S-Clarke

nice comments from a bbc reporter too - Saints were superb as they thrashed Huddersfield 5-0 - strong in defence, tigerish in midfield and clinical in attack. I have rarely, if ever, seen a performance of such quality from a third-tier team.

He's been captain for the reserves, has been doing quite well if some reports are to be believed. this is a good move for him though, he needs football otherwise it will stagnate his progress.

He was one of the best defenders in the CCC - so no suprise he looks a cut above here. still suprised we managed to get him - he's only 25/26 as well i think? not even in his prime!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2010/03/who_is_going_up_from_league_on.html Saints were superb as they thrashed Huddersfield 5-0 - strong in defence, tigerish in midfield and clinical in attack. I have rarely, if ever, seen a performance of such quality from a third-tier team.

http://www.htafc.com/page/PostMatchComments/0,,10312~1982391,00.html pretty much admits they were battered!

For me, Connolly is a great sub. It worked really well for us when we could bring him off the bench, esp. in away games as he often gave us that edge in the last 20mins. I can see him being used that way for the rest of the season. You can't drop barnard on this form!

isn't it great that we're setting new grounds/matching records from decades ago, in terms of positives! it's something we haven't been doing for as long as I've been on this earth anyway. Conclusive proof if ever needed, that Pards and Co are doing a fantastic job.

I still think it's still a little too much to do, but it's going to be an interesting end to the season either way! I'm just going to enjoy the remaining games - no pressure, playoffs are and were always a bonus.

Thought he had something about him, his movement to get into that goal scoring position in the first place was excellent. Do we know what his position actually is? i assume an attacking midfielder? looked very quick though and hopefully he'll get a few more run outs in the near future - he really is one to watch though. (he's had alot of excellent reviews from the youth team)

we'll do what i achieved on football manager, 136 points, 120 GD and undefeated all season (just 1 draw) you're right about the football though - so glad we've stopped ''hoofing it'' up to lambo, he's so much better with it to feet. It also allows us to get the best out of Lallana, Morgan and Punch playing this way. Some of the football was really majestic, one touch flicks, back healed passes, keeping position from the back to the front in one move...and then having a shot. just classic stuff - loving it!

The massive difference to this team now is the spine. Fonte > Hammond > Rickie - when all 3 are on form, we're unplayable. Glad to see Deano back to his best, him and morgan have formed a great understanding. Same with barnard and lambo. you could also say the same about Jaidi and fonte....and Lallana and Puncheon. (when they keep swapping over, causes confusion for the oppo) basically, we've just clicked as a team. Unplayable at times tonight, Huddersfield disappointed me - thought they'd make more of a game of it (but I'm not complaining!) MOTM for me is a toss up between Punch and Deano - but I'll give it to Dean, he leads that team fantastically. let's hope we can get our away wins back on track, and then we're cooking!

[Comment From Len Len : ] Matt - I admire and share your optimism. Wouldn't it be ironic if, even with a points deduction, we still beat relegation and got to Wembley. I still believe we can do it.

maybe we will be playing them next season..!

Mr Mitchell - HMRC - We say there's serious questions which arise and which require full investigation as to what financial dealings there have been between the various different owners of the club and between the club and it's owners and at the moment everything is shrouded in mystery.'

i thought this thread was a bit quiet today....and then this, brilliant. never disappoints

they don't play like that tbh, they let in as many as they score (they have recentley anyway) - so it promises to be a pretty exciting and open game. can't wait!

Even though I don't think we'll make it, I think it's pretty damn good that we're even talking about the possibility, when you take into account the -10 and the bad start we had. Alot of posters on here back in September would have taken survival! (not me fwiw) - so it's nice to be ending a season with a slim chance of achieving something many of us thought was impossible back in september. shows what a decent job pard's has done IMO.

Davis, Morgan, Lallana and Fonte easily. Harding, Jaidi just about (he's proven it with birmingham) Lambert as well IMO - although he's never been at that level, i don't think he'll struggle to score goals. couple of players on the borderline - Barnard, Punch, Hammond, Jonny but it's not bad really, we've got a really good nucleus of a team which can travel up the leagues.

that's exactly the case, which is why the january window was a sign for things to come (for english clubs in general)

you haven't got a clue mate, sorry.

don't go quoting facts around here nick (p.s - but i don't think reading have been in L2 for a long time....)

spot on. if we can attract players like Fonte when we are in the bottom half of L1, then just imagine who we can attract with a clean slate and ambitions of winning the league!

the team is being built around Morgan and Adam, they are a massive part of the vision that pardew has for this team.

I think people will be surprised come the summer, this is a different club now and we're not going to sell for the sake of it. I know it's weird - cause we've gone into every window expecting to sell etc. Look at the Jan window though....that is a big clue as to how we'll operate in the market from now on. We're probably the only club out of the PL that can say ''no'' to bids for our best players, and at the end of the day, with the financial position of clubs outside the PL - not many will be spending megabucks on young talent. We're in a very very strong position right now

it's ''shoooooooooooooooooot'' not ''boo'' all came from when he scored that screamer v Ipswich.