Willo

I know there are some people who don't care about the quality of the person and only care about their performance on the pitch, but i'm maybe slightly old fashioned and want people playing for us who are decent human beings, and people who appreciate and value the position they are in. Rickie seems like one of them (as do most of our players).

Thanks for posting those links - very interesting. I suppose we'll never know whether the manager can veto the results of a medical (I.e the player fails a specific test/measurement, but the manager takes a gamble, or conversely, the player passes all physical tests, but the manager decides the player doesn't 'fit' in the squad).

I agree that NA probably wants to understand thementality of the player as well as the physical condition, but I don't know how that would work in practice. Does NA attend the medical? Does he take them out for a round of golf to chat? I don't know. However, I would imagine other clubs will quickly get ****ed off if we unsettle players by agreeing a fee, only then to decide they didn't pass the 'gut instinct' test about whether they would fit into the dressing room. NA can vet away with on this occassion because there appears to be an ankle injury acting as a scapegoat...

I wondered if anyone out there knows much about what level of testing is undertaken for new players these days, and how it may have changed over the last few years? I imagine medicals used to be no more than glorified fitness tests - perhaps only a bleep test or similar? Do we now, for example, make players go through numerous MRI scans on all their body parts just to see if there is anything 'wrong'? Who makes the decision on those scans? What if a player demonstrates he can cope dispite an apparent injury?

Did lambert play thewhole 90 mins? Surprised, butmaybe adkins is keen to get him even fitter?

When asked to confirm Chamberlain won't sign for arsenal this week, nigel said "I would prefer to talk about yesterday's game"....sounds pretty clear to me that Alex will be on his way soon...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/14166374.stm great video, but this has much better commentary from the beeb...made me laugh so much

I know it is good that we have excellent training facilities, but i do find it a little strange how many people assume that this is something that will improve a player who has already played in the premiership. If it was down to facilities, why are Brazilian kids so damn good? Don't get me wrong, it is better having good facilities than not having them, but i just don't think it makes much difference to the ability of established professional players.

wow - this is one of the most amazing videos i've seen in ages. Amazing in many ways - some of the fashion, some of the budget style of reporting, the embarrassing collection of fans singing Souness songs, Simon Charlton, and to be fair, some pretty good questions asked towards Rupes during the final interview. thanks for sharing the video

It reminds me of all the people who bemoaned Lawro predicting a saints win (back in the prem days), and would say "well, we've got no chance now - we never win when Lawro predicts it". I recall somone once bothered to compile a league table based on all of Lawro's predictions throughout a season, and his final table was remarkably close to the actual one.

I was at the pre-season match vs Sutton Utd, and it was fascinating to watch the team just metres from the pitch and with a very small crowd - it allowed people watching to hear just how much communication happens on the pitch, and by whom. My impression - and that shared by my mate who is a Reading fan - was just how loud and vocal Hammond was on the pitch. Not only has Hammond been a captain under two managers at Saints, but if i am correct, he was also captain at his previous club(s). I think the reason he has had a stronger second half to the season is because competition (with the introduction of Chaplow) increased. Before Morgan's injury there were a few games where the three of them seemed to be fighting for two positions, and it coincided with an improved Hammond.

Brilliant result. Haveto add that Fletcher seems a thoroughly decent bloke in his post match interview. A good honest pro.

Why does Um Bongo's photo appear to have black piping at the lower side of the red sash, whereas this photo by Tractor-Saint doesn't? Is it just the focus of the photo?

I suspect NC knows we can't reach the play-offs now...but he will know that if we are to keep our better players and attract even better new players in the summer, we need to convine everyone that we are dead-certs to get automatic next year. I think that is why the way we finish this season is so vitally important.

completely agree

Personally, I think it would be a bigger problem if he was not playing to a standard that would make other clubs come sniffing

Sorry, I very rarely post on here, but felt i needed to reply. I am very aware of this weekend's rememberance activities, and my grandfather was severely injured in WWII. I spent a year working for the Royal British Legion. But I also thought it was a fair question - i have noticed most clubs wearing poppies on their shirts, and assumed that this was now the accepted visible symbol of recognition among football clubs. I also wondered if there was a separate event that had led to the team wearing the black armbands. So please don't assume that anyone who doesn't share your incredible intelligence is unable to put 2 and 2 together.

To compare MLT to marmite is implying that there is a fair split between people who love him and hate him. Do you think as many people love him as hate him? This thread (which is open to Saints fans who choose to post something) would indicate that the opinion is no-where near as divided as you imply. More widely, I have met very few fans of other teams who would not have loved to have him in their side when he was in his prime (and I include fans of "the big four"). Being in a tiny minority (as you are) does not automatically make you wrong, but it's a very good indicator

last season (or maybe the one before) Richard Keys asked Graeme Souness during the half-time of a champions league match the most gifted player he had ever worked with (as a player and a coach). Without hesitation he said MLT. Jamie Rednapp (I think) was surprised and reminded him of the great liverpool and scottish players he had played with and managed. And in reply Souness said that the things he saw MLT do in training were simply unbelievable. He said he has never seen anyone who could manipulate a ball the way he could. Just one persons opinion...but from someone who has seen many many great players in his time

the technique of the volley on 2 mins 25 secs is every bit as good asMLT...don't get me wrong, MLT did it time and time again...but most of us on here would say that if MLT had scored that volley, we would include it in his top 10, and most probably in his top 5 of all time. An amazing volley on a ball dropping from 40 feet up in the air!

agreed. I think he was trying to be honourable to Jan.

One of the things I respect and like about him is the fact that he is prepared to admit mistakes. Personally, I agreed with most of what he said in the article. I think we will survive this year, and I hope that he is given a few years to help us build a promotion-contending team. I don't think any manager could get us promoted this year (with our limited resources) and so I don't judge him by that measure.