david in sweden

I respect your opinion, but I don't think there are 12-15 ENGLISH-born keepers in the Prem.+ Championship put together...who have enough experience.

will they still be viable in APRIL ?...(OK I know they're notviable now) but the question remains...what if ?

I think the same Turkish. Why all this calm reasoning, when the whole site can panic and burst into flames at the merest ankle tap ...more stress, more stress. stress is good for you !

I think I recall reading there some sort of " a deal" ....for A. Martin coming from Eastleigh...?, not sure if it was a " free" Did Guly really cost 500K ? ..didn't see that anywhere...still , I think he's worth it ..on todays valuations .... (Hooiveld) ...an item on a Celtic fan site stated that someone ITN ,..said it was £1.4 mill. (if so ..it was a " steal"). of course Lee Holmes and Ryan Dickson are also first team squad-ies (though out on loan at present.)...as is Jonathan Forte.

not by me they weren't. If I was Stuart Pearce, I'd be looking to bring Paul Scholes back in the England squad again.....

agree with that one.. but the question was about the goalies, though ..and SHOULD be go up, and West Ham falter.....would Green still be considered a better bet that KD?. Of course, RG got the job by default in the first place, as there weren't any other English-born keepers of any stature around ...at that time. Maybe a question to ask again ... come May.!

........+1

....say ...compared to Robert Green? With both Saints and the Hammers playing musical chairs for the top spot, it's fairly clear that we (two) clubs are the best of the top sides in CC. Looking at the League table, I noted that both clubs had conceded 32 goals, (although of course two of Saints' against tally were from Bart's fateful Blackpool game, but the question bodes ...If Green can get his name on the England squad sheet...how close might Kelvin be to following suit ? ..is there so much difference between them? , or has Kelvin just been "lucky" to have good defenders in front of him ?...... I noted recently he 'd had quite a few clean sheets this season ..and another one yesterday.... Obviously Joe Hart has matured enough to get himself the regular England No.1 spot, but could Kelvin be considered for the England bench ..or ?

I think this is partly down to the Cortese-esque way of doing business. i.e. looking beyond Europe and South America ... I seriously wonder if any other English clubs (inkl. all those Prem. sides) actually knew about him..or bothered to enquire, or even take a look at him?. He seems to have enormous potential, and good work-rate ..perhaps the only real question is ..if the eventual culture shock of playing in England will be an over-riding factor in how happy / content he is to stay in England. However, a number of other top clubs seem to have Asian players who have settled in well - so why not?

though your point is well argued Professor, I think the use of this loan system goes a bit deeper. Lower league clubs have very limited squads primarily because of the financial commitments involved in having more than 15/16 players on staff. (P*mpey are a prime example even in CC.) Having a couple of injuries, and a suspension or two can mean they're down to 11 fit men and an empty bench. Clubs with better resources (like ourselves) need to keep 22 fit players, plus a chance for the post-Academy aged pro's who are normally lucky to get a bench place - let alone get on the pitch for 15 mins...to get some real games, and not just U21 outings against someone else's Academy side. I think the emergency loan system is good for both clubs concerned. The loaning club will get a chance to field a full side and get some cover for those struggling against injury, whilst the loanee's proper club give him the chance to get some games at a better level - though many are clearly not good enough for a regular spot in our first team. At worst, the loanee will get accepted by the second club, whilst realising they are not potentially Prem. material at that time in their career. recent examples are Oscar Gobern, Joseph Mills, Jack Saville and Jack Boyle...all promising at the Academy stage but didn't turn out to be a Bale or Walcott: At best, they will flourish, find form and return as better players worthy of a crack at a first team spot. ...again players like Bart, Simon Gillet, Adam Lallana gained valuable experience when younger and benefitted from it later on. Younger players who don't make it with Saints aren't left out in the cold and frequently find a regular place in L1/L2 / Conference sides and make "some sort of career " for themselves. A Win-Win situation surely ? ......and YES... I'd like another CB in the squad, too - just in case. Who knows ..we might find another Jos Hooiveld - wouldn't that be good ?

sounds like...you really mean that Turkish? Is there aanything else on your mind ...whilst we're on the subject ?

me They both have a need "to adjust " (in different ways) to a squad that's (more or less) been together for a couple of seasons. I think 45/60 mins. each for the next month is a good idea..they both get goal chances but don't have to extend themselves for 95 mins. every game

g I agree Vectis - in part... the whole issue over his future is a lot of IF's...... Asssuming that he continues to be MOM at Oxford, stays fit ..and puts in a goal or two, I would want him to stay. I cannot picture him as first-choice, but someone who CDAJFU as a type SDR /JP. For my part ..the jury is still out. He is still relatively young, has a lot of experience and it would be a shame if he didn't get ONE more chance at the top level. Failing that, he will be a good acquisition for a CC/ L1 side.

I just said it again. Now they have THREE men on red card suspensions....if we can't overtake them now...we don't deserve to win the title.

Goodness me..Hammers win 4-1 at Blackpool with no sub. goalie and only 10 men on the pitch AGAIN !. with THREE men on red card suspensions......if we can't overtake them now, we don't deserve to win the title.

as you will, we'll see. visa. O'Neill I think Sunderland had a fair side but had a bit of a blip ..before he took over..

February 21st !...why is this thread still running I wonder..or is it a pre-amble to January 2013?

Yes, but I was trying to be diplomatic ART, (on O'Brien) .... but whatever his poison - it seemed to work in George's case...he scored some incredible goals and still holds some sort of club record for hat-tricks and four goal tallies,I think. As for (Kirby), he was someone who definitely liked to get eyeball-to-eyeball with a goalie... and most likely scared the sh*t out of them !

some people link almost anyone with anything... why would NA (or anyone else) want to leave a Championship side about to be promoted - for a Premiership side about to be relegated ? .......and don't say MONEY !.. the real professionals want to manage a successful side - not an ailing one .

we're discussing a footballer, but in this case it must be also be down to his wife to feel settled in a new environment with few friends.. Hope the Saints' WAGS are a good bunch, and make her feel welcome. What is Mrs. NA like ? !

...we shouldn't forget that "size" doesn't always mean everything! I grew up watching the team with George O'Brien as a striker. Only 5' 6" and was 11 stone when we signed him, and steadily put on weight afterwards. Not the trainer's dream boy either, but he still managed to bang in 180 goals in 281 starts (1959-1965) George didn't wait to see the whites in the goalies eyes, and could hit them - left or right foot - from anywhere, and took a pretty mean penalty, too. I hope Billy's aggresive style will create the sort of panic in the box that another former Saint did (in same team as O'Brien) GEORGE KIRBY..few who saw him will ever forget him.