david in sweden

Absolutely, the only people who'd be likely to argue against that idea would be a Premiership player!

For info. Many Euro Premiership leagues have around 20 teams (as we do), and a cup competition although I'm unsure about fixture lists for lower leagus sides. They really need as many games as possible from the economic standpoint. Any break at all would only extend thefootball season till mid/end of May. Cricket is already ongoing in mid-April. The cricket season goes on until mid September by which time football has been playing about 4-5 weeks. There is always an overlap of the two, although for schoolboys and pensioners there was always a joy to watch a game at the County Ground and then walk down to the Dell for an evening kick-off. Not so easy nowadays admittedly.

AGREED ! Bart has had a good run, yesterday's lottery was our first defeat with him in goal for 6 games. Prior to that he'd let in only 5 goals in 5 games - just about as good as any of KD's record this season. It's in everyone's interest for Bart to get as much experience as possible. Unless there are some dramatically bad results in the future he should stay. Good to know we have TWO good keepers to choose from.

As a product of British working class culture, I am well aware of the enormous significance of the " holy Christmas football " fixtures, having stood for many seasons on the Dell terraces. I wasn't necessarily advocating a break BEFORE Christmas, but as the thread is entitled a " Winter " one . Those illustrations given were from Euro lands where they have between 2-3 weeks pause - a necessity when there is so much snow on the ground- (only the Dutch need longer, presumably because thawing snow causes flooding in such a flat landscape) ? Several others here have suggested a break in late Jan / early Feb. as that sounds quite reasonable. Surely more sensible than the lottery of games played on frozen pitches in freezing rain. Finally, who ever suggested that the UK had a " temperate climate" when a walk down a windy Shirley High Street in mid january is about the worst climatic experience you'll get short of a trip to Antarctica :cool:- and I say that with 12 inches of snow outside my front door waiting to be cleared away.:mad:

I'm recall all my geography lessons about the Gulf Steam, and not to get too heavily into a " un-PC climatic discussion ", some researchers say that the Gulf Steam's effect may disappear soon-( though not, I hope, before we get back in the Premiership). However, aside from the winter of 1963 - there's scarcely been any " real snow " in southern Hampshire, unlike my first winter in Stockholm, when we had snow on the ground from November till April, and it was -22 C in February. As I type this thread, we had ANOTHER 4 inches of snow last night and it was -15 C last Thursday night. I am more and more convinced (for several reasons) that it is sensible to have " some sort " of break at some point in time when the UK winter is at its worst !

Well Phil, you may note that I entitled the thread a WINTER BREAK, not necessarily a Christmas one. Another correspondent reminded us the worst winter weather in much of the UK, is late Jan/early Feb. Surely most sensible to consider then instead.

I agree with you about the unpredictable UK climate, and I recall the 1962/3 season where the FA Cup 3rd round tie v. York (arrnaged for Jan 5th) was eventually played on Feb.13...... after 9 postponements! I wasn't particularly pleading for a Christmas break as such, but a WINTER one. As the "worst " of the UK winter is late Jan/early Feb. Why not then, instead?

As I said, I can't disagree with that arguement, but if we (or someone else) lose a key player because of a broken leg, or damaged knee played on an unsuitable surface - it could change the whole season...not to mention that " skill" matters for nothing in these conditions.

Well it works in other countries. In Sweden, as other Scandinavian countries, it's a summer game. (April-Nov) and they simply take a break in the schedule to accomodate tournaments. Plus there's a summer break " baked into " the fixture list, anyway (late June). If it can be done for summer, why not winter? ( Denmark are going to the World Cup and it's mid-season for them.) Anyway, Premiership clubs (where most of the internationals come from - have a shorter club season, anyway and in some countries there are even smaller Premiership leagues than ours.

Well, (with respect)Master Bates - I don't think it is the same arguement. I have a VERY high regard for the lads in Afghanistan, but they can't take a break in their assignment if the ground under them is waterlogged, or there is a snow storm. Those lads need danger money EVERY DAY of their life, and I wish for their sake that none of them were injured or killed, but here we have the opportunity to "control" the game (football ) by not deliberately submitting players to unecessary risk. If we (or anyone) else loses players through a bad injury caused by the weather (and not an opponent) it's just plain stupid.

They get paid the same EVERY week (including the summer) so why should the start and finish dates of the season be so " holy" ? They could easily play on until the end of May instead.

has started in the football season in most west European countries yesterday - but not in the UK. I couldn't find a link to follow yesterday's game, and watched a Bundesliga match (Bayern Munich) on Eurosport cable TV (in Sweden). Played in a blizzard,with players wearing tights under their kit and everyone with gloves. Only the brave wingers ran fast, and some took heavy falls. Judging by the clothing of fans in the crowd, I'd say it was COLD ! (Bayern won 5-2 btw.) but together with other Euro countries, will have a winter break till January. Spain and Italy break until after New Year. Portugal till 10 jan, France and Germany till 15/16th, and Holland will restart 22nd jan. BUT in the UK we carry on regardless in all weathers. If this current weather pattern continues they'll be lots more postponements, and teams that do play will have to gamble life and limb on pitches barely playable and where skill will be the last factor to be considered. I know its a TRADITION, but over a period of 50 years, I've spent many hard winter afternoons stood in the crowd at The Dell trying to keep warm, while players skated around on a pitch better suited to ice hockey. The " lucky" teams are those who don't have to gamble the three points every match, only because - the pitch is unfit to play on. So WHY do we continue to push so many games into a period where the outdoor climate is at its worst, and matches are a lottery of missed chances? I know many of you will say fan ABSTINENCE is the main problem, but aside from that isn't there a sensible arguement for players to rest and recover (sometimes from injury) before playing the next 30 games of the season...and at least enjoy a Christmas break like the rest of us.?

If this is the case, then he would be a good candidate. Quite a few people said they didn't like his tactics, style of play, but he did have some degree of success as a manager and obviously recognises talent when he ses it . Why not ?

now come on TDD, at least we'll start to have a strike force that can understand each other ......

most people have said the same. Not everyone score goals. Saints have had some outstanding midfielders and defenders who rarely scored but were still invaluable in the team. It's team game. Remind him that even the top players don't score every game. What would his team do if he wasn't there ...and they had to play with 10 men ? Try to develop his other skills. I bet the "new boy " you mentioned doesn't score ALL his goals running solo from the half way line, (he gets assists, I'm sure.) Does your lad throw well?. OK 10 year olds don't have long throws but ..maybe . Perhaps he's good in dead-ball situations; free-kicks, corners, penalties.? Is he left-footed? ..could he develop the skill?. Good left-sided players are very rare and can walk into many good sides. Players who give assists are very popular in a team, let him see he helps the team by helping others.At least at the beginning of his career David Beckham was next to useless in passing in midfield ..but could he take a free-kick !!!!!!!!! Alan Shearer was released by ...NEWCASTLE ....aged 12. He was a reserve goalkeeper and they didn't need him. He came to Saints as a junior and started playing as a forward... the rest as they say is ..history. Francis Benali got about a dozen caps for England Schoolboys ..as a goal-scoring left winger, yet he played over 300 games for Saints at left back and scored only 1 goal. If your son is promising at one of these skills, get him to practise on his own (every day 15 mins.) but EVERY DAY. Sooner or later he'll learn technique and be able to impress others in the team. It's easy for youngsters to get discouraged but if he maintains his interest (and he has SOME talent)

Speaking of which .. If Pompey went bankrupt.and several other CCC clubs are on the brink. They'll get relegation (and the regulation.. -10 points ....or more for " irregularities ..of which there are probably many)... What will the Prem. and CCC look, like if they go down..?

One of the original league clubs back in 18hunderd and... frozen to death.? They went bankrupt in ...1962....? and were non-league for several decades afterwards.

Birmingham, or Villa....or Pomp*y ?

disgusting - especially as he only scored TWICE ! Definitely back on the bench on Saturday!

There's a famous interview with Peter Osgood (on Millenium Saints video, I think) where he talks about the 1976 FA Cup win. He said, " you start to feel that your name is on the Cup," and cited the Hughie Fisher last minute equaliser in an early round, and the later successes as evidence for the positive feelings the team all felt at the time. After the Torquay " fiasco" , we got through on penalties. Following the text last night I was concerned when we scored so early on and nothing else happened. Suddenly Norwich were 2-1 up, and (it speeded up my prayer life somewhat,) but with a 93rd minute equaliser, you just know you're going to win. I've never heard of a penalty shoot-out where a goalie saved THREE shots:o ..and even less a Saints squad where 6 players could score from the spot. Surely, this gives you good vibes for winning at Wembley - doesn't it ?:confused:

Agree 100%. I can recall a time when we had keepers who could never save a penalty from one season to the next. Bart saved ..3 (?)...in the space of a few minutes., and we found 6 players who could score from the spot Is this a record ?

I don't think he should apologise. If he promised a proper announcement, and the Echo jumped the gun to get a cheap headline they should take the consequences if they continue to stand by their story. Cortese seems to be a very fair-minded fellow who goes out of his way to be fair to people. This was a bit of cheap journalism and the comment about the children's hospital bit was pathetic. I'd think a chance to watch the Saints players training would be a real lift for any sick kid !

Don't you consider -10 points to be a serious issue ? I do. ***** stars to Papa Waigo for making light of it, and de-fusing the situation.

I know that he's your brother deano 06, but try pointing out to him that just this sort of demo. could spark a pitch invasion .. with who-knows-what type of punishment from the FA .... if things got out of hand and everyone did it. We've had quite enough points deductions for one lifetime, thank you. At worst, he might end up getting himself banned for life - as has happened to fans in other clubs. (Remember not ALL judges are Saints' fans - especially if it's an away game.!) Football authorities have all sorts of hidden punishments in their unreadable paragraphs. In Scandinavia, there was a tragic case a few years back. A Euro qualifying game between Denmark and Sweden (type.Scotland v England) was 3-3 in the last few minutes. The Danes were much the better side and really deserved to win, but Danish ONE fan ran on the pitch and spoke with the ref. The (idiot) ref. cited " pitch invasion " abandoned the match and forfeited the match... to Sweden wiping out the Danish goals and awarded the match 3-0 to Sweden, and the Danes failed to qualify for the finals...and to add insult to injury , the Danish FA was fined £100,000 ! You might say that it sounds extreme, but I watched the game and saw it myself. Despite the win, most Swedes said it was very harsh, too PLEASE - let's not give the FA grounds for any such action - have another word with your little brother. Eh?

NONSENSE ! ..let him sit down with Jimmy Case and he'll feel more at home.