david in sweden

I got the impression (rightly or wrongly) that Phillips was a bit reluctant to come to Saints (?) and never really settled in, whereas David Connolly feels he owes us, as Saints perservered a long time, even when he wasn't properly fit and now we are getting a pay back in seeing one of the classiest players we've had in the last 10 years in full flow.

of course NA deserves immense credit, but Cortese stuck his neck out when he sacked Pardew a year ago..and who amongst us would have chosen Nigel as his replacement ? As I recall, he wasn't even on the list as a possible / also ran. A brave decision, but an excellent choice. Yes Cortese deserves credit too..for giving Nigel a chance in the first place.

I agree. I've been advocating an extra striker since January, if for no other reason than that sometimes *hit happens, and it would be tragic if we had an injury problem now and no respectable cover up front ...

well I hope so..only 17 ? yet ..I seem to have been hearing his name for years ....

Of course you can punish the offender in retrospect, but " the goal " may still stand, and the other club may still lose the match. Why not have a points deduction...or a prolonged suspension for such offences?. Points deductions are made to clubs on "non-playing " grounds; going into administration, playing unregistered players, fans running on to the pitch type-offences: Denmark forfeited a game v. Sweden some years ago when a drunken Danish " fan " ran on the pitch and aimed a punch (he missed) at the Swedish keeper. The ref. abandoned the game and UEFA gave a 3 goal advantage to the Swedes. but more often... the " real footballing crimes " go unpunished.

of course it's true that some refs. ought never to be allowed to referee anything above schoolboy level, but in the main the standard is surely quite good (even allowing for the cheaters) - mentioned above. However, I do feel that some refs. are more than pedantic and have " a bee in their bonnet " over quite small things. 10 meters from the ball....EXACT placement of free-kicks.... physical contact between defenders..and IMHO... worst of all the so-called "penalty " situations. Was it hand-to-ball? ..or ball-to-hand. However, I do think that an attacker who deliberately plays the ball onto a defenders arm, is just as guilty of an offence as the one who " dives " in the area at the slightest contact deserves a yellow card, especially when a wrong decision might mean a RED for the opponent...and should an offending goalie always get a red card as well as conceding a penalty? ..but I can't help feeling that some refs. do favour the home side " unfairly " sometimes..perhaps in the hope, or anticipation that he'll still find the wheels on his car when he makes his way home. The worst fault though, is a human one. I read an article some years ago from a Spanish researcher who categorically proved that the human eye is not capable of making the FIVE different physical adjustments necessary to follow the ball from dead ball situations to calling an offside, or penalty ..in the time it takes to kick the ball! Was that really offside, ref ?.. Roll on CCTV, and let's get it right every time . The camera cannot lie, well most of the time anyway!

I think it does still exist but it tended to be a regional thing and nearly every club had a Reserve side. But it wasn't worthwhile for obvious financial considerations...SE Counties, Northern League etc, ....but Cortese didn't like the set-up that gave so few games over such a long season and the younger lads never got any consistancy when only playing once / twice a month if they were lucky. Good decision and such games can be arranged at short notice to give fringe / youth players an outing, and some valuable match practice for injured first-teamers on the way to full fitness.

when IS Skacel going to sign ? (he already had ....)

if we have anymore midfielders injured, it might be sooner than you think ...!

there are quite a few proven sleep tips though not all of them may work for everyone. The "cat nap " idea of taking a short rest during the day is good. I used to complain when my Father used to rest for an hour in the middle of a sport-loaded Saturday afternoon, but when I got to that age, I tried it and it was a real lifesaver, and gave me a " second wind " during a busy day. I've heard that medical staff on long shifts take a short nap with keys in a quiet room with keys held in their hands and when they actually "dropped off " to sleep, the keys fell from their hands and wakened them, but the rest had actually been beneficial. It works..max 30 mins. Horlicks and the like (hot drinks) is not good at all it gives the body stimulation when it actually needs to wind down and rest. ONE ham sandwich (not cheese though) is OK... as is a small amount of fruit, but not too much. Try a small glass of water and wait to eat a good breakfast instead. I was a light sleeper, and was easily woken, but as as I got older slept less ...until I started using earplugs to block out superficial sounds; neighbours, passing traffic, etc - that works well . I sometimes sleep only 5 hours but wake really fresh. I have heard of people using a small blindfold to banish light from the bedroom - that apparantly works, too. AVOID sleeping pills,prescribed by doctors who get commission and it only helps boost profits of pharmacuetical companies who make them and creates a dependancy in the patient.

Agreed ! .... not bad for two players who some people have already put in the " veteran " class !

NO CONTEST Dell Days, like Beattie who cost £1 mill.... and Delgado over £3 million... Historically, (at Saints) ... big fees guarantee NOTHING, and usually what we get.

FIVE defenders, too...exactly why we like BIG squads...isn't it ?..

even if he were fit enough (to sit on the bench)... he'd have a hard time getting a game just now - don't you think ?

Brett Ormerod would never appear in the leading scorers list, but he worked his socks off in every game and was much more of a team player and provider than a lot he played alongside, or who came after him. As a " journeyman " in his fourth club, he gave value for money in a side that had bigger " stars " who cost much more.

Well said Crab Lungs. Agree with every word. Making judgements based on opinions from fans in other clubs is another annoying subject, and one that is no more accurate than some of our own often seem to base their opinion on the last game and want the managers head every time we don't keep a clean sheet..or "slag off " our strikers when we only score ONE goal. (e.g. Barnsley and Millwall ). In both cases one goal was worth three points. Yesterday's win was ALSO another 3 points, even if we did concede two goals on the process. An average / good L1 striker scores 12-15 goals a season, and Ricky's last two season have proven that he is more than average... and so worthy of being called an " average " CCC striker. We'll see how " average " he is by the end of the season ! The one factor than many people seem to miss is that an " average to poor " player in one side, can become a star in another side because it's really all down to team play....and how well they fit in...and not only individual performances. Older fans can recall that 60's legend Ron Davies was pretty average Div.2 (CCC) player when we paid a club record fee for his signature...but coming into a side with two great wingers, he couldn't stop scoring and became a club legend. I'm inclined to think that we still haven't seen the best of Ricky Lambert. NO!... I don't expect him to score 30 goals this season, but it's only a handful of players who get to 20 goals in a CCC season, and IMHO .. Ricky has that capacity...and if he stays clear of knocks and fouls...then David Connolly won't be far behind him. It'll be interesting to see how many of the £ multi-million striker we DIDN'T SIGN in the window are also amongst the leading scorers at the end of the season.

I did wonder if there would be a tribunal award for Joseph Mills' move to Reading? Did we agree a fee with Reading for him, or what ?

[quote=saintds;113900 Where does Rudi Skacel live Nah, don't bother. He hasn't signed yet, either.

now that the window has closed, and it's down to loans or unattached players. Most people are NOW convinced that we need to buy a striker and CB incl. many of those who were saying we had a good squad and shouldn't " upset it " by bringing in new faces. Opinions now appear to be very mixed between; (a) those who think we did right not to panic buy because we couldn't get our first choice, and (b) people who think we are in the sh*t, and are sure to self destruct ... because we haven't signed anyone. Several other threads have discussed ad nauseum the why and wherefor's, but honestly speaking ... WHO can we reasonably we expect to get in now? Prem. players who can't get a regular spot, or are injury-prone, surplus to requirements because of a high salary and reluctant to drop a division..OR a foreign import; another Papa Waigo or Guly..? An unknown talent who has never played in England ? It seems a difficult decision to make for a club who have lost only TWO of their last 22 games, and only scored 19 goals so far this season!

you've just made a very good case (if that's it) ..for not selecting Seaborne even when fit. If you want to try another CB - we've got Hooiveld already..or are you discounting him before he's even made a start? We can loan upto THREE ...or is it SIX players I think?..so why not loan in 3 CB's and cover all eventualities, it just happens that there weren't many to choose from in the first place...

For once I can agree with you Alpine. I'd love Bale to have a good game v. England...maybe even score..! With all our resources ...England should be able to beat a side (who can't get into the top 100 FIFA countries) ..with a reserve side.

Nice analysis Kraken. Adkins also said (in reaction to fans eagerness for new faces) that many signings .. don't take place until nearer the end of July, and not the day after the "window " opens. I'm pretty sure that they were quite confident that Jemal would sign ...after the pre-season in Switzerland..no big media hype but the deal just went wrong. I don't think that the average player would be so aware of all these details and maybe the deal was sabotaged by the agent. (?) That created the panic hunt for a CB at a time when there aren't a lot of players of that type available outside the Prem. Would YOU have paid £5 mill.for Mills? I think the non-signing of Billy Sharp was more of a priority (before the Jemal deal fell through), and in the end ...with the £12mill. already in the bank ...Cortese had his work cut out phoning greedy chairmen who doubled a player's fee whenever he contacted a club to enquire. (nevertheless top marks to Cortese for sticking to his guns and not being blackmailed into a panic buy.)

During the summer break I'd checked out a lot of sites (not all English) and have my own take on these points, although they are only conclusions on my part based on available info. Jemal was the real target from the start (Swiss club / Cortese connections) and was willing to come as he'd been assured by fellow countryman (Jaidi ) that it would be good to come to SFC. Jemal had " agreed " some sort of deal, but insisted on knowing all the details of his transfer. He was told ..he had a salary agreement with **** club, and details of his transfer deal were not his business. He thought he was due some sort of " cut " of the deal (maybe his agent did / or maybe the agent wanted an extra cut?) but he went back without signing. Goryss was never a target. QPR wanted Puncheon and Warnock wanted to get shot of Gorkyss and thought to do a "swap deal " with a few quid extra to Saints. At the time QPR had no funds, and they baulked at Cortese's (not unreasonable) valuation of £1 million. Warnock's accusations about Cortese's 2-3 week delay with lots of phone calls may only have been follow-ups - are you interested or not - but he (Warnock) acquitted himself cleverly by selling Goryss over the phone to Reading - with a 5 minute phone call - and painting Cortese as the villian. As soon as the new QPR chairman came up with fresh money, Warnock went out spending like a man with six arms and bought half-a-team, then came back for Puncheon - on loan this time - claiming he'd spent all his funds and can we borrow him until New Year!..when they may well be forced to buy him. Obviously Fontaine wasn't on the original shopping list either, but looked a good buy, but something was wrong with the deal - and I don't think it was money..or his much-discussed injury problem either. Maybe something with " personal chemistry". It must have taken some looking to find Hooiveld, but there is a lot of knowledge around in the football world and so he must have some good track record - but in the "wrong " teams. Let's hope that he's agood deal after all. As for NOT signing a striker. I've been keen on signing another striker for the squad since January - even before Barnard was injured and Connolly still was. This looks to be clearer. Strikers are notoriously volatile in their scoring, and you need real alternative back-up here. Beattie didn't score for the first NINE games in 2002 but ended the season as leading ENGLISH born scorer with 23 Prem goals Billy Sharp didn't want to move south, although his club were willing to sell. Jay Rod was out-priced by Burnley who wanted a bigger cut of £12 mill. from the AOC deal. Having sold Fox, Burnley thought to boost Jay Rods fee but (rightfully IMHO) Cortese said NO to a blank cheque deal. Maynard ... was never subject to a bid from SFC...according to one bristol source .. and now we are down to the also-rans. Waghorn looks a good prospect but didn't need to move house and can stay in the Midlands, and play under a former manager he likes. By rights, we should have signed Sharp,(before we had the AOC money) and the rest is speculation from the media, disgruntled agents and greedy club chairman. I'm glad we didn't sign Beckford, and Leeds fans will be glad for that too. Of the other players mentioned.. only Waghorn has moved and Svennis had no place for him in the Leicester set-up anyway and was glad he went. I am certain we will get a striker SOON ..a "free" , or OOC to fill the bill and it will give us more options up front.