david in sweden

I don't think it's " Scottish football " so much as the age-old problem of a manager seeing a player's potential and knowing (how / where) to play him. It's a problem that the No.1 player is "almost irreplaceable" and they can't get into the side. (e.g. Wayne Bridge was always second to Ashley Cole at Chelsea, whereas he would have been first on the team sheet in most other clubs). Perhaps my only criticism of Gordon Strachan was his refusal / inability to change a fixed formation and play people in other / natural positions. Hooiveld has undoubted quality (as we have seen in a short time) ..so my question would be ..How come Celtic didn't see it during his time there ?

Think we have to be careful in future with our own ..Lee Barnard ..and Lee Holmes, but in Korea, (where T.Lee's grandparents come from) LEE is one of the most popular family names ...(something akin to Smith, or Jones in th UK). (I've met a number of Koreans over the years and most of them were either; Lee, or Park ) I recall people some Saints fans though that the Swedes ; Anders and Michael Svensson were related when they both played around 10 years ago. They weren't - (Svensson is THE name most associated with the " average man-on-the street" Swede).

as this thread is "supposed " to be about the proposed signing of T.Lee.. what are the possible down-sides to the buy? Seemingly - very few. NA has formed a tight squad and everyone seem to have the team spirit OK, so players coming and going - as we have seen this season - Cork, SDR,and Hooiveld, have blended in and there is surely no xenophobes in the club that already has French, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese and Brazilian players on staff. T.Lee (as an international striker - Japan aren't that bad either) surely has good form, and seems to be an ideal choice considering that Barnard is injured AGAIN, hasn't played a full competitive game in 8 months - and has an uncertain future until he knows the outcome of his Court appearance in March. David Connolly - is on the wrong end of his career (34?)...though he may be retained when his contract goes out in June. Jealousy should have no place in a squad system - whats good for one is good for all - so that T. Lee can only add to our options and should surely be welcomed . Lastly, the fee (reported on some other sites) as 500K (!).would surely be a bargain of the first magnitude - if T.Lee ...CDAJFU ... even in the short term. I am continually reminded that some of the biggest fees we've paid out (historically)..were great disappointments, whereas the low-cost bargains that have come our way have indeed repaid their fees many times over....Kevin Davies (1996) for 650K (later sold for £8 million). James Beattie - £1 million Blackburn reserve..and of course Marian Pahars..800K in 1999, will forever live in the memory of all who saw him play - especially in the "Great Escape" seasons. IN short, IMHO..Mr. Lee may be more than just a breath of fresh air, he maybe the start of a new footballing revolution at SMS - who's next NA ?

I suppose with Lambert up front with Lee, (no- not that one - the new guy)...they'll be no difficulty with a "scouser " understanding ..a Japanese ?

Ah so ! now we will have sukiyaki instead of burgers at HT..then

...think we're going to enjoy his goal celebrations !

Parents are from Korea, he was (apparantly ) born in Japan and already international for them.

well no-one has come out with reports of Schneiderlin eating frogs legs..or horse meat !..whatever turns your stomach, I suppose. Anyone in So'ton eat SUSHI - do they ?

..sounds like he's the Japanese Michael Owen ! there's really could be a lot of sense to this.. Firstly - those who saw the Japanese players in previous World Cups recall they run " Kamikaze style" for 95 mins.. plus .if we are to consider ourselves a Prem.side it would create a lot of interest in Japan ..pop.120 million ?. Asian players have a different mindset, and though he doesn't get played so often - I'm always impressed by the workrate of Man.U's Korean - Park second - I'm sure the fee will be a " little more reasonable " than some of the sums being bandied arounf for NpC and L1 players... Really sounds like an interesting bid.. I hope that SFC help him to adjust culturally....Hiroshima must certainly be a bit different from So'ton.

He surely must be good for a few games..... before incurring a 10 week long suspension ...

Turkish did a very well-reasoned evaluation of the entire squad (on another thread) recently, and came to the conclusion that about 14 players in the present set-up were probably OK for Prem. level - taking account of obvious retirement (Jaidi) and OOC players like Butterfield and Connolly..+ a few more... I agreed with all of his selections - (and although we aren't the Oracle on such things) ..it still left EIGHT uncertainties that must be resolved before next season - on the assumption that we go up... that means quite a change of personnel. Hope he can trace it and re-run it . Very Interesting.

.but that's before we sign a new keeper, and that "extra " CH.

you may be "drunk " but you 'aint daft --I go along with all of that ...

well said Colin. Agree 100%.

Excellent signing....he made a brave career choice when he moved here when we were still L1, and has proven his loyalty off the field and effort on it !

you do mean Saints - don't you ?

OK fellas, we've had enough of the.. ITKs, the Yorkshire pub gossip, and the friends of the next door neighbours threads...¨ Now's the time to put up ...TWO names that we will sign (according to you) ..before Jan.31st. (If we sign a "foreigner " you'll be brave to put a name up..) for me..it's Billy Sharp and Lukas Jut.... (and your two names are ...?)

OK - he's just turned 43 now ..where will you play him? Can he park his wheelchair in the handicap section ..?

can someone refresh me on the " new rules governing Academy players transfers " mentioned? ..effective from June 2012 apparantly.

.....and how about Dutch language lessons for the rest of the squad..? (only joking ..those Dutch people I'm acquainted with speak English quite well )..

from the current rumour trail, it seems we maybe "going Dutch " now.. (having had a Swedish influx around 10 years ago) ... BUT I think you'll find that (although it sounds a lot) ..even £7-10 million doesn't buy too much talent in the Prem. nowadays ....

this is a desperate manager's PR tactic...say you're interested in buying a big name player, so as to up the club's image -- knowing full well you haven't a hope of getting them...(or maybe didn't want them in the first place). Then, when they sign for someone else - shift the blame to your Board - " there you are.. (he) went to a club with BIG money, and we don't have that sort of economy...blah, blah..." (heard it all before ). Detected a little of this in those ..." who's Beckham going to sign for " ..stories a while back ...Spurs? QPR? ..but few clubs could afford him..and for how long ?

Have to say - if they are second in the table, I wasn't very impressed when watching the game v. Brum. Yes they got an early goal, but despite a lot of possession didn't look like scoring a second. The only reason that they didn't lose IMO -was that Brum were absolutely pi** - poor !...and could hardly string three passes together....

I have to agree with that. If you compare the "Saints / discreet NC softly, softly" approach, it's just like Sam is shouting from the rooftops, so as it looks like he's doing something. Last week's statement about having " 25 players on his short list " didn't suggest that he was going to bid for them all, more likely he's sounded desperate and perhaps he'll end up getting those who no-one can wants /or/ can get.... ...and then come out and say .." he's a player I've always wanted and has been on my list for some time , blah, blah, ..."