Bailey

Ideally, the fans would get right behind the 'boysh' and show them their full support. Getting on their backs isn't going to help, especially with such a young side. However, the more likely scenario would be that the anti-Lowe songs start and that the atmosphere turns quite hostile. Have no problem with people protesting against the board, but strongly believe that protests should take place prior to and after the match.

Have to disagree with this mate. More often than not, MB gets things spot on.

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/articles/article.php?page_id=11232 Does this article suggest the Lupoli deal is unlikely? I can't see us being able to bring in AL whilst keeping hold of Saga. Surely we can't afford that financially? Still, here's hoping to be proved wrong!

Would be great to have Baird back but I don't think our finances would allow it. Given the chance, I'm sure he'd jump at the chance to return, but unfortunately it's very very unlikely.

Would be a decent signing if true, although I can't see him working well in the lone striker role. Whilst I've been impressed by him during the handful of times I've seen him play, he doesn't strike me as someone that holds up the ball. Will be interesting to see what comes of this and if it is true, how Poortvliet aims to use him in the 'Dutch formation'.

Aston Villa for me. A good, young side with a number of up and coming English players. Plus I rate Martin O'Neil as a manager. Still believe he'd have made a good England manager had he been offered the job pre-Capello.

To be fair to Euell, I don't think he's said anything out of term. It must be frustrating for him to get in the side and then be dropped completely because the transfer window is open. I agree with him that he could offer alot to our young side, especially if he played 'in the hole'. Still, I fully expect him to leave either this month or at the end of the season. Shame really, but our financial situation dictates.

Ha! Yep, that's good enough for me! Just find it odd that Saints haven't announced it at all. Unless I missed that too of course!?

With no confirmation on the OS about the move, does anyone know whether Thomson has actually joined Bournemouth on loan? Very odd not to inform the fans if he has in fact gone.

McGoldrick has potential, whether or not he'll reach that and go on to bigger and better things remains to be seen. I remember criticising Kenwyne heavily at one point, saying how lazy and half arsed he can be. Sound familiar?

We beat Donny and Norwich in consecutive games this season didn't we? Not only that, but we kept clean sheets in both games also. Does that count?

Sounds as though we were very fortunate today but you need a bit of luck in our position. Fair play to the lads for coming away with what might prove to be a massive 3 points come the end of the season. It would appear Saeijs really does matter! Brilliant debut and a clean sheet to go with it, full credit to him. Looks as though Molyneux did well also which can only be a positive thing, especially with Skacel's future still up in the air. All in all, a good day at the office. Lets just hope we can improve the overall performance and get another 3 points against Donny.

On paper, we're not actually that far from having a decent side. We could probably do with a bit more experience and strength and fingers crossed Jan is working on that. Assuming Poortvliet/Lowe persist with this 'Dutch formation', then the team could potentially line up as follows . . . --------------------- Davis ----------------------- James ------- Perry ------- Saeijs ------- Molyneux ----------- Schneiderlin ---- Surman --------------- Wright-Phillips -------- Euell --------------- Skacel ------------------- Saganowski ------------------- Subs Bialkowski, Lancashire, Gillett, Lallana, McGoldrick IMO, that team has a strong spine, a nice blend of youth and experience, and would probably put up a good fight against most sides in this division. Realistically though, I can't see us fielding a team that looks remotely like that due to the strong emphasis on youth.

Saga's work rate is second to none and we've been crying out for a striker like him. He's a proven goalscorer at this level and if he's got the desire to do well for us then that's only going to be a good thing. Poortvliet's comments on the OS are very positive, suggesting Saga will be involved and that he'll play as the lone striker. Lets just hope Saga rediscovers the form that made Saints pay up to keep him here permanently.

So assuming the paperwork gets sorted in time for Jan-Paul to make his debut, what do you reckon the team will be? I reckon it could look something like the following . . . ------------------- Davis ------------------- James ------- Perry ----- Saeijs ------ Skacel ----------- Surman ---- Schneiderlin --------- Smith ---------- McGoldrick ---------- Holmes --------------- Saganowski ------------------ Subs: Bialkowski, Lancashire/Molyneux, Gillett, Euell and BWP Ideally I'd put BWP out wide right with Euell 'in the hole'. However, I think the above is much more likely. Wouldn't be too surprised to see Molyneux feature at some point either.

Good effort! We laugh now, but if this became reality I think we'd fail to see the funny side.

I think that's a bit harsh on Quashie in truth. Yes, he has a strangely bad record of getting relegated, but his performances were one of the few reasons why we weren't down before the last day of the season!

Sounds like a good addition if true. We have been crying out for a leader and it would appear this guy fits the bill. Still, will reserve judgement until a) he actually signs and b) he's played a few games for us. You all remember Ruud Knol don't you?

It's hard to say really. One thing I don't think we're doing is supporting the lone striker as well as earlier on in the season. Too often McGoldrick ends up very isolated with little or no support when going forward. We've missed Holmes whipping balls into the box and we've looked unbalanced with a left-footed player playing on the right too. I do think we need to really work on creating more chances though. I know Saga is returning and from the sounds of things, he is going to be considered for selection. However, it's all well and good having him play, but if we don't supply him with the goalscoring opportunities then there's not alot he can do. Here's hoping for a dramatic upturn in fortunes both on and off the pitch anyway, otherwise I fear the worst for us this season . . .

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/articles/article.php?page_id=11187 Good to hear that Saga will be considered. I believe he could do a better job out wide right than as the lone striker, but to have him playing at all would be a bonus. Here's hoping he can rediscover the form from when he joined us on loan originally. We could certainly do with his goals anyway!

If my memory serves me correctly, Olly played in both our wins against Donny and Norwich, keeping clean sheets on both occasions.

The result comes as no surprise and if we're honest it probably should have been more. The ref didn't help us by sending off Paterson but after looking at replays he got it spot on so credit to him for that. HOWEVER, that's where the praise ends as he made a number of poor decisions throughout the game. How he judged Evans' tackle on McGoldrick to only be worthy of a yellow is beyond me, as he would have been clean through on goal. Still, at the end of the day that's academic as United showed their superioty and never needed to get out of 2nd gear. Their touch and movement was second to none, with Berba, Carrick, Anderson and Welbeck all playing very well. Our young players can take alot of heart from this defeat. Despite being down to 10 men, they still worked hard and kept the score respectable. Now this match is out the way, we have to learn from it and focus on the league. We have some massive games coming up against Barnsley, Donny and Norwich and our season may well depend on results over the coming month.

Harewood on loan and Dailly to sign on a free may go some way to sorting these problems . . . No idea if either rumour is true mind.

I think some need to lay off the lad in truth. He's a young defender who's been thrown it at the deep end. People need to realise we were playing United today, and asking Olly to mark Berbatov is bound to be a massive test for him. I actually think Olly did pretty well today, making some decent block tackles and winning headers more often than not. Yes, he is far from the finished article, and yes, he isn't the quickest CB, but he has potential and can only get better. He will learn from today, improve as a player and be better off for it. I long for the day when fans actually support their own players again!

How are people slating Surman after today's performance? In case alot of you didn't realise, he spent the majority of the game playing for a side with 10 men against the WORLD CHAMPIONS! Surman always had a hard task today, made even harder by the sending off. He was asked to play in a 3 man midfield for part of the game and when you're up against a side like Man Utd who keep the ball so well, then it's to be expected that he struggles to make an impact. For what it's worth, I thought he worked his socks off and showed how committed to the cause he really is. He ran all game and despite being a man down, he still put himself about and refused to give up. I can't believe how quick people are to criticise our own players, and it's made all the more unbelievable when you think who the opposition were today!