Saint Martini

Just a minor correction.

I thought they were after the other John?

Free transfer, and probably not on very high wages. Not a very exciting transfer but lets wait and see.

He must have a very complicated signature because he's been signing for us for quite some time now.

3 days, if you don't count the rest of today. The window has been extended to include the whole of Monday.

Why? Do you really still believe players will stay at Saints forever if they can play at a higher level. Its not something I like in anyway but it is the truth. It would have been disastrous if a player like Llalana would have walked out of here for a tribunal fee, now at least we will get a decent fee for him next summer or perhaps the summer after that. Maybe he'll sign on for another few years after that, but at least we'll have the chance to see him in a Saints shirt for a few years and maybe get some hard needed cash. We can delude ourselves in thinking we can keep this team together forever but that is just not going to happen, we just have to make sure that if we sell a player like for instance Llalana or Scheiderlin we have the replacement lined up in either the academy or in some scouting report.

No, that is not what I said. I just said that youngster tend to make mistakes. I never said all experienced players don't do that, quality, motivation, etc. does come into the question as well. But you have two players of the same level of quality and both highly motivated would you play the one with 300+ games under his belt or the youngster in his first season? I'm all for using youngsters but we have to be prepared for the odd mistake, both offensively and defensively.

Russian soldier (they're very popular nowadays). Robert Mugabe (another very popular figure)

I agree with you that youngsters tend to make wrong decisions more often, mainly because they haven't been confronted with matches at this level and speed that often but I don't agree that this is more difficult for defenders then attackers. Both will make mistakes but it will cost us just as much. If Llalana picks out the wrong pass it could cost us a goal and if Lancashire mistimes a header it could cost us a goal, it doesn't really matter at what end it happens. Besides that, they need to play to learn and although relying on player like Racine and Lancashire as your first choice would be bad I don't see much of a problem in them being first back-up for Svensson and Perry. Especially since we could get a loan in if one of them would be injured longterm.

Why not, maybe the opposition striker will make the same mistakes as Llalana and miss the first 4. In my opinion only for GK's experience is really important. For other positions it doesn't matter that much as long as there's at least one or two more experienced heads in the team.

Even if he leaves in the summer as he could have done if he hadn't signed a new contract then we now get a good bit of much needed cash. The problem is never players leaving but them leaving for too little money to get proper replacements.

Good player IMO.

To be fair, if Hitler was still the chancelor of Germany then that would be a valid reason.

That would be Matt Mills.

If he plays enough he'll stay another 6-months I'm sure. Its not like he'll suddenly be good enough for the Chelski first team. And Lancashire is a CB as far as I know.

Absolutely brilliant news!

Vitoria are really not very good, they lost to a quite average Basel side in the CL qualifying. Should be easy enough for pompey. Funny that Standard Liege will get another shot at winning in Liverpool.

Which match?

Cork RB with Perry and Killer central? Maybe a bit harsh on James but he'll get some more games this season at some point.

He was always going to be rested for midweek games, not much to be read into that.

He plays in Brazil now, hasn't been at Wolfsburg for quite some time.

They can get any of the unseeded teams in group two. Maybe Kaunas can do British football another favour? On the other hand, if they play Salzburg they'll get Co Adriaanses team and he always plays proper "Total Football", should be interesting to see. Group 2: Seeded Sevilla FC (ESP) FC Rapid Bucureşti (ROU) Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA) UC Sampdoria (ITA) Portsmouth FC (ENG) Unseeded Vitória SC (POR) VfL Wolfsburg (GER) Kayserispor (TUR) FC Salzburg (AUT) FBK Kaunas (LTU) http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/news/kind=1/newsid=743492.html

I hope they get some small team, underestimate them and get kicked out. Maybe Kalmar FF would be a good candidate for that.

Ok ok, but still. Its not like his stats were harmed by that one match in the PL. The fact remains he had not been very prolific in the seasons before he came here and came close to being 1:2. His previous record in the UK (and mostly in the CCC) puts him below 1:3.

Indeed, although I must say that I only saw highlight Holmes has made a very good impression on me. He always stays wide and creates space for Llalana and DMG to work in and he'll take on his direct opponent as soon as he gets the chance. How the hell Derby let him go is beyond me but he should be in line for Player of the Month. Maybe even more then DMG and Llalana since he has scored two and wasted a lot less chances.