S-Clarke

isn't it fun that we're actually involved in an automatic promotion battle though? first time I've ever experienced it as a saints fan, I'm used to watching games like this as a complete outsider. beats scrapping around for 6th place.

looking at it in the bigger picture, i feel the same - we now have 2 games over hudds and they are only 1 point in front of us.

Wednesday should be level...reckon this could end in a draw.

Hudders lead, great goal from Pilkington He won't be there by the end of the month.

Enjoyed that! A very comfortable win (apart from 20mins at the start where they made it hard for us). Guly should have had a hat-trick - the guy is getting more confident and more accustomed to this league, the oppo. at this level cannot track his movement as he's so clever. But of course...he's **** and we should call him a taxi. Never mind. Lalana was a joy to watch, you would pay just to watch him on the ball for 90mins. Everything good about us always went through him, the agility he has to take a touch, spin on the ball and then find a player is great. He's the best player in the league. Frustrated for Lambo today, he played well again but he didn't get that break for the goal - but he did try his hardest, he had a couple of thumping efforts at goal but as unlucky. The 2nd half was just too easy though, the subs that Exeter made screwed the game up for them and it became 1 way traffic and we really should have had at least 6, no exaggeration. But who cares - we got 4, we're 2nd in the league at the start of the year. I've got a feeling that 2011 could be a year to remember... Davis - 7 - Not much to do, kicking was better today. Richardson - 7 - One brilliant run at the start of the game which setup lambo (i think) and generally solid throughout. Our best RB. Fonte - 7 - Not tested massively, but calm, collected and composed on the ball - had a chance to score in the first half too. Seaborne - 7 - Good to see him back against his former club and he was solid. Again, not really tested - but did what he had to do. Harding - 7 - Up and down the flank as usual, put a couple of good balls in the box and defended in his normal way. Chambo - 7 - He got an assist with a great run - but other than that, it was a frustrating afternoon for him. I'm not sure if he was still nursing a knock of sorts, but he was a little off colour. To be expected though, he's only a kid! Morgan - 8 - Excellent player, ran the midfield today - I don't think he gave the ball away once and he constantly picked the right pass. Chappers - 8 - That's why we signed him, tenacious and box to box. He was in their faces all game. Lallana - 9 - MOTM - So good, love watching him. I really hope we get him signed up...but I reckon he'll hold fire until he knows what league we're in. Lambo - 7 - Frustrating game for him, but still good. He looks much slimmer and is more involved in our attacking play. Unlucky not to have at least 1 goal. Guly - 8 - 2 Goals and a general guly performance - put himself about, ran the channels and moved the Exeter CB's all over the show. He needs to be signed.

he's scored again...

Dexter is injured for the next 12 months isn't he? Done his knee. I wonder how close we really did come to getting Tyson though. I'd still go back in for him, his pace is frightening.

You really should stop posting.

I remember him from his time at Burnley, rated as one of the best young players in the championship at that point and got a move to the prem for just under £2m. If he can get back to that level and perform to his potential then we've got a star.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/9328509.stm

brighton have beaten us to him. i can't think of anyone else they have that would improve us. they're where they are in L1 for a reason.

An interesting one, possible as I'd guess he'll be trying to move from Swindon as they're bloody awful this season, but Swindon have money and they will not sell him for under £2m imo - so if we do get him, that's a serious statement of intent.

It's nice to see us benefiting from a really good deal for once. You will not get a better player for that price anywhere, we're fortunate his PNE time didn't work out - that's not because he's rubbish, because he's easily a top half championship CM when on form.

Our away form isn't great, but i don't think we've been given much of a chance to build up any away momentum this year. Our away fixtures have been very disjointed which probably doesn't help the consistency. Hopefully we can get a run of away games under our belts, but if the forecast is anything to go by for the new year week then I'm already worried about the daggers game. If it freezes they have no chance.

Saturday is setup really nicely now. Good result for us tonight - Brighton 1 - 1 Charlton, so everything is still within reach. Brighton seem to be dipping a bit. I honestly think the league is ours if we perform how we can consistently.

For the last 12 months it has to be Lallana. No one else comes close in that period really in consistency terms.

I'd be surprised if a deal is not already done and dusted.

and according to their chairman at their AGM, a fee has already been sorted. Don't think there is any backing out of this for either party. when adkins was asked if we have any news on chaplow, he smirked and said ''lets wait till the 1st of January to see''

He's the L1 messi, some of the stuff he can do with a football is brilliant. Leaves the oppo sitting on their backsides all game. We wouldn't be able to replace him at this level, no chance. We'd need to be chasing for the championship title to even attract players of his level.

Agree about Butters, he's a solid player - he's never put a foot wrong for us. Not flashy or fancy, or quick - but solid, does a job and a fantastic squad player. TBF we should count our blessings we actually have 2 right backs, it was years since we even had 1.

Yeah - i got that from his interview tone too, seemed to be playing down the chances of seeing too many players coming in but said we'll try for 1 or 2 positions. He's right though, the market is OTT at this time of year and even though we've got money we've never been silly with it which is a good way to be IMO. Anyway, our squad is pretty much strong enough anyway.

The stuff I've read is that Millwall want him, but they cannot afford the transfer fee or the wages. So I assume we're still paying a %. I wonder if we'll let him stay there for the season on loan?

It's the sort of statement we've needed a manager to come out and say for years. Burley should have said this in 2006 but he kind of played the safe card by aiming for the play-offs.

His agent is his dad I believe! I have a feeling it's going to end up like the Theo transfer, but I hope not - it's way too early for him.

You can see why Adkins plays him up top - he's a constant presence and a nuisance to the CB's with his running and some very clever movement too. He's never been a natural finisher or goalscorer, so it's unfair to compare him to barnard for e.g. Some of his touches and movement are class and of a different level at times. Some of our fans wouldn't know a good player if it slapped them in the face. - hence the amount of ''rubbish players that left us'' who are now 2 divisions above us.