david in sweden

well they'd get a regular spot on the bench, and maybe a 20 min.run out at the end ...

if only it were so simple. there are a couple of dozens on this site who said Billy was a waste of money... and not good enough for a top side (like ours).

perhaps there's something lost in translation....and he doesn't know his hand from his ...foot !

......and if you needed more convincing ..since Billy got his first goal...(Burnley game) Billy has scored 7 times in 9 starts, and Lambert 's got 11 in 14 games... ENOUGH ? ..... " this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship "...........

...one match win away from the Premiership...How many fans would prefer to go shopping ..or paint their kitchen on that day? IF they don't get a big screen... then every pub in the city will have a TV in their public bar !

SWEDISH SAINTS ....think this is the thread that someone asked about. Dates back a few months. there are more but not everyone over here may have seen this .

.in response to a number of enquiries, and rather belatedly I can give a short rundown on the season start here. Allsvenskan (that's Prem. over here ) ..Teams have now played 4 games, the first two weeks ago began with some teams brushing newly-fallen snow off the pitches, with Elfsborg (thats Anders Svensson's mob - he's 36 this summer and still going strong) winning 2-1. Both AS goals came in a game where they were outplayed, but still got the win. Surprises followed with newly-promoted Åtvidaberg winning their first games (including a 5-0 destruction of Malmo - a top side in the last 2 years), whilst the Stockholm side Djurgården are struggling (again) after only one win, whereas a revived AIK team are now a close third behind Åtvidaberg and Elfsborg. Gothenburg always been a strong side for many years are in the bottom 2 - and still without a win. There has been a big influx of second-rate African players, and some third-rate Brazilians, but they look quite good at this level. There are a few new, younger Swedish lads on the up, but few of them are likely to make the grade in the short term. It's early days yet, and Swedish teams often take a turn for the worse / or sometimes the better ..after the short summer break in June. One interesting Swede to watch is John Guidetti. Still a teenager, he started with BP in Stockholm and was signed for Man. City's youth side then loaned to Feyernord in Holland where he has just scored his 20th goal. Certainly one for NA to look at - if he doesn't make the cut at City. Superettan (which is the NPC div 2 set-up) is full of established old clubs who have fallen on hard times . Clubs like Öster, Brage, Trelleborg, Degefors and Ljungskilje were all in the top flight in recent history. As were famed Stockholm side Hammarby, and 36 year old Michael Svensson's Halmstad side who were relegated last year. After his short flirt with coaching, Michael has gone back to playing in central defence, which he can still do well at this level. More updates - as and when .

we still have one of the best defensive records in this league - though it's easy to highlight the real howlers that occur..but most of the time they are quite dependable. As for the new recruits...with rare exception..the real successes over many years have come from younger players fitting into a balanced side, and it's certainly no idea to put in untried players unless there is a real injury problem and you have no other choice. Such was the case with Baird as I recall, and in his case - it worked. When our Double Dutch pair put in half of team of teenagers - it was on instructions from on high - and because we didn't have funds to do otherwise. That didn't work so well - did it ? - and probably Lallana and Schneiderlin are the only survivors of that adventure. I'm sure we will see them all debuted - in time - but later on ...and surely not NOW !

I think we get your point CB Fry, but ..where were you in history lessons at school? 1942 (?) ..World War 2 was in full flow..you heard about that I suppose? I think the thread you referred to was about season 1948-49 (you weren't expected to know that) ..unless like me ..your father was a fan at that time. The facts are too painful to repeat, except to say, that for those people who comment that " history repeats itself " it is a timely reminder that things don't always go as we expect them to.

yes - a good question ..however, I do think that both Fox and Richardson might fare a bit better than you seem to suggest (in Prem.) Of course... we like to see young talent come on, but unless someone is brave enough to say that Shaw and Stephens are upto the standard of ...say Gareth Bale was at that age..then I seriously doubt that we are likely to see either of them "blooded " in the opening game of the season against (say) Man.City or Chelsea (should we get promotion). But in time, coming into a strong side ..they will obviously fit in.

.......and also for not bothering to sign Craig Mackail-Smith... (whose £3 million+ transfer to BHA) has amassed ..only 9 goals so far. Guly and Lallana have more than that.

....and if NA were less polite than I believe him to be ...he could give two fingers to all those people who thought we'd only finish mid-table last August.

I've been thinking about his replacement... for the past couple of seasons...and not because I don't rate him, but because " in the event of ..." - I just don't see Bart as a viable alternative.

Agreed redkeith. I think it's because it is unusual ...rather than skilful. Rather like the long-range efforts that go in, or the overhead kick that beats everyone...or the full back who scores every 100 games...(or in Benali's case) ..every 200 games. Those events stay in the memory more. In over 50 years as a Saints fan, I must have seen hundreds of goals , but the ones that remain in my memory...such as... ...George Kirby putting both Peter Grummit + football into the back of the net in the 2nd replay FA Cup game v. Notts Forest 1963. .. John Sydenham's lone run (and subsequent goal) at the Dell when we beat Derby County 6-4 with only 9 Saints players on the field. ...Ron Davies' fantastic solo goal number 4 (v. A.Villa at the Dell,) best bit of footwork ever from a man reputed to be the best header of the ball in the League. ...Brian O'Neil's famous long range effort ......(forgot against who ?) ...but didn't forget the goal. ...Ivan Golac's 35 yard thunderbolt shot into Archers Road goal v. ??? ( see I forgot that bit ). ...Graham Baker scoring after 40 seconds(?).. on his (televised) debut game. .. the 18 man move (v. Liverpool )at The Dell ... ending with Channon scoring his (last goal) for Saints. ..OK..so I'm old, and that's only upto the 1970's. None of them would have won Goal of the Season, but the euphoria of the action was greater than the actual feat itself, and that's what we recall. Attacking lefties, because they are so few, always create exitement...remember Wayne Bridge's overlapping runs. Of course Gareth Bale is another example, although he didn't score so many goals, in comparison with the number of runs he made. But they were really exciting to watch. ...

Quite correct Vectis. I stand corrected. I'd didn't read the question carefully enough did I ?.. Hence the faux-pas . THX.

...BUT being the best player in a poor side does. After our relegation 2006 ..you can count the players who left Saints and quickly re-established themselves with another Prem.side.

they may not be first choice, although Butterfield has looked pretty good in recent games, but until we sign international players for every position, they know the system and CDAJFU...when required.

currently Centre Back with Blackburn (on the way down?)...is a tip on one site as a possible Adkins target. is 25...(right age)...200+ games (right background) 6'2" (right height ) ..Was former junior at Walsall with (Danny Fox !) later onto Coventry?.was it ?...or Brum ?...then cost Blackburn a rumoured £6 million(?).. when signed 2 years ago .. Could he be right for Saints ? P:S: I'm waiting for the first contributor who knows someone in Blackburn who will say he's rubbish !)

yes well I recall both of them, and though they had ..a bit of PACE.. their crosses often ended up as goal kicks or throw-ins on the right side of the field. Forget that John Sydenham was only left-footed, he was best ..perhaps...until we saw Theo Walcott in action.

I've read dafter suggestions on this site recently. If SDR runs himself out after 60, then we can use Chaplow as a sub. instead..he played some of his best games from the bench last year.

Bates, Traynor, Paine, Sydenham, Channon, Nick Holmes, and MLT

........not unless he scored a couple of goals, we wouldn't have.

ABSOLUTELY CORRECT! In an age when teams study each other endlessly before a game, giving out info. about form and fitness is the same as giving the opposition your team sheet two days before the game. If so - and so isn't playing ..then they'll use this formation..play that style ..etc. Someone wrote that NA doesn't have a plan B, but there is a strategy and he does change the shape around, often successfully during the game. I think the recent Lambert revelation (he's not been operated)...was so far from the truth that it had to be denied ASAP..and NA did so. Equally ...NOT talking about the T-Lee injury situation..also served its purpose...leaving opponents who had already seen him play guessing.. IF he might be selected ..at a time when Sharp was still on the bench.

They have two different styles. As did Lunderkvam and Michael Svensson (for those with longer memories). You need the " first man " to be agressive, NO FRILLS ! Jos does that in my book. Get the ball first and hope you don't have to foul someone in the process. Fonte is calmer (laid back - if you like), but he looks TOO slow, and Prem. standard players are much faster to the ball. If he continues to play like that, Prem. attacks would murder us...and (unlike you) I'd certainly keep Jos..and buy another TWO CHs. note: Martin is improving all the time, but Jaidi retires in June, and Seaborne's future is very uncertain.