Saint Fan CaM

Oxford or Aldershot - home or away. Actually, do I really care? Mmmm...

Nobody can accuse you of not trying to live up to your username can they?!

I can't see Nigel wanting him to be honest - while there were some flashes of competency (in L1), he will not have enough to compete for a 1st team place in the NPC IMO. We need to improve and he doesn't fit the bill to be fair.

Hardly ever buy one so it doesn't really mean too much to me. It might mean something to the printing company when the Pimpley thugs find out and raid the premises to try to destroy something Saints related though.

Gutted to see the likes of Bale and Walcott go as it was a clear sign that the strategy of bringing through youngsters to fill the squad was but a pipe-dream of an egotistical Chairman that only had half a vision, no money to see the project through and no guts to sell the club to get the money needed to push on to the next level.

Yes that's true - good shout - I'd forgotten that. Assuming the conditions - i.e. root cause - are the same.

This is excellent news and all part of the building block approach to getting this club into the very top tier of UK football at least. I am convinced this club will be in the Champions League within 10 years.

The bit that concerned me the most was his mention of irregular heart beat issues - feeling tired etc. OK, he was checked over at a hospital, but I would say that could be a potential health issue for the future perhaps - would he pass sport level medicals?

This is true. Nevertheless, he will be found wanting in the NPC IMO - not good enough and will always be a bench warmer above L1 level.

Can't see any mileage in this rumour. All the signs are he will be playing for Saints at the start of next season IMO, but hey things change I s'pose.

£100+ increase for me in block 30. Seems a bit excessive, but I'll pay-up...what choice is there - if you want to support your team and you want continued success, then that's what you've got to do? I think ST holders that retained their seat all the way through the dark years should have been given a little bit of slack as a sign of goodwill (e.g, let's say ST holders 2008-2011 would get a 10% discount). My biggest concern for me is whether the club will actually manage to strengthen the team in the right places. Typically at Saints this never happens prior to ST sales finalising so we never really know what kind of team/performance we're paying for! So far, I've not seen clear evidence that Adkins knows a good target - a concern. If we manage to sign Cork, well that would be a good sign for example. I do think the club could have been a little more sensitive to the 60-65 band of supporters. Again some form of discount for longer standing ST holders would have been welcomed.

It's very clear - ST renewals have from 1st July to 14th July as priority.

£515 for me in block 30... that's over £100 increase or 25% to see a squad that will most probably see little change. Of course I'll be paying to keep my seat, but to my mind that increase is somewhat excessive in the current economic climate and not really repaying loyal ST holders for keeping the club going through the dark years.

This would be a win-win signing in the sense that he would be good for us and the club is perfectly poised for him to make a lasting mark on a club about to explode onto the big time. Not to mention the s****y new training facilities that equal Chelski's that he will be able to make use of.

This.

Old news - non-Saints......move on.

It's going to be tough, but I think we'll do OK. We need more pace in central midfield and up front, plus a strong CB to replace Jaidi and form a good solid partnership with Fonte. I think Lallana and Oxo will tear a hole in some oppo teams.

Top vid - music sucks. (;

PMSLOL! Great thread. We need threads like this during the close season, we really do. Anyway, back to the debate. WTF does climate have to do with anything? We're not in Spain, but we will be playing in the best league in the World and for a football fan or player, that's what counts. Loads of good reasons why players would want to be playing for a top 4 Prem side called The Saints!

Another example of how we have allowed a Great British export to be used and abused by the rest of the World to such an extent we are now governed by the benefactors of our game. I would agree with boycotting any FIFA event until it's sorted, however the FA is in as much turmoil. There needs to be a massive shake-up of the game from top to bottom.

In ten years time, Saints will be the team everyone is talking about. We will be consistently challenging for a top four place in the Prem. We will force the British game to sit up and take notice to such an extent that the foundations of the English FA will be shaken into changing the manner in which the grass roots game is structured and played in this country. This will happen because Cortese has a plan and is a driven successful man. He has a good team around him that believes in him and his plan. There will be a stability at the club not seen since Ted graced the Dell, but this time there will be money and ambition far greater than the club has ever known. Hell, why not? Anyone who thinks this is impossible and a p*sstake, please explain in clear, intelligeable terms why it could not happen. Seriously!

Pardew is not a fool. He won't make the same mistake twice. I wonder whether the players under his control now (i.e. Prem level) are able to withstand a harder pre-season regime? Possibly not - more fragile?

Pilkington - no others.

Agreed - that would be an amazing summer if we signed those players.

Close run thing - Utd are British...Barca despite their cheating ways, represent a more sustainable football world and one which supposedly Saints are following to an extent by nurturing home grown youth players. I think to be honest, I will find myself siding with Utd - it's their day - we'll be beating them again in a 2-3 seasons.