Saint Fan CaM

Got a bit of a lump in the throat around the time Markus took over and they played that video of Saints history on the screens. It really drove it home how much passion there is for the club, what a massive gesture Markus made in rescuing the club from oblivion and what a debt of gratitude we owe NC for putting Saints on Markus' radar.

Mmm, underwhelmed in a way if it's us. Let's face it, should we make a habit of signing players that have contributed to the failure of another club? Don't know - he might be the one shining light in SUFC's squad - he might be the best RB in the division when playing alongside our other players in defence. It will be a gamble though taking a player like this - he'll not be a Fonte for example - and we cannot afford to gamble next season surely?

Perhaps that's because he was working under a regime that didn't do enough with the players fitness levels? I remember hearing about a number of players leaving Saints around that time who were found out by their new club to be someway off full fitness. Kenwyne Jones was one if I remember correctly. Personally I think Surman coming to us would be a win-win situation and many would be surprised at how good he seems in comparison with some of our current players (as good as they might be).

Agree with this.

This...

Why not put on a tour in France? Never understood why this is not done more given the proximity to us.

£12 to see the new look team take on a pretty good CCC promotion candidate side? Not bad really considering what you have to pay to go to the cinema nowadays (for example). It will be good to see whether the squad is anywhere near capable of taking on the CCC - if not, then there's still time to patch a few things up as necessary.

Was not aware of Reading having big financial problems - not sure why as they have Madjeski. Antonio will not be coming to Saints if the valuation is too high - there are other options out there and as good as the lad has been for Saints he's still only two seasons out of non-league. It's not as if they can really claim he's a CCC player, so anything more than £400,000 is taking the michael (sic). I agree that he could improve on his stamina over the summer.

No surprises atall really except Semi - I really thought AP would keep him as cover. I think a large fee has stopped Antonio signing - I heard Reading were looking for close to £1m for him which is mental! Anyhow - onwards and upwards - this is going to be a busy old summer.

For the record, I've just sent the Mail Online a broadside for this rubbish... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1278237/Take-Southampton-season-job-safe-Alan-Pardew-told.html?ITO=1490

The Echo is a joke. If it were to start reporting fact rather than fiction I might take it seriously, but frankly it has gone from bad to worse lately.

Have not read it all yet but from what I have seen this is an excellent article/response to all the doubters. Fantastic and well done NC for your continued professionalism.

Wow - post of the season, right here. Well said that man. The key bit I guess is the highlighted passage. I think you meant the timetable from this point on, however perhaps ML/NC's clocks started ticking last summer and they are currently just metaphorically looking at AP tapping their watches to remind him of the time?

Sounds likely. Mind you, that wouldn't fit in with the anti-AP lobbyists. Let's hope we do a bit of business - I would imagine AP has the ear of a few agents and will be well known to the likes of 'Arry and Ancelloti, so you never know.

I like that quite a bit actually. Subtle changes rather than a complete alteration and as someone else has said, I'm sure it will look great on the new kits! It looks like this is the first step in a series of exciting announcements from the club. Let's hope that trend continues through the next week and there's nothing to detract from the feel good factor.

My favourite will always be the Paul Allen one. Boat seen in Solent etc etc. Absolutely hilarious how that one played out - especially the PM's that were flying around at the time. Cast iron assurances from certain ITK'ers that it WAS going to happen. Can't remember, but I think that even new SMS redevelopment plans were produced from somewhere! LOL.

this!

Big rumour around here is that 'Arry is going back to his 'spiritual home'.

I think if Surman had been given the coaching and managerial guidance that Lallana has received under Pardew, he would be a very good player indeed. In fact I would say that he and Schneiderlin would make an awesome central midfield pairing. He has enough about him when he was here to have eventually made Captain too IMO. My impression was he loved it here and his move was as much the club's desire to fill the coffers as his to move back to the Prem. I would have him back on loan in a heartbeat.

Actions speak louder than words. NC is not one to be manipulated by the media. Come Thursday we'll know a bit more I suspect.

Try the thread that has been open for a week+ ? http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=22294

OK - well it looks like the away fans are not being moved. So perhaps now there'll be some movement on ST's? http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/8157759.Saints__Kop_plan_shelved/?ref=rss

Unfortunately, as much as I don't want this little connection to be true, I can see some legs in this. Hopefully, he'll keep his job.

Perhaps it's not about AP getting sacked atall. Perhaps it is the case that AP has been approached by West Ham about the possibility of him going if talks with Zola break-down? And AP has told NC that if the call comes, he will have to go. So, the meeting on Weds. could be to either ratify AP's departure to WH or to ratify the conditions of his continued management of Saints through the course of next season. AND/OR it could be that all of this is complete carp and the NC/AP meeting on Weds. is to ratify the players AP wants to release versus those he wants to buy....i.e. a detailed strategy meeting.

Possibly not as cut and dried as all that. Saints probably entered into talks with the Police about plans and options were discussed. When it came down to the conditions of each option in terms of money needed to alter the infrastructure in and around SMS, I suspect there are more pressing budgetary priorities. Also, there's the fact that Cortese has already mentioned that when the time is right, a new stadium could well be on the shopping list, so what's the point of investing too much in SMS now?