david in sweden

my thoughts exactly.....Steve Williams was quoted as saying... that as a youngster, he stood on the Highbury terraces and watched his "hero" ...Alan Ball play in the Arsenal side. Less than 5 years later he was playing alongside him... in the Saints team.. ......but perhaps Guly or Steve Davis will play that same " Bally " role for JWP?...

now come along Professor ....are you REALLY expecting any sense of responsibility from our current crop of journalistic misfits? They are a bunch of desperate rumour-mongers trying to make a living. " A lie can travel around the world in the time it takes truth to tie up its shoelaces " ......... Mark Twain 1850-ish

same old story. Those " BIG " London clubs....especially those who haven't won much in the last 5 years, think they can motor down to their "country cousins " on the coast and wave a couple of mill. under our noses and expect us to fall over ourselves to sell our talent at a knock down price. A scenario that has (sadly) been played out many times over the last 60 years..... .and even before. Now ...thanks to the Liebherr inheritance, we can put up a " NOT FOR SALE " sign and we don't need their " charity". I sincerely hope that Nicola Cortese tells them where they can deposit their money ! Up yours sunshine !

I think the answer to that one is that - if/when.. he moves, we can prove that he was fit enough to play and took part in the pre-season (rather than rotting on the training ground with the Academy lads). If - by any chance - he suddenly looks like his old self, then NA may decide to keep him, but in reality it also makes him more " saleable " to other clubs, as it's more than likely that not only Prem. scouts watching the likes of Saints train and /or Shaw and JWP, but Npc / L1 clubs looking for some extra strength in their squads, and may bid / buy ..ala.. Harding to Forest.

Yes.. .and of course it's all down to just "who" has that number when a new player signs... .and /or ....where he will play. Number 7 .. by tradition ..was always ....a right winger (except that no-one talks about wingers much nowadays), but is Lambert a winger? - Hardly ! It happened to be the only "spare" striker number when he signed. Last season Jaidi had the CB number 6, but was injured for most of the season and never played, but Jos H. was the " natural 6 " in the line-up. David Connolly had (22) and started the season but played far more games than Lee Barnard - who had the 9 shirt. Jack Cork got no. 8 ..but I don't know what position we'd call that nowadays... because as prev. mentioned, playing formations are much different in the current game. I think you'd agree Lighthouse that numbers are immaterial now and watching Saturday's game v.Ajax... it was difficult to see who/why players had so vastly different numbers to their "usual", but fortunately the club can allot numbers /change them... every season now. A long way from the " days of old " when shirts were numbered 1-12 (in the days of one sub)...and versatile players like; Jimmy Gabriel played in six different positions in one season ..and did well in most of them.

I don't know your source, but my guesswork says about the same ....however, as he came on a free from Leeds..... I'd say it was a good deal alround.

do I understand that you don't expect to see either of those two in squads come August ?

Theo?...AGAIN ! ..is now the 53rd..or is it the 54th player " linked " with Saints ** since the end of last season. Sounds interesting to some I'm sure....but he's not the same Theo as he was at 16..and I do feel the " never go back " epithet applies here more than ever. Good Luck Theo........ .but most likely... somewhere else. ** The Echo's ongoing table of "rumours about players" passed the 50 mark a week or two ago.

...Yes I thought JWP did very well, too). Occasionally...he reminded me of another young lad who started his Saints career... more than 30 years ago ...Steve Williams Not to get sidetracked on what is a JWP thread) I thought Guly looked good also. He's (Guly) never got home to some of the people on this site, but I noted last season that he plays very well on fine, sunny days and looked as though he had lots of time whenever he was involved He knows his own " shelf life" ... but it doesn't stop him encouraging new, young talent.

you mean more so than Mick Jagger?

well you probably won't sound too good when you're 68.......but surely he had a right to play the tune after all ..he did write it in the first place.

I'm quite happy to let NA make HIS choices, and I don't care if they are "well-known, and /or " quality players, or someone we've never heard of as long as they CDAJFU.... who is So'ton had heard of Jos Hooiveld or Tadanari Lee 12 months ago?

Maybe?.. some people are getting lost in the mindset of the traditional numbering system we've had for decades...? e.g...no.4 is a right-sided attacking midfielder, no.5 the big centre-half. a no.6 a left-sided defensive defender..etc, etc, Anyone who gets a number past 11 is regarded as a "second-choice " player .. but we already have Lallana with 20 and Lee (19) ...and they're hardly "reserves " are they ?. Personally I wouldn't care if someone wanted 99.....as long as HCDAJFU....(and I don't suppose the FA would care either).

.....sounds just like the calibre of player we need.... tough, uncompromising .........ugh ..maybe not !

yeah, yeah ..but he'll take the money anyway ............

well thank you Kraken....I take that as a compliment ..coming from you ...and I didn't needs my crystal balls' help either......

fair play ..he had a couple of good seasons but nearing 30 and not the first choice anymore... he can't expect to be in the " 25 squad " ..especially if we are looking to bring on Shaw. Good luck Dan. H.

what'd I say ? ........Palace weren't going to chance going to the Tribunal and only getting a million... .or so. Sensible resolution to the situation all round.

there is absolutely no truth in this rumour whatsoever...........Swindon Chairman quoted about "supposed " Swindon bid for Lee Barnard. so...another of the 52 "rumours " about transfers involving Saints players bites the dust. Where do people get these ITK stories from? ..this one was clearly NOT ITK.

I noted some days back that the Tribunal may not meet Palace's valuation of the player. I think they (Palace) had a good offer from Saints for a player who was OOC...........we'll see what the Tribunal comes up with, but I doubt that they will get anywhere near Palaces's demands.

it was down to KD for a long time but everyone agreed it should be an outfield player, so it was Hammond. But now there seems to be be doubt that he will be a first team choice. Surely Steven Davis.......former Rangers captain and 50 caps N.I.international would be the most likely choice.

agreed !

very few people knew ANYTHING at all about Marian Pahars when he signed, but I think the WOW factor came after we'd seen him score a few goals..... although .....I have the feeling we may get a similar delayed reaction after we see Tadanari Lee in a few Prem. games, though I expect some good vibes if we actually do sign Lens.

like it !

presently around 6' 5"......but he's only 20 , and still growing ........