Saint Fan CaM

I agree with The9 too - this was a very, very good performance which the scoreline did not reflect. I get the impression too that the club is on a whole new level - different warm up routines and squad spirit being just two diverse reasons why I say this. We really are looking like a class outfit in so many different ways and in the words of our excellent Manager - "everyone's got smiles on their faces"!

Definate yellow, but not deserving of a straight red. Look at it this way - he went for the ball, not the player and the opposing player was running into the challenge wholeheartedly so there was little time to get his foot out of the way. He didn't and perhaps he deliberately didn't try to move his foot out of the way fast enough, but it was not in the same league as some of the potentially leg breaking tackles I have seen in the past that have only received a yellow.

Got back in time to see the FL show - long day on the coach, but a fantastic win again. We dominated play until 5mins from the end. Seaborne did have a good game TBF. Cork was my MOTM - really solid player with skills to boot. Connolly was everywhere. De Ridder looked great, but I want to see him out on the wing where he can do most damage. As far as Chappers is concerned, he went for the ball clearing it (i.e. perfectly legit), but then connected with their player on the way through - their player went down rolling around theatrically which didn't help, but the reason he got sent off was because he pushed back off the player rather than make it look like he tried to avoid the contact. It was not a sending off offence frankly and to cap it off, there was no physio sent on and their player got up and carried on as if nothing had happened immediately after Chaplow got the red. Don't blame the ref exactly, but it was a harsh decision given some of Barnsleys poor and dangerous tackles early on in the game. Great three points - top of the table - Pompey lose. Superb day!

Jay Rod seems to be more the type of player we would go for TBH. Would welcome him signing f'sure.

Good news - there is perhaps a little bit of a backlog in releasing good news on OS today?!?!?

I am not going to waste any more than a minute of my life telling you (the OP) that you're a complete d1ck for even considering writing the OP. I never usually go out of my way to offend posters, but on this occasion I will make an exception. Awful thread.

It's a good signing and I would refer all back to my OP on defence a couple of weeks back where I suggested that there needed to be action taken to improve the defence. Adkins clearly also thought this. Having said the above, this does leave me wondering whether Adkins is taking a different approach to the CB issue. Perhaps he considers that Martin or Seaborne are good enough to stand beside Fonte if the LB position is improved, thus providing more protection to that area of the pitch? So perhaps we will not see another CB come into the team afterall. The terminology from Adkins seems to suggest that the LB slot is Fox's to take immediately, although I suspect he will be watched in training first before being given a 1st team start. On the Maynard affair, I am not sure I believe the hype that's floating around. If we sign a striker, it's as likely to be a complete surprise, or indeed perhaps the Fox/Rodrigues story was absolutely spot on?

Very pleased he's not part of the squad...what a prize plonker and rubbish keeper he really is. Good luck Thurrock - you will need it.

Good story GM. Was the Chinese guys name Ting-Tong by any chance? (; Last season I sat next to Leon Crouch and after we scored a wonder goal, forgetting where I was, I turned and half hugged, half shook him...he was not overly impressed. (:

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.