cambsaint

Ron Davies later behaviour was rather strange. I often wondered if this was early onset dementia. It was certainly a problem with old heavy sodden balls. Whether it will e seen to be a problem to current generation won't be known for nearly 30 years. Certainly it should be banned immediately from the junior game, and then would probably slowly be phased out of the adult game It seems rather strange to me that you can't tackle anyone properly now for risk of injury (non life-threatening)yet little notice is taken of the most essential and amazing part of the body-the brain. No cricketer would risk playing without a helmet these days I won't be around to see the day but I hope it is gradually phased out.

I think that very skilful flair players should be given a chance. Recently on the televised games we have found flair players hard to deal with also strong fast forwards. Begs the question why don't we give hum a chance and see if he can unlock stubborn defences. Not many deg=fenders like a skilful dribbler running at them/

Would Tottenham be hsi first choice of club though. Can't see him wanting to play second fiddle to carthorse kane at Spurs and England.

He is a very talented flair player. IMO just who was needed to try to break down Palace. Still if he doesn't fit with Ralph's thinking he should go. Don't be surprised if he doesn't do well in another team or another league. A shame that he doesn't fit in, when you see players that can dribble and set up openings do well in other teams.

I think Hodson had worked out an excellent tactic l game against us. I worry that others will do the same, soak up the pressure and hit us on the break.thankfully there aren't many Zahas around. Redmond was anonymous but on TV you can't tell whether he had a bad day or was marked out of the game. I wonder if Boufal may be part of the answer against packed defences. Just have to hope the Ralph can work on tactics to overcome this.

KWP is a young English player with potential. I'd be glad to see a straight swap for a player with probably only a few years left and who we have covered by Romeu anyway, if that is what it took. If KWP proves his potential then in a few years a mega-club will come knocking and we'll make a massive profit.

Realistic piece con Sky Sports News, saying there will be no mega transfers this year, and clubs will have to be realistic as the loss if revenue due to ground closures and presumably much reduced capacity next season means prices will be realistic. Never forget that anything is only worth what you can sell it for, no matter what you paid for it, same applies even in the la-la land of the Prem. My main hope is that we can hold on to KWP. and get another centre back in.

Have always thought JWP a skilful and clever player, but in the last couple of years he has got musch stronger and now can't be bullied off ball. He is maturing into a very fine player and I there is still more to come Saint's players' fitness has amazed me after the break, they have been good for every game, always finishing much stronger than their opponents. Well done to all concerned., especially Ralph. He has moulded what was always a good squad of players, although not well led, into an excellent team. Just hope we can buy KWP, but would you sell him????

Sorry for Bournemouth, both they and Norwich are decent well run small city clubs. Increases the PL money is all that matters ethos. Getting really fed up with the incessant inane commentator 9-0 drivel

I can actually enjoy watching Saints on TV for the first time foe a few years. Amazing what Ralph has done since the Leicester match, which as I'm always out on Friday nights thankfully I missed, We look classy, fast, slick with great skills and passing, a joy to watch. Think we may get a bit "leggy" in the last few matches, but to finish 11th would be very satisfying and also financially rewarding.

Home kit is vile. Just hope nobody buys it. What is the matter with tradition, Saints are red and white stripes and black shorts. Always have been and always should be. White with red sash is a perfectly acceptable shirt -you can muck about with them. and gold is very good, reminiscent of the old gold and black of circa 67. Please don't buy the home kit, only way to teach them a lesson.

A truly magnificent performance. What has really struck me about our performances this season is the exceptional fitness, and the obvious team spirit and the players seem really comfortable with the tactics and respect the manager. Also I hope we can buy Walker Peters, but on this showing will TH let him go?

Great result. Typical negative responses I detest on this forum getting on young players backs after the first game following a long layoff. I agree with the comment that the players will enjoy playing at home without fam=ns negativity. Twas ever thus though I particularly remember criticism of Sydenham when I lived down there and watched regularly. Compare with the incessant support of the team who's name is never spoken in polite society just down the road.

Even if they do play again it may be slightly farcical. No way players will be anywhere near as fit as before and no match fitness or practice, Possibly not the best way to decide relegation issues. Actually I've realised I don't miss football very much anymore, but I'm really going to miss watching my son play good village cricket and my annual Scarborough Cricket festival with my cousin.

Five games: My 21st birthday game, can't remember much about it except I watched two games for the price of one (Sept 1968) An abysmal home defeat by Leicester about the same time, I've never got so wet at a football match, even my underwear was soaked.(on Milton Rd end) Cup final 1976 had just moved in to a new house and had been shopping for paint in Shirley and just got home in time. League Cup Final 1979 was working in Stoke and was the supplier of dressings to Stoke City. Friendly with physio, got free tickets to every home match and also tickets for Wembley. Went with my late father, only second time he'd watched Saints, had great lunch in steakhouse in Harrow beforehand, Despite defeat a truly memorable day. Cup final in Cardiff. Got tickets from Cambridge United club doctor, went with my son, I got my only speeding ticket of 65 years, (92mph) was late due to multiple roadworks. (Good job it was at a busy piece of dual carriageway- I would have been disqualified on another stretch!

If it can get Nirman Hunter, one of the iconic hardmen of the late 60s early 70s like John McGrath and Jimmy Gabriel of the Saints, then it can kill anyone. On another matter, regarding the inanity of most political commentators and journos,it's hardly surprising as they live a life locked in the Westminster bubble. Probably not a science degree amongst them, and now bioscience is so complicated and specialised that it's virtually impossible for an old boy like me to understand. When I qualified we had just identified three receptors, alpha, Beta1 and 2. Now they can even tell you the dna make-up of intra cellular drug receptors and transport mechanisms. Still it goes to show that although we think we're very clever, a natural disaster of biblical proportions can remind us of our mortality! Although a little bored by the lock-down I'm loving the quiet and lack of traffic. Hopefully Society may now reappraise what jobs are really worthwhile and what are inessential and adjust its values -fat chance of that!!

As an over seventy year old with a relatively mild underlying health condition, I sometimes wonder if I'll see it through. The other night I was reminded of a story my Mum told me about when my Dad was stationed at Netley Royal Victoria hospital (now the country park and Hants police HQ,),during the blitz,they lived in digs in Netley to be with each other. Every night when the sirens went off,she and the landlady would sit under a very solid oak dining table until the all clear. They survived, as it was thought that the massive and very distinctive hospital was a very useful landmark to the bombers lining up to attack the supermarine factory and the docks. One night however a land mine hit the pub at the end of the road and it felt like an earthquake, next morning nothing was left of the street corner except a large hole and debris. Needless to say they both survived the war and begat me. I feel the same sense of helplessness, wondering whether it will pass me by.

I started watching the Saints in the 62 season. I remember George O'Brien well. To me he is still the consummate penalty taker. No messing, everyone including the keeper knew where it was going. A run up, and he hit the ball very hard and itUnsavae arrowed into the top stanchion,I think it was invariably the right hand one. Unsaveable, and remember this was with heavy boots and a heavy wet leather ball and often a penalty are that resembled a ploughed field. I think Osgood's penalties were similar, but with a better ball. I chatted to a fellow fan walking down Hills Road who played golf with the retired George, and he told me that George was a really nice bloke, who said that Terry Paine did all the hard work and all he had to do was arrive in the right place at the right time and stick it in. something of an understatement but the two together got us to Div !, although Chivers had taken over at the end. We used to enjoy a few real hammerings if the two were on song. RIP my first football hero.

You can get post coincussive syndrome which is very unpleasant and can last for some time. I had headaches and felt between 75 and 90% normal,for a good three weeks. It varies in severity. I know two other people who have had it after very bad falls. It would affect match fitness.

It's probably going to be foul weather If its high winds and heavy rain, the game will be a lottery anyway. We nver seem to play well in those conditions.

Winnie the Pooh could probably afford to buy Gao out with the royalties he has earned over the years. Any Southampton fan with £300 million to spare could probably buy him out The totally pointless calls for Gao to go irritate me almost as much as the fact that he owns our club

IMO he isn't a manager or a coach. A manager's duty is to get the best out of what you have and try to build and improve on it. A coach must motivate and sort out the best tactics. I've seen absolutely no indication that he has the slightest idea of how to do either at this level The comments he made in the Telegraph after Everton were disgraceful, blaming everything on the players when good managers take the flak and responsibility. If he hadn't lost the dressing room before he certainly will have after that. Needs sacking as soon as a replacement can be identified. Many years ago I played rugby under three different coaches (I'd grown too heavy and slow on the turn for football). One was English, one Welsh, and one a New Zealander. We all realised why Wales were better than England and The All Blacks best of all in those days. The motivation and will to win of The Kiwi inspired us all, before that we had thought the Welsh guy pretty intense. Managers do make the difference between a set of players playing well or badly. Another example Mike Brearley at cricket, hardly the best player but an inspiritional tactician and captain. However when all said and done the biggest problem in staying in the Prem is that we can't attract or afford the best players.

For the first time in 60 odd years I'm expecting relegation. I think its either us or Newcastle for third relegation place I think we are inferior to most of the other teams Those with similar talents are either better organised/motivated/ or coached. I have never seen a Saints team that is so vulnerable to a quick counter-attack and where the management seems incapable of organising the team to avoid disister Apart from the top teams possession usually slow and ponderous doesn't seem to be a problem, making a quick attack seems aproblem I know that due to age and health I'm dependent on Sky replay but that helps a rational analysis. Im not sure the manager can adapt to the Premiership in time. I hope I'm wrong and we avoid relegation by the skin of our teeth again, but I doubt it As a final depressing thought who of genuine premiership class is likely to join us.

I wonder if heading the old heavier ball was a causative factor as he isn't very old. An awful illness, particularly for his loved ones who have to watch the decline like I did my mother.

Over the past twenty years or so goal difference has usually mirrored league placings over the whole season on this basis I think we'll just about be ok, barring important injuries or suspensions.