david in sweden

You need luck to win Leagues but I can't believe that we've had the good fortune of the last few weeks. Obviously, Howe is a fool if he doesn't leave B'mouth, and owes it to himself to try it out at a higher level. Charlton are fools for sacking Parkinson. A very good manager (another former Saints junior who didn't make the grade in our Div.1 days) because he had a bad run and a few poor results... Two pieces of luck no-one could have predicted. Now both clubs have to "break in " new managers, who will want to bring in new players on a limited budget, and get caught up in the same player-race as everyone else.

well I am the previous generation Sir woody and I can tell you the 65-66 promotion season was pretty hot ..and the following period when Ron was King !

the transfer deadline is end of january ..are you suggesting ...?

yes it all looks good on paper - just don't sc*ew up Saints ! this is the sort of stupid Rochdale, Brentford type fixture that can be a heartbreaker....

The history books hold all the records, so to be fair it's hard for most fans to relate to 70 year old achievements -especially as we tend to relate to players we know of, and /or have today. The average fan in their late 20's...can recall the hignlights of MLT's career, someone in their forties, may recall the FA cup win 1976 seniors in retiremnet can recall the early 1960's with Paine and Sydenham, the first promotion to Div.1 (Prem as was ).The legends surrounding Ron Davies..and of course there are those who even remember the greatness of Charlie Wayman, but this mean little to the younger fans, and the lack of documentary evidence; TV , videos of players and games make it more difficult to compare. In living memory ..is a good phrase, so for those of us who were mature enough to appreciate the success and glory since ..say back to the 1970's... then it's Saints all the way, with only 'Arry R. giving some respectability to Pompey's recent history. Going back to the record books for the period 1920-1950..FA Cup, League 1 Champions and the likes of Jimmy Dickinson...then Saints were always a poor second.

All it needs now is for someone to poach Gus Poyet from Brighton , and we'll have it made ..or ...?

I think Preston did have .." someone " ? I recall reading that Man U. recalled him...the day after Darren got the boot ..!

Just thought to myself, what a happy man Markus would have been - had he still been with us ...

Ferguson ..that's surely the kiss of death to their promotion hopes, unless his Dad loans him Michael Owen.

haven't we had this theme... several times before Nick ? I'm not dis-satisfied so far, but we do need extra cover in midfield, when Puncheon eventually goes, and another striker for good measure. We're still only 50% way through the season and a lot can happen before May. I can recall a time a few seasons ago, when we had SIX injured central defenders...and when we signed Brett Ormerod, he was the only half-fit striker of the four we had on the books at the time (we had to use Jo Tessem as an emergency CF) TWO more players please Nicola..then if we can't get up with that squad then we don't deserve to go up .

I don'y know why people are taking the pizz, since he's come we've had one of the most successful spells in my 50 years fanship. Let him say whatever he wants, if Burley and his successors had half Nigel's enthusiasm we wouldn't be sitting in L1 today.

Mmm thinking about it.....NAH !!!!!! No way. IMO a team in their position ...is there to be beaten by anyone.

and Nigel is the driver, (and he hasn't had to use much of NC treasure chest yet, either).

...and for once we don't have to think about the money, either. £10 million sounds a lot, which of course it is, but in retrospect with a deal like, 5 mill up front and the rest later we only end up getting screwed..IMHO .10 mill. isn't enough for a future England player, which he may well become, and is chicken feed to clubs who readily pay 15-20 mill.for foreign imports who rarely make the grade in the Prem. To the "big clubs " I say, put your money where your mouth is, otherwise put up ..or shut up. If we (as NC says) will become a Prem.club again. it's about time we started thinking like one... as long as Alex and his parents are OK with the situation, he should stay. More performances like these recent will only go to increase his potential as a Saints player , or an even bigger money sell in the future.

NO!... I don't either, but I think one man kicking himself must be Oldham manager Paul Dickov. It must have seemed a good deal when he loaned goalie Ben Amos from MAN:UTD,..last Friday. Although only 20, Amos is one of Sir Alex's up and coming talents and even had an outing in goal in a Euro Cup game v. Valencia earlier in the season. Last night 's 6-0 cold shower must have given everyone something to think about. Don't know if he was at fault more than his non-existent defence, but it brought back sad memories of Saints one-time youth keeper Keith Grainger. In May 1986, whilst still recovering from an operation he found himself the only keeper on Saints' books after Peter Shilton went off on holiday and Saints prematurely released reserve keeper Phil Kite. Still only 17 at the time, Keith found himself standing between the posts for the last two games - BOTH AWAY - at Everton and Spurs. We were slaughtered in both matches 1-6 at Goodison and 3-5 at Tottenham. Keith later moved on, but suffered a severe injury after a few matches which no amount of operations could remedy and he was forced to retire from the game. He became a respected coach for the Academy in recent years, but memories like that must haunt you all your life. ''Pity Amos didn't stay at Old Trafford, Sir Alex might even have considered him for the FA cup tie later this month- if he had ! .

TBF, he's always played in Latin countries. The temperatures are rarely down to zero, half of their season is players in blazing sunshine and almost anyone can break into a sweat in running 20 metres. Having worked with many different nationalities (here in Sweden) I can tell you that the " language problem" is often pretty low on the list. Getting to know the "job culture " of the workplace, adjusting to the climate and adjustng to other people's food habits take more of a precedence. NA is right in suggesting that the " football culture shock " in England has surprised Guly, but he's really muscled down to it and has scored 5 times in the last 4 games ..and given a few assists. 8 goals since coming here is comparable with most others in the squad, and so I don't really care what Merson thinks of his footballing ability..anyone with that striking-rate would be first on my team sheet.

Keepers take time to develop. I'm always a bit suspicious of "young keepers" they have "too much " still to learn. A striker may be finished by 30, a midfielder at 33 ..defenders can go to 35/6 but goalies start to mature at 30. (Van der Sar is past 40 still a top name.) My fan days go back to the 1960's with 30 plussers like Ron Reynolds 32, and John Hollowbread 31 (when joining). Peter Shilton was 33 when he joined us, and later played in World Cup when past 40. His successor Tim Flowers never fulfilled his real potential (even after 251 games) before he moved to Blackburn (then 27) and got the England shirt afterwards. Beasant was 34 and Burridge was 36 when they came and, Paul Jones was past 30 when he joined us the now legendary Antti Niemi (IMHO second only to Shilton ) ..was also over 30. Right now ..Kelvin is King. Bart has lots of potential, but either he ..or Forecast need a loan-out (though not this season), and some games under their belts. Bart should wait his time, he still has lots to learn... like not hanging a red towel in the side netting and provide the opposition with a natural target..as happened in one game. Don't get me wrong I think he's got great potential, ....but I don't see him playing v. Man Utd. Do you?

BUT ...we don't have a Reserve side anymore..what are you trying to say ?

----- and get a sell-on clause that will stick this time !

well that's not our problem - is it ?

Suddenly I find myself agreeing with Alps AND Turkish ...is this a record ? Chaplow already here. Lallana is an old /new signing. Best of the lot. Guly still to sign when his wife gets her passport. Puncheon may still go, but if Millwall can't afford him and Pardew takes someone else , then he'll stay. So do we need more. AOC is a great prospect, but as NA pointed out he's not upto 90 mins. every game, and he's often running on empty in the last quarter. Just now, we need someone who can run 10,000 meters a game.. and last the pace for 95 mins. I say YES. Two will do for me . A good tough-tackling midfielder who won't pass to the opposition every other move. and another striker. Not a Lambert clone necessarily, but someone with a bit of height who can put himself about and knows where the back of the net is . CCC here we come ! that'll do it for me. Good cover for every position in case the unexpected happens, and a bit of competition for places.

logically I would agree with you Nick G, but ...we aren't half way through the season yet, and we are still too dependent on a handful of key players. I don't have to name them, but if any one of them were to be out ; injury, long suspensions then we could seriously go off the rails. Look at what happened after Barnard was suspended , and when Lallana was out injured for several weeks. Connolly positvely affected almost every game he was subbed into, but we can't rely on him if his injuries constantly keep him out. If it was me ...I'd buy the best new players we can get, and then use 3 subs. in every game to keep the competition high. we'd not be short of good reserves, and could safely change the pattern whenever we want.

Didn't anyone figure out that ...our " reserves " were better than their "reserves" ? Holloway decided to give in before they started, and most likely had his " defeated speech " already. His criticism the home crowd was pathetic. What did he expect? Guess he thought that if his " first team " were defeated it would harm their confidence - Ask Pardew ?