Miltonaggro

Spot on Arizona! The thing that has dragged the club down has been mismanagement at Board level over the past decade, resulting in a ridiculous turnover of both managers and players. Lack of stability has fueled lack of common purpose and responsibility amongst the Saints sides post Strachan. Pardew has done absolutely the right thing in buying a new spine to the side and adding players of character. It will take time for some of the past regime players (particularly the one club youngsters) to turn the corner, but they will. The future is bright...

Nippy striker, a foil for Lambert?...

Nice one Hatch, a lol moment for me there. The midfield should now be in tune! Captain Morgan and his Hammond organ...

The word on the street is that Norwich are planning to unveil Jamie Oliver as Director of Football (and Flaky Pastry) on Friday with Fanny Craddock as his number two. Pukka...

That would be Bishop Seamus Pardrew who is currently causing outrage in the Catholic Church by suggesting that certain saints are relegated to lay martyrdom, I assume? Anything else would be complete bollo...

To sum up the man in his prime and the frustration over national recognition felt by Saints fans, I recall watching the goal that fatty Gascoigne scored against Scotland in Euro 96 and the commentator saying something like 'no other player currently in football could have scored that goal' and the whole pub erupting with cries of 'f*ck off, we see better every week'. The man was a genius and on par with Zidane at his best...

That was Keith Peac*ck by the way. Unbelievable...

If Cortese is sensible he will consult AP over the appointment and pick a person that Pardew knows, trusts, and is happy with. In the past Pardew has cited Keith Pea**** and Steve Coppell as his mentors, and Peter Grant and Alan Smith as a good friends in football and any one of these would be a good call as a Sporting Director to work WITH and FOR the manager...

Pacy! Which is nice...

LOL! I was agreeing with you. FFS.

I did say possibly, Alpine...

Lambert all the way! Possibly with a rejuvinated Saga...

Six foot two, eyes of blue, Ricky Lambert's after you! Great signing, proper target man, exciting watching...

Looks like a poor man's Wimbledon kit from the late eighties. Which takes some doing...

Interesting that JPS is not apparently on the radar, and we must assume that AP does not fancy him. This is a shame, as the guy offers height and commitment, and would be brilliant cover at centre back for this league...

Josh Thompson for anything south of £500K would be a very good call indeed, Josh Thompson and a work permit for Jaidi would give us an awesome central defence. Thompson would certainly frighten the opposition, he has the appearance of a giant vampire bat! http://www.stockportcounty.com/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10419~46402,00.html

I caught Sky Sports early this morning and a journalist was discussing the plight of Portsmuff with the presenter. The journalist, a Londoner with no local axe to grind, described PFC as 'a joke' and 'a basket case', and stated that the previous day he had attended a pre-season press seminar where he and thirty other senior journalists were asked to record their tips for the top and for the bottom of the Prem. Apparently, all those present had the blue few relegated. How I would love to pass them on the way up next season...

Would love him at Saints; could play the the hole and score a shedload, would add height and power to the attack and is a born entertainer. A real 'throwback' signing...

Much better IMO...

Pardew isn't daft enough to state that he wants automatic promotion without the necessary investment in the squad, and Leibherr is not likely to see survival or mid table obscurity as success in any way shape or form! I think AP must have been very happy indeed with the performance against Hearts (a better side than Saints will face in the league all season), but he is short of half a dozen players. It is likely that he doesn't want to buy lower league dross for the sake of it, and will be looking at players of Harding's calibre who will be able to carry on from league 1 to the Championship without any trouble, otherwise he will be squad building every close season. IMO I think it will be two or three mid twenties players with potential combined with two or three older heads with a season or two left. In AP we trust. Exciting isn't it...

Ex-Wimbledon midfielder ESB; and a very capable defensive coach. Currently out of work - http://www.leaguemanagers.com/manager/history-347.html And a mate of AP...

I have it on good authority that it was Kenny Lynch...

Wonder how many season tickets they have sold at Frottage Park for the coming campaign? The 13000 record breaking total for last season should be no trouble at all for such established Premiership 'giants' what with Dr Sheik Feelgood in the Wings and players of Finnan's quality signing up for the push for Europe...

Big Bad Bob got it spot on above - despite our billionaire owner and Premiership class manager the media do not give a flying fook about sides in the third division. Pearson did great things with Leicester last year but received very little media coverage and not many fans at Championship clubs would have had much idea about who he signed to underpin the title win. Saints fans are fully entitled to be twitchy at the lack of signings, but should blame the Pinnacle group if anyone. Pardew is his own man and will have a firm view about who and what he needs to be able to push on for a play off place this season. Harding, an England U21 international and a proper footballing full back was a steal on a free, and I would expect two or three more like him balanced with a couple of 'big' names to whet the appetite and inspire both the youngsters and a couple of thousand more season ticket holders. It is highly likely that 'Bulldog' Downes will be AP's number 2 by the end of the week, so we have a lot to look forward to. In terms of media neglect, SFC as a Trojan Horse could actually be a very appealling prospect...

If we keep Rasiak as a result (possibly a Pardew plan?) the move will be OK...