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Comment | Saints V Manchester United The Verdict
at 13:38:13
Totally agree with SonicBoom... and more. He's played at least eight games since he signed and scored 1, possibly 2 goals (dubious OG went against him) and what else? 'Shows great pace' – when? 'dipped in form' when? 'he'll learn' when?
Poor refereeing decision not to send him off and force the Koolman to rethink his starting 11. If you think this is an anti-Mane response, you're right. Not blaming him as he doesn't pick the team but surely Mayuka (given the correct studs) is worth a start? Or one of the youngsters. Are you sure he's not a second cousin of George Weah – Ali Dia's son?
Other than that a great start to the season and totally agree Nick that we would take a top six position coming up to Christmas. |
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Comment | Forster And Van Dijk On Saints Radar After Celtic Crash In Poland
at 13:52:01
Campbell replaced Tony Godfrey and was in goal when we were promoted to Division 1 (COYR). In the 8th game of 66/67 season, he broke his leg in a three way 'head on crash' with Ian Callaghan (Liverpool) and Denis Hollywood (there was only ever going to be one winner). Gerry Gurr was reserve keeper but deemed not up to Div 1 by Ted Bates so he signed MacLaren... Forsythe got back in the side but was replaced by Eric Martin who went on to play 248 games for the Saints from 1967 - 75. MacLaren left the Dell in 1967 and joined non-league Worcester City.
Who said nostalgia isn't what it used to be! |
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Comment | Forster And Van Dijk On Saints Radar After Celtic Crash In Poland
at 10:44:13
Good news that we can now pursue two new players, BUT Celtic did lose and let in four goals in the process. Might it be that their defence isn't the best in the world – or even in Scotland come to that! Luckily Forster is an English keeper and not your traditional Scottish goalie, and by all accounts he had a good game last night including a penalty save. Celtic only paid £2m for Forster and £2.6m for van Dijk, so £20m is a good return for their money.
A bit of nostalgia surrounding Saints and Scottish keepers:
many of us will remember Eric Martin's predecessor Dave MacLaren. Dave played for Wolves in 1965/65 and Saints signed him the following season. Ironically, Saints had put 9 (nine) past him in a 9 - 3 victory – not one of Ted Bate's best signings. |
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Comment | Is It Time To Look Towards Next Season ?
at 13:02:48
Good article and plenty to discuss, but I think it is really unfair that Steven Davies has to paint the toilets at the Northam End? And if he is that quick, I need the kitchen done at home! |
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Comment | Saints Can Win At Anfield If They Get The Tactics Right
at 14:00:28
Nick, I agree that it has to be changed but not necessarily by dropping one of the front men. I'm not sure RL and Ossie are the same type of player. Ricky could sit well in the hole behind a front man, a job that Adam has consistently failed to do. I would never doubt AL's skills and commitment to Saints but 3 goals last season from 25 appearances in this role is hardly electric! I firmly belief that having the Captain's armband has also affected his game and a stat that was banded about at the weekend was that he has yet to play a full 90 minutes under Poch. Hardly the manager having faith and full commitment to his captain? Put Adam on the bench, play Jack Cork in the same role as last season when he got forward whenever possible, play Ricky in the hole and push VW up the field a bit more.
One other point, we lack width and the ability to get to the goal line and pull back a cross, yet we let JP go to Palace without having a replacement for this option?
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Comment | Saints V Barnsley The Verdict
at 13:26:33
"Its fair to say that Mauricio Pochettino didn't read my pre match preview", well actually Nick he probably did and against his better judgement chose to ignore your advice. This is why he is a professional football manager and we (and I include myself), just live the dream and write about. The number of times I have picked a world-beating England team and won the World Cup is beyond believe and I have done it down the pub with a few too many pints inside me – easy job this football management.
Still, keep up the good work as it also gives me something to do in between restoring world peace and solving the UK economy problem. |
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Comment | Struggling With His Name ? Meet Mo Po Or Is It MoPo !
at 14:10:00
Hi NicIlIo
Not sure SuBo will ever be super cool and trendy, but whatever turns you on. It would seem we've not only got 'Jesus' onboard, the new manager is the 5th TelleTubbie – Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, Po and MoPo?
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Comment | Saints V Norwich The Verdict
at 12:41:13
50/50 on this article Nick.
Paulo Gazzaniga is not 'the best that we have got'. Kelvin is the 'best' goalkeeper we have available – whatever 'best' means. Pulling off super saves like the one Paulo did against Newcastle is the icing on the cake and one that any goalkeeper at any level is probably capable of. Commanding your six yard box, whether that means staying on your line or coming out, organising your defence at set pieces, distribution, instilling confidence in your team members, being reliable and having confidence in his own ability are far better attributes.
I'm sure that you will point out that Kelvin is left short in many of these areas but at the moment he is streets ahead of Paulo, whose confidence must be shot.
Last night the defence weren't confident to pass back to him, he stands about 2 yards off his goal line in the centre of the goal at corners in nomandsland and watches the ball sail over his head and on several occasions failed to come out and claim through balls.
OK so that's the disagree bit. I agree about how we failed to 'change it'. Rickie on several occasions in the second half nodded the ball down in and around the penalty spot but there was nobody to support him – we were at home, so why didn't we play two out and out strikers. Mayuka was bought for his pace – 20 minutes to go with their defence suffering from tired legs would have been an ideal opportunity. Norwich set up to not be beaten and then to 'steal' goals. This is born out by the fact that they have only scored two goals in a game this season and that was in a 5-2 defeat against Liverpool. If we had gone for it last night, the probability was that they didn't have another goal in them and at the final whistle this was proven!
Not all doom and gloom, we haven't lost, got 7 points from a possible 9 and if we could replicate this over the next three games we would be on 19 points and be sat mid-table before Christmas. COYR.
Never mind, onward and upwards. |
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Comment | Saints Linked With Gordon
at 11:07:37
Not sure about Gordon. If he was that good then surely Martin O'Neil would have kept him as back up to Mignolet? It would only cost him a wage to have him on the bench, as he won't recoup any money on a transfer fee.
I would defy any keeper to 'impress' with the current back four, even bearing in mind your comments about the full backs being exposed (separate article 'The full backs need protecting', excellent article by the way that is well worth a read). The two penalty saves that Kelvin has made would, and should, have proved match winning saves had we closed out both of these games and he certainly isn't to blame for that. Inappropriate substitutions and poor marking being the key factors, not goal keeping errors.
Anyway we are only 8 points off automatic European qualification, so why the panic? |
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Comment | The Season's Verdict - Goalkeepers
at 17:09:09
Nick, the clue to your article is in the headline 'Verdict'. Nobody is suggesting we rest on our laurels but you have presented a verdict on this season – we can only judge Kelvin (and when it is their turn) the rest of the squad on that and I think it has been one of the most successful seasons Saints have ever had. NA's job is to improve the squad etc and of course he will look back at the highs and lows and analyse the season, but overall he must be 'over the moon' with the men who did the job and got us back to where we belong. The squad to keep us there will be different but lets enjoy the moment instead of criticising individuals who have given the all to the cause. |
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Comment | The Season's Verdict - Goalkeepers
at 14:03:29
Not sure where you are going with this Nick. 46 goals conceded was only bettered by Reading (41) and Hull (44) so 'was as good as most in the division' is a bit of an understatement.
You can analyse as much as you like, you can drum up as many statistics as you want but the only relevant statistics at the end of the day is that we were the second best team in the division as shown by the table and all the players contributed to this. We scored more goals than any other team, had, by far, the best goal difference in the division (39), and got two more points than the team that finished third.
No matter how much in-depth analysis you do, you can't and wouldn't want to change a thing about the season other than the four points 'dropped' to Poopey perhaps.
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Comment | Why No Sharp ?
at 16:15:20
Down the pub tonight, and every night come to that, we will sort out world poverty, terrorism, as well as winning the world cup in football, rugby and cricket... oh and by the way how many gold medals would you like us to win at the Olympics.
I agree that we all should have an opinion, but until his goes drastically wrong, I'll stick with his team selection over a bunch of drunken old farts.
Mind you what happened to Yago Falque? Are we still paying some of his wages to 'arry? |
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Comment | Why No Sharp ?
at 15:13:58
We can all question why decisions are made, especially when they are in hindsight but the results speak for themselves. I'm sure we all questioned Sir Alex bringing Scholes out of retirement but they have gone to the top of the pile, and Wenger did a similar job (albeit for a short period of time), when he brought Henry back but it kick started the Ars's season and last night they over took their North London rivals. I don't really care about Man U or the Gooners but it is difficult to argue with the results. The end justifies the means and Nigel is getting it right – again. |
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Comment | Why No Sharp ?
at 14:20:38
'he has been at SMS for seven weeks'
and then you have forgotten to add: 'and, apart from the FA Cup replay defeat, we have won 7 and drawn 3, accumulating 24 points'.
It would seem these statistics speak for themselves, and I'm sure he will play an important part in our final push for promotion with the rest of the squad. One week you state that De Ridder is an impact player and should only be used as a sub, and when this happens you contradict it? You can't have it both ways. In Nigel we trust. |
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