redkeith

I think that the plan is to use their glorious history to finance the deal. If they were to place a 2 farthing bet on retaining the FA Cup for 6 years in 1939, the odds that they would get, plus inflation could pay for the Milton Road end at least. All they would need is enough money for a 2nd hand Delorian and some plutonium.

Looking at how our full backs were exposed yesterday, it could be worth playing Davis in a wide position, maybe instead of JayRod or Long. Although this would limit our attacking options, it should provide more cover ( think Mardsden/Bridge for older viewers )

A game of 2 halves Gary ... Cedric looked shaky after the silly booking, but Martina looked very good when he came on. JayRod was well of the pace. On the positive note, we could easily have nicked it at the end and Davis had his best game for a long time. A bit worried that Long as scored twice already, as that only leaves him another 6 for the season!

I dare say the PA figure is a worse case scenario, as the facts of the matter are probably only know by a few people in the inner circle of both camps.

I would imagine that his contract was ripped up and no further payments made by Saints, in exchange for his registration. All in all, he probably cost us the basic transfer fee (he didn't do a lot to trigger add-ons ) and two years wages minus loan fees .

Pompey have also introduced a similar scheme, but in their version, the club resells your ticket and keep the money for themselves. I think the Saints version is much fairer. http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/news/article/pompey-launch-seat-release-scheme-at-fratton-park-2581725.aspx

For a cheap bit of art, try the Musee Rodin. It's being done up at the moment, but for €2 you can go round the garden, which has some amazing statues, including The Thinker. For a few Euros more you can go in to the small exhibit, which has The Kiss on display.

Driving up from Limoges ( 9 -10 hours ) with my brother and his boy, who are holidaying with us that week. Need to watch the Transporter films again to get in the mood. Rule number 5, don't let my nephew near the CD player.

Shows that we need to sign 2 DM's when Morgan goes, as we always play 2 there and currently only have Vic and Reed available. Davis and JWP can't tackle and don't have the positional sense and Gape doesn't look the part either.

Tottenham Hotspur, copying Saints homework since the days of Martin Chivers.

It looked good for a while having Clyne,Shaw JWP, Chambers,Cork, the two scouses and Jay Rod in the team, but unfortunately, couldn't last. The Quota system means that the big 6 are desperate for young English players, especially as they are so poor at producing their own. Then you have the added complication of players seeming to be advised, once they are in the England Squad, that the best way to stay there is to get a move to one of the big 6, rather than play regularly for one of the other 14 ( eg Gibbs). The FA seems very keen for clubs like Saints to produce talent through the Academy, and even keener to whisk them away once they make the grade. Chambers getting picked ahead of Clyne , the man who kept him out of the Saints team, just after he signed a contract at the Emirates says it all really. I think I would rather Saints' Academy produced players for any other country than England now. Saints would have more chance of keeping them, and the FA could scratch their heads every 2 years when the Liverpool, Arsenal and Man U benchwarmers 11 fails at a tournament yet again.

Sounds promising. I think we should go vintage punk ballad for a song, Frederick by Pattis Smith anyone ?

Thought we played Ok today, Kelvin did well in goal, and we created a few chances, but unfortunately Long wasted the best one at nil-nil. I liked the way DJurcic turned and ran at them, much better for a no10, but his end product wasn't there. Before they go on holiday they need to practice playing against a team playing offside on the 18 yard line.

Brilliant first half, should have been more really. Mane was just brilliant, cue the Newspapers now linking him with all the big 6 .

Athletico can call him back, but they can't make him sign for anyone else. If he doesn't think he will get a regular game at say Utd City or Chelsea, then I don't think that he would be interested. He would be better off doing a Winston Bogarde, wait till his contract runs out and the pick his own club.

Les Reed has mentioned the fact that Saints have a strict wage limit both on individuals and as a total wage bill for the squad. This is all perfectly reasonable for a business, see QPR for an opposite point of view, but does have some issues. Jay Rod has missed the whole season, meaning that the playing squad has been one wage short. Added to this, the award of such a long contract by Cortese to Kelvin Davis, going long past his retirement date is another wasted wage, even though he has been a great servant and top bloke in the dressing room. Next season we have to carry Forsters and Davis's wages I just hope the board can book these as 'exceptional items' so that the squad is not two places short next year.

New keeper this summer, nailed on.

I can see them getting more than the release clause for Jed Wallace, but only if Brendan Rodgers is interested in him!

If you swapped the keepers and Davis for Ericson, we would have won 5 nil. Good performance, but we need a goal scoring AM for next season. Plus, Michael Owen is so full of sh#t . If I had the time, I would get a video package of all the dubious free kicks (eg Penalty versus Pochetino) that he dived for.

Sorry, but this just seems like a 2 + 2 =5 story to me. Saints may have had a scout at St James Park yesterday. So that means they must be watching a player. Clyne is thought to be off, so lets say they are looking at a right back, oh , and the keeper is out for a year so lets say they are looking at a keeper too. Or, maybe Saints were just watching Spurs who they play next week ? I like both players, but I don't think that he would be happy as number 2 if Fraser gets fit. Also if Ashley sells Janmat , one of Newcastles only decent players, after just one season there will be a riot up there. These sort of stories pop up from time to time when, if the Journo could be arsed to check the fixture list, it is obvious that Saints are just scouting the opposition.

Ellias was very poor today. At times we got into some good positions, but only put in one half decent cross, the one Howard made the worldie from form Pelle. Other than that, and the JWP long and Free kick , that was it really. Please Mr Reed can you get us a proper Number 10. Someone to score goals, create goals and also take free kicks and corners. However much everyone likes JWP and Davis there are no stats that suggest that they are remotely suited to that position, unless you want them to do a job, like JWP marking Carrick at Old Trafford.

On football weekly they suggested that anyone caught diving should have to wear a "bib of shame" for the next few matches, so the officials can be wary of them. I'm sure that refs do this to some degree, as players like Long and Pahars never seem to get a penalty unless the defender has got in his car and run him over. On the time wasting issue, adding enough time on to allow for it would help a great deal, although some matches would go on until 6 30 on a Saturday. Also action should be taken against clubs that take the p@ss, such as the ball boys sitting down after WBA had a 3rd minute lead. When Villa won the league in the early 80's , the ball boys would give the ball back quickly if it was to Villa, but if the opposition had a corner, they would wait until Villa defenders were all back until they returned the ball.

Athletico can buy out the clause and take him back, but they can't force him to sign for anyone. He could just sit on their books for the next 2 years. By the sound of things, he has been bitten once by a big club, losing his first team place and now he wants first team football. Maybe he trusts Ron to give it to him.

I hope to go to Bordeaux, but not if England are playing there. I went to see a world cup match in Toulouse with a mate, and we were going to go on the lash and sleep it off on the car, but all the bars were closing early because England had a game there in two days time. No fun.

Shane Long