Miltonaggro

The only thing that Saints can do to retain talented youngsters is keep on moving onwards and upwards in terms of league position, infrastructure and senior playing staff. That, and ensure that if one of the big boys come knocking they are made painfully aware that they are going to have to pay well over the odds to sign the player. A further safeguard would be to make any wantaway player aware that spitting the dummy out after being tapped up will result in a month in the reserves. It will be very interesting to see how Cortese reacts when an approach comes, my gut feeling is very different to the paper tiger that was Lowe. Long term, if Saints find themselves back in the Premiership with a fan base that justifies a stadium expansion, who knows what can be achieved, another era I know but look at Forest. In real terms, there will always be a dozen or so 'superclubs' poaching youngsters and all Saints can do is force players to make any potential move a very difficult choice...

I have it on good authority that a brooding Mickey Fialka has joined forced with Paul Allen and the Krankies! An irresistable force...

One that used to wind me up on a number of levels was David 'One Trick' Lee who ended up playing something like 200 games for Bolton, but was absolute ****e for us. The way the bloke looked was an issue, all that mulletry and hot air in a 9st frame! I was the biggest fan of Stevie Williams (idolised him as a kid), but kind of know where Red is coming from, these days he is very much 'Steve Williams ex Arsenal' when his best days were spent in a great Saints team. I felt the same way when Mark Wright left and gobbed off in the press about moving to a bigger club with ambition ad infinitum (Derby ffs!). I suppose most of us want players to actually care, and these days those players are incredibly rare (the Le Tissiers, Channons and Holmes's). I was certainly ****ed off when the Coca-Cola relegation boy-band left us en masse for better things, but all you can hope is the we pass them on the way up and they live to regret it. As a Saints fan you have to believe in Karma...

Good luck to the lad, he is a real prospect. The key to the likes of Lallana and Chamberlain staying put is promotion and realistic reward, simple as that. Given their ages if we keep making real progress so will they. If a big club were to come calling when we were near the top of the Championship or in the Premiership in a few years I think Cortese's response and valuation might frighten a few off!...

The one that intrigues me is Dave Armstrong, brilliant engine, vision and able to score 20 goals (headers, tap-ins, and screamers) from midfield. I know that when Shilton (truly world class) joined Saints one of the Sunday papers broke the story that he was the best paid player in Division 1, on an outrageous £1000 per week - says it all really...

Thanks for that Gemm, I was at that game in the Milton but had forgotten what a demolition job that was! When you watch the clip three things hit you - passing, pace, and passion!...

I know that it's the perpetual cry of middle England, but boy could we do with the reintroduction of a form of national service right now. At the very least it would restore some national identity and perspective!...

It's got to be Golac, steel, class and charisma - I think we paid about £50K for him which is incredible! Like StVince1966 one of my best memories is the absolute net buster he scored against WBA which I was lucky enough to see from the middle right of the Milton. When I got home I couldn't wait to see it again on Match of the Day (we didn't have a video at that point), and in the post match interview Motty asked Lawrie Mac what he thought of the goal he replied "I thought that my right winger had a storming game, the only problem was he should have been playing right back!" - classic! Another favourite was Ivan sorting out Alan Gowling (who looked terrified) after he had decided to spend a first half picking on the pint sized Austin Hayes, no room for bullies on a pitch with Golac. After Ivan, for sheer joy it has to be Ronnie Ekeland, I shudder to think what we might have done to sides over a full season with him and Le Tissier in the same side!...

I think (and hope) that this long term recession will spell the end of these idiot 'superstars' - Holloway's outburst may have been funny but I know exactly where he is coming from. Most of them are so thick and out of touch that the amounts they are being paid are meaningless, chimpanzee monopoly!...

Pires certainly does not seem to fit the current blueprint, but worth a gamble (PAYP) as he could be an 'Alan Ball' for this young side. The guy's pedigree is world class and he's always looked after himself, just think of the positive effect on Lallana, Puncheon, and Morgan in particular!...

Pires certainly does not seem to fit the current blueprint, but worth a gamble (PAYP) as he could be an 'Alan Ball' for this young side. The guy's pedigree is world class and he's always looked after himself, just think of the positive effect on Lallana, Puncheon, and Morgan in particular!...

On the original thread somebody described the statue (prior to the photos appearing) as looking like a 'spasticated dwarf' - that person should be the art critic for the Guardian and judge the Turner Prize - short, pithy and completely on the money! My bet Hughie, is that the rating will be a ringer for Fred Scuttle...

The bottom line is that we still need two or three additions to give Adkins options and to put pressure or ease pressure on certain players. Until this happens I think that we will be hit and miss. The fear is that hit and miss up to Christmas may see a mass exodus come January, if that happens we are back to square one and the five year plan becomes a seven year itch!...

All will be well until the day of unveiling when Mr Brennan adds his complimentary sculpture of Nelson to the bridge - the great admiral is bound to look like a cross between Stephen Hawking and Julian Clary!...

The decision to prosecute is solely down to the Crown Prosecution Service. The basic weighing act that they do factors in the evidential burden and the public interest burden, the former providing the crux. A case involving a professional footballer would delight both the CPS and defence counsel; so if Barnard is in the clear, it is because of lack of evidence or indeed, lack of guilt...

Taylor should have never been released, a great solid pro. I am pleased that he has gone on to have a long career at a high level. 85 caps for his country, and not finished yet...

A win on Saturday and we are flying...

For f*cks sake, beam me up Scotty! We need to get out of this league as soon as possible! I hope that our trip to little Bournemouth is a Dellhurst day, with bells on!...

You're 90% right Gemmel, but the last 1 minute is always used for a lusty rendition of the Okey Cokey, apart from Connolly who is excused (can't do the 'knees bent')...

In interviews Luggy did always look like he had been surprised in a bus station at 2am...

What drives me mad is that in every interview he says: 'You don't have to be mad to work here, but it helps!' ad nauseum! Unbelievable...

Cortese made a clear statement that only Adkins was offered the job, but it was no secret that a number of candidates were seen. Reading between the lines when the Adkins move stalled over compensation it seems that Howe was rather too quick to offer his services, and did not think out his response to his erstwhile Chairman when asked for an explanation, an explanation then leaked to the press. Given the Leibherr family's insistance on ethical conduct in business I would trust Cortese to tell the truth on this matter over Fast Eddie the Skate, and the Tub 'o Lard every day of the week!...

Whatever your position on Cortese, Leibherr put him in place, between himself and the fans as a shield. He is very well paid to make difficult decisions, and ultimately will be judged on the club's success. I'm sure that he was well aware of the volatile and passionate nature of taking over a football club and ultimately taking on its fans in the run up to the takeover. There are signs lately that he is 'learning' and that is more than Lowe ever did! As for the subject matter of the thread, I've criticised Cortese in the past but on this issue; banning the beery, blubbery, duplicitous no-mark who currently occupies the plastic throne at Bournemuff - I'm with him 100%...

What hasn't been mentioned is that SAGA are running a two for one coach offer this afternoon, meet under the Pier at midday, bring a blanket and some Werthers originals. The beauty of these no mark tick turds attempting to wind us up is that next time they are about to go pop they wont be able to look East for assistance. Lets see where we are when we have our trip to the seaside...

or Poole town...