david in sweden

Not sure that AP really is interested..it may only be a " space filler " on the sports page.

Well, one game at a time and all that, but with only 13 home games played so far...and ....still 10 to go, that's a possible 30 points........PLUS whatever we can get from the away fixtures . Difficult to guess what the 6th placed team will get but ..a massive loss of form from the 4th, 5th and 6th clubs would help

sounds nice but no help for we "exiles" unless it suddenly comes up on U -tube .!!!

PERHAPS .......it may depend on how many of them can stay solvent until May. Any team forced into Administration would have their 10 point deduction too.

Rest - NO !............subbing him after he's got his regular goal - MAYBE ? I think most players wouldn't look at it as being rested. Success is all about confidence and even if he's a bit tired he's consistant because after over 40 games he's never gone more than 3 games without scoring. He might lose that enthusiasm if sat on the bench. Let well enough alone. If Barnard has found some form, and IF ..Connolly is in the way back then we have other dimensions but I'd leave him alone -if he's happy to continue as is..

inevitably, with all those cup games etc, we have had a game or two in hand on others but the Wycombe game on Tuesday will be our 17th away game (and only 6 left), whereas we have to date only played 13 games at home....If we have any chance of a late challenge for a play-off place it should stand us in good stead to have those 4 extra games at home.

Don't be fooled by the height factor ...we statisticians might remind you that; Charlie Wayman, Derek Reeves, George O'Brien, Terry Paine, the Wallace Brothers, Bobby Stokes, Steve Moran, and Marian Pahars ......were all under 5 '9" !

TRUE .....but not too many after that. Despite that result they didn't have a bad squad. I understood that their 1-7 thrashing (or whatever it was) didn't reflect all the play and they weren't THAT bad. (Bit like when we won 6-0 at Wolves and only had 7 shots the whole game). (But any manager who loses like that at HOME is sure to be for the chop). They were unlucky to go down last season - we were just plain awful.

He wasn't injured when he came but he was a bit overweight, and like many hadn't had a pre-season. Most reports I read (from the handful of games he did play) said he showed vision, could cross well and was a real leader type. August is along way off, and if Murty recovers fitness, he could be good for ONE more valuable season. It's obvious that AP had this possibility in mind when he loaned in Otsemobor as temporary cover. ** Many people recall that Peter Rodrigues - in a similar free move from Sheff.Wed.(1975) - really galvanised the Saints defence in the season we won the FA CUP, and but for a bad injury in the following year - he might have gone on much longer.

Many players are "rather average" until they find the right role in the right team. Famous example is Ron Davies, who after 2 seasons at Norwich, didn't rate himself very much and thought he was a better player on the ground, and was not a big scoring striker as such. Only when Ted Bates played him up front and he got on the end of Paine and Sydenhams' centres, did we see the making of the goal-legend we know. James Beattie's best seasons were those couple of years when he played alongside the much-maligned Brett Ormerod who tirelessly supplied him with assists throughout that period. After Beattie moved, there was no Ormerod to " feed him " ..and no big goal-scoring feats. He's back to being an average player - if that. IMHO Papa Waigo has lots of potential and a good coach can help him develop into a very good player - in the right role.

I agree, if he were to play as a real striker up front, his pace could turn defenders and with Antonio playing wide we'd create more chances for others.

There is always SOMEONE to "rubbish" even the best players, but in each case there is some logical explanation. Delap was ignored by successive managers, who played him in a utility role to cover injuries everywhere in the team, hence he never had a regular spot. He was mercilessly criticised (by well-known contributors on this site) for his " useless " long throws, but which Pulis (senior) made him into a terror force on his own. Quite simply, we never had strikers good enough to convert his efforts into goals. Fuller was a former 'arry favourite, good but overpaid and under played. Like Higginbotham both were worthy of better and didn't want CCC football. Andrew Davies (a good defender) was desperately sold (by RL) for survival money. Only Everton ever thought that Beattie was real Prem. material, and few have been convinced - even now, but he had his best days with us. The unfortunate Pericard may have talent but has been a " misfit " in every club he's moved to. Many players find success in one certain team at one time, Pulis (snr) - who was a candidate for Saints job ten years ago - has found the right combination and has a respectable League position to prove it.

Well yes, BUT..in an ideal world you'd play a few "older heads" alongside kids BUT ..a lot of our RESERVES are sitting on the bench every week, and AP isn't likely to risk Thomas, Mills or Perry in a stupid Reserve game when we need them for Cup games. There really aren't so other suitable players available. Connolly and Murty are out. Lancashire and Thomson out on loan, aside from Molyneaux and Pulis ...?? ...the rest.... is what you got.!

The FA may not like going back on its (original stupid idea in the first place) rule, but how about a ban if his new club is drawn against the old one. Most unlikley to happen, but seen as fair - as currently with loan players not playing in fixtures against their own club ? No favouritism, if the " new club" wins he can return in the next round etc, It's no worse than him scoring a hat-trick against his old team in a League game and helping to get the new club promoted !

Agree 100%. Without the aforementioned ML/NC , I don't know which league we'd be in and SMS would be an open-air concert arena. The club is very close to many hearts - even if some of the older players have long retired or, passed on to " the dressing room in the sky". It's OUR club, but we are customers, just like going to the cinema, or a supermarket. We don't own SMS, or control the money to run the club - but I'm glad we have owners who understand business and know how to handle money. Something that cannot be bought is the club's soul, and that remains in the hearts of every fan - whatever age they may be. The shirt issue is typical of a family squabble and will hopefully be resolved and everyone who DOESN'T want one ..doesn't have to buy it.

I agree with you MLG, teams change their kit and colours quite often nowadays. Looking back at old photos from the Saints Complete record 1885-1987, you see that the style /design changed all the time. The much-discussed "original shirt "would seem to be a good choice, but after that the style changed a lot. Later came the " quartered" model with WHITE shorts, and another variation with "halved" sections before we got the first stripes. Those original stripes looked like "prison pyjamas " compared with later styles. Shirts came with and without collars, long sleeves and short, full-button up fronts and others with only 3 buttons at the neck. A post WW2 programme sheet said Saints played in stripes and NAVY BLUE shorts. Button-up shirts disappeared around the mid 50's and T-shirt styles with V-neck and round neck became popular. My earliest memories (early 1960's) were of broad red stripes, short sleeved, round necked shirts. Lets not discuss the SHORTS, that were knee-length 100 years ago ..but looked more like jockey-shorts underwear in the 1970's. After which, all manner of advertising slogans hid almost all the stripes on the now-famous shirt with names emblazoned on like; Rank Xerox, Dimplex, Draper Tools,Sanderson, Friends Provident and Fly.Be Is this is to be a genuine, one-off anniversary model and "ad.-free" then something that resembles the original model would seem appropriate. - For season 2011-12, we can always revert to something else with stripes, or whatever, but it's a special occasion and IMHO we should have something than reminds people of the original 1885 model. It would certainly be a collectors item.

It's clearly difficult to keep fringe players match fit and yet still look to bring on younger talent. We see the big "drop-out " every year when the Academy lads either graduate to full pro contracts, OR get the boot and end up playing local league. The list is endless. Those who shine like diamonds in the U16 / U18 sides fail to make the transition to the "adult" sides. Look at the rave reviews players like;Ollie Lancashire and Simon Gillett got during their Academy days, but now..they aren't even worth a place on the bench and unlikely to have any future at SMS. We have to bring on the best youngsters we have. Players like Walcott and Bale, Lallana and James made it as teenagers and we must get more like them. If it occasionally means that our Reserve side gets thumped 0-7, then so be it, that's how they learn.

a good cup game and a match for each other for the first hour. Pity about the result. Had fumbling James let those chances drop a bit kinder we could have been 3-0 at HT. Papa Waigo and Antonio looked forceful going forward, but we lacked the " muscle " that they had up front. Even a team at the bottom of the Prem. is a whole division above us, but I thought we put on a good show, but the late goals were inevitable when everyone pushed up for an equaliser at 1-2. OK, our " 2-2 goal " was offside --but was the player involved /interfering with play.?

I was BORN in Southampton !

[ Really well we should be very happy this season then shouldn't we? I agree staying in the top flight all those years was an achievement but I think we look back with rose tinted glasses sometimes years of struggle and last day miracles with the odd good win against a big club. Without MLT those days would have been far less fun RE: SURVIVAL I was referring to Prem. clubs who struggle at the lower end of the league. For much of the later period of our 28 years, we did finish in the bottom half and didn't win any trophies but compared with the resources that those in the Prem's top 6 have, I think we did quite well. WE did play some good football (not always for long periods,) and had some great players along the way. Most Prem.clubs are totally dependent on the Media / TV income to sustain themselves, when they go down (as we know) the parachute payments scarcely cover the contracts of the high-earners they've signed. For all those Prem.clubs in the bottom half, surviving another year will be their greatest reward. RELEGATION / ADMINISTRATION is their greatest enemy, as Pom*'y will find out in the near future. " GO down to CCC... take a ten point reduction..throw the dice..and hope for the best"

Good observation. Too many people judge our performances by a quick glance at the League table and condemn someone. Take 10 points away from EVERY OTHER CLUB too, and see where we'd be then. We are effectively "good enough" to get in the play-offs but have to get 10 points more than everyone else - in order to achieve it.

Like others here I understand your previous point about YOUR work compared to the footballers training / match games. However, THEIR twice a week 45 mins - can't really be compared with yours ..unless you have to run between all the jobs you do, or your colleagues (unless you work alone) are thumping you all the time, or trying to break your leg every few mins. You are, doubtless, fit for the job you do, but unless you have a good long-throw, take corners well or have scored more than 23 goals this season don't bother to tell AP.. as he has a striker (Lambert) who's already played over 40 games this season. AGREED we haven't WON any silverware in the last 3 decades, But (as someone said) football is about more than winning trophies. There are lots of teams in the League; who've never been to Wembley (win or lose), never won ANY trophy, never played in Europe..or in Div.1 / the Premier League and play in 80 year old stadiums that accomodate less than 15,000 people. The definition of "success" (as most of the Prem.team managers will tell you) is ..SURVIVAL. We managed it for 28 seasons (till '05) and were one of only 8 sides ever to have do so for that length of time. Anyone in the bottom 8 of the Prem. could go down with Pom*ey this season. I guarantee every one of them will consider it some sort of success to still be in the Prem. after May. Winning the JP Trophy Final give us a " tin-pot " or should I say " paint tin" sort of a trophy, but that's what cup. comps are about, and I certainly don't think NC will sack AP- unless we are in the bottom 4 in May. Thay talked about a 5 year plan, and aren't likely to kick him out after so short a time. The team WILL come good, and I beleive AP will get us promoted even if it's not this year. We maybe the " Man.City of L1," but even ML / NC are not as impatient as that club's owner was.

the story circulating / criticising / commenting on AP's decsion to concentrate on two Cup competitions AND L1 play-off places isn't really so controversial as it sounds. Because of the obvious situation with cup-tied players in the two competitions he is effectively playing with two different squads,(although of course some names appear in both). Players like; Perry, Thomas, Jaidi, Wotton, Papa Waigo, Mills and Holmes are not necessarily first choice for the L1 league games, but are vital to the remaining cup games. AP won't use the same formations either. I don't think it's such a problem as for some other clubs, who might only have 16 fit players and a lot of games to play. Hopefully, we have a chance of doing well in all comps. The only player likely to be featured all the time is KD. Go for it Alan, who knows what might happen by May.

I remember that 63 Semi Final ..and the trains..and one of the worst and most boring games I've ever seen...after those THREE magnificent games v. Notts.Forest. You're quite right of course. The combined transport systems currently available don't even dent the problem of how potentailly 40,000 people will get to Wembley ..AND BACK:confused: Maybe Nicole Cortese can come up with a good solution ?.....it's fairly obvious that the British Railway system can't!

Football club chairmen play with monopoly money and forget what they have invested in until it's too late. Take the Utaka deal. I don't know how much they paid for him BUT £80K /week is around £4 million per year for ONE player. How long was he signed for ...2 years, 3 ? ..more ? Then you have to pay his Employment tax etc (which Pompey obviously hadn't done ) How many players did they have on similar deals?...or even "cheaper" deals, say only £40K /week ..thats only £2million/year PER PLAYER plus TAX etc, (Then you have 'arry's cut of the deal ..no that can't be right )...:smt119 How many others players came to the club on Big fees, which are also subject to Tax (which they didn't pay either). Goodness knows what their salary bill was..? If they sold out FP for every home match at £40/seat, thats £800K per match x 19 Prem. games = £15 million (inkl. VAT - which they also didn't pay) from gate receipts. It doesn't take a genius to work out they have to sell a lot of awful shirts to make up the shortfall.Even their cut of the TV money doesn't make much of a dent in that equation. I'm only a humble business man and I can work that out. No wonder their club is in such a state.