david in sweden

ABSOLUTELY ! they will probably be a great success there, and turn out being transferred to a Prem.side (hope we get a cut of that transfer fee in the sell-on)

Hi Norm, hope all is well . send me a mail sometime David.

but only until May. If (it) works then we'll have bought the right players... if it doesn't they'll be some sort of big clear out. Right now having spare bodies around is useful, I don't think we'll have any more midfielders left if we get another injury.

yes we have bought a lot, but we still haven't solved the midfield problem. Hammond is good (but injured). James spent half his time as Murty's cover now plays MF but is now injured too. Schneiderlin is talented but young and not a leader-type, and still can't score. Wotton is too defensive-minded and not a replacement for Hammond. Antonio and Papa Waigo are good attacking " winger " types, but not ball-winning midfielders. Lee Holmes may be part of the solution but he's just back from a long inury period, the others are too young. OH!... for another Hughie Fisher or Jimmy Case

NO...but Northern clubs Preston or Huddersfield may be a better bet for him. With rare exception ..over the years, very few Scottish players travelled well down here in the south. ( I said FEW - not ALL) A good investment if he is such a good prospect - for that fee, you would want to play him every week and only a Prem.side would pay that sort of money for an unknown prospect and then keep him in the Reserves. Playing at the bottom of SPL is about the same level as L1 - so its no challenge for the lad.

I agree that some of the others seem surplus to requirements but you can't just axe people because they are not getting regular games. There aren't so many Reserve games in this league and so the seniors don't get match practice, but are good to have as cover. The U18's may be good at that level but look what happened when we put out half a team of teenagers v. Plymouths reserves :smt088

Yes, but I'm not SO confident about a midfield bulit around Schneiderlin and Wotton. Though good as individuals, neither of them is a " midfield general". Bit better if you add Lee Holmes maybe, but the 4th man would be PapaWaigo / Antonio.. .and can't say I'm happy about that :confused: No hard man and no leader !

Define BIG ? With our past history of signings when we were in the Prem./CCC then £3- 4 million is barely tea-money (although its clearly a lot for some others in League 1.) Big money doesn't mean BETTER QUALITY players - just expensive ones. The majority of our " big buys " in the past were very disappointing. £4 million for Rory Delap ..in 2001. (not entirely his fault, as no manager ever gave him a regular role, and he became sub. for every injured player in midfield or defence, and we never had strikers good enough to convert his long-throws). £3.25 million for Kevin Phillips . OK he did score some goals, but I think we deseved more for our money ..and he was quick to leave later, when things looked bad. £3 million for Agustin Delgado :smt088.say no more ! Michael Svensson and David Hirst looked well worth the money, £2 mill.each - but both had careers shortened by injury. Players like Pahars, Lundekvam, Anders Svensson, Kevin Davies and even Beattie all cost under the £1 million mark and were well worth the fee. Others like Dean Richards, Marsden, Katchloul,(cost nothing/next to nothing) It's not the fee but the manager, the team, and how they are used/ what role they play. Leeds, Pomp*y and Newcastle have all found out the hard way.

It's not over till the fat lady sings .......wait until May and see

Because he was surplus to requirements at Norwich...cost nothing (fee)..and is only here to the end of the season. It's a no-brainer - isn't it ? If he's good... he'll stay... and if he's not ....he walks in May. Meanwhile, we've got cover during Murty's absence (especially now that James is injured, too). very good deal IMHO.

Watched a videod interview with Falkirk manager on (BBC ?) where he talked out the club ..and their recent signing PEDRO PELE (one time Saints and WBA midfield / defender). WOW remember him ? Sadly for all concerned Pele was injured in last nights game and has a serious Achilles problem and is out for the rest of the season. Hard luck Falkirk..it never rains but it pours !

YES IT WOULD BE GOOD TO SEE A SIDE WITH SO MUCH POTENTIAL SCORE 5 or 6 GOALS AGAINST "SOMEONE ".

and don't forget to give them the nod when Skacel signs

Agreed, How good to hear that sort of comment from a Chairman you can respect ! Well said:), Nicola Cortese

It's pretty obvious that we needed reinforcements at the back, especially after Murty's injury / departing Trotman...and now we've got them.Fonte & Co...but the lack of punch in midfield has always bothered me. AP has persisted with Schneiderlin (who does have some class) although he's been subbed 10 times this season, which suggests "something" not quite right, plus sadly he hasn't scored once yet. You don't expect MF players to be your top scorers but they ought to get one or two. Papa Waigo has 6, Hammond and Antonio 3, even the much maligned Lloyd James has now scored 2. (now injured) ..so with both Hammond AND James out, the MF is a bit weak and our highscoring strikers get no service. Wotton is no Hammond, but I think he's worth his place in the squad and we seem to do well when he plays...but the rest of the MF looks a bit unbalanced. Papa Waigo and Antonio are there for their speed (and goals it seems). Lallana is continually changed between striker and MF, but at last we see a fit Lee Holmes available to play. Doesn't leave much more to choose from, Mills is best at FB, and most of the bench are defenders; Thomas, Perry ...Lancashire!...and why on earth we have Gillett back I don't know... as I thought he'd sold himself to Donnie ? We need some creativity in the middle ..and not just ONE either...and some quality. We can't afford any more injuries in MF. A ..Fisher, Case, or Marsden-type would be a useful addition right now.

..(sadly) so too, do those 10 points deducted:mad:

my rough counts says FOUR saves v. Millwall (h) v. Huddf'd (a) v. Norwich (h) and Brentford (a) He conceded one v. Exeter JPS might be others I 'm not aware of though:confused:

They've " earned " 37 points so far . Minus -10 drops them down to 20th place..now they have a relegation battle to fight ..if they can be salvaged !

I don't think its anything to make headlines about. Many directors are on Boards of internationals companies. NC doesn't own Saints.... Marcus Liebherr does. There is no conflict of interest if he takes a directorship on anothers clubs board in another country. Abrahamovich has interests in a club in Russia, as well as Chelsea. No problem to travel to a few Board meetings a year. Sour grapes !---The Echo trying to stir it up because of their SMS ban !

As Duncan has commented... and a few others, too ..Pompey were the " top " side for decades having won the FA Cup in 1939 and a League Championship in the early 50's and Hampshire-based fans would happily travel to both grounds on alternate weeks. Later on,the two sides rarely met in the league until the early 1960's when both sides were in "old Div.2". It was the era of football hooliganism, feelings worsened considerably (IMO) by the very physical encounters between our 5' 7" England winger Terry Paine and the 6' 4" Pomp*y left back Roy Lunnis. They had a real punch up every time the teams met and I think TP was sent off on at least one occasion. This caused a lot of trouble between fans and it seemd to spill over. The hatred part seems to exist with a vocal minority. With so many " foreign" players these days, and a lack of local players in the club, such a fixture means very little to most players, but is more deeply ingrained in the fan base, and is as much a derby game as Everton /Liverpool, Arsenal Spurs or City / Utd. It a great shame that this "friendly rivalry" should manifest itself as hatred in the way it does.

well said ! few local players are in league teams nowadays and very few /none of the present squad understand what a Saints / Pompey derby really means. This is OUR CUP FINAL !

NEVER ! in the run-up to the end of the season we'll need every fit, in-form player we can get hold of. As AP commented having Holmes available is almost like another "signing" and Saturdays hero Thomas is playing his best football since he arrived. But j ust now we still have Murty, Connolly, and Hammond out (thankfully Jaidi is now back). Schneiderlin suspended....and who knows what may happen in the coming weeks. Though it was good to see Mills have a good game - after his dismal apps. earlier in the season. Our TWO cup competitions need other players than the ordinary squad with cup-tied players; Seabourne," Semmi " and Forte to be considered. Barnard wasn't FA cup tied..but did he play in JPS earlier in the season ? There are so many combinations to think of ...when you what might happen. Lamberts consistancy has ben phenomenol this season, but surely he needs to be rested now and again if he is to survive a potential 60 game season. There will be a "sorting out " after May, depending on ....but right now we need everyone we can lay our hands on.

well I assume you're not recommending we recall him...? but I think I read he's working with the Academy's admin.team.

..and possibly a new ground record...? even the boxes should be sold out ! COYR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!