david in sweden

Swedes were well-acquainted with Anders long before he moved to Saints. His on-field performances and off pitch romances always got headlines. Some journo' likened him to a "Swedish Beckham" when young and his club performances with Elfsborg were always top quality. His final game was marked by a solo run from the left wing, and a 35 yard shot that the keeper never saw. Hej då Anders. Goodbye in Swedish Then came the now legendary freekick against the Argies in the World Cup, and I for one, was very happy to see him move to SMS. However, it has never ceases to amaze me that managers buy in a class player ...then proceed to try and change them to fit in with an unfamiliar style. People only judge by the performances they see, and it's fair to say that successive managers tried to see if HCDJAFU by playing him in different roles. Anders' best place... is /and always has been ...playing "in the hole" and normally serving the two strikers up top. A free role that he excels in and his set-pieces are also well-known. Strachan in particular got some good games out of him, then tried to move him around and then complained that he wasn't defence-minded enough. We see him in his very best with the solo run (and goal)v.Spurs in the FA Cup at SMS. Often he wasn't given the chance. Interesting interview showed up on Swedish TV some while ago, and Anders was asked about his time with Saints, he said; " Strachan was a very fair man, and he liked him as a manager and a person. WGS had told both him (and Fernandes).. that they were both good players..but that he couldn't play them both in the same team as they were too much alike..." ...(Anders) said he was often played out of position, and when asked (in interview) about those who complained about his play, he replied. " I was supposed to be in midfield, yet they played the long ball so much, all I could do was stand and watch it sailing over my head ! " QUOTE. It must be said that not all players find their ideal position when young, and there is even a record of that at Saints. Two readily come to mind... Frannie Benali was a schoolboy international STRIKER !..and Kevin Phillips was regarded as too small to continue in the full back role he had as a junior. Recent articles are praising NA for giving Chaplow a new place on the right, and Guly as a striker. ..when he didn't always seem to the "right fit" in the earlier role...and it works, but it's also obvious that when you have an international you should use him in his best role... with Anders - Strachan didn't. I'm never convinced by people who say .." a professional footballer should be able to play anywhere ", BUT it's obvious you should play them where they perform best...and sadly Anders wasn't utilised nearly enough in his best role. IF.. he longed back to Sweden, it was because of that. Back in Sweden, he returned to Elfsborg "his spiritual home" (to borrow a phrase)..and has been their captain for several seasons. He's won 100 more caps since the time he first joined Saints, got married some years ago and last year became a father for the first time. Now aged 35, he is still an international regular and (like Beckham) shows no signs of even discussing retirement and is still loving football as much as ever.

......and I pretty sure that's part of the reason we didn't sign the " Fontaine " guy from Brizzle. having someone with the wrong mindset can destroy the team morale.

1-RIGHT ! the current squad wouldn't stand a chance in the 1984 league. There were some great players / teams around at that time. 2- It's impossible to compare one generation with another. Todays footballers are certainly fitter and better trained than those 80's players, but there was an enormous amount of skill then.. that you don't see today - even in some current Prem.sides. 3- yes football has advanced a lot, but see pt. 2 - there were some skilful players around and I think some of them would hold their own - even today.

I think that's just camouflage and business-nous. Forte is only picked for our "Cup squads " ...when the regular team is rested and Bart and the second string get a run-out. If we let Preston use him now, then he couldn't play for us (or anyone else) later on, and we are already admitting that we don't want him. If they do buy him, and are still in the FA Cup after round 3, then they can play him after the deal goes through. If he was to eventually sign for someone else, they couldn't use him in the Cup either, if he's played for another club already. ...but I still think he'll go ...for a small, but reasonable fee.....say 100/150K ?

yes I saw that, but I bet he's glad he didn't have to take part in the penalty shoot-out that won the game for North End...if he'd missed that he'd be out !

As a 50 year + fan, there's a lot I can look back on...half that time we were 2nd level, and the other half we were a struggling Div.1 / Prem side. There have been periods when we have had outstanding players in times when the team hasn't been so successful as a unit. In the early 1960's, we scored goals by the bucketload, playing a 2-3-5 formation without ever winning anything. In season 63-64, we scored 100 league goals in Div.2 (CCC) - 70 of them at home...but only finished 5th in the table. The legendary wing pair of Paine and Sydenham put balls into the box like a conveyor belt and I have to honour Scot George O'Brien who scored 180 goals in about 5 seasons. Our survival in Div.1 (Prem) 1966-1972 - was secured by the phenomenal Ron Davies efforts, who was undoubtedly the best CF in Europe at that time. The rest of the squad had some good individuals but lacked a team perspective. Lawrie McMenemy's team building worked well enough to win the FA Cup 1976 (against all odds), but it took 2 years to get back to Div.1... and another 3 to get the " perfect team " concept. McMenemy signed internationals on a regular basis, and during one seson we fielded a side that had 5 current / former England captains.., but didn't get close enough to win a title although we often beat Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool in an era when 'pool won the League title 8 times in 10 years. We will never know what this side might have been like had MLT been around then..but it would have been a truly great side. When Div.1 was converted to Premiership, it was Matt le Tissier's goals that saved us (as Ron Davies had done 30 years before) and we managed to survive season after season after some of the worst starts in League history. Along the way, some superb memories and great players who never really fulfilled their potential. The current side is the most successful over a consistent period. Despite the 10 point deduction the first season,we narrowly missed play-offs, but won the JPT with Pardew at the helm. The rights and wrongs of his tenure / and sudden dismissal are history, but he created the foundations of a good squad, but it has to be said that under Nigel Adkins, it has developed imto a great squad with a " killer instinct " to win every game. This " emotion and commitment " is the closest I can recall to the McMenemy era. Everyone admired and respected Ted Bates as a person and as a manager of great knowledge and wisdom, but sadly he was often more of a " kindly uncle " to the players when he might have been a taskmaster. McMenemy was most likely... the opposite, but nothing should be taken away from either man's record. IF...this success continues till May.. then Nigel Adkins will, in a very short time have guided the club from the bottom of L1... to even greater heights. Todays' squad doesn't contain any big stars, the like of which we've had before but just on some occasions we see flashes of genius in today's players. On his day, Adam Lallana looks like a new MLT...Ricky Lambert , a lower league striker for years has developed into an intelligent, talented footballer who might not be out of place at a higher level. Jos Hooiveld (only a loan at present) has cemented an injury-hit defence, and sometimes has the look of another Michael Svensson. Someone recently compared Chaplow with the aggressive and tireless Chris Marsden - not without good reason. If our " still relatively young " midfielders stay together, they will become a formidable force for years to come and we forsee NA bringing in other talents which he will weave together into a real unit that plays for each other... rather than supporting a couple of "prima-donnas". so...Best ever squad...? Mmm..not quite yet, but they're looking good, and that's what fans want the most.

I read that I don't think he (Doble) is ! I'm sure the OS stated that he returned from Bournemouth over a month ago? I read that had Dovey gone on a short term loan (to Eastleigh?), but he must have come back as he was sub.goalie in League Cup game v. Palace . Sam Hoskins is said to be a great prospect. I don't believe that a full transfer is even being contemplated. He hasn't even played in the First team yet. It's "work experience" at a higher level.

I agree with that part. I've watched Saints for over 50 years. some keepers are good for a season or two but don't make the grade. Peter Shilton was undoubtedly UNIQUE (also garnered more caps than any other Saints in the clubs history) in only 5 seasons, left us in 1987 and was still first choice England keeper 4 years later. However, in Antti Niemi's (all too short) Saints career, he is my number 2 --- by a mile. After that, you are looking at a lot of " short term" heroes. Ron Reynolds and John Hollowbread were both well over 30 when they joined us in the early 60's, but both careers ended in injury. Campbell Forsyth was a revelation, and the first real "international standard goalie" I ever saw but was never the same after breaking his leg. Eight seasons with Eric Martin (289 games) is worth an "honourable mention ", and although Ian Turner's 1976 FA Cup winning exploits are almost legend, although brave he was inconsistant in his league games as was his successors Peter Wells. Yugoslav Katalinic was more memorable for his walrus-moustache than much of his play, although his nickname " Cat " was most appropriate on many occasions when making breathtaking saves. After many years as Shilton's understudy Tim Flowers finally got the shirt and managed over 250 games before moving to Blackburn for a world record £2 million fee for a keeper. Names of veterans like Burridge, Beasant and Grobelaar raise more of a smile than pride in their contributions. Maik Taylor looked a good buy when bought by Graeme Souness, but soon left where he had an good career with Fulham. He was frozen out when Dave Jones arrived and bought in his old Stockport keeper Paul Jones who was the regular custodian for many years, and struggled to keep the spot after Niemi's arrival, but we saw the unusual sight of both keepers playing in the 2003 Cup Final. Kelvin Davis has "earned " a good reputation in the last two seasons although he was very inconsistant in the beginning. If he's still playing well after two seasons in the Prem...? .. I'll make him 3 on my list of "best keepers ", but he's not in the Shilton / Niemi class.

I actually agree with that part myself., but the only disconcerting part of that is ..that the club's Chairman is the one who has raised the issue on more than one occasion (??). He must have something on his mind to go public with such thoughts, especially when you consider his apparant "secrecy" on many other issues... .

perhaps this may highlight the difference between... L1 and CC. I've always said that the difference between the bottom club in the Prem. and the CC champions is much more than ONE place, it's awhole different class of football, and this has been apparant almost every season. The newly-promoted sides are glad to survive, at least for a season or two - whilst those relegated are often back up in one /two years. What will we all say - if Forte becomes a scoring sensation at PNE? He's good, but never had a chance at SMS ..or ..at that level (L1)... almost anyone ought to score !

we're still 6 weeks away from the transfer window - don't hold your breath.

Fair comment Kraken. 1) ...we'll soon see what sort of gates we're getting after half a season in the Prem. 2) Costs have, of course, have increased, but then my house is (hopefully) worth twice what it was when we moved in 10 years ago. I was surprised / amazed to see the cost of Brighton's new home..with only 25K capacity ?..OK I know they've got a shopping centre there too, but nevertheless money always seems to be there - if there is a genuine desire to build. Profitabilty is another thing. 3) Sadly, you may be right there but who knows what the future may hold. Chelsea and Arsenal are still trying to cram 40K into their antiquated arenas whereas Arsenal seem to have built at the right time, and get around 60K almost every game. Admittedly, their catchment area is much larger, but as was noted in the pre SMS days, we'll never know how many fans we "might" have got in much of our Premiership days, when the Dell capacity was reduced to 15,000 all seater.

SELL - you mean. I'm sure they'll find some cash if he (Forte) gets a few goals this weekend. It'll more interesting to see if Sam Hoskins can get some playing time. He seems a good prospect and a game or two in a " big boys league" will do him no harm at all, and maybe invaluable in his football education. Let's hope they both get the desired success.

Reserve games by nature were always a mix of up-and-coming hopefuls, no-hopers and those recovering from injury. Most " reserve " games in the past have been so, but the idea of an U21 side (or an over 21 for that matter), shows how far we have progressed as younger players who reach 21/22 and haven't yet broken into the first team squad are most likely to be moving down to L2 / Conference sides. Looking at our own " reserve squad " (and only the goalies and walking wounded aside) ..we're only left with Dickson, Holmes and Forte who are older than this and still can't get on the bench - even when fit. I think this shows that we don't expect to be " carrying " a load of sub-standard players who are jut there to make up the numbers in an emergency. If you watch an Academy or U21 game - you are, in effect - seeing " the Reserves" .

me too ...if the judge is kind to him !

It didn't sound like Cortese was pi**ing in the wind when he made those statements before (not for the first time), so the project has obviously been discussed /and doubtless budgeted already, and is only awaiting the " on pitch success " to take us up to the Prem. When SMS opened 10 years ago, we averaged around 30K per game, and I'm sure we could have squeezed in a few more had it not been for the empty-seat segregation demanded to keep the rival fans apart. Could we have had more ?..perhaps on some occasions, (as some of the larger clubs in the Prem. have a big away following, too). I could envisage 35K, even 40K for a top game v. one of the Manchester sides, Arsenal or Chelsea - but hardly quite so many for every home game. I think the main difference is that we have a better than even chance of going up, but the likes of MK Dons and Coventry are hardly likely to fill their existing arenas this side of bankruptcy. A stadium of that size would also be an attractive alternative venue for international games, but extending SMS to a 50K arena is a great thought - but not likely to be a big money maker..unless we really make the big time and go into Europe. Cortese's vision has my approval, I only hope it's profitable.

[quote=Norm;1182951 I also feel that now is the time to look at a new keeper. I really like KD but we will need to look at his replacement soon. Agree with that one Norm, .there's some sort of " legend " status grown up around Bart with a section of the fan base, after his teenage debut, etc, but that was a few years ago and he doesn't seem to have impressed too many people since then ..and I don't see him as a regular CC keeper, let alone anything higher than that. I noted that most Premiership sides have TWO keepers with international experience.. Could be an Achilles heel when we go up, if we don't have that sort of quality / experience at the back, though I do think KD is worth his place at present.

I'm sure he'd be a good player ..somewhere else, but at present he's not likely to get picked... as long as he's got laces in his boots. Whatever he did (well) last season..doesn't make him an asset now. Would you give him a regular place on the bench..ahead of Connolly, or De Ridder?

yes that's correct BUT, we have only TWO so far; (Lambert and Guly). Despite his obvious class, Connolly is aging fast, and Barnard's future is not dependent on our Physio, but the Judge in the Crown Court. " Jonno" Forte isn't even in the running in the present set-up.... and any potential Academy prospects are minimum 1-2 years away from a regular spot, let alone a place in a Prem. side. It may be a chance, but a lot of people were very doubtful about Lambert when he signed for £1 million...so why not Lukas? according to your reasoning (which I don't disagree with) ..we'd still need a FOURTH striker...Jay Rod? Maynard ?...

I don't disagree with your comments but I think the answer is best summed -up in Ken Tone's response on # 29, Reasoning ...? Lambert is great, but we are still too dependent on him ..if he were to be out for any length of time we'd be in the ****. Guly is in the same age bracket, and though good at present will develop a short "shelf life " once we get up into the Prem. We forget that Barnard's future is "out of our hands" (pending court action) and even if he regains full fitness / form - there's a lot of uncertainty. I'm as pleased as anyone that Connolly is fit and showing his class, but he's one of the oldest in the squad already, and only on a short-term contract. We need to get some new young talent in and help develop it. If Lukas is doing so well as he is in a poor team, he'd surely be better in a good line-up. Those with longer memories will recall that Ron Davies was a " fairly average striker " when he came to us in '66, and developed into " one of the best Centre-forwards in Europe "... QUOTE Sir Matt Busby ...and who remembers how " raw" the young James Beattie was when he first arrived at The Dell?. AS... for the "Saints fan bit " maybe not so important ...but which footballer in the world wouldn't want to play for his home town side?

A bit dubious I agree, but Lambert is a cut above the others ... (boom, boom.)

Nah , he's alright! Do you think he'd look better with Chaplow's hair style instead ?