Badger

Think she spoke once at one of the club's Q&A sessions as an introduction. Credit to her for the attempt but it certainly sounded as if still in the beginners stage, contrary to reports when the Gao's first arrived and suggestion was that was proficient in English.

Agree to some extent, although I think the myth is that we have an ongoing conveyer belt of youthful talent coming through rather than giving them the opportunity. In 2014 the media likened us to Ajax, and of course Les lapped it up. Truth is we haven't got the track record they have for season after season providing a crop of outstanding players. Since the 2012-14 crop of Lallana (when sold), Shaw, Chambers, JWP all breaking through at about the same time it's been pretty lean. Not a case of not giving them the chance, just that the standard hasn't been up to it.

Memorable day out.

Out of interest at what age do we think a young prospect should be breaking into the team ? I think many of our better ones have been on the fringes on the squad at 19 or thereabouts. I was surprised to read that N’Lundulu is 21 as he’s been talked about for a couple of years.

Reports on the BBC gossip column a few weeks ago said a couple of clubs were interested (Real Betis from recollection). Clearly wants a chance somewhere but he is 4th choice for CM at best. Shame we didn’t progress in the League Cup as that might have given him some opportunities.

A name that sticks out with his style of posting was Oakley. Often starting his posts with “Oakley thinks ... “

Sad news if true.

Very sad news to read this. John Mortimore was a great servant to Saints who I think was assistant to Ted Bates late 60s/early 70s from recollection before going abroad at a time very few British players did never mind managers or coaches. I think he was the manager of Portsmouth who signed Ron Davies for them. Someone said to me by at one stage in the early-mid 1980’s that he was the ‘brains’ behind part of Lawrie’s success after the name players (Ball, Keegan & Channon) had left, and that the sweeper system with Agboola was largely his inspiration. It was a shame in 1985 when Lawrie left for Sunderland that Mortimore wasn’t an option. Think he said in an interview that he’d have been interested but had already accepted the post at Benfica. Another sad loss of someone who contributed a great deal to Saints, RIP.

A good coach/manager but one who seemingly has a track record of falling out with every club he's been at.

Didn't see that so can't comment but in her defence I've read some of her comments on the BBC Live Text during our matches and have been reasonably impressed taht sh'e provided reasonable summaries of our games, and Saints. She seems to have a better grasp than Danny Murphy for example.

Not even Scott Marshall managed that in a single game for us. Seem to remember he might have played in the Youth match where we beat them 7-0. Which is surprising because I thought I read that Whatmough was meant to be the greatest next biggest thing to come from their famed yoof academy. In fairness though just as we can't expect all our youth products to live up to the standards of Shearer, Bale, MLT, Theo, Oxlade-Chamberlaim, JWP, not all Pompey's are going to reach the dizzy heights of being another Jed Wallace either.

Just googled to see what happened to Mario Licka. At one point he was playing for Brest. On leaving the club one of their fans commented on a forum: Courtesy of Google Translate.

Or if they think a) he isn't up to the scrap they have ahead, b)the squad might be better off without him... Neither seem too far fetched

Immediate thoughts on seeing his name was his other half... although I don't recognise her from that photograph... Off the top of my head I can't think of any other Saints player whose time at the club and reputation is linked to his wife/girlfriend/Doris at the time he played for us.

Ottery always seemed a sound bloke posting on here, last sighting on the board c 2014.

Conundrum is, can we accommodate Diallo, OR, and JWP without ruining the balance of the side ?

I think his goalscoring puts him in credit and we can forgive him a few errors though...

The important point to me in his interview was probably stating what we already suspect: ..... words to the effect that if a club offers a huge amount ..we can't stop that process happening.... but in this situation [Ings] we're not in that position at this point... As good as the interview was, and Semmens did come across as trying to be fairly open, I don't think you can draw too many conclusions other than don't rely on the guff in the press and media. Don't mind being a stepping stone to Real Madrid Martin as you mention Martin(and can tolerate Utd, City, or even pains me to say it, Liverpool providing they pay a decent ££) but most of us get pissed off seeing players going to the likes of 'the norf london yobbos' to quote one of your predecessors.

Great improvement over Ralf K's soundbites, and Cortese's silence, not to mention Rupert's bluster.

More like wishful thinking ..

Or a Keegan era as below... Black shorts. Sorted.

Made me chuckle... along with the story that people though the lyric was "She's a muscular boy.." which didn't sit comfortably in the 1960's !

Generally pleased with the news, just hope they don't employ some retard to design it and uphold the standards of their earlier designs. Should be more purpose designed for Saints than having a Nike/Addidas template

I'm not sure they do have a smaller group of teams, if anything I think they have more including several in the Championship and lower (Bristol City, Northampton spring to mind, and as shown on this thread a few in Europe - FC Emmen a good example in more ways than one). Not sure the Coventry kit would be good for us as a home design, as it'll look like a blend of red and pink from a distance to rival ManCity's fruit salad away kit.

Thought his career never recovered on leaving Herman's Hermits to be honest.