derry

Now your talking. Lancashire played v Woking on Tuesday, so he's fit now as well.

The "you" wasn't your post but all those negative posters who obviously haven't see the team play. The answer to your post was "So am I". A bit ambiguous though, I see where you are coming from. Is that better?

If it's a case of replacements it has to be youngsters. It is painfully obvious from both this season and last, the allegedly experienced players, do not have the ability or pace to fit in to the present setup, without damaging it's teamwork. That is why they are not playing and being shipped out. IMO there will be more young players like Holmes/Schneiderlin brought in as replacements.

It would help if some of the posters actually saw this young team before coming out with such tripe based on last year. It is easily the best team we have had since the Premier and a pleasure to watch. Schneiderlin is the best midfield passer of the ball we have had since Alan Ball.

When there is a financially beneficial takeover, that is when I will take a view. Up to now we have had one offer from SISU, and an overactive cyberspace imagination caused by unsubstantiated rumours and penniless tyrekickers. The present lot don't have the money and will have to borrow it. They obviously up to this moment have been unable to raise it. In any event borrowing shedloads of money and spending it on a tv pundit with no management experience, no matter how good a player, plus high cost signings is going to turn this club into another Leeds in short order. What I am buying into is the idea of young players bolstered by good experience, playing attractive, pacy, attacking football. That is the reality, takeovers are pie in the sky, unless the buyer has £50m of their own money to waste on a football club.

I watched at least 25 games of the most unimagineable dross it's been my misfortune to witness last season. I really don't give a jot for last years team. I have seen enough of the present team to know that they will do a lot better and be a pleasure to watch, compared with last season's rabble.

The players you keep on about lack pace, can't pass, don't compete, and more importantly can't cope with the sheer pace of the football being played. These young players are used to winning. They have played in winning teams for the last few seasons and it shows. They play with a swagger that we haven't seen for years. If you aren't going to the games it doesn't make any sense to pass hard and fast opinions on the basis of historical memory. We have moved on.

Optimism, spirit, teamwork and a lack of fear improves a team out of all proportion to the collection of individuals, such as we have seen in the past. Caution, fear, cause teams to freeze and perform poorly as we did last season. Give me confidence and optimism every time.

James looks the real deal and Surman is settleing in well. Remember players often find a change of position suits them, eg Kevin Philips, once a full back who was too small.

Saints over the last couple of years spent a fortune on buying players and paying inflated wages. We ended up being very nearly relegated, playing absolutely dire football. We lacked pace, commitment, passing ability, lost game after game, were a club divided. I liked the pace, belief, commitment, teamwork and enthusiasm of the young players. Led by Svennson/Perry/Davies we could well have a team where the sum of the parts far exceeds the collection of individuals. This was how Havant got to play Liverpool at Anfield.

I react to what I see. The average bit was the second half. Stoke played their usual aerial game and Thomas was pretty poor. The 1st team cut Stoke apart at times, made them look poor and they were only saved by a good keeper and a lenient ref. That and BWP trying to do a George Best impression with three players waiting to tap in a pass. I don't do PR/Bull****, 5 games/10 games it makes no difference, this team is far more enjoyable to watch than the dross I have endured over the last couple of seasons. You will see if you have read some of my other posts that I think it will be a rollercoaster ride. Reminds me a bit of 1959/60, that was a pretty young side that cut teams apart but let in goals.

I lost my three best players! Enough said.

What logic have you used to come to that conclusion. How many and which pre season matches have you seen, for you to have reached such a verdict.

If it is of any interest, Lancashire played against Woking on Tuesday, Davies is just about to start full training.

I am/was anti Lowe. You have to go to the matches to protest. When you see how this team play and how the crowd reacts to it, you will forget about Lowe. If you start a Lowe out chant be prepared for an angry reaction from the majority. The crowd are on the side of the team and won't stand for it.

Give him credit, Burley's rallying cry at the start of last season was. "I've lost my three best players", what a motivator!

Sounds good to me, we can bring in a few more youngsters like Schneiderlin/Holmes.

Hertha are keen on him but don't want to pay the fee Saints want. IMO if he isn't transferred, he will go on a seasons loan, or until january, to Hertha or someone else.

This could be another case of people with little money, persuading people with a lot of money, to take on a project that would allow them to feed their obsession of running Saints. IMO it isn't going to happen. For a start, if the people with the money buy into the project, they don't need Fulthorpe etc, or Saints, they can go it alone.

Having watched total dross from overpaid underperforming journeymen for the last couple of years I was prepared to give the kids a chance. However I was totally unprepared for their level of performance and commitment. The WHU game was supposed to be the bursting of the bubble, when it didn't, the call was just wait for Stoke that will finish them. The first team played with a pretty poor Wayne Thomas, after giving a goal in the first 2 minutes, outplayed Stoke for long periods, with their best player their goalkeeper. Then equalising, If that team had continued in the second half I think Stoke may have taken a hammering. As it was 6 youngsters one 16 with 4 experienced players who looked pedestrian in comparison more than held their own. If it hadn't been for BWP's stupidity in going it alone when we were 4 against 1, 3 waiting for a tap in, we probably would have won. Thomas was again at fault for the last goal missing an easy tackle after 2/3 attempts. If this little team plays the football I've seen so far we will do fairly well, maybe even better than that. They may be the saving of this club if their football brings back the crowds to SMS. I literally have found them exhilarating and I am hard to please. You are right we do need a goalkeeper.

work out the league table:smt026

Obviously been to the games.

Money for Shearer, players etc pie in the sky and crashing and burning come to mind. You have hit the nail on the head. Leave well alone, forget takeovers and get back to the unity of the football team. If you posters don't watch the team you have no idea what we are talking about. Get back to SMS and watch the revolution. I was surprised, and overwhelmed by the team. I've watched 60 matches in the last two seasons, most of them total dross. This team is something else.

Phil, I was just about to write the same thing, luckily decided to go to the second page. The football is brilliant, forget about the bloody takeover crap and get into the enjoyment of watching this great little team, it will be enjoyable whatever the results. Believe me this team can look after itself. As soon as they lose the ball they are like an angry swarm of wasps trying to get it back. No strollers in this team.

Win the first half, followed by 2007/8 dross, unless the old dogs have learned new tricks.