KelvinsRightGlove

I thought you were glasgae?

Haha sounds similar to when I saw them. I usually hang around a bit further back, but me and a mate got a pi**ed and went in with the kids down the front. Good fun. How were Parquet Courts out of interest? I'd be keen to see them. As you may have guessed from above I like Childhood too. Seen them as supports a few times, pretty decent live. I do like the "jangly, summery, reverb soaked indie" sound, been listening to a fair bit of Diiv, Beach Fossils & Real Estate recently. I'll give Horsebeach a go.

Fancying a stab at the PL is a legitimate reason to take a job, I'd say. I don't know what his salary was in Holland or what he is on now, but yeah at a guess he is probably on more here. I don't think that necessarily means he is coming here for the money. The PL is more high profile and of a more competitive standard than the Eredivisie. That is one plausible reason. As you have mentioned, his record outside of Holland is mixed. The Saints job could be a chance to set that straight. Heck, maybe if it goes well it could be a chance to move on to a 'bigger club', I'm under no illusion he is here for some deep seated love of Saints. Who has been saying MP took the Spurs job for the money? Again, it may have been a factor. But like it or not they are a bigger club (I don't really like that phrase, but it is true in this case) and have a much more realistic chance of winning things qualifying for the CL that us. I don't like that really, but it's true. You aren't questioning Koeman's credentials, you were implying he was here for the money as he was out of a job. I'm not calling you an idiot, I don't think you are. I'm just saying that your hit rate hasn't been great of late. Stoke finishing above us - no. Their strikers being better than ours - Crouch scored less than Jrod, Lambert & Lallana. Shaw is not good enough - voted best LB in the league by his fellow pro's. No players will be sold by Saints for over £20m - well..

I highly doubt he would have been on the bread line if he had waited a while for a job. Christ your relentless pessimistic cynicism is tiresome. Why would he take the job just for the money? If he is an utter failure it is hardly going to boost his career prospects, or potential earning power in the future. Though, given your hit rate it's actually reassuring to see you posting things like this.

Funny how the totally inadequate Yoshi was a regular in the side that stayed up. I'm not advocating him being first choice. But he isn't that bad

Did you come to this decision before or after you decided that none of our players would be sold for over £20m?

Agree. That goal v City wouldn't have been scored by someone with "very little talent". As Batman says, he just lacks the correct attitude or application. Skill only gets you so far in anything.

New Jessie Ware stuff is sounding good. This one is co-written with Romy from The xx, you can hear her influence. Really like it. [soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/jessieware/jessiewareshareit-all[/soundcloud]

May be wrong, if so I apologise. But I thought you berated the mongboard for criticising Carroll. For such a lump (I don't mean that as a dig, but I feel it's fair to say his game is more physicality than finesse) his injury record is pathetic. There may well be a decent player (not top level IMO) in there somewhere, but he just doesn't seen too bothered. Shame really. Do agree though, Ashton was a superior player. Shame his career was cut short by injury. Personally, don't see the fuss around Carroll. Though fair to say both Dalglish & Sam Allardyce have forgotten more than I'll ever know about football.

What do we reckon the cut off point is? I've hit some form recently. Will my 25 years work against me?

Gazza must have shown something to get noticed. He just seems to be forever hamstrung by fear when he is in the first team. Needs some consistent game time somewhere, probably not in front of millions of people (PL). Think he has a severe case of the wobbles, much like Bartosz prior to him. That said, it doesn't look like he will be a Prem keeper.

Sorry, I'll stop in a minute before Ron berates me again . But these guys are really good too. Saw them support Drenge earlier this year and I agree, incredible.

I also like this.

Ahhh, you know me well mate. I enjoyed that, there's a touch of Lana about that sultry voice - which is a winner for me. Cheers man.

Says the man that stamps his feet every time Saints don't sign 36 players per window. Twerp.

I'm still not a great lover of AM (the album) Papster. I did include an Arctics run from Humbug though. Your other suggestion is good though. I did not! Cheers for sharing will give it a watch later. Was very lucky to have a chat with him at a charity show in Harrow years ago (organised by Kate Nash no less). Was a really good guy. Amazing how he has managed to carry on after his ill health. Billy Bragg also played, was lucky to chat to him too. I don't agree with him on a lot of things, but it's hard to not love the guys passion. Great songwriter too.

How's his appetite?

I'd struggle to disagree with any of that. Sad as it sounds, the fans are largely peripheral concern to clubs now. They just don't rely on fans, so can largely ignore them. I do't know the exact figures, and I'm too lazy to begin looking or trying to work it out. But I'd be interested to see a % split of gate receipts to TV Money. What is it now a Prem place generates? c£90m? Can't imagine gate receipts for a club like Saints (basically anyone in England outside Utd, 'Pool or Arsenal) get close to that, probably not even half. If that is the case, then yeah, why not let a bit of £ slide (not enough to actually really hurt the club ofcourse) and allow fans to turn up and fill out the stadium every week. I'm sure there must be some Business Intelligence type savant able to work out the exact price points at which the stadium will be full and turnover from tickets will be optimised. We have these people at my company, they are terrifyingly smart.

Saw this yesterday. Only enhances my respect for Germany. Not that that is allowed round here apparently. We're all meant to hate them, right?

So could Pro-Russian Ukrainians be included in that Keeping your options open. I like it.

Beards FTW!!

Ronaldo & Bale to Real, Cesc, Henry, Song, Mascherano & Suarez to Barca in the last few years. As you and others have said. Being League title winners & Champions League finalists can't keep these clubs at bay. Even if we had won the FA cup (yes, I do wish we had made a bigger push for it, absolutely) the chances are the players off would have gone. It stinks, and it is disheartening, but sadly that is football. I'm concerned we havn't replaced players yet, but I'm sure we will. I don't see us going down. It's not the end of the world. We lost a decent manager, we have (on paper at least) replaced him with a decent manager. The same could be said of the striker & AM positions. They may not work out, but that is a risk that applies to 99% of all transfers/managerial appointments. Yes, I would like some squad strengthening too. But for how awful our squad was last year, we still finished 8th. Even in periods where we had a number of first teamers out injured, we still achieved this. I still don't see any reason to see that we are going to finish 10 places worse than last season. People will be signed, yes it's frustrating that they havn't got more in as yet - but it will come. We may well drop back a couple of places, but this will be a season of ship steadying. I reckon 9-14th will be separated by a few points this season, and we will most likely fall somewhere between there. There'll be a cut off group at the bottom, there are definitely squads below us that are worse than ours. It's disheartening, as I do think we were a few signings away from being able to potentially have a push for top 6 (might not have made it, but given it a go at least). But nevermind, it's done now. Of course it is worth trying to be successful. I still enjoyed last season, even at the start of the season when we were riding high I remember saying "it won't last, so I'm going to make the most of it whilst I can". It was obvious we'd never stay that far up the table for long, but hey, why not enjoy it whilst you are there? I do hope Koeman will attempt to replicate his previous cup wins over here, I'd love to get to Wembley again. If we aren't at least looking or trying to be successful, there is only one way you will go. I'd rather not see a tumbling down the leagues thanks.

Ah decent. Will have to have a go on that.

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