david in sweden

Looks that way perhaps, but IMHO we need TWO of every position ..in case of injuries, suspensions, loss of form etc....we will never know what might have happened had Murty played all season. He began so well...and that injury finished him for the season. If we have that scenario in any other position we must have good cover EVERYWHERE.

Of course, you're right Ponty..this could be just another rumour, but he fits the pattern that I (and others) had written about earlier, namely good young players (mostly under 25), with some League experience playing in teams that they are TOO good for, are soon out of contract..or available for a small fee. Whether this one comes off or not..time will tell... but AP probably had a little note book all season with names of players who gave us a hard time when we played them... Seabourne and Puncheon (OK over 25) are already here..and a few more will doubtless follow....together with a couple of CCC players ...and as I predict AT LEAST one Prem.player.

of course that's correct , but I think we will see a couple of extra defenders signed as cover anyway.

you may be correct, but life is full of such decisions although in my 50 +years as a fan the number of " regretable deals " can be counted on one hand.. Ted Bates said the only deal he ever regretted was Martin Chivers moving to Spurs. As it was Chivers was Englands first choice CF within a season ...and the move was a British record deal at the time, and we were lounging at the bottom of Div.1 ..and there was some consolation in the fact that his replacement was a teenager named M. Channon ! (who made a name for himself, too.:smt041 No-one can wish them ill because they go..or are released, I hope they can make a living at the game they obviously love...just as long as they don't play too well if we ever meet their new team(s) !

Actually I don't disagree with your comments either Alpine, but to be fair, Perry may have a good season left in him (as indeed may.. a recovered Murty). Lloyd James has never really had a chance to prove himself but is not good at RB and not first choice for midfield either and as for ..Thomas (as most admit) he really doesn't seem to fit in anywhere...and there's better out there. IMHO ..AP wants young hopefuls; Seabourne, Aaron Martin, Mills who will be around for 4-5 seasons and not need to replaced in 12 months time. (As would above). With a clear out of over a dozen players I expect to see several free's come into both defence and midfield and AT LEAST one more striker (of class) maybe even a former Prem. player..or two.. and a few from the Academy. If we were still looking at the released list on 31st July and worrying about it I might agree, but that won't happen and by 1st August most above will be forgotten names. Most of all we need cover for the unexpected..and thats most important.

Exactly " returning to their clubs " is part of the deal..whether or not we go back and ask for more is another question. Antonio maybe ...(tough for Papa Waigo-with the language an' all) but it was fun while it lasted.

agree +1

We had Rickie Lambert on the pitch this season - not enough ? ..you mean you want ...MORE ? HE wants MORE ... (adapted from Oliver Twist by Chas. Dickens.)

I wasn't singling you out in malice, Alpine. Your record of posts is ..legend, and I think you get more personal mentions than almost anyone else. That was just another. No harm intended.

everybody..for goodness sake. We 've had a very positive statement from Nicola Cortese (around 98% are pleased least IMO - even from Alpine .Well done Sir.) endorsing Alan Pardew as manager and the real substance of a promotion-challenging side for next season and the promise of a few more signings to bolster the squad, (which will surely be reduced by free's and players OOC) Personally I don't care what the Echo, Solent, The Mail or MLT or Lawrie Mac may have said ..or written ..from hearsay... or, in the heat of the moment. It's bad history.FOR GOODNESS SAKE EVERYONE..let's leave it alone and get on with your life. I'm sure there are a number of conspiracy therorists out there who won't... until they find every last misconception or lie.. but can't we please look forward and not dwell on everyone's little faults. Nothing is more likely to undermine pride and confidence if we still have this type of thread ongoing in August.

that was the unbelievable thing about him..he could time his runs and seemed to be "up" for seconds...but he (Ron) still seemed to think that he was a better player on the ground. Anyone who saw his 4 goal blitz of Villa in 1967 will recall his MLT-like close control beating one defender after another and scoring from the narrowest of angles.

I think either of them will get murdered next season. (memories of Derby....) Over the season both Forest and Leicester were better sides.

..and hopefully nailed down the lid, too !:smt021

can the Echo really afford to continue "trashing " the Saints and keep all its readership ? judging by this threads response, the fans are around 98% behind Cortese!

out of work managers DO go and watch other teams play - and can do so without worrying about team selection and which subs. to use. but anyway what manager wouldn't want to watch Ricky Lambert on form ?

.might have had something to do with the volcanic ash problem..? last week some countries were still closing airports " on a day to day " basis.

Agree with that Alpine.(.goodness am I agreeing with you ...AGAIN?) I think everyone was brainwashed into thinking that the " MLT saviour " storyline was the only way out. ..and the xenophobic " we don't want a bunch of foreigners running our club " mentality was wrong...thank goodness they are (say I ). Marcus Liebherrs coffee money is probably more than Pinnacle could have raised... at the time.

Agree ABSOLUTELY !!!!!! The power-crazed media seems to think they run the (football) world and some of the issues brought out by the media are nothing short of scandalous. Well Done Nicola Cortese who gets on with his job and won't bow and scrape to every hack journalist who wants an "exclusive" storyline.The man has style and I admire that. He doesn't feel he has to respond to every quote. Much has been made of his Feb. statement (not satisfied) statement which generated into a media lynch mob for Alan Pardew...not to mention the poor suckers who bet the rent on Pardew's " certain sacking "..once again the bookies are laughing all the way to the bank. Marcus Liebherr's "boycott" of the last game was not necessarily a statement of discontent with Pardew but most likely the fact that many countries were " still " needing to cancel airtraffic even upto last week because of the volcanic ash problem. We are, I'm sure all pleased to get such a positive response and even the Daily Mail who published the worst libel of the season with the " Pardew for the sack " story last week have been forced to backpedal by stating that he now has a 12 month stay of execution (my words) whereas I think that if AP " fails again " - he will walk of his own accord. For me Cortese is " his own Man " and not afraid to say FU to the scandalous press.

I heard that ...RL rejected him because he thought DD had "...an attitude " ......WOW what a good judge of a ´footballer he was ...:finga:

-and learn a few things

I stand corrected ....Ostemobor has a contact till the end of the season. Neither Thomas OR Harding are RB... but I think they have filled that role at some time or another this season - haven't they ? Harding is LB ....and Thomas is what is unkindly called a utilty player but I wish we had more of them.

MY goodness ! ...not only can he cross a ball into the box BUT he also passes to his own men..we've gotta sign him. :smt081

it's addressed to all Saints fans. What has been heard (of late) from that "unmentionable TV person,( FD)" who is /was / tried to avoid admitting to being ...a Director... of that hugely indebted club down the road. I seem to recall that he gloated over our fate every week last season, I'm sure he can't be quite so ****y now ?? What does he have to say for himself now, please? Any news /comments ..?