david in sweden

you've got it all wrong, he doesn't clear up messes, he creates them........and then moves on.

Agreed and I think quite a few others would have done so, too. Between them, he and Hughes brought in the worst set of lazy, overpaid, over-rated dossers in the League.

8 games into the 30 game season here, and predictably the West Coast teams are starting well. Gothenburg suddenly looking like their old selves (after last seasons dismal showing) are on top along with Helsingborg, and Malmö. Newcomers Mjällby are putting up a good showing as are unbeaten 2012 champions Elfsborg, although they are a little goal shy at present and have drawn 4 of their 8 so far. Little to crow about in Stockholm however, with the one time Pride of Stockholm - Djurgården making a start worst than Saints did last September, and had only 1 point from their first 6 games and with a -16 GD. Then they managed to scrape in a couple of unconvincing 1-0 wins last week, but are still the bottom of the pile. AIK (Solna) the other " local " side have picked up a few points more but don't look a very exciting outfit at present. Newly promoted sides Syrianska and Brommapojkarna are a bit higher in the table, but still looking for some consistancy in form. It's still a long way to go and historically, things often change dramatically after the mid-season break at Midsummer (June 21).

looking at how the table was at the end of October.....I'm very pleased. Survival feels just as satisfying as last season's promotion ......well almost ! .....Adkins did a great job, upto a point - but no arguments with his replacement . Signings.....a defender or two....and another striker..... and (maybe) an extra keeper ?

A thought....... Could this be a farewell gesture to Kelvin?.....yes I know he's got a new 3 year contract, but can anyone see him still on the bench in 3 years time ? Now that we are safe ..and Reading are down... maybe NA wants him next season ....or ?

As we approach the last game of the season - with the anticipated departure of around a dozen squad players, I wonder how many of the current youth players may also move on the pastures new, and not " make the cut " at the end of the season. Those of us who are long in the tooth... and a little bald on top have memories of other "youngsters who have gone before, and yet still made their name in the football world. Some stories are legend ; those schoolboy / youth players like; Lawrie Sanchez, Alan Knill, Dennis Wise and Paul Tisdale - all Saints " rejects " at some time, who nevertheless found careers as players ..and even went into management. Seeing the result of the L2 play-off, I recalled the name of (the successful) Bradford City manager; Phil Parkinson who joined Saints as an 18 year old (in 1985), around the time of Lawrie Mac's departure, and who played 60+ games as a good midfielder in the Reserves, alongside other up-and-coming talents like; Craig Maskell, Mark Blake, Neil Maddison, Andy Townsend and Matthew Le Tissier (wonder what happened to him? . but they were kept on - as future talent. Sadly, Phil fell by the wayside in 1988... but then signed for Bury ...where he played 145 games, and later moved on to play over 300 matches in the Reading colours. Eventually ...after 500 League games as a player, he took up the precarious occupation of League Manager of several lower league sides; with little history, no money and seemingly - no hope, but he faced up to these challenges at Colchester; Hull, Charlton and now, most recently, Bradford City. Losing a League Cup Final, is just a bad memory compared with Bradford's new promotion to L1, (which may seem pitiful when we talk start to talk about Saints' future European ambitions,) but i think also of the likes of former Saints (like Phil) who still make a valuable contribution to the game - even at that humble level. GOOD LUCK PHIL.

nice bit of brinkmanship Nicola, but now let's get on and win something .........

** can he change his blood group ? **this comment reflects a quote that " it's easier to change your blood type than it is change your club affiliation "

Nice! ..pity they relegated by the Rule Book, (and shame that Eastleigh couldn't make it this time around, too.)

I thought this was going to be former Saints players who went into management AFTER they quit playing..... WOW ! there's a lot -even back into the 1930's ..but in the post Bates /McMeneny era..there is Chris Nicholl, of course ...and ..well go on ...who's next someone....

JB...good luck to him. He has nothing top lose at that level. " Stanley" were only two games away from the Conference last month. He may even come calling for a loan or two next season .....

YES.....that's more like it ...did I hear £2 million, anyone ?

93% eh ?.....I wonder if that's the same 93% who wanted him out after he sacked Adkins?

mind you, he only got the job because MLT got Big Ron sacked ........did he ever thank him I wonder ?

tough luck Gus ........well not really, I was cheering for Palace.

....wasn't Rudi Skacel's name mentioned?.........

Shame ..and him trying to be the first to reach 99,000 posts

..or with a bodyguard

The Newcastle " win " sounds fair, and the three London clubs are all served well by local transport..........but be glad we're getting rid of Reading and QPR !

think you'll find they were one of the original clubs when the League was founded in.... 18 hundred and frozen to death ....a bit before your time, perhaps ?

difficult to quantify....some teams have taken the Championship by storm (e.g.QPR did) two seasons ago, but then struggled and eventually have " lost it ". Reading, on the other hand ....were almost unbeatable a year ago ...and look at them now. It depends what their squads looks like now, how much they can afford to spend and who they can buy in the summer. Onr thing I do know is.... that to feel safe, they'll need TWO top class / international goalkeepers. Something, I wrote about us 18 months ago. (and even suggested to NA ).. and I wasn't so wrong that time. On the strength of things now...I can't see Hull clearing it , and even less Palace, but Brighton might ..for a season. Cardiff also might survive .....after all Swansea did. Of those who might beat the drop this time around....? Wigan may survive on the last day again, BUT Sunderland have looked very poor ...as have Newcastle (unless thay buy Carroll back)..and also Norwich.....and what are Fulham doing down there? ..whatever happens, we can only hope that....as for those 27 seasons... there will always be at least THREE teams worse than we are, and who will take the drop instead.

I think I know what you sre suggesting..... ..but if he comes back from pre-season and is " super-fit" he may carry on from where he left off....OR .. he will eventually turn into a super-sub (type Kevin Phillips) who always seems to score when he came off the bench at Blackpool / Palace.

well " my stats " were for all shots (both on/off target), of course that could mean that we were unlucky and up against a string of very good goalies in that period...OR .....we need more shooting practice? The mere fact that opponents scored 8 goals from (total) 68 efforts and we managed only 9 from almost twice as many (119) ...suggests to me that we are not lacking opportunites - but accuracy.

This is my take on the situation, too. There's clearly a power struggle here, and Cortese is his own man and has a good perspective on the situation. Remembering his 10 years banking experience as financial adviser in the Sports sector, he clearly knows his way around, and whereas Marcus had fun spending his " coffee money " on the Saints' buy out, the Liebherr family may well be " amateurs " in this area. There can be few Prem.chairmen who understand money as well as NC does - and that is surely a good thing - when looking at the financial state of some of the other clubs around. Now that Pochettino is " Cortese's choice " and his (soon) his 4 year reign (as Chairman) has been successful, (if somewhat contraversial), he seems to knows what he's doing, and wants a " free hand ". If NC is looking at a " management buy-out " that may solve the problem, on the other hand ....if there is to be " a bl**dy fight " over the ownership, it will only breed distrust and fear amongst the club's personnel. I know what I'd like to see...........

it might be something to do with the results in some of those games.......?