david in sweden

Nah..looks like a high five to me ..

support ? support ! I always think of non-league teams in the area, as "little-brothers" in a manner of speaking. I have relatives in Salisbury and always looked for their results when they were doing so well with Nick Holmes at the helm, and hope they can regain their former status. Eastleigh have done well in the years that Doddsy and Hughes have guided them, hope they can move up next season. Totton (though lowly) seem to have taken their league by storm and I hope the success continues. If you live in the area, and don't travel to away games, then support your local team. They need the revenue, I'm sure. In days bygone when there wasn't the same deadly rivalry between Saints and Pompey, fans would often go to the Dell for home games and to Fratton... when we played away. That must have taken some courage..or maybe... they were just supporting another local side.

The old DELL crowd record was 31,044 . I know 'cos I woz one of them. October 8th 1969 v. Man Utd - we lost 0-3 although a draw would have been a fairer result. the prev. "best" was 30856 . April 30th 1949 v. West.Brom. 1-1 draw and we missed a pen. ´They got promoted to Div.One and we stayed put on 3rd in Div.2 The season of the great disaster. 8 points ahead of the league at Easter we lost almost every game after Wayman was injured v. Tottenham..

.....for their reserve squad you mean ..LOL He'd get lost in the crowd of Prem Reserves. anyway I thought the loan deal had a price tag on it , if we wanted him to stay ?

basically agree but a one year deal. I wouldn't let him go without having a made to measure replacement on the books.

next season, one can wonder what the outcome might be if the story below comes to pass. Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter ran a story today that Russian billionaire Vladimir Antonov is trying to buy ..Pompey. He recently tried to buy into the cash-strapped Saab motor company, but had trouble convincing the European Central Bank that all his money was legitimate. The article says that Antonovs investment will be modest (and not sky-high) but there is mention of a new stadium and in new players. ,,,,,don't hold your breath .

...and I don't think anyone would have begrudged him a glass or two in celebration either..maybe he did look a bit shattered.

I would have thought everyone realised he'd been out injured for most of the season, but the fact that he managed those 4 goals in 8 starts and a couple of short sub. apps. does show that he can still cut it. Besides, being a striker isn't just about scoring yourself. Brett Ormerod (recognised by many as a good pairing with James Beattie (who did score goals ) only managed 11 goals from 98 apps. in over 4 seasons with Saints. Your own stats. show that Connolly hasn't played full season - or even half seasons, but he can still put in good performances. I'd like to think (and I'm sure you would also ) ...see him fully fit, available for selection and scoring goals next season.

he played 4 games from season start (in Lamberts absence) before being injured himself. after several weeks he returned and came off the bench 3 times scoring once. He then sustained a more serious injury and was out for several months. When he returned he made 3 (very short sub apps,) and scored once, and finally came into the side after Barnard was injured....played 4 games from the start and scored twice, and was unfortunate not to score another, (as was seen) when he beat the (Plymouth ?) goalie all ends up... but hit the bar from a long way out. Some argue he is injury-prone and (at 33) he certainly has had his share, but he is in another class to all others in the squad. For me, like Pahars, I'd keep him as long as he could still run, because IF he stayed fit... I'd consider 15-20 goals in the CCC to be quite possible, aside from his obvious influence on the pitch as a role model for younger players. In total for season: started 8 games, came on as sub,(very short apps.) 6 times = 4 goals. Not Bad, eh?

Yet another example of " the media image" not really portraying the person's real personality. Nice gesture, how many others responded in the same way, I wonder ?

and good riddance. Can we have some REAL football please. CCC sounds more appetising.

I'd be looking at a big striker. NOTHING WRONG with Ricky, but he's been fortunate with few injuries , a VG scoring record and good form..BUT if anything were to happen (God forbid) ...we'd have no big man up front. I still think that Jaidi has some shelf life, but I'd hate to be suddenly forced to look for a big centre back ...in February 2012. We need a 6'4" centre back (alongside Fonte), preferably with some pace and a good head and built to the dimensions of a brick outhouse . Martin and Seabourne will (hopefully) improve in the future, but one lacks real skill and the other League experience at a higher level. Odd hint. Although we seem to be "overloaded" with goalies and several juniors, too...I'd still be looking for a potential long-term replacement for KD. I'm sure NA has this is mind (being a former goalie himself) but somehow I don't see Bart as the "real thing " - especially if we get back to the Prem. in the next two seasons. Many Prem.sides have ONE (if not TWO ) goalies with international experience).

.....and he (Dale Stephens) left Oldham as their leading scorer --10 goals. Not a Lallana but one of the better L1 midfielders. I think NA has deal lined up for him. N'Guessan (not really seen) will go back to Leicester...especially as Les (quoted On Solent) as saying we will be introducing some young talent next season. He'll have no chances, considering NA has already signed Forte.

Mmm. Leicester as favourites - goes along with my earlier prediction.

Mmmm...another 2 years as Bart's reserve doesn't sound very promising does it ?

That's my impression, too. If we go up next season, then he'll be a Premiership player 2012/13... and still under 20. If not ....then another good season with a mediocre Saints side ...and he will be on the move. I'm going for a VG Saints showing ...and that he'll still be with us May 2012.

I think you're wrong on that one. I expect him to be a big influence next season. There is a big more variety in CCC and I think he will adapt well. He does pop up with a goal-scoring flair more often than we think ( 9 league + 2 cup) and he didn't play the whole season, and seems to have learned a lot about the English game after a career in Brazil / Italy.

well you know..I'm great on conspiracy theories ...BUT not this one. Saints seem to keep a low profile on player info. We all thought Connolly, Schneiderlin and Holmes were out for the rest of the season, but his "cameo" on Saturday proved he recoverd quicker than any of us thought, and it showed. outside chance ; he may "move" to one of the big 3 but I'd expect to see a " loan back for the season " if that happened.

I genuinely think that if we can overcome the " Saints Hoodoo " namely - a poor start to the season, then we can mount a good challenge for the top six - even automatic promotion...though I expect (as NA has stated ) 2 or 3 " big name " additions to a basically unchanged Saints squad.) Although they deserve promotion too, I'd be glad to see Huddersfield miss out this time. They were far too good this season and I hate to have to compete with them again. I really can't see Brighton sustaining a full season in CCC and perhaps only a re-vamped West Ham will pose a threat of the "soon to be relegated " Prem. sides . Very few sides relegated from Prem. make it back up the first season after "re-structuring " and despite the parachute payments, most of that money goes to paying the huge contracts that some Prem. players have. Some of the better CCC sides still have the same basic squads from 2-3 seasons ago and haven't changed out enough, and may hit problems early season. You can tell that by how many of them will invest /or not /during the summer window. I think Leicester may be a good outsider for the title. Despite his " removal" the England job (his successor McLaren was far worse)... "Svennis" Eriksson is a good manager and will be sure to put out a good squad next season.

Thanks also Saints John. Only managed one trip to SMS this year (Swindon 4-1) but can still celebrate my 50 years as a fan with another promotion. 1959-60, 1965-66, 1977-78 and now 2010-11. Great to hear all the celebrations first hand, and say Adam Blackmore does well to convey the enthusiasm with interviews.

which is pretty ridiculous...How many stewards would you need to control a celebratory crowd of over 30,000 ?

I think there is a pretty clear distinction between ; (a) a pitch invasion by hooligans wanting to interrupt the game / protest a referee's decision, etc..and (b) a "non-violent" expression of enthusiasm and celebration after the final whistle at the end of the season.

well said Yorkie, I agree 100%. looking at the different clubs in the mix this season, I wonder how long their squads / good form will hold. With NA's " ..2 or 3 new players " QUOTE,...... I'd take us to go for it. Top six and an automatic place if all goes very well.

I think you missed the point I was making....because my argument was not about the 15% chance, but that the teams that are relegated are inevitably those newly-promoted clubs who are suddenly thrust into games against established sides who can boast 6-8 internationals, or like Chelsea / Man.U .... a bench with 50+ international caps sitting on it. I'm not looking at stats. but many sides (promoted) are totally unprepared (mentally and fiscally) are become cannon-fodder for the top six and mid-table sides who have learned to adapt and survive. They talk about the £60 million they may get from the TV rights but multi million pound signings + the salaries to go with them soon eat up that money. (imagine a " small squad " of say 25 players getting between 15K / 50 K a week, and work that out over a season, and even record attendances don't cover a fraction of that, and they are relegated almost bankrupt;alal Leeds, Charlton, Hull and even SAINTS (c.2005) The " survival " is not a mathematical problem, but a cultural one. There is no league in the world like the Prem. and only the fittest survive..even if they do have good players it's no guarantee.

I don't think many of us would expect "this team " to be represented in the Prem in 2-3 years time - would we ? I think the "squad " will be about the same next season..maybe 2-3 additions, and perhaps not all the " regulars" who played this season, but certainly good enough to get in to the top six ..or better - if we can maintain this current form. Premiership ..? If we go up straight away (like Norwich) ...I expect to see Fonte, Richardson ..and even Harding still regulars. Lallana, Stephens, even Chaplow in midfield..and perhaps Chamberlain and Schneiderlin - if they both stay. Lambert (and Connolly-if over his injury problems) ..would justifiably be rewarded with one Prem. season...and monitor the outcome. Kelvin Davis (maintaining form?) would still be first choice, though I'd expect (ex goalie Adkins to find a new custodian)- not Bart. those empty spaces ..would be the investments needed and with Nicola Cortese doling out some Liebherr family money to consolidate our Premiership place.