Badger

Good signing, pleased with this news. Hope we see his 'angel of the north' celebration a few times next season and beyond. Should have added one stipulation in his contract though, shave the beard off, might resemble a 'sawn-off Charlie Austin' too much with it.

Perhaps he'd like to play at what was once The Friends Providence Stadium ?

Sounds like an 1980's tribute band (or, alice band perhaps in this case).

Not allowed to have anyone winning in case it upsets whoever "won" second.

Just hope he isn't stuck out there and out of position, looks to me as if he is good at floating around and causing a bit of panic rather than too strict a role.

Hope he can be fast tracked into the first team, if only for the confusion it will cause between Adam Blackmore and Dave Merrington having Adams(C), Adams(j), Armstrong (A), and Armstrong (S) in the same line up.

clever bargain basement though this time it would seem. Nothing wrong with that.

clever bargain basement though this time it would seem. Nothing wrong with that.

I think there was some expectation about Gerry Gurr in the late 1960's (just outside your 50 years though) but he was finished by injury at a young age. Other than that I can't think of too many coming through the ranks. Steve Middleton (mid-70's), and Keith Grainger (1980's) who received a couple of understandable drubbings when pitched in too early due to injuries.

True of course, there's a risk in any signing, and whether they'll bring their previous form and live up to potential. Share your optimism over AA though.

With a crystal ball I'd have liked a fit Ings to stay, but the suggested £100,000 per week on a four year contract taking him to 33 also gave some concern that we'd have ended up with another FF situation being lumbered with hefty salary for a player not available for selection half the time. Hope this proves inspired business by the club.

It's not solely about this deal though is it ? More about eeking out resources to cover a number of positions.

Same height as Kevin Keegan and Steve Moran. Accept Moran when he first arrived on the scene had some pace about him though. Providing we don't intend using AA as a target man I think he'll be alright, two footed and seems to know where the goal is.

Ditto. Armstrong easily the best 'baldie' we've had, ahead of (if you'll excuse the term) Chris Marsden , and according to older members of my family better than Jimmy Melia. Pleased with prospect of AA joining. Slight concern is whether he's too short but he's actually the same height as Keegan and Steve Moran, so lofty expectations already set. Plus hopefully also bring in the Chelsea youngster. Just the CB situation, back up FB, DM, and please a GK to sort out now (now that would be greedy).

Where is the upgrade coming from , have any been suggested or rumoured ? The only CB's I recall seeing linked over the last week are an Austrian UN21 from Nice, and Phillips from Liverpool (possibly on loan with an option to buy might not be a bad way to go). Sell Vestergaard for £20m though and who knows perhaps there will be enough in the pot for a GK .

I was at that match, thanks for posting it. Had forgotten about the works at the Leazes end of the ground next to where we were standing.

I would hope that if he's coming in it's as a back up third or fourth choice striker and we still have a 'Plan A' option as a starter. Can this kid be any worse than Long and Obafemi in what he might offer off the bench ?

Allied with two mistake prone GK's, and a midfield heavily reliant on Romeu, and to a lesser extent JWP ~(who may or not be injured, and may or may not be here much longer). All in all, seems a bit of work to do in the next few days.

Splitting hairs perhaps but it It was amber rather than old gold. I posted about this before and someone (I think it was probably Fitzhugh) pointed out that before the amber we had also worn white as a change strip, and on one occasion in an FA Cup tie a burgundy coloured change shirt. Personally I liked the amber and black idea as it had some local connection suggested as the colours of the Hampshire Regiment.

With the rumours of young players, and others having not played at this level, signing an experienced player to guide on the pitch seems essential.

I've heard he's rejected the move, he only wanted to play for us if we were at the Antelope Ground.

Remember that season, and Phil Boyer, very well. Unfortunately for him though I think his time with us and even that season is eclipsed by his time playing in tandem with Ted MacDougall a couple of seasons before in Division 2, and then the signing and arrival of Keegan the following season. The 79/80 season was pretty spectacular though, the most remarkable thing was that before Christmas he was the top scorer with all goals coming at The Dell. I remember seeing Saints at Ashton Gate v Bristol City on a Friday evening fixture before Christmas. Won 1-0, with Channon scoring, it was brass monkey weather and we spent the second half willing Boyer to score but it didn't happen that night. Think he broke his duck away at Anfield a few weeks later. Thought he would play well with Keegan the following season but it didn't happen unfortunately.

Signing Colin Clarke was considered an exciting move at the time coming after a fairly successful time at Bournemouth and the World Cup. Most Saints fans thought we'd pulled off a good deal and he certainly lived up to that promise in the early days especially the debut hat trick, and another a few weeks later against Newcastle I think. Not sure why he isn't viewed that fondly now although to be honest I don't think he was ever that much of a hero or cult figure whilst he was with us, in the way that Lambert was from Day One. During his second season I think there were quite a few supporters who felt Clarke had put a bit of weight on, and had lost some of his 'energy' in the games. This lead to the inevitable suggestion that he'd lost interest and was looking to move. Can't remember if he declined a new contract but it was soon in the press that he wanted to move on, and eventually did. Probably some indifference to him by the time he left.

Fair points of course. If it goes well, then excellent, but if not we should at least be able to loan him to a club in Turkey whilst subsidising his wages for the remaining three or four years of his contract.

Interesting read, but it was written (it says 45 weeks ago) before his poor season at Leipzig so I wonder if the updated version would be as promising. In fairness all we know of him and can judge him on is his time at Palace, I don't think we can read too much into his time in Turkey in a fairly poor league. He might prove an asset but on the face of it this isn't one to get excited about. I'd prefer Armstrong but it looks as if we've shit the bed in that regard. There is the unfortunate comparison with the misguided and desperate signing Carillo already, but thinking back it reminds me of another signing some years ago of a tall, fairly lumbering forward, Iain Dowie. Branfoot was at pains to point out he's experienced and a current full international, to which I think most Saints fans thought "yeh, but he's still shit..". That was without the benefit of youtube. Sorloth might offer something but I don't expect him to be the regular goalscorer we need.