david in sweden

YES .....but of course that's only valid if you believe in God ....and don't have your fingers crossed when you say it ..... or..... did you hear it..... from " a voice in your head " ? ...who told you to post it ?

thought we had yet ANOTHER England hopeful when the Star headlined him as " David Shaw ". Think the media thrive on " negotiating deals " out of thin air, but if LS does move I'd want record fee for a full back AND a 50% sell-on clause (just in case Real Madrid want to sign him later on....)

IF true ?...I'm pleased on several fronts. I know he only scored that one goal (though it was a goodie - wasn't it ?) he was beginning to look the part in a few other games and found good positions, and helped with an assist or two, I think. I'd like to think he could get a few sub.appearances under his belt, and matbe recapture a bit of that old magic. Of course it also means that Yoshida will still have a soul mate he can chat to, and won't have to resort to useless prattle with that waiter in the Japanese restaurant.

interesting detective work here. (with help of ..IN THAT NUMBER) Season 1948-49. If this is indeed the first teamers at that time, there's " someone " missing. Given that the 12th man in the picture is Sam Warhurst (goalie only upto 1939), then he's there in his capacity as coach. Strangely enough.. Wilf Grant is in the pic, though he didn't play any games after 29 Jan.1949... (due to injury?). His left wing role was taken by Bill Heaton for the rest of that season, (and both Grant and Heaton had gone by September that year). The rest of the players were the "regular line-up" for that unforgetable season (which was the tragic one, when sitting in top spot 8 points clear at Easter, Wayman got injured and Saints won only one of the last 7 games and failed to get promotion - by one point). Can't think of a reason for a tactical talk (without Heaton)?.. BUT these men were the great post-war players who came so close to glory THREE season in a row, but just failed to win promotion each time.

Nice old momento that my late father would have enjoyed seeing.... However, think it's bit doubtful that you should have printed a photo like that....it looks a bit like MP's possible strategy v. Wham on Sunday .......

Mmm...can't see that he's wearing that " special brand of watch " though?........Do they give Academy players a proper watch, (like the real pro's)...or do they get a wind-up Mickey Mouse type?

well said that man!

Another news story that may have a bit of truth attached to it, but would it be a good idea to loan out Gazzaniga? Many thought that it was a brave decision to buy him in the first place, and be no.2 to KD last year, and it has to be said neither of them had a particularly memorable season, but what now?. KD has a three year extension, and may be able to DAJFU in a short term emergency, but there was little in PG's appearances last season to convince me he ought to be no.2 to Boruc at present. So loan out....for my money YES why not?. It'll give him more game time (providing he gets the top spot back at Gillingham, and it should give us a chance to make a longer term assessment as he was surely not the first choice last summer..... (remembering we had a bid for Butland rejected...well I'm pleased that one didn't come off, anyway.) There is certainly no shame in loaning out a goalie with potential, (we've done that before) and we can always take him back if /when he comes up with some good performances. There is a longer list of goalies on the horizon (now Cody Cropper has even got into the full USA squad) and there are two promising lads in the U18 squad. Suddenly PG is beginning to look like the spare man at a wedding. I'm sure they'll be mixed reaction about this, but that's my take on the idea.

plus I don't recall Rickie even having a clear chance in the whole match.....those that did come fell to our " centurions." ... Gerrard and Lampard, who didn't score either.

he never was in my book, but he seems to have a few critics and a rather small fan club on this site, anyway. Personally, I think he's a good first choice.

Um.....failing memory - wrong World Cup..I missed that one - didn't I ? Obviously the goalie comtinued his "clown act "....

well he's finally done it. Last nights World Cup game in Kazakstan (won 1-0) was Anders Svensson's ....(wait for it) ...144th cap for Sweden. (prev. record was former goalie Thomas Ravelli's 143) Now a sprightly 37, Anders shows no signs of slowing down and with the dearth of choices in midfield is still an important member of the squad. Not disimilar to England's game, there were few chances - except for Zlatan's goal that won it ....scored in ......27 seconds after the kick-off. Sweden will have a tough task to qualify unless they win both of their remaining games, and then hope for a favourable game in the play-offs. Germany will certainly win the group. IF .Sweden get to Rio, you can be fairly certain that Anders will be there .....just around the time of his 38th birthday. I just hope we don't get drawn in the same group as them.

thats my answer, too but he doesn't have too many admirers on this site, but maybe MP has a higher regard for him ?

.......and I'd like to think he might make another 140, but at this level you have to be on top form all the time. I do like him as a player, but he has trouble with pace when under pressure. His form is a bit inconsistant and he was responsible for some bad errors last season. When we lost 0-2 v.Wigan at SMS, Kone beat him twice for pace and scored.

Some of those saves were things he didn't even know about..like a shot hitting his body, when he was laying on the ground and the ball going over the bar. Hitting his knee when he fumbled it and rolling to safety .and the stuff he missed (and there were a few of those).....were cleared by defenders around him. Probably one of the most one-sided matches I've ever seen; the shot tally was .....41-3 . (yes forty-one). Poland scored from a breakaway , England got a penalty and the final score was 1-1.. when we needed to get a win. We failed to go to the Finals and Poland went instead and went out at the group stage. URRRRRGH !

No he hasn't....but like everyone else he has a birthday every year, and if his form suddenly goes bad, or he gets a serious injury .....what then ? I don't see Jos getting many games and sooner or later Fonte will move on...and I'd be happier to think we had someone who was familiar with the club already and not to have to panic buy to cover for him.

...but didn't even get a place on the bench.

Error error

Wilshere's passing (especially to Walcott) was very poor....they do play in the same team - don't they? Not over impressed with Kyle Walker either, .. and as for Ashley Young ........words fail me:blush: Milner was not as as bad as I expected but still below par, .......although on the night I thought our best player was Gary Cahill.

More than that.....how about those people on this site who were suggesting that Lambert was too old for the Prem. and should be sold in the transfer window? . Yes there were more than a few who need to stand up and be counted. As for those "newspaper stories " that RL would go to Wham .or Reading ..for only £8 million... they may have come to nothing, but I bet those managers now wish they had the courage to make a bid for Rickie - when they might have had a chance.

WORLD CLASS - by inference suggests that (someone) is as a good as any other top player when playing other top international sides. e.g.. In World Cup competitions. IF.......we get to Brazil and (someone) Lambert or whoever, plays well, assists or even scores spectacular goals against top class opponents we can start using such phrases. Only Rickie knows what potential he has, and what he may be capable of. We all want him to succeed, and maybe en come to the point where he might be considered a better choice than a Rooney or a Welbeck (in certain games)..fortunately that is Hodgson's Dilemma. If Rickie continues in his present (international) form, then his career will surely come to an end after the World Cup - as few expected him to be picked now, and he won't be a candidate for WC 2018, meantime.....we can see how he fares in his next game, the future is still the unknown.

ooo ERROR apology MODS

well said " CHAPEL " I should think Rickie gets more " professional satisfaction " from his time wearing an England shirt than many of the " teenage millionaire brat pack " who come from the so-called " big clubs ". SORRY MODS - duplicated in error.