david in sweden

Good point, though you have missed mention of the most-successful local player in the club's history namely Woolston-born Nick Holmes. Went from St.Mary's College and into the Reserve side, played well over 500 games for Saints (in many varying positions) over a period of 14 years..and was the youngest in the 1976 FA Cup Final side...AND if I'm not mistaken one of the very few local players ever to captain a Saints side (?) Great one-club man. .....currently still involved with Conference side Salisbury, I think.

That would surely have been a worthwhile tactic LAST SEASON, then maybe we wouldn't have been -10points in L1.

Well I don't think it's US that he needs to answer to ..is it ? Are you advocating that we let all our clubs be run by mafia-types with no moral or ethical standards other than making quick money ? ..or If ML was willing to save the club and talk about a 5 year plan then I think that's good stewardship (as someone else quoted)...or is it better that we stay in L1 and have low grade football with lower salaries, instead. ?

Great wasn't it? not so often we were MOTD then, (or now for that matter) but it was one of GB's first games I think, and he scored before commentator John Motson (?) had downed his first sip of tea. Pity we lost him as he was quite versatile but went to Man City when Lawrie Mac needed money to buy in Peter Shilton (which was a good deal anyway of course,) ...but hard luck on GB 'cos he lost many seasons through injury as I recall, but he did come back for a year or two in Chris Nicholl's time, I think.

Is that a comment on Christian ideology in general ...or just Marcus Liebherr? As it is rumoured that ML is VERY rich, no-one knows how much he may already be donating to charitable works. Does anyone expect him to give ALL his spare money to charity? I often wonder how much the average person gives (% -wise) of their salary to Third World charities, compared with say...how much they spend on ...gambling, alcohol or ..going to football matches.? It's obviously down to our individual conscience(s). If we are satified that we are doing our bit, then maybe there's no problem. Maybe ML considered we (Saints) needed some charitable help when he bought the club, which I'm glad he did (otherwise we'd only have Conference League football at Eastleigh to watch). Personally speaking, I tend to look carefully at any " charity " that presumes to collect money for the underprivileged, when you considers that some spend 60-70% of their income on advertising / promotions, and their directors draw six figure salaries (!) from the proceeds. Maybe we should be thankful that ML supports us, and leave him to decide what he may eventually do with his own money.

Agreeing with you AGAIN, Alpine. No-one should blame a player who is off form. He doesn't want to play badly, but when it doesn't work... look for a plan B. In this case; 1) He will come back a revived SG that we recall from last season. 2) Doncaster will like him enough to want him longer / buy him 3) If he 'aint got it, it's best he goes (likely in january) Still think he's a good lad, but he's not Academy anymore, and at 23, he needs to make a career somewhere, so good luck Simon ..see you back in two months ..or ....it might be we are giving away another Wise or Phillips ??

After 50 years as aSaints fan........I always try to balance my own " level-headedness " with a lttle more optimism, but whatever it is that AP has got them on it seems to be working at present. Looking forward; I don't suppose that the managers of Charlton and Leeds said ...let's wait until Christmas and see how we are doing before we think about promtion talk. :mad: I can recall (decades ago) the late Don Revie telling his (Leeds) players ...we're going to go through the season without losing a game ..(well they nearly did - got to 36 games without losing, I think). Many years later Wenger took the Arsenal side through (+/-) 50 games without losing. I can recall AP saying after the Ajax friendly ..."we've got to get the winning habit-soon" . Well the telegram came late, and we now see that he needed practically a whole new team (pardon me Kelvin) who finally understood that. Now I think the message has got through. The only downside was the -10 pts. start, but now it's full steam ahead and not an iceberg in sight ! COYR !!!!!!!

How many consecutive wins must we have for you to break into a smile, :confused: saint lard ? Can't we be allowed to enjoy this one and look forward with a little optimism?

I think the answer is in the old adage......taking one game at a time. Of course it was good to rest a few players on Tuesday, but as we saw no-one is a "walk-over " in any game..even Torquay. All managers and players want to win every game, occasionally you lose games you really should have won..but as you seem to be suggesting Alpine, we need to be best prepared for every game as it comes, and the last result (whether pleasing or not).... is only history. AP has been in the game a long time as player and manager at different levels, and he should know what to do / how to prepare in every game, then IF... the players do their stuff on the pitch..we're all happy. I am often reminded of an old quote from ; Lawrie McMenemy (surely one of our best managers). " as manager you can never win , you are only as good as your last game... ..if we win, the fans say the team played well. If we lose, it's my fault 'cos I picked them ".. (never a true-r thought !) I'm sure AP knows that, too.

Don't disagree at all. All young players who get their first outings look like a combination of Ronaldo and a three-legged camel... at sometime in the game. Performances in youth sides (as you recall) are seldom mirrored in first team outings. (Consider some of those who were around when you played Colin) Oscar looks a good talent, but only more games and tougher opposition will show it. Hopefully it will be with us in a season or two, otherwise he will disappear to L2 / Conference... and re-appear in a CCC side in 5 years time when he's really matured...let's hope we don't lose his talent.

...one game at a time, just like everyone else, but (with a weather eye on the past year)...it does feel a bit encouraging - dosen't it ?:confused:

Agreed ! when we started the season with Thomas, Perry and Lancashire at the back, I was quite worried. We needed ( I considered )...someone built like " a brick s**t house " in the back four, (and even if the aforementioned constructions don't move so fast) ...you don't run into them twice - if you can avoid it. I think he's an inspired signing, good choice AP.

.....of what looks like (on paper) a good squad. Well done AP and coaches/ scouts/ trainers. Even with Murty still out, the back line looks good, and with Kelvin still here- everyone is happier. We have so many combinations of midfielders esp.with Hammond and Schneiderlin... that even Wotton is worth his squad place now, and we have an eager group of Academy lads in line, too....and hopefully we can retain the loan guys past january. Lambert/Lallana both have service now up front and who knows what an asset Papa Weigo will become(?).and David Connolly hasn't even set foot on the pitch yet We'll need a squad in depth, with a 46 game season AND Cup games to come ..plus play-offs ? ,injuries and suspensions (hopefully) will be at a minimum. It's still a long way to May, but I'm more encouraged now than for a long time.

Agree 100%

...as well they should be, (I would) ...Adam shows great promise. It's very difficult to make judgments on younger players, when they've only played a handful of games. I recall many players from yester-year who took time to adjust. Mick Channon scored an important goal in 1966 promotion season, but didn't get a real look-in till 18 months later. Likewise the many who recall 18 year old Alan Shearer's Dell hat-trick v.Arsenal (1988) may also recall it took him two seasons more before being regular, and he was really only "super-quality" in his last season before moving to Blackburn. Adam has hit a good patch, and if he's half the player we all hope for, he'll improve. As for moving clubs, he may take AP's advice and avoid transfers to (London clubs)... where he will only grace their Reserves, or get occasional bench spot. Hopefully he will play Premiership football in the future - with Saints, and for once we can tell those North London yobbos (one statement I liked RL for) ...where to stick their money....as Markus Leibherr doesn't need it to retain his liquidity.

they will surely come but right now I'm glad that we score (at least) one more than the opposition! COYR !

.and what makes it even MORE intersting IMHO is that we have a new strategy when it comes to the PR side of things. Before it was always .. The Sun or NOTW , or Sky tips that we are interested in player X Rumours of club secret meetings with X (and his agent) Pix.of X coming to SMS X is discussing terms with the club.......a fee is rumoured. X signs together with pux of him with number ... ...it was all a bit predictable and uncertain upto the end. BUT NOW .suddenly a good signing (Connelly,) and he's been secretly training with us for 3 weeks. ........and it's stayed secret no ITK threads. Great begosh and begorrah (!) another class international striker . It gives it all more thrill and excitement. It may not be in the same class as the Keegan signing, but adds a lot of flavour of secrecy and surprise to everything . well done AP!

..not to mention many Londoners and people from North of the Border..

...just to add fuel to this rather mundane item ....about the "r" s. Roy Hodson was a rather successful manager of Swedish club sides for many years in the 1970s-on. The Swedish pronunciation of "r"s is ." a bit special," or just bl**dy annoying for non-swedes who have to struggle with the langauge and RH's subsequent journey's around the globe managing all sort of third world teams probably hasn't helped his diction, however - a good bloke ! But if you think he sounds strange - you should hear another ex-pat. Briton Stuart Baxter (currently managing Finlands national side) when SB tries to speak Swedish - it's hilarious !

..and who doesn't believe in the power of prayer !

I think.he probably did !

well we get lucky in the end.´..was the last time we won a shoot-out? Critics of AP should realise that we need to rest some of our " better " players whenever we can.....it's a very long season. Seems most people had a bad night, but playing the reserves like Perry, Thomas and Wotton gives others a breather. (by most accounts) it seems that Gillett may have reached the " last chance saloon" without success. Pity, as he was outstanding in our very poor sides last season, but typical of the many promising young players who can't make it when the chips are down. Until we get a " someone beefy " up front alongside Lambert the better, then Lallana should have a field day every week.

well they all count when they cross the goal line..... (of course that depends on whether the lino is up with the play).

Most of those type of players were playing top class football (in one country or another ) whilst still in their teens. I didn't say they would be scared, but lets face it the skill level is pretty basic, and some of the fouling is deplorable to say the least. I can't forget the terrible fate that befell Marian Pahars, a crippling tackle in a pre-season " friendly " practically finished his career on the day. Can't recall who the lower league opponets were though ?