david in sweden

interesting post, but you've missed the real explanation, Secret Agent )..... Roy (sorry Woy) has identified the real problem in an interview published on today's BBC site... he says (and I quote) ...we aren't winning enough games "..... so there, now you have the total truth, straight from the horses' mouth, and he obviously doesn't believe that the addition of any Saints players would improve England's lot ..otherwise he would have called them up - wouldn't he ? .....or would he ?

you didn't read all of the OP -did you Glasgow? ...but since you ask...there is an explanation at the end of that post, but if you can't accept that....... then I'll apply to have it placed in the next publication of an English Dictionary as a new word....

yes that was the worst case of hypocrisy you'll find in a long time. Recently read Wikipedia on Sepp Blatter, who whilst forcing through a worthwhile and necessary ruling about racism in football, refused to commit himself on the issue of gays in football, (esp. in view of hosts in future World Cup comps.) ......and said it was " a moral and ethical issue " ........for individual countries to decide upon..... ah Sepp ...you mean like racism .....but different ! Does he mean that..... " all players should be treated as equals, but some are less equal than the rest ......?

....well I will only rate him on the basis of the last four months. Since MP's appointment, he's begun to look like the kind of player I hoped he was when NA signed him.

Correct, but I couldn't decide on one of the other three,

here's your chance to play Premier League Manager (...or whatever you want to call it ....) and before we sign anyone else. It's certain we are going to make a few signings...if only because there are so many leaving / OOC / etc. and we need to have a " 25 squad " So if you could choose the first six names on the team sheet (as definites - allowing for form and fitness).......who would they be? ... (then you're allowed to sign the other five to balance out the sqaud. MINE are; Clyne , Shaw, Schneiderlin, Cork and Lambert. P.S. I'm not excluding the likes of ; Lallana, Rodrguez and Puncheon but I've already set my own criteria of six names. OUCH ! ....it's my arthritic finger again ..it s TEAM SHEET of course.

Despite the scratchy old black and white video format, it is also a good history lesson for younger fans who only knew those players as names from the past. Gerry Gurr : a teenage keeper when signed, later got his chance (after Eric Martin was injured) and played for a season, (even getting tipped for U23 honours), butsadly injured a shoulder in a Reserve game the following season and had to quit. Ken Jones : Tough Yorkshire-born full back who was a regular during the late 1960's. Not top class maybe, but highly dependable at the back. Denis Hollywood: Scots-born " Baby-face " Denis was much tougher than he looked, as many wingers found when coming up against him . When Denis really tackled someone, they seldom walked away easily, and might even end up in the crowd. Hugh Fisher : Architect of Blackpool's 5-1 massacre of Saints in Dec.1966 (at The Dell). Ted Bates bought him 3 months later and Hughie played 350+ games in next 10 years - (unlucky not to play in the 1976 FA Cup win, which he'd help to engineer in every round). John McGrath: the ultimate tough CB - John's motto could have been " thou shall not pass". Reputedly hit his head against wall before starting every game and trained on raw steak. Terrified everyone he came up against ....but was a joy to watch. Jimmy Gabriel : Former Everton legend, wonderful passer of the ball and a top class player. The most versatile player I've ever seen in a Saints side. Played in 6 diff. shirts one season and even filled in as emergency goalie (in pre-sub days.) Terry Paine : say no more. 19 caps for England / 1966 World Cup winger (whilst a Div.2 player) and 800+ games for Saints. Most perfect passer of the ball and source of many of Davies (and others) goals. Must have had world record for assists in his day. Frank Saul : FA Cup winner with Spurs, then came as part-ex when Martin Chivers went to WHL (1967). Passed well and often looked good in Cup games , but never really a regular first team scorer. Ron Davies : THE MAN. (read the hundreds of other tributes else where), Seemed to move in slow motion and yet often jumped head and shoulders above defenders. Best Saints CF of my time - bar none. Tony Byrne: much under-rated and under-used Irish Republic midfield / defender who played just 100 games Saints in almost 10 years. However, Ted Bates often used him to man-mark George Best whenever we played Man.U...and GB never scored against him..... John Sydenham: (With TP ) -the other " wing-twin " of the 1960's era. This game has been described as John's best ever perfomance. A former So'ton Schools sprint champion, the film shows his amazing turn of pace and inate ability to leave defenders " for dead ". This team was the basis of our first Div.1 soujourn (1966-1973) - not always at their best, and often struggled a lot..... but were always entertaining to watch.

this thread seems to reek of the " why isn't Rickie in the England squad " type thread.......well... I ask myself the same question. Pundits say ..You should always look to play the " on-form " players, and if 34 y.o. Frank Lampard can be selected then why not the 31 y.o. Rickie Lambert......as they both scored 15 Prem.goals.?......ahead of some of the dead-legs we've got now. In one way, Rickie's achievement can be considered better, as Frank (whom I admire) scored his goals in a team filled with a pack of internationals, whereas Rickie's came despite playing in a side that was struggling for much of the season. If England get stuffed in Rio, then Roy needs to do a rapid re-think, because there aren't any more " friendlies " lined up before next season.....

......although in his case he was always second choice to 100 cap Ashley Cole........and had his good run at a time when Cole was out injured......

that was a triple collision between Callaghan, Forsyth and LB Denis Hollywood....all going for the ball at the same time. Would hate to say that Denis was involved, or " to blame "..but few people ever walked away from a tackle from him... ....It was a great pity as Forsyth was a class act, and we had just been promoted to the First Division (read Premier League nowadays) and we didn't get another keeper of his ilk for quite while afterwards, and therefore struggled in those early seasons. Campbell (Forsyth) carried a bit of weight from the start (13st.+).... and the long lay-off didn't help that problem and he never recovered his great form from the promotion seaosn (65-66).

less of the old fogie, please. You'll become one - if you live long enough. all this is history anyway, but if you mean we don't feel forced to comment on every thread there is ....and be the first one to reach 40,000 posts ....then you're right. We " older fans " might have much to gloat about, but few of the " younger generation " seem very impressed and want to tell us how different the game was then, and how much fitter and faster everyone is nowadays .... the game was what is was, and we enjoyed it and players like Ron Davies (RIP) ..Terry Paine and John Sydenham made it even more exciting, but you cannnot compare generations....just records. My father uses to tell me about Ted Drake and Charlie Wayman ..players I never saw and knew little about, but it was interesting to listen to him. Sadly, the only time these older players are remembered now.......is in an obituary.

A sad day for us who saw him play, and impossible to find words to describe him... for those who didn't... What can one say...... Rickie Lambert ?.....and a lot more, too. A true legend - although famed for his headers, he was pretty useful on the ground too and his goal tally included quite a few well-placed penalties. Great shame there weren't more videos in that era to see him in action, but the scratchy old ITV film of his 4 goal-annihilation of Man.U...(1969) shows the ease with which he could find space and score with such apparant ease. His first seasons' 37 League goals put him clear of all the top ENGLISH international stars of the day. RIP Ron -thanks for the memory.

I saw all the results of above, but was there a " Goal of the Season " award ...and if so who won it ?

.....have to say that my first reaction when reading this, was to chuckle and look at the calendar to see if it was April 1st. Why would Billy want to drop two divisons when there are (reputedly) several Championship clubs wanting to buy him ....for over £ 1 million ?....and go to a club that only avoided relegation from League 2 by a few points Does he even know JB ?.....(who is a Lancashire man) ....whilst Billy is Sheffield born and bred..and they are from different generations. Billy was making his debut (for Sheff.utd. aged 18)...... when JB had already played for England by then. WELL......it all sounds a bit weird until we see that after JB's unfortunate experience at Everton, he went to Sheff.Utd for a couple of quite productive seasons ( 62 apps. 34 goals )........at the same time that the emerging Billy was playing first team there. .....at around the same time .....Billy played 51 games there ...alongside JB who was top striker. So maybe they were mates...... Most people would agree that Billy isn't Prem. standard (and might only get on the bench - if lucky)....... His contract still has time to run, and coming to SMS from a " soon-to-be-relegated" Doncaster side last season, he would hardly have been on top wages at SMS. ....... just maybe ..it might make sense. Now that JB is manager at Accrington ....would a partnership of Beattie and Sharp get goals in L2 ?..... not much doubt about that question....they surely would. SO ..we are left with the intriguing thought that Billy might willingly drop down those two divisions, whilst still managing to retain his old salary level....and have a field day with JB at "Stanley "...and maybe look for promotion to L1 the following year.... This is football and stranger things have happened........

it maybe hard to consider that we need many more, but as we are getting rid of about a dozen (one way or another...free /OOC/ transfers out).......pretty sure we'll be looking at 5-6 new faces, ( but perhaps not all first team certs, though)

well thats the first piece of good news, then..........

Nice guy -YES. Good team captain ?........er. YES (at the time ) .......a future as SMS as a first choice Prem. player .......SORRY .....I think not

that's what I always enjoy about your posts, Glasgow so full of hope and such a positive attitude.

well whatever happens, I've a pretty good idea of who it is that will come on ....and start complaining......... I've got a little list, I've got a little list ......

I don't think anyone sees Rickie as a longer term prospect as an England striker, but this season's form shows that he is capable of scoring at Prem. level (where others cannot tread). IF he continues to score next season as he has this, then how can they ignore him?.....after the World Cup is over .....they can go back to the thankless task of building long term.....using players like Welbeck who can't even gat a regular spot in MU side .and certainly can't score goals even when he does..he's only there in the first place because he's in the same club as Rooney .......and Roy has convinced himself he's just as good. has always been ....play your best on-form players......and it 'aint Welbeck.

What a good job we signed MP when we did, things look well set for the new season..... ..... BUT Can anyone recall if there's ever been a season with so many Prem. managers leaving clubs -even before the new season's started. Man U champs - Ferguson goes - OK he had to go some time, but will they continue their good form under Moyes? Man City 2nd - Mancini was a " misfit " didn't win anything this time around - and he's out. If Citeh get it wrong now, they'll be mid table before you know it . Chelsea 3rd - we knew Benitez was going, but they look a good bet for the title.... IF Mourinho returns... Everton 6th - Moyes moves onto MU - but who will succeed him? New man will have a real challenge... Stoke 13th - no surprise, but Pulis is out...look set for the drop - if they get it wrong now. Sunderland 17th - De Canio has hardly been convincing at the start, and wants to get rid of a lot of his squad. .....somehow can't believe that's the lot ...and the " musical chairs " will start all over again -makes for a lot of uncertainty - who's next ? LAST THOUGHT ...could there be a better time for Saints to challenge for the top half of table ....or even better ?

Now that Pulis has gone, perhaps the new manager will buy some "good-looking " boys instead ?

Hodgson's got no idea. He's picked three strikers who haven't got 15 goals between them ..and ignored Rickie... If he's" planning for the future " with this young squad ....someone ought to remind him that the World Cup is next year........the mob he's picked are (un)likely to be ready for 2018..... let alone by next summer.

is Pochettino trying to sabotage this board? He has stated thatwe will be doing business....by July 1st:eek:....This goes totally against the grain as Saints' managers historically don't buy players until the third League game (and having lost it ) buy someone on last day we before the window closes. I know he's new, but he really must learn not to rush in where angels fear to tread...not to mention several regular contributors on here who always post throughout every summer criticising our lack of early signings. What'll they have to complain about now? He really must learn .....it really is too much .....Pochettino out !

None of this is anywhere near as ironic as the tale of the " late Alan Ball " that was going about back then. After leaving Saints (finally)... Ball-ie moved around the country, managing different clubs here and there, but retained his house (at Chilworth or somewhere like?) Eventually, he reluctantly put in on the market....... and it took almost 2 years to find a buyer for it. 2 weeks after the house deal went through - he got offered the Saints managers job (after Branfoot)...and had to go house-hunting himself.