david in sweden

.after the last 100 days trauma, it's nice to look back and see who has distinguished themselves in the loyalty stakes. First has to be Mark Wotte. He has shown both loyalty and diplomacy in his behaviour concerning club matters without ever knowing who he was responsible to, or who his next boss would be. He will doubtless be criticised next season for bad results, but for the last 3 months. Well done MW. Next Kelvin Davis. The club has yet to confirm stories that he has re-signed, but - if so - well done KD. Someone else who took a lot of stick from sections of the fan base in his early days, but has become a fans favourite. In turning down a cushy number as reserve keeper for a Prem. side, he has put club loyalty before his bank balance. Nice one Kev. Hopefully, too. Matt Le Tissier. There aren't enough pages to praise Mattie's contribution to SFC, not to mention the pleasure of seeing some of the best goals ever scored by a Saints player. His support for Pinnacle was done in the right spirit and made long before Herr Liebherrs takeover bid was known about. MLT should not be punished for his faith in the club, and if as hinted by Andy Oldknow, there is a role for him in the new organisation - well done I say, he deserves some acknowledgment for buying his Titanic ticket in April when some others were already sat in the lifeboats. Anyone with other candidates for loyalty recognition.?

Thank goodness that's over, or should I say ..just beginning. My only real question is ; WHO does our new owner take his advice from? I'm assuming he didn't know of Saints before April and hasn't been a life-long fan (as I am )..and so which " football " people does he take HIS advice from in the planning of our future ? We all recall the fateful takeover in 1996 and how RL stamped his authority in a sport he wasn't familiar with...namely FOOTBALL. I'd like to know who his behind-the-scenes advisers in the UK are....and how he will handle the club's traditions? I'm not being negative - but for my part I'd hate to think that names like McMenemy and Le Tissier will only appear in the club's history books and that they can't have some sort of higher profile as ambassadors (or the like) as they are the people we associate most with our clubs history. However WELCOME to our new owner! COYR !!!!!!!!

as I recall he was (mis)used by several managers as a sort of utility player and never really regularly in any position. I remember he scored from a great header at Highbury 'though surrounded by Arsenal defenders. A good record for a midfield player.

I thought of that too, Wes ..preferably done at dead of night on the eve of the Premiership season...

I don't think it'll look anything like that. A new manager will buy in three or four new players and IMHO the side won't be recogniseable afterwards.

I think some people take these games TOO seriously. They are pre-season friendlies not Wembley Cup Finals. Trial games. With most of our established players gone, there are scarcely half a dozen who even played regularly last season. The second half seems to have been the Academy lads, many of whom have never worn a first team shirt ....! I firmly expect a LOT more experience to be available by the time we play the AJAX game. I really think we place too much emphasis on practice games. Some have said our tactics looked OK and we had good shots that went wide. At least they are learning to create chances, which sounds OK as many of them had probably never played on the same pitch together before. There's a long way to go before MW (or anyone else has to pick a real team.)

...sounds like the boys played...!

in squad for friendly at Totton tonight. OK I can hear a lot of people sighing and saying he's too old and past it ..etc, etc, But go along and get a look at him. Admittedly, he's not likely to be offered a three year contract if OK, but if he can perform then he could be invaluable in support of our younger lads... especially as we have to get rid of the -10 points first. He could go down in the annals of those other oldies who still ran around at 37+ ..like Alan Ball, Jimmy Case, Mick Channon, Dennis Wise, Gordon Strachan, Teddy Sheringham, ...shall I go on? Give him a chance .. Come on Jo!

of course it is, but I'm sure the deal will be in some other Euro currency.

He's an employee of the club (and gets paid when thay can afford it). I don't think Mr.Fry is particularly interested in players opinions, even if they had one - which apparantly - he doesn't. Typical media question looking to find some discontent, or make a story when nothing exists. The radio guy should keep out of it and let the players train for next season !

I don't care what he does in his private life and long as he'll show us the colour of his EUROS - and soon.

get a game at West Ham ??? Don't forget, he'd be an ENGLISH goalie in the Premiership, he'll likely get into the England squad alongside Green before too long.!!

sounds like an unpleasant piece of work to me ...!

That's most people reaction I'm sure, but ..think again. 1) It depends how fit he's kept himself and if he's still got any pace. 2) Whilst most Prem.players are nearing the end after 31, there are many glaring exceptions and as you drop down the leagues the age limit goes up. 3) Leaving goalkeepers out of the equation (they get better with age) people like Strachan, Sheringham and Dennis Wise could all turn in reasonable performances when they had passed 40. 4) Saints have a history (not only for dumping young players before they develop) but ditching the older ones when they still had much to offer. Lawrie Mac ditched Paine at 35, Channon at 34, and both went on to help others club succeed and played on till they were 38/39. Jimmy Case who came to Saints aged 30 ....was still on the books at 37 was sacked by Ian Branfoot for his candid "dressing room comments" - but like the others mentioned was still able to turn our for Brighton at 40. If you are a young fan and you think 30 " sounds old" , I can tell you that as an "old " fan.. some of the best players I've watched in a Saints shirts were still turning in great performances week after week when they were well past that age. So let's give Murty, Thompson and Tessem (if need be) a chance. A trial costs nothing. We're not signing then for a three year contract, but if we are to have one (or two) seasons in League 1 their experience can be worth gold in getting out of this division.

when we have some more players to fill up the numbers, I guess " lady saint." A quick look at those remaining players suggests that there aren't many of no's 1-11 from last season who are still with us, and in fact it's hard to find eleven who actually played regular CCC football last season. Still the prospect is exciting isn't it ?

Don't throw out the baby with the bath water. We will likely sell Schneiderlin for a million or more to a Prem.side soon, .....and you can't denegrate players who've got injuries in the cause ! Holmes looked a good prospect until his injury and find me someone who has a bad word to say about Michael Svensson !!!!!

Well ...at least we found 4 or 5 who were worth a second chance.

There's a good reason that a lot of L1/L2 players are on free's...they don't belong in the league. Giving a trial to Murty is a good choice. A good professional, former captain, 11 years at Reading and Premiership experience -that's better. If Saints sign him ..wait to see him bring a few other Reading players along with him. I recall Saints signing a 32 year old FB from WBA (1962)named Stuart Williams played 4 great seasons with Saints - even won a few more Welsh caps in the process, and was still playing aged 36. Good club man, thats what we need in L1....they' ll help the youngsters along.

If he plays midfield (in the hole) you shouldn't expect dozens of goals. He's a supplier and potential goal maker. Paterson and and McLaggon are good prospects but they are still under 20 (I think) and don't have a dozen games between them yet....very inexperienced. If he's played for a top side - even for a season or two -at 28 he knows how to take care of himself and we need someone up front who " can put himself about a bit ",and we must trust Wotte's judgment and see if he's good enough. After all it is only a trial...not a million pound signing !

you're right nickh, it doesn't sound as funny as it did at first reading...who knows.. (I'd certainly take him over DJ any time).

Careful Tokyo !.. have you any idea what you do to peoples sanity when you say things like that - even in humour

IF the Pinnacle deal goes through....and .... IF (as I think) the " new manager " has already decided who he wants to get and who's surplus to requirements, then he's building his kitty for signings. Every manager wants to have his " own " squad and they hate inheriting players who don't fit the pattern. This way - he will have that problem. As everyones contracts seem to be dated 30th June, Pinnacle won't have to re-sign " existing staff / players " to new one week contracts. Everyone who's still wanted ... will have new contracts from 1st July. In all fairness, IF.... DMG and Surman were the class of players some people think they are, they should have been good enough to keep us out of L1. Moving to " better " teams they will have support and opportunity to improve themselves. Good luck to them both....a lot of " IF's" ...but hopefully it should be resolved this week.

of course it depends how you rate... a legend. I can think of a few players who played 200 games and were eminently forgettable. Kevin Keegan was only with Saints for two seasons, but he's still a popular name. Likewise players like Ronnie Ekelund and Marian Pahars were a bit special too , so I put Michaels 88 games in the same category. Short but glorious careers.