david in sweden

I'd like to say something more positive, but Cropper has been alternating in the U21's (with Gazzaniga) and has (unfortunately) been the keeper in some of the worst defeats they've had so far. No direct criticism intended - just quoting the stats.

CORRECTION: he was too quick to book Saints' players, some of that Chelsea mob got away with murder, and not even a free kick !

with two fit goalies (Gazzaniga and Cropper) on the books ........would an emergency loan be allowed? I thought you had to use all available fit players first?... or? .......anyone know the rules ?

Steven Davis ?.....or .......

good assessment, Turkish.

FUTURE?......FUTURE? .....we're not really talking about anything longer than 6 weeks - are we Phil ? I think KD is the better bet. Gazzaniga makes me nervous just watching him.

really ? ....don't think we can be talking about the same person. To me ..he looks embarrassingly slow, compared to the other two. ... and sorry but I don't consider that youth is an advantage when we're talking about keepers..(even Joe Hart). The numbers of good /v. good goalies I've watched in the last 50+ years could be reckoned on the fingers of two hands...... and the very best keepers have been 30+ ...an a bit more.

He might have sounded convincing at his interview, but making the dressing room buzz every match is something else. I think he's probably a nice fella' , but I know several other people who sound good and talk good tactics, but would never make a football manager.

of course we can only hope that KD will be fit enough this week, because despite all else Gazzaniga is not my idea of a Prem. keeper. To put him as second choice to KD last season was a big mistake on " someone's part ". Some people have suggested that KD's career " peaked " in our Championship season, and I would be first to admit that last season's catastrophic start wasn't purely his fault, but I think he's past his shelf life except perhaps for the odd game, but six weeks is " a big ask ". I'm not against Gazzaniga as a future keeper, but for me " young-ish " keepers have always been a no-no and he has a lot to learn and is nowhere as fast /skilful as KD or Boruc, not to mention the confidence factor. I really don't intend it to sound as if I'm knocking him....... (I'd love it if we kept clean sheets in every game), but it looks a trifle ominous - don't you think? PLUS the fact that even assuming AB is fit enough to return straight afterwards ..... 6 weeks absence from now ....is EIGHT league games and an FA Cup 3rd round tie to boot. I'm sorry to reiterate my posts from before last seasons' start in the Prem., when I first wrote that we needed TWO top class keepers. Thankfully we didn't buy Butland, but IMO Gazzaniga is no better and needs lots of time before he's ready for this level. ....(around half of the Prem.sides have at least two international keepers on their books ...and Arsenal and Chelsea both have three... and I think Spurs did last season (at least).

.....that was my understanding of it. Until they found out that Cardiff - was it ? - weren't interested in buying him anyway, and they had to come back to SFC.

let's just say ......it's disappointing. I don't believe that he's a bad player, but the likes of Osvaldo and Ramirez just don't seem to be able to cope with the " physical side " of the Prem. Surely something that must be taken into account when we buy such players.....for such large fees.

Yes exactly. Whether he was to "blame " or not ; I really can't see him as a viable long-term alternative for Boruc - can you ?

my post 144...as I was saying. Boruc now out.......Davis ..out Ill / Injured?.......so from now on .....it's Gazzaniga folks I think that Boruc deserved his place ..even after he got the wind up at Stoke ...and his dance routine last weekend at The Emirates, but now he's injured ...? where's our second international goalie?

a necessary evll, but at least Saints haven't succumbed to the measures that some of the so-called " big clubs " seemed to have done.

well it may sound a bit extreme (to some) but surely we want to have players 100% fit to go out and get 3 points every game...or ? there have been times (in the distant past) when players have gone out to play games " carrying" an injury, with a hangover, or fighting off a dose of the flu'. I'm all for giving them the best chance to play well in every game.

I agree - up to a point.But we've seen the " first team " performances this season and (at least most people are reasonably satisfied) we must at least see what the " back-up " players are like. If they are likely to be sitting on the bench for most of the season, then we have to know how they might perform (if required).... in an emergency. I also agree that the Sunderland performance was less than encouraging, which suggests that some of them might have a limited future - especially if we contimue to talk about Euro football next season. but winning trophies ?...well Arsenal manage to get into Europe every season without winning any trophies, though if course they did win The Marcus Liebherr Cup (their first trophy in 5 years - was it?)

think he won a few more caps after that, or the person concerned didn't consult his copy of In that Number beforehand to check.

really good article, nice details and well-written. I almost don't recognise the club from these descriptions, but it is the new Saints image. Nothing left to chance. Those journo's who are pushing out stories about " soon to depart " Saints players going to " big clubs " ought to take a look at this ...WHO would want to leave a club like ours ?

Me, too! In his own way Mick was a little bit special and is still the club's leading all-time goal scorer. 600+ apps. and 228 goals. Not forgetting those 45 England caps and 21 goals to boot. I always wonder if his famous " windmill-arm " action after scoring a goal would get him booked nowadays for "over-enthusiastic celebrations." Congratulations Mick.....Welcome to " the Club ".

Jos (and Fonte) did their bit in our promotion season (to the Prem.) They were a good combination, however, I am presently surprised that Fonte has played as well as he has - so far. I don't discount Jos (as do some others apparantly), but neither he or Fonte are the real thing (in the longer term) without Lovren, who is outstanding IMHO. I'd like to see another dependable " Lovren-type " so as to give us some choice in case of injury, or loss of form on anyone's part. Of course we would look at the Academy first, but it's a BIG jump and not everyone might make it as well as Shaw and JWP have.

I think many people felt that Jonah was an " above average " keeper for the Welsh team, and Niemi was certainly a much better keeper than Finland's FIFA rating would suggest. Jones was our first choice keeper for 5 seasons, and still shared the job even after Niemi 's arrival. They both had their ups and downs, although Jones rather " lost the plot " in his last season, or two. Ironically.... both men played in the 2003 FA Cup Final, and Jones was the one who kept a clean sheet, but still only got a loser's medal. IMHO (and many others on this site, I'm sure) ... Niemi was one of our best keepers in the last 25 years.

I wouldn't dispute that statement for a moment, but I'm more worried what might happen if he got a serious injury.......then we're back to KD and Gazzaniga

....... except that both Ramirez and Osvaldo are Spanish-speaking South Americans .....who happened to be playing in Italy.

Having the task of teaching foreigners the English language ..I'm quick to point out the subtle differences between colloquial language, slang, and swearing. Problem (in Sweden) is that 70% of the so-called " English language " TV progs. are from the U.S. ...and the variation of accents and selective swear words is pretty varied, with the result that people often use words without really appreciating their precise inference, and they often have a distinct shortage of ordinary adjectives. The f-word has been in the English language since the time of Shakespeare, and is so commonplace it seems ridiculous to think that 100 years ago G.B. Shaw was slated publicly for including it in one of his plays. I try to avoid bad language - for the sake of my "then" young, growing family...but TV has done its worst. As for me ..if I hit my thumb with a hammer when doing a DIY job....I don't stop to say " Ouch!.. that hurt ". With some of the incidents that take place during matches.. it's no wonder that people do swear and for many it's almost impossible to avoid. Honestly, it's enough to make you spit !