Hooiveld does enough to impress Benali (From Daily Echo)

JOS HOOIVELD is really stepping up to the mark.

RED ARMY. WIN. COYR.

If the Hoover has fit over December / January we would have had more points in the bag.
A brilliant signing!

Who was clever enough to recognise the potential of a player that couldn't get a game in the SPL?

From the snippets we see over here in NZ I get the idea the whole back four might struggle defensively in the slicker world of the Prem, but look good moving forward. But that's just my impression from highlights which I'd love to dismiss as misleading. So can someone who watches 90 minutes regularly please reassure this ex-pat fan at least that I'm totally wrong and that the likes of Rooney, Suarez, Adebayor, van Persie and Uncle Tom Cobbley won't have a field day.....

Getting praise from Francis Benali is like pulling Vannessa Feltz on a night out.......at the time it seems good, but long term it's not really what you want!

CeekaySaint wrote:
From the snippets we see over here in NZ I get the idea the whole back four might struggle defensively in the slicker world of the Prem, but look good moving forward. But that's just my impression from highlights which I'd love to dismiss as misleading. So can someone who watches 90 minutes regularly please reassure this ex-pat fan at least that I'm totally wrong and that the likes of Rooney, Suarez, Adebayor, van Persie and Uncle Tom Cobbley won't have a field day.....

The starting back four may well struggle againnst the likes of Rooney, but what back four doesn't, but I believe that against the bottom half Prem teams they will hold their own. They will get better as they play against better opposition, just look at Frazier Richardson, struggled a bit in League one, has been immense in the Championship

It's a good point that teams that are succesful in the Championship have to change in the premiership.

If we reach our potential and get promoted then we will have to bolster our goalkeeping position and defence before the next season starts.

I think we have a good defence in general but we are still prone to lapses in concentration. Sometimes the midfield also nods off a bit and that would be fatal in the premieship.

If we go up it will be very interesting to see how much investment will be made in the players. I expect caution from Cortese and no ridiculous fees will be paid. In any case Cortese doesn't give much away about fees paid. I don't mind that really, Im just nosey.

I believe that the objective will be to get to mid table in the premiership, secure the place for the following season, then we may see some big money being paid. This will give the club a chance to test what it already has, and will also test Adkins management and tactical ability at the highest level. Nigel deserves the chance, he's done well here so far.. but its a different thing being a Premiership manager. I wish him well.

We're good defensively when they're all fit, we struggle when we have injuries but doesn't every team?
I wouldn't swap our back 4 for any other teams back 4 in the champ and I think they'll do a good job in the prem.

Le Tissier's Nose wrote:
Getting praise from Francis Benali is like pulling Vannessa Feltz on a night out.......at the time it seems good, but long term it's not really what you want!

You've been there too, huh? She's absolute DYNAMITE but by christ does she hang around the next morning. I wouldn't mind but she got through a whole packet of croissants and drank all my best coffee.

PS Nice to see both Franny and Le Tiss are still massive supporters of the team. One or two fans could probably learn a bit from their unswerving support.

Gossie. wrote:

CeekaySaint wrote:
From the snippets we see over here in NZ I get the idea the whole back four might struggle defensively in the slicker world of the Prem, but look good moving forward. But that's just my impression from highlights which I'd love to dismiss as misleading. So can someone who watches 90 minutes regularly please reassure this ex-pat fan at least that I'm totally wrong and that the likes of Rooney, Suarez, Adebayor, van Persie and Uncle Tom Cobbley won't have a field day.....

The starting back four may well struggle againnst the likes of Rooney, but what back four doesn't, but I believe that against the bottom half Prem teams they will hold their own. They will get better as they play against better opposition, just look at Frazier Richardson, struggled a bit in League one, has been immense in the Championship

Good, in fact reassuring, to read Gossie. Agreed, Richardsoin has looked the part even from the bites of games we get to see, especially getting forward. Yep, Rooney etc will pose problems for back fours up and down the land...I guess I'm just wanting to think Saints won't be Brighton in disguise when they get to places like Anfield and turn out to be one season wonders...just thinking ahead.....

CeekaySaint wrote:
From the snippets we see over here in NZ I get the idea the whole back four might struggle defensively in the slicker world of the Prem, but look good moving forward. But that's just my impression from highlights which I'd love to dismiss as misleading. So can someone who watches 90 minutes regularly please reassure this ex-pat fan at least that I'm totally wrong and that the likes of Rooney, Suarez, Adebayor, van Persie and Uncle Tom Cobbley won't have a field day.....

With Rooney, Torres and Carroll to compete with I don't think we need a back four!

CeekaySaint wrote:

Gossie. wrote:

CeekaySaint wrote: From the snippets we see over here in NZ I get the idea the whole back four might struggle defensively in the slicker world of the Prem, but look good moving forward. But that's just my impression from highlights which I'd love to dismiss as misleading. So can someone who watches 90 minutes regularly please reassure this ex-pat fan at least that I'm totally wrong and that the likes of Rooney, Suarez, Adebayor, van Persie and Uncle Tom Cobbley won't have a field day.....

The starting back four may well struggle againnst the likes of Rooney, but what back four doesn't, but I believe that against the bottom half Prem teams they will hold their own. They will get better as they play against better opposition, just look at Frazier Richardson, struggled a bit in League one, has been immense in the Championship

Good, in fact reassuring, to read Gossie. Agreed, Richardsoin has looked the part even from the bites of games we get to see, especially getting forward. Yep, Rooney etc will pose problems for back fours up and down the land...I guess I'm just wanting to think Saints won't be Brighton in disguise when they get to places like Anfield and turn out to be one season wonders...just thinking ahead.....

I think we're already a better side than Norwich were when they went up. Throw in a few summer signings with a Premiership budget to play with and we can expect a mid-table Premier League finish, I reckon. But let's not get ahead of ourselves - we've got to get out of this league first.

Even if we come straight back down the parachute payments will double the income we currently enjoy. The club will build for the long term and if that includes a few yoyo seasons so be it.

magnette wrote:

CeekaySaint wrote:
From the snippets we see over here in NZ I get the idea the whole back four might struggle defensively in the slicker world of the Prem, but look good moving forward. But that's just my impression from highlights which I'd love to dismiss as misleading. So can someone who watches 90 minutes regularly please reassure this ex-pat fan at least that I'm totally wrong and that the likes of Rooney, Suarez, Adebayor, van Persie and Uncle Tom Cobbley won't have a field day.....

With Rooney, Torres and Carroll to compete with I don't think we need a back four!

Hehe...nice touch....Torres and Carroll put together make Lambert look like a real steal....

The way Martin has developed this season I can see him and Jos doing a fair job in the Premier League, if we get there.
I felt he was unfortunate to lose his place after some recent displays, at Millwall he was MoM by a country mile.
Consistency is the key and Centre Backs reach their peak later then players in other positions.
Richardson and Fox have both been immense, it would interesting to see if they could cope with the challenge of Premier League wide men.
I have a suspicion that Fonte may well struggle with the step up, however he could well prove me wrong.
Let us all believe and we will get the chance to see, COYR.

CeekaySaint wrote:

Gossie. wrote:

CeekaySaint wrote:
From the snippets we see over here in NZ I get the idea the whole back four might struggle defensively in the slicker world of the Prem, but look good moving forward. But that's just my impression from highlights which I'd love to dismiss as misleading. So can someone who watches 90 minutes regularly please reassure this ex-pat fan at least that I'm totally wrong and that the likes of Rooney, Suarez, Adebayor, van Persie and Uncle Tom Cobbley won't have a field day.....

The starting back four may well struggle againnst the likes of Rooney, but what back four doesn't, but I believe that against the bottom half Prem teams they will hold their own. They will get better as they play against better opposition, just look at Frazier Richardson, struggled a bit in League one, has been immense in the Championship

Good, in fact reassuring, to read Gossie. Agreed, Richardsoin has looked the part even from the bites of games we get to see, especially getting forward. Yep, Rooney etc will pose problems for back fours up and down the land...I guess I'm just wanting to think Saints won't be Brighton in disguise when they get to places like Anfield and turn out to be one season wonders...just thinking ahead.....

Let's just get there first...!
I think it's inevitable that with the current line up, we will struggle against some of the big teams, but that's no different to two-thirds of the teams in Premier.
We'd need a bit more in goal, full back and an extra 'expererienced' centre half, then probably a bit more 'bite' in midfield(an older, leader figure). But in general, I wouldn't imagine that we'd lack anything up against the likes of Bolton, Wigan, Blackburn, QPR, Wolves, WBA, Villa, Stoke, Norwich, Swansea....I really think the Premier is actually quite poor outside the top 6, so no reason to fear!!
COYR's!!!

Can we all make a bit of a pact, please? If we do get promotion can we have at least a week in which to celebrate our achievement before we start worrying about 'the premiership'? Can we do that? A season and a half ago we were in the relegation zone in League 1. Now look at us. I think it would be an insult to the spectacular efforts and achievements of everyone assoicated with the club to start being critical about whether we can compete in a league we're not even in yet. Personally, if promotion happens I shall be getting drunk every night for a fortnight and singing songs about how much I love Nigel and Nicola.

I'll sign up to that. We're even talking about parachute payments. We should stop to celebrate and raise a glass or two to Markus.

Sorry but I haven't much time for the opinions of either Le Tiss or Benali and I can't see why the Echo bothers to scrape them up.

I was at a reception some years ago and standing with both of them I asked what they thought about the deepest puzzle of all time - the singularity at the centre of black holes in space and the fact that both Einstein's theory of gravity at the macro level and the more recent theories in quantum physics at the micro level both break down at this point.

Matt said "Er, you mean they're both offside at the same time?" and Francis said "You mean the hole in the diamond formation is black?" Then they both pretended they'd suddenly spotted a long lost mate over the other side of the room and walked off, leaving me on my own looking a bit of a pillock.

My point is that Matt's view of mental strength is delivered from the perspective of a garden mole. True - moles just keep on going and (with a total lack of imagination) never worry about the future or (with zero memory retention) hold any regrets about the past. But this isn't really a demonstration of mental strength. It's a demonstration of severe mental limitation ie moles are very thick.

You would all be rightly very annoyed on here if the Echo quoted opinions about Saints' prospects at this critical time based on an interview with a mole - including perhaps a picture of the mole wearing a little Saints shirt.

Quite right too. Sort it out Echo!

Franny was a solid pro and a very nice man off the pitch but he was never a legend. A game based on kicking out for a throw is not what makes a legend.

St Retford wrote:

Le Tissier's Nose wrote:
Getting praise from Francis Benali is like pulling Vannessa Feltz on a night out.......at the time it seems good, but long term it's not really what you want!

You've been there too, huh? She's absolute DYNAMITE but by christ does she hang around the next morning. I wouldn't mind but she got through a whole packet of croissants and drank all my best coffee.

Croissants from a packet? Yuck! How common. How Mancunian!

Mind you, I bet Vannessa thought she was at The Ritz!

St Retford wrote:

Le Tissier's Nose wrote:
Getting praise from Francis Benali is like pulling Vannessa Feltz on a night out.......at the time it seems good, but long term it's not really what you want!

You've been there too, huh? She's absolute DYNAMITE but by christ does she hang around the next morning. I wouldn't mind but she got through a whole packet of croissants and drank all my best coffee.

I was there the other week when Vanessa got arrested at Heathrow airport for having twenty pounds of crack in her pants.

Confucious wrote:
Sorry but I haven't much time for the opinions of either Le Tiss or Benali and I can't see why the Echo bothers to scrape them up. I was at a reception some years ago and standing with both of them I asked what they thought about the deepest puzzle of all time - the singularity at the centre of black holes in space and the fact that both Einstein's theory of gravity at the macro level and the more recent theories in quantum physics at the micro level both break down at this point. Matt said "Er, you mean they're both offside at the same time?" and Francis said "You mean the hole in the diamond formation is black?" Then they both pretended they'd suddenly spotted a long lost mate over the other side of the room and walked off, leaving me on my own looking a bit of a pillock. My point is that Matt's view of mental strength is delivered from the perspective of a garden mole. True - moles just keep on going and (with a total lack of imagination) never worry about the future or (with zero memory retention) hold any regrets about the past. But this isn't really a demonstration of mental strength. It's a demonstration of severe mental limitation ie moles are very thick. You would all be rightly very annoyed on here if the Echo quoted opinions about Saints' prospects at this critical time based on an interview with a mole - including perhaps a picture of the mole wearing a little Saints shirt. Quite right too. Sort it out Echo!

Haha.

Strasbourg Saint wrote:

St Retford wrote:

Le Tissier's Nose wrote: Getting praise from Francis Benali is like pulling Vannessa Feltz on a night out.......at the time it seems good, but long term it's not really what you want!

You've been there too, huh? She's absolute DYNAMITE but by christ does she hang around the next morning. I wouldn't mind but she got through a whole packet of croissants and drank all my best coffee.

Croissants from a packet? Yuck! How common. How Mancunian! Mind you, I bet Vannessa thought she was at The Ritz!

Heh - I bet you just pop down the boulangerie and pop a couple freshly baked croissants in a wicker basket, before cycling down a cobbled street for a glass of red wine and an affair with an attractive married 40-something. I've seen that France on the telly.

Actually, can you settle a debate on this issue for me? My wife insists on spreading butter on croissants like a northern lunatic (in the north everything has to have either butter or gravy on it) whereas I maintain there's so much butter actually in the croissant that this is completely unnecessary and that the French would find her actions disgusting. Who is right?

St Retford wrote:
Can we all make a bit of a pact, please? If we do get promotion can we have at least a week in which to celebrate our achievement before we start worrying about 'the premiership'? Can we do that? A season and a half ago we were in the relegation zone in League 1. Now look at us. I think it would be an insult to the spectacular efforts and achievements of everyone assoicated with the club to start being critical about whether we can compete in a league we're not even in yet. Personally, if promotion happens I shall be getting drunk every night for a fortnight and singing songs about how much I love Nigel and Nicola.

Good point ! Lets get there first, then celebrate... big time.

I remember worrying last time we were promoted back to Div 1 in 1978 ... and we stayed up for 27 years !!!

It's the way Saints fans are though, we worry .. it's just the way we are. .. and if there wasn't anything to worry about we would worry about that too.

Strasbourg Saint wrote:

St Retford wrote:

Le Tissier's Nose wrote:
Getting praise from Francis Benali is like pulling Vannessa Feltz on a night out.......at the time it seems good, but long term it's not really what you want!

You've been there too, huh? She's absolute DYNAMITE but by christ does she hang around the next morning. I wouldn't mind but she got through a whole packet of croissants and drank all my best coffee.

Croissants from a packet? Yuck! How common. How Mancunian!

Mind you, I bet Vannessa thought she was at The Ritz!

Talking of quality defenders, I see Graeme Murty has announced his retirement.

Solid pro and decent bloke.

Maybe Reading fans can have a whip round and buy him a packet of croissants and a good slapping with Vannessa.

Strasbourg Saint wrote:

Strasbourg Saint wrote:

St Retford wrote:

Le Tissier's Nose wrote: Getting praise from Francis Benali is like pulling Vannessa Feltz on a night out.......at the time it seems good, but long term it's not really what you want!

You've been there too, huh? She's absolute DYNAMITE but by christ does she hang around the next morning. I wouldn't mind but she got through a whole packet of croissants and drank all my best coffee.

Croissants from a packet? Yuck! How common. How Mancunian! Mind you, I bet Vannessa thought she was at The Ritz!

Talking of quality defenders, I see Graeme Murty has announced his retirement. Solid pro and decent bloke. Maybe Reading fans can have a whip round and buy him a packet of croissants and a good slapping with Vannessa.

There was a big thing about it on Late Kick Off last night, including a really far out bit when they skyped his dad who did a big speech about how proud he was of his son. I can't help thinking they were a bit disappointed Murts didn't start crying like Gwyneth Paltrow after a night on the gin.

St Retford wrote:

Strasbourg Saint wrote:

St Retford wrote:

Le Tissier's Nose wrote: Getting praise from Francis Benali is like pulling Vannessa Feltz on a night out.......at the time it seems good, but long term it's not really what you want!

You've been there too, huh? She's absolute DYNAMITE but by christ does she hang around the next morning. I wouldn't mind but she got through a whole packet of croissants and drank all my best coffee.

Croissants from a packet? Yuck! How common. How Mancunian! Mind you, I bet Vannessa thought she was at The Ritz!

Heh - I bet you just pop down the boulangerie and pop a couple freshly baked croissants in a wicker basket, before cycling down a cobbled street for a glass of red wine and an affair with an attractive married 40-something. I've seen that France on the telly.

Actually, can you settle a debate on this issue for me? My wife insists on spreading butter on croissants like a northern lunatic (in the north everything has to have either butter or gravy on it) whereas I maintain there's so much butter actually in the croissant that this is completely unnecessary and that the French would find her actions disgusting. Who is right?

I guess it's a matter of opinion and, like the gravy thing, it could be regional.

Once FrenchVic has stopped winding up the Skates on the News site, maybe he could offer an opinion from the West.

IMO, though, you're right. The d4rn things are so full of butter, I wouldn't live to 50 (6 months and counting) if I started smothering butter on them.

Furthermore, I've never seen anyone put butter on one in Strasbourg.

Mind you, we're talking about a country that thinks tea is made by putting tepid water in a cup then adding a tea bag several minutes later, so what do THEY know?

Don't get me started on French music! Jean-Jacques Goldman, Vanessa (the other one) Paradis?

Alicesdad wrote:
It's a good point that teams that are succesful in the Championship have to change in the premiership.

If we reach our potential and get promoted then we will have to bolster our goalkeeping position and defence before the next season starts.

I think we have a good defence in general but we are still prone to lapses in concentration. Sometimes the midfield also nods off a bit and that would be fatal in the premieship.

If we go up it will be very interesting to see how much investment will be made in the players. I expect caution from Cortese and no ridiculous fees will be paid. In any case Cortese doesn't give much away about fees paid. I don't mind that really, Im just nosey.

I believe that the objective will be to get to mid table in the premiership, secure the place for the following season, then we may see some big money being paid. This will give the club a chance to test what it already has, and will also test Adkins management and tactical ability at the highest level. Nigel deserves the chance, he's done well here so far.. but its a different thing being a Premiership manager. I wish him well.

Alicesdad - agreed Goalkeeping Squad to be bolstered.

Changing and off subject :

Collectively we are known as RED ARMY - as SAINTS Fans. We are not hostile or aggressive to each other.

We enjoy being in RED AND WHITE rather then the yellow - (fans get fed up with the chant of yellows ...) and nothing inspires the crowd more than being part of the Red and White Army of Fans supporting THE MIGHTY SOUTHAMPTON.

We go to the games to Support the Team and Manager and see SOUTHAMPTON WIN games.

At Home - the CHAPEL has had a bad write up from being quiet or not enough atmosphere ...

MID ITCHEN is the same - but you get a great view of the game.

There is a place for everyone at ST MARY's whether with the family or having a few beers with the lads.

Whether you drink in a group in OCEAN VILLAGE or in SOUTHAMPTON or the regular Pubs like the BRIDGE CHAPEL JOSHUA TREE etc ....

WE ARE TOGETHER AS ONE

The AWAY SQUAD has lots of fun and it is ALWAYS a good / great day out. We are supporting a Team that plays good football.

WE DO NOT DO RACISM - chelsea west ham and watford (london clubs) may do - but we don't.

A question often asked is where are the missing 6,000 fans at number 1 sh1thole fratton park ....

Answer : No-one cares ....

We are not gloating - consistently we have been saying the same thing for years ....


WE ARE NUMBER ONE IN THE SOUTH.

WE ARE SOUTHAMPTON. COYR.

p.s the reading game at St Mary's should be tasty !!!

A lot of French music is AMAZING: Daft Punk, Stereolab, Justice, Air, Kid Loco, Phoenix, Dmitri From Paris, Alex Gopher, Sebastian Tellier, Serge Gainsbourg, Michel Polnareff, Etienne De Crecy and, er, an awful lot of hip hop that I would like more if I knew what they were talking about.

Francis Benali - there's a blast from the past. I played against him as a fourteen year old playing for the local rep side. He played up front, and already had the tash at that age, and although was supposed to be 14, I swear he was at least 20! Ran me ruddy ragged!

We're all getting a little bit ahead of ourselves here, and while I wouldn't want to bet that we will go up, I hope that our Nige can keep the lads feet well and truly on the ground till we are over the finish line.

Whatever happens, we have had a fantastic season, and I don't think any of us would have truly believed that we would have done so well this year.

Cruisants with gravy - yum


I wish we had a team of 11 Hampshire men and Leeds were all tykes and and

Then at least we would have commitment to the cause - we wouldn't win anything, but you could phone up Franny's mum and tell here to get him to bed earlier

I saw a programme on crocodiles the other night. They reminded me of the skates (apart from the fact there are lots of them). You try and give them a little tickle under the chin and they have your bloody arm off!

St Retford wrote:
Can we all make a bit of a pact, please? If we do get promotion can we have at least a week in which to celebrate our achievement before we start worrying about 'the premiership'? Can we do that? A season and a half ago we were in the relegation zone in League 1. Now look at us. I think it would be an insult to the spectacular efforts and achievements of everyone assoicated with the club to start being critical about whether we can compete in a league we're not even in yet. Personally, if promotion happens I shall be getting drunk every night for a fortnight and singing songs about how much I love Nigel and Nicola.

'Im upstairs Les Reed doesn't get much of a mention. But he has obviously been a great signing by NC. Also, they employed a couple of really professional scouts who have turned up some real gems for us.

Chriops wrote:
Francis Benali - there's a blast from the past. I played against him as a fourteen year old playing for the local rep side. He played up front, and already had the tash at that age, and although was supposed to be 14, I swear he was at least 20! Ran me ruddy ragged!

We're all getting a little bit ahead of ourselves here, and while I wouldn't want to bet that we will go up, I hope that our Nige can keep the lads feet well and truly on the ground till we are over the finish line.

Whatever happens, we have had a fantastic season, and I don't think any of us would have truly believed that we would have done so well this year.

I believed.

Like to see Francis Benali at AWAY games ....(he was pretty useful on the pitch ....)

He's probably there incognito ...

Things are changing and evolving at ST MARY'S and SOUTHAMPTON.

1. We have SAINTS ALE at about £3.80
why not have LAGER on draught in a pint..... now that would be an improvement for the standard football plastic bottles ....

2. When we go PREMIERSHIP will we have a SOUTHAMPTON Annual for the Kids sold in the SAINTS SHOP ????

WE ARE A FAMILY CLUB - that welcomes all its supporters ...... thousands more would clamber for watford away tickets - but the allocation has been sold ...

WE ARE THE BUSINESS.

WE ARE RED ARMY AND WE RULE THE SOUTH.

mack chinnon wrote:

Chriops wrote: Francis Benali - there's a blast from the past. I played against him as a fourteen year old playing for the local rep side. He played up front, and already had the tash at that age, and although was supposed to be 14, I swear he was at least 20! Ran me ruddy ragged! We're all getting a little bit ahead of ourselves here, and while I wouldn't want to bet that we will go up, I hope that our Nige can keep the lads feet well and truly on the ground till we are over the finish line. Whatever happens, we have had a fantastic season, and I don't think any of us would have truly believed that we would have done so well this year.

I believed.

Yes, but did your wife?

Little bit worrying that Wolves have now turned to Reading for permission to speak to McDermott. I rather hoped that they'd have taken Bruce or Curbishley or anyone out of a job. I don't think McDermott's got Premiership experience.
If they don't take him, where will they look next?

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:

mack chinnon wrote:

Chriops wrote: Francis Benali - there's a blast from the past. I played against him as a fourteen year old playing for the local rep side. He played up front, and already had the tash at that age, and although was supposed to be 14, I swear he was at least 20! Ran me ruddy ragged! We're all getting a little bit ahead of ourselves here, and while I wouldn't want to bet that we will go up, I hope that our Nige can keep the lads feet well and truly on the ground till we are over the finish line. Whatever happens, we have had a fantastic season, and I don't think any of us would have truly believed that we would have done so well this year.

I believed.

Yes, but did your wife?

She made me.

CeekaySaint wrote:
From the snippets we see over here in NZ I get the idea the whole back four might struggle defensively in the slicker world of the Prem, but look good moving forward. But that's just my impression from highlights which I'd love to dismiss as misleading. So can someone who watches 90 minutes regularly please reassure this ex-pat fan at least that I'm totally wrong and that the likes of Rooney, Suarez, Adebayor, van Persie and Uncle Tom Cobbley won't have a field day.....

As a regular season ticket holder I can only give you my opinion on the matter which may differ from others.

For me Jos is a brilliant signing and I can only guess that the lunatics must surely be running the asylum which is Celtic! The lad is very solid in defence and is also now popping up to score goals, this is a real bonus. Both he and Jose Fonte are I would say PL material, but our full backs are another matter.

At right back Richardson is fine going forward in support of our forwards and his crosses are on average very good, but in defence he has been caught out numerous times when facing someone with pace. We have Fox at left back and I'm not convinced, the alternative is Harding who is similar to Richardson going forward and suffers the same when facing someone quick.

Kelvin has had more good games than bad, but he is getting on. I'd like us to sign a new keeper as Bart does not cut it in this division let alone the PL, hopefully NA will address this issue.

It is only now that we are in the position to field our strongest squad, which has been proven by our latest results. Any weaknesses that I or anyone else has seen may well disappear the more the defence is settled, who knows? But like I said this is only my opinion, and for what it's worth I believe we will go up this season and the team will grow stronger. There is money to spend, but the club will no doubt spend wisely unlike the idiots down the road!

Great times lay ahead, we just need to keep the faith! COYR's! FOP!

batesieboy wrote:

St Retford wrote: Can we all make a bit of a pact, please? If we do get promotion can we have at least a week in which to celebrate our achievement before we start worrying about 'the premiership'? Can we do that? A season and a half ago we were in the relegation zone in League 1. Now look at us. I think it would be an insult to the spectacular efforts and achievements of everyone assoicated with the club to start being critical about whether we can compete in a league we're not even in yet. Personally, if promotion happens I shall be getting drunk every night for a fortnight and singing songs about how much I love Nigel and Nicola.

'Im upstairs Les Reed doesn't get much of a mention. But he has obviously been a great signing by NC. Also, they employed a couple of really professional scouts who have turned up some real gems for us.

Agreed. No one really knows what the backroom staff do because we can't see them doing it, but they have been absolutely world class for us.

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
I saw a programme on crocodiles the other night. They reminded me of the skates (apart from the fact there are lots of them). You try and give them a little tickle under the chin and they have your bloody arm off!

I asked our local vicar a few weeks ago why Noah bothered to have two horrible skates in his Ark. He said in fact he didn't have any fish at all as they wouldn't have drowned in the flood.

"But would he have had them even if that wasn't the case." I persisted. He said "No!" because God didn't make skates - it was the devil that made skates at a later post-ark date. And he pointed out rather tellingly: "There's never been a Saint Skate and never will be!"

The devil also made wasps, parasitic beetles, scorpions, tetse flies and cats that play with mice and torture them instead of eating them quickly.

Our vicar always manages to sort me out when I'm having a bit of a wobble on the keeping the faith front. Top bloke!

GX Saint wrote:
Little bit worrying that Wolves have now turned to Reading for permission to speak to McDermott. I rather hoped that they'd have taken Bruce or Curbishley or anyone out of a job. I don't think McDermott's got Premiership experience. If they don't take him, where will they look next?

He is not going to be tempted by Wolves even if they did come in. A club flying high in the Championship where hs is settled and working well as part of a team is far more attractive than one clinging onto Prem status by its finger nails and in disarray. Nothing to be gained.

Top 6 or so would be a different matter.

St Retford wrote:
A lot of French music is AMAZING: Daft Punk, Stereolab, Justice, Air, Kid Loco, Phoenix, Dmitri From Paris, Alex Gopher, Sebastian Tellier, Serge Gainsbourg, Michel Polnareff, Etienne De Crecy and, er, an awful lot of hip hop that I would like more if I knew what they were talking about.

Will have to take your word for it. Serge G. aside, the others are a bit beyond my scope.

My sons like the hip hop group, Sexion D'Assaut, who had a big hit a couple of years ago called Desole.

Also, there's a bloke called Calogero who makes interesting (though maybe too commercial for you) music and one or two others I can listen to for a song or two before switching off, but far too much of it just sounds like boom-titty-boom-titt
y-boom for me.

Strasbourg Saint wrote:

St Retford wrote: A lot of French music is AMAZING: Daft Punk, Stereolab, Justice, Air, Kid Loco, Phoenix, Dmitri From Paris, Alex Gopher, Sebastian Tellier, Serge Gainsbourg, Michel Polnareff, Etienne De Crecy and, er, an awful lot of hip hop that I would like more if I knew what they were talking about.

Will have to take your word for it. Serge G. aside, the others are a bit beyond my scope. My sons like the hip hop group, Sexion D'Assaut, who had a big hit a couple of years ago called Desole. Also, there's a bloke called Calogero who makes interesting (though maybe too commercial for you) music and one or two others I can listen to for a song or two before switching off, but far too much of it just sounds like boom-titty-boom-titt y-boom for me.

O, I forgot the best two: Vitalic and Jackson. They're the future of electronic music.

If anyone felt sorry for those down the road, on suggestion of us fans helping this is a cut-and-paste response.

blue and true
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 01:01 PM

seedhouse the few quid you stains would have paid would paid would have been spent on disinfectant to remove the stench you would bring to the ground
I now want them to dissapear

Strasbourg Saint wrote:

St Retford wrote:
A lot of French music is AMAZING: Daft Punk, Stereolab, Justice, Air, Kid Loco, Phoenix, Dmitri From Paris, Alex Gopher, Sebastian Tellier, Serge Gainsbourg, Michel Polnareff, Etienne De Crecy and, er, an awful lot of hip hop that I would like more if I knew what they were talking about.

Will have to take your word for it. Serge G. aside, the others are a bit beyond my scope.

My sons like the hip hop group, Sexion D'Assaut, who had a big hit a couple of years ago called Desole.

Also, there's a bloke called Calogero who makes interesting (though maybe too commercial for you) music and one or two others I can listen to for a song or two before switching off, but far too much of it just sounds like boom-titty-boom-titt

y-boom for me.

French music has undoubted pockets of quality and creativity... very small pockets, very hard to find .. mainly because they copy American or British music and are seldom original... but the fact is that any emerging talent they may have is swamped by a media and population that still insists that Johnny Halliday is a rock legend. Oh!! Please!!

Whoooaa how did that happen?? I was on an Echo Saints site and suddenly I'm on a late night independent radio show talking about French music!! I need to up my medication.

Strasbourg Saint wrote:

St Retford wrote:
A lot of French music is AMAZING: Daft Punk, Stereolab, Justice, Air, Kid Loco, Phoenix, Dmitri From Paris, Alex Gopher, Sebastian Tellier, Serge Gainsbourg, Michel Polnareff, Etienne De Crecy and, er, an awful lot of hip hop that I would like more if I knew what they were talking about.

Will have to take your word for it. Serge G. aside, the others are a bit beyond my scope.

My sons like the hip hop group, Sexion D'Assaut, who had a big hit a couple of years ago called Desole.

Also, there's a bloke called Calogero who makes interesting (though maybe too commercial for you) music and one or two others I can listen to for a song or two before switching off, but far too much of it just sounds like boom-titty-boom-titt

y-boom for me.

French music has undoubted pockets of quality and creativity... very small pockets, very hard to find .. mainly because they copy American or British music and are seldom original... but the fact is that any emerging talent they may have is swamped by a media and population that still insists that Johnny Halliday is a rock legend. Oh!! Please!!

Whoooaa how did that happen?? I was on an Echo Saints site and suddenly I'm on a late night independent radio show talking about French music!! I need to up my medication.

The Hoover to contribute with some more solid defensive displays and a couple more important goals. Gets voted player of the season by the FANS. Calls up Lennon and just has a long smug sounding laugh down the phone at him before thanking him for persuading Saints to look further than the SPL for a new striker. Rangers have gone to the dogs and Lennon is a pillock. Isn't scottish footie great and interesting!!

St Retford wrote:

Strasbourg Saint wrote:

St Retford wrote: A lot of French music is AMAZING: Daft Punk, Stereolab, Justice, Air, Kid Loco, Phoenix, Dmitri From Paris, Alex Gopher, Sebastian Tellier, Serge Gainsbourg, Michel Polnareff, Etienne De Crecy and, er, an awful lot of hip hop that I would like more if I knew what they were talking about.

Will have to take your word for it. Serge G. aside, the others are a bit beyond my scope. My sons like the hip hop group, Sexion D'Assaut, who had a big hit a couple of years ago called Desole. Also, there's a bloke called Calogero who makes interesting (though maybe too commercial for you) music and one or two others I can listen to for a song or two before switching off, but far too much of it just sounds like boom-titty-boom-titt y-boom for me.

O, I forgot the best two: Vitalic and Jackson. They're the future of electronic music.

Retford, you should check out le KKC Orchestra - hip-hop, jazz, knob-twiddling collaboration and absolutely top drawer live.

Alicesdad wrote:

Strasbourg Saint wrote:

St Retford wrote: A lot of French music is AMAZING: Daft Punk, Stereolab, Justice, Air, Kid Loco, Phoenix, Dmitri From Paris, Alex Gopher, Sebastian Tellier, Serge Gainsbourg, Michel Polnareff, Etienne De Crecy and, er, an awful lot of hip hop that I would like more if I knew what they were talking about.

Will have to take your word for it. Serge G. aside, the others are a bit beyond my scope. My sons like the hip hop group, Sexion D'Assaut, who had a big hit a couple of years ago called Desole. Also, there's a bloke called Calogero who makes interesting (though maybe too commercial for you) music and one or two others I can listen to for a song or two before switching off, but far too much of it just sounds like boom-titty-boom-titt y-boom for me.

French music has undoubted pockets of quality and creativity... very small pockets, very hard to find .. mainly because they copy American or British music and are seldom original... but the fact is that any emerging talent they may have is swamped by a media and population that still insists that Johnny Halliday is a rock legend. Oh!! Please!! Whoooaa how did that happen?? I was on an Echo Saints site and suddenly I'm on a late night independent radio show talking about French music!! I need to up my medication.

I know that it is off topic, but I would like to add Ange and of course, Francoise Hardy (how can you make a cidella "c" with a "5 on this site?".
Her Ce Petit Coeur...... Hmmm..... Nice.
This IS an Indy station, and not a "pas devant les enfants (pour l'est) in sight!
Les bleu est mort,n' est-ce pas?
Vivre les rouge et blanc!

Folkestone Saint wrote:
If anyone felt sorry for those down the road, on suggestion of us fans helping this is a cut-and-paste response. blue and true Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 01:01 PM seedhouse the few quid you stains would have paid would paid would have been spent on disinfectant to remove the stench you would bring to the ground I now want them to dissapear

It's about time we woke up and stopped being soft. That was the reply to the attempted show of solidarity. If the FL break the rules to assist Pompey unfairly and to the detriment of decent clubs like Coventry I will personally fund legal action against the club.

Salar wrote:

Alicesdad wrote:

Strasbourg Saint wrote:

St Retford wrote: A lot of French music is AMAZING: Daft Punk, Stereolab, Justice, Air, Kid Loco, Phoenix, Dmitri From Paris, Alex Gopher, Sebastian Tellier, Serge Gainsbourg, Michel Polnareff, Etienne De Crecy and, er, an awful lot of hip hop that I would like more if I knew what they were talking about.

Will have to take your word for it. Serge G. aside, the others are a bit beyond my scope. My sons like the hip hop group, Sexion D'Assaut, who had a big hit a couple of years ago called Desole. Also, there's a bloke called Calogero who makes interesting (though maybe too commercial for you) music and one or two others I can listen to for a song or two before switching off, but far too much of it just sounds like boom-titty-boom-titt y-boom for me.

French music has undoubted pockets of quality and creativity... very small pockets, very hard to find .. mainly because they copy American or British music and are seldom original... but the fact is that any emerging talent they may have is swamped by a media and population that still insists that Johnny Halliday is a rock legend. Oh!! Please!! Whoooaa how did that happen?? I was on an Echo Saints site and suddenly I'm on a late night independent radio show talking about French music!! I need to up my medication.

I know that it is off topic, but I would like to add Ange and of course, Francoise Hardy (how can you make a cidella "c" with a "5 on this site?".
Her Ce Petit Coeur...... Hmmm..... Nice.
This IS an Indy station, and not a "pas devant les enfants (pour l'est) in sight!
Les bleu est mort,n' est-ce pas?
Vivre les rouge et blanc!

C'est vrai!

Back to Johnny Halliday, the French have Johnny, we have Cliff!

Difference is, when it all gets too depressing, you can't jump over the Johnny!

Salar wrote:

Alicesdad wrote:

Strasbourg Saint wrote:

St Retford wrote: A lot of French music is AMAZING: Daft Punk, Stereolab, Justice, Air, Kid Loco, Phoenix, Dmitri From Paris, Alex Gopher, Sebastian Tellier, Serge Gainsbourg, Michel Polnareff, Etienne De Crecy and, er, an awful lot of hip hop that I would like more if I knew what they were talking about.

Will have to take your word for it. Serge G. aside, the others are a bit beyond my scope. My sons like the hip hop group, Sexion D'Assaut, who had a big hit a couple of years ago called Desole. Also, there's a bloke called Calogero who makes interesting (though maybe too commercial for you) music and one or two others I can listen to for a song or two before switching off, but far too much of it just sounds like boom-titty-boom-titt y-boom for me.

French music has undoubted pockets of quality and creativity... very small pockets, very hard to find .. mainly because they copy American or British music and are seldom original... but the fact is that any emerging talent they may have is swamped by a media and population that still insists that Johnny Halliday is a rock legend. Oh!! Please!! Whoooaa how did that happen?? I was on an Echo Saints site and suddenly I'm on a late night independent radio show talking about French music!! I need to up my medication.

I know that it is off topic, but I would like to add Ange and of course, Francoise Hardy (how can you make a cidella "c" with a "5 on this site?".
Her Ce Petit Coeur...... Hmmm..... Nice.
This IS an Indy station, and not a "pas devant les enfants (pour l'est) in sight!
Les bleu est mort,n' est-ce pas?
Vivre les rouge et blanc!

Check out "Like to blow my French horn mademoiselle?" by Onion Johnny.

Thorshammer wrote:
The way Martin has developed this season I can see him and Jos doing a fair job in the Premier League, if we get there.
I felt he was unfortunate to lose his place after some recent displays, at Millwall he was MoM by a country mile.
Consistency is the key and Centre Backs reach their peak later then players in other positions.
Richardson and Fox have both been immense, it would interesting to see if they could cope with the challenge of Premier League wide men.
I have a suspicion that Fonte may well struggle with the step up, however he could well prove me wrong.
Let us all believe and we will get the chance to see, COYR.

I agree about Martin he will get better with experience, he talks and organises well already. Full backs are our potential weak area and goalie position may need strengthening if we gain promotion. Defence is a vital part of team which some times gets exposed from other areas of team, that's why they need to be good organisers.

Strasbourg Saint wrote:

Salar wrote:

Alicesdad wrote:

Strasbourg Saint wrote:

St Retford wrote: A lot of French music is AMAZING: Daft Punk, Stereolab, Justice, Air, Kid Loco, Phoenix, Dmitri From Paris, Alex Gopher, Sebastian Tellier, Serge Gainsbourg, Michel Polnareff, Etienne De Crecy and, er, an awful lot of hip hop that I would like more if I knew what they were talking about.

Will have to take your word for it. Serge G. aside, the others are a bit beyond my scope. My sons like the hip hop group, Sexion D'Assaut, who had a big hit a couple of years ago called Desole. Also, there's a bloke called Calogero who makes interesting (though maybe too commercial for you) music and one or two others I can listen to for a song or two before switching off, but far too much of it just sounds like boom-titty-boom-titt y-boom for me.

French music has undoubted pockets of quality and creativity... very small pockets, very hard to find .. mainly because they copy American or British music and are seldom original... but the fact is that any emerging talent they may have is swamped by a media and population that still insists that Johnny Halliday is a rock legend. Oh!! Please!! Whoooaa how did that happen?? I was on an Echo Saints site and suddenly I'm on a late night independent radio show talking about French music!! I need to up my medication.

I know that it is off topic, but I would like to add Ange and of course, Francoise Hardy (how can you make a cidella "c" with a "5 on this site?".
Her Ce Petit Coeur...... Hmmm..... Nice.
This IS an Indy station, and not a "pas devant les enfants (pour l'est) in sight!
Les bleu est mort,n' est-ce pas?
Vivre les rouge et blanc!

C'est vrai!

Back to Johnny Halliday, the French have Johnny, we have Cliff!

Difference is, when it all gets too depressing, you can't jump over the Johnny!

I hate to see the p!ss taken out of Johnny Halliday. He penned what is in my opinion one of the greatest songs ever written: "Le plus eleve quils obtiennent, les moins"

541nts wrote:

Thorshammer wrote: The way Martin has developed this season I can see him and Jos doing a fair job in the Premier League, if we get there. I felt he was unfortunate to lose his place after some recent displays, at Millwall he was MoM by a country mile. Consistency is the key and Centre Backs reach their peak later then players in other positions. Richardson and Fox have both been immense, it would interesting to see if they could cope with the challenge of Premier League wide men. I have a suspicion that Fonte may well struggle with the step up, however he could well prove me wrong. Let us all believe and we will get the chance to see, COYR.

I agree about Martin he will get better with experience, he talks and organises well already. Full backs are our potential weak area and goalie position may need strengthening if we gain promotion. Defence is a vital part of team which some times gets exposed from other areas of team, that's why they need to be good organisers.

On goalkeepers, I don't think we can rule Bialkowski completely out, as he had one shocker, but has done reasonably well since. It doesn't help that he doesn't get a good run of games, therefore, it might do him some good if we get another keeper to battle or take over as first choice and loan Bialkowski out to a Championship team where he can play every week and allow us to properly assess his strengths and weaknesses.

Condor Man wrote:
Franny was a solid pro and a very nice man off the pitch but he was never a legend. A game based on kicking out for a throw is not what makes a legend.

...can we now herald the arrival of Cliche Man?...he says things because everyone else does.
Part of the reason that Frannie IS a Legend is because the retarded drongos among our fanbase can be allowed to repeatedly criticise someone who gave everything for the Saints cause from day one and is generally appreciated for that coupled with his humility and respect for everything red and white. Some of you still don't get it do you, you've got to work at being a saint Condom!