Mowgli

Phew! Billy who....?

What is with all this sudden Stern John worship? Potential legend?? You're havin' a larf surely. He did a great job for us but was constantly abused by the fans and was probably glad to get away. That goal on the last day won a few over thankfully so he left with his head held high (rightly so) but he has done f*** all at Bristol really. There's a lesson here for you guys. If you really want players to stay, get off their back and give them a bit of encouragement whilst they are wearing the red n white. Whatever you think of the current side, there are very few who do not genuinely love playing here. The alternative - particularly for youngsters - is to drive them out and moan about how they start to show true potential at the next club where they are more appreciated.

Good stadium. Good academy. Loads of half decent players coming through (more than we can use realistically so we can cash in on one or two). We have a plan for rebuilding (you may not agree with it but there is a clear strategy) and we are sticking to it. For the first time in ages, players are doing what they are told on the pitch. We are still probably in a better financial position than Pompey and have a much brighter future...

Or we could cheer on the team and help bring about one more rare highlight in an otherwise frustrating season. All you will get out of it in reality is high blood pressure and hardened arteries..

I think this illustrates how pointless an argument this all is. The formation was no different today but the personnel was. McGoldrick played in the hole behind Paterson with the wingers getting into the box when possible to receive a ball from the opposite flank. So (when in possession) we play 4-3-3 with the winger in possession crossing (or running into the box) with the other three rady to receive. It becomes 4-5-1 only when the oppositions has the ball. BWP and Kayne McLaggen were straight swaps whilst Euell played in the hole allowing McD to go forward. Only my view, others may have seen it differently but the point is it is not the formation that is the problem - it is whether the players carried out their assigned roles as requested.

I think SCW had qualities to offer us and there was no harm in him learning the game by helping out someone else with the youngsters. Despite the general feeling on here, I think RL and SCW are both intelligent people and will both know that SCW as manager here - even in Div 1 - would be inappropriate. I think the idea would have been to develop a level of knowledge and then work up from non league level. Having said that, he has moved on to other things since so the idea is dead anyway.

Lol at the couch picture.. ...is that a lean on couch? Difficult to see how we can get anything out of the next two games but as always, I'm looking forward to going along and to cheer them on. JP has talked about them learning depsite the results. This being so I would hope to at least see a few more shots on target.

Lets get a few things in perspective 1 Whilst I am not that keen on all the loans myself, given our financial circumstances, it is good way of having a serious look at a player before a big financial commitment. 2 Given that we cannot afford big wages, youngsters are always going to be more likely within our budget. 3 Even Crouch himself said that if he had held on to the club, he would have been forced to build a team around our academy players. 4 If you look at our best results this season (Brum in Cup, Doncaster, Preston, Reading, Norwich) they have been achieved with the lowest number of so called experienced players in the team.

Throwing coins at someone is assault. I think he should thank himself lucky that he got away with a stadium ban. Change the location slightly and he would be in prison for Christmas.

Sadly I think this is why Lowe is here for the long term. The AGM talked about player sales of over £12m but the club still made nearly £5m loss. And someone wants to ask why we went to a game a day early..... Not having a go at you long shot but it was perhaps fortunate the question was never asked! What we need is people who can see the big picture and take a strategic approach to financial management rather than nit pick over individual issues.

I'm inclined to agree with you that he is a waste of space. He was woeful Saturday but then so were most in red n white so I'll give him a chance. I hope Nick is right. Of the other loans, Cork is definately worth a long term commitment and Pearce, though inconsistent, may provide good cover. The rest can go back although there is not much to choose between Dyer and Robertson (in terms of contribution). One player that was particularly awful in the second half was Skacel. Just wanted to get rid of the ball - and he's a cheating bugger - always backing in then falling over. Despite the call for experience in the side our most memorable games this season have been when the youngsters have played without the so called older heads.

So. Earnshaw will run us ragged. McGoldrick gets a brace and BWP will find his shooting boots. Has to be Saints 3 Forest 2!!

It's Christmas. With such a big crowd it's an opportunity just for 90 minutes to forget about Lowe, True Fans, Wilde, Stayaway fans, Crouch, takovers, credit crunches and SKY TV. Just remember football how it used to be. A good afternoon out, everyone cheering the team on and, so long as they put the effort in, eveyone goes home happy irrespective of the result.... ........COYR!!!

Message for Michael Wilde and everyone else connected with the rebuild of the club. It's a quote from Robin Knox Johnston who experienced personal criticism at the start of his circumnavigation of the world: "Whatever you do in life there are always people who take a delight in telling you you're wrong, who raise a difficulty for every solution; happily this sort of advice more often than not comes from those least qualified to comment."

Pint half full or half empty. You could argue we are getting progressively better as easily as you can say progressively worse. What is beyond doubt is our inconsistency.

Let's hope we can pick up where we left off next week!

I'll go with 2-1 as well. One defeat in 5 games is not bad going and in case you have noticed, we have a stable squad selection - particularly at the back. With Holmes and others on the way back I'm not too despondent.

Ah but I was quite careful to say team rather than club The main object was to try and head off this hate / blame campaign and try and get people talking about football cos I still think if we focus on that this forum would be a much nicer place to visit. Nowadays I find myself logging on less and less.

Good result. Always hard to recover from a late equaliser like that.

yawn.... .... it comes to something that a Saints bulletin board will focus on the company tenuously connected with a man who is tenuously connected with the team they (allegedly) support. Might it not be more interesting to talk about the Youth Cup game tonight - which we would have won were it not for a Derby equaliser in the fifth minute of injury time. Respect due to those who went and watched that game.

Hands up anyone who can honestly say that if they won the lottery and owned Southampton Football Club they would not be interested in appointing their own manager, showing an interest in what's happening on and off the field and generally supporting the players / coaching staff by engaging in a regular conversation....

The difference is earlier in the seaon we would have lost that match. It was two points lost but one more point for safety

Try head injury

Robertson had a decent game today until the head injury. Paterson was, to be fair, total pants and I suspect there was something wrong with him. Jan was giving him a right royal go from the sidelines but he was def not right. It was more than lack of effort I suspect. His head simply wasn't there.

Wow. A positive message from Jan and someone has to pick holes in a possible negative. Whatever next. He could simply be saying that others have not yet had an opportunity to prove themselves. Robertson, for example, has said he is only just getting back to full fitness and we knew we would have to wait a while longer for Gasmi and Pulis to be available for selection. He can hardly say he is impressed with them but that's not to say they will not shine.