david in sweden

well maybe not the FINAL piece, but we must build from the back and he would be a good start.

Now that's more like it. I think it's fair to say that if KD had kept some sort of form at the start, Gazzaniga would have been picking splinters out of his butt every week, and never got on the pitch. Gazza looks a good prospect but (like Butland) has found out that youth has it's limitations. He will likely develop into a good keeper ....in the future. Some keepers only get better with age. Go back far enough......we older types recall the legendary Pat Jennings still keeping for ..Arsenal and N.I. when he was ....44? ..not to mention Peter Shilton (then 33) who was scarcely in mid career when he joined us (later played 49 times for England... whilst with us) ...and continued to play League football until he was 47 ! I've always been impressed by Brad Freidal. ..and if the "young " Spurs manager wants to get rid of this aging custodian ...then more fool him. I think he'd be a great signing ...even for a season or two.

I always enjoy these result searches Norm. What a wonderful help " In that Number " is ......... If you said 56/57?...the Newport County game was the last game of that season, but Eric didn't play in that game. His last ever game for Saints was the week before (h) v. Ipswich (Champs that year). However, the Newport game was memorable for another reason. Eric's no. 7 shirt had been handed over to that young lad..Terry Paine, but the 17 year old debutant on the left wing was a certain.... John Sydenham ..wonder what happen to him ? (LOL) That was the start of a new era - wasn't it? The start of two careers...Terry's 811 games of course, is a record that may never be beaten, and John's 401 games put him in the Saints all time top 10 for apps.

True, but he did come in a time when Lallana was injured and we went on a 7 game unbeaten run, when he really played some wonderful football.....and bagged two goals into the bargain.When he was injured in the defeat by Bristol City, we lost it in midfield and managed only two wins in eight games and neither Guly or De Ridder were adequate replacements. It may be ...if given the chance ...he might regain that form but nothing this season suggests he's better than the regulars we have now.

....and that was true...then.. However, to be fair RC's injury in the Bristol City game really set him back and he was out for nearly 3 months. When he got back, he only looked a shadow of his former self, and he's not much better this season.

Agreed, and it's easy to blame KD for the Arsenal result, but our defence was helpless that day against a rampaging Arsenal side - and our two " own goals" didn't help the scoreline either.

Correct, but argueably those games have been against the " weaker opposition " we've had to play so far. In the Villa game we were so superior and he had only 2 saves to make..but that ridiculous kick out to Yoshida in the Swansea game put it on a plate for Dye and cost us 2 points, and what was he doing coming out to Hollett in yesterday's match?. If he'd stayed on his line he'd had better chance of taking the shot. Good job we had two. The defence is better with Yoshida playing a central role and Cork in front of the back four, but excellent prospect Gazza may be, but I'd like a more experienced keeper when we meet Liverpool and Chelsea.

after last weekends game, he travelled away for their international and had a right to look tired. Thought he held things together in the first 25 mins, and it was right to sub.him when we did. No point in playing him into the ground, he's been out for 6 weeks and needs time to get back to " Saints fit" .

but back to the game.... I think everyone showed up well in the first 45, and apart from the blip early in the second half. Hard to say who WASN*T good (aside from previous comments on Gazza). but Puncheon was superb. His first shot beat the keeper and hit the post, the identical move a few minutes later brought his goal, and he night well have had 3 or 4 apart from a couple of good saves by their keeper. At last we showed we can play two good halves in the same game..and away from home too. I'm looking forward to my forthcoming visit to see the next two home games. COYR !

YES but today was the first game I've seen this season where I was pleased with the defensive display. You might say that a goalie is only as good as the defence in front of him. People condemned KD after the Arsenal game, but his defence was all at sea, and two of those were OG's and two more were " unstoppable ". Gazza has made a number of point-costing errors and should be rested IMHO, unless he shows better positioning in the next two games. I dread thinking of him in goal at Anfield. Back to Boruc or KD ....in no particular order. At least they have some experience.

now wait a minute. Haven't I seen a thread on that subject before .......about twenty times in the last month?

there's as similar shot (featured on old videos) scored by Nick Holmes on a sunny day at The Dell - can't recall the opponents. Mind you those of us with even longer memories love to talk about that lovely Brian O'Neil left-footer that went in at the Milton end....from a similar distance.

probably someone in the office forgot the date..? Really is a bit of a "non-story " -isnt it ? After all........ it's only two weeks wages for Ramirez.. END OF.

there was a media campaign to replace Anders in the Swedish national side ...in 2006 (!) He was 30 then, and some of the TV hacks wanted to replace him with the inconsistant Kim Källström. Källström is still in the squad but pretty much of a yo-yo player,(now based in Moscow)...whilst Anders has passed 120-something caps for Sweden and after leading Elfsborg to the Swedish League title last week, he looks a cert for the 2014 World Cup providing....of course they qualify....and he stays fit. If he can serve Zlatan Ibrahimovitch with passes like he did last night, I'd fancy the Swedes, but have severe doubts about England's ability to join them in Rio.

Mayuka is surely a good player......but he has to " play himself in " to borrow an old cricketing term, and the reason why we haven't experimented with him up front (8 defeats) must be obvious to everyone. He can't replace Lambert (because Sir Rickie's fan club would threaten to burn down SMS) if he doesn't start every week....even if RL doesn't always play front man, and that he hasn't scored for 6 games. Puncheon?....he seems a possible choice... except I think he's played some of his best football this season so far, and is quite agressive on the wing.....so.....who then ?. A midfielder? ....not Ramirez obviously and Cork has only just returned to the side. Schneiderlin is one of the few midfielders with height and enough aggro to get stuck in - and is even prepared to get booked in the cause......which leaves ..our captain (!). Adam is surely one of the most skilful players in the side, though his lightweight build makes him a prime target for the bully boys...and as we saw last match....he seems to get himself booked - whenever he is felled to the ground. Not an easy decision. Rodrigues ....(and /or Guly) are the " natural " subs. for Ricky ..so we're back to square one (to borrow an old footballing term). I'd like to see a fit, and agressive Mayuka ..(and Tadanari Lee..for that matter) back in the side with a vengence, but it's a brave man who'd make the decision. So ....what about it Nigel?

I'm glad someone realises that, and anyway I'm still working 50%....I don't have time to do everything I'd like to. Nor am I trying to get into the Guinness Book of Records for reading and replying to every thread on the site.

Suggest ; 1) ...He doesn't want to listen to other people's opinions whilst watching the game...and who would he sit next to anyway ? 2).....He's not British...so why should he understand the significance.? I dare to suggest that there are probably a lot of British people who don't also ......(when you look at others in the street).