Born In The 80s

A mate of mine, who used to work for the club, was savvy to all of the individual player loading stats. Apparently in one game of our relegation season, our french left back, Olivier Bernard sprinted a grand total of 10 metres in the entire 90 minute game.

Absolutely hate that tactic, and i know a few of the players do, too. Briggsy played for England this winter - he is more than capable of dealing with these testing conditions. A quality spinner is a valuable asset in any conditions, and learning to bowl in seamer friendly conditions is very important in english county cricket. Young players are only going to get better by playing. Very poor management.

Think some of you are overreacting to the squad, to be honest. Guys like Gerrard and Lampard are proven top class players and would be picked by every manager going. Same with John Terry. Do people really rate people like Phil Jones and Chris Smalling as better footballers than John Terry? If so, thank god you aren't managing England! Lampard and Gerrard will (and in my opinion, both should) start the first game. The crucial difference between them starting now and them starting in previous years is the formation. With only 4 strikers, it looks as if we're set to go with 4-3-3/4-5-1. With a 4-4-2 they are too similar to both play in central midfield. However, in a 4-5-1, Gerrard can play just ahead, behind a front man, and Lampard and Parker can play in the middle (a pairing who compliment each other well). I really believe that 3 can cause teams a lot of problems. I'd liked to have seen Carrick involved. I'd have had him in for Downing and perhaps Richards in for Phil Jones, but it's unlikely any of those players would play a big part anyway. Just squad players. The "standby" players are clearly a collection of youngsters who, if called up, won't play any part if they do get the call. I don't think people should read too much into that.

To sum things up, looks like everyone is getting off their ****ing heads!

Regarding the Man Utd cup game a year or two back, am i right in remembering that the Saints end wasn't actually sold out? Think there were about 1000 seats unsold and i remember the United fans singing "couldn't sell all your tickets". Baring in mind we've had quite a few sell outs this season in the championship, i don't really think it's fair to say people only flock to see the opposition. I don't really see the issue with our attendances this year. Think every "real" club up and down the country are suffering a little. Easily with the prices of some tickets.

Been trying since 8.30am and just got through to be told it's sold out. ****ed off - they really need to sort out their sh1tty online system.

Palmer, Le Saux, Bridge, Crouch are right i think. Wise and Shearer didn't play for us in the premiership. I'd go with David Hirst and Kerry Dixon. Got a feeling Redknapp scored for us in the cup not league.

Amen to that, brother. I want us to absolutely ruin them, and then i want them to (painfully) die. This game is so much more than "just another game". I urge every saints fan to make the atmosphere as hostile as possible. Wherever you are in the ground, if a skate comes near you - get stuck into him. A lot of their lot will be young lads in on loan. Let's make it a frightening experience for the ****ing lot of them.

I can't believe the number of Saints fans who have counted their chickens already. It's still March for crying out load - there is a long way to go before we clinch it. Anything can still happen. I usually don't post on threads if i don't like the topic, but i've finally bitten on this one after a long line of arrogant "we're already promoted" trends. Think i might have to stay off this forum for a while as these threads are starting to become more and more frequent. Some fans really are setting themselves up for a fall.

Players get fined for picking up yellow cards. I'd be pretty annoyed if i was "fined" for making a little boy's year by giving him a high-five.

I'll always hate New Orleans Saints for the way they behaved in the play offs of their superbowl run. As a Vikes fan i played close attention to them that year and the way they went about business against the Cardinals and the Vikings was disgraceful. Of course it's no surprise, as anyone who watched those games could tell they were going out of their way to try and hurt two of the greatest (and at the time oldest) QBs in the NFL. I lost count of the number of late, illegal hits that went unpunished in that championship game. It was infuriating. As a Vikings fan, this isn't sour grapes, as the reason we lost the game was down to turning the ball over about 900 times. But it's a very interesting debate, that without the illegal hits, would Favre have been able to run for the first down instead of throwing an ill-advised pick? Looking back at the tape, he more than likely would have done. But it's all in the past now. Delighted the Saints have been punished properly and i applaud the NFL for talking a strong stance on this kind of thing. Hopefully they finish last in their division now.

Some fella outside the Den on Saturday started singing "St Mary's in April, we're sending them down". Got a decent responce, hopefully it sticks. I'd love to send those little bastards down.

I find it absolutely impossible to disagree with you. Throughout the year i've tried desperately to keep my expectations in check and not 'believe' as it'll only hurt 10 times worse when they eventually do blow it. Even 6 weeks ago, I never expected us to be in this position. Even now, in this position, i can't bring myself to say we're going up. I was singing it at the Den after the FT whistle on Saturday, but i still didn't quite believe it. At the end of the day, this is Saints. Over the past 20 years i've learnt to always prepare myself for an inevitable last-minute car crash when it comes to Saints. This year is no different.

So where is everyone drinking before the game? I do love London aways with plenty of friends and family up there. Think our lot are going to have a little session in central London after the game as well. Don't know about the rest of you but these games feel like they're getting bigger and bigger every week! Absolutely no chance in hell that i can watch any of these remaining games sober - fair play to those of you who can. Hope that we bring a load up there this weekend. Having big followings is really going to be important from here on in. As far as the team goes, i think i'd start Chaplow and Cork for Hammond and Guly. May even consider giving Sharp a go from the start up top. Whatever the team though, i can't help but feel that 3 points here would be absolutely massive going into a very tough game at Hull on Tuesday night.

That'd be too good to be true! I think they should have to forefit a few draft picks as that'd hurt the coaches as well, but i doubt that'll happen. I'll never forget the way they played against us (Vikes) in that championship game. They were a disgrace and i'll always hate them for it. In other news, what are the Colts doing?! Ditching the best QB of all time for a guy who hasn't even been drafted yet! What a ridiculous gamble and i can only see it ending in tears. Peyton to wind up as a Jet in my opinion. New York IS big enough for two Mannings.

I work with a number of Reading fans and their opinions seem bizarre. They all seem to agree that they are playing dreadfully but grinding out wins (not really sure how you can play dreadfully and grind out seven wins in a row!). They seem very pessimistic about their chances, which again I find surprising as they really remind me of us last season. One thing they do say is they have found a formula to win the scrappy games – last night being a prime example. I haven’t watched them in months so have no idea how they are playing, but it will be very interesting to see how they fair in a couple of weeks time when they play West Ham and a couple of other tricky games. Looking at the fixtures though, I reckon their winning run will go on for a fair few games yet. It’s going to be so close.

Do i feel bad? What, for going down to enough a half time beer?? Haha! Have a word with yourself pal. I too head down early, but i give it till 40. Missed loads of goals in the past, but it doesn't particularly bother me as you can still watch the game downstairs. Just for th record, i've missed loads of goals in the past few seasons and still celebrate them like i would do up in th stand. I don't understand why people have a problem with it. I work my ass off all week so i can enjoy my weekend and Saturday generally means Saints and beer. When you go down after the 43/44 minute, chances are you'll be waiting the whole HT to get served. And having a pint or two at HT with my mates is all part of my "matchday experience".

This. I actually feel a bit deflated. Birmingham look unbeatable at the minute, and this result (coupled with last week) will give West Ham such a massive confidence boost.

Birmingham are going to win this league i reckon. Barnsley away is a tough game and they've dealt with them easily. The West Ham result is the big one. Really really need a draw.

Billy Sharp seems to be getting some disgusting abuse on twitter tonight. Look at this profile (looks as if it's just been set up, so wouldn't surprise me if it's a West Ham fan pretending to be a Donny fan). I don't have twitter so have no idea how to report it. Maybe someone else will? https://twitter.com/#!/ChrisDRFCBoyd

Great point... But only if we can back it up with 3 on Saturday. Christ, every game seems to get bigger and bigger!

I'm a fan of Richardson, but since he came back from injury he has been a total liability. He often gets beaten by his man, and his crossing (one of his best qualities) seems to have gone completely to pot. We have Danny Butterfield in the squad, who i believe is a very solid replacement for the out-of-form Frazer. I know he was injured, but now he's fit again it's time to get him involved. Danny also has a fantastic delivery in wide areas, and i don't think we use that far-post cross when Rickie peels off to the back post anyway near enough. Rickie is constantly finding himself matched up against smaller full backs, but in the last dozen or so games, the crosses have been under hit, over hit or sometimes not even hit at all. Butterfield for Richardson for a few games for me.

There are exceptions to the rule my friend. The Minnesota Vikings being one of them. We'll never win a super bowl as long as i've got a hole in my ass. Talent wise, we're never far off, but they'll always find a way of beating themselves when it truly matters. They given me some horrifically crushing times. I just hope they stay in MIN though. I would definitely never watch another NFL game if they move to LA. That'd break my heart more than Favre did 2 years ago.

Well, what do we think? Realistically, i think you'd be a brave man to back us to make the top 2 now. Of course facts are facts, and we are still second in the league. But i think you have to dig deeper than that. Firstly, obviously we're not winning and haven't been since November. That is a long time and the only reason we're still up there is because teams like Cardiff and Boro have constantly failed to capitalise on our poor results. We seem to have totally lost the knack of winning. If you're not playing well, a top 2 side still manages to grind out 1-0 wins - look at West Ham. We just don't have the ability to keep it tight when it counts. Some will say that that is down to recent injuries Fonte and Hoovield, but i'd be questioning the midfield who offer our back 4 absolute naff all protection. Has anyone else noticed the number of times the opposition have got 4+ players running full tilt at our back-peddling back 4? As much as i like Cork and Morgan, they don't command the midfield anything like the level we need them to at the minute. Hammond is a must start for me from here on in. He's not technically as gifted. But he's the guy who i'd have in there every game from here on in. We just can't continue to leak goals. I also think our luck has hugely turned. At the start of the season we were getting pens when we were getting fouled outside the box! Now, the refs aren't giving us a damn thing. Cardiff is a perfect example. If the ref does his job, we win that game 3-0. Without a shadow of a doubt my expectations have been checked over the past month. This is the business end of the season and teams are now starting to make a charge (see Birmingham). I think the top 2 spots are going to be a big ask, if i'm totally honest. Even with 5 points between us and 6th, i think the play offs may be much harder to make than some people think, although i think we'll have enough. Just. I've got us down to finish 6th.

I laughed when they cheered the Birmingham result at the end (Pompey losing). Priceless!!