Saint Fan CaM

Me too - I think Guly is a big presence to assist in not getting bossed and De Ridder the legs to run at tired defenders perhaps. If Martin is to have any chance of developing, he needs more time alongside Fonte. I've not been to Barnsley or indeed the football ground before - taking my two lads up with me on the coach - so what's it like? Likely to be any chav trouble? Chances of getting a pre-match pint/pie?

But I very much doubt he will because he understands he's the businessman and NA and the rest of the coaching team are the football. While the concepts of Academy development are similar, the actual deployment will eventually be different. Lowe didn't have the money or infrastructure and investment to keep the top youngsters, plus the club was not operating at the top of the Prem for long enough (Strachan left because he knew we'd gone as far as Lowe could/would take us). NC so far has not had the chance to operate in the Prem let alone establish a history at the top. When that happens we will be able to develop top young players AND have a chance of keeping hold of them because NC's vision includes gettting to and staying at the top end of the Prem. I have no doubt that eventually this will happen - I always doubted Lowe's ability.

Put the f00kers in stocks in the city centre - humiliate the little runts...they'll hate that more than a jail term.

Not particularly in the spirit of the whole thing is it?! I thought donating to that flag would mean I might actually get to see it in the flesh as it were at all our home games. How rubbish for it not even to be put out across a deserted stand at the Torquay game!!! What the hell is going on?!

Joint MOTM = De Ridder (pace/tricks/goal) & Chaplow (box2box motor/drive/goal). Rest of the team were OK - Holmes delivered some excellent crosses at times. Guly - good player usually, but tonight he was absolute gash with poor 1st touch and missed a sitter. Seaborne - Never anything other than a L1/L2 defender and will lose us games if we have to play him. Martin - Not bad considering he had to cover for Seaborne's errors, but he's still a long way off being 1st choice material yet. WE URGENTLY NEED A TOP CB PLEASE NICOLA!!!

RIP Markus - your memory lives on with all Saints fans and everytime the team walk out at SMS proudly wearing the red & white.

Once again Trousers you have excelled! lol

We could lose this. But probably not. 5-1 Saints. The squad members will be wanting to impress.

This!

Rubbish! You mean like it was on Saturday when we played Leeds off the park WITHOUT Chamberlain? Get real, the lad is good, but the team are stronger.

Get rid...it's a team game and although he's still employed by us, he's no longer part of our team now his head's obviously elsewhere. The money will give us more options.

Not sure what your problem is TBH - what I stated might have been slightly inaccurate, but was certainly was not 100% garbage. Glad he chose not to come to us as I prefer Cork.

It's going to be an interesting season for Lambert. He will score from the pen spot that's for sure. He will score via his head. The way the play seems to be running he seems to be acting more as a provider when passing to feet - he doesn't dribble the ball...he's not got the feet or tricks - he doesn't seem to make channel runs...but he can launch a fierce shot when provided the ball at the right time. At the moment I can't see him scoring much from open play as if he is holding the ball up deep, there are other players getting into attacking positions quicker than him. Now having said all that, I also do believe that as he is clearly fitter this season, he is clever enough to figure out how he will operate in this faster league environment.

Would have preferred to keep him to be honest. Not because of his ability as such - I think De Ridder is pretty much as effective - but because this is not the way the Academy vision is supposed to work...we're supposed to keep hold of our best players to play in the 1st team. I guess it was a case of too soon for Chamberlain - we'll have to wait for some years before we're even close to being able to compete with the qudos of playing for the likes of Arse, Manure or Chelski etc. again and thus keep our best youngsters. It makes me annoyed though that a lad of 17 can court those clubs interest when he's basically used our Academy system to create his career. At the risk of repeating myself, the FA/EUFA/FIFA should make a ruling that all Academy kids must stay with their host club until they are at least 21 and that no approach is made before then. Far more fairer and will ensure the kid's head is not turned.

Jay R sounds like exactly the type of player we would go for - develop him for the future in the Prem like Cork. One other point not mentioned so far - this is more or less the same type of tactic NC/NA employed in L1 - pinch some key players from opposition teams. I'm starting to feel we're getting a bit serious about a push for the Prem this season if this comes off alongside a Gorrks deal.

I heard a very interesting bit of info from what I consider a reliable source on Friday. Apparently, an offer was made to Brian Howard a little while ago at SMS, however he wanted to have time to discuss the issue with his wife. NC wanted an answer immediately for some reason, so Howard walked away from the deal. Don't know whether this has been discussed and/or revealed already.

Don't bother mate - she's useless in the sack. Take Lucy P any day of the week.

Mmm, I was not aware of that. Anyway, I wouldn't pay anymore than £25 extra for a meal, a programme and a chance to wave to the person opposite in my ST seat anyway!

No pen that. Great to see the goals again.

Its simple - the price point is far far too high when companies and individuals are looking to cut costs. Someone needs to remind the club the there's a recession on. I am surprised they don't let ST holders have opportunity to attend the lounge for a discounted price too - the seats already been paid for afterall.

It should never happen that OWTSGMI gets sung less than any anti-skate song, which is what seemed to happen yesterday.

Brilliant game and result. Fonte, Cork, Hammond, Lallana and Connolly were all excellent today. Thought De Ridder did an OK job up top, but will be better at RW. Davis - usual game...great stops but distribution at times shocking. Martin did look weak unfortunately and I was surprised he was picked to start. He'll learn from that I would hope, but we need a more dominating presence next to Fonte. Gorrks would do that. Word of caution - first game of the season - lets not get too carried away. Plymouth beat us last season and ended up relegated. There's a very long way to go yet. However, a very encouraging performance and it feels great to be on the up again.

What a bunch of infantile pansies crying over the Chairman of our football club appearing on ONE programme cover. It's the crime of century! Off with his head! Dear oh dear oh dear.

Good OP with some fine sentiments. Trouble is that alone will not win games. Always get behind any player who wears the shirt, however we really do need to raise the competency across the backline starting with a quality partner for Fonte.

Good spot.