david in sweden

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the absence of a Plan B has always concerned me in the past. It's OK to praise teams for playing good football, but what happens when you go behind and /or the opposition have sussed out how you play?. The fact that we did so well last season, doesn't take away the fact that if you analyse our losses there is a common factor in that we had no alternative formation. Koeman will undoubtedly start with different formations (according to the opposition) and perhaps change the pattern when needed. As the article pointed out ...having players capable of changing role midway into a match is a real advantage. **interesting that Ronald Koeman s "world record " for goals scored by a defender / midfielder may point the way to seeing more players finding the net and not just being reliant on one or two strikers.

For me too, but ...if you've spent £12 million on a player and are paying him £30 K /week, you have to play him sometimes regardless of form / fitness / fickleness . Steve Davis is regarded by some as " less of a talent " because in the end ....we only paid Rangers £800K. I know which man I think was the best deal !

Right, Very few deals are all paid up front. It's been well-documented on earlier occasions that large fees are often staged out over 2-3 years. Like hire purchase, except a shorter repayment period. The deals for Ramirez and Osvaldo were most likely part of the " much-quoted £22 million transfer payments " deals. They were outstanding debts, not overdue debts. This can work against clubs, too. After " selling " Gareth Bale to Spuds, they made staggered payments and Daniel Levy made sure we got even less when we needed money to cover expenses (pre bankruptcy) they offered a lower amount to settle the deal. Apart from having no " sell-on " clause, we didn't get the full £12 million for Bale either. "Coincidentally " ...they sold us that " future English goal-keeping talent " Tommy Forecast, and his 5 year contract probably helped the bankruptcy come closer too. I'd never want to do a deal with Spuds... for any player. We get screwed every time.

....a good summary. I'd go with that. The " BIG money " clubs with monopoly money have the Euro-scene sewn up, and without a regular gate of 45,000, we wouldn't be able to increase our income by selling £100m players every season.

....a good summary. I'd go with that. The " BIG money " clubs with monopoly money have the Euro-scene sewn up, and without a regular gate of 45,000, we wouldn't be able to increase our income by selling £100m players every season.

Most importantly.....we're getting the prospect of good players with ambition to go to their next level.

Most importantly.....we're getting the prospect of good players with ambition to go to their next level.

Right ! one swallow doesn't make a summer, or the first result to be an indication of form for the season. If we play that well in future, we'll get some good football and many points to boot.

Right ! one swallow doesn't make a summer, or the first result to be an indication of form for the season. If we play that well in future, we'll get some good football and many points to boot.

Want to see a good opening SMS game, after Sunday's disappointment (we were worth at least one point).. BUT. the players (especially the new ones) need to get the atmosphere at SMS. Pelle needs to get at least one goal to get the fans on his side, and we need to see a solid back line (with Gardos) ASAP. We have more than enough midfielders to choose from, and they need to start scoring. Last season Steve Davis managed 2 league goals, Schneiderlin 2 and Ramirez 1. Pitiful when you consider that Fonte, Lovren and Yoshida managed 6 goals between them. Midfielders should look to score 3-4 goals each . An average /good Prem.striker does well to get 10 in a season. .......and Pelle won't be chalking up quite so many (compared to RL - who scored penalties, too).

Want to see a good opening SMS game, after Sunday's disappointment (we were worth at least one point).. BUT. the players (especially the new ones) need to get the atmosphere at SMS. Pelle needs to get at least one goal to get the fans on his side, and we need to see a solid back line (with Gardos) ASAP. We have more than enough midfielders to choose from, and they need to start scoring. Last season Steve Davis managed 2 league goals, Schneiderlin 2 and Ramirez 1. Pitiful when you consider that Fonte, Lovren and Yoshida managed 6 goals between them. Midfielders should look to score 3-4 goals each . An average /good Prem.striker does well to get 10 in a season. .......and Pelle won't be chalking up quite so many (compared to RL - who scored penalties, too).

agree with you two guys on the other points, but I wouldn't want to judge anyone too quickly... based on a tough, debut game at Anfield. ....except that if Tadic plays half as well for the rest of the seaosn - he'll be classified as " the bargain of the season ".

agree with you two guys on the other points, but I wouldn't want to judge anyone too quickly... based on a tough, debut game at Anfield. ....except that if Tadic plays half as well for the rest of the seaosn - he'll be classified as " the bargain of the season ".

few people could fail to be impressed by his debut. Certainly some TV commentators on diff. channels were, but think he put in his shift - and a bit more - and he needed to be subbed. Isgrove isn't my idea of a Prem. player, but he DAJFU when he came on. Can't judge on one 15 min.sub.appearance.

few people could fail to be impressed by his debut. Certainly some TV commentators on diff. channels were, but think he put in his shift - and a bit more - and he needed to be subbed. Isgrove isn't my idea of a Prem. player, but he DAJFU when he came on. Can't judge on one 15 min.sub.appearance.

we did .....Andy Townsend, 1984-88. Signed by Lawrie Mc Menemy as a left sided midfielder, for £35k from Weymouth. Just got going at first team level, when Lawrie Mac left, ....and then Andy broke a leg, but managed to come back to become a first team regular. Then 26, he didn't impress Chris Nicholl enough, and lost his place to the emerging Rob Wallace. (excellent youth player). Nicholl sold Andy to Norwich for £350K (seemed a good deal at the time) Aug 1988. In retrospect... not so good business. He improved out of sight. Moved to Chelsea in 1990 for £1.2 million. Later played for A.Villa, Middlesboro and West Brom and ended up with a tally of 650 games at League level. Also had a good international career and racked up 70 caps for Ireland). Agree he doesn't have much to say in a positive vein about Saints on those commentaries I've heard. (If he's still bitter after all this time - he has a problem). His career was much better after he left SFC. AND ....as for Andros Townsend ...I'm not so impressed ......and certainly not at that price.

we did .....Andy Townsend, 1984-88. Signed by Lawrie Mc Menemy as a left sided midfielder, for £35k from Weymouth. Just got going at first team level, when Lawrie Mac left, ....and then Andy broke a leg, but managed to come back to become a first team regular. Then 26, he didn't impress Chris Nicholl enough, and lost his place to the emerging Rob Wallace. (excellent youth player). Nicholl sold Andy to Norwich for £350K (seemed a good deal at the time) Aug 1988. In retrospect... not so good business. He improved out of sight. Moved to Chelsea in 1990 for £1.2 million. Later played for A.Villa, Middlesboro and West Brom and ended up with a tally of 650 games at League level. Also had a good international career and racked up 70 caps for Ireland). Agree he doesn't have much to say in a positive vein about Saints on those commentaries I've heard. (If he's still bitter after all this time - he has a problem). His career was much better after he left SFC. AND ....as for Andros Townsend ...I'm not so impressed ......and certainly not at that price.

..best debut game I've seen in a long time.

..best debut game I've seen in a long time.

1) Agree, I thought JWP was much better second half, but (like Lallana) gets hussled off the ball too easily. First half free kick (ala Beckham style)...had Mignolet struggling. 2) watched pre match pics. of teams standing in the tunnel. Gerrard looked like a very old man.... in a trance. Pelle was double-marked much of the time.... but (hopefully) ...he'll learn.

1) Agree, I thought JWP was much better second half, but (like Lallana) gets hussled off the ball too easily. First half free kick (ala Beckham style)...had Mignolet struggling. 2) watched pre match pics. of teams standing in the tunnel. Gerrard looked like a very old man.... in a trance. Pelle was double-marked much of the time.... but (hopefully) ...he'll learn.

Frau ?.......or ...?

Frau ?.......or ...?

you see, there you go ...coming up with all these common sense arguements and positive predictions. don't you know you'll upset dozens of the " no-hopers " who come on here regularly .....and you're going to get ridiculed by them with equally stupid and nonsensical opinions with the opposite view. Personally, I can't argue with much that you've written, but then again, there isn't much place for optimists around here.