david in sweden

Many fans - you seem to be one - rate midfielders and even defenders - by the number of goals they score. For me, such goals are purely a "bonus" There aren't any regular stats. for "assists " in football. But I think that both JWP and Steven Davis (himself not a great goalscorer) might rank better if there were. Historically, we've had very few midfielders who have got past 2-3 goals / season and those who did were invariably utility-type players who could play anywhere.

Hard to recall myself exactly Vectis, but I think the "battles " between Terry Paine and Pompey's Roy Lunnis in the early 60's did a lot to fuel that particular fire. As I recall Lunnis was a 6'4" ex-Marine, who would have done well in any Vinnie Jones team, but it didn't stop Terry from giving as good as he got when they clashed. there was also the incident when, after Jimmie Dickinson's immaculate career was over, his aspiring young replacement..Vince Radcliffe? made an very ill-timed tackle on Cliff Huxford in a derby game....and was stretchered off with a double leg break. That didn't go down well with Pompey fans, although it was a complete accident. Huxford, a very pleasant man off the field, was one of the toughest players I ever saw play for Saints, didn't even flinch from the lad's poor challenge. I'm also "dislike " Spurs (my - aren't we being polite) ....although ironically... I found myself willing them to get the 3 points at Anfield yesterday. I'm dreading the thought that they might win the title ahead of Leicester because, even in Stockholm, I'll probably meet a Spurs fan who crept out of the woodwork.

....Like all emerging players being in a team playing alongside lots of top international players ....of course he looked good. ..(and I'm certainly not going to attempt to defend David Prutton... that's no comparison).

you're obviously someone expecting far more from JWP than he has shown so far...but it's enlightening to see that even Beckham (aged 21) took 3 years to get a regular spot at Man U after his debut, and his goal scoring exploits didn't make the Guiness Book of Records, at the time, either. The fact that JWP has played almost 20 England U21 games, and is team captain surely shows than more people have confidence in him than some on here. Since Schneiderlin's departure, we haven't found a good balance in midfield, but I don't put the blame on JWP for that.

Having contributed to this thread a few times myself, I was suddenly surprised to notice it was created in July 2014....almost 2 years ago. It's fairly clear that for some fans...." time is not a healer ". However, retrospectively-speaking (like many others) I've had the chance to review their situations. The key to the exodus seems to have been Pochettino jumping ship. What followed was the "player reaction" to a manager who they had come to like and trust. If there were any defence for Pochettini, it might be the uncertainty surrounding his relationship with Nicola Cortese, who seemed to sack people depending on which side of bed he got out of, and who at one time, was rumoured to be disatisfied with Pochettino's performance. Did Poch jump?..or was he about to be pushed? Obviously money talks and the steady stream of departing players started here. With hindsight - my feelings look like this: Rickie Lambert - Sorry he went (he had become 2010's legend) but it doesn't provoke any ire in me, and I wish that he'd had better luck since. He deserved the pay day. Adam Lallana - Difficult for him, as team captain and Player of the Year and I fully understand those who are still angry, but he clearly has always had talent and it shows far more now (under Klopp) than it ever did in Rodgers' time. I still fail to understand why BR used L&L as sub. for each other and failed to play them together.? Dejan Lovren - Despite mixed reviews from his time in France, he looked superb in many Saints' games, but this I suggest was as a result of his partnership with Fonte, who IMHO made him look a lot better (and less vulnerable) than he has been since moving to Liverpool. Luke Shaw - at the time, seemed like the Golden boy, and everything went right for him. Choosing him ahead of Fox (who lapsed dramatically) was a no-brainer and coming into a successful soon-to-be promoted side, gave him the opportunity to flourish. I dare to suggest ...that had he been behind Bertrand instead of Targett he might well have spent much more time on the bench. Upon signing for us at 18, those rumours of his eventual transfer to Man U were (after all) quite true. However, in the real football world, life under van Gaal didn't prove to be a bed of roses. Calum Chambers - Took his chance well when he came in and DAJFU, whilst Clyne was injured and fighting for form. His move, was not so much of a shock ...as the £15 million fee we took off Arsenal for his signature. A win-win situation at the time, but someone else who spends a lot of time on the bench, when I suspect he'd like to be playing. Nathaniel Clyne - Improved greatly at Saints as many of his early games were a nightmare. Got his England chance at a time when there was little competition and has held it well, although I suspect that Roy Hodgson may yet revert to selecting Walker in the Euros - whose talent at Spurs seems closer to thuggery than footballing skill. Morgan Schneiderlin - almost comes no.2 to Lambert in the fan ratings. Well worth his eventual and long overdue selection for France, but has also become a victim of Van Gaal's selection enigma. Who says NO to Man.Utd ?. Has spent far more time on the bench there than he ever expected, or deserved. Would have played more - if they had paid more. Toby Alderweireld - this is really a "non-discussion". He was outstanding with us, but never our player in the first place and plumped for the bigger option. Cannot believe we didn't offer more for him at the time, but if (as I suspect)....his mind was made up to move ....he would have gone anyway. If this thread continues, we may well add a few more names to this by August, but if more do go....and we continue to pick up the van Dijk's, the Clasie's and the Romeu's ...then maybe the future isn't so gloomy.

that might look good (today) but it puts a lot of pressure on Steven Davis as the only creative midfielder (you also have to pick either Clasie or JWP)...and althouh Pelle and Mane have hit form again, ......a fit Austin and Jay Rod will put a lot of pressure on Mane and Pelle......(that's what Koeman calls " competition for places" ) - and that's the way it should be.. but in all this debate ..there is still no place for Tadic....in your selection, or mine either.

Of course, the close proximity has something to do with this but in truth in almost 100 years, we've rarely been in the same League. 60-odd years ago ; Pompey were a Div.1 side (read Prem.) who'd won both League title and a pre-war FA Cup. In the late 1940's Saints had failed (several times) to get out of Div.2 and would soon go down the Div.3 South. Afterwards, when we started back up, Pompey were on the way down, and so it has been since (with rare exception). Hence the low instance of meetings. (only 28 times was it)? The "animosity" between the sets of fans seems to have come sometime after the 1950's (?)..but my late father, (a Saints fan in the pre/post WW2 era) said that some fans weren't against the idea of travelling down to Fratton Park to watch a match, on those occasions that Saints played "long distance" away games.

Take heed....a good guide to form.....is coming off the bench and ending up being Man of the Match....

.....tbh can't say I'm over-impressed by some of the signings they've made, that I've watched in matches. A bench full of "sub-standard" millionaires.. Having a computer do your thinking for you maybe OK in some circumstances (unless it's your bank), but that their Transfer Committee (composed of former players) couldn't see - what we saw in him - speaks reams for our scouting system v. their computer.

There is a theory that you if you make a "bad buy"....(car, house....footballer? whatever)....the more you have paid for it, the more you want to believe it's really OK. Yes.. Gaston's contract has "cost " Saints £20+ million, and little reward we've seen for it, but the fact that THREE managers have failed to use him says something more. In all honesty, I'm prepared to believe that he may have been the right person in the wrong place......but wish I could say the same about Dani Osvaldo

AGREED - but primarily it's up to them to improve themselves, and not by crocking someone else in training.

This story may be a load of misinformation aimed to unsettle, and I can believe there are one ot two who are a bit disappointed, but you can only field 11 at a time. At the end of the season, it's the manager who is judged by the results - not the players. Those who do well intraing have to be even better on match days, and of course it's equally obvious that you pick a side to play those opponents you have on the day....next week you may need a different strategy. Yes - a lot of players are pretty consistant and it's difficult to dislodge them....but if a particular player is doing well, you don't drop him just to please someone else. True - a few are a bit " in-and-out " (and not always through suspension) but if there is no " on-form replacement " - you don't change things for the sake of it.

If we get a Euro place this season, he may well start thinking longer term (if we do well) ......BUT If we don't, and haven't broken into the top four by this time next year .... then he'll be thinking seriously if he wants to be Klopp's replacement, or Wenger's ...or ...???

not good enough for their computer program that is ......Haha:lol: The Express have run a storyline stating that the Liverpool Transfer Committee turned down the chance to bid for Sadio Mane....whilst he was still at Red Bull. ...because " their Black Box" showed that he didn't meet the criteria they wanted....... what on Earth were they looking for?. I can only think that after his performance at St.Mary's ..they might want to re-programme their computer ..or replace their transfer Committee. But maybe they trust their computer more than their own judgment ...at least it works sometimes....they did end up buying two robots to be centre backs.

in retrospect ...maybe he would.... and don't start suggesting 62 is old - it isn't. Man. U were still winning trophies under Ferguson when he was past 70.

One can discuss Age v. "peak" as much as you like, but the importance is not when they reach the peak, but how long they can stay there. The road downhill ...is faster.

Every player is different and sometimes we have to change formation / style to suit the skills of the players we have. As the statement about about replacements, let's remember that Clyne had played over 100 Prem. games by the time he left for Liverpool and I recall those disasterous defeats we had when back up in the Prem. when Clyne was clearly out of his depth and looked like the proverbial rabbit caught in the headlights. Later on, there were times when Calum Chambers had taken the RB role, when Clyne didn't look worth his place either. But, in time - he improved. We may never replace Schneiderlin with....(another Schneiderlin)...but we've never replaced Matt le Tissier, either. Also remember that Schneiderlin didn't become that brilliant overnight and not until he'd been with Saints for 2 or 3 seasons.

long term?...well he cost just £1 million, was only signed for 2 years? So it isn't a deal that would break the bank - even if he doesn't plays regularly. Just because he's that age (25) and cost a low transfer fee, it doesn't follow that he's "sub-standard" to others in the squad. If he succeeds, we can extend his contract. With his background every Prem. game must seem like a bonus, and whilst I agree he doesn't look like an orthodox Prem. full back, I think he's worth his place. I am just as keen to see Cedric play, but as long as Martina doesn't make "Yoshida-type" errors, that cost goals - there's no reason to drop him. Cedric is still (comparatively) young and - in time - will become a better player ...... (wish I could think the same about £5 million Juanmi) Of course everyone will be looking for Martina to score another "Arsenal-wonder goal" but it may never happen, but I think he's learning fast and deserves a chance. I like his style /personality makes a pleasant change from some of the other Prem. " robotic " wing backs.

QPR 2 Middlesboro 3 . ......another goal for Gaston. Boro upto top 2 again.

the worst part of that was....that the Wolves keeper Dave MacLaren ... played a blinder..... and saved almost as many as they conceded..... ........which later prompted Saints to sign him the following year after an injury crisis when Campbell Forsyth broke his leg. It would be easy to blame MacLaren for the 56 goals we conceded in his 22 League games that season, but the fact that we conceded 92 and used 4 keepers all season, proves our defence was regularly outclassed and full backs Jones, Webb and Hollywood must have drawn lots before every game to see who'd play on which flank. Thank goodness that we survived (just) thanks to Ron Davies' 37 League goals.

I'd start up front with Pelle and Rodriguez.......Long has played two hard games for Ireland and deserves a rest......would be good to see him as first choice change. Some combination of a start for Mane and a later subbing on for Tadic may be enough to create good chances, the real test will be to put them in the net. Leicester have looked so good all season, you'll wonder if they might get " title nerves " in their remaining games? Many a title chance has been lost between Easter and the last game, as many older fans will confirm. Result : IF we can hit top form ?...I can see us stealing all 3 points.

from one perspective maybe, but Celtic's last quoted accounts showed that it was only the van Dijk transfer that kept them solvent.....

Correct of course, it's just that I can't seem to think of Macclesfield as a Football League club. (now back in the National League)

...maybe not a new story, but what is their motivation and would it be a win-win situation?. another site is suggesting that Jose Fonte might relish a move back to Portugal to finish his career on a high note?. Of course, every international player wants to get into the Euros and take stock of his career prospects - especially for those in the "over 30" age bracket. Fonte (now 32) still has a contract until 2018, and Pelle (30+ )until summer 2017, with the squads average age reducing with every new signing we have only Fonte, Pelle and Steven Davis as regular squad members who are over 30. IF ....we don't make a Euro place, and those players who have a good Euro tournament they will seriously want to consider their futures. To Stay .or not to Stay. It's certain Koeman will want to get good replacements for when they leave....or retire, and not panic buy as all newcomers will need time ...to gell in. I wouldn't begrudge any of those three a move to pastures new, as IMHO they've all DAJFU on many occasions and deserve the chance of a good "swan song ". Don't know how others feel about it, but if they moved on ....I wouldn't put any of them in the " Defectors " thread.

also seen on that video... Lawrie McMenemy (then Eng. asst.manager) restraining an angry Graham Taylor when early penalty claim was refused. Also..... Erwin Koeman was a pretty tough CB in his day, too. Lucky to stay on the pitch after that tackle......