Minty

Steve has asked me to, but I'm sure it'll all fall into place nicely.

206ao - Briggs and Ervine polishing things off with 2 wickets apiece. Briggs' figures were 11-5-13-2 ! First innings lead of 294 runs. Lovely.

Worcs now 189/8, having lost 3 wickets for 30 runs inside the first hour today. Follow-on looking likely, 5-and-a-bit sessions to take 12 wickets and knock off a victory target. Don't wanna count chickens but it's a strong position, and it'd be disappointing not to win from here.

As things stand here and now, no I don't. I pretty much just said that. But I also accept that I don't know what NC has got planned, what the transfer budget is likely to be, and that I'm used to us not competing at that level, so I will naturally downplay my expectations.

Thing is, while I understand what you're saying, this is uncharted territory for us... we've arguably NEVER had the potential resources that we have at our disposal, we've arguably never had a manager with as good an understanding of European players and experience from the very top level, and we've never had as ambitious a chairman as we've got now. So while I agree that, relative to what I'm used to and what I expect of Saints, Champions League is not 'realistic' because it never has been before, I cannot say it won't become realistic in the future. We might, just might, be about to blaze a trail up the league.

Odd, perhaps. Unusual, no. Turks is on fire at the mo isn't he? I knew his 'constructive' period wouldn't last. lol Basically, we're all happy to aim high, we all recognise that it's unlikely we'll achieve it straight away, but depending on the continuing progress and investment, we honestly don't know what we're capable of, so lets enjoy the ride and see where we can get to? Is that fair? Hardly reason to start all this *****ing, is it?

Probably me at some point...

Is it a successful takeover though? This thread remained after the last 3 'successful' takeovers, none of which actually proved to be successful, so lets not be too hasty in declaring the latest one successful either!!!

Because they're not yet good enough?

A bit more on the voting - so if you don't agree with the nominations, have a word with the Saints players...! http://www.thepfa.com/thepfa/pfaawards/voting-system-explained

The nominations come from fellow professionals... the players themselves submit two votes each, and the shortlist is drawn up from that.

Might be worth anyone going making sure they're up-to-date with their Measles immunisations...! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22215185

If the assist was from a non-Englishman, then the goal should be chalked off too. And if a goal was scored against a non-English defender, then that can't count because we won't know if an English defender may have prevented it or not. And what about free-kicks and penalties that were scored from, but conceded by non-English players. An English defender may not have committed the foul. And what about defensive mistakes by English or non-English defenders that may or may not have led to a chance on goal... I could go on. Basically, it's pointless.

I think this is exactly the kind of game where our high pressing and up-tempo approach will disrupt their game and deny them the time and space to play the way they like to play, similar to how we beat Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea. All depends on the chances we create and convert IMO, so I'm going for a 2-1 win.

I know, just wanted to confirm I'd be up for any other game... thought some might pull out if it wasn't vs West Brom.

Go on then.

The only way they can claim to be debt free is if the money to pay off the debts that have been rolled together in a payment plan, is ringfenced and protected, seperate from the funds used to run the club. Even that isn't truly debt-free, but at least the repayments would be protected so as to not affect the daily running of the club. Any other scenario, it is still debt.

This prompts a bigger question IMO... I agree that probably half a dozen clubs would look at Allardyce, but is that because they're too afraid/not got the foresight to look elsewhere for someone who is actually better? Like Cortese did? Pochettino is far from proven yet, I'm not going to claim otherwise, but I get the feeling that with bigger risks potentially come bigger rewards and that the likes of Allardyce are a 'safe bet' to a certain degree, but don't strike me as the kind of manager who will push a club to a higher level. Just a thought.

Leics 100/4 following on, but rain has halted proceedings again. Weather forecast is not great for tomorrow, need to knock them over as quickly as we can today I reckon, or we could be headed for a draw.

I don't remember Kerins ever scoring. I only ever remember him missing from 1 yard out up in Watford at the tournament we played.

As per usual (no offence) it seems we're trying to overly simplify the judgement of someone's ability when it's impossible to do so. I'm personally not a fan of Allerdyce - I think he's a bit old school and is not a 'coach' of players, but someone, like Harry, who tries to bring players together and motivate them to do a job, without actually improving them all that much. He's had good results in some places, not so good in others, no doubt partly due to the players he's had to work with, some fitting with his style, some not so much. Very few managers get the chance to really make an impression on the game at the top level, unless they get a chance at a club with the resources to bring in the best players. Some managers engineer their own opportunities by improving players and improving a club so they break into the next 'group' of teams, much like Pochettino is trying to do, but certainly backed by the clubs finances. Sam has, IMO, had chances to improve clubs with decent resources, and move them on, but has only really done so at Bolton, whilst other clubs have only achieved what I would expect any half-decent manager to achieve. So, he's half decent in my eyes, but nothing more. That said, I do think he'll improve West Ham a bit more as they, like us, settle in the Premier League a bit, but I don't think he has the skill, nor West Ham the resources, to really push on. Lest we also forget, we've had managers who've done well with us, but not so well elsewhere, or vice-versa. Dave Jones is great example, below average here, but done well at Cardiff.

A bit like your shinner vs Bournemouth then?

Fair comments but on a week to week basis, if you actually read what he wrote, you can see how he came to his predictions, even if you don't agree with him, which is my position.

I doubt if we were playing Man U at Old Trafford he would've predicted a win for us. I think what he says makes perfect sense and, with respect, think people are just looking for more reasons to bash him.