Saint Fan CaM

Looks like it might happen Friday (as usual) which will be a great addition to the team I think. I do hope though that this is not the only one we're trying to get across the line - the Astori deal seems to have gone deathly cold now.

Dream result. Adkins deserves massive credit for being brave in his selections - totally totally got it right!

Ben Reeves perhaps, but we have an extremely promising 17-yr old LB coming through the Academy ranks hot on Shaw's heels. Can't remember his name off-hand.

Don't like the look of him - too small and feeble and has got pace and we don't need any of that. Plus as he's used to wearing yellow and red, he'll clearly get confused by us only going out in red or yellow. (Just applying the usual logic shown on here of late).

Agreed. Those who are suggesting it was an average performance are wrong...(a) in terms of expectation, he was starting from behind the blocks and (b) he was put under undue pressure from a make-shift central defence.

Agreed. However, if Adkins has made it clear who he wants and Astori seems to fit the bill, then Cortese will need to ensure we get the man without being mugged. This of course is the difficulty - no player is worth getting mugged over. I see no reason at the moment to get excited about this particular player.

Adkins came under some serious and quite unfair pressure from the press. He handled it fairly well and considered his words which were quite clear - we don't condone diving at the club, the player did not intentionally dive but went down instinctively when presented with a lunging defender, JRod did not claim a pen - the Ref awarded it. The context of course in all of this is that the incident happened in a split second - everything would have been instinctive - the game is played at a brutal pace. So all those who are slamming JRod from their armchairs should try to imagine those circumstances. Harsh decisions are seen in EVERY Prem game - it's the nature of things and until there is a sea change in the manner in which games are managed (i.e. TV replays etc), then controversy will stay with the game. I just hope pundits from the press make such a song and dance over one of the top 3 teams players.

The key is his age - he is more one for the future when we have more players of his level. At the moment the others can't match him.

He clearly must be dropped then! ;-)

We are so much stronger with Lambert playing in the hole and JRod up front - JRod gets decisions because he commands the play. Puncheon REALLY needs to learn to look up and pass when attacking the box - so many chances lost because he unlocks defences and then takes too many touches. Shaw was once again magnificent. But the real accolade for me was Boruc - his smothering of the ball making his body big, towards the end of the game was world-class and there were so many occasions when he did the simple things so well. If he keeps this up, he will almost certainly be way ahead of Davis and Gazza as 1st choice keeper. Fans did a great job - wish I could have been there. Well done to the team and supporters - a really important victory...15th and above the Toon! However, we do have some tough, tough matches coming up when we could find ourselves sucked back into the zone again - signings will be vital with the injuries piling up.

When they were offering out the Captains armband, Rickie was too slow at putting his hand up. Adam got there first and the rest is history. Been saying he's got no pace for ages.

I too thought he did an excellent job. The way he came out and smothered the ball near the end of the game was simply superb, top class keeping.

Way I saw it, JRod moved to get out of the way of a rash challenge (they made plenty of those) and lost his footing. He did'nt claim the pen - it was given - therefore OK in my book. I don't understand how Saints fans can be so harsh on a Saints player - we're not known generally for cheating. If you want to berate anyone, berate the Ref or Villa, who are a bunch of nasty barstewards anyway for the way they kicked off when Luke Shaw (a 17 year-old kid) was quite clearly badly injured.

Irrelevant question. With the Ford factory closing in 6 months time, Nicolas plan to site the new Dell at Stoneham will see us in a new 50,000 seater home with fantastic facilities and easy transport links. Plus a monkey petting zoo. ;-)

Oh dear...you really can't help making yourself looking like a juvenile can you? Try engaging your brain if you can find it and put forward a sensible counter argument.

Great astute post - I've been saying pretty much this for a couple of months now. Maybe the reason SRL gets climbed all over every game without protection is because he is too stationary? Look, no-ones saying we should dump Lambert - he's still got something to offer the club, but this league and the way we are set-up to play, is not allowing his body to match his football brain now. The sooner this is sorted out the sooner we will be a real match for teams above 15th in the league.

What is it with us - all of a sudden we're looking to steal away all Liverpools targets! http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-line-up-shock-2m-1403784

No.

I'm liking that! On a serious note, as Morgan does have a tendency to get booked and get lippy, it might be useful giving him the captaincy as the ref might show a little leniency?

We're starting to look shakey - Villa are poor, but could do us at their place... 1-2 I'm afraid.

I have a feeling Billy would have had as good a chance in the Prem as SRL if given the opportunity - what he lacked in height he gained in movement and determination. Shame if he's moved on before the summer but perhaps its to make way for another?

Riiiiight....which weekend was that? ;-) Not happening guys - we don't have that money to spend. Why do you think Martin was brought back?

Well let's hope Lallana makes a full recovery - (how many times has he hurt his knee?). If we're to believe the rumours, Lambert might see his role change somewhat if indeed he's still with us at the end of the window. He is slow and as the team develops will be increasingly found surplus. Unless you wear rose-tinted specs. :-)

Because the standard overall of the team is not good enough. Simple as that.