Badger

Cyclists definitely ... Not the average bloke pedalling his way home etc, but these lycra clad f^ckers who swarm in a pack to obstruct the roads; roads are a serious place to travel on, not a playground. Weekends are the worst in Gloucestershire when they take to the Cotswolds en masse, so blocking country roads. I seem to recall the Highway Code saying cyclists - and horses - should only be ridden one abreast to minimise obstructions and making it easier for them to be overtaken. Seemingly these c^nts don't think it applies to them. Numbers have shot up, Wiggins et al have a lot to answer for.

Agree with the OP about the overflowing after the WBA game. Putting a different slant on it, we won 1-0 with a last minute penalty, so despite playing well and being in control for much of the match we have still to score a goal from open play ! But 3points and everything is rosy.

Good player,would certainly offer an attacking threat. But another player called Victor ? Like buses really, none for as long as I can remember at Saints then two of them come along together... Think Sinclair more likely.

Mixed feelings if it happens. Two years ago we could hardly give him away, and although he has got back on the bus etc, I always felt it would not take much to see him have another sulk, and disrupt things in the camp (prolonged period out of the starting team perhaps?). With Osvaldo arriving, perhaps MP does not want two sulking beasts in the dressing room (both wanting to be in charge of the pre-match music!). If we are 'upgrading' with Sinclair then we are improving our attacking options. Defensively though JP offered more, and linked well with Clyne as an outlet as well as going forward. Puncheon certainly played his part last season,and probably still has something to offer us. Last year he was certainly more effective than Lallana. Surprised he was not a sub at WBA, but this move was probably in the making.

Perhaps we could prise Forster away from Celtic.

Yes, that's an interesting comparison. Is Osvaldo our first "ponytail" player ? or did Ostlund have one ?

I can't see Sinclair being a regular starter for us to be honest, but an impact sub perhaps.

House hunting for three months. Hope he did not add that the majority were in North or West London.

CB - Sorenson, Kayoute, or Alderweirald would be good. Still think another GK of some quality is needed to rival Boruc personally but I suspect we'll stick with KD & PG.

With Woy in charge, I'm not confident we'll see any Englishmen there, apart from Howard Webb perhaps.

I think it is a fair question you've posed Glasgow. Although we can delight at the quality of squad we're building and admire NC's great plans,drive and ambition there is a fine edge between him succeeding and being hailed a messiah, or doing a Ridsdale, who had similar ambitions at Leeds once upon a time. Of course we have the Liebherr Trust, but there may come a point where the family feel they have backed it enough. I hope that day is a long way off, but its foolish to assume spend, spend, spend is without some risk.

Is that a T-shirt in the making ? (I remember it being Brian O'Neil at £75,000 and later another "Os", Peter Osgood at the shocking £275,000 when we thought Saints had entered the big time !)

Good and balanced read. Thanks. But two questions remain: Why the change of heart, from a resounding "NO" for a month or so, to signing ? MP was our manager two months ago. What was his offence that caused the Roma fans to turn against him ? Was it just his spat with Lamela ? Indeed. Interesting times.

No internationals that I can recall. We did have a young Italian player who scored regularly for the reserves and it seemed a matter of time before he stepped up, but the managers at the time did not see enough in him and it never happened. During the time of Jones/Hoddle I think.

I think - and hope - he'll be motivated by his own world cup ambitions, but the settling "on the bus", and mental approach are an unknown, although MP will earn his corn if he achieves on these two levels.

Brilliant signing on the face of it, just hope Poch can sort his head out to ensure he is focussed and motivated for the cause and the project. If he does that then he will certainly have earnt his cash, and we will have one hell of a player at our disposal. The alternative prospect is that we've bought a loose cannon and a headcase. But at the moment he's our "loose cannon" so looking forward to him taking it out on Di Canio on Saturday.

I was wondering the same thing today, had he gone quietly when I was on holiday and missed it ? Apparently not. Perhaps he still has a role to play at the club though, Cortese might have retained him as Osvaldo's chaperone to ensure he does not get into any nightclub incidents ?

And just over three years ago we lost 1-0 at home to Plymouth in a game Lambert looked overweight and out of condition. Trotman was playing for Plymouth in L2 yesterday at Cheltenham. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23577787 Small world !

Di Canio is a good bet , if things don't get off to a good start then October Hughes - can't stand him but I expect the Stoke board will give him time as he is their recent appointment (perhaps December) Jol - 3points today will keep Fulham in a half decent position for a few weeks, so he too might be an October bet, although I think the new owner may want a change. Jol is probably my shout. I do wonder about Pelligrini at City if it does not fall into place quickly, and if we are slumping end Oct then Pochettino may need to look over his shoulder.

Impressive fact.

Please don't mention Fox today.

Just a thought but I think the last time we beat WBA on the opening day in 1975 we went on to win the FA Cup.

rounds off a good week... RL for England Young Badger into the uni of his choice three points today,and RL scoring... Some 'happy-beer' called for tonight...

Now abandoned the stream for OS & solent.... 90 seconds .... just hold on....

ditto,,,,