Agent Orange

A year or two ago I'd have said he'd probably be found out and wanting in the Premiership. A little bit too slow and a bit predictable. Most top flight or seasoned Premiership defenders would have him sussed. But now? I think he's improved hugely in the last 2 seasons, significantly in 2011, and would be more than a handful for a lot of teams. Would he be one of the top scorers or bang in hat tricks left, right and centre? No but he's certainly good enough for the Premiership.

Lazy is probably too harsh but I'd go with inconsistent. He showed flashes of brilliance but to be honest I never thought he looked comfortable on the pitch. He appeared to be rushed - maybe he needed a slower game. Reckon he'd have done well in the Italian league. Probably didn't help he came with the baggage of being labelled "Sweden's Beckham" either. I don't think we ever saw him at his best - bar a single stunning shot and he struck me as a player you just had to let play and the rest of the team carry and cover for which they'd be duly rewarded. I don't want to say like Le Tiss but - well like Le Tiss..... Liked him as a player though and never thought he was at fault for not reaching the heights. Some relationships work and some don't despite the best interests of both parties and I don't think he and Saints quite clicked.

Not. There is only one South coast derby and that is when we and the Skates play. This is not up for debate. If the Skates beat us and went down they'd still, rightly, point to that game as being a highlight of the season. If Brighton beat us would they give our game a second thought at the end of the season?

The day Keegan signed.

Lets just say this is the worst kept secret in Horton Heath. Though hopefully this publicity will get the place shutdown.

I've never quite understood the high esteem with which some fans hold WGS. Yes he was bloody funny. His velocity quote is without equal. Yes the squad were fit. Yes we got to the Cup Final and highest finish for a long while. But there were many times at St Marys when his plan A failed he didn't seem to have a plan B. I'm no master tactician - just an opinionated fan who liked playing football as a boy, but towards the end of his time here his tactics just didn't seem to work. A decent manager who did well for us but he's not the messiah. Pardew is - I feel a far better choice.

Pleasantly pleased with Pardew. Not a name that I even considered but given his history he should have been top of the list. Really looking forward to tomorrow. I'm actually starting to feel some connection with the club again and looking forward to the football and not politics. New owner, new manager, new league and taking my 3 year old son to his first Saints game. Emmotional, proud and optimistic. Not felt like this for a long time with Saints. COYR!!!!!!!!

Bugger... there's proof I shouldn't attempt to multi-task.

Have to admit I thought the support was excellent too. As I've said elsewhere not been for a while but the Northam slowing singing Oh When the Saints brought a lump to my throat. Wonderful.

To prove a point.... Points per game the above stats show that Sturrock is a worse manager than Jan. In fact the worst manager. Wigley is head and shoulders above the lot. Wigley 17 3 8 6 1.13 Gray 19 6 11 2 0.95 Pearson 14 3 4 7 0.88 Jan 19 6 9 4 0.86 Luggy 13 5 6 2 0.76 This assumes my stats are right. I am posting whilst coming to the end of a 2hr conference call....

Long time for a first post but in truth rarely get to a game these days and have given up my season ticket - which no doubt means I'm not entitled to an opinion However, our son was at grandparents yesterday so we managed to get to a game. Only previously been to the Blackpool game this season and not been to a game before that since Feb. With the Blackpool game there at least were some positives but yesterdays game was shocking. Up there with the worst performances I've ever seen from Saints. Our number 24 Olly Lancashire. Is he always that bad?! But harsh to pick out one player as from back to front all we pretty awful. No one would commit to a tackle!! We looked absolutely clueless. I've never seen anything like it. We are in desperate need of some physical presence, experience and a bloody clue! I really am fearful for us this season unless we get some steel in the team.