david in sweden

I don't think Lowe would have had the foresight to have appointed Pardew..and certainly not a "maverick" like Nigel Adkins. He may have been a visionary sort of chairman in one way, (SMS, Academy) ...but much of the time, he was a lousy judge of people.

if we stayed up mid table we would still have the TV money, and could run a viable (if not highly successful) football club. Being (near) the top of the Championship ..and not actually getting promoted would mean trawling through the Prem. rejects and up and coming L1 players every transfer window in order to try and get a viable squad to play every season. We (should have ) learned one lesson from Rupert Lowe, and another from Pompey....Me, I don't think those 27 seasons were SO bad (except the last one). So I'd accept mid-table Premier League mediocrity, except that I think Nicola Cortese has something else in mind !

I thought you'd be back sometime. In a mad moment- I suggested such a figure, at a time when we had a considerable number of injuries in the squad, but fortunately most of them recovered, but NA seemed satisfied with the squad (rightly so it proved) and Lee and Sharp cost considerably less than some people (including me) had thought, and in the end - we didn't buy another central defender. We were also in a spell when some contributors were suggesting that the planned re-building at Staplewood was going to be shelved - or even cancelled. I'd read Cortese on this and didn't believe that he was only playing with PR....as it turns out to be a commitment of £15 mill? (did I understand that correctly) and the redevelopment of Staplewood is ongoing - is it not? I have noted that you tend to " tweak people's noses " when they "over-use their fantasy" on various threads and so we must be prepared to accept your overt criticism from time to time. I also see that you have written quite a bit yourself recently. Might I suggest... you might like to re-read some of your own scrift, and be prepared for some comeback. Personally, I won't bother. Thanks for the reminder though, and I'll reign in my imagination a little more in future.

you mean driving matchday buses to SMS ?

it's only half the job if it's only goal-line. I watched a streamed version of the game at Midd.boro. In the first half, Rickie Lambert chased the ball down the left touchline for 10-15 yards, and the white line could be clearly seen on the (left) crowd side. Ricky went on to score a "goal " in the final move, but the linesman belatedly gave the ball out - because everyone had stopped running (except Rickie) and he'd convinved himself it was out. A video re-run of the incident showed that the ball was never completely over the line, and still in play and the goal should have stood. Fortunately, we finished the job by beating Coventry, but it would have been quite unjust had it been more of a vital goal. If we have the technology, it should be used to the full. Maybe we have to wait for the next " ba**s -up " in the Euros, when the ref gets it wrong AGAIN, and someone goes out. If it's France who suffer, I wonder what Platini will say then?..........

We're trying following this turgid conversation with wilting interest, you guys... BUT it's interesting to see that inflation has crept in here. Last December I hinted that I thought the club might spend some big money (not necessarily on players), and got roasted by one person for quoting £20 mill.plus However, Billy and Chung turned out to be a lot cheaper than anyone thought at the time)..and it turned out the redevopment of Staplewood is £15 million+.. so I was partly there, but no expensive buys at the time ..they will obviously come soon. But with this thread having passed the 800 mark. I couldn't find the original post that you are going on about ..but as it taken up so much space ...not sure if I want to try....but IMO.. I don't see Cortese sanctioning anything like £250 million (if that was the figure)... even over a long period.

Now I'm sure that really is the sort of mouthwatering news that Saints merchandising manager would love to hear. ....just as long as we don't send out XXL sizes. Most Japanese I've met are about Youth size shirts ...unless we also attract interest from Sumo wrestlers..

How many other Prem. sides have such an apparatus, I wonder ?

usch ! there's always a down side to everything - isn't there ?

If he's that bad ....by Christmas, it'll be TOO late. We must sign MINIMUM one good, international class keeper before August, as cover / competition for KD.

Agree totally Vectis (unfortunately) but the Blackpool game was his downfall, I'm afraid. Nice chap and all that, but there are a few others "nice guys" on the way out, too. He's been on the bench for "yonks" but to come in and make basic errors as he did, didn't fill me, (or I suspect NA) with loads of confidence. A performance like that against Man.U , City or Chelsea would put our GD in MINUS (-) double figures ...in just one game. Quite a few Prem.sides have TWO international keepers, I'll admit that on last two years apparaisal KD is worth a shot, but we must get REAL cover for the most imortant place in the team. I was disappointed that Blackburn are down, but I think that Paul Robinson is worth a look . At 32 he's still "young " in goalie terms. YES, he's made a mistakes in Internationals, but most keepers do periodically and Robert Green is not so hot. Robinson looked convincing despite the loss against Wigan, and certainly commanded his area. and had no chance with the goal.

though I can never get over the fact that Swedes throw themselves onto planes in early June... to take two weeks holiday somewhere in the Med. and then complain about the heat in Sweden when we get a couple of weeks' fine weather in July!

aside from the Japanese' domestic habits, it does sound most unlikely that Saints would travel to Japan - at least at this point in time, but for interest sake' what size crowds do Japanese stadiums hold ? Do you know the average attendance at Hiroshima games ?

it also goes to underline that the actual fee paid for a player does not necessarily equate with his skill /performance / ability nor does it represent value for money. Some of the finest players Saints have had cost very little ... (compared to market prices) at the time. More likely is that of a club with money burning a hole in their pockets, who are desperate to buy "someone" to placate angry fans who want success. PLUS : a selling club, who boost the non-existent qualities of a troublesome, footballing genius and double the price of whatever he might be worth in order to get rid of him..and there have been a few of those, too. In general, few of these many deals work out well for the buyers. The market price of a football player (or a house or car for that matter) ...is whatever someone else is willing (or stupid enough ) ..to pay on the day.

you're quite right, but it depends on whether those clubs had made a concerted effort to get attention in Asia - probably not .

of course you're totally correct (although Prem.sides still have 7 on the bench) but I think it was a sort of " PR plaster on the economic sore", because quite few clubs in lower leagues didn't have the economy to put 7 fit players on their bench and that is an embarrasment, as well as a psychological issue.

Jamie is a typical example of the conversation on another thread- about Academy lads who don't make it " by a certain age " and fall by the wayside. He was unlucky with injuries at the worst time. Good luck Jamie..if he's good enough at B'mouth we ought to get him back before he ends up playing against us in the Prem. League in 3 years time.

Mmm..most of the products in the market are made in China anyway, so for every one they make for us, they'd do a hundred for themselves and sell them on the black market.

Elfsborg are thriving on their midfield successes with Anders Svensson leading the action. After a early defeat, they have had SEVEN straight wins and lead Malmö by 7 points, after a 1-0 win in the derby game with Gothenburg. Most of the rest follow the Swedish social edict of " equality" in everything, and an amazing number of games have finished 1-1. Gothenburg have gained a few points but still sit uncomfortably (for them) mid table, and Djurgården are still in deep trouble after the local derby with 4th placed AIK - when they conceded an 89th min. own goal to send both sets of supporters home miserable. Bottom club Örebro have yet to win a game, and sit poorly in the drop zone together with Gefle and newly-promoted Syrianska. A quick thanks to those who have PM'd / e-mailed me with interest in the recent past.