MorningtonCrescent

Well, there's an oxymoron if ever I saw one! They were normal, run of the mill goals..... yet if we'd conceded them you'd have been pee'd off! It was quick thinking to catch them cold, we don't (haven't) done that much lately and to me it shows AP has got them thinking more about ways in which get the breakthrough against teams who play relatively negatively. For some time now, we have struggled to break down teams who look to contain and counter..... AP has introduced a few things that seek to give us that edge and you say "it's what any pro set-up should do".... yes, it is, but Saints haven't delivered those simple things for ages..... Claiming (and then claiming again, and again) that we got to the CCC Play-offs is a red herring as we had the same problems then too. Lets be happy that AP tries new things on the training ground and the players obviously listen and respond. The AP tries a few new things when we are 3-0 up and learns some more. How long has it been since we've had a manager prepared to recognize our weaknesses and look to address them. Good times! :-D

Good result for the young lads and an interesting video from thefa.com with comments from Dave Puckett throughout the game too. Also, I see the FA website has next round down as being Sat 21th Nov at 19:00hrs. A home game vs Hereford. Seems an odd time for a KO, unless its going to be at St Marys, immediately after the Norwich game? Isn't there a ruling that all FA Youth Cup matches are played at the clubs main ground?

Looks like £15 on the terrace and £17.50 in the seats then, possibly?!

The original song (Saints version) was definitely "you're ****-ah.... ooh ahh...." and this would be far better than the blatant lie that is "fat bastard" when they clearly aren't! As for "by far the greatest team" etc.... i've heard the version "Hampshire's ever seen" sung a few times and both make me grin.....

Yup, sung at a few away games now - and from the lower section of Block 42! Adam Lallana, la la la la laaaaa..... repeat ad nauseum! :-)

I think it was more the quality of 1st half football and the fact we conceded two "easy" goals to a team who were way below Saints in terms of ability that was depressing. Support is support and even though the Northam clientelle was not at all like that we experience on a eague match, you simply shouldn't discard the people who chose to turn out on a wet Tues evening and support the team! The people around us joined in the songs, and even started a few once they got the feel for them. It certainly helped to keep the spirits up in Block 42 and contributed to the atmosphere. People have to start somewhere - if they're not regulars (either Northam or SMS in general) then they should be encouraged, they'll soon become part of the furniture if they feel welcomed and a part of things. I really don't get it when people say "keep these new people out of my area"..... NIMBYs in most people's opinion..... Perhaps, if it wasn't for the "new" people, we wouldn't have been able to boast about having such a brilliant attendance and that the fans kept the singing going, even when 2-0 down.

My guess is that it is to pave the way for the away section to be moved into Blocks 1-6 or so in the future, leaving the entire Northam end for home supporters. If so, this is a good move, even if it does inconvenience a lot of regular Itchen Corner residents. If it was my seat they wanted to move, I'd be unhappy too, but if it is a way of organising the stands in such a way that the away fans are eventually moved to the side and away from behind the goal, this is a postive move. FWIW - I always though it would be better to have the away fans where the original family section was - in the Kingsland/Chapel corner. The away coached coud use the Chapel Industrial estate and they could effectively close that corner off at the end of a game without affecting the pedestrian bridge over the railway too much. The stadium also has this area sectioned off with its own concourse (which is nice and small, perfect for away fans!) and they would be out of the line of sight of the TV gantry too.

An interesting exercise, one that I didn't do before setting in my own head a target of wiping out the -10 by the end of Sept! But i'll do it now and see what it throws up.... **fingers crossed** August 8 Millwall (H) Lose (with a hope to draw) 15 Huddersfield (A) Lose (with a hope to scrape a lucky win!) 18 Swindon (A) Win 22 Brentford (H) Draw 29 Stockport (A) Win September 5 Colchester (H) Lose 12 Charlton (A) Lose 19 Yeovil (H) Wine (wine would be good, but I expected a Win!) 26 Carlisle (A) Draw 29 Bristol Rovers (H) Lose Giving a grand total of: 11 points.... with a "hope" that we might have gained a further 4, giving us 15 points. As it is, we have only closed the points gap on to teams which is very disappointing. Still 10 adrift of the two after that, meaning it has been a poor start to the season - but not unexpected. As nickh says - the next 10 games we need a higher average points tally and then we need to build from there.... Perhaps Glasgow Saint could start a new "predict the next 10 games" thread and we could see (without hindsight) how well we do against people's expectations!

Once again, an argument based soley on the facts whilst ignoring the circumstances leading up this season...... and I refer to last season as much to the lack of a pre-season and administration.... Yes, for any club without the preverbial "Ball and Chain" we have been lumbered with, it would be a terrible start to a season. However....... When faced with the odds we were at the start of the season, you have to set goals and then measure "success" based on that measure...... I'm sure AP and NC will have done that and i'm sure we are close to the lower end of those expectations.... but still driving to wards the next one...... For me, the aim was to get out of negative points by the end of September - we failed, but by the smallest margin. We have lost points where we should have gained them and shown significant improvement match by match....... The next goal I set in my own mind was to be out of the bottom four by Xmas. This is still very achievable and therefore any knee-jerk reaction against meeting objectives would be premature. Perhaps you'd like to set out what your own realistic aims were for Saints this season, given the situation we were in with the squad decimated by last's years folly and the pre-season shennanigans? In NC and AP's minds it will be about targets and achievements against those targets - as you may expect for any business run sensibly. People have "personal developments plans" and "objective setting" at their place of work, where measurable objectives are set along with a plan of how the employer can support these through training, investment and structure. Saints is now being run in this professional manner and I would fully expect there to be written objectives for AP as well as others to meet. These would be reviewed regularly and revisd where necessary. When AP (or others) fall short of achieving these (for whatever reason), then they would be re-written to make them realistic or the employee would be on shaky ground. I have great faith that we are no longer being run on the same basis that we suffered under with previous regimes and that the revolving door policy won't continue - AP will only be moved/removed if he fails to hit the objectives agreed with NC AND he has recieved all the employer support promised in order to hit them! Simples...... Bring on Gillingham and the next step towards our ultimate collective goal - safety from relegation and a club built strongly from the ground up to give us the next chance of promotion next season. :-)

Five Years?

I wouldn't normally post on these "post match" theads, as many people often seem to have watched a different game to me! With the title "autoposy" I was even less inclined to add anything, however... As this is one of those few occasions I actually agree 100% with Nineteen Canteen, I wanted to add my weight to the arguement that Saints played some fantastic football last night and on another day we would have come away with a very pleasing 2-3 goal winning margin. Yes, there were some players below par (doesn't everyone have an 'off day' at the office?) and you could argue that we had the chances to finish the game off..... (Papa - first half when he needed to commit to a header at the far post but watched in sail past..... Lambert header first half from a Lloyd James precision cross..... Lambert and Lallana second half with gilt edged chances their keeper had no right to save...... ) The positives far out weigh the negatives..... we played one of the top teams in this division and made them look ordinary for long periods. we actually created the above chances to score, something we have moaned about all season.... Hammond and Spiderman are forming a good CM parnership..... Trotman and Jaidi are forming a solid CH partnership..... Bring on Gillingham and lets make the hurt from last night tell by securing all 3 points on Saturday.....

midfield for me would be: lallana schneiderlin hammond holmes up front: papa and lambo as someone else said - defence picks itself! Saints to give a good account of themselves tonight, but finishing with a disappointing 2-2 draw.

He did today, so no need for this "plea" - unless you're looking to claim some credit at some point in the future when Holmes has fully recovered from his injury and performs as we all know can ......?? Holmes needs games to bring back the edge that he gives us, and introducing him slowly after such a long time out is very sensible - he was rushed back once before and look where that ended up! I fully expect Holmes to get more time on the pitch for the next few games and then become an integral part of the first eleven IF he can demostrate he has recovered both his form and physically... :-)

Yeah! Lets all run for the hills, bury our heads in dismay.... FFS, the OS says he was was subbed at the ressies game "as a precaution"..... lets see what transpires from that..... As for it all being Pardew's fault for signing injury prone players...... **rolly eyed smiley** And finally, can we lay off slamming the players others see fit to play on a regular basis - just for once...... We (the fans) have a history of destroying players with ridiculous statements about being fir to wear the shirt for this reason and that... Kelvin Davies a few years back anyone? He showed us what determination and loyalty is actually about.... Even Jason Euell! Slated by som many (inc me!), but came back determined and showed he was actualy a useful player too! Lets get away from the sweeping statements like "gives the keeper catching practise" - because that's clerly not the case and makes you look (even more) dumb.... I'm sure AP and his team will keep building the confidence in the team, keep some stability in team selection (even if someone has an off-day) and bring us success. Looking forward to Carlisle now! :-)

[quote=St Lej;4 55683]My birthday too that day. I will be 28. 10 quid and a card from everyone would be most appreciated I'm sure we could rustle up £10 between us all, but the card thing is too big a challenge.... 1) Where would we find a card big enough to get everyone's names in 2) Logisticaly, we couldn't get it around all the SWF users, Dubai, LA, Brussels, Sweden, Australia etc..... Perhaps give us all more notice next time?? As for ML's birthday, as much it would be a nice touch for the fans to give him this small gesture as a way of thanking him, there will be plenty who cry out "happy clappers", "face painters" etc etc... and refuse to join in, so the idea is doomed from the start.... If someone tries to start up Happy Birthday from the Northam, I would guess that very few would join in! But I do hope ML enjoys his birthday! Perhaps he'll be at SMS, perhaps he won't? Either way, I'm still very grateful for the measured way he has gone about his business and for the progress we have seen so far - both on and off the pitch. Long may he remain, building a solid foundation on which to grow this great club..... onards and upwards! (Carlisle is certainly "up"!)

I've also been vocal about 'the chairman' being in the team photo in the past, but ML paid good money to invest in Saints, confirmed last night as being totally debt free (currently!) - so it's his 'toy' and he can do what he pleases! FWIW - he does come across as being a positive influence on those around him and very pleasant towards anyone who has spoken to him! One very interesting comment from NC last night - they (ML & NC) have quickly come to realise the strength of feeling and passion the fans have for the club and they consider themselves 'custodians' rather than 'owners'!! Such a different angle towards the fans and so refreshing!!

I agree with the sentiments of the OP, even if he has be hijacked into a completely different arguement. The team are improving and ANY manager will pick a player (or players) that some people don't see as "good enough".. The point being made (I think), is that at this tender stage of th season, with so few games played, a whole new structure being implemented through the club and with a blend of exprience and youth that is looking more balanced and creative than we have seen for some condierable time....... BOOING at the final whistle is only going to have a detrimental effect on the whole squad. FULL STOP. Yes, there will come a time when Pardew and the coaching staff will be judged on the return of points gained. That time is not now, surely? If the fans could just resist the knee-jerk reaction to boo when we haven't met an expectation, perhaps the lads will grow in confidence from an improved performance? Just maybe? Does anyone really think they left the pitch thinking any of the following?: 1) The booing will make me play better next week 2) We played crap today and deserved to be booed from the pitch or perhaps they left the pitch thinking: 3) We outplayed one of the form teams in the league. 4) If only we'd got one goal, the floodgates would've opened 5) Just a little bit of luck and some decent decisions from the officials and we'd be on our way with our first 3 point haul The players may be overpaid and appear to be "prima donnas", but they hurt when we don't win games. They hurt all the more when we were by far the better team and fail to get the decisions from the officials. Booing them at the end of such a match is counter-productive and will only stall any progress made. Just my opinion, of course! ;-)

Hmm, 'm not so sure that the fans help in that important 60min to 85min period. We get nervous and that spreads to the pitch, especially at home. There is plenty of negativity amongst the fanbase still and I really hope we can overcome the jitters we get in the closing stages of a game. That's not to say that the support hasn't been fantastic most of the time! We are well supported in numbers and for 75% of the 90 mins we give very vocal support. It's the 10-15 minutes that we have become so used to conceding - and the fans DO go quiet for a period in every game. As for the original post - indeed there are plenty of points to play for and we may well have a very good run at some point. I just wish the players and the fans would concentrate on the upcoming game only and focus on the next 3 points. We can't "get rid of" the minus points yet, it'll take at least another 3 games for that! We should be thinking of every game as it comes and maximise the points from each one. If we are clear of the deficit by the ends of Sept and out of the bottom four by Xmas, that will be real progress. :-)

Yup. I see this as our probable starting line-up vs the U's on Saturday. It looks well balanced too. Lallana is improving with every game on the left and starting to offer width as well as the tricks to get him inside his marker. My only concern is Thomas as right back, but he's done it before and we have few options. We shouldn't bolt James back there, just because of an injury, as he is far more effective in midfield. Excited to see Papa's pace, hope we get the permits for Saturday for him and Jaidi! :-D

Well, I was there and I wonder which game most of the people here were watching! Saints were miles better than vs Swindon, far better approach to the game, balanced and aggressive No single player played badly. The new signings hae shown that Pardew knows where our weaknessed are and he has addressed them well. We still had a few moments where lapses and/or good play from Brentford gave us some problems, but when does any team ever hold court over the opposition for the full 90 minutes? On today's performance and if we can continue to improve for the next 3/4 games, we will win far more than we lose/draw. People really need to re-align their expectations of this team and to take each match as it comes and judge it accordingly. We don't need to "get rid of the -10", as one match will not achieve that. We need to focus on improving every game and getting as many points as possible from each game. As soon as we "get rid of the -10", we'll find that we are still many points the rest of the division, so lets just "expect" to improve and gain as many points as we can from each game. If we are somewhere near 0 points by the end of Sept and out of the bottom 4 by Xmas, I'll feel that we have made good progress.

Eurostar doesn't arrive into Waterloo anymore - St Pancras is the new London International Rail Terminal. As someone else said - Flybe direct from Paris to Southampton has to be the quickest (and cheapest?) option. Match KO time is 3pm not 12, so plenty of time to get a flight and enjoy a pre-match drink?!

You must have been close to us then. He really was out of place with his rantings at fellow fans. We started loads of singing, and he didn't always join in either. As soon as someone starts to berate other fans for not singing, they are just going to stop altogether. We didn't return to those seats for the second half, due to his ramblings. Not sure I could've got anyone to sing along anyway, but that terrace did need people prepared to start up some songs in an attempt to lift the team. People like him should try to understand different people have different reasons for going along to matches and not everyone wants to sing for 90 minutes.

Now THAT made me LoL Keep 'em as they are. Lawrie Mac should be recognised though as Lowe refused to use his name on any of the suites. Not sure what would be most appropriate, but he should have something done to note his contribution to our halcyon days.

I agree he does look to lack mental strength, perhaps as a result of being out for so long with a serious injury? Not all players who struggle with such an injury return to full capacity either mental or physical. It amazes me that some would like him to be our "rock" at the heart of defence and others don't want him to be in the team ever again! In truth, Thomas should be a solid squad player who could be one of our top players if he can recover some of that mental strength we believe he once had. My only hope is that the Saints fans can realise we are re-building and that it won't happen overnight. In order to succeed this season, we need to give them all our full backing, show some patience and allow them all to build the confidence we will need to overcome a -10 starting point (ie get back on terms with others in the league) and then see where we can push on to....

Of course I don't mind! Probably the reason I actually decided to post, when I normally wouldn't, is because my view seems to be different to many who were there (and many who weren't!). Back in the day (!), people accepted that sometimes it just wasn't meant to be. I felt that Saturday was one of those days.... because Huddersfield played the perfect "home" game and we just weren't at the races as a result. Thomas was, indeed, unfairly treated by the ref and that surely affected his game? The yellow card he got was also unjust and clearly affected him in terms of his agressiveness (naturally). The fact that the Huddersfield players went down like the preverbal sack of spuds when in danger of getting a yellow FOR FOULING A SAINT just shows their "nous" at playing the ref (or their bad sportsmanship?).. At least three times their player acted badly hurt to escape a booking and the ref bought it each time (one was a clear elbow on Thomas!) Perhaps I wanted to bring some balance and realism to the debate on the performance, because this was not nearly as bad as many of our matches last season. Expectation is a dangerous thing and many Saints fans have still not come to terms with the situation we find ourselves in.