david in sweden

.and thats the picture. No great surprise, though. Our own developing players seem to fit it OK ..providing they come into a " settled side " Channon, MLT, Shearer, Bridge, Walcott, Bale etc, etc, but buying in a foreign teenage "talent" and expecting them to become Euro player of the season just doesn't happen. I don't think I ever read so much criticism of a new (young) player as I recall for Van Damme. Now it seems he's developed into a tough SOB and thats what Wolves are buying. Schneiderlin came as very young (18) --? and is just beginning to develop..and we will sell him. After France's exit from the World Cup - expect to see their new manager put him in the full side next season and he'll become a star. Buy them when they're experienced YES !... by all means. Golac, Östenstad, Pahars, Lundekvam, Tessem...but youngsters coming ín aren't going to set the team alight on their own. Many of the young "foreign " prospects we had looked good to begin with, but rarely make the grade. The answer - get a good, proven foreign player in --if you must but otherwise.. BUY BRITISH !:smt038

well of course we did actually get enough points to finish in the top six....and were the only club in the league to start with -10 points. A moral victory - at least .

.NO your not wrong, think I read the same history book...........:smt038.

.and for a darn sight more than a measly £1 million ......!:smt093 especially if mentioned in the same breath as Man.U and Arsenal ...

It's not MINE particulary ! It's actually for the benefit of those fans who follow the Swedish season and many of whom have requested updates from here. Very few people look at Overseas Saints site regularly, this is only a polite reminder. If it troubles you - ignore it !

because of the half season break...If you are a follower of the Swedish game look at Overseas Saints for up date. If not ..read no further ......

its the half season break, and a little longer this year. The short Swedish summer - usually has a 2 week break, but this year is a mind boggling 6 weeks because of the W.C. in S.A. However, it already looks like a two horse race for the Swedish title between Helsingborg 35 points and Malmö 30 points, they lead the rest of the best by 5 points. The midtable scramble to keep pace is hard and last years two hot shots Gothenburg and AIK are both in the bottom 4, and now look very ordinary. Followers the Swedish game won't recognise too many familiar names amongst the crop of newcomers, and whilst Anders Svensson is still driving Elfsborgs midfield- the club is preparing to sell their star player Bajrami to FC Twente in Holland. The best internationals still around are in England; Seb. Larsson (Birm), Elmander (Bolton) and Elm (Fulham) M.Olsson (Blackburn) whilst after the summer the new Swedish manager will start from scratch with a new, younger line-up. Brommapojkarna (the Academy based side) are the best placed Stockholm side and have got some attention by " loaning back " a future star who they sold to Man.City. Keep an eye out for John Guidetti - it won't be long before he's in contention for a place in the Premiership. The Swedes have got themselves hyped up on the World Cup, which is surprising since they didn't qualify themselves, and many fans are already suffering withdrawal symptoms and have to wait till July 17th for their next game .

...OR the two match-winning goals v. Everton in the Great Escape season ...

PLUS ..there is always the "other player" factor. The old adage ..sign 'em in pairs isn't ancient history (not at this level anyway), and we already have Lee Barnard from Southend, maybe that will tip the scales. If I were manager, one of my questions to any new player would be .. "who's the best player at **(your old club) ..now that we've signed you ?. You might get some interesting answers.

There are always " good " players - even in a relegated side..and they are anxious to move on whilst others are glad not to be released. AP, Wilkins and Wally D. are well-acquainted with players at this level and surely know who they are recommending that NC should sign.

tbh.. I rather like Cortese's undercover style. He doesn't play the media game, and totally ignores rumours and gets on with his job. He doesn't have to report to anyone and " discreet bidding " makes sure we are not "guzumpt-ed." I have to say the hysteria surrounding every " Saints want to sign " media hype is enough to give you a heart attack. NOT running to the press every time we think we might want to make a bid for someone is a sound idea. It's nobody's business who we sign till it's made public and it's obvious that the HCDAJFU thread has little or no effect on the way in which AP selects his prospective signings. Although I fully expect AP to sign at least one " older, experienced player" and even a former Prem. name the bulk of his new signings are likely to be English-based players between 21-26 with some league experience in CCC or L1...although I do expect either Antonio or Papa Waigo to return...but not both. NO I don't have any inside sources. I simply study history and keep stats. If you think I'm wrong ..wait till August and see.

yes I heard it .GOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLL !

yes but ... I tried to get the answer to this before but...isn't their FB Stephen Crainey also a former Saint ?... .but when... and under whose management ?

of course ..we have let him go ...and I would never compare him with M.Svensson..but my point was that players with his experience aren't easy to find and only IF...he got back to full fitness would AP be likely to want him as a reserve full back. We still haven't got a genuine right back with James, Otsemobor and Thomas gone ..and even if Calderon proves to be the best overseas RB since Ivan Golac ..we have no cover for that position should he get injured. As it is now I just hope he can get fit and find himself a club..but if AP is impressed with his pre-season (as offered) then we have part of the puzzle.

NOTE: Having spent a bit of time recalling these old films, look at column on right of other related videos, Cup finals and Internationals from 1950's and 60's including AMAZING ENGLAND Eng v. N.Ireland 8-3 (Paine hattrick) and Eng.V World colour film of Englands 1963 Centenary game 2-1 win over Rest of the World (Paine scores Engalnds first) great stuff for the oldies to recall...and for the younger fans who've only ever heard the "names" of Greaves, Hunt, Law and Charlton.

...sadly because everyone did then. No film star types in those days, and times were hard.. in the Depression in the 1930's and after the war..(you must have read about that) when there was still food rationing four / five years after it was over. Even the teenagers looked like old men. Nutritional diets and training schedules were a thing of the future ... (a pint of beer and a steak dinner was like a feast.)

I agree ...some people seem to forget that he is as much Saints as almost anyone.. we have / have had.. on staff and he was " forcibly sold " (and cheap at the price) in order to have money to pay the other players last summer (before ML / NC appeared on the scene). As others have mentioned, he's not world-class but as good as anyone we have in CM and one season in L1 ..and the prospect of better days in CCC are better than sitting on the Wolves bench...given the situation - I'm sure the clubs can come to a 50/50 deal or something of the sort. Wolves can't complain too much they " stole him" in the first place. Sign him, say I !

I would think that almost everyone would be on holiday now, with pre-season training starting again in a few weeks. I'm sure that potential new signings are also on holiday ..and things will start to happen when NC has organised the deals, and AP is back to be photographed with them in their new shirt.

I think we all agree on that, but it's nice that Pardew hasn't closed the door totally and has offered GM the chance to train and do more rehab. work with SFC and " have another chat " later. Good idea AP, he hasn't just said ...sorry you're OOC, injured, or too old ..F. off ! For my part - if GM lost a stone, got fit and looked strong in pre-season, we could do worse than have him as a reserve .. on some sort of contract..and it could be useful to have someone who might play a dozen good games next season in emergencies - as Perry did this last year. He is a good leader-type (like Kelvin) with tons of experience, and could help the younger "new squad signings" a lot. If we don't re-sign him, there are several southern-based L1/L2 sides who would be glad to take him.

VERY Interesting GM, As a fan of over 50 years (and a history nerd) it's fun to see these old clips. A few items refer to the period when my late father was an active fan, but what a pity there isn't more of this old Pathe-type material available. Many younger fans must be tired of us "oldies " going on about former heroes, but it's good to see the players skill and enthusiasm of the fans in that era. Re yr. clips (highlighted) there is also several more games available see library column on the right. Includes Saints V. Man Utd Semi final. A game I attended at Villa Park in April 1963 ! .

my mistake ...even better !

oH come on, let's not get sucked up into that argument.[-X

next week..the competition to see which tea cups they should buy for the kitchen staff break time......WOW !