david in sweden

I think it's fairly obvious that we will...and I'd go with your suggestions (above) .....although I'd like a defensive-minded MF.....but iIm still uncertain about the goalie situation until I've seen Boruc in 3 or 4 games....

YES indeed, but Harry doesn't look any happier than KD - does he Norm ?

I'm sure we don't keep that kind of dosh in a safe at SMS, and any really large sums would have been invested longer term at a good interest rate, I'm sure. Whatever happens this seasson, we will get our share of the Sky money, so we've just borrowed against the eventual pay-out. Taking loans is common practice in many businesses, unlike "ordinary people " they don't have to dip into their reserves every time they want to make larger investments. The security is there as collateral.

Maybe a few changes, but not a badly-weakened side because a bad defeat now.. after our recent revival of form ....wouldn't auger well our confidence ....and for the League game in a few weeks time. I expect us to put out a relatively strong side, and go for a win. There aren't three points at stake, and surely the challenge of playing the FA Cup Holders must be a great incentive for the team to go all out. For those fringe players who rarely get a start, it's a chance to play in a game against top opposition, and enhance their reputations.... and those who may not be regulars will improve their valuation, too.

I 'm not quite so doubtful as you appear to be Pilchards. Cortese is often painted as the bad guy in deals and decisions at SFC, but people forget that his banking background puts him in a unique position as club Chairman. YES.... there is a lot of difference in the mindset between those " big club " worldly oil moguls who are quick to " splash the cash " at the managers request, but Cortese's " softly, softly " approach shows a bit more thought and consideration before decision-making. The protracted negotiations over Ramirez in the summer shows some caution when it comes to dealing with money..whereas another club owner might just say ...." .Oh s*d it ...give then the extra £3 million and sign the guy "....not Cortese, who patiently held his position before signing on the dotted line. As we saw in the Alex O-C deal, he goes into a negotiation from strength, and would sooner leave it on the table than pay more than he thinks. He seems to be careful with the club's money...in many small ways. Minor changes in administration have raised a few eyebrows at SMS but, for example, his reluctance to let Ryan Dickson (a player who clearly has little future with the club).. leave without getting a proper return shows that he counts the pennies as well as the millions, and everyone has a valuation. Although we spent " relatively small sums " on the way up to the Prem... (some people said that £1 million was too much to pay for a 27 y.o. striker in L1)....but Rickie Lambert clearly has been the most influential buy the club has made in a decade. Team-building takes time.......and not everyone makes the grade, but in building a young side (av.age 23) there is a long-term vision that few can see. The fact that we have built a great Academy and produced the likes of Walcott, Bale and AOC ....and now JWP and Luke Shaw ...shows that part of the future planning, and when putting a £12 million player on the same pitch as Academy product Shaw... they seem to gell OK and neither seems to be out of place, regardless of the original investment. I'm sure future dealings will show the same trend. As for the future...? ..the patient Cortese will want survival this season, and a decided improvement next, and perhaps (if /when) we get closer to Euro football, then we may see some of that " Liebherr inheritance " see the light of day...in different ways.

aa!... you obviously know better than the rest of us TDD. My crystal ball is at the cleaners.......

actually I think the international coach didn't like him .......and their current replacement isn't any better.

Both KD and Gazzaniga are still on relatively long contracts. But one is too old .......and the other too young (and inexperienced)... For any number of reasons, including a long look at the fixture list. Even if on loan.... Boruc is first choice keeper...for January anyway.....by the 31st January, we'll know if it's the right decision. If that doesn't work ...then going back to one of the other two......would be suicidal ! ........and another keeper would be an absolute..I don't care how many more we've got on the books already.

...we bought Jos to replace Seaborne, a sensible move for a team going for promotion.....and it was clear that though promising, Martin wasn't ready for a regular first team spot then (or now).

..........for whatever reason, he is better off being back here --even temporarily---until we can help plan his future. He is an SFC employee, and needs to be playing " somewhere "-(if not here at the moment)

" not anticipate ".....ah, but that's not a categorical ....NO ! ....is it ? Who knows who we may have signed by the 31st ..maybe someone that even he's never heard of .......Cortese has the cheque book !

+ agree totally. As a CB he doesn't have to be at his peak when only aged 23........yes, he needs games .....and another loan out where he will play every week might be just the ticket !

I admit it might seem that way on the face of it, but the fact that he didn't cut it with Palace doesn't mean that he's no good . A manager plays his favourites..and look who they have for manager now. It will take Aaron a while to get himself upto the " Saints-fitness " level, especially as he hasn't played so much since August. No manager wants to be reliant on a loan player who can be recalled and that maybe behind the reasoning for his lack of game time, and tbf ..I don't think Palace saw themselves as title challengers in August, and certainly not based on last years form. Nearly all our players had Championship experience as their highest level up until last season, and it was clear that no-one was likely to displace Fonte or Jos last season, but he did look very useful when he came in for the injured Fonte a year ago, made a dozen of so games .and scored twice. I don't think I'd rule Aaron out without seeing him play a bit - even coming off the bench. If we're keeping Jos then we must surely give Aaron a new chance...he still young enough to develop. I'd hate to see him disappear, and turn up in a year or two... as another Mills, Monk or Williamson.

..well for once......I actually agree with Lauro...an experienced keeper, Nig!

...think someone else might have mentioned before that there is already a Luke Shaw (Mark 2) in the Academy...and his name is Matt Targett.

It's part of the " agent-orial tactics "...get the media to link him with other clubs, if possible at some ridicuolus fee (even if he's not, and doesn't want to leave). and force the club's hand to quit or twist !! RESULT ; a new deal.... and an increased % for the agent, and a bigger salary... on a longer contract for the player who doesn't have to do ....anything.

well I hope he's got that one right ......anyway I agree...Boruc is clearly the best choice of the three that we have...

what is better..the number of goals scored /conceded? You lay the blame for our low points tally on the EIGHT occasions when AL/ GR played together...when neither of them is a striker !...and so why haven't you blamed our strikers; Lambert, Puncheon (and occasionally Rodrigues) for not scoring more in those games that we lost?.....it's hardly AL/GR fault when they miss shots. In my earlier post I quoted a few stats. you haven't bothered to mention e.g. that we conceded 14 goals in the first four games ...before Ramirez was even selected until game 5, and at a time when Yoshida hadn't even started and Jack Cork was still injured. Quite a few of us attributed the revival of form to the return of JC....and the QPR away win .......a game when AL and GR both played ....and then they also both played in the Newcastle game and both scored .....and most of us agreed that we deserved to win the Norwich game. After the defeat at Liverpool (how often do we win there ? ) ....Lallana was injured in Reading game and hasn't played since.. Teams at the bottom end of the table seldom win against top sides...that's why they're bottom ...(except for the ineptitude of a Chelsea side who couldn't score once...despite their 24 shots v QPR). How you play depends on the team on the day..we were leading in both Manchester games, but our defence let us down, we were clearly better than Wigan..but they managed to score twice and we lost, yet we gave Arsenal a point when we were worth all three....when they had scored 14 in their last 4. I really can't continue this post .....if you don't see it... I can't explain more, but the facts just don't fit your theory of not playing AL / GR in the same game.......it's far more complicated tah that. If you want to blame anyone else......try Gazzaniga. I'm not criticising him because he's new, or young and untried, (and he does have talent)....but he's not PL quality and gifted Swansea a point when we'd all but won that (home) game ....and fumbled the shot that gave Norwich their point (again at home) ...four home points lost. I'm not going to blame Guly to the same extent..at least he tried to stop Walcott's shot....but there was another 2 (home points) lost........and none of those were the fault of AL/GR. If you really expected us to win?? at ...Man.City, Arsenal, Everton, WBA and Liverpool.....then I'm disappointed ....because I know you're smarter than that, and you're blaming the wrong people. There are many varied reasons why we are in the position we are, and why we 've lost games but I scarcely see that you can lay the blame at the feet of our two most talented midfielders?? END OF.

I was merely pointing out that we have won the majority of our 11 points in the 8 games ...where AL and GR have played together...whereas we had considerably less from the other 12 games when only one was playing. I think we play well when both are on the pitch at the same time.....they are both very creative as I was lucky enough to observe when I was over and saw them both score v. Newcastle. The fact that we don't win every game is hardly their fault as neither can be regarded as a striker, but our style is more creative when both play. Are you suggesting that we shouldn't use Lallana in games against top sides in order for us to win points.? ....and only play him against lower sides....because that how your comment above reads...

all those that are seen cross the line.....but especially those that win the points.

me too. I'd go with that.....but will Nigel ?

perhaps so Norm,but holding riot shields in front of them. Happy New Year to you and family.

Of course..... we want to win EVERY game - don't we Nigel ? So we won't be putting out a really weakened side, bearing in mind half of the bench players aren't anywhere near first team level as we know it to be. I'd expect to see Jay Rod, Mayuka, JWP and Reeves and Lee in the start eleven + Steven Davis with Chaplow or De Ridder. Even that doesn't sound good enough, but still have RL and Ramirez on the bench. However, Chelsea's manager might be telling himself that Saints are 17th in the table and won't put out my strongest side, but some of the " regular " bench players plus Torres (in expectation of him scoring a hat-trick.) but he won't want to taske the chance of losing either - and as they are Cup holders - (aren't they ?.)... he won't want to be too lazy about team selection. In theory, with their squad... they should be able to put out a " second XI " and still beat us, but who knows? I noticed that Turnbull relaced Cech in goal in their last game injury ???

Absolutely !....but personlly I'd be more interested to see what deals can be "arranged " for the likes of Barnard, Butterfield, Chaplow, De Ridder, Dickson, Forte, Hammond, Seaborne and Uncle Tom Cobleigh.....