david in sweden

Nice to know someone else who doesn't believe its all lies, (but don't reminisce too much John, its not P.C. on this site.) Yes we did score 70 + goals - and so did a lot of teams then, in fact many teams scored much more than that, too. .....BUT what can you expect with 1960s tactics and a 5-man forward line ? Good job we did though, our away form was terrible in those days. Those long coach trips down South used to drain the visitors energy before they got here -(bit like going upto the North East; Newcastle, Sunderland ) and then they got into the Dell ground and heard the crowd -it was worth a goal start even before the kick-off. Even then we had a leaky defence, but the same brand of attacking football that I see " shades " of with JP attempts to encourage with our brave lads.

.........so Jason Euell is not happy, well NEITHER AM I ! Anyone genuine enough to want to justify his wages would surely make more of an effort to get on the team sheet. ......but why bother, getting that sort of salary just to turn up for training must be a good deal eh, Jason ? Surely you're better than some of the teenagers we 've been playing of late -aren't you ....or are they just keener to play than you are ?

response; ..until it is " resolved " which may be when /if Tottenham are relegated, now there's a thought, ' arry - then we may never hear of it again.

Well speaking as another " old " fan...when I began as " a Dell regular," Saints were EXACTLY in the same spot as they are now. The winter of '62/63 and we'd started the season with one win and a draw in the first 8 games. !! ..and then came Kirby and Burnside and Stuart Williams (sorry to bore you again with names of " former heroes ") and it took time for us to recover and we'd still only progressed upto 15th spot by early May (finally 11th btw). (I'll not re-tell the glory of those unforgetable FA Cup games either) except to say that fans of " my day" (some have already passed on to the main grandstand in the sky) ..seemed to be a different kind of supporter than SOME of those today. We had some shocking results that season; like losing 3-5 (h) to Cardiff ( but O'Brien scored a hat-trick anyway.) Getting tanned 1-4 at GRIMSBY who only just avoided relegation themselves, though we reversed the score at home. Losing 4-0 at soon-to-be promoted Sunderland and where some upstart CF named BRIAN CLOUGH scored a hat-trick) The pain was lessened somewhat by our 6-0 win (h) v Midd.boro (Kirby hat-trick in ..FOUR mins.) and a 5-0 win (h) v. Derby.. and a last match home win 2-0 over eventual champs.. Stoke City and they had the help of a 50 year old winger named Stanley Matthews. WHY am I rambling on like this ? That season was one of the worst in my memory (even recalling the two relegations we've had since - where at least we had some good football in between). My point is the loyal fan base (then average 15,252 ) were there to cheer the team on every dire game. (Seems to me that the ghosts of those fans are still around today.) We got used to the "fair weather fans " turning up for the big games, and standing there throwing insults at our / their team, and we were there next game ..and they weren't. They weren't glory days, they were the bread and butter games of that era.. and there wasn't much butter, either. I agree with most of your comments. NO-we're not living in the past, but we recognise the signs of a struggling side, and ABSOLUTELY right, this is the weakest squad I can ever recall, and in all fairness some of these lads shouldn't be asked to play in this league as they are totally lacking any senior experience - but JP is playing the cards he's been dealt and Rupert Lowe is the dealer and there's no money in the pot - but amidst all this, I have a real admiration for these " lads " ( I have two sons who are older than some of our first teamers) 'cos they are going out and getting outplayed, and even occasionally humiliated by " bully boy " teams. I hope we survive, if for no other reason that the 45 mins. of " good " football these lads produce in most games is surely a good sign of a better future, and who knows ..if we are mid-table next January .. then this generations " fair weather fans " may start to turn-up, too. Do I still glory in those days? Absolutely, but I (and many of my generation) are also realists, 'cos we've seen it all before and we believe in better days.

agreed, but maybe not when you consider the shortage of strikers, injured, off-form or suspended, we 'aint got a lot to choose from at present. LIke to have seen a few more from first team defenders. Only Perry and Skacel have found the net this season so far, we surely miss Michael Svensson at the back when we have corners and free kicks.

Wasn't Davenport on loan from ...Tottenham,(?).. and wasn't his lad Jamie at Spurs, too ?... (dodgy knee and all). Don't tell me.. 'arry didn't know about THAT injury in advance... I think a lot more can be written about " Mr. ' Arry's transfer deals " but the whole issue maybe "sub judici " at present, as he was one of the managers who " helped " police with their enquiries when the issue came up last season. MAYBE ..his new employers have helped move that file to the bottom of the pile now as I haven't heard 'owt on it lately.

Interesting reflection on some our past heroes. Aside from the two goalies, and M.Svensson ..ALL the others had a lesser role when they started. Baird came (from N.I.)as a 16 year old, Crainie and Bridge were also juniors in the club, before we used words like Academy.. and neither Beattie or K. Jones got into the first team regular for some time after their arrival, and they were both barely 20 when they arrived.

Mmm, I tend to think that Baird was a bit exposed whenever he played RB ..? Despite a lack of height, he seemd to be sounder when alongside Claus in the middle of the back row........or ?

Yes looks good Andrew, ....however, maybe I would have Bridge at full back and Bale in front of him. Bridge had better defensive qualities although he overlapped well, too. Bale has younger legs, a bit more pace, better free kicks and an eye for goal. Midfielders are a dime a dozen, and Bridge has TOO much experience NOT to be in the back line on a regular basis. Bale has incredible runs on goal at times, and is somewhat reminicent of John Sydenham in full flight. It looks a good team on paper, but I don't expect to ever see any of them returning to SMS (sadly).

Yes, he and Crainie were good as central defenders ...at RESERVE level, but the question always remains -Could they have made it as first team regulars ? It underlines the fact that there is a H_U_G_E gulf between reserve and CCC football. I did feel sorry for M.Mills, as he was stuck on the bench while bigger names were out on the field. He got a lot of encouragement from Steve Wigley (apparantly) and was lured to Man.City when SW moved there. IF he were to be released...or available on loan, maybe Doncaster would loan him out (after Saturday), he's got a bit more experience than Lancashire who, although he may look the part, hasn't made the quantum leap to CCC yet. ....or ???

Well ...I didn't think he was totally relying on the Academy lads.(!) Surely everyone appreciates they would have had better support -had it not been for Svensson (Injury) Euell (form loss) and our THREE goalless strikers ..........what a good job that Kelvin Davis held was in form. Had all the above-mentioned been regulars,and we had only 5-6 Academy boys each game I'm sure we wouldn't be in our present situation, instead of scraping the barrel to get a start eleven.

Can't blame him I suppose, there was a time when he might have challenged Kelvin for the No.1 spot, but then he got injured. Now Kelv is in his lifes form and apart from unforseen injury, doesn't look like anyone will have a chance to oust him. Should be good for him to get some match practice. Saga wants to score goals again - as do all strikers. If he can rekindle his loan period form, it'll be good for his confidence and our points tally.

I don't think the strategy was to play 9 Academy lads every week, but clearly it represented a chance to test them out as the Academy investment (not players wages) but coaching, facilities, etc, is no small amount. As JP was clearly on the cards for Rupert Lowe on a prev.occasion (we got Burley instead) I think JP was told " We have no money to spend, these lads are good for their age, you (JP) have a reputation for building young teams, try them out and mould them into a team, with the help of ; Davis, Svensson Euell and one of John /Saga / Rasiak." (or words to that effect). As it was, Svensson as injured, Euell vanished and none of the 3 mentioned strikers managed anything - except John's League Cup goal. With a money-saving priority it was " big salary players OUT and loanees IN ). JP is left carrying the can. I like his football style- even if we only get 45 mins. a game. I'd like to see him go on and get the older guys more involved and pick some of the lads to bring on a bit more - he's seen most of them by now, and hopefully can get the balance right in future. I think we should remember that we are talking about teenagers playing CCC football against teams with seasoned profs. in their sides, (some of whom will be in the Prem.next season.) We aren't going to find a Walcott or Bale every season, it takes time for them to develop and NONE of our former stars - way back to Channon, Shearer, MLT or Bridge made it in their first season..or the second. We must be patient and the priority is survival now and development later.

I don't think the strategy was to play 9 Academy lads every week, but clearly it represented a chance to test them out as the Academy investment (not players wages) but coaching, facilities, etc, is no small amount. As JP was clearly on the cards for Rupert Lowe on a prev.occasion (we got Burley instead) I think JP was told " We have no money to spend, these lads are good for their age, you (JP) have a reputation for building young teams, try them out and mould them into a team, with the help of ; Davis, Svensson Euell and one of John /Saga / Rasiak." (or words to that effect). As it was, Svensson as injured, Euell vanished and none of the 3 mentioned strikers managed anything - except John's League Cup goal. With a money-saving priority it was " big salary players OUT and loanees IN ). JP is left carrying the can. I like his football style- even if we only get 45 mins. a game. I'd like to see him go on and get the older guys more involved and pick some of the lads to bring on a bit more - he's seen most of them by now, and hopefully can get the balance right in future. I think we should remember that we are talking about teenagers playing CCC football against teams with seasoned profs. in their sides, (some of whom will be in the Prem.next season.) We aren't going to find a Walcott or Bale every season, it takes time for them to develop and NONE of our former stars - way back to Channon, Shearer, MLT or Bridge made it in their first season..or the second. We must be patient and the priority is survival now and development later.

ABSOLUTELY, you summed up CCC team tactics in two paragraphs. Have you ever considered....becoming a football manager ....?

ABSOLUTELY, you summed up CCC team tactics in two paragraphs. Have you ever considered....becoming a football manager ....?

Yes, I recall 2005, but were we really that bad ...BEFORE the New Year ? Everything went downhill fast, especially after Pruttons 10 match suspension and we were really struggling at the end of the season, I don't think we were REALLY relegation-threatened up until then - were we ? It seemed like a season of two halves to me.

Yes, I recall 2005, but were we really that bad ...BEFORE the New Year ? Everything went downhill fast, especially after Pruttons 10 match suspension and we were really struggling at the end of the season, I don't think we were REALLY relegation-threatened up until then - were we ? It seemed like a season of two halves to me.

Even allowing for the fact that we've had our 3 most experienced strikers away from the club for half the season, have our current lads done that badly.? OK ...!!!! I know we have one of the lowest goal tallies in the CCC, but look at what we loaned out. Rasiak has been available to Watford for half the season and he's scored 3-4 (?) Stern John has more or less been a regular in Bris. City side and got only ...2 and Saga got ...5, in his stay in Denmark. Of our goalscorers McGoldrick has 7 in the league and 2 more in League Cup. Surman has scored 5 ..and even BWP has 3. The main fault has been that in previous years, Midfielders have weighed in with a few goals whereas; Holmes and Lallana (both injured a lot) have 5 between them, of the rest 4 were from loan players, and only Perry and Skacel has scored (of the defenders) and Stern John ( 1 before he left.) In terms of goal tally; McG, Surman and Lallana are at least as good as those who were loaned out. Statistically at least, we'd scarcely have done better if they (the loan-ees) had been here all the time.! Sure I'd like to see more goals , but all things considered maybe it wasn't SO bad to loan out these guys ?

Even allowing for the fact that we've had our 3 most experienced strikers away from the club for half the season, have our current lads done that badly.? OK ...!!!! I know we have one of the lowest goal tallies in the CCC, but look at what we loaned out. Rasiak has been available to Watford for half the season and he's scored 3-4 (?) Stern John has more or less been a regular in Bris. City side and got only ...2 and Saga got ...5, in his stay in Denmark. Of our goalscorers McGoldrick has 7 in the league and 2 more in League Cup. Surman has scored 5 ..and even BWP has 3. The main fault has been that in previous years, Midfielders have weighed in with a few goals whereas; Holmes and Lallana (both injured a lot) have 5 between them, of the rest 4 were from loan players, and only Perry and Skacel has scored (of the defenders) and Stern John ( 1 before he left.) In terms of goal tally; McG, Surman and Lallana are at least as good as those who were loaned out. Statistically at least, we'd scarcely have done better if they (the loan-ees) had been here all the time.! Sure I'd like to see more goals , but all things considered maybe it wasn't SO bad to loan out these guys ?

I'd go with that. Saints teams of all generations have been notoriously inconsistant - and not just when they were successful. Even looking back at the "potential" relegation situations in years past, we've always managed to turn it around in the second half (of the season) -even if it has run a bit close to the finish, occasionally. We have played some good football, (unfortunately seldom for more than 45 mins. at a time,) but put it all together, a few more shots ON target, a few less hitting the woodwork, and a fair deal on offsides and penalty shouts - I think we can do enough to move up the table soon, and certainly to survive.

I'd go with that. Saints teams of all generations have been notoriously inconsistant - and not just when they were successful. Even looking back at the "potential" relegation situations in years past, we've always managed to turn it around in the second half (of the season) -even if it has run a bit close to the finish, occasionally. We have played some good football, (unfortunately seldom for more than 45 mins. at a time,) but put it all together, a few more shots ON target, a few less hitting the woodwork, and a fair deal on offsides and penalty shouts - I think we can do enough to move up the table soon, and certainly to survive.

Read me again Adrians, I think you've misjudged my comments. Not having watched the game, I read several fans and a couple of comments that said it wasn't a "good game of faootball" that Barnsley had far more of the ball then we did, and both JP and Seijs (in interview) said that we dodn't play well - but still won. (and pleased we all are for it.) MY main point was, earlier games where we have dominated, or even played well enough to win, we'd still come away empty-handed. Games like Cardiff (A) where we were 1-1 at 90 mins. and lost to a late free kick. Others like v.Wolves, where our 10 men were better than their 11, but we still lost. Several managers saying we'd played the best football they'd seen in CCC - but still we lost. Outplaying Reading (twice) but losing 2 more home points to a late equaliser........and 6 home draws tells the story. I'm not critical of Saints (in fact I'll come out now and say I think JP has done a great job (NO ! not to have us 22 in the league) but despite playing without the overpaid, under-performing strikers, and the experience of Svensson and Euell ..he still put a team of boys out who rarely disgraced themselves -even against bully-boy teams like Blackpool and Palace.........AND we're not bottom of the CCC with 12 points ! What we've lacked is (good) luck and we've had... has been bad ! Red cards for Euell and Lancashire (second time). Penalty for a ball in Olle's face..and so on. These are all "boys" in most cases who would have been glad of a seat on the Reserves bench last season. JP has played the cards that Rupert Lowe dealt him, and that's not easy. I'd like to think that we've may be seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Let's get this disasterous home form back on track (our away form is as good better....than a lot of mid table sides.) Just as long as we don't have the "luck" to get Mike Riley refereeing us again in the near future!

Most commentators / fans commenting on the win at Barnsley, admit that THEY were the better side, and deserved to win. We didn't play well but that DMcG took the chance well. After 40 odd years, it is obvious to me that, ( unless you are ManU,) most games don't depend on good shots, or fantastic saves, or those unstoppable goals- but it's down to luck. I have been " fortunate " enough to see quite a few games on cable here this season, and although we looked good for 45 mins. even playing with 10 men (sorry boys)... it all comes down to luck and short-sighted refs. True games like Blackpool (h) really looked like MEN v. Boys and we paid the price, but it does seem like yesterday, many times we have played better overall than the opposition and came away with nothing. Yesterday, was one for us and we can be glad that we got the rub if the green (sorry-wrong sport), but I think JP has done a courageous job in blooding so many Academy lads so far, but what they lacked was the experienced heads to support them. Without; Svensson, Powell and Euell it was always going to be an uphill task, but the youngsters are the future , and when they need to come in again - at least they won't be so green,and hopefully will get some luck to go with it.