Fitzhugh Fella

So 2-0 down and your centre forward looking completely disinterested and you have a young lad bursting to get on in the shape of Sam Gallagher. What does Koeman do? Nothing Nada. Poor man management in my opinion and it flies in the face of assurances that he wants to give youth its chance. Gallagher might not be the finished article but he would have bust a gut which is more than quite a few on show today did. Koeman can do no wrong in the eyes of many but I am not convinced.

That's two players inc Davies of Spurs who slipped on Saturday on the over-watered pitch to suffer season ending injuries

But according to Reed Schneiderlin is going nowhere? Bit of a strange comment unless he knows something we don't

Bournemouth are still backed by unreliable if not downright dodgy sources which is one reason why I think it will end in tears, probably not next season but the one after that, hence my post about Howe jumping ship to join us in 2017. My post might be slightly tongue in cheek but it would not surprise me or disappoint me to see Howe in the SMS hot seat come 2017.

Not unless he signs a new contract

Pedant alert

It's close season 2017 and Saints have just qualified for the Europa league for the 3rd season in a row while across the Forest plucky Bournemouth have just been relegated after 2 years in the Premiership. The loyal Koeman's contract has now run down and he leaves for Barcelona/Holland. Saints turn to Eddie Howe to be their new manager, safe in the knowledge with his wife not keen to leave the area, his appointment could be a long standing one. Far-fetched? You heard it here first oh in the other direction, Eastleigh have beaten relegated Portsmouth on the last day to gain promotion to League I. Portsmouth get ready for the Vauxhall Conference with a mouth watering local derby with Havant the pick of their fixtures. Warning: this thread will be revisited by Trousers in June 2017 so careful how much you pour scorn now.

If only Davis could finish like Ritchie

This was the reason Dave was called "Docker", explanation from Lee, Dave's son The reason dad was called Docker was due to the fact he would have a drink with the pilot of a tug boat who was a friend and the other Dockers would join in on having a drink, thus the name DOCKER was born.

lot of good work there but aside from stats all I know is since Feb 2015 the football has been pretty mediocre

Maybe RK will get Gallagher to give some of our players shooting practice as he seems the only player who can score outside the box?

In the U21 game last Monday the pitch was sodden inasmuch when the ball was passed along the grass it was followed by spumes of water and players were losing their footing all over the place. It was similar yesterday and two players (Schneiderlin and Davies) got injured after slipping on the pitch. Add to that the injury to Fraser and I am just wondering if we are not watering the pitch too much making it dangerous.

Pelle is not fit to lace Lambert's bootlaces

Thanks Rooney

Just back from Bill's funeral, it was good to see the following ex-players and staff there. These were who I recognised Bryn Elliott, Cliff Huxford, Denis Pring, Mick Channon, Ian White, Tommy Hare, Gerry Gurr, Denis Hollywood, Brian O’Neil, Hugh Fisher, Nick Holmes, Jim Steele, Mick Earls, Bill Beaney, Mick Ellard, Bob McCarthy, Roger Fry, Norman Dean, Mick Judd, Forbes Phillipson-Masters, Tony Funnell, Brian Truscott, John Mortimore. Bryn Elliott, 90 next week played with Bill in the early 50s while the youngest ex-player was Tony Funnell who was at the Dell in the late 70s just before Bill departed in 1980.

To be fair Sam has told me that MP was very influential in his development and was also very kind and good to him when his father passed away. I think MP will be monitoring Sam very closely. As far as I am concerned that goal was not a fluke, to be able to hit a shot like that with your weaker foot while running with the ball is a talent many managers would die for and at present we have no one in the first team who can score goals from outside the box. He's far from the finished article but I am pleased he is on a long term deal and predict even Smirking Saint may yet turn that smirk into a smile before too long

This

Those of a certain vintage will be saddened to hear of the passing of David Walker, Saints defender between 1965 and 1974, after a short illness. Dave made 231 appearances in the red and white and really was the epitome of the no holds barred, no nonsense, take no prisoners style of defending and was a fully paid up member of the Dell "alehouse footballers" club that so endeared themselves to Bill Shankly in the early 70s. A Lancashire lad he joined us from Burnley in time to play his part in our promotion to the top flight in 1966 and his family still have the engraved Omega watch he was given by the club in recognition. Dark and swarthy, with Harry H Corbett sideboards he was an imposing wing half who was nicknamed "Docker" by the fans for reasons lost in the mist of time. Like many tough guys on the pitch, a more pleasant, intelligent man off it, would be hard to find and after hanging up his boots he dabbled in the antique trade and ran a B and B in the New Forest. A true 60s giant.

Mason has left Saints and has signed for Villa.

You are right, I thought playing wide he was starved of the ball and yet when moving inside he looked very dangerous

Since his return to injury and the form of Seagar it has meant Sam has had to play out wide, but out there he is sometimes starved of the ball. As soon as Seagar went off last night Sam came into his own and his goal hit with his wrong foot was the strike of a player who has what it takes. Those who doubt his overall talent check out his inch perfect cross for Seagar's goal in the semi final v Derby. Sam has had a tough 18 months what with a serious injury and the loss of a parent but he is now showing signs of being ready to step up to the Premiership plate, imo. Players like Sam do not grow on trees.

Tadic a big miss for me - a couple of good games at the beginning and not much else.

You have no soul

Had we had a natural goalscorer within our ranks then I feel we could still be in with a shout of the Champions League but as it is we have a midfield that, by and large, couldn't hit the proverbial cows arse and a forward line (Pelle, Long, Mane) that blow hot and cold when it comes to sticking the ball in the net.