david in sweden

YES he has, but the optimum word here is ......YET Do you really expect him to start throwing money around like a man with six arms? ........or are you just another of those " we ought to have bought all our new players by July 2nd " types?

30 years in Sweden has given me a challenge to keep up with things, but I wasn't the only one missing " real football " when the old Dell was "down-sized " to an all-seater stadium and limited to 15K attendances, and the waiting list for season tickets was as along as a queue on the first day of the sales. However, I did get to listen to some English League games -and Saints fairly often) on my old SW radio (in the early years), but nowadays I find that different " streams " to my computer solve the problem. the most reliable is firstrowsports.eu Of course it's a battle to see the game through without interuptions for those annoying ads. for Russian and Thai " mail order brides " but better than nothing.

we all saw a similar experience for the Stockholm based Hammarby club last week. The old Söder stadium (on a large island in the southern part of Stockholm) had really seen better days, and finally hosted its last game before the bulldozers moved in to start building new flats /office complex. Hammarby have had a checkered history, having won a league title and a Cup here and there in the distant past, but now play in Superettan (type Div.2 / Championship-level). They have seldom surpassed their local arch-rivals Djurgården and AIK in recent times and I might liken their style to (say)..... West Ham. A good cup side whose fans demand " Brazilian -style " football, even if they don't win every game. It's been sad few years for Hammarby, with a relegation two years ago, but they have kept the core of their fans, (who'd make the old Millwall gang look like choirboys), but their final league game at Söder brought a record crowd, banners, tears and a wreath-laying ceremony on the last remnants of the pitch which was dug up in chunks by departing fans. The game itself was a bit of a bore and ended in yet another 1-1 draw. However, the pictures reminded me of the last day scenes at the old Dell ground. Now Hammarby await a move to the newly-built Tele 2 stadium, a move that didn't go off so smoothly when it was announced that they would be sharing the facilities with ..the Djurgården club, who recently moved location, too.) More trouble brewing there without a doubt.

It's all very well (and a good way to pass the time) to start thinkingabout replacing Lambeet, but for all their skill and (proported) talent, we need someone with a good goal tally and not a bit of pace and a nice touch. One can guess (the future " he " ) would be a challenger for JayRod to compete with, but I don't see Rickie dropping out of the picture just yet.

er hrm......(Molyneux aside).......we may be back to signing " the scraps that nobody else wanted " - if we don't land one or two of these " highly-rated " 15 million deals from Europe.

has to be the 1960's models for my taste. More or less the same as I recalled it.

well it's my "era " alright, but I can't say I recall that specific game......) however, IN THAT NUMBER, (the bible of Saints football in the WW2 period has this to say; 02.12.61 v Liverpool (H) 2-0 28 min. 1-0 Mulgrew - header from corner.' 55 min. 2-0 O'Brien- "great shot flew into corner of net", (game) watched by Winterbottom (Eng. manager) Saints undaunted by pressure - played with great determination and considerable skill) With respect to the authors, this is not my copyright and I give thanks to In that Number and their contribution to the SFC 's documented history. However, on a personal level I do know that after an indifferent start to that season Saints were up to around 2nd place at the end of September, but rather lost it after that win against 'pool. Although they recovered after the New Year they never did enough to get back up the table and finished in 6th place - and Liverpool went on to win the title that season by a considerable margin of points. There was no crowd segregation in those days, and some years later (after Saints were promoted to Div.1 - as it was then), I was standing on the terraces at The Dell, shoulder to shoulder with a group of 'pool fans who were very good-humoured and friendly (and who told tales of their previous weeks' trip to ....Milan ? ..for a European Cup game). They were equally enthusaistic to be watching 'pool play against a side of relatively new " minnows " in the top division and were very complimentary - even of good play from some of the Saints players. BY.. this time Liverpool (under Shankly) had become the best sides in Europe - by a distance) and were a very attractive side to watch - even if you were playing against them. I have been a Saints fan for over 50 years, but I have to admit - if I ever had a " second team " ..it would probably be Liverpool, as I've always admired their European record of success. **interesting note; even though Liverpool were superior in the later decades, I think that Saints must have a good record of wins against them, (at the Dell) as I recall some outstanding games where we won decisively. Thanks for the opportunity to share a few memories of that period.

.......IF.... he were going " anywhere " I'd expect it to be Arsenal ...and certainly for a lot more that 12 million " anythings ".....

it's taken 23 posts for someone to come up withsome names(even if they are correct) ......so maybe you should have had the OP..... and not Glagow (?)

WOW !.....:adore:now tell me he grew up watching videos of Matt Le Tissier

......and he likes apple pie !

Hej ....isn't this thread supposed to be about ...Billy ?....and yes ...who is he going to play for next season ...? I know he was on a long(er) contract but he'll want to play football, and I can't see much chance for him after we sign " our new striker " ...NO ! ..Im not ITK ....but there's sure to be one in the offing...don't you think ?

guess I was watching the attacker (Jo) and not the defenders, but Yoshida was pretty impressive for the other 89 minutes, but the game was lost long before then -wasn't it?

....if they have yet another bad season.......they'll be in the Conference .....and who'd bother to sing songs about a non-league side?

Nah...not so important unless it's heart or knees. Some of our legendary players performed best when they were drunk, and others like (the late great) Ron Davies played despite injuries and still delivered the goods.

if you want to ask the question from an academic standpoint - Does any of them have GCSE's? ...(I dare not suggest a University Degree)....or do you mean " football savvy" .. Do they always know which way we are kicking? NEXT - define "sophisticated" please? Do you mean ..tattoos and earrings?...or someone who knows how to knot his tie correctly ...and doesn't turn up to the Saints party in trainers and with his shirt tail hanging out?

[quote=Giordano;171429 We getting the team sorted from the back upwards as i expect from an ex CB manager. Fwiw it seems clear to me we WILL be buying a "modern" centre forward. He will be an international or at very least an u21 international. He will cost £15-£20m.[/b] He will blow our minds. Yes OK Giordano - I get your point, but I got worried when I read this line .....it almost fitted the description of ....Danny Welbeck If we signed him I'd blow my brains out .......

Agree with most of that. The success of the likes of Chelsea and Man.Utd is that they've been able to field a side and leave the likes of Torres ....or Rooney on the bench...... if Saints are to be competative in the Prem. then we must be able to "rest" players (whoever they are).... if they're not performing 100%.

and I agree with that too. Watched the Brazil V Japan game .....oh I know the Brazilians won, but Yoshida was not involved in any of the goals against, but he was everywhere at the back tidying up and made some good tackles / interceptions. He seemd to be the only name that the commentators were mentioning, and were very complimentary.

..Who needs Jonno Quick? ........someone must surely ...please .....say YES !

Agree, but calling him the Master of Manipulation does sound "a bit shady", Why not a visionary?......or just a good, entreprenuerial businessman?

any kid wanting to play for Chelsea had better look at their squad sysyem, the number of players who actually make it through their ranks, and get a regular spot in the first team can be counted ...on one thumb. The last person to start with them at a pre-teen stage and go right through the system, play for England at (almost) all youth levels U16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and U21 - didn't even get to play a single game in the Prem. His name was ..... Jack Cork, and look what happened to him! So youngsters - if you fancy Chelsea.....good luck, just don't expect to play football at Prem.level.

I share your enthusiasm for a young squad Glasgow, but let's not have Gazzaniga in goal, please.

but Colin........what if (for once) we don't have to hold our breath until the last day. What IF ...the squad is all in place before the season starts, and have met each other ....and even TRAINED together ..Doesn't that sound more enthusing ?

Impressive assessment -but you're ruling out the idea of signing any BRITISH players, then ?