Beckenham Saint

This is going to look incredible petty, but yes, really. I really don't have a problem with him, but, sensible he is not. He seemed frustrated all summer to me - and it's a bit of a jump to say "we were all starting to feel anxious", as I know plenty of Saints fans (myself included) who weren't worried at any point. It was very clear early on that we were going to be OK. Getting the best possible deals, appointing Ronald Koeman, expanding the back room staff throughout the club, not responding to the ridiculous media frenzy, not rushing into silly transfers and clearly going about scouting well and thoroughly and using all the time available... So, some S-Clarke reactionary posts, to back up my initial point: Pretty reactionary stuff from a thread called "The Start of a New Era", and here, talking about the end of an era. From a thread called "If You Could Undo One Transfer", his answer? "Morgan". One of the best things about being reactionary, is that when the things you were worrying about most don't happen, you get the outcome you want, i.e the Morgan Schneiderlin transfer being undone! Reacting extremely to information that he has now proof on the authenticity of, and, which turned out to be false. Questions will be asked! By who? Weren't this board incompetent a few weeks ago? (I know, he's joking... so am I, sort of) Anyway, no foresight. Not looking at what was really happening, the growth, the amount of money we were getting, the manager appointed all pointing toward a board that were quietly going about their business while everyone else was wetting the bed and telling the press about it. Pretty clear? Well how about those of us who thought the complete opposite and said so and were shot down for being "blind to what was really going on" or had our "Head in the Sand"? Replying to saintforever's post: "I would take 17th right now" Why not both wait and see what happened? Why hurry into "taking 17th" when they didn't know how the summer would pan out? So many posters appear to be in such a hurry to spout an opinion before considering what was going on, and that's why people accuse them of "wetting the bed". I'd take 1st right now! Fairly knowledgeable? Well, his sources told us that Reed was off to Liverpool (deal close to being done), Tadic wasn't coming as he was destined for a top 4 team (so essentially, at the minute, that is true!) and Pelle was going to be worse than Altidore. Pelle scored more goals in 4 games than Altidore has in his last 30... And reasoned? Reasoning always seems to go out of the window once unfounded quotes from nobodies get bought into things. I've seen S-Clarke called the "voice of reason" by one poster before, although he feels more to me like "the watered down voice of other peoples opinions."

And Bearsy called me a Dork!

Going to be queuing at Tesco's at midnight for an Xbox One / FIFA 15 bundle. £329.99 for both seems to good to miss!

Lallana tapping Forster up? Probably just trying to show Stevie G that he had all the credentials to be a 'big team' player.

Think Pelle will be bang up for this, he said in one of his interviews that if he goes two games without a goal then he does everything he can to get one in the third. Didn't score against Swansea or Arsenal, so think he will be going all out to grab one. Can see Long starting this one, tiring out the full backs before Mane comes on and exploits that. Would love to see him up against Ferdinand as there can surely be no contest in a race between the two! And Richard Dunne, come to think of it. As people have referenced before, one of our biggest problems against teams that come to defend was lack of players that can unlock the defence. I think Tadíc seems like the kind of player that could do that, and it would only take one good cross onto the head of Pelle that could decide things. Not to mention that Barton and Sandro are injured! Morgan, Wanyama, Davis and Cork will surely be enough to cope with a depleted QPR midfield, and throw in their recently found scoring form and they could have a field day. I've got no worries between who starts out of Gardos and Alderweireld at the back as both have looked very solid and should be able to deal with Austin or Vargas. God, if we won this that's six in a row, and a chance to go top for the evening. Mental. I can't wait.

Can see his point, even if his phrasing is a bit heavy... You do certainly come across as very reactionary most of the time, I get the impression that when reading new information and articles etc that you forget most things that have gone before it and always form a brand new opinion on what's immediately in front of you! But yeah, Les Reed has done a great job for us, and we most likely wouldn't be where we are without him. He certainly was wrongly portrayed on here over the summer, as was everyone on the board, but mainly I suspect because a lot of posters on this board have very short attention spans, and can't see the bigger picture beyond "Oh, we've sold some players!" Those who vilified Krueger and Reed and co are probably those who don't have any understanding of what it is they actually do!

I posted this on the last page, but in case you (or anyone else) missed it and need a link to a stream for tonight: http://premier-league-live.net/live/arsenal-live-stream/channel-1/

If anyone's as sad, or as impatient, as me - you can check the view from your seat on the arsenal / emirates website

http://premier-league-live.net/live/arsenal-live-stream/channel-1/

I'll bet £20 with you that we lose, so either way you break even!

Jesus christ the guy in this video is absolutely unbearable! What a tit!

Oh my god, I am more excited for this game than I should be...

What's people's line up prediction for this one? Judging by the side Koeman put out against Millwall I think he is taking this cup seriously, and having fielded a strong team against them he has now set a precedent for his selection in the cups. Think Mane will make his debut, but who will be left out to accommodate him? I would imagine it will be Long, unless he leaves Tadic on the bench again to avoid an injury. Hope to see Gardos start, am interested to see how he copes with having some defending to do! Looked good on the ball yesterday and I liked the way he was running out of defence with the ball, a bit like Lovren was doing at the start of last season. Can't wait for this one, for some reason I don't see us winning (based on nothing at all, normally optimistic about most games but have just got that gut feeling) but think it will be a great game, and should be another brilliant atmosphere (in the away end at least! )

Dani Osvaldo!

Mane to come in, Jrod to come back, Alderwireld should be back next weekend (according to Adam Blackmore via Koeman I think.) Ward-Prowse and Yoshida both only took minor knocks, so team and bench will look better vs QPR. Our depth this season is much better than last. The bench looked weak on saturday, but still had space for two first team regulars in Wanyama and Davies from midfield and Gardos who looks a solid addition on yesterdays showing. There was little attacking threat on the bench but with Mane to come in that will change and Rodriguez to come back (mid December) then we will look better for it. Our defensive options this year are very healthy and the midfield is possibly one of the best for competition in the league. Think options up top aren't too much cause for concern either, as we have Pelle, Long, Mane, Tadic at the minute plus Rodriguez and even Gallagher to return... We only used 22 players in the league last year, so competition for places wasn't very good at all. We've already used 17 different players so far in the league this year but that number will go up when players like Rodriguez, Mane, Reed, Targett, McQueen and Gallagher get game time. Our squad figures are about the same as last year, but I think the quality of the players is better - instead of Hooiveld on the bench we have Gardos, instead of Reed we have Wanyama, instead of Mayuka it will be Mane or Long... It's all looking good!

Can we have a meltdown every year?

Matt Le Tissier ‏@mattletiss7 Sfc s best ever start to a prem season any comment on the meltdown @neilashton_ ? Neil Ashton ‏@neilashton_ 46m @mattletiss7 yes, looking good - glad you've enjoyed the opening five games of the season, Matt.

When we eventually lose a game in this kit, will the post match thread be called "beaten in stripes"?

So we become the first team to score (and win) at the Liberty stadium since we last scored (and won) at the Liberty! Gardos looked solid when on, not that he had much to deal with in the second half. Tadic very impressive again... What a team Koeman has put together!

Merson suggests over on the Sky predictions that we will lose this one 2-1 (barely mentions us) and says that their wingers will be too fast for us. He's clearly never seen Clyne or Bertrand sprinting...

Press Conference starting slightly earlier today (supposedly) at half 2.

That was my whole reason for starting the thread to be honest, but had to thinly veil it in Saints related content Anyway, it's 4:12, schools out Gramps

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/29692/9463493/top-10-football-grounds-in-the-world-selected-by-kevin-davies Kevin Davies has listed The Dell as one of his top ten football grounds (Above the BMO Field, Goodison Park and Old Trafford). I'm not old enough to have been to the Dell, but it does look amazing in some photos, and I bet the atmosphere was amazing there!

That video had got to be a mickey take?? The only thing that is making me not so positive it is, is that there are so many nutters on the internet! If not it's the funniest football video since the Anelka / West Brom video...

Not sure if it has been commented above, but Alderweireld gets a 78 rating (Pace 64, Shooting 58, Passing 64, Dribbling 62, Defending 79, Physical 78), while Mane is rated at 74 (Pace 90, Shooting 70, Passing 69, Dribbling 78, Defending 34, Physical 61). Our squad comes out alright, too. Have run out starting XI from sat and a strong bench through their team builder and it comes out 4 stars, 77 attack and midfield and 75 defence (for those like me who are sad enough to care...)