benjii

I think every chairman in football knows that a good academy can provide good players on the cheap. What they also know is that to place complete reliance on this happening is utter folly and extremely high risk.

Don't be so wet. And no one's comparing it with the Second World War.

I think he's saying that our outgoings were small, for a Premiership club.

Yes, "the Machester United of the South" , I believe.

Signs with a relegation release clause. A) They stay up (lol); B) Has virtually a whole season in the Premiership shop window and secures a move to a better club; or C) If not, has a couple of seasons in the CCC on inflated wages. Can't lose and all three are preferable to a season with us and the risk of not getting paid at some point.

Thinking of going to a match there this season. Anyone got any tips, "dos", "don'ts"? I'm assuming they only sell out for big games so getting tickets the day before shouldn't be a problem. Cheers.

If there's anyone there to do them!

*YAWN* Either way it has nothing to do with Surman going to Reading so why don't you both wind it in? As for the thread subject itself.... If we could get a good price for Drew (£2.5m ish - likely?) then this wouldn't actually be the worst thing in the world IMO. Players like Kelvin, Stern and Svensson (and Andrew Davies, but I think we can forget that) are much more important.

Lee Todd was an awful left back.

Not really!

Just remembered a belter of a goal. Barry Horne v Bolton (I think) in the league cup (meedweek games at The Dell, so much better). About 35 yards out..... It curled one way, then the other, then dipped a bit, then curled back the first way, then rose slightly, then buried itself.

When your own OS crows about becoming a feeder club you know you are in trouble: http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/index.php?page_id=8875

Was thinking of starting one, questioning where Wilde's £2million investment went, or whether Lowe and Cowen might want to return their portion of the £563,000 termination payments last time round. I decided it would probably degenerate into a pointless slagging match though so I will hold off for now!

Sorry about your brother, but abusing an amateur at grass roots level is entirely different from taking the micky out of a "professional" who is clearly well overweight.

You're having a laugh? He's a local accountant. He made about a million on the paper value of his shares. I think he may have realised some of it but I'm not sure. I don't know what Wilde's net value is precisely but it's in the many millions. There's no way Askham could afford to buy the shareholding Wilde did.

Well, quite. The more the merrier! Ultimately he is small-fry though and isn't even close to being in the same league as Wilde.

He's one third as good as Rory Delap was when we bought him.

Agreed. It seems as though we will play 4-2-1-2-1 no matter what the situation. Bit odd.

Quite right.

It would be nice if Wilde's missing £2million became available or if Lowe and Cowen loaned back their portions of the £563,000 termination payments on favourable terms. Would more than cover the annual interest on the stadium bond.

No, no, no. Rupert Lowe is amazing at player negotiations. It says so here: http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/index.php?page_id=8873

Without knowing anything about Forecast, Kelvin Davis is our most important player IMO.

"Dance" music is poop. HTH.

I agree with all those who are saying it's a pleasure to see some talented youngsters displaying such effort for the side and clearly they like to play attractive football. One or two of them have the potential to be very good players. However, I am still deeply concerned about the future of the club. Both league games have followed exactly the same pattern with us surprising teams for half an hour or so and then getting completely done over for virtually the rest of the match. Add to that the fact that the only player we are waiting on returning to the first 11 looks set to be sold (assuming Euell, Skacel and Thomas have been jetisoned) and suddenly the picture looks quite bleak. As illustrated yesterday, we have no depth when compared to some other squads (admittedly Birmingham are in a better position than just about everyone else). I agree that it was odd that BWP or Dyer weren't on the bench, but let's not elevate them into superstars in their absence. Both are average Championship players - no more. Whilst there are some positives (not least the fact that our matches should be rather entertaining this season, we play nice football and have some skillful players) yesterday highlighted just how desperate the need for investment is. This is not an attempt at criticising anyone, it is purely the state of affairs IMO. Roll On Friday (whichever one it turns out to be!).

1st half fairly even but good, plucky performance from the team. 2nd half completely one sided. Same as last wkend. We have no plan B, largely because we have no players. Blackpool is looking like a must win game. Yes, some of our moves are quite attractive but we are 1 or 2 injuries away from deep trouble. Would settle for 21st now.