Sammy_Saint

Not at all. Its a discussion starter after a very interesting opening 3 game weeks, the like of which we have not had for the previous few seasons. Do i think we will get relegated? Not at all, my prediction is 11th with 49 points. My point is, is that in previous seasons, and last season especially, we did unfortunately rely quite heavily on other teams performing poorly. Those said teams so far, seem to fewer than last season, as in the lower half of the table certainly seems to be stronger this season so far. Whilst it is very early on still, its shaping up to be an interesting season, with the possibility of the status-quo changing somewhat. My question was, where does that leave Saints?

Yeah agree, was just a discussion starter, I cant remember a start to a season where the 'big 6' have dropped so many points so early. its been really entertaining to watch and just got me thinking really.

Yeah, but still nice to see them struggle. Always had a soft spot for them until they behaved like T@*%s at SMS when they beat us. They take up a spot for a club that should be in the Premier league IMO. Their September and October Fixtures are much 'nicer' so lets see.

After watching the opening 3 game weeks of the premier league this season, the results we've seen, the terrific performances of some teams, is there is a clear overall rise in the level and quality in the traditional 'best of the rest' teams in the premier league? Could this be the season where we cannot rely on, as we have for the past 3 seasons, that there will be 3 worse teams than us? Now I'm very much the optimist, glass half full supporter, but lets face it, last season, Norwich, Watford, Burnley, Leeds and Everton were just as bad, if not worse than us (thank god after we imploded) If you look at 20/21 we were again lucky that we had Fulham, WBA, Sheff Utd and Burnley who were trash. I guess my point is this; Whilst we are only 3 matches in, the newly promoted teams (bar Bournemouth) look very decent, Fulham especially. I think Forest will struggle just due to the massive sea change in personnel there. The teams we would normally be matching ourselves with; Leeds (were superb yesterday), Brighton (are flying), Palace and Brentford (both look good), Newcastle (are a changed beast) and Villa (will be fine despite palace beating them) are arguably as good if not better than us and have recruited well. Could we see Wolves and Leicester struggle? I think it could be a much closer division 18th-9th with many teams now I feel possessing quality throughout their squads. Is it the end of the traditional top 6/7 teams, 8-10 similar teams and 4-3 woeful teams? If this is the case, how and where do Saints end up?! What does everyone think?

id say he looks good on the ball, tricky, some nice headers and smart finishes. Reminded me of Ings in some clips. Better than Che id say.

And yet when he has played a settled team, June 2020- August 2020 and Jan 2022-March 2022 we've gone on good runs and picked up points. strange how we can see it yet he cant?

Having read most of the comments on this 8/9 page thread, whilst watching the fan forum on youtube, prompted me to renew my subscription finally, rather than just lurking in the bushes reading all the comments. I honestly couldn't say if i am Ralph in or out at the moment. I must say I've been very much Ralph in for basically all his tenure of our club, but as we all know, since march we have been god awful. I thought the Fans forum was abit of a damp squib. I often wonder, where do they find these idiots who ask the questions? There were literally 2/3 good questions. The fan who went to 38 games and then used 2 games as his example of coming home disappointed when we did actually do well.. facepalm. JWP testimonial, what a daft question. Rainbow shirt guy, useless. For me, the positives: -Ralph clearly cares about our club and still has that passion which I would say most our fanbase love(d) -His closing words were I felt genuine, and i do hope he turns it around. -We could be run by far far worse guys than Martin and Toby. I felt when the questions were actually good ones, they answered as best they could, it felt genuine. -I still like Adam Blackmore. Negatives: -Strange answer for me on transfer policy and formation. On the one hand saying some of the younger new players need time to learn the 4-2-2-2 so 5-3-2 is the preference (correct me if I'm wrong) but then are we saying we are singing player who aren't ready? -Martins reply to the good question at the end that our best target is to stay or break into the top 10. I felt it summed up the feeling of we should be happy and grateful we are actually in the Premier league. Surely that's not enough ambition? -Ralphs answer to an earlier question about how we must work harder than the other team, tbf as we did after project restart when it was superb to watch us. But all of us can safely say that our pressing game has all but disappeared of late?? what is his philosophy? Overall, the stadium and fan seating was a predictable answer. Womens team (whilst great) is merely a sideshow which was probably pressed alittle too hard. The real questions we wanted asking, were not, i.e ownership? how involved are they? is there more money to spend? do we need to sell to balance the books? whats our goal for the next 2-3 seasons? Anyway, i do feel if we are shit against Leeds, surely Ralphs time is nearly done. My first post back in along time, go nice

Your not wrong. What i have to do is make sure i go to the first 3-4 away games so then i have enough tickets on my season ticket to allow me to go to the away games i actually want to go

Sour mash, you speak sense Sir.

I'm not sure how we sounded so loud. I was there and was utterly disappointed with the support. We don't sing before the game and it's only when the teams came out that our one and only bloody song OWTS is sung and then fizzles out as soon as it gets to clapping. IMO the away support has got ALOT worse since coming back to the PL. during our League 1 and Champ seasons on the whole the 10-15 away games per season I went too were always excellent. My observation and thoughts are as follows: 1. As it's the prem we get "part time" away fans who aren't bothered about singing and would rather sit than stand. 2. As I said observation, but i reckon 15-20% of the away fans at WBA were female. Now that's great but it's 100% was not the case when i was travelling during our promotion season. Shows how our support base has changed. 3. We have no ****ing songs. Our range of songs is shocking. 4. Why people are saying Man Utd only sing when their winning is rubbish. It pains me to say but they have been the best away support at SMS since we got promoted back. This season I have done all our away trips. Watford was awful, WBA slightly better. Newcastle was more like the old away days. It's so frustrating as I used to think how good our away support was. Fulham away 3-0 win sticks in my mind as one of the best away prem I've been too. Interested in everyone's thoughts?!!

Good deal, significantly better cover than super kev or Gazza. Signed in a loan not permanent so we haven't committed just in case. Good use of the loan system IMO. 3 good signings so far and all can be part of pre season and blend/gel with the rest of squad.

If he scored 18 in that ****e QPR team hes a good player. Scores a variety of goals as well. Think of the half turn volley against us..... A good addition. Think of our Europa travels, we need some much more depth in the squad.

Some interesting opinions and enjoyed reading peoples views. I still think we kill Pelle far to much on here. I think many dont appreciate what he does for the team and look solely on his goal return, (yes i know hes a striker,) BUT Koemans tactics are set up to have a focal point of our attack. Goalkeepers- Forster - 8 - Good first season, good shot stopper and kicking is decent, is it me or does anyone else think he could work on his flapping? for a mountain of a guy, i think hes still got work to do on coming and collection. Davis - 7 - Super Kelv. Enough said. When do we put him on the banner for saints web? Gazzaniga - 6 - Stay of execution? cant see him ever really breaking in the team after watching him struggle filling in. Defenders Clyne - 7.5 - Felt he drifted abit after FEB, like several of the players. Love him to stay, no doubt of his quality. Fonte - 10 - One of the best CB in the league this year, highlight for me was Harry Kane in his pocket the whole game at SMS. Class act and captain marvelous Toby - 9 - Probably the best player ive seen in a Saints shirt. Oozes quality but i fear we wont see him again, which is tragic. Yoshida - 7 - An excellent back up who would get in many teams Gardos - 6 - Abit gangerly and poor. Shef Utd he was ****e. Obviously has class but yet to show. Bertrand - 9.5 - After the slating most gave him on here when the loan was announced, hes been awesome. Team of year says it all. Targett - 6 - Not much game time. clearly talented but someway to go for me. Midfielders- Davis - 8 - Dont understand the criticism. He keeps us ticking over and work rate is second to none. Did tail off slightly but still a strong season. wish.he.could.shoot!! Wanyama - 8 - A powerhouse. Needs to learn how to pass. but BIG improvement on last season. Reed - 6.5 - Like him and thought he was great against Everton at home. prospect for the future. JWP - 7 - Clearly so talented. I think hes too light weight. love his quality from set pieces, but still not quite there for me. Morgan - 9 - Different Gravy. Class act and we miss him when hes not on the pitch. Cant see him staying, so thank you morgan for your time here. Tadic - 7.5 - on fire for 3-4 months then fell off a cliff. injury may have something to do with it.? Djuricic - 6 - Not seen anything that makes me think hes any better than what we have. Attackers- Pelle -8 - Unfairly criticised on here and i like him very much. Passionate, works hard for the team and has scored so good goals. confidence and missing chances does worry me BUT still 16 goals in all comps... id take that. Mane - 8.5 - I dont think he knows anymore than we do whats going to happen when he has the ball. Was god awful at times but the genius at others. Long -7 - People far to hung up on the price we paid for him. Never been a big scorer and i think we didnt use him enough. Big fan of his work and been decent. Ellia -5 - plop. that is all.

This. Hes a great guy and did a tremendous amount for us, and i LOVED his post match interviews. Mr. Positive and always had the players playing for him. I still believe we would have stayed up with him in the Prem. @Saint-Armstrong, great write up and an interesting read!

I'd Take it. Played at the highest level, prefer him to a 'young prospect' as back up to Fraser. Saw FF drive in to the stadium Saturday, so assuming his knee cant be 'that' bad?

This. 100% Agree. Trippier would step up in a good Saints Team. He looked good in Burnelys average Joe team. With better players around him he could another Bertrand. I seem to remember the amount of underwhelment on here when we signed Bertrand and look how thats turned out!

It is vital for us to keep him if we want to progress as a club. Hes a class above and one of our few 'big names', also great hair!

I still love old Nige. Mr Positive and did a wonderful Job for us. I think we got rid of him too soon, i still think he would have kept us up that 1st season back.

Best manager - Strachen, Loved his post and pre match quotes to the media. Also took us to a final and into Europe... Keeper - Niemi Foreigner - Tough one, Loved watching Pahars, Claus was a hero during my early teens. Morgan has to be up there too. Atmosphere - Any Pompey Game during our Championship season. Went home & away both were excellent. Best game - Brentford or Plymouth away whilst in league 1. Brentford was brilliant 3-0 in the sun on the terracing. Plymouth was a big party and secured our promotion with SRL scoring a class header at the end of first half. goal scored by a Saints player - Morgan/Lallna scoop against Ipswich 5-2 demolition at the beginning of the Championship season. Great game great goal Most memorial match - Paint trophy. Watching Saints win a trophy was brilliant. Remember being nervous before the game then SRL smashed that pen in and the rest was history. funniest moment - That horrific own goal this season during the 8-0 destruction of Sunderland.

How about this for an away kit?? think this would be smart with afew tweaks

That would be an awesome home kit, going back to the 80's! I think stripes will be stuck with though. Away kit wise, id love us to go back to yellow & blue, i think most fans would be over the moon with that.

Swansea fans sat down most the game!! I dont like the Palace Ultra's but I just thought they were decent. The only others that were poor that spring to mind where Stoke. Going back to my original point, how do you think we rank as away support in comparison to other teams in the league? I thought weve always been decent...!

Fonte by a country mile. A real leader and professional. He has improved so much. Its ashame hes 31, how much longer do you think hes got in him? As for 2nd and 3rd Id go with Victor and Mane/Clyne

Fair point with the big 3/4. however don't those teams sell away season tickets only? Only reason i mention is that one of my mate is a gooner and away tickets are like gold dust. Its regarded by many arsenal fans that the ''real'' fans go to the away games, not the plastics that are the Emirates. I thought Palace were decent Tuesday night. Good songs, sang all game. True they didnt bring their full allocation which is poor. I think the reverse we would have sold out on a tuesday night at Selhurst.

http://talksport.com/football/premier-leagues-top-10-loudest-away-fans-revealed-according-poll-141218129165?p=1 We rank 9th My initial point about Palace being decent seems to match the talk sports findings