eelpie

I don't think they stopped. Most of the world think we are still broke under the Lowe yoke.

Meanwhile back to the thread... Papa just forgot his bag. Looking for a new one. Hope he finds it here.

For those who enjoy having tedious continuous pops against Nicola Cortese (and I'm not suggesting one shouldn't criticise him or anyone at the club) just remember, the day that he tires of us, we say goodbye to Marcus and his money. Is that what you want? For what it's worth it is good imho that one chairman has the courage to stand up and speak his mind to the closed cub of yes men that make up the FL. Have we forgotten what they did to us a couple of years ago?

I take back what I said n the T&C thread. There is life in this forum yet.

I'm not against a registration fee which is a modest one, but haven't subscribed because I have reclaimed wasted time by being online less. Sadly the forum is not the entertainment it used to be.

westofshannon has a very good point and it is saints related because the saints topics on this forum have become boring by being hijacked by those who just want to quarrel. The question is, what forum site(s) have we been haemorrhaging some of the more interesting posters to?

You said it there

sussd (short for saintsupskatesdown)

Greatest hope for this season?- Champions and FA Cup winners double (ok unrealistic so forget about the last) Biggest fear?- Relegation (not really likely so has to be missing out on promotion) Most important player?- Lallana Terrace favourite?- Lambo Keep an eye out for... Oxlade-Chamberlain (the new Papa?) Player you'd happily drive to his next club?- P***s (but he'll never get into the first team so the the player I least like on the pitch is Wotto) One change you'd make at your club? A 'listen to the fans' forum Have we got the right manager?-Yes What advice would you give him?- Fine the players if they attack by hoofing Which team do you most want to beat this season?-Bournemouth (imagine the horror and humiliation if we don't) Opposition player you despise?- The ref, followed by the linos (always on their side, lol) Opposition player you secretly admire?- Austin Where will we finish? 3rd

That's about it. We should know by now that Saints business is no longer done by trumpeting that we are desperate for certain players in x positions. if we survive the window without losing Lallana Lambert and Morgan it will be the equivalent of signing them for the campaign. AP did say that he is looking for competition for the wide places so he is aware that we will miss not having P&A on the bench. And I'm hopeful that AP will find cover for Morgan and Rickie if the right player becomes available. This is the first summer period for years that we can be positive. I'm enjoying it.

I agree. Bournemouth have to be respected for what they have achieved with few resources. They are a hungry lively side and we do have a record of coming a cropper against 'lesser opposition' especially newly promoted ones. On paper we'll win, but until that happens our league status is the same as there's. Our own uncomfortable track record is still that of under-achievers. Don't let Bournemouth become our Brighton, our Swindon! We have everything to prove! Bring on the derby matches! We'll beat them but we have to play at our best!

We ought to amass at least 90 points but being us we'll have several hot streaks, a few mishaps (probably against Bournemouth knowing us) and too many away draws against weak teams, so I expect 86 and a nail-biting finish.

How about a clubs we are scared of thread? Swindon, Bournemouth, Notts County and we've got mighty Farnborough ahead too....

That's not true. I renewed my usual ST seat. And it's possible to buy your normal seat for other matches if you are quick enough. Welcome to the world of feudal ownership. What would you prefer, an efficiently run club, or the shambles that precede it? That said a fans forum from time to time to get feedback from supporters would be a good thing

The tests will come not only v Plymouth but also v Bournemouth who return to the third tier full of confidence after their excellent showing in League 2 with very few resources and they have already drawn with Fulham pre-season. I hope they are not going to be our Swindon. We definitely must not treat them as inferior until we have actually beaten them.

I wonder if he's related to the great Derek Reeves (who score 39 Div 3 league goals in one season, the club record)?

On the subject of the pics on the banner, can we not find better ones? Apart from cool pythonesque Charlie they all look like they're suffering from constipation! And good subjects for picture captions.

Nicola is, or has been, in Switzerland with the squad and he and Pards will be more aware of our currrent strengths and weaknesses and where we need to strengthen. We know enough about both of them now to know that they don't rush or pre-publicise decisions (which is why we are kept in the dark) and like to get things right. They will be watching to see who is gonna make this years team and who isn't up to standard like the older players possibly, which could significantly affect decisions. Together they haven't done badly so far. It may well be that the quality that we need is not easy to come by and that targets have gone elsewhere to higher league clubs, like Simeon to Norwich. We are choosy but we a league 1 outfit after all. I'm sure that we will get the men we need but it is pretty competitive out there. I wish we had a signing like Danns. But chill out folks. Better to sign the best guys later, even if loans, than lesser players early.

We should be ok for strikers but I agree about P&A. Perhaps the boss thinks that Alex O-C and Holmes can do the job.One is fast and the other can pin-point deliveries which a winger must be able to do. Antonio couldn't, though he had physical impact. Papa had the ability to speed dribble through tightly banked defenders (and scores goals) and I'd love that we still have that option from the bench. Still hoping for a Danns-like signing.

How naive.

Pardew on OS also says Alan did not play against Thun because he is having treatment on his knee, and he is being nursed back to be fit for the first league game of the season

Puliis wlll shine against Havant who will be so impressed that they sign him and he becomes part of downward spiralling Pompey's feeder system. You heard wishful theories here first.

I do hope everyone's optimism is to be rewarded. Our defence should be stronger with the recent acquisitions and we will certainly frighten opposition with our attack, but we haven't yet strengthened our midfield. How do we break down sides that pack the goalmouth in away matches. We need a midfield schemer to challenge Schneiderlin when he is injured, and a tough ball-playing replacement for Wotton. We don't have the speed on the wings that we had last season with either Papa or Antonio who were fast and unpredictable, surprised defences and turned matches, and without them we are a more predictable team. Norwich last season were a complete outfit in all departments. We aren't yet if we are to make top spot. I expect us to do well, but reality check, please.

Not until we've strengthened the midfield. But perhaps the bookies know something we don't....