david in sweden

I'm sure that lots of us agree with your sentiments Lordswood, and YES it does get frustrating while you wait for "something " to happen. Your posts , which are many, are generally a bit more restrained than many others on here who have shorter tempers....... but nevertheless, I'd still prefer to wait and have AP get it right than panic buy " someone " just to fill a spot. We still have until 31st to sign players, and probably even longer to get someone on loan.. Like you, I am very impressed with his signings so far (even though there has been little to see).. but somehow I'm a little more concerned about who might leave..( Saga, Rasiak, Lallana; Schneiderlin,) than I am about who is the next that AP will surprise us with next week. Transfers, as we know, tend to be more complicated than just agreeing fees, and then signing on the dotted line. Suddenly we have a brand new club, and a brand new team (well almost) and it's pretty exciting so far. All we need now is a home fixture V. Pompey in the next round of the League Cup ...and see if we can regain title as best on the south coast.

very sensible observations ..only hope you are right ! with Lambert and Rasiak in full flight, and the likes of Pato and Lalo on hand to pick up the crumbs... we'd have a fantastic strike force. 80+ goals ? SORRY Saga - you too - if you're still here...?

....... " the team were great they were talking to me and encouraging me throughout the game " (sort of quote) from Rickie Lambert. ...great team building AP you've got the right spirit into the squad already. (As soon as they've been introduced to each other they'll play even better !)

A bit disturbing I agree, but it's likely some tactic not to upset the team selection for tonight. Anyone who plays badly may find his place in jeopardy, when someone else is signed tomorrow morning.

well, they won't let you in free....or are you thinking of climbing over the fence, or scaling the walls ?

I'm glad you said that, I will sleep more peacefully now.

....No, but I understand that Agustin Delgado is still around, I wonder if ...?

I think the majority of us would like to see him stay - and score lots of goals -but the truth of the matter is more likely to be that tonights game is a showcase for him - and if he scores a couple - he'll be on his way to Watford by the weekend. I only hope we recover a fair portion of the £2 million we paid Spurs, as I think we didn't get all our money's worth - even though his 20 goal season was nice to see.

I actually voted for Lambert and another signing..but am inclined to agree with you for several reasons. Saga will play better with a bigger man alongside him.. just never worked with Rasiak..don't they like each other ? As Lambert somewhat resembles Rasiak from a distance..why buy someone so similar if ....GR is staying ? I expect Greg to depart in a short time. I'd like to see a RL / Saga combination that works, but sadly Saga seems lacking in self-confidence..(?). If he moves on definitely need another front man for RL in case of injury, etc. It would be good to have TWO extra striker to put on in the last half hour of a game. It's a long season with 46 games and three cup comps. However, I do rate Paterson and expect to see him used as a THIRD striker / bench change in the short term and hopefully an improving career... in a year or so. Looking back at the (young) Mick Channon and MLT, both started slowly and grew better and better in their 2nd / 3rd seasons. Hope for that from Paterson AND Lallana.

.of course Saints are WGS' local side now, why shouldn't he come? If Cortese is half as asute as I think ..he will get around to the post of DOF sooner or later...." do you know anyone you can recommend Gordon ?..or would you be interested in that role yourself ..maybe ? " (Having a few legendary figures around SMS won't do any harm at all.) BTW ....Has anyone (at the top) spoken to MLT since the Pinnacle debacle - I do hope so ! He's the " other part " of our recent history.

all things considered..if Stern John HAD stayed, then we likely wouldn't have signed Lambert (!) . RL is a great prospect with a good goal record. I don't think the atmosphere at Eastville (if Rovers still play there ?)...is anything to compare with SMS ...so let's hope it inspires Rickie to even greater exploits.

..sounds nice.. ...but don't expect him to spend it all until we are in the top 6 of CCC...

maybe sounds closer to the truth.....or more like a tax dodge!

Those of you who are under 40 won't know what I'm talking about but ..George Kirby, Joe Jordan are the " tough-a** spoilers, " I'm thinking of right now. Someone big and clumsy. Not afraid to go in head first and "disturb " the oppositions back-line. They create havoc in the box and make chances for others to pick up. Let's not use nice words like " skilful, or clever ", this is L1 and we need some brute force and ignorance. I don't mind if the guy only scores 10 all season - if he creates 20/30 for others to put away. (Hope you can find one Alan !)

I agree. Hard to see it on a hot day, but watching close-ups, replays on cable TV here Saga was involved quite a bit. Almost scored in first half when he took on the keeper played ball over him but play was called back. Took a knock in the second half trying the same tactic. Running around in that heat for 90 mins. must have been stressy..considering that it was young midfiellders that were subbed through fatigue. I think he did OK ..all things considered. ( more disappointed in Lallana TBH )

first game of the season - hot day - energy sapping sort of day. Millwall were play-off team last season - if this is the best L1 can offer - I'd be happy. KD class act. New back line looked good - considering they don't know each other. Lightweight midfield but has skill. Wotton needs to be more agressive (ala Huxford, Walker from 60's). of course we need strikers. Paterson good prospect but inexperienced, needs to play alongside a tough s*d who can sort out the opposition, and give him chances to convert. Saga tried hard but had too much to do on his own. Overall one point was fair result..guess that AP is happier than Gunn at Norwich !

quickly updating myself on other clubs squad changes...... there seem to be more and more " undisclosed fees " ? ..so I ask myself ......WHY? Years ago we were proud of signing (or selling) a player for a big fee, or getting a good player for a low one. Are clubs ashamed of these deals ...? are they trying to cover up under the table payments.... ......are they trying to fool the tax-man ............forget it ! It seems to be at all levels of the game.. in all divisions. Fans are entitled to know how highly-rated such players are....so why not publish the real fee.?

We've heard all the arguments about Saints' case and the FL didn't accept them, but WHO are they really punishing. The CLUB ? well until ML came along we didn't have a club. The interim Board made things much worse and left us with an even bigger overdraft. Rupert Lowe & Co. came and went again...so too were the management team (allowing for Mark Wotte's gallant face-saving exercises). Most of the players who weren't out of contract disappeared (except KD). The young talents were sold (Dyer. McG, and Surman) the remainder were Academy lads and a couple of disenchanted Poles, who were still under contract. One can understand that the people " responsible " for this fiasco are long gone, but none of them has admitted "responsibility " but there is no-one else to take the blame.... except US...the fans. Shame on you Football League..the very people you seek to serve are those getting punished. In a " proper " court of law, it would be like sending innocent people to jail !

...the squad for tomorrow contains some Academy players and quite a few other names who won't even get on the bench.....but no Greg Rasiak ! Is this an omen? ..or is he injured ?......or has he emptied his locker already ?

He was very impressed with Steve Wigley (as his Academy coach) so were a lot of others too, but was disenchanted when Wigley left (to Man City) and didn't get the first team spot he expected at SMS. He didn't get it at Man City either, but his move to Doncaster gave him the chance to develop. I still don't think he's Prem.standard but somebody has got money to spend and Doncaster will sell him for that price, I'm sure !

Absolutely Gordon Mockles, I agree 100 %.

If he's THAT good a mate, buy ANOTHER ticket and get your mate to take that seat.... and then she can sit beside you in his seat.! One game sitting next to you will decide (both of you) if she's a real fan and if you'd get along together - with Saints in your lives. Tell your mate he can be best man... if she's MISS RIGHT ! (only an idea - I'm an old romantic and 25 years married).

.......signings really are down to the managers style of play. There are a number of reasons why Stuart Gray failed, but his signing of Anders Svensson was inspired IMHO. Unfortunately, Strachan didn't realise his potential and thought him lazy because he wouldn't back track to defend and win midfield balls. Anders was (and still is, at 33) a superb player in the " hole " behind the strikers. His performances for Elfsborg really lift their side and his recent games for Sweden (nearing 100 caps BTW) have been MOM rated. Many teams are "fixed " playing the style the manager chooses (recall last season) and new players must fit in or they are a waste of space and money. When we finally see what formation AP will use ..442, 451, 424, or .??? then we can start to find the weak spots and search for better replacements - in case of longterm injuries and suspensions. As most people on here have observed, we need a good CH now that Thomas is injured again, and TWO reliable, experienced strikers (of any generation) as it seems obvious (to me at least) that our two Polish front men, want away soon, but won't say so ....in case they lose there signing-on fees.

GOODNESS ! ...this thread has attracted more interest than our OWN Adminstration battle did. ..Is the famous Mr. Fry involved with this one too, or has he still not been released the psychiatric unit yet ?