david in sweden

for part of this answer you must read # 8 thread also. Football was very much more open and attacking 50 years ago and in the old Div.3 South days we scored 13 in the first 4 games 1953-54 (that was 3 wins - and one defeat). and in the same era we also scored 10, 11 and 12 in diff.seasons, though never with all winning games. After we entered Div1 (1966) life became tougher and despite the epic career of goal scorers Ron Davies and Martin Chivers, we never came close - and in fact scoring 2 or more was somewhat unusual with much tighter defences. 1986-87 we scored 11 times in the first 4 matches, mainly thanks to new signing of N.I. striker Colin Clarke, who scored a hat-trick on his debut (and actually got 7 goals in the first 8 games). In later years. life in the Premier League (1992- ) was a matter of survival and we were glad not to concede 13 in the first 4 ), in fact... 1998-99 we let in 12 goals in the first 4 games). Now, hopefully the start of a new era that will get better and better.

The answers to that aren't so difficult. 1957 there was no League Cup competition. That began in 1960-61. Teams in the top 2 divisons didn't have to enter until Round 2 which was then played in mid September so that excludes the 1988 stats. (incidentally we had a cup run to 5th round beating; Crewe, Newcastle and Norwich before losing 1-0 to an 88th min. goal at White Hart Lane) FA Cup first round games start in the Autumn, so our first FA Cup game in 1957 was in November. We beat amateurs Walton and Hersham 6-1 away... (a certain Derek Reeves scored 4). We lost 0-1 in rd.2 away to Crystal Palace. As a Div.1 side in 1988, We wouldn't have entered the competition until Rd.3 in January. So those earlier stats. are based only on the opening league games of the season.

Well, I am a little " worked up about it " - as you put it. TRUE - he has had injuries in recent years, and TRUE older players take a little longer to heal than those who are younger but his "absence" has not been as common as many suggest. He was not fully trained and had no pre-season when he came - ON A FREE TRANSFER in 2009 - . It took him a couple of months to get up to pace and when he did eventually play he scored 6 goals in 12 starts and was injured in Jan. Fortunately we signed Lee Barnard and there were few players - fit, or otherwise, who could have displaced him with his sensational goal tally at that time, although when Connolly was back, and available on the bench for the last 14 games with little chance of displacing the on-form LB. season 2 - He played or was on bench for 9 games before injury but was back on the bench by January for 10 games. From March he was on the bench for the last 10 games again with Barnard still in top form. Fortunately, Connolly was fit and available - when Barnard was injured in April and DC came in and scored 3 times in the last 5 games. The thing I'm most concerned about now is Barnard's fitness. He was injured 4 months ago - in April, but still isn't fully recovered or fit enough for the bench - let alone play. Whatever Connolly's age, or history ...his pre-season performances and goal-a-game form is surely something to be relished but I think the thing that angers me most is the " sick humour " behind the " back from the dead " songs that our own supporters sing to him. It should be clear to most people that David Connolly is a class act by any definition of the meaning. He has already won a medal in this League and played in the Prem. and we may be more grateful to him than we think by the end of the season, especially if he maintains his present scoring form. Age is no barrier for a good player. 38 year old Kevin Phillips released by Brum, scored twice for his new club this week. That is a warning bell all CCC managers will listen for.

Connolly is not injury-prone...it suggests that he is always getting injured (ala Darren Alderton and Kieron Dyer) and that is not the case. Connolly is, on his own admission, as fit as he's ever been and let's admit it..doing his job of scoring goals. He's being selected on merit. Although he has suffered a couple of (different) injuries that kept him out for longer periods, he's had a long career and played lots of football. Having debuted in 1994, he's played well over 400 league games (including 2 successful seasons in Holland) and netted over 150 career goals, as well as being capped 41 times for Ireland. He has had a number of injuries in that 17 year period, but since returning to England (2001) has only once played less than 38 games a season. (He was injured when at Wigan 2005, and played only 19 games that season.) see Wikipedia. I think it extremely unfair for him to be branded by some people as " injury-prone " when he played so much football, and his stats. show that .. had he been a Saints player from the start.. he would be in our top 5 for apps.... and goal scoring.

YES ! .........in the 1957 season, the first 3 wins were followed by 2 drawn games, before we lost game 6. in 1988...game 4...was a 2-2 draw v. Arsenal at Highbury...(incidentally..the season that all 3 Wallace brothers played together.)

I'm sure the " highlighted " comment is the one that matters... How he's played with other sides may be history, but surely what really matters is how he fits in with our highly-competative squad. Looking at the three unknown factors; "injuries, suspensions and loss of form"... it's vital to have someone " cloned " to step in straight away and not have to play himself in for 3-4 games. If he can do that (if/when required) then he'll be worth a permanent signing - especially bearing in mind that Jaidi is on his last year..and Aaron Martin (though an excellent product) doesn't have a lot of League experience at present.

haven't only set a new record of unbeaten games, and you need to go back to the 1970's to find good starts where we went unbeaten (wins+draws) for 4 or 5 games, but THREE STRAIGHT WINS has only been recorded TWICE SINCE WW2. Glancing back through my well-thumbed copy of IN THAT NUMBER, I found that Aug 1988 in (Div.1) we started with wins; West Ham 4-0, QPR 1-0 and Luton 2-1 (remember them). and go way back to 1957 (Div.3 South) until you find wins over Millwall 2-1, Walsall 4-1 and Gillingham 5-1. These are the only occasions we have started SO well in the last 65 years.

absolutely NOT ! Hull paid over the odds for him in the first place, he played very few games for them when in the Prem. and even less now .....AND he's on 40K week!

IT 's Leicester who've got 12 new players..(Svennis' job is to introduce them to each other) meanwhile Nigel's gone and got Jack Cork..signing of the season surely, Danny Fox to give us an extra dimesion at the back, De Ridder is a breath of fresh air - isn't he ?...and all we need now is that one more signing - an extra striker..and I'll be satisfied. I've given my reasons on the other thread, but injuries, suspensions and loss of form can happen anytime... Other wise ..full steam ahead!

the same thoughts I had pre-season..we should sign another striker. WHY? Sure we've had 7 diff. scorers (incl. L.Cup game) and with 9 goals and 9 points from the first 3 games - it may sound daft...but too often in the past we've suddenly got injuries, suspensions , loss of form and we need goals in every game to win this league. I can recall during Strachans time ...we suddenly had FOUR injured strikers at one time... and those who played were neither fit, or regular strikers. Great to see the "L men" scoring, Connolly getting his normal goal but Barnard's future is still uncertain and Forte and De Ridder (though they have scored already are more wingers than recognised strikers)...and it's a long season with 46 games ...OK 43 now... PLUS cup games and cup games ....what a shame it would be to lose the terrific start we've had if we wake up in December ..or February with only one fit striker ..think about it. OK Nigel, I love the team and the results but we all know it 'aint gonna be like that every week....unfortunately.

........sorry I've run out of superlatives in the last 10 days....highlighted comments are composite response to the pessimists comments / complaints on this site during the last few months..

NO ! ..but I'd settle for second......

wait a bit ..we haven't seen comments from Alpine, or dell days yet....

...you can't have your cake ..and eat it .. Reading thought they were being clever to take Antonio back after his good finish to the season and the JPT win at Wembley... Now they've let him rot in their Reserve side and he out on loan - AGAIN. Can't complain about the SAINTS end of season, but I feel he would have made a good contribution had he been allowed to stay.

you are to me ..my only question is : is he still as good as he was in the 2007 video ?

(I only tossed in 2 and 3 as discussion alternatives.) If I were Cortese I'd say ..(to QPR) ..pay up and look big ..you're Premier league now !

Agreed Seany S. Chris(eventually)played 68 games before moving to Fulham, and half of those were whilst we were still in the Prem. He has since played close to 100 Prem. games for Fulham, as well as gaining countless caps for Northern Ireland (for whom he was also captain) ..How on earth can he be UNSUITABLE for CCC football when he is still only 29 ? Coming back to Saints ..? ...IF ONLY ......

OK nice guy and all that, and has a special place as captain of the '76 FA Cup winning side - but best captain ?..I think not. Already past 30 when he arrived, he was only with us for 2 seasons (total 72 games). An injury cut short his career and he never played at the top level again. Others names mentioned here, Paine, Huxford all good club men who may only have been captain for the odd season ..or a few games. Tony Knapp was my idea of a captain and he was 6 years in the post..1960-67...played 260 games and rarely missed a match. MY choice : has to be Nick Holmes. One of the few/only locally-born players to become team captain. " Reliable, dependable and flexible " Lawrie McMenemy quote on Nick's 400th game. Naturally left-sided, and capable of playing in defence or midfield, not without skill wherever he played and with an eye for goal. Played 535 games (64 goals) from 1974-1987 puts him in the top 5 of all time apps. and was captain from March 1980 onwards Being team captain is not just an honour handed to the eldest, or most experienced player, or a superstar to keep them sweet, Nick was none of those things, but a loyal club man who had the respect of those he played alongside and he deserves the title, if one were to be given.

....We have never been interested in Maynard Now why is it that statement doesn't surprise me ...? when this " rumour /gossip/ falsehood " came up I began to think .. OK ...but...and looking at his stats. I asked myself what was so special about him that warranted talk of £4 million ..was it ? Perhaps a bit of West Country, behind the scenes skulduggery. Already bottom of the league and an unimpressive season behind them City have only one "Golden Egg" and that is Nicky Maynard. ...and if you think that Saints have got 12 mill.burning a hole on their pocket, and Leicester are buying everyone who can lace up a pair of boots..why not go for it?. It may be their last chance to (survive) in CCC and they need cash for players NOW. Can't comment on him as I've not seen him play but have the feeling that Burnley are also using the same tactics with Jay Rod. Better leave them both all alone, 'cos Huseklepp seems to be the latest on the radar and at a much more reasonablr price.

well ..has he ?

it would be easier on the rest of us if you two guys took this up at a private level...the original thread was about a potential transfer. Can we keep it at that level..it's tiring wading through threads that are full of personal abuse between subscribers that detract from the main theme....

#1 ...it was a wild guess on my part ..but now it seems QPR have renewed interest in Puncheon ..this time on loan. so how will NC respond....?. (1)....say directly to QPR - BUY HIM ..put up or shut up! (2) ..if you want to loan him.. we want to loan Gorkyss in return - and you subsidise his salary to our CCC level... (3) ...if you want to loan Puncheon ..we want a good deal for Gorkyss (4)......(another option...what would you say ?

it took a while for him to get in the side, but Roy Hodgson and Mark Hughes seemed to like him... he played 32 of 38 Prem games in 09-10.... and 29 games in 2010-11...I'd call that pretty regular - wouldn't you?

Great compilation MLG thanks for that. If he's half as good as these "best of .." clips he'd be a sensation. Some of his style reminds me ....of the young Mick Channon ....and a lot of MLT.. Sign him up Nigel....if he has to choose between us and the other mob..it's surely a " no-brainer "...even for a Norwegian.