Badger

If it does happen can I claim an ITK point ? Possibly the first one of summer.

If ACJ wants to milk prime real estate why not try doing it from existing corporate facilities that regularly are empty ? [corporate boxes] rather than looking for 'not so prime real estate' or 'real estate lite' from other seated areas that where the take up had been reasonably good up to now. your analogy with the film plot and oil well is good one, but perhaps they're not looking in the right place for it, or taking into account the area, the 'well has run dry' unless he thinks we can spead our appeal to the Surrey based commuters who will prefer a drive here than to London to watch a match (occasionally, probably not every home fixture). Still what do I know about attending matches ? only been a supporter sorry, customer for just over 50 years.

Comment on the BBC article: Levy speaking to the manager before contacting his club. Can anyone believe it of him ?

When would we get to wear that as a second or third shirt ? Genius from the marketing dept: Home kit: red and white stripes Away kit : white and red stripes.

This stands out for me as something regularly overlooked. We've been overtaken by many of these we saw ourselves ahead of as recently as Koeman's time with the club (Leicester, West Ham and Wolves for example). In terms of overseas players there also seems an arrogance that just being in the EPL will be enough. Whilst it may be a better payer than most leagues people tend to disregard the fact that the Bundesliga is a strong league and to many this and Serie A are equally attractive leagues to play in. How often are we left (rumoured) to be looking at players proven in those leagues, by which time they're out of our price range ?

Which one ? If you mean the one with the skewed tick across the front, then please no. Even if it does have good memories of MLT in his prime. (Unless the kit manufacturer can recreate an MLT to wear it of course, in which case bring it on).

Front and back as well as I recall. Surely that wouldn't be too much to ask. Do they point any other way on other team's kits ? Wouldn't mind the halves, but not convinced by the idea of hoops.

Agreed. Don't get the red back, it's not a requirement and detracts from the design. Otherwise looks fine.

That would be a throwback to the 1985 Danish pyjamas kit (which always appeared red and pink).

Think there's a ban on signing anyone by the name of "Javi", or perhaps that's solely on the forum and not the club.

Is that the glorious era of Geoff Thomas, Carlton Palmer ?

That's always a difficult one to reconcile. On the one hand, Stuart Armstrong and Che Adams, Saints players and good blokes, who you wish well and hope they have good tournaments, on the other seeing them play badly. lose and come back early does have the satisfaction of being a "bollocks to Sturgeon and her cronies" moment. Given that if England were playing a team of mass murderers and rapists most Scots would still want us to lose I'll probably stick to the "bollocks to Sturgeon" camp. Of course if Andy Murray ever stumbles across this it's only an attempt at humour and not really meant.

Chance we have to take though. If we retained players on the strength of they might reach their potential if they improve (elsewhere) we'd still have Nile Ranger with us and a squad size of about 60 names, mostly loaned out. Unfortunately it seems Saints end up with two types of player, those we want to keep and can't, and those we don't want but can't get rid of whilst under (lucrative) contracts.

One of your better ones, well played MLG !

"Build from the back" used to be the mantra.

Agree with much of what you say, but can we afford to allow him to build a squad he wants, or indeed anyone else for that matter ?

Fair point, although not mutually exclusive in hoping for a Ronnie Ekelund style gem ... and then ending up with another Mayuka.

Looking at the Barcelona player I was hoping for a Ronnie Ekelund type of gem, instead of which it looks more like ticking another well known box in our annual play 'summer strategy game' of 'obscure player few have previously heard of, in the attempt to be clever and sign a fringe player from a big club' . (or maybe that's two boxes combined.

That was the exception in his career. Never played to that standard before, or since. Didn't he secure a new contract on the back of that season? Then reverted to default position - shit.

Would have been our manager in 2001 but for Rupert not allowing him to bring his backroom team with him. Stuart Grey instead. SFC - a longstanding ability to create a clusterfuck all of it's own. Some things never change.

Problem is I can't see us being attractive enough for a Red Bull or Ratcliffe (Ineos) type of owner, which probably leaves it to the US leveraged purchases.

Yes, a last day of the season them (under Alan Ball) or us for relegation. 1996 I think.

Interesting. Not having a go, others have already made the comparison with Adkins, but : I thought they were a club on the up under Dean Smith although he has capitalised and built on it. Can't deny their success in bringing players through, but isn't it easier in the Championship than it is to throw players in to the EPL ? Is Frank involved in the scouting and recruitment ? As I've previously asked in response to your Thomas Frank posts, if we're looking at Brentford shouldn't we be looking to attract their head of recruitment and some of their scouts rather than, (or in addition to) their manager ?

Change of ownership, some ambition from the top and it should flow from there.

Why ? if Brentford don't make it two years running then doesn't that blight his reputation ?