Minty

Seems he's been put infront of the media this week... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27237491

As it's you...

I did think it was a slightly loaded article... quite a risk to play Gallagher AND Reed, but hell, why not, 8th is secure and what better opportunity.

So, according to Awford the club "needs to be back in the Championship" but that might not be for 15 years... I would suggest that if it took that long then there is no 'need' to be in the Championship at all, because if they're not extinct after that long surviving in Leagues 1 or 2 (or lower) then they should (even them) have cut their cloth accordingly by that point.

I know this is a slightly older thread but no point starting a new one IMO. Today's OS article ( http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/01052014-harrison-reed-hopes-for-first-start-1522395.aspx ) reminded me of something I was going to post after the Everton game. This is based on not a lot more than the small amount of minutes I've seen, plus the odd U-21 game earlier in the season, but I have a strong gut feeling that he is going to be another excellent player and one who, much like Chambers did, we will see make a real breakthrough next season, almost from nowhere. It really is not a lot more than a gut feel from the little I've seen, but he just strikes me as someone who will fit into the supporting 3 behind the front man really well, making good runs through and behind the defence, confident in possession, and also with some good vision and end product. I know most of us want us to sign a striker and/or quality attacking midfielder, but I reckon Reed could well be the latter. I'd really like to see him start this weekend to be honest - as much as I think Gallagher has potential too, I think putting Lambert back up top with Reed coming in one of the supporting positions would be worth a look.

I don't think we need to go through everyone who has commented on the thread to check just how perfect they are or are not. This has happened to Peaches and her family/children, and it happens to other people, rich and poor, famous and not, old and young. Condemning those who have done it is the easy part... what then? For the sake of potential future victims, there needs to be more work done to understand why it happens. What goes on in their head? How does it come to this?

Again, I'm not saying to dismiss it or ignore it, quite the opposite, we need to try and understand why it happens. If she hadn't died, she should quite rightly face punishment for it, if it is true. No arguments there. But punishment alone won't stop someone else potentially doing the same.

I certainly don't think it could happen to anyone. But it does happen to some people. And we need to try and understand why. We would think that no rational thinking parent would willingly put their children at risk, but it happens. Some parents murder their kids... how on earth can anyone fathom that one out? Let me be clear, I'm not saying Peaches is innocent (if this is true) and it certainly shouldn't be 'dismissed' at all, I never said that - but we must continue to try to learn why these things happen to help prevent them in the future.

In an ideal world, absolutely, but that's my point, it's not an ideal world. NONE of us can say we always do what we 'should' have done - we're all led by temptation/emotion/peer pressure or other influences in our lives at some point - quite regularly infact. Most of the time there are no consequences, usually thanks to luck rather than judgement. The young manager of the newsagent I used to do a paper-round at was killed when he took a corner too fast and drifted to the other side of the road, hitting another car head on, and bursting into flames. I was 15 and I remember it vividly. When I first passed my test I drove like an idiot at times. Not always, but there were times I overtook when I shouldn't etc, and avoided a few accidents purely by luck and timing. 'Surely' I should've known better?

It's really quite simple: Stop listening to soundbites or singular media articles. People are lazy, too many rely on the media to form their opinions for them. Do your own research, read/ask about UKIP (and Muslims) in a variety of different publications and places, not just your regular newspaper. Keep learning and keep an open mind and make sure that if someone asks you 'Why do you have that opinion?' about whatever subject it is, you can answer with more than just 'I read it in xxx' or 'I saw it on xxx'. And finally - the hard bit IMO - always be prepared to change your mind as you learn more. Too many people are worried about being 'right' or 'wrong', when there is usually no such thing.

Firstly, this is not confirmed yet, so perhaps some of these judgements are a little premature. Secondly, whilst I am sure no one 'condones' taking heroin (full stop, let alone in front of children), I do not think making judgements about her deserving to die are particularly helpful or welcome. Any loss of life in that way, and the way it affects others, is a tragedy and more needs to be done to understand why people feel the need to take such a route, if indeed that is what happened. Humans are fallable, all of us, and IMO to judge others so finally with so little understanding or compassion for the situation nor any interest in improving it for others' sake, is another nail in the coffin of our race. That may sound OTT, but without tolerance and understanding and a desire to learn from tragic events such as these, all we're left with is an assumption that we should all be robots, living and acting perfectly and according to the manual we're all given when we're born.

All quite simple to me: 'Sources' are putting these stories in the public domain to try and destabilise our players - these sources are mostly linked to other clubs, or others with possible interest in stirring things up, and possibly from an agent or two, but mostly from third-parties outside the club. The media, by and large, are happy to print these stories, because it helps sell papers. They don't make it up, they generally print stuff that is fed to them one way or another, and do so in good faith, but lets not kid ourselves that they check the veracity of all of these stories either. The club and players are probably generally fed up of thinking about it or commenting on it. There is clearly a desire for MP to stay and so players won't say much until they know his situation, and given that there is a World Cup to think about too, they probably do genuinely want to focus on the football and sort the rest out after that. And then there's the fans, ranging from people who react to every single line in every single paper, and analyse it until they're blue in the face, without a thought for where the story came from or any of the above, to me at the opposite extreme, who isn't going to waste the whole summer worrying about it in the slightest. I want to keep MP and the players, and build on this season, but what will happen will happen and nothing I do or post will change it.

That wasn't the main match report either, this was: http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/26/southampton-everton-premier-league-match-report

Agreed - his role has changed since I first posted that, but his skills and abilities are similar and very much suited to the Teddy role.

Been saying the same for over two years now... http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?35798-Rickie-Lambert-comparisons

Most of that seems fair enough, although I can't see what the big problem is with Reed's statement. It was, as far as we can all tell, simply stating facts about any current bids and reaffirming our desire to keep the players. What was their issue with it?

The three of them are all slightly different and can also play slightly differently depending on their role. I find it impossible to pick any 2 as being 'better' than any other combination and it depends a lot on the opposition and our tactics. You couldn't drop either of them after todays performance, but how can you leave out Morgan? What a problem to have.

Now that is what you call avoiding the question...

Was just thinking the same... but because Everton were going for the Champions League I guess it is not entirely unexpected.

Most pleasing thing about today... we've actually closed the game out and never really looked in danger.

Two more brilliant pieces of composure and possession from Cork. I know I'm going on now, but he has been superb.

Seriously - Cork should be in the reckoning for an England place, he's been so consistnet this season.

On the evidence of today, the best two Englishmen on the pitch have been Clyne and Cork IMO...

Some excellent performances so far today... Clyne, Davis, Cork, Wanyama all very tidy and solid, and great work rate too.

Good work. BT Sport highlighting the number of points we've lost from winning positions, it's no secret, so lets hope that works.