Minty

That means us... always doing out bit for those less fortunate than ourselves.

Once you're in an England side in a competitive international, the disproportionate expectation from some sections of the press and some fans comes with the territory. Ask Rickie though and I doubt he's bothered - and I think he's actually well suited to the team and can play an important role in bringing others in the game and then getting into the box to get on the end of crosses or other passes. Have faith people. Rickie has coped with the pressures and expectations at every level of his journey up the leagues with us - why shouldn't he do so now?

All credit to him really - just kept his head down and worked hard to get his place back. It's been strange actually - I grew up only ever knowing Hampshire to have effective wicketkeepers who stayed for year... I can only ever remember 3 regular keepers, in Parks, Aymes and Pothas in over 30 years of following cricket, so to have this recent 'upheaval' is a bit strange. Would love to see Bates cement his place for the next 10 years or so, if that's still feasible in the modern game...?

I didn't specifically say anyone did I? I merely said that anyone who would do such a thing, would bug me. I've not actually read much of this thread, and wanted to reply to that post. Just as anyone bugs me who tends to look more for the potential negatives in a situation in favour of the positive, the opposite is also true. A balanced view is needed IMO, in everything, whether that is a Saints win, a Saints defeat, an England call-up for one of our players, a transfer move, a player released, etc, etc. I've said this many times before - if everyone on here justifying their opinion with clear reasoning, and stopped feeling the need to be defensive about that opinion, it would make for far better debate. State your opinion, back it up with clear reasoning, stand by it, but remain open to persuasion from others and respect the fact that others will disagree... But anyway, I digress.

Anxiety about wanting someone to do well is perfectly normal and understandable, it's just when it then metamorphoses into assuming a negative outcome with little or no basis other than personal pessimism that bugs me. I'll be nervous for him, but I'm gonna enjoy every minute of it and will him on to do well and score a few. Rickie knows he isn't a long term answer to Englands needs, so he'll just go out and do his best, which is all you can ever ask of anyone in life. As long as he does that and enjoys himself, I couldn't care less what anyone else, press, pundits, or other fans, think. Do yourself proud Rickie.

So was Bates' 71 a convincing knock? As I understood it, his batting was the only real concern about him, hence Wheater's arrival, but if Bates has been working on things and is capable of decent knocks like this then it's a no brainer, he simply has to play.

Two for me, because of their never-say-die attitude at the back: Scott Hiley - who can forget his goal line clearance vs West Ham (and it wasn't his only one if I recall correctly?)... was often unlucky IMO to make way for Jason Dodd when he returned from whichever injury he had just been out with... Alan Nielson - I am slightly biased as I knew and worked with his wife Claire, but like Hiley, Alan was one of those defenders who put everything on the line... the most memorable moment of his being to take a shot full in the face away at Newcastle which they even highlighted on MOTD at the time. I think it was the game we won 1-0 thanks to a MLT freekick. Never the greatest footballers, but put in a shift every time and never shirked a tackle or block, and also bloody nice blokes too.

Really interesting piece that, even if it was written in 2011. Can't help but agree with so many of its conclusions, even if much of it is dressed-up in planner/architect language!

I had problems earlier and also got the message about exceeding login attempts - i had tried to login using a different browser (Chrome - normally use Firefox) because it wasn't working at first and in the FAQ it even says not to do this. But I just retried it in Firefox again and it's fine again.

All in all a pretty good performance and result given the side (and substitutions), against a Championship side.

Oh yeah, good point, mine was $50, not 50 Euros.

No, I went for the 3 month option for about 50Euros as a half way measure, to check I was happy with it.

Also signed up for AJS using SmartDNS last weekend and quality has been excellent both at home and where I usually am for work on Saturday afternoons. Very happy.

Training not been great of late due to work commitments and my Dad passing away kinda killing my enthusiasm for a bit! I'll be getting back out there tonight and then plan on upping things this weekend so hope to be back on things after that.

Was trying to find the most appropriate place for it, think this is as good as any! http://www.eplindex.com/37849/marcelo-bielsas-tactical-influence-mauricio-pochettino-tactics.html This article explains more about things and I think the following quote sums it up best:

Patience required - we're controlling the majority of the game which is a good place to start, and we have had a few good openings - one good goal ruled out for offside, and a couple of other half shouts for penalties which although none were clear cut, could still have been given by another ref. No reason to panic - just need to keep belief in what we're doing and keep probing for openings. I'm not too worried about us in defence apart from the odd occasions when we've conceded possession cheaply. Lambert is doing ok too IMO - had a couple of chances and is getting in amongst them. Theplayers need to keep calm and not let the ref and missed opportunities frustrate them. Believe.

Dunno if it's been mentioned elsewhere yet, but the last time we won our first two games in the top flight, was 88/89, when we beat West Ham 4-0 at home, and then QPR 1-0 away...

It all stems from who is willing to pay the money to fund these rights deals. While there are companies willing to pay more for the exposure, and there are consumers willing to pay to watch the services, then they may well continue to go up - but customers will not expect their subscriptions to go up by the same rate as these deals are increasing, and I doubt advertisiers will want to see a similar increase in advertising rates. It can only be justified by a similar return on that investment. Ignore the fact it's football - it's a simple fact that consumers and advertisiers will only pay for it whilst they think it is worth it... for consumers that depends on the quality and their own disposable incomes, for advertisers it depends on the return on investment and their marketing budgets, and it's the same for all sports and rights deals. That level of growth in rights payments is not going to continue indefinitely, but the bubble won't 'burst' as such... we'll just hear about it when subscriber and advertising revenue starts to level off. It'll be interesting to see when and how that happens, and how sport will react.

Oh get over yourself you pedantic arse. The whole tactical issue is an interesting one and this thread, and the article, were good reads. It will be interesting to see how they play together as they surely will, and I suspect Osvaldo can fill any of the front three positions (up top, and either of the wide supporting roles), while Lambert would play either of the central positions. It may well lead to different options depending on the opposition, but I honestly can't remember the last time I felt we had two top class strikers who can lead the line, and it does start to give us that strength in depth that top sides need.

If she were a weather presenter, that would be ironic... She is not, so it is not. Are you American?

No, she ruined her own credibility when she tried and failed to interpret the word in a song. Big difference.

There is absolutely plenty of sense in what he says. There is every reason to be optimistic, but some of the comparisons and claims are going a bit too far just yet. We may have potential, nothing wrong with thinking that, and I'd be the first to admit that I'm excited about what I believe we CAN achieve. But until we start to actually realise that potential then we cannot and should not, IMO, make bold claims beyond that which we can prove...

His 'recovery' makes me wonder if my cynical theory might actually have had something to it...

Guess which Saints player is in the MOTD Team of the Week...? You were probably wrong...

Comment from an WBA fan on one of their forums...