spyinthesky

I guess we dont know the terms of Roscoe's contract. Hopefully there is a clause in there which relates to performance payments. Many Sunderland supporters thought we had paid quite a low fee for him and he would have commanded a much bigger fee if he was not carrying an injury when we bought him. Remind me a bit of the Charlie George/Perry Groves/Ronnie Eklund signings of yesteryear although Ronnie was only a loan.

I thought it was a decent game for two teams battling out at the bottom end of the Prem. The quality has definitely improved in recent times. A draw was about a fair result but to lose in extra time was a real kick in the nuts. Didnt expect to be impressed with Lallana but thought he did OK

Based on the fact that we are almost certain to be relegated, it would deaden the disappointment if Pompey were relegated too. Unfortunately I think there are at least three teams worse than they are so it looks like derbies could be back on the agenda next season. Mind you it comes to something when, historically, the two most successful teams on the south coast are struggling whereas the so called 'minnows' ie Brighton and Bournemouth are flourishing.

Nick. I am glad I am not the only one. I am of the generation that still uses a pen and ink and sends messages via the increasingly expensive medium of post. Whilst I can add up figures using mental arithmetic quicker than my kids can do via a calculator, anything of an IT nature is beyond my comprehension. However people like me will be in high demand when all this electronic/cloud type wizardry eventually packs up or becomes infected by some North Korean/Russian inspired computer bug.

I love your positivity. However having watched Saints pre season and four games into this campaign and looking at the strengths of other teams in the Prem (albeit via TV) I reckon there is no way we will avoid another relegation as the bottom club. I desperately hope I am wrong but even if we do avoid the drop, it will only be rinse and repeat next year.

Cant see too many tickets being sold for that game.

Whats the general view on team selection? It's going to be hard to beat Derby's record low points the way the team is performing in the Prem and with the absolute need for a result against Ipswich next weekend, perhaps a Line Up as follows, as it is unlikley the team is not going to make any headway in either of the Cup Competitions this season (please prove me wrong!!!!): 1. Macca 2 KWP 3 Taylor 4. Ugochukwu 5. Wood 6. Edwards. 7. Amo Ameyaw 8. Smallbone 9. Tall Paul 10. Aribo 11. Cornet A reasonably good top half Championship team line up???? Subs Lumley/Bree/Manning/Bell Kotchup/Arma/Dibling/Stewart/Lallana/Fraser

Madge Unfortunately Adams wouldnt have made a scrap of difference in that team today although he might have done better with the penalty.

It seems Burnley & Sheffield Utd have started the season well in the Championship after relegation. Unless something magical happens we will be relegated this season. Just trying to cheer myself up (or not) with a view on the likely squad next season, as follows: 1. Baz/Macca..........Ramsdale sold (perhaps get our money back?) 2. Sugawara...........But could possibly be sold for a profit if he keeps his early season form up So possibly Bree 3. Taylor..................Manning (possibly) 4. ?????.................Downes sold. Charles to return if his does well on his loan Replacement needed. Possibly JWP return? 5. Bednerak..........THB sold, possibly at a loss as he presumably would be a saleable asset. 6. Edwards.............Wood as cover, possibly Stephens too. 7. Amo Ameyaw.....Arma 8. Dibling..............Unless Chelsea or some other club comes in with a big bid. 9. Archer..............Stewart (if fit) Possibly Dom Ballard if he performs at Blackpool. Need to get hold of a central striker who can actually score goals. 10. Fernandes........Possibly sold if he does well. Lallana (possibly)/ Smallbone 11. BBD..................Edozie/Fraser Manager.............Someone other than Russell Martin All loan players will go as will Sulemana, Tall Paul, Bella Kotchap and sadly KWP on a free. Cant see a place for Aribo, especially as he is one of the top earners. Possibly with a different Manager/way of playing the game and some decent loans (or signings) the team may be competitive. Fact of life the way things are going both pre season and the start of League games, us supporters are in for a very rocky ride and the only positives to consider is a return to the Championship and actually winning games, scoring goals and being defensively secure.

No you dont understand. Donnie won the recent debate hands down. People tell him that some polls reckon he won 80/20 but others tell him it could even be 92/7 (his words on Fox News)

Bit of an odd post but noting that Graffiti seems to adorn every available blank space along roads and railway lines(!!!) these days makes me wonder why hardly any 'messages' relate to football. In the past there were none of these grand designs or tags which seem to predominate nowadays. The one that sticks in my mind was at the corner of Priory Road near Cobden Bridge where someone had painted... 'Roxy Saints Do The Strand'... which must have been in the1970's and assumedly referred to a Roxy Music track. Perhaps one of the Tower Blocks in the city could be adorned with a graphic of Tall Paul!!

Yes, I was at that game and joined in the whistling and chanting for the sacking of the Utd Manager, whoever he was at the time

Semi Pro at Football but a bit disappointed that I didnt make the mark at cricket or tennis. Football skills were pretty decent but needed more stature and fitness to progress but did OK. All that said I loved playing the game from an early age to 40+ and made lots of friends and still have plenty of memories including playing at Wembley.

Interesting post. Made me recollect when I was a kid, we used to play one touch in the road on our estate as hardly anyone had a car. if the ball hit the kerb you lost a point. We played for hours and myself and a couple of pals were proficient with both feet as a consequence I also spent a good deal of time throwing and kicking a ball against our back wall to develop reactions. We had very limited money or options to watch a screen so these sort of skills were developed by many kids when I was young but the football boots, balls, pitches, kit etc etc were very different to what is available to youngsters nowadays.

No Edwards, Larios, Amo Ameyaw, and Dibling. Age related? Nor Roscoe??

Just seen the Trump phone into Fox News. He maintains that ABC need to have their Broadcasting Licence taken away because of the way they moderated the debate. Trump was more than happy by the way he performed and he said that it was 80/20 in his favour although one poll reckoned he won by 92 to 7!!!!!!!!!!! Perhaps he is taking lessons from Diane Abbott,

Great one through ball in the first half but some of his other passes were not particularly good

I think that is a good idea worth considering

The club watch given to all new players still looks good

Anyone know if Roscoe is actually involved in the training regime at Staplewood or still having sessions with the Physio then onto the Pilgrims for a pint?

Thanks for pointing this out. The commentator on the ITV highlights stated he was a Saints loanee. Shame we lost him as it was a cracking free kick!!

I understand from my Blackburn Rovers mate that BBD is very much a confidence player. He goes through spells of not scoring then seems to hit a purple patch. Unfortunately not a regular goal scorer.

Notice that he scored a decent free kick for Exeter at Bolton yesterday. Apart from him and Dom Ballard at Blackpool, which other youngsters are out on loan?

I wonder if there is a parallel here with Nigel Adkins? He did a sterling job taking up two divisions to the Prem and we all enjoyed the process. Many of us were disappointed when Cortese binned him for a relatively unknown Argentinian. However that proved a master stroke and the team's performances improved enough to save us from an immediate relegation. I have nothing against Russell Martin personally. I think he comes across well. However I worry that he does not have the mindset to realise that his approach to the game needs some flexibility otherwise we are definitely doomed.

Seems to be in line with Saints recent record in the Prem. When did we last win a Prem game? It must have been a rare event under Nathan Jones