melmacian_saint

I respect him for what he did, and for being a manager that really got a nice vibe going to our climb through the divisions. However, I have no illusions, his level is little more than mid-table CCC, and what he achieved with us was more down to the squad we had rather than his very own ability. Proof of that is that some of our crucial line-up members in league one are still starting in the PL and offering a good level. Whenever we needed to be more tactically and strategically astute, I'm afraid Nigel got found out, like in the title run-in with Reading (who as was proven a few months later had a much worse squad than ours). I remember in this forum a number of us criticized his substitutions, sometimes even in games we won, and that 2nd-half tactical implosion of a game we had under control v. Fulham in October last year was the end for him really. After that it was just a matter of time before Cortese found a replacement and started nurturing him to take over in January.

It's a tough one really, I could see him challenging Ricardo Costa but not the other ones who on the plus side already have a lot of successful game time together. Plus Fonte does not really have a reputation in the Portuguese game. He was under contract at Benfica but was never even part of their squad, being loaned out to Primeira Liga average teams for the entire duration of his contract before being bought by Palace. He started his career at Sporting Lisbon but never played in the first team squad. He was an under-21 international but in a rather dull generation where most of its world class promise was promoted to the A team via the fast lane. There just isn't a gap for him.

His strategy is one and one only and relies more on hyped motivation than mental strength. Once questions are asked his teams just crumble before frustration leads to internal problems. As for his promotion with Swindon I think their financial troubles last season from so early on after promotion showed that really they bought their way out of League Two and he was left exposed when something more than getting better players than other clubs became impossible. Of course his feisty character and the general low profile of L1 players meant that he actually left Swindon with any outsider feeling he was being treated unfairly or even maybe as a victim of a club in meltdown. Not the case though.

Fonte has been our most consistent CB since Svensson and Lundekvam were around (watch out for Lovren if becomes the main stay we can see him becoming). Last year when we started getting results in October-December, Fonte was also delivering great performances only for an injury to stop him. He has also been the most constantly underrated player of our squad since his arrival. Great to see him do well.

Given that a fair share of its residents (put everything up to Poole in there too) work in London I would think they do.

Ok guys, I thought this should be an interesting one given we've got people from all over the UK here and also a fair number of expats and some foreign imports like myself. Back in my native Portugal apart from following Sporting Lisbon, I follow my local team from my outskirts location, who currently play in the Portuguese 3rd tier (bit like the Conference, a mix between pros, semipros and amateurs), having been promoted through a re-shape which saw the number of non-league national level divisions reduced from 2 to 1. To watch them, I currently pay 26 euros a year for my membership and with that I can watch all of their home matches during a season, apart from home cup games where I pay 3 euros/match. This has been true since 2010, before that I always paid 3.5 euros per game no matter what, plus the 26 euros for the membership. They are not great, but it's a laugh. Currently the ticket price for everyone else (apart from the young ones) is 6 euros. I've watched them away a few times and I've never paid more than 7 euros or less than 4. There is one seated stand for everyone (members get plastic seats ). Question is how much do you pay to watch your very local non-league football teams (or league if that's the case, now we're not directly interested haha), or simply how much does it cost to do so in your home country/town?

I get what you mean, but I somehow think Saints are off the radar for such loss of enchantment. We may become a bit of an Everton, who knows maybe a Tottenham, but I think (and quite happily so) that like them we are doomed to generational success rather than constant top finishes. If we want this to change, then we might as well start looking for an Arab/Russian oligarch to wash his big dirty money down here and in this case we better pray we got the good one out of 100 (very unlikely).

The moment I read that Denmark was seen as a great inspiration for a Scottish political and economic model I laughed. They don't understand or even are able to embrace a remotely Scandinavian model, and they are not Norway to be able to explore through trial and error. The best thing they can do is keep their economy within anglo-saxon parameters until they realize what their state can actually provide, and what their private sector/civic society really is about. Oh and consider re-applying for the EU when they've sorted their existence out (unless they're hoping that becoming an independent state will guarantee them quick access to more structural funds?). Right now, I'd say prospects are bleak. But it is a different ball game when you're on your own, so who knows...

Repeat.

Fonte was not dropped, he got a bad injury which kept him out for 2 months. Fonte has been an undisputed starter for almost all our managers after preseason, which is when you start to draw up your starting 11. Fonte is also a reasonable leader when called upon, having had good performances when given the captaincy. Yes, having Lovren alongside him has definitely helped his game, as it to any defender, but I can't seem to find the reason why our fan base fails to give Fonte credit for the defender he is, and whenever he has a good performance it's always because of better company!

Hey guys, I feel this is extremely unlikely but might as well give it a try. So I'm bringing a family member along to the Crystal Palace game on the 28th. However, the seats closest to my ST seat (in the Kingsland/Northam corner) are all taken. What I wanted to know is if it's possible for me to get a ticket for another seat in another area of similar pricing without having to pay the full price of a match day ticket, so effectively just changing my seat for that game. Anyone ever tried this, or know if it's possible? Cheers!

It might be me but doesn't Shaw have just one too many physical issues? It was ok when it only affected his U-21 call ups but not it seems its getting on his way too many times.

West Ham's vist last year also included high winds, strong rain with a hailstorm at HT if I'm not mistaken, and a massive gridlock around town. Nasty conditions for a nasty team.

Ahh Fonte, possibly the most underrated player in Saints recent history.

People should also remember that Kelvin, whilst appreciated, wasn't seen as a keeper that would feature in our change of fortunes and we were struggling to find a competitor. A guy from Spurs with promise looking to get some decent game time was a more than reasonable option to accept in the middle of a successful negotiation for some much needed real cash for a club that couldn't really spend any serious money on the football league's finest keepers. Maybe Spurs also had a rebuy clause on Forecast, so we weren't really mugged as someone else thought he might come good later on. Not that anyone will care to investigate that, as it's this kind of "you're so stupid" stories that the sour life losers that crowd the media like.

Ok nutjobs, scenario analysis: If ALL of the parachute payments were earmarked today to settle football debts, how much would Pompey be left with?

I can't honestly believe the jury is still out on both Fonte and Yoshida. This forum really is something special.

I said I don't think, not that they can't. Knocking on the wrong door if you're looking to fight knee jerk reactions.

More in the sense that only one of them will start a match. Rodriguez will have a more supporting role to one of them.

I don't think Lambert and Osvaldo can play together...

Simon Peach mentions Azerbaijan?

True, who were the usual CBs last year in the U-21s?

Wonder if there is a loan deal lined up for Hooiveld?

Surely a loan move, can't see Sochaux agreeing a fee for him. His club in Zambia must be loving it with all the development fees coming in.