Stattmeister

And the bit, at the end where ungoaded they sang "the saints are going down, the saints are going down blah blah blah"...??? And before the game, when they sang "We are going up, we are going up"? Maybe they've been watching a little too much Derrin Brown, but they didn't half love themselves.

I disagree mate - admittedly, he has no understanding of the offside rule whatsoever which is more than a little annoying (but I can remember Pipo Inzaghi being the same as that a few years back)! I thought Waigo put in a disciplined right wing display, which included tracking back which allowed James to offer a bit on the overlap and get some useful balls in... his "width" (which we have been crying out for) also spread the play across a lot more of the pitch, which ultimatley left more room in the middle for Hammond to burst into/Lallana to drop into as he pulled defenders with him. Oh, and he also scored (who cares how-it was a tap in, but he was first to the ball to tap it in, sheesh!). For his first start for us, I thought it was a pretty decent performance. When up top, his movement in the channels seemed to offer far more than Saga (although, in his defence, he didn't have that long). He was never going to live up to the hype to be fair to him, else he'd have put one in the onion bag versus Liverpool in the Champions League rather than League One against Bristol Rovers.

Yeah, great read - fair play to the lad, and his family. All seem nicely grounded which is refreshing...

Love it. Marvellous!

+1 :smt049

Given the current rumour mill, I'd be pleased if we could get O'Donovan and Craddock. Both young enough, hungry enough, and maybe with points to prove after less than successful premiership spells. Jaidi is a free agent, so doesn't have to be before the window "slams shut" (copyright SkySports). And I'd be staggered if we could pull off these Eastwood/Mifsud-esque signings... S-Clarke mentioned an Accrington Stanley player. I've had a look on their site to see the profiles, and considering I've heard of pretty much none of them, the most "promising" for me, based on the schpeil, would be Phillip Edwards. Players player of the year, and can play anywhere along the back four (i.e. could cover Murty, and, in Harding if required) http://www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/index.php?main=stats/profiles.php Like most here, I'd want more. But that would be more than satisfactory for me I think.

You nicked that gag from Solent. How witty of you.

I'm goint for Hammond, 79.

The pen incidentally was a handball according to Solent, and according to many of those in the press box, the lino was the only man to have seen it. Should be interesting on our 6 seconds of fame later after sky+ing the beeb converage... We've got the lead with a workman-like performance. Be nice to actually push on for once, rather than capitulate! James and Hammond sound solid, so here's hopin'...

Poppy****. That may be your opinion, but it isn't mine. One swallow doesn't make a summer, but his centre midfield displays (notably last night, versus Larsson, Carsley and Bowyer) have been surprisingly impressive. Incidentally, he never was a RB. Much of his reserve team football was in the centre, he was only "converted" by JP at the beginning of last season, due to a lack of a better option (hence Henderson's use of him in the middle pre-season), and ended up playing there all season, in his first senior season. Give the kid a break.

I agree with the other post - the ref got it totally wrong with the Lallana challenge, and missing that quite obvious foul has potentially cost us our first choice RB for however long. Minsk has it spot on - in my view, losing James from midfield was the reason we struggled after Murty's injury, not because he dropped in at full back. That Thomas pass to Gillett though in the lead up to the equaliser was suicide, absolute suicide though if we want to point fingers!

Rasiak lives 'round the corner in Milford-on-Sea, and as I understand it, he has told friends he will be able to "commute" to another club which we have spoken to. This adds more creditability to the Reading story!

Start calling Saga names, James...!

Stop being a phoney, Tony (Pulis)???

I know this has been said a fair bit, but despite the time lag of getting players through the doors, I'm well happy with Murty, Harding and Lambert. Quality, first team signings (rather than overloading wtith squad players for the sake of it), I suspect more than a few CCC clubs would fancy those three in their starting eleven. Top work.

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsHome/0,,10280,00.html

Love it... Thanks pal!!!

But how much later than these clubs did we start really preparing for L1? How good are these players? I'd rather quality over quantity any day. We do need some quality injected into the squad, and fast - I don't think anyone is denying that. But in the same vein, L1 is a different kettle fo fish to the championship, which as we found out to our cost, is arguably the most competitive in England. Going back to the OP, I certainly don't feel like I've been taken for a mug - far from it in fact. "we've got our club back" to paraphrase all number of posters. I've got a great price ticket, when a few weeks ago, I had no idea what I was going to do come Saturday afternoon as Jeff Stelling and co. would be too much to bear. I'm patient enough to still be looking forward to Millwall. ML, AP and co. have come in, and in some cases, we are starting from absolute zilch (the scouting network was cited for example -how can you buy players when this is not set up effectively? AP was out of the game for a while too.) and this clean slate to me is a good thing for the most part - the other part was in a right state (see the playing squad-this didn't just need honing, it needed a complete overhaul). It really does take time - the two reported appointments certainly bode well in terms of moving forward more swiftly now, with L1 experience, and a respected scout. I can't, and won't, grumble. They saved us. Rant over. Oh, and Markus, thanks again.

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/2261074.dean_wilkins_considers_his_future/ Brighton fans were miffed to lose him (apologies if the thread doesn't work/shouldn't be in the post)

Sorry -this being the same friend that told you about Pardew's hair being dyed grey?! That was a scoop and a half. I liked him when he was here, but that was then, this is now. As stated earlier, cheap wages (I doubt) and free, then MAYBE as a squad player. I just think there are better midfield options out there (not withstanding what we already have - Gillett, Wooton, Morgan, James?). we need more creativity, and certainly focus up top at the minute, especially if John/Euell/Rasiak/Saga go (of which I suspect we may keep 1 of them...), rather than holding mids.

That PFA website is a wee bit tasty - like real life Championship Manager!! Here's my own, free transfers CDAJFU (assuming that the list is up-to-date, and they haven't signed elsewhere): Michael Ball - LB Sol Davis - LB David Connolly -CF John Fortune - CB Julian Gray - LM Dan Harding - LB Carl Hoefkens - CB Paul Ifil - RM (ish) Steve Kabba - CF Patrick Kisnorbo - CB Leroy Lita - CF Leon MacKenzie - CF Glenn Little - RM John Oster - RM Matt Richards - LM Darius Vassell - CF Moritz Voltz - RB I know the list is devout of sense (it is alphabetical, rather than in position). For me, one of Fortune/Hoefkens/Kisnorbo would be smashing, along with both the (dreamland) Kabba and Lita up top for pace/power. Michael Ball at left back, and Glenn Little right would do the trick. Not that I expect too much or anything...!! I think that it is relatively realistic (I decided against putting Henri Camara in) given age/experience/injury, although some names may not fancy L1 - I suspect we could meet wages demands, but as history shows, lets not go with bonkers money on lemons. I am however excited at whom AP may bring in, as there is no denying we need an overhaul... I'll shut up now.

Well, JR is heading overseas next week - I suspect therefore that he wasn't planning to be our (Michael) Knight in Shining Armour. D'oh!

Love it -but alas not true. Hoff is in the area filming his family docu-soap (a la the Osbourne's, the Hogan thing), in a winnebago - out on Living TV in the "fall" apparently. I spoke to his "people" this week to try to get him to do some promo work with us. Also, I begged Jim RaTcliffe (via a friend of his) to make a cheeky last ditch bid for us.

I hate to say it, but I just don't know. The fact that there was an answer for me straight away, saying "no" makes me suspicious that he does know, and that he is respecting JR's confidentiality (and I bet they call him that too!). In the line of work we do, it is very possible he has been privvy to telecons. But I am just second guessing him now, which probably helps no-one. sorry!

Thanks for the sarcasm, nice. It was a verbal conversation, I had no need to spell his name in a discussion. Pedance sir, pedance. Steve (our director) has no knowledge or interest in football, so the very fact he instantly said "no" to me suggests that he does know either way. I'd have thought he would've have said "eh?" If he genuinely didn't have a clue. I'm seeing him again tomorrow I'll suspect, so will ask again (spelling his name correctly this time,naturally). As I said earlier, just saying what I know - hopefully it's all irelevant, and we'll know for certain where we're at in 72hours or so.