MorningtonCrescent

Its a forum with an ever decreasing number of people posting, due to every thread becoming a personal battle between individuals who ave an agenda with each other. Boring!

"quelle suprise" at the responses so far! The OP has a valid point and the mods do need to apply the rules as listed (and agreed to by registration) if they want to get this place back to a sensible discussion shop. There are many people who just don't post anything anymore because every thread degenerates into the same people taking a direct swipe at "their nemesis" - as well as an "ignore" button, is there a "follow me" button that these people use to make sure they don't miss the chance to have a pop at the person/people they delight in responding to with negative tripe? Banning doesn't seem to work, so a reduced number of posts for a period of time would be a good way of preventing the constant bickering that happens every day. Maybe then some of the lurkers would feel inclined to become more involved?

Back to the OP..... Saints, depleted by four nailed on first 11 starters, were the better side for an hour or so - against a Reading team who were well organised and ended last season in some form. Once we took the chance to give the youngsters a chance to play at SMS in front of a reasonable crowd, we looked to lose our shape and focus. Good to see we played football most if the time. Maybe too many high balls in to DC?! The new players looked to be gelling well with the team's structure. DH and RD could be a great partnership down the left for many years! Dickson looked very comfortable on the ball and can take a good set piece. Barnie and DC looked good up front, so a definite positive for me there. If rickie does stuggle at any point this season through injury, suspension or form I believe we will still score plenty. Hammond did well in midfield without his sidekick. No worry for me that he 'puts it about a bit'! Isn't that what all say is needed in this league? If he's up for it in friendly then that shows me desire and professionalism. If I were a cynic/pessimist the only two observations that gave me cause fir worry were: No Dan Seabourne? No word that he's injured and not near the team? Which leads me onto my other 'negative': Did AP 'do an 'Arry' and use the youth to demonstrate the lack of depth in the squad - proving some sort of point? If so, at least was in a friendly, but still not what I'd want from our club, if true? Overall, very happy that we've got a fitter, leaner squad than last year. We've got quality in every position (when everyone is fit!) and we could have a better start to the season than we've seen for some time?! Notoriously slow most years, I'd like to see 10 points from the first 5 games to see us underway on our promotion charge! :-D

Doh. Noticed the draw is next week! Same sentiment for the competition though!

Anyone got SS1 on watching Soccer AM? Any idea what time the draw will be on? I hope we take all our games seriously, play some fringe players by all means - but winning is a habit and we should go out to win every game, using the strength of our squad to it's full.

As above - the best way I find to get work done is to get up at a decent time and have a wash/shave, then suited up. The suit puts you in "work mode" and that chore around the house doesn't seem to become as appealing when in a suit! Also, I too often find myself catching up with small work tasks outside normal office hours - this is fine for me as it means more flexibility. As others have said, its what fits you best and gets the work done. Making the WFH day more formal is definitely what works for me. (today, I have not shaved or put my suit on - a few long days on the road have seen to it that today will be a "short working day" for me!)

On the face of it it looks like a good I initiative to build on the work done by Saints in the Community. Why oh why though, did they have adopt that aweful looking re-design of the Saints Crest?! It makes it look so amateurish!

Good idea - away matches only then! ;-)

I went past SMS yesterday to check out any sign of the giant "fans posters" being replaced... these are the FlyBe ones at each end of the Itchen stand. My guess is that as soon as there is a sign these are going to be replaced, we can expect an announcement on new shirts. These areas are ideal for launching the new kit, especially as they are currently still FlyBe sponsored. No sign yesterday, so perhaps anyone going that way can keep an eye for these changes? Great method to build expectation, but I just hope it doesn't fall flat on it's face as the ST announcement did. Maybe that it causing some of the delay? NC et al running around all week trying to gauge how best to package the kit announcement with something to sweeten the fans after the backlash over ST's?

Perhaps an organised effort targetting legal tax avoidance is in order? One suggestion could be: Someone sets up a bank account in the name of "Saints Tax Dodgers" and people all transfer their ticket monies into that each week. They then notify the scheme by e-mail the tickets they have deposited money for. Said scheme collates all ticket requirements for that week and a nominated local person heads off to SMS with a long list and a large cheque, preferably on the Friday before a home match. Tickets are purchased with no booking fees and collected on the matchday at a pre-determined meeting point. There could be a small "members" charge for the administration of the scheme. This could work, and would be a very useful thing for an organised group to manage on behalf of Saints fans, wherever they may be. The sort of thing that a trustworthy organisation should be doing to demonstrate the folly of these charges. If people responded positively to such a scheme, then perhaps it could extend to offering cost price guaranteed postage services for those who really wanted their tickets in advance? If this were to happen, then I think that SFC would quickly act to change the arrangements. (probably in a negative way thought?! LoL . Maybe introducing a limit to the number of tickets that can be bought at the TO window, reducing the TO hours or charging for all orders over x number of tickets at the TO window?!) This scheme could apply to home and away games. ????

Indeed, Carrott in Notts on the old LP thick vinyl! I've transferred it to MP3 somewhere! I'll trawl around to see if I can find it!

Has the shirt got a sash? ;-)

Good luck with the recovery then. Sounds like you're on the mend. I have the dubious pleasure of awaiting the specialist's advice and then the road to recovery might begin!

Reconstruction? Who was your consultant? It seems that the NHS lottery is in full swing when it comes to ACL ops! Some are great, others are ..... not so great.... Someone I ave spoken to has had 6 repairs to his ACL and is still suffering problems. He suggests getting a "cryo-cuff" to help keep the swelling down (says it's far better than a bag of peas!). Anyone else got any recommendations??

Indeed! I did that 14 years ago and was told "60% of people get by fine without it"! A few months ago the knee twisted with weight through it and I've now been on crutches for 9 weeks with another to go until I actually see a knee specialist! MRI and X-rays done. Confirmed bone in joint making it lock up. Day surgery to remove the bone and a decision to be made on the ligament reconstruction! Meanwhile, with little exercise possible I'm on the calorie counting and losing weight steadily! Best exercise I've found is cycling! No impact on my knee and a good workout!

Nice and simple, but I think they've missed the trick with replacing the ball.... If it had been a white circle with the numbers in red, then it would have been more sympathetic to the old crest look. But, for one year, why not?!

You may correct in stating that there are coalition governments in all these places, but how are judging that they "work"? I know of many people who have lived and worked in Belgium (for example) who would tell you that coalition government has NOT worked there. Also, Italy has a coalition government, does it not? Did you decide NOT to include that in your list as it has clearly let the electorate down by bringing fraudsters to power on a regular basis? Coalitions DON'T work, history proves that. The strongest countries in the world are those who have a rulers with the power to make the difficult decisions and to drive through their policies. This will never be able to "please all the people all the time", but at least it gets things done. PR/AV or any other form of watering down of the system leads to backroom deals and horsetrading over "power issues". Unfortunate, but true. The fact that someone with only 23% of the vote (and the ONLY party who stood for PR in their manifesto) can use that as the "deal breaker" in discusions and ultimately be the people who decide who resides in No 10, is frankly absurd. And before I get "labelled" as another "nazi".... I also don't believe the current system does deliver a fair outcome, when 23% of the vote can equal such a small return in seats. I'm just not advocating that I know of a better system that can deliver strong government. None of the "main" parties completely reflect my thoughts and views on how the country should be run - and that is failure in having "party politics" at all.... FWIW - I believe we should have regional assemblies in place of all current levels of government. Local, County and National. One assembly elected by the local people to run all the services in the area (maybe by county, or even a slightly larger area). Those Asemblies would then elect a number of those members who would represent the area in London, in Parliament, based on the proportional split of the Assembly. Perhaps this could be the "second house", as I am also not a major fan of the Lords (either elected or otherwise). It probably wouldn't work, but as I said - I don't have the answers. I just know I would rather have a FPTP system that can deliver a majority government (of whichever flavour), than continuous PR and coalition governments.

A quick attempt at what I think it could look like:

My guess is that it'll be the sash design, but with a white stripe running through it. Whereas the Citeh one above is red and black, I think it'll be red and white sash, perhaps using the "classic" stripe worn by Steve Williams et al in the late 70's/early 80's? Anyone able to do a mock up of what that'd look like?

Seabourne had an excellent game, as did Fonte. This is a fantastic partnership blossoming and one that will carry us well in the coming seasons. Fonte made as many errors as Seabourne yesterday (and in other recent games) and yet he is still idolised? Don't get me wrong, what Fonte gives us is something a class above the rest of the team, BUT he is still prone to conceding silly free-kicks around the penalty area..... These two will be our first choice CBs for next season, I think. And I also believe they will keep many a strike force well and truly in their pockets for 90+ minutes too. Good times! :-)

He has "inflated" the value of the asset in the "CVA" option column, to show that as the most desirable outcome for the creditors. It is a common method of "book cooking" to give people, with a decision to be made, a "steer" into the preferred outcome. If anybody in the country now believes "Admin Andy" to be wholly independent and conducting the administration for the benefit of the creditors, then I would be astounded. He is clearly in someone's pocket and is attempting to find a way for one of the current "secured debtors" to step in and "save" the club from oblivion. They will seek to strike a deal with the football debtors to pay the "100% monies" over a 1-2 year period, using TV/Parachute money.... then they will pay as little as 1p/2p in the £ to the others over 5 years and walk away with the balance of the first few installments of the money coming in (TV, parachute, ST's etc).... The fans will accept that all the players are sold to "keep the books balanced" and the only playing staff they will have for the foreseeable will be sub-23 year olds on basic football wages. They may well start 2010/11 on -15 points for "financial irregularities", but that won't phase the "new" owner as they're not in it for the football anyway. They will quietly walk away with any spare cash they can get their hands on in the first 12-18 months and then leave the whole place high and dry. A slow and painful fall from grace, followed by a lingering death as they drop out of the league.

Someone needs to register and post a response along the lines of "relax, be thankful you weren't born in Portsmouth"......

Silly to you, eminently sensible to me. Please Mr Cortese - move them into to old junior Saints area in the Chapel/Kingsland corner!!

So, does this approach set a precedent? Will people have a "right" to stay in the future because they can prove they have "evaded" detection for 10 years, and therefore have "earnt" the same right to stay? There are many "illegals" who work hard and contribute to the UK economy, but that surely doesn't make it right to allow them to stay? I'm not saying they should all be immediately deported either, just not sure a "black and white" policy that sets a dangerous precedent is sensible either. ???

Few players shone for Saints, but by the same token none were poor! Seabourne hasn't yet enjoyed a run in the side with a regular partner. He played a solid game alongside Fonte - who it appears can do no wrong. Between them they kept the Charlton forwards under wraps for the majority of the game. Fonte had a number of moments where he was under no pressure at all and yet headed the ball a few yards straight to a Charlton midfielder! But, hey, it must've been Seabourne's fault! **rolly eyed smiley thingy** Punchy was all over the pitch and was probably the only player who constantly looked for the ball and also tried to beat his marker. Ok, sometimes it worked and others it didn't. If he beat his man every time, he wouldn't be playing Div 3 football! He also made some poor choices when presented with options (yes - Saints actually had players moving off the ball and creating options!). Again, some days they'll get every decision right, others they choose badly. Semi DID play probably one of his best games. Remember, he too has been in and out of the side. He IS a very profficient, specialist right back. Something we were all crying out for when Lloyd was being skinned every week down that flank! Give him time and he'll come good - or AP won't be signing him during the summer. Simple. For me, all three deserved at least a "6", perhaps even a "7" or "8" for Punchy just for actually creating the goal that won us 3 points.