david in sweden

looked at that just the other day ...perhaps only Eriksen is worth his fee.......

I suppose Shaw going is the lesser evil...but just as long as we get a decent % clause for an eventual sell-on.......don't get ourselves scre*ed like the Bale deal.

I didn't say that - did I? , but there again I've noted you are very adept at putting your own interpretation on other peoples statements....CB. .......and as for " going hell for leather " ...where did that comment come from?......not me !........but I don't expect our guys to lay back and think of England. I would have thought that playing home to Man U would be encouragement enough for Saints to play up.....especially as MU players have dominated the England set-up so much in the recent past.

interesting from several standpoints. With our present sqaud, Saturdays startline-up was about as strong as we could field on the day, but Rickie will certainly start on Sunday. Adam and Luke will want to show everyone just how good they really are. Yes I expect to see a couple of the Academy lads on near the end....and maybe even a 10 minute fond farewell for Guly....provided all goes well in a game where there is " nothing " really to play for. United on the other hand have several choices. Their " big stars" won't want to chance an injury so close to the World Cup, and so may be on the bench ....or not at all. Several United players will be out of contract; Vidic is going and maybe one or two others....so there's no real point in continuing to play them.... as whatever the outcome they will finish 7th ..and we 8th. .....if I were Giggs (or any potential manager).. I'd want to see what " the rest " could do ......before the end of the season, as there are no more competitive games until August. Although we don't often beat MU, we always give them a good game, so I can possibly see them fielding a weakened side ...and if we do our best..... Saints getting the three points !

If Hodgson is planning for the future.....he'll do well to take the likes of Shaw and one or two of the younger starlets. Even if they do no more than a 10 minute sub. it'll do wonders for their future career.

IF he goes, it'll be his last chance to wear an England shirt - that's for sure. On his day.... he was v.good .....but those days are long gone.

Raymundo Guillame Do Prado (in case we can't recall his complete name) ....but at 32 - even another year would be stretching his luck. Will miss him though. 79 apps. + 38 subs. = 23 goals. Not bad for someone who never really played as an out-and-out striker, but the video shows that many of those goals showed some real class.

.....not just in his early months either. It took nearly two seasons for him to become a " regular " on the team sheet and his goal tally in that time was pitiful. In his first two seasons he started 30 games and came on as sub 23 times ...and scored only 5 times.........and for the record ...Alan Shearer wasn't much better .....(in the beginning).

...........NO ......and he won't be for at least a season, maybe more. When a young talent is introduced he/ they often play a few good games but always lack consistancy......obviously. Channon, Shearer and even MLT took a long time to get established as a first team regular. Not to say we shouldn't perserver with young Sam, but not expecting him to lead the line every time he's picked. NOTE: Remember that JayRod didn't really "click " until after Christmas and had a very indifferent first season. Given game time..... Sam will get established.....and a few goals along the way won't do his confidence any harm either. " One for the future " ....definitely !

I wasn't sure (exactly) .....but don't Fulham and West Brom also have temporary managers - until the end of the season.......or ?

Despite the " misinformation " (Les Reed's quote) about possible departing players, we shouldn't lose sight of the fact it's the Prem. managers who will command the headlines this summer. Now that Ferguson had gone off into the sunset, and Moyes quickly felt the axe.....many Club boards will be wringing their hands - and opening their fat cheque books in anticipation of who they can employ as a new manager......before they need to fork out ....yet another fortune .....on the players he will want to sign before August. Arsene Wenger's long stint at Arsenal (18 years - is it ?)...but the next surviving Prem.boss is....(wait for it)....Alan Pardew...who is into an EIGHT year contract at Newcastle..if he survives. A glimpse at the Prem. clubs shows that around half-a-dozen are (officially) managerless, or with " interim managers " and some of the others may be feeling their Chairman's boot before too long. Those eventual new managers will know that they have maximum half-a-season before starting to feel the fans displeasure, and their Chairman's wrath.....(and will provide the media hacks with a lot more column space in the meantime) - not to mention ... which World Cup " stars " they are hoping to sign. Our own particular dimension... Mauricio Pochettino (will he stay, will he go ?).....is of more pressing interest for Saints' fans. We see that new managers sometimes " pick up the pieces " of the existing team and make it work, whilst others wield an axe to their current squads and import bucketloads of foreign talent. At the end of the day, it's to down those man-management skills (and the old Lawrie McMenemy quote) ....." you need to kiss some ...and kick the others ".. if they will succeed. The list of " unsuccessful transfers " gets longer every season ...and it's down to being the right player, in the right club...at the right time..(and some will say... with the right manager in charge). It'll to be an interesting summer - even without the World Cup...or maybe ....because of it.

yes it sounds a bit boring I know, but as someone who has a yearning for history, anywhere that was mentioned in the Domesday Book, .......or was once the capital of England (Winchester - of course), deserves to be preserved in its own little " time-warp " .....for a few cebturies more, at least.... ...... and I hope they can be preserved from the inevitable conversion into a " concrete ghetto" .

.....can it be ........that we are not alone in our criticism of MK? Usch ! Usch ! How will UEFA react to that outburst, I wonder?

sounds a lot - doesn't it?, .....but in his own way he DAJFU (although not winning many friends along the way) . Thank you Nicola......but now that he's gone ....we should move on.

interesting interview from a former player who seems to have (at least temporarily) landed on his feet. Garry Monk is yet another example of an up-and-coming lad who DAJFU at youth level, but was denied a first team place by superior talent, and spent part of his early career with short-term loan-outs. Although he played first team games as a 16 y.o. apprentice for Torquay, he finished up as a Saints trainee, two years later. By the age 18, he was a regular for the Reserves (where he clocked up over 100 apps) despite time absent in - between on half-a-dozen " loan-outs " with lower League clubs to help gain experience. His time at Saints coincided with the reign of a number of legendary centre-backs (Monkou, Dean Richards, Claus Lunderkvam and Michael Svensson) meant he was called upon only 11 times during the period 1998-2003) and he surely would have had more game-time... had he not only been selected when filling in for one of the above ...on those rare occasions they might have been injured. Garry left Saints in 2003 and eventually signed for Swansea in 2004. Now at age 35, he has played for them in all 4 divisions at made over 200 apps. before becoming caretaker-manager in the Spring. Having watched the interview; I think that Swansea could do worse than give him a shot at managing the club he has already given so much. Good luck Garry - but not until Monday morning !

Adam Lallana isn't the tallest in the current Saints' side, but that isn't always a prime requisite for a midfielder. They should be skilful, agile with a low cente-of-gravity. Every side should have at least one. Modic .." looked a giant" in Real's annilation of Bayern midweek. I recall an era when the best players were names like; Ball, Keegan and Bremner - and none of them came upto Micky Droy's shoulder.

..but fans love the loyalty of the Paine's, Channon's and MLT's.. who enjoy "playing" every week....without the need to earn huge salaries sitting on the bench.... and that endears them to fans far more.

as the OP mentioned it ..I'll say, I have never been a RM fan, but was very impressed by their performance against ...what is clearly a very good BM side....(Top and 20 points clear in Bundesliga) But BM (like other teams with high % possession stats)... fell foul of the obvious, in that when they do lose possession they are easily open to a counter attack... with a long ball up to a fast striker... who runs at (what are sometimes)... slower-moving defenders, and then only has the keeper to beat. Although, only one of the RM's goals came from that route, they were caught out a number of times. Although I've enjoyed following what has been one of the most-satisfying seasons to watch - (since Lawrie McMenemy's teams 30-odd years ago) one of the most frustrating game I've watched this season.. was the home game v. Aston Villa. 77% Saints possession, with 20 shots against 6.....yet we lost 2-3. We were victims of what the boxing fans call " the sucker punch". The " total possession " tactic denies the opposition the ball, but unless there are players who have the speed and guile to take the final ball into the box ...and not need 3 touches before shooting... we will not overcome the problem. My Player of the season is Jay Rodrigues ...(not because I don't value Lambert or Lallana .or half a dozen other " regulars ") but for me... ... the sight of a lone striker outpacing defenders and delivering a class finish is still a high point in any game.

Alternative actions to consider; (1) ....see if he gets in the Italian 23.... (2) ....if he plays games in the WC....and does reasonably well... (3).... if that encourages other clubs to bid for him.... (4) ....get the feeling in the SMS dressing room.... about a possible return..? (5) ....sell to the highest bidder but we haven't got to point 1 yet ....so be patient, wait and see.

Oh! .....you mean you think he's a bit of a pr*ck ? NOTE : ironically.....in Sweden that expression....means that a fellow is a really good sort, well-liked and popular.

perhaps...but the fact that " the 7 " will ultimately be discarded means that if a " first-choice " player gets injured in a nonsensical game...we don't have the best choices available for the real comp.

I think the squad will ..more of less pick itself. Just look at the squads that he's used so far this season and then deduct; Ruddy, Townsend, and sadly... Jay Rod. Roy H. has said he 's not likely to make any last minute changes because of someone's sudden change in form, so son't look for surprise additions - except in extreme circumstances. However, it may well depend on fitness and endurance in Brazil....because the latest stories coming out of the WC camp is the timing of some of the games. Apparantly, the TV companies want to run several back-to back games each match day, but a start at 1 PM ..with all that heat and humidity () is something that even the local teams don't play in. RH has to choose the final 23 ...by 2nd June, but then has two more " friendly" internationals after then before the WC starts..what happens if a key player gets injured in one of those, I wonder...? .

yes, but it was whilst he was still at Aston Villa. I think he also made the Guiness Book of Records with that one....or should I say ....FOUR:blush:

Yes Hatch, I enjoyed that one too, England star midfielder?.... not to mention England 's first choice keeper ... :scared:oops.

What is truth?.. a very good question that couldn't be answered 2000 years ago but looking at the media marathon on the subject of "departing Saints' personnel there are several clear alternatives. 1- Les Reed's fairly categorical statement last week suggests that - if there is interest - no club has made any definite bids or enquiries....despite the "misinformation" circulating like wildfire. True.? 2- LR is out of contact with behind the scenes activity that is secretly planning such moves. (If true- why allow him to make the statement in the first place - at such a late date. most unlikely. 3- The whole process is an organised campaign by agents to up the ante and get even better contract deals - without them ever considering leaving the club.?.....possible in one or two cases. 4- an organised campaign by the media to sell more newspapers, create confusion and mistrust at SMS and " force " people into consider leaving. quite possible but totally unethical by any standards. Have the journo' ask any club manager if he likes / likes " such-and such player " who he'd like to buy for his team and make a non-story out of it ....goes on all the time. the apparant stress created by these stories is certainly creating panic in some contributors on this site, and sewing the seeds of discontent amongst many. Certainly the bookies must be coining it ...on bets that will never come to anything, and ...and the end of the day ..(or should it be the season) when nothing happens .......the media will ignore the entire episode and pretend it was just a bad dream.....and then start all over again in the Autumn. Why is anyone willing to believe these media hacks - amd then criticise MP's when they don't tell the " whole truth "...and demand their resignations.