John Smith

You need to keep an eye on contracts, also in club management. If their contracts expire, which can be January or May, the players are available to leave for free, they are free agents. Still finding it difficult to negotiate 'new' contract terms, get rejected 100 times a season, bizarre, it's like they don't want to stay!

Always the same with the fitness, little tip, goto club management and upgrade staff and then increase your trainer level. I think you'll find it's on level 2 out of 10. It'll cost you a few quid, but your teams recovery time will be better and you won;t have to keep chopping and changing so much. Mine is on level 5 or 6 and for one game a week, most players are fine, change the team for cup games. Also, with signings, you can also improve the level of your negotiator, same place as fitness. This will make him more likely to sign players. Also, when negotiating with signing new players using transfers, bottom left, their is a percentage bar, 'likelihood of signing', and as you increase the salary per week, you should see the likelihood of signing percentage, rise. You may have to offer quite a bit more sometimes, but I am for 85% and then they generally sign. Hope this helps!

Probably my last post for 24hrs, as that's 3 now. But, yes sotonjoe, my thoughts exactly. I purcahsed a steering wheel a few months ago, so I could practice on Forza2, prior to Forza3 release. I wasn't great, but it gave me a good idea of what to expect, and by the time Forza3 was released, I'd got back to within a couple of seconds of my best track times. So, day 1 of forza3, I got onto the single player, quickly built up 50,000 cr and me and my mate spent 40,000 cr, buying and tuning a C class car. I bought an old MR2, he got a more modern Honda S2000. Both were upto the max PI for C class and we decided to find a lobby and see how we'd done. We spent a couple of hours trying to find one, and then racing in our own private matches, going back and having a re-think on how to join other racers. Eventually, after a couple of days, we figured that it couldn't be done, we were gutted! So, I went to the Forza3 official site and found this (70 odd page thread, now 90 odd pages) http://forums.forzamotorsport.net/forums/thread/3093291.aspx We couldn't believe the response to them removing this facility, for what seems no more than an executive decision. There have been a couple of official responses, but, largely, they've ignored the uproar and have stuck their fingers in their ears. I for one am gutted that I am unable to race my B or C class cars against other like minded racers. They say, that through the popularity of lower class cars, the 'hoppers' will expand due to the will of the players. However, hoppers do not create themselves and if T10 do not recognise that these lower class cars are more desirable for your committed gamer to race, no new hoppers will be created. Check out online and just see the volumes racing in A class. It FAR outweighs any other group of cars. I have built a couple of amazing A class cars, but still, I have to race them against guys that can't race. Every now and again, you get a good room, but it soon descends into a problem when someone starts ramming. There is a lack of audio communication and people are getting voted out of rooms for 'winning', and more are staying in for ramming. T10 have got it wrong, they've absolutley ruined a brilliant on-line game. Yes the asthetics are pleasing, yes the racing sim is better, but it is a single player game now, that you then race occasionally with your mates. Sorry, but that's not good enough for me. (apologies for the long post, as I said, last one for 24hrs!)

Yep, didn;t think you got it. The preferences of which you speak were ALL available in Forza2 with online, customizable lobbies. They certainly 'are not' available in Forza 3. The preferences and tools at my fingertips, of which you speak, are not apllicable to online game search. You can;t even join a friend in a hopper lobby. I just guess that you never played Forza2 online a great deal, or you would understand where I am coming from. T10 dropped the ball with this one.

St Marco, why do you have to talk down to people? Should I be as crass as you in my response and point out that you don't get a LB or a left thumbstick on a STEERING WHEEL!!! No I didn't point that out before, but you could have just 'suggested' using LB and left thumbstick and I would've said - 'ah, that's why, I don't have LB or Left thumbstick as I have a steering wheel'. There, you see how easy it could've been. Also, if you check out the bottom of you quote that laps up the a*se of T10, it says: This review is cr*p! Although Forza 3 does offer much more online features then regular games, it's not even close to as good as the MP in Forza 2 was. This is why the user rating has gone below 6 at this point. No one can give an explanation why the Mulitplayer in Forza 3 has gotten WORSE since forza 2 You see, the bit about rating below 6! That is purely and soley on the MP part of the game. These so called options you talk of are not available on T10's hopper system. Yes, I have played Forza3 a lot, yes I am good at it, no I don;t have friends who are off from work the same time as me other than week ends, when generally I'm watching Saints or doing family stuff! So, I'm left to the awful hopper system that T10 have chosen to opt for. And the reason for this change from the previous customizable search for games, was in order to catch all those soles that are 'casual' gamers. So, I guess he's talking about you. Anyway, this does not suit my desire to match my cars against top class racers around the world. Also, you cannot fine tune your car in multiplayer and the growth of the hopper has declined since worldwide release, not increased, as T10 had prophesised. Therefore, we won;t be seeing hopper set ups for B, C, D, E or F class cars, hence the mention of not being able to race 75% of cars online. If I wanted to race a friend, I'd use system link, oh yeah, they've removed that option as well. So, thanks for clearing up the c**kpit view thingy, but to be fair, your grasp of my love for the game that is Forza is misplaced. Hoppers are good for FIFA, or COD, or GOW. Customizable options that made Forza2 probably THE most longevity multiplayer game of all time, has just been lost. It's a sad sad day in the world of online racing, a real step back. Thanks to you other guys on the tips that I CAN paint those R1, R2, R3 cars, I will go and give it a try.

I have been really, really disappointed with the online gaming. Getting thrown into rooms with complete noobies who can't drive (ok, a little forgiving on this one), idiots who just love to smash into you and you lose so much time getting your car of its roof, the leader finishes the race and you can't = DNF. Lastly, when I did start to win, I got voted out because I was too good and won 2 races! I really detest not being able to chose B class or lower, B class was my domain in FM2 and I can't even race online with this class now. So, you can't race F, E, D, C or B class online, this means about 75% of the cars are unavailable to race online. Lastly, I used to love tuning and painting my cars and racing them online, because 3 out of the classes available online are already painted and tuned, I can only build and paint A or S class, this will cost me (has cost me) around 400,000 credits, per car. Singleplayer, or playing with mates works well, but I don't work the same hours as my mates and so am left largely with online multiplayer where I don't know anybody, I tried to make some random friends but got accused of 'grooming' and now I won;t race onlion again! IMO, it is the worst online racing game EVER! I used to LOVE playing this online, now I cannot. My advice, if you love the singleplayer game, you'll love it, if you love multiplayer, you'll hate it. P.S. really disappointed about the '****pit' view, all you can see is the top of the steering wheel and some dials, some which don;t move. You can;t look round, you can;t see out of the side window and you can only see halk a rear view mirror and maybe, sometime, the side mirror. Absolute sham of a game!

I must be the only one then that thinks Harding plays the left back role in a similar fashion to another England possible (I think he got a couple of caps though) and that is Derek Statham. Del Boy received player of the year I believe, somewhere around 88, 89, 90. He was dependable and secure, largely faultless in his play. Harding reminds me of him in that same secure, no nonsense way. Does what is required, no messing. Certainly, Psycho Mark D, was a better 'player' and I would have him in, in an instant. But, as far as picking a left back that you can rely on and trust, Statham and Harding must fall into these categories. Do a difficult job, very well!

That is worth pointing out. I was going to comment on the players scores thread, but it had all already been said and I largely agree with the positives. One thing I noticed on Saturday, and I commented on it after about 15 mins (but it had been there all those 15 mins), was the organisation and efficiency of the team. When defending, we were tight and formed up. When we won the ball, we had an out. As we pushed forward, we were more positive and direct. You can say that Gills were a bad side, but, one thing we have failed to do in the past, is to press home our advantage. We didn;t let Gills off the hook this week, and we never faltered, even after their equalizer. I'm not saying Papa is the complete player, and I'm not diminishing the 8 and 9 out of 10 for the other players, but, having an outlet on the wing, where we can pop one over the top and get their defence turning, was a real change! When we were under any pressure, there was this out. Pop it over the top. Sometimes Papa would get there, sometimes the defence were under pressure and had to play it out, giving us good position in their half. Wotton was assured and measured and deserves a mention. Did a good job in there and made the game tick. I hope AP can keep this momentum going, we need to. We looked like a team on Saturday, can we look a team again when we are losing?

At last we have someone with pace. It was needed. It may not be electrifying pace that a young Michael Owen might give you, but more of a gangly Asprilla type that looks awkward but shifts across the surface. Both are acceptable to me, but one may look more polished than the other style of running quickly. All academic, he is fast, and if he can remain onside, and keep the ball in playing distance, he'll do just nicely. I think the conclusion is that we need to get him in behind defenders more, but we haven't had someone like that for some time now and we need to adjust to his style as he does to ours. I view it this way, we have someone fast, he scored and we actually scored TWICE from open play! Hooray! We conceded 3! Not through any fault of our new fast addition and so it's not down to Papa that we lost but we should be considering that we would've won those other games that were close, but that our defence needs tightening even though we have the right selection, maybe Jaidi has added a different dimension. So, in conclusion, attacking options look better, defence still seems unpredictable. And, either way, we still should be winning games like this, especially at home, not good. But, not good from a team perspective not an individual basis.

I just think it's time for you to hang up your internet boots, at this level of debate anyway (MLT not lunatic). You were originally a decent chap and argued your case well (many incarnations ago), but nowadays, nothing you say is taken seriously and if someone does enter into debate with you, they soon put you on ignore because your trolling is so obvious. I think it stems from those early incarnations, where, you were probably banned unfairly. And by that, I mean, that you became a target and defended yourself from many angles. But you chose to be ruder and harsher than your adversaries and you got banned for going OTT. Since then, you have tried to reincarnate as a note worthy poster, but those old attackers soon get your back up and you go, first on the defensive, and then on the offensive, eventually putting yourself in the banning firing line again. Maybe you enjoy being hated and ridiculed by most on this board, but I don;t think that was your original idea. I think you really wanted to talk about saints stuff, found that some of your views were not in the majority, and have declined ever since. 19C, do yourself a favour and just let it go. Learn from your mistakes and become the better person. If that means walking away from this site, then so be it, but if it means reincarnating yourself one more time, but this time as the first persona you came here with, it would do you the world of good. Good Luck

Sorry, had to edit your post somewhat 19C, and it's amazing how well it fits! Maybe this is how some people felt about the whole way RL ot involved with this club, but hey, not illegal, many Chairman got there because of this type of 'buy-out' But I particularly like the last sentence. I haven;t altered that one, but you can see where I got confused about who you were talking about! Anyway, I respect your opinion to think what you like and voice that opinion. In fact, I really hope MLT is walking round the pitch, you stand up and boo him, and if anyone gives you grief, just start chanting 'one Rupert Lowe' as loud as you can! That'll teach them.

Don;t know about everyone on here, but I think I can spot the difference between a sound team that just isn't winning and a team being soundly beaten week in week out, without any hope of survival. What I have seen this season tells me that we have players that have the ability, as individuals, and as a team. Lapses in concentration and a lack of confidence are slowly becoming more worrying. It is this lack of cohesion and confidence to 'get the job done' that is coming through in the performances. It's almost as if they are trying to force the issue, rather than let it come more naturally. But, I believe that a win or two will change that belief. Getting onto positive points will be another boost and the sooner we start winning, the easier the hill will be to climb. September is an important month in my eyes, as coming out of September, you will know what we've got, and that'll be it until January. So, yes, there is reason to feel concerned or apprehensive, but, have a little faith, for 4 more weeks, and hopefully those green shoots will start coming through.

Surely this is simple. Taking each game on its own merit, yesterday, Colchester were forced to play for the draw. When it was 11 v 11, it was an entertaining game and you felt we would score, eventually. When they went down to 10 men, they moved their quick number 20 to left mid and left the loan striker up front to see if he could hold the ball up. Apart from 2 very close shaves in the first half (off the bar and across the face), Colchester offered little going forward. Their best hope was from a set piece. Colcheters CB's were awesome and commanded in the air and did well on the deck. If one of those 2 weren't MOM, it would be an injustice. Trotman, on our behalf, was equally as good, against a very difficult CF. But Perry played his part as they doubled up. AP made substitutions to create a wider game, and then as time wore on, rather than adding another out and out striker, which I don't thinik we had, or would've helped anyway, he threw on Spiderman for Perry. This created the much need time in the middle of the park. So, where did it go wrong? OUR INCESSANT DESIRE TO LUMP IT FORWARD!!!!!! Where dod this come from? Was it directions from AP? LUMP IT LADS!? Or was it the players taking it on themselves to do this? Because this tactic lost us the game yesterday. Where were the defenders when Kelvin had the ball? I know the backs may have been marked, BUT, if they were, that would've meant Colchester had a midfielder out of position! Against 10 men, you have to pull them about. Get the ball to feet, offer the short ball, keep it moving etc, etc! The amount of times KD walked the ball out of the area in order to 'lump it', and the backs were only 3 or four feet ahead of him, was ridiculous! CB's can have the ball also in this position, if the backs are marked, take it down the middle! They had 10 men! That was my largest frustration yesterday, we had an opportunity and we went long ball far too early! We made the subs to enable us to play, but far too often lumped it down the park. NOT GOOD ENOUGH! Poor management or poor player decisions, I don;t know, but this killed us. Their CB's were MOM because we allowed them to be, we played to their strengths and not our advantages. Very frustrating (kids stuff). Sorry kids!

I am happy to pay my money to watch someone get back on their feet. He has the audience, he has the skills, if he gets the goals, he could become a legend. Nothing too much for him to worry about at this level. The deal is done and a star is waiting to be born! Just what we need, I can't wait! A real coup for this club!

I think people are missing the point here. I think MLT is pointing out something that came into this game with the option of spread betting becoming available. MLT was given the op;portunity to double or trebling his wages by kicking the ball out of play from the KO. Easy moiney! BUT, as he points out, it wasn't easy money, he nearly lost, what I can only imagine, was his weeks wages. He ran around like a idiot for over a minute and only broke even. MLT running! He must have been panicked! And here lies the real story, MLT was influenced also on something that was a quick buck, but found out that a quick buck is not as easy as it sounds and sounds like he didn't do it again! Betting, spread betting and the like were very much part of the game after teams banned alcohol before a game. People easily forget what it was like back then and I for one am not shocked that it went on, oh, we already knew it went on, Brucey anyone? Sagers? Fashunu? Not saying they all were caught, but these were the top end scams. Flood lights anyone! And so, it had to be closed down and eradicated. It sounds like MLT took a puff from the illegal fixing pipe, but did not in hail! Big deal, move on!

I'm beginning to feel a little sick at people's ambitions on this site. Do people realise their's a recession going on, do they realise that money is tight. Can they shut the F*** up about spending millions and millions and millions, just to satisfy their Harry Redcrapp method of FM! Pinnacle f**ked up our best chances in the transfer market. There was never enough time to purchase the best players which had already been purchased or tapped up. We were left with the dreggs, which, for some former Chairman, would've been enough and we would be inundated with cr*p journeymen and players looking for a last payday on the medi table. Instead, we have signed an excellent striker, 2 very good backs, a good couple of midfielders and now Jaidi, who is exactly what we need alomng with the other CB. We have done well. We have also held into Saga, Spiderman, Lalana and Davis! F*ck me, you lot make me sick! This is the most players and the most money we could've ever hoped to have spent. And we have a good manager who didn;t just buy sh*t to appease you whining idiots. To me, sounds like there are a few bitter pompey posters posting on here. Either that or ex-Loweites whinging about the new regime. Because I don;t get you lot. Much Much Much better than this time last season! Plus we've been through admin! What do you want BLOOD!

Still a long long way to go, but I stick to my 3 tiered answer I gave pre-season. We should look to survive, that is THE most important thing this season. I 'want' us to be looking up to the play-offs, rather than down toward relegation. The optimistic Saints supporter in me, thinks that we should be looking to the play-offs. Relegation cannot happen this season, it will crush us and our new owners. We are, IMO, missing two things at the moment - Cohesion and confidence. Once we have bedded in all of our new players, managers and staff, we should be working with more cohesion. To have one most of our games up until now, would've been a false impression and probably a bit lucky. So, 3 draws, although not great or even good, we are not dire! September, for me, this season, as well as last, will dictate our confidence. September is a very important time, as the gelling will be complete and the building can start in earnest. If we haven't won a game by the end of September, we are in the real sh*t! I have every confidence that the squad we have assembled this season is one that can easily compete in this league and as time goes on, we will get better. As long as our confidence isn;t shattered and we get desperate, the wins will come. We just have to start wanting it more, stop playing football (going through the motions) and start believing that we will win and that we are better than the other team. Start to get a bit of arrogance and that we can turn any team over. CONFIDENCE, CONFIDENCE, CONFIDENCE. If we can get it, we will be alright and if we get it going sooner rather than later, we may have a hope of reaching the playoffs this season. Would this be too soon for us though? Maybe another season in L1 is better for us to gather together our squad, one that is almost able to compete in the CCC. I don;t know, but relegation will not happen this season, will it?

look at the date at the top of the page...

(You put your whole self in, your whole self out, in, out, in out, shake it all about!) Wooooaaahhhhh, hokey cokey cokey, Woooooaaaahhhhhh, hokey cokey. That's what it's all about!

Just changing tact a bit, but still on the Beatles theme. I was thinking about one that wasn't related to one or the players. And this Beatles one led me to - For our own Lucy Pinder - we could sing it for years and nobody would have a clue why. Well, I think it's brilliant.

I can't understand why these plants are still trying to run some sort of spoiling campaign? Surely, not even the most distant of Saints supporter failed to notice this summers' events? Admin, -10 points, Lowe and Wilde going, Pinnacle, MLT and finally 'The Swiss'! Ring any bells? Seriously, you think thread 784 on the same subject has not gone unnoticed? Check out your responses, they're exactly the same as the previous 783. Have you got the message yet? What do you have to gain from this? How much are you being paid?

Are you being funny or just anal? Because, at the most correct way of answering the initial question, the answer would be he couldn't. Not because of the adult and senior difference, but fundamentally, at the NAME level. His Dad bought the ticket and therefore the ticket is just for him. If ANYBODY else uses the ticket then it is a loss to the club, because that other person would normally have to purchase a ticket to enter the ground. There are advantages of purchasing a ST are there for all to see, you make your choices, you pay the price. If yopu can't attend all the games, that is your loss, but part of the reason ST are reduced as to the cost of purchasing per game. Now for the non-anal, non-politically correct answer. Of course you can mate. Your dad has put his money up front, and as an honest law abiding citizen, a non-criminal if you wish, is not passing this ticket on in order to rip the club off or make money. Therefore, the club have a image they wish to uphold, a customer relationship that they wish to maintain and in the spirit of the initial purchase, will allow other people to use that ticket. People like Wes, get on their high horses because they were wronged at some point. The club do not agree with or implement his view. Nor do they wish to incur massive costs by implementing retina scans or thumbprint id or colour coding, mainly because it is a ridiculous extreme to counter a very minimal abuse of a very open minded system. If however, your father deliberately purchased the ST in order to receive full ticket value for every game he rented it out fo, then shame on him, and the Wes police will be round shortly.

Getting things done right the first time, is much more important than getting things done quickly. Although this may be difficult for some of our younger supporters, I think some of the older ones appreciate that we need to do things this way. We need to stop the rot! We need to stabilize and build a base to work from. For me, this year, survival is THE most important thing. We have a very limited squad of players and injuries and suspensions could really impact any aspirations. I want a secure L1 performance. I want stability. I want to look forward to next season. IF, and that's a big IF, we get anywhere near the playoffs this season, that will probably be as good as it can get. My worry would be winning those play offs and getting promoted, because this year, we a re barely ready for L1, we'd be nowhere near the step up to CCC in one year. To finish on a positive, maybe, just maybe, Rasiak will end up top scorer by a mile in this league. Our wingers 'are' good enough for this league and want to prove something. Our CM's get the passing going and tackles in and dominate the game. Our CB's stay fit and are commanding, oh, and we have the best keeper in the league. Maybe! Just maybe...

Thanks FF, I think you have filled the missing gaps for most of us that didn't quite understand the whole picture. Certainly by the end of exclusivity, the majority on here were more than suspect, but couldn't understand why this was allowed. Considering the focus on us from the Football league, administrators and creditors, how Pinnacle were able to trumpet that, er, what's his face, on Sky as a major investor, and then still continue promising the takeover would happen, is beyond me. For me, I no we need to put this in the past, but would like to say, if we can, we should make other clubs aware of the situation, so that their fans are not duped as well. I would go so far as to say, that if we knew the individuals involved, we should let them know what we think when they mess with a football club. It angers me (more than some, possibly), that business see football as easy pickings, whereas, I would love to see the 'club' aspect more protected. Granted, there are many arguments as to why it is how it is, BUT, maybe the powers that be need to review the whole situation. Personally, I did not mind a rich person, such as Abramovich, or that Man City bloke, coming into the game and splashing the cash. They earned it and they can spend it how they wish. It's only short term in the scheme of things and makes the top clubs quiver with fear, which is always a good thing. But, we all should know, football may be a business, but it is not necessarily a profitable business, and nor should it be. Lastly, a big thank you to Leon Crouch and Mark Liebherr. They saved this club! I don't want a billionaire to throw his money at us. I don't want a Billionaire to bridge that 6 week gap that was created by Pinnacle, by purchasing a bunch of untested players. I want my club back. I want us to laugh in the face of obscurity. I want this season to be the first of many building blocks for the future of this club, not for the next 3 or 4 years, but for the next 20 or 30! The greatest thing I feel with having ML in charge is 'security'! Secure in the knowledge that we're not looking over our shoulders anymore at the people we owe money to. We only need to look forward and we should succeed or fail on the amount of people we get in the ground by playing attractive, flowing football, but most importantly, football played with heart and passion! I don't think you can buy heart and passion, but you can breed it!

A good thread in order to gauge fans' opinions, or at least confidence before a ball has been kicked. Personally, I would like to wait for a few games in order to let the dust settle. Even going into September, I don't think I would be able to tell if we were promotion, relegation or also rans. Come October, we should be able to judge the manager and the squad a bit more realistically. I will be there, shouting encouragement and wanting us to win every game. But, we ain't gonna win every game, so, I just want us to battle, try hard and move forward. let's get our feet again, having been knocked out last season. Let's not go in throwing everything at it, but posturing, forming and building a decent playing squad, that is well drilled and organised. If we do that, we will do ok, how well we do will be down to confidence, consistency and luck (plus a lot of effort and heart of course). On the back of that, Prof, can you let us know what the Times replied after this quote from the beginning of last season, because you were right, we didn't finish 20th! 23rd, IMO, wasn;t great though, and maybe The Times didn't see the bigger picture of the failings of this club, but they were obviously optimistic in our position! Prof quote - "The Times today (4th Aug 200 predicts that Saints will be in 20th position at the end of the season. This just goes to show how little real attention the London journalists give to the detail of changes at this and at other clubs. Easier just to predict that the relegated teams will be at the top, despite the evidence of recent years. I've filed the page, and look forward to writing to them next April!"