david in sweden

you're right Alpine..it does give cause for concern...hope it doesn't affect AP's overall strategy for the coming season .....(wringing of hands and moaning)

He has to mention him somewhere ..Pulis' contract goes out next month... and I don't think we're likely to give a new 5 year deal ! I'm only guessing you understand...I'm not ITK on this one ...

and no two people's body's are the same either.....

OK everyone ..calm down ..Ricky's back !

Agree with that Eric. Its all about fitness and match practice. ...and trying out players and new formations without the risk of losing points. Some people on this thread seem to be calling for a revolt because AP is trying something new. We know that last season's formation worked..but we have to have aplan B and here's the time to try it ..

Mmm..taken over team selection from Pardew ..have they ?

Ambassador -maybe? DOF - (sorry) definitely NOT! Coach for the juniors...Mmmm good idea. Dave Puckett hads been in that job for some years, and Doddsy is coaching the Academy, would be good to have a new generation of Golden Oldies. WE (who recall Paine davies and Channon ..are in many cases approaching "pensiondom" , why not let's have some local hereos.

As we were one of the highest scoring teams in L1 last season, I don't think we can say we are SHORT of fire-power, but IMHO what we do need is COVER for the likes of Lambert and Barnard. An on-form and fit Connolly will be a joy to watch..as will Lallana but I do agree we need a pacy forward.

it means ...SOCCER !

PLUS ..you might also have mentioned that Nick is one (if not only) So'ton born players to have the post of team captain - for a number of seasons -during his career. He also had the ability to play different roles and played in at least 4 diff. postional roles in his one-club career - with Saints. 1973-1987 I think it is of interest - YES!

I don't necessarily think it has to be HIM, but I do think that it's the sort of move that AP might make to get extra firepower up front. IF it's not Benjani, then I still expect " a name with Prem. experience ".

Lots ? Haven't checked the lists after end of season but most sides probably had at least 1 or 2.

well if you start with Ostenstad, his record of 33 goals in 92 starts was quite comparable with many others. Though bought in as a makeshift midfielder, Solsvedts contributed with 5 goals in 28 games before he fell out of favour with Hoddle and was freed. Jo Tessem, criticised by many as a poor substiute for the injured Beattie, when in fact he was a midfielder with one of the best strike rates 77apps. 16 goals. As sub. he scored more points-winning goals than most. There has been much "non-footballing " criticism of Claus Lundekvam of late and I am not going to defend any of his misdemeanours, but as Saints player for almost 10 years his record is almost legend. With over 400 apps. he is one of the top 10 perfomers in SFC history. He survived the culling over evry manager since Dave Jones until he quit . The record of the two Svenssons is well-documented, but the later acquistions Nilsson, and Östlund never really satisfied their potential. If I used the word Nordic instead of Scandinavian, then few could deny that the list of keepers who were better than Antti Niemi would be very short. I was not advocating we sign more Scandinavians, or any other nationality but remembering as I do the arrival of our firstoverseas signing Ivan Golac, it's difficult to recall a time when we had so few non.Brits in the sqaud.

yes of course Connolly has played 41 times for the Republic of Ireland ..despite having been born in ..Willesden in London.

I agree, but I started with thread with the observation that we had so few overseas players now, compared with 5-6 years ago. AND ..NO ..I don't necessarily think that is a bad thing ......

Totally agree. Some older players can go on almost indefinately. We have a good history of dependable types who still DAGJFU at 35+. If Murty is fully fit ..in a months time, I can't think of a better investment than a one year contract as " back-up " for the defence (no pun intended).

Not that I'm complaining..but have you noticed that there are suddenly very few non-British players in the squad. Unless I've msised someone.. Jaidi, Fonte and Schneiderlin are the only first team regulars not born in the UK. We have two non-British goalies; Bart and Pernecky..but aside from that no-one. Of course this helps when FIFA / UEFA introduce the new rule about having more home-growns in the squad, but it's certainly a change from ...not so many years ago, when the team was awash with Scandinavians.

suddenly from being a team with older, experienced players at the back ..it's become a lot younger and methinks that KD would like a bit more experience in front of him. Aside from Jaidi..Butterworth is the secong oldest defender....at 30. Ted Bates old quote was always..." the right blend of youth and experience " ..well we've got a lot of the youth, but need an older head or two also.

The sorry truth is that having spent 450K on a L1 class RB , we are no further ahead in solving our problem. The only consolation being that ..had it been September, we'd have the problem had 4 months longer. If Butterfield is the " obvious" replacement..if so ...who's cover for him ? We started with Murty last season..and his injury was a career-breaker. I still think AP's solution is correct. Proven players at CCC / L1 level who haven't reached a peak yet...back to the drawing board Alan, and tell Mr.Cortese to bring his cheque book again. It's still only pre-season training....oh and BTW who's the cover for Ricky Lambert going to be ?

.has now signed for Peterborough. Those who remember him as a good Academy prospect were a bit disappointed when he moved on to Yeovil, which was his home town anyway.but he looked like getting a real career when he moved to Notts. Forest but lost his way amongst the manager changes there, and was released earlier in the year. Still only 26, now he's signed for Posh ..looks like they got a good deal.

read the OS more . Most of them were schoolboy players and played U16s last season, but 4 of them are now in as first year Academy students. At least half a dozen were more or less "regulars " for the U18/ reserves and A.Pulis has been included in case any Premiership scouts turn up to watch the game !

one suggestion was that ....at one time.... we were about to sign his father... .as manager, and we didn't........ and Stoke did. Apparantly Pulis (Snr.)......... didn't consider that his son was Premiership material ..and didn't sign him.! Bit of poor judgment there , eh ?

Wow what a catch that would be . Let's put our hands together for Diego ! but there is no truth in the rumour that he is to be sub. wicket keeper for Hampshire.

Interesting . Highlights the difference between the quick fix and long-term planning. Many sites are overloaded with fans who want to sack the manager after 3 defeats or even because we don't win by enough goals and the footbal is boring. Many jobs (outside of football) are filled by people who have no real interest in their work, don't follow instructions to 100%, take long time-outs during the working hours and only look forward to the end of the workday. The mindset of football players and managers should be exactly opposite. But on the pitch everyone is visible and can be easily criticised by all. NC has a long term plan, and it might take some time for everyone to see it. So... .we don't have a Board..so what! ... as a one-man show NC has the background, vision and control over the purse strings. I don't need to know what everyone has for breakfast, and don't get uptight because we haven't bought anyone since July 1st. I'd prefer to get a good signing on the 31st than try and placate some of the restless souls on this site. 99% of us don't have NC's skill or acumen in business anyway.

Deutschland, Deutschland öber allas !!!! 4 - NIL against ARGENTINA.... How on earth did they let the Argies get NIL ? Maybe it was the hand of Gott!......if so he was holding all the Aces.