david in sweden

Michael Svensson has a 1-year contract, (he just happens to be injured,) - but also has the post of coach since New Year 2009 If /when he's fit again, he'd be available for selection.

....or looking at it another way. As soon as we START scoring goals, we'll score 6 every game !

Everytime this question comes up people say you make your own luck. Well.. after yesterday......a penalty saved, then hitting the post TWICE had more shots on target than City ......but then the flukey second goal . Does anyone out there believe in luck.....either good or bad ?

HOPEFULLY .............Kelvin Davis !

I agree ! JFP ......especially as we got Branfoot as a replacement! compared to him, Luggy and GB looked like Hollywood filmstars!

I think you're correct.. Slick mick, As a teacher of language.......I often take time to analyse mistakes, wrong attributions, poor synonyms and bad examples from my "foreign " students. (non-native speakers). More surprising ' though is that contributors to some threads on this site, who can scarcely spell their own names - come on and criticise the Dutchman for his incorrect usage of OUR language during a quick fire interview with the media !...where he may have been mis-quoted anyway.

good assessment, Adrians .........but IMHO the side relegated wasn't really the worst in that league - but went out anyway. After that we started to lose the "stars" we had, and since then it's got worse, despite Burley's imports. With due respect to the current squad, we're already getting near the bottom of the barrel, and second class foreign imports, loans and free transfers don't make it better. Only hope they can seize the chance and the likes of Gasmi, Pulis and Smith will eventually show that they have some football in them and aren't just cardboard cut-outs wearing the shirt. JP, for all his efforts with Academy players, didn't have enough experienced players on the field at any one time. Having said that I think Davis and Perry, seemed to have got a second life and are doing well - all things considered. Pity the likes of Surman and Lallana, James, Gillett and Schneiderlin don't have 50 more games behind them, then we wouldn't be in this mess. Just when we could use the extra money ...there's none left !

Well yes I agree with that ........except I could say ..... if we had maintained the backing of the manager .....after Strachan..... ....the whole recent history could have been ......! (oh well thats history, too

Thanks for the response Lordswood .......and also Saint Jason....... I was being a bit philosophical. It's ironic that everyone seems to be in a state of total panic (not good for the blood pressure or the bank balance) when it's fairly obvious that it does take time to develop and bring a good team together. Players come and go, get injured, have personal problems (like everyone else) and go off form , and it doesn't help the manager's vision or planning. Losing one or more key players totally destroys a teams balance. Rupert Lowe's record of managerial appointments is only made worse by the list of dismissals since. But team do rise from the ashes (sorry wrong sport ).... like a Phoenix and surely we must give Wotte a fair chance and if he is any good at all then we'll see an upturn. Even if he uses unknown talent to do it. IF HE fails, it would hardly be his fault but squarely on the shoulders of the members on the Board. My real point is that whether it's the Saints boardroom.....or Chelseas it's still panic. For Chelsea it seems, being 4th in the Premiership is tant amount to sitting at the bottom of the CCC. For indeed it is - the top 4-5 shouldn't be in the Prem. but in some sort of Euro super League where they can play each other 4 or 5 times a season and pay everyone £100 K / week, for the rest of us in the League(s) - reality is their overdraft!. Whether it's £6 million, or £600 mill. it's just as real a problem.

....at this end of the league ?,..... the answer is probably - not a lot! But his week we've seen the (predictable) sacking of Adams at Pomp*y, but who'd bet that a manager whose team was ONLY 4th in the Premiership would also go ? Obviously the demands on the top managers is something few of us can imagine. Clubs are less tolerant and the fans more impatient than we were years ago. Just think if Lawrie McMenemy had been sacked after his first disasterous season when we were relegated. Within a couple of seasons he'd prepared a team for the Cup Final, and two years later regained top level status. The look at all those famous names we had; Osgood, Ball; Keegan; Shilton and Watson. 1983-84 was Saints best-ever season - when we NEARLY won the title.......but today what would have happened?

I wouldn't bother if I were you - Ron was a one off. Well if you must try a combination of Alan Shearer ( later career) and Matt Le Tissier (anytime) !

Yes I remember (him) Andrew, but even the first Ron Davies...(I mean the full back), would be willing to admit that he never got the sort of adulation that " Big Ron " had from fans!

Despite the " window " being open, it would affect our OVER-DRAFT ,if we were to sign any more players. (sorry about that, and YES I can spell ..draught, too )

Don't know that anyone is contradicting you,but it's certainly a " new-ish" position for him in OUR line-up (if that what he means).

Strange as it seems - Skacel started his career at left back in his homeland. When Burley had him at Hearts, he played him in midfiéld ..(and several other positions too, according to GB interview when RS signed). He started as left midfield with us (eventually with Bale as LB).. and so he's had different roles, but fans don't see him as LB!

Agree with you Stanley...but life is as it is, and there are many other fine former players who have also fallen on hard times. Of course there was only ONE Ron Davies. I can already hear some younger fans complaining..... ...."oh they're not going on about that Davies fella' again ! " Sorry, but I hope I never forget him. He really was the best header of a ball I've ever seen, and not to say he couldn't score with his feet either. Although fans at the time always seemed to say in total astonishment " Ron scored .....with his FEET! " What a shame there is so little film of him in action. By the time we had televised games with video (1970) he was already past his best and suffering with injuries, especially as some defenders were really brutal with him (often OFF the ball, too ) That Man.U game was a classic of course. But I recall seeing him play an end of season game v Aston Villa at the Dell. Villa were relegated that year (don't times change?) and we won 6-2. Ron scored 4 (2 headers + 2 with his feet) including a great angled shot when he beat the whole Villa defence, PLUS he also hit a post ..and had another goal disallowed - although only he ref. knew why ?? He could put away a mean penalty kick too, not always slamming it in.. but placing the ball, the way MLT always seemed to do. Sounds like he's going to end up like the $6 million man..all repairs and replacements..if he was playing today ...his transfer fee would be enormous. Really nice memories. Good luck Ron !

Totally agree Chez, we seem to be in the same situation now. JP tried about a dozen youngsters in the first half of the season and despite their gallant efforts many of them were still just ..Academy level and not upto the rigours of CCC rough house sides with lots of muscle but considerably less talent. (e.g. Blackpool / QPR) I can think that given time...(which we don't have) a lot of the could make careers at a lower level (League 1/2, Conference) BUT can we afford to run a "post-Academy" side as a reserve team and the Acadmy lads wouldn't get a game until they were 21.

There you are all you Lowe bashers, another good idea condemneed before we have the chance to prove it ! 10 men CAN play better than 11. This man has got ideas he hasn't even tried out yet - wait I see... ...I have a strategy in mind, I have a strategy in mind ...

mind you .......Man.Utd do have a squad of players capable of doing that ..... Giggs seems to be approaching his THIRD childhood, did you see that goal ?

....maybe prayer is the answer ?

I think it has something to do with the great wall of China that represents theri back four. The midfielders are also capable of becoming extra defenders and so Van der S. has SO much to do , re: saves etc, and of course as we know he hardly ever has to face a penalty kick, either. ('cos almost no-one gets awarded penalties v.Man U. - but they win one every other week !) like it or not 13 clean sheets is impressive !

......and the most interesting thing is that here is a former England captain "failing" in his first management career. The list is long........from Billy Wright upto Bryan Robson, trod the ground before him and flopped and regardless of their exceptional careers.....it doesn't carry over to the MANAGERS OFFICE. To say I had " respect " for Tony Adams might be a bit strong..... but as England CH (and one-time captain) many's the time he was stomped on and bled for the cause and (like John Terry).....though he wasn't pretty to watch, but he did the job with courage and guts! I do feel sorry for him, but I think he was a hiding to nothing after .. 'arry's " tearful departure" . I really don't know what it is about HR. He always stays one step ahead of the pack, and players " seem to respect him " in some ways, but I think I see through him like a pane of glass. For me, I wouldn't buy a pound of apples offa' 'is barra' !

..according tó the BEEB gossip site, Birmingham are offering Doncaster £1.5 million to LOAN.. Matthew Mills until the end of the season. Well what you CAN do if your club has money! ...but before this site explodes with more criticism of the club for letting Mills go ..it ought to go on record that he wasn't pushed ..he jumped ship !. RE-reading old threads and comments about his move, it was entirely HIS choice, and he wasn't pushed out by the club. I think we'd all agree that both Matt Mills AND Martin Crainie were a pretty formidable pair ...when they were central defenders in the ACADEMY side...and they did OK and were well-coached by Steve Wigley, but neither of them were (then) capable of holding down a first team place with Saints...they both made a career choice and moved. Both moved to Prem. clubs, but didn't make the grade; Crainie with Pom*ey (with 'arry) and Mills with Man.City (that was a few managers ago) where Wigley (when sacked by Saints) went to be their reserve trainer, and Mills chose to follow his mentor to Manchester. Clearly he wasn't up to it, and was loaned out /freed / signed by Doncaster (then League 1). I don't know that he is such a class player (?)..... opinions anyone...? and I wish him well if he moves up a step... but I really don't think anyone at SMS can be held responsible for his going..it was his choice to move !.. (Criticism when due .and there's enough of that but not, I think in, this case.)