david in sweden

Once again highlighting the fact that " the gap" between Championship standard, and that of the Prem. is more of an abyss, and most players just don't make it . IMO I think we're very fortunate that; Lallana, Lambert, Schneiderlin, Fonte and even KD have " survived " the transition from L1. Many others found their true level - very quickly. The passage up from the bottom of L1... to the Prem has been made at warp speed (in footballing terms), and those mentioned earlier are just some who are still left on the books.

As this thread is supposed to be about the Osvaldo " incident " at Newcastle, it was interesting to note that ; 1) both he and Andy Woodman were " found guilty" after this , but only one media report I have read so far has bothered to record that fact. It does look as though the big name has been "hung out " and made to look like the only guilty party involved, which he clearly wasn't. 2) The " punishments "involved were £40,000 fine for Osvaldo ..(a weeks wages?) PLUS a 3 match ban. Woodman was fined £1250 (maybe that's his weeks wages? ) - who knows. I am in no way suggesting that Woodman should have had the same fine, but he is obviously continuing his work helping the Newcastle club, whereas Osvaldo is effectively "out of work " for three important games - Is that justice?

another reason for NOT selling Lambert - isn't it?.....As if injuries /sickness wasn't enough now a three match ban. Our strike force is now Rodriguez, Lambert ...and Sam Gallagher, (bearing in mind that Lee and Sharp aren't in MP's good books )

Why is this thread still continuing?.......How many denials does the club need to give ?

So...obviously "diving " is not only a problem in the Prem. Blatter trying to save face again.......but if he's going to allow punishment for diving, will this be the result of reference to video evidence?......and if so let's use that method for determining penalties as well. The Sky commentator gets it right everytime with a 5 second replay....so why not allow the fourth official the same right....and the many millions of viewers too.

....for the setbacks?. Stats are always interesting -aren't they. So here goes... Games 1-10 . W5 D4 L1 Goals 11-4 = 19 points we played a fairly settled starting side in nearly all of these. Steven Davis replaced JWP (as a regular starter) after game 3, and Shaw missed only 2 of those 10 starts. Games 11-20 W2 D2 L6 Goals 15-19 = 8 points (game 11 was the 4-1 Hull victory over Hull), but after which ...Boruc was injured midway through game 12 ( Chelsea) and has missed 7 games since. Clyne was injured in game 14, as was Wanyama (both have been out for 6 games)...although Clyne few mins. as sub haven't been encouraging to watch. Fonte was injured game 15 and missed 2 games. Osvaldo has (disturbingly) been out since game 16 ....and has missed the last 5. JWP and to some extent Schneiderlin have looked a bit off colour, and certainly not upto their "usual standard" Its clear that very few of the " bench regulars " are really upto Prem. standard, although Cork has been fairly impressive, but he's no Wanyama. Chambers came back and played as if he'd never been away, and was one of the best on show on Sunday. and despite the negative results - KD looks a whole division better than Gazzaniga ..(who I will not criticise any more than I have in the last 12 months.) It's apparant that "double-training has produced some outstanding performances, but at the same time has taken far more out of the players than we might previously have expected. The regulars (from games 1-10) are clearly the ideal start side, but of the rest .....the likes of Fox, Jos, Lee and even Yoshida don't even come close to the men they replaced, and encouraging as it may seem to be.... Gallagher and Reed must get some real game -time in, if they are to make any impression this season, as " the gap" in their experience is enormous. Blame is difficult to attach (if indeed anyone wants to). There's been a lot of injuries to key players at the same time, and a lack of adequate replacements available. .....the worst may not be over, as we cannot expect the absentees to come back like " Saints Supermen " when they eventually get fit enough for selection. Ce'st la vie ! Pochettino seems to suggest " no panic buying ", but Nicola Cortese will be looking anxiously at the rest of the season if we don't start a recovery soon.

a bit unkind d'you think ?.......nothing to do with the smash in the head he got in that collision in the opening minutes? Commentator said they thought he'd swallowed his tongue... and the medics were checking his jaw and teeth for damage. I know he's tough and didn't come off ....but I expect some injury report on that - it looked pretty bad at the time.

we're talking about a pretty good Championship side... but nevertheless ..we know the gap between NPC and the Prem. is more than just 3 places. Even if we field half-a dozen " bench players " ....we ought have enough quality to get a result.....if not it doesn't auger well for their future.

I think he played his U18 Academy games in midfield?... and was only drafted into the RB spot when Clyne was injured during the summer...begins to look like a "right-sided " Gareth Bale clone.

he said (previously) that he doesn't read the press on rumours and stated that no offer had been made (by anyone) for RL.

He's certainly done his share since coming in for Wanyama... (who was bought to replace him). and he's shown a bit more grit and his tacking is good..... but his passing (when in possession) leaves something to be desired. Generally speaking, I'd be glad to keep him.... rather than selling - as some have suggested. He's a reliable sub. and " knows the system "

.......you mean and play yet another league game on top of the very intensive fixture period that exists already? It's interesting to remind ourselves that MOST European countries have a 2-3 week winter break at this time of the year, whilst we carry on playing full pelt every week. The FA Cup seems less important to the top division (nowadays) whilst the lower league clubs look for a " shock result " when they play against a Prem.club's " reserve side ". It's a catch 22 situation. If the " bench players" don't get an outing, they get no games at all, if they play and lose - it further reduces their value in the club's eyes.

He makes short notes on a pad whilst listening to MP, but as with most speakers, Pochettino has a number of standard phrases and expressions that (the translator) is probabaly used to by now.

MP's latest comments surely puts this one to bed, doesn't it ?

me too, I thought he was better than I've seen him since " the Championship season."

.....but not one that hasn't been done-to-death already, Barry. IF, IF, IF....?

MP selected his "starting sides" from only 14 players in all of the first 11 games - since when we had injuries to Boruc 7 games ago....and Wanyama 6 games ago. (arguably two of our best players). and since when.... there have also been injuries to Clyne (out for 6 games), and Osvaldo has started only 3 of the last 7 games, Although Cork and Steven Davis have provided cover fairly well, both Schneiderlin and JWP seem to have lost some of their early season form - Can we really blame MP for the poor quality of performances, when the "best of the rest" , are either inexperienced Academy-ites, (Gallagher / Reed) ...and Yoshida, Jos and Fox (who seldom cover themselves in glory when called upon). I think not. but we do need a stronger-looking bench, (IMO)....a good goalie as back-up and an extra CB. ¨ Forget trying to get " another winger ". We have Lee and Mayuka on the books, MP will never start a game with either of them, and unless they are of the quality of Willian or Oscar ..... they won't become "game-changers " overnight. I'd give up on the whole idea, and continue with the same formula in the upcoming games. It'll come right again - sooner or later.

the worse part of the arguement is that " a red for a goalie " effectively punishes the opposition TWICE. I think a yellow is sufficient - except in the most dire situations. it's far too easy to " go to ground " especially where a player " claims " a foul afterwards. Such treatment should also apply to those outfield " divers " too. - going down to 10 men, is a severe enough punishment, but then to have a penalty kick against an unfamilar keeper who's just donned the shirt / come off the bench.

re HEADLINE ...on today's showing - I don't think so.

Good analysis IMHO.? plus a well-managed game from Jose's side. Clyne looked slow on the ball and def. not happy at LB Cork is tougher in the tackle, but his passing is not good. Morgan looked really out of sorts today. Ramirez looked OK - when on the ball, but drifts in and out of the action too much. Jay Rod disturbingly absent as an attacking threat today. JWP seems to have lost that sharpness / agression he had before Christmas? Stats. OK ...good quality opposition. but EIGHT yellow cards in 2 matches shows some degree of panic has set in. Even assuming Boruc is back soon we still have to wait Wanyama to get himself fit ...March ? ..meanwhile a quick look at the bench doesn't inspire much encouragement does it? , especially when you consider the players we have on contract who aren't there. Has all this double-training gone a bit too far ?

stupid question? ..from a music-loving senior with a short memory, who hasn't spent the last 20 years listening to pop radio.. but what's the music to the Guly video ?...it's " annoyingly likeable" ?

Regardless of the quality of the opposition, Guly's contribution to the first half of our Championship season (9 goals+ assists) before New Year was quite noticeable. ( Note: Ricky had managed 14) ..as with many others (at different times in our history) ...he was the man of the moment for quite a while there. OK it's clear he doesn't have what it takes (at 32) to even get a regular bench place in the Prem..... it is however, somewhat unfair to discount his previous efforts as less than meaningful. He may not have been a shadow of his former self since then, and just one of those who fell by the wayside, and ends up as just another name in ALL THE SAINTS. (see page 300) Personally, I enjoyed the memory of him at his best, and will watch that video clip on #2 once again. Happy birthday Guly.

we have until the 31st. to see if a " fully-fit " Osvaldo, and a " fully-fit " Ramirez can make a meaningful difference to the upcoming games - otherwise the answer is probably YES.

when you say " one of the teams that hard to beat" - does that suggest the line-up that (fairly successfully) started the first ten games ?....in which case the answer maybe YES. on the other hand ...it's painfully clear that there aren't too many other options than using subs. or " bench players " who quite clearly are nowhere near the same standard. We don't have the " strength-in-depth " that some other teams seem to possess.

perhaps he meant " immortality "?........ as would befit " a Saint "