equipment is unsuitable even the best players will struggle.

I've got over 18000 hours as an airline pilot. The scary bit is driving to and from the airport.

It has to be the same ball replaced on the exact spot it was lifted from.

All the top manufacturers have fitting centres. It should be noted that there are literally thousands of shafts and each manufacturer has different criteria so X S R S L of different makers have different flexes. There are different tip stiffnesses, kickpoints and shaft weights. Clubs have different swing weights, grip sizes and lofts for identical club numbers. The lengths and lie angles of clubs are matched to the golfers physique so clubs bought off the shelf or second hand could be totally unsuitable. Puring of graphite shafts line up the spline of the shafts to stop irregular flexing (graphite shafts are manufactured from a sheet rolled and pressed), steel shafts don't have this problem. As for drivers the new high trajectory drivers of 12/13 degrees are excellent. Get a set of clubs that fit. Balls are also important and are matched to swing speeds for optimum performance. Max spin for short irons, min spin for high clubhead speed with the driver. Top professionals use low loft drivers, have high clubhead speeds and minimum spin whilst creating terrific spin with the irons using one type of ball.

It is probable that drugs/injections cannot be prescribed by medical staff other than a doctor.

You may need a stiffer shaft on the driver. I fade and draw the ball it just needs a different set up. fading slightly weaker grip to avoid double cross. The correct shaft flex to suit your clubhead speed is absolutely essential. See a club maker or visit a manufacturer fitting centre. Taylormade charge £60 for irons/woods check at Basingstoke.

I hope this is not the case as it wouldn't be the smart move. It was either get rid of him in May or back him. Without new signings the stated expansive Southampton style is pie in the sky. When are you over? we need the dates so we can set up a reunion. We had one in April with about 70% at short notice and set up for a proper sit down when you come over Dicko says he will come down from Edinburgh. email me.

I didn't specify what sort of signings. The numbers stack up and they would include all new players whether, bought, free transfers or loans. I am talking about a squad to fulfill the club's stated ambition, win the league, without strength in depth the injury crises we suffered at times last season will scupper that. We released 13 players with quite a few having played in the first team.

Am I missing something? Doesn't the transfer money go to the FA?