david in sweden

of course that was in ONE game. However, he hasn't been a regular there. I admire his goal record with Saints, (only third player in last 15 years to get 20 goals /season--others MLT / Beattie,) but some of his performances were frustrating to say the least and he often "disappeared " from game for long periods and lacked consisitancy. But ...IF he's happier somewhere else ..Goodbye and Good Luck Greg .

We never hear half of the stories behind the stories, and both McMenemy and Hoddle took a lot of stick from some quarters when they left, but can you blame anyone for wanting to better themselves ? - I think not ! Keegan said in a video I saw, that he left because (primarily) Saints didn't have the money to buy more and give us an EVEN better side, and he wanted to be in a team that could win "something ", and (then) it just never looked like we would. I don't know what magic Lawrie used to get all those England players together but I'm half convinced that he got the same response in 1984 when he asked the Board for more funds to get one of two more stars. Sunderland on the other hand had always been known as the Bank of England Club made him an offer he couldn't refuse ( and a Merc, too ) if I recall - I think Ballie's move to (Francis Lee's) Man City was a similar case. People who are winners - want to win. There's no honour for being 2nd place in the Prem. - Ask Ferguson or Benitez or Hiddink. Sadly - for both GH and LM they forgot the oldest football adage : NEVER GO BACK ! ¨ ..their respective moves were a disaster for both of them. Looking back over the last 50 years (as a fan) I know that Lawrie provided the best years that SFC has ever seen . He needs some sort of recognition......and I agree with your other comments (nickh.) SORRY ! I see I've duplicated my comments..

We never hear half of the stories behind the stories, and both McMenemy and Hoddle took a lot of stick from some quarters when they left, but can you blame anyone for wanting to better themselves ? - I think not ! Keegan said in a video I saw, that he left because (primarily) Saints didn't have the money to buy more and give us an EVEN better side, and he wanted to be in a team that could win "something ", and (then) it just never looked like we would. I don't know what magic Lawrie used to get all those England players together but I'm half convinced that he got the same response in 1984 when he asked the Board for more funds to get one of two more stars. Sunderland on the other hand had always been known as the Bank of England Club gave him an offer he couldn't refuse ( and a Merc, too ) if I recall - I think Ballie's move to(Francis Lee's) Man City was a similar case. People who are winners - want to win. There's no honour for being 2nd place in the Prem. - Ask Ferguson or Benitez or Hiddink. Sadly - for both GH and LM they forgot the oldest football adage : NEVER GO BACK ! ¨. .their respective moves were a disaster for both of them. Looking back over the last 50 years (as a fan) I know that Lawrie provided the best years that SFC has ever seen . He needs some sort of recognition.....and I agree with your other comments (nickh.)

Well said Bailey, I go with every word of that ! David

....in a possible move from QPR to Forest for £1 mill. (-/+) presently on loan. I suppose it's too much to hope that there may have been one of the famous Rupert Lowe " sell-on " clauses in the original deal.?..and we might get a few bob extra. (Fee was varyingly quoted previously as anywhere between £250K - £500K.)

Mmmm.......... LIke Pahars...Fernanades greatest asett was his speed. Does he still have the pace?. If he's lost that ...he's just another former player who didn't pass so well midfield either.

Thats the bit that worries me, too nick !

To be fair Stan, you not the only one to say I'm " guessing." ..but I prefer to think of it as a qualified judgment - just like buying the right shares at the right time.. Making a business decision about the future. Call it a prediction if you like, but I still can't think how I'd re-word the title. I've been a fan for 50 years ...and worked in business for over 40. My life has been about making decisions at the right time. It's a sort of game I play ..against myself. If I'm right, then I'm pleased for everyone that it's settled. The players (and Manager) are like employees waiting for redundancy notices so the sooner it's sorted before the media spotlight goes ...the better it'll feel during the summer break. To me, it's the next logical step. If wrong, I'll apologise to people who think I've mislead them. AND I won't come back with a " I told you so " thread - if right.

I'm making a qualified judgement (from a biz/ PR´/ ownership perspective) and what's best for the club and in everyone's interest. So ...I think that we'll have an announcement before the weekend. I said in the first thread that I didn't have any inside / secret info. If I'm wrong, I'll come back and apologise to anyone who thinks I'm unrealistic.

Considering .....it's League 1.... Why not,Telfer ?, (for 1-2 seasons.) He's the fittest player we've ever had. Oakley in midfield YES - especially as we'll likely lose Lallana and / or Surman. Crainie has a long history with Saints - but he's no more than average IMHO. Prutton - nice guy - but terrible discipline - almost ADHD sometimes (!) Niemi as coach ..YES..and Michael Svensson, too! James Beattie (? ) - well, you can dream, I suppose....in 2 years... maybe. Wayne Bridge....in 3 years ...maybe Theo Walcott....in 10 years ...maybe

It's a difficult call, Adrians. Three of the best youth coaches we've had (Merrington, Gray and Wigley) couldn't hold down the job for even a season. We'd all like to see an "old favourite" get the job, but Doddsy didn't set the world alight either. Some (former) players just aren't suited to the role. We all like to see MLT just walking across the SMS car park, but he was a one-off and I can't see him in a coaching role, or running a tough training session! This is now a young squad, a VERY young squad and I think the father-figure roles like Ted Bates and Lawrie Mac. are not appropriate just now. You need a younger / pref. former international player / who they can admire, respect and be scared sh*t le** of...all at the same time. Preferably someone with a past connection with the club, so they don't look at it as just another job.

We might think so, but will his arab boss? I think he's on the way out - don't hold your breath ....

Can he speak English though ? Don't want anyone who can't speak the language and has to use interpreters! ( Tackle him in his backside !.......pi** back to the goalkeeper... ....kick your balls like this !...).........yeah, yeah heard it all before!

OK ..not legendary exactly, but did play for England a lot...(far longer than he ought to have ....IMHO)... and had many admirers in the football world. (Correction ; not legend, maybe household name..like Vim or Hoover, maybe he did play sweeper sometimes didn't he ?)

Me too. They are tougher and ..more hungry....plus it's the success thing. A Scot becoming a success in England. What greater accolade can there be? ( Remember Bill Shankly ..who could forget him?) Bring on Billy Connelly!

A much debated topic I know, but with so many players out of contract this summer, I wonder what next seasons line-up might be. Our three " expensive " strikers who went out on loan will all go. Stern John is OOC. Watford seem to like Rasiak - so we should get a fee Saga may go to Poland /Germany and I expect Skacel to go somewhere, and Jason Euell too. If Dyer is to move to Swansea, I hope we've got enough guts to hold out for a good fee and not be panicked into selling cheap. I'd like to think Kelvin Davis would want to stay - he's done a great job- but he could surely get better offers from a higher-placed club. Saijs says he wants to stay, Perry will (I hope,) Wotton too...even League 1 shouldn't be a problem for them. Could it be Michael Svensson might still recover enough to play again? Z. Liptak may get a debut run-out on Sunday and could be good cover - if he wants to stay. As for all the youngsters....Lallana may go .........as for Surman ...he's surely the best of the bunch but will the " local boy " connection be enough to keep him (as team captain ?). The rest aren't likely to move, but many of them now have a season behind them, have shown promise and should improve; James, Gillett, DMG, Thomson, McLaggon, Paterson and Gobern especially so. Mills and Molyneux are both young and will still need time to develop. Ollie Lancashire had a disasterous first season giving away penalties, TWO red cards and looked totally out of place. Let's hope we see better in future. In all fairness; Gasmi, Pulis, Thomas and Holmes have been injured most of the season and Forecast is an unknown quantity at first team level. The other q-marks (?) are over; BWP, Bart, Smith, Schneiderlin and Liptak. I've surely missed someone / or two but it's only my first time thoughts.

OK Saints Donkey. I understand. I'm a bit low on humour this week....too much hay-fever medicine. ......and the sarcasm is in overdrive.

Mmmm.. Virgin St.Mary would seem approapriate - don't you think ?

....as Mark Wotte may find out after the weekend. But today, it's Jurgen Klinsmann's turn. (OK - I know it's not English football) Bayern Munich have given him the chop and he's gone down as another just legendary player who couldn't cut it as top class manager. The list of "failed " managers is very long, especially in a job where your past career quickly disappears from the memory if you lose a few games in a row. In the last couple of years, we've seen several legendary players - come and go - from managerial jobs leaving with tarnished reputations. Roy Keane has just found himself a new job, but others like Ince, Southgate, Brian Robson, Brian Kidd, didn't make it at top level, and Mark Hughes' job hangs in the balance. A long history of failed managers go back to the World Cup heroes of '66. Bobby Moore (rest his soul) Bobby Charlton, Martin Peters all tried their hand without success. Only Jack C. and Ballie had the courage to battle it out in the lower leagues. Hoddle and Keegan had some success in only ONE club, and thereafter even did a poor job as England managers. Successes are very few. Curbishley and Coppell did well enough to survive over a long period. Our own ex-Burley didn't do much else after his glory days at Ipswich. So who are the British successes.....very few when you look at the Premiership. Ferguson, Moyes and O'Neill do well but it's hard to find too many more. 'arry R. seems to have nine lives and always manages to jump ship before the everyone else sees the iceberg...NO sadly, it's all about good foreign trainers. Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal have them all the time.... So ..if we are looking for a good foreign coach..with a great career and a legendary reputation maybe (?) ...we should go for one. I hear that ...Jurgen Klinsmann is available now ..I wonder if ....maybe ..?

Well ...I suppose we can be grateful for small mercies !

Wise seemed to be club-hopping all the time, did he spend a whole season ...anywhere.? ..before moving on to greener pastures. He was certainly in charge of Leeds when they went down to League 1. Did any of "his " teams get promotion ..I don't call that a proven record.

My point in answering a prev.comment was that this is a day to thing, ...and the "midnight comment " was a joke (Saint Donkey). I don't think you need to be a clairvoyant to figure out that with one match to go, already relegated and the money having run out - we have to expect a decision soon......and sooner rather than later. IF.. I was buying Saints (which sadly I can't ) I'd want a high-profile announcement (ala McMenemy/ Keegan deal 1980 - and not at the Potters Heron either!) Use the sympathetic media to bring in the new regime, while the season is still ongoing, and give players a chance to assess their futures. After Sunday the CCC season will be history and we'll be in League 1 - so hopefully a new owner in place will help everyone have a peaceful summer.

It all sounds very much up in the air, at present doesn't it ? I think we can safely say ..it's Monday, but only until midnight.

Great pics.! seeing all those old faces smiling along together.....almost makes the last 10 years seem like one of those Hollywood fantasy movies, where you suddenly wake up..... and find out it was all a bad dream....... unfortunately, it was reality, but good to see so many familiar faces again. I know it was a charity game but what was the score BTW ? ..goalscorers ?

.......perhaps we should see who the new owners want as manager before signing anyone.........