Piran

No, I think you're probably right. It's just me day-dreaming back to the days when I loved following Saints every home game and many away, watching a team to be proud of. I do still think that there is a place for experience, especially at the back, but there's no doubt it's a different ball-game now, dealing with multi-millionaires.

Well, I blame the demise of hesgoal.com. I was happily watching every game this season, and very enjoyable most of them were, too. I believe it was the Villa game when the plug was pulled, and look at our form since then!

I'm not going to bother quoting individual posts above, but I feel that there is an unwelcome trend that suggests that more money spent = better results in the transfer window. Lukaku yesterday scored for the first time since December. He cost a reported £100m. Jack Grealish had the chance to take Man City to the Champions League final on Wednesday evening, twice, and missed the target. He cost a reported £100m. Harry Kane, reportedly a target for City at £150m last summer, spent the first couple of months of this season struggling... I'm an old codger now, but I would like to see something like the policy that McMenemy had, bringing in a bit of quality that are maybe towards the end of their career, but could complement the likes of Tino and Broja and even the upcoming youngsters that appear to at the club already. This may, of course, not fit in with the new owners policy...

This is what surprises me - any doom-merchants who think it likely that Saints are going to be relegated this season, that Everton, Burnley and Leeds are ALL going to climb above us, should be piling on the bets at those odds! But please do it quietly, and keep it to yourself, or you may influence the odds to a shorter level, and deprive yourselves of a windfall...

First of all, I haven't got a clue how much money Sport Republic have, or how much they are willing to spend on Saints' recruitment, and I suspect that very few Saintsweb posters have either. However, lumping their intentions in with what Gao provided is a bit unwise, I feel. One thing that can be said for the people involved with us since the takeover is that they have a successful business background, all of them in their field, and I expect that that may continue. Patience, people! I agree with P & M's final paragraph!

Are you not a fan of AM, DT?

I really don't think we know what goes on behind the scenes, or what part each of the 'back-room team' plays. We can only judge the overall effect of the team performances, and the past few weeks have been pretty grim, but a couple of months ago, the same team was receiving praise from all quarters for results and the way our team was playing. Personally, I would be wary of appointing somebody just because they jump around and 'show passion'. We had all these arguments back in the day when Puel was criticised for his lacklustre press conferences, and someone suggested we should exchange him for Warnock or the clown Ollie whatshisname...

Perhaps it's time to change your user name then, WS? Maybe Whiteflagsaint? Enjoy your trip!

Fine. Stop the game. Better to be safe than sorry. Let them have a sub on, but insist that the player who has gone down "apparently with a head injury" leaves the field and gets properly checked in a hospital. I have a feeling that feigning a head injury would soon stop, while making sure that anyone who IS injured gets prompt medical care.

No, I don't think you can compare across the decades, but the best I have seen in the flesh, (the criterion I use personally) have been Best and Charlton. (Bobby)

THAT'S why Norwich are bottom of the league! Everyone keeps scoring worldies against them!

I thought he demonstrated all the usual traits of a player who has not played much recently. Allowances have to be made for lack of match fitness. For what it's worth, I felt there is a real player there, and a couple of balls he played showed that his 'football brain' is workijng well. Just as it was last season, before he picked up a nasty injury.

Whatever turns you on, Juliet...

Yeah, I watched Arsenal/Wolves, too. I thought that in many ways Wolves and Saints are very similar. EXCEPT when the ball was played towards the Arsenal defence, when I would expect to see Saints pressure on the defenders, but the Wolves players all immediately raced back to form their 'wall'. And, boy, they could certainly defend, though it didn't do them any good in the end! And despite his late own goal, and one notable blooper, I thought Sa was a great goalie.

You're right on your first point. On the second point, I must have missed the overrating bit, I don't think I've ever seen anyone who rates him, or his opinion.

Come on Stevy, get off that fence... do you rate him or not?

I don't think all Saints fans are brain-challenged idiots. However, some clearly are. And some even post on this forum...

Perhaps there's a correlation?

As I have highlighted above, particularly the point a). I have thought for most of this season that Saints are a decent side, and a joy to watch much of the time. There have been legitimate criticisms at times, and it ain't always perfect, but overall the 'change' has gone on for a lot longer than the past few great results. Wolves at home still hurts, though, and that bloody late goal for Brighton!

No pelters from me - I think it's a good comparison.

I don't think it was 'they' making you look an idiot...

I thought that was Chelsea?

I enjoyed watching it. I was in the Dell for the game - there for most games in those days, home and away - but I hadn't seen the TV programme. It seems like a different world now, doesn't it? Certainly for the standard of football, but also for the quality of the broadcasting and camera work. Never thought I would miss VAR, but I bet they would have a few reviews if they had a chance with those matches!

It's funny, isn't it - well, no, it's bloody boring - how some threads get taken over by a pair of bickering pedants? We've had MLG vs. Turkish, we've had Dman vs. TWar, we've now got CB Fry vs.SaintBobby... I KNOW it's a forum, and everyone has a right to have their say, but, blimey, some people don't half go on...

One small step for the sons-in-law, one giant leap for The Cult...