david in sweden

Just my point SNSUN, and your example is good. Marsden was a fairly ordinary jouneyman player who turned a a couple of exceptional seasons, because the manager (Strachan) found the right place for him. Some managers have star players who HAVE to play a certain role and others are often played out of position to make up the numbers-without ever finding their correct position ( Delap, Tessem and Anders Svensson come to mind). Hopefully AP will be able to pull a few rabbits out of hats and find our " missing links ".

YES- it's all about MONEY ....and that top players need to play in top teams. However, HR's friendly barrow-boy persona seems to go home with a lot of players, thats why he likes take THEM with him when HE moves.

This is the sort of " non-story " that annoys me because it raises questions that really aren't anything to do with Saints. As a former Saints player he did not have a contract clause forbidding him to play for any particular team. Antti Niemi was a class act, (and was often match-winner for Saints.) He left because he was a Prem. keeper who ended up in a CCC team (Saints) and was still bale to preform. After his injury he was forced to retire when the elite of top keepers are still able to be match winners, and that was sad. Now that he has the chance to get some occasional action, who would deny hom that? Sitting on the Pompey bench for maybe 36 games won't be a problem for him or his fitness. I'm sorry if the P*mpey haters want to paint him as a traitor, because I only have good memories of his time with Saints. Fans who don't like that should be sure to plan their journey to Brighton - via Guildford.... ...so as not to be forced to drive down the M27!

seems (by some accounts) he had a fair game v. Hearts. At least knows how to centre a ball, but obviously out of training having gone without a proper pre-season. If he can get fit and lose half a stone then IMHO ..AP should sign him.

It does seem that AP has earmarked him for that attcking midfield role that we love so much. Shades of the young Steve Williams, (who had a bit of an attitude) was was never a " problem child " as such. A flowing style of play and a self-assurance (some said arrogance) that was so exciting to watch. SW had the joy of playing alongside his former Arsenal hero Alan Ball, and that helped make him the class player he later became. If we find a suitable midfield partner for Adam to play off, we'll do well.

RELAX,! RELAX! Pilchards, ...maybe AP hasn't told us yet - but he obviously has a few names in mind. The transfer deadline isn't until the END of August, and if we've won our first four games by then, neither you or anyone else will care a tinkers cuss.

Saints first of course, unless the England team was in the World Cup Final again, and there were six Saints players in the England side!

I think we agree on those points. Kevin Davies of course didn't get along with Strachan (I think), and in the end they were both glad to see the back of each other. KD responded well to the Bolton manager (at the time)... was it Sam. A. ? ..but as you said he seems to have " grown up " in the meantime and has developed into a good player. The " Dutch Football " looked great ..on the Dutch ..who like Cruyff and Van Basten had started to play that style when they were pre-teens with Ajax. Sadly, I saw the writing on the wall with the Blackpool game at SMS (on cable TV here) which was a clear case of men v. boys and they struggled against a poor Blackpool side who were little better than us by the end of the season.

are many...judging by many of the threads on here. Everyone has their own idea of who might be " the missing link," we need but there are more factors than just someone with a good history. Looking at recent headlines, Spurs may finally get shot of Bent ( only £16 miilion, or was it £18 million at the time) now that HR has "re-signed " Peter Crouch. A good season gave Bent a huge reputation as " the next England CF " , but he was a disaster from Day 1. Likewise ..aren't you glad we DIDN'T sign Mido all those seasons ago ; first Spurs , now Middlesboro are only too keen to see the back of him. Many players do wellbecause they are " the right player in the right team at the right time ". Our own past history in the last 10 years shows that the majority of our sold players didn't do at all well after they moved. Exception maybe Wayne Bridge, who still managed to be England's second best left back even after his injury. Dean Richards (a superior CH with us 10 years ago) made a fatal move to Spurs and became a laughing stock at WHL. James Beattie likewise at Everton. Very few players come into a side, and totally revolutionise it. Factors like; how the manager uses them and who they play alongside are key factors. I fear for the idea that " someone " will come along and be seen as some sort of a saviour, when in fact even David Beckham wouldn't make a huge difference in our present side. It's upto AP to get the right type of players to get us back up to CCC ..ASAP and then " re-think it " in order to improve that team. Some of the 2009-10 team won't be good enough / or too old, for a new campaign for the Prem. in 2-3 years time. Let's hope that AP knows his stuff because the decisions made now will decide the end result for this season before we've played a single game.

Ssssh !.. the idea of playing Chelsea or Arsenal may seem attractive to them, ....but does he know we're not in the Premiership any longer ???

...with 15 of the 30 match season already completed, Gothenburg are worthy leaders but only one point ahead of Anders Svensson's Elfsborg. Both sides have good defences but Elfsborg are a bit goal shy, but have only lost ONE league game all season. Both Elfsborg and Helsingborg (with the sprightly 37 year-old Henrik Larsson banging in goals regularly,) - have progressed further in Euro Qualifiers for Champions League/ Uefa Cup. Champions Kalmar are improving fast after a slow start and are up in the top 4 now. Having already lost ONE of the three ELM brothers from last seasons line-up, looks like top scorer RASMUS ELM is next and on his way to a Prem. club soon. Stockholm sides are very poor. Though AIK are in the top six, both Brommapojkarna, and Hammarby are in the bottom half, whilst the popular Djurgården side are nearer the drop zone having been slaughtered 1-6 in a recent fixture. Örgryte (who had a disasterous start) actually won their first game of the season - thanks to a goal from the returning Marcus Allbäck, (who was injured in their first game). Only a miraculous change of form will save them from a quick return to the lower league. NOTE ** after first games this week; Elfsborg won and went top, whilst Gothenburg lost and dropped to second place !

one guess might be that they are " sort -of-local "- because you'd need to know the local junior scene a bit, and there isn't the same news coverage as there is for L2, Conference or local league sides. Neither name rings a bell for me ...we already have Dave Puckett (former Saints 1st teamer) involved with younger sides, maybe they're known to him?

There are alot of IF's here aren't there Nick ? IF John stays, we need a taller man with good heading ability beside him. In theory Rasiak fits the bill, BUT.......? IF Paterson gets some form then he'll be up for it after the New Year (i.e.) half a season of first team games, but we have to allow for poss. injuries suspensions, loss of form etc, IMHO we need another striker anyway as I expect both Poles to depart... sooner of later. Leroy Lita sounded an interesting name. He's younger and fast but I still like a forward line with a big man there....but I still remember players like Kirby, Chivers, Davies and Channon ..so maybe it's just me.... and size isn't everything - is it ?

current midfielders; Gilllett, Holmes, Wotton, Schneiderlin, Lallana, Pulis, James..... plus assorted Academy talents.......hard to see that we can employ all the above if we buy.

Well if AP is looking for weaknesses in the side he'll have to get the strike force sorted and quick ! Having Stern John back would be a good start, and Paterson is looking sharp but there aren't too many left with the departure of BWP and Euell. The two Poles really are an enigma. We know they can be good. Rasiak is still only the third 20 goal-a-season man in our recent history. (MLT 3 times and Beattie before him). Saga really does have a confidence problem, he had a great start under Burley (10 goals in 11) and then went off base. After his loan period he came back and started well, but together they don't seem very happy. L1 isn't great in career terms and they dream of playing for Poland again - and want a higher level. If one (or both ) goes we'll still need at least TWO other proven scorers IMHO. In defence, Thomas has a good track record but didn't play a lot before he was injured. We also need a big, ugly, tough central defender. Perry is good as sweeper/ second CH - but we need extra support in case of injuries or suspensions. We have a myriad midfielders both young and older so it's upto AP to find the right four in the middle. One or two of the younger players need loans to get some match experience. Ollie Lancashire had rave reviews as a junior, but he seems out of his depth with giving away pens. and two red cards. So too Molyneaux,Goble and Doble. They are good but need games at a better level than Academy / Reserves can offer. ....and what are we doing with FIVE goalies?. KD is automatic choice, and Poke and Forecast as reserves. Pernecky earned his spurs as a junior but unless Bart is loaned out ...I can't see him staying.

Satchel? Satchel ? no! no!! ..surely you must mean SKACEL ...... oh my goodness..... what have I said ? ......sorry ; I mean .. ........who started this anyway?

Well...players do go out of contract (thank goodness) and it doesn't mean that they are no good either. Relegated clubs, or disappointed ones (Reading?) start to have a clear out and good players come onto the market and can come in and DAJFU. (Example Chris Perry last season.) With the current financial crisis in football, clubs are trimming their squads (as we did after relelgation 2005). See what comes. Sometimes a player wants a move, or a manager wants to change his squad around - thats good . New blood, fresh ideas. I've not forgotten that 10 years ago ? ..Dean Richards came to us on a Bosman from Wolves...what a good deal that was. There are sure to be players that AP knows, who he'll go after......and if he wants / needs to spend money, then I'm sure ML won't object. There have always been signing on fees, removal fees, loyalty fees, and of course their agents %. In this case we don't have to fork out even more in paying another club a transfer fee as well. No problem.

..bearing in mind that its a Board of Directors who appoint managers, the majority of Chairmen seem to want some tough, old player who screams at the players in training, and swears at the ref. on match days.They fit the bill. Not much room for an intelligent thinker, who has an overview of everything and doesn't want all the glory himself. The main problem is that most Chairman have the money but not the football savvy. It takes a good businessman to MAKE money, but a wise one to know HOW to spend it. We've seen that in our club recently and many others in the past. I think ML knows exactly what he's doing and he's not expecting to do it before Christmas...IMHO, AP seems to be an inspired choice ,

well not quite ...! The Daily Star printed a story that AP wanted to keep Stern and Euell - but that was even before he was appointed manager...maybe they should get a new crystal ball ?

will you survive without regular access to F5 ?

After a holiday break, like many others, he is untrained and unfit. ---so what's new ? Give him a chance.

because it's obvious we still have the same staff (or those who are left) from a relegated side. In the past, pre-season kick-abouts have been a succession of goal feasts against inferior opposition and we told ourselves the team looked good / OK ... only to come up against " real teams" in the league who know that you have to work hard and play football to win games. At present no-one can feel secure of their place, and AP is starting with a clean team sheet..let's hope he can make some sense of it. If nothing else, these games will have shown some of the players that they are not as big as some of their egos, or as good as some of their agents pretend. COYR ! .....(whoever you are )

yes I though that too, and to think that we let Ajax score THREE goals with Ollie Lancashire in our defence, as well !!

can't find stats on that, but you're undoubtedly right. AD was only with us in 2002 of course, but was a Saints player at the time. Ironic that he played in the World Cup but Strachan didn't want him in Saints line-up. A bit like Rasiak in one way, that he wandered around, rarely seemed to be in the game, but was usually on hand to put away half chances.

Money doesn't buy success all the time. Blackburn are the only team outside the "Big Four" who have won a Premiership title (1994-95) , and that was only because their then-owner Jack Walker gave Kenny Dalgleish a blank cheque book to buy whom he wanted. He did it --once only --and had to use three former Saints players to do it . (Shearer, Flowers and Kenna) - after that the team spilt up and Blackburn were relegated in 98-99.