AP in the dressing room after the game

[THERESE'S BOY]

Gruel?

Twould be a rule too cruel...

[Channon's Sideburns]

I'll probably get slated on here, but I wonder how bad the 'socialising' by the younger players was before they were being hailed by Lord Lowe as 'the next big thing' - I've always felt that this was one of the downsides to his masterplan...'bigging' them up in the media was always going to have pros and cons..

 

I remember the away QPR game when Sky obviously had fallen for his youth rhetoric (remember him on the touchline with Poortvliet before the game - got yourself on live TV Rupey, well done)..by full-time the whole country had seen what a crock of sh1te they'd believed...we were at best, average.

 

Waffling I know, but I really feel that's why a lot of younger players lost their way - THEY BELIEVED THE HYPE.

 

In many ways, Lallana's current attitude stems from things like this - not to mention hearing stories on U21 team camps about money etc.

 

Also, quite why anyone on here thinks it's ok for a paid professional to hit the pints two days before a game is a mystery to me.

 

If I was being paid £3k + per week to play for Saints then I wouldn't be p1ssing it up against a wall - but then there is the problem.

 

We, as fans appreciate what it would feel like to play for Saints - some of these (Surman excluded) wouldn't know a longing like that if it kicked them in the goolies...

[aintforever]

Good to hear he's showing strong leadership, that's exactly what this club needs. SFC has been mismanaged for too long, last season we were effectively not managed at all.

 

We need people who know football and know this League, making the footballing descisions. AP's the boss and everyone at t the club needs to know it.

[RobM]

Good to hear he's showing strong leadership, that's exactly what this club needs. SFC has been mismanaged for too long, last season we were effectively not managed at all.

 

We need people who know football and know this League, making the footballing descisions. AP's the boss and everyone at t the club needs to know it.

 

Agreed... we need footballing people making the football decisions and business people making the business decisions. But the first rule of successful business is putting the right people in the right positions and trusting them to do their job.

 

You don't become a billionaire without knowing how to run a business and without being a good judge of character, so I've every faith that ML will put the right people in the right job. AP seems to be a perfect example of this.

 

ML also seems to know exactly how he is going to manage this club. Right from the start he has kept out of the press, got on and done what he needs to do and has done it in his own way. Long may this continue!

[sentry]

Just to spoken to mate of mine who is very good friends with a current player. After the game AP went into the changing room called in all the pro squad even if they didnt play today and laid down some rules already. A quick summary is

 

"I want us to get the winning habit quickly"

 

"I expect us to win our home games from day one starting next week against Hearts"

 

"Im big on discipline basically expects players to arrive training on time and for other "team events"

 

"Present themselves accordingly in Public"

 

"We are all this in together"

 

"If you have to many lapses I will **** you off" beat?

 

Im not saying the players name, but he was very happy with these demands and more which he wouldnt tell me and said AP is here for the long term. Things will be done his way and his way only.

 

I like AP more and more!

 

 

Also i still cant believe that when new managers/coaches join a new club that they have to tell grown men to show up to work on time.

 

But yes, I have always liked AP and very pleased to have hiim here and hopefully for many years yet.

[gaz]

sauce

 

Chilli sauce?

[Jackie@home]

Saints have always performed better with a strong disciplinarian in charge, and our players, young or old, seem to need it. After the horrendous last couple of years strong leadership is absolutely essential. You look at Rasiak and wonder how good he could be if he could really be arsed; the same with Saga. It hardly sets the right example to the young players. The last few seasons it seems that as long as you've done enough to earn a contract, that's good enough - hopefully that scenario is now at an end.

[CB Saint]

About time some one brought our lot under control. It is a sad fact of life that footballers seem to need a firm hand to keep them on the straight and narrow. I can sort of understand (but not excuse) why the kids get caught up in the socialising aspects - its fun, but the older players should behave,well, profesionally and turn up on time, give 100% etc.

 

Funny how all the good managers out there (Fergie, Jose, Capello for example) are ones who are strict and whom the players wouldn't dare cross. Hopefully Pardue is in the same mould.

[parkgatesaint]

All sounds good to me...can't wait for the season to start....3 weeks only

[RobM]

About time some one brought our lot under control. It is a sad fact of life that footballers seem to need a firm hand to keep them on the straight and narrow. I can sort of understand (but not excuse) why the kids get caught up in the socialising aspects - its fun, but the older players should behave,well, profesionally and turn up on time, give 100% etc.

 

Funny how all the good managers out there (Fergie, Jose, Capello for example) are ones who are strict and whom the players wouldn't dare cross. Hopefully Pardue is in the same mould.

 

If you take young kids, put them in the media, fan and internet spotlight, give them loads of money and plenty of spare time it's only ever going to end one way. Even 'senior' players are still young really, yet at early-30's they are considered old.

 

If you consider this and then think back over our past few managers it's no wonder we've suffered so much. When your manager comes to work with egg on his shirt... or your manager comes to work with alcohol on his breath... or your manager is simply not experienced enough to know how to deal with this situation... what chance do you have of your players respecting and fearing you?

[dune]

From what Nicola and Andrew have said it'd seem that Alan Pardew is going to be allowed to manage the team without interference from a chairman who knows nothing about football. This is a sea change from the last decade and is very positive.

 

Whether AP is the right man for the job only time will tell, but all the elements are there (board unity/fan unity/player unity) for him to have the best possible chance of making this work.

 

Fitness is the most important factor in giving a team of average ability the edge in any league. It was this factor that made an average Strachan squad raise their game. Discipline is vital to achieve fitness, but it's a balancing act.

[Draino76]

guess the missing word lol

I presume this missing word was obviously ****.

[offix]

Those "laying down the law" statements are pretty generic. I cannot imagine any new manager anywhere saying anything else. The proof will be in the pudding. Based on his reputation I believe AP will be a much stricter disciplinarian than any of our recent managers.

[forever a red and white]

i'll support him fully, but he has to get results as well, not expecting promotion this season but need to see improvements, Wotte said all the right things, but delivered very little

[Leslie Charteris]

Let's hope he lays down similar rules for fitness and training.

[Dicko]

Fitness is the most important factor in giving a team of average ability the edge in any league. It was this factor that made an average Strachan squad raise their game. Discipline is vital to achieve fitness, but it's a balancing act.

 

Totally agree

 

This was a key factor in Burnley's promotion - they had the smallest squad in the league & not the most talented

 

Graham Alexander played nearly 70 games at 37 years of age

[sfc6mufc3]

hopefully he also said to them that "when you take the lead - HOLD ONTO IT"

 

Something we really struggle with. Not just yesterday but countless games over the last 2 seasons (and probably more).

[ART]

Just to spoken to mate of mine who is very good friends with a current player. After the game AP went into the changing room called in all the pro squad even if they didnt play today and laid down some rules already. A quick summary is

 

"I want us to get the winning habit quickly"

 

"I expect us to win our home games from day one starting next week against Hearts"

 

"Im big on discipline basically expects players to arrive training on time and for other "team events"

 

"Present themselves accordingly in Public"

 

"We are all this in together"

 

"If you have to many lapses I will **** you off"

 

Im not saying the players name, but he was very happy with these demands and more which he wouldnt tell me and said AP is here for the long term. Things will be done his way and his way only.

 

I like AP more and more!

 

The minute I read Exit2's post last night the name of Alain Perrin flashed across my mind. This kind of statement is exactly what Perrin said the day he walsed into Olympique Marseille and then when he arrived at Farton Rust Bowl. As some have said only time will tell but it doesn't sit to well in my thoughts and hope he puts his words into talking on the pitch. And pretty soon or I can see him gone by the end of November.

 

I wish to ask what has become of the appointment of Director of Football? Will Henderson and Svensson follow Wotte out the door in the coming days or will we see Wotte offered a new contract as Academy Director or Director of Football?

[NickG]

Svennson has already gone.

[sfc6mufc3]

hopefully he also said to them that "when you take the lead - HOLD ONTO IT"

 

Something we really struggle with. Not just yesterday but countless games over the last 2 seasons (and probably more).

 

this is to backup my feelings.

What I have is the the first 10 league games of last season where the team has scored the first goal

w d l

wolves 10

sheff u 10

palace 9 1

qpr 8 1 1

readin 8 1 1

barnsley 7 2 1

cardiff 7 3

fors 7 3

sheff w 7 2 1

bham 7 3

norw 7 1 2

b city 6 2 2

cov 6 1 3

derby 6 4

donny 6 1 3

plym 6 3 1

pres 6 1 3

swansea 6 3 1

burn 6 4

saints 5 4 1

blackpool 5 4 1

ipsw 5 3 2

charl 4 2 4

watf 3 2 5

 

In other words where Wolves and Sheff Utd scored 1st they went onto win in those 10 gaems where they scored first, where as Watford scored first in 10 games but only managed to collect 3 points on 3 occassions.

I always thought we were awful at hanging onto a lead and we may have come bottom during the whole season but that would take too much work/time.

[ssaints]

We need the same approach as Ajax. Stayed in the same hotel as them last night. They were total professionals, polite enjoying down time and generally very sociable! A special mention for Suarez and the other senoir pro's who seem to be tutoring some of the other players over a few games of cards. I hope Pardew can instil that type of professional approach.

[Gingeletiss]

The minute I read Exit2's post last night the name of Alain Perrin flashed across my mind. This kind of statement is exactly what Perrin said the day he walsed into Olympique Marseille and then when he arrived at Farton Rust Bowl. As some have said only time will tell but it doesn't sit to well in my thoughts and hope he puts his words into talking on the pitch. And pretty soon or I can see him gone by the end of November.

 

I wish to ask what has become of the appointment of Director of Football? Will Henderson and Svensson follow Wotte out the door in the coming days or will we see Wotte offered a new contract as Academy Director or Director of Football?

 

Another negative post Art!!!!!!!..........there won't be a director of football, that was only going to happen with a younger manager!!

[ART]

Another negative post Art!!!!!!!..........there won't be a director of football, that was only going to happen with a younger manager!!

 

Not at all Gingeletiss. I'm just replying to spontaneous reaction to what exit2 posted last night. I have premonitions like previously with Burley's appointment, the Ides of March or saying Lowe would return and I'm often proved right. Yet, my intuition isn't always right. I was wrong over Strachan but was eventually glad to see him gone.

 

I post the spontaneous feeling I get and sometimes others also have similar thoughts. I want this guy Pardew, these players, this club to succeed and get back where they rightly belong.

 

I once was a very proud Brit living overseas and Southampton and Saints stood tall in the eyes of the world. Le Tiss still gets associated overseas as does Keegan playing for the club but beyond that currently we are nobodies. I want it to change, want to see Saints go places before my numbers up. I don't want to die with the memory of the likes of Lowe and the boardroom squabblers being all that Saints are known for. If we can't get over this man Lowe, forget all about him we'll never succeed. Forget him and kiss him goodbye......FOREVER.

[capitalsaint]

The minute I read Exit2's post last night the name of Alain Perrin flashed across my mind. This kind of statement is exactly what Perrin said the day he walsed into Olympique Marseille and then when he arrived at Farton Rust Bowl. As some have said only time will tell but it doesn't sit to well in my thoughts and hope he puts his words into talking on the pitch. And pretty soon or I can see him gone by the end of November.

 

I wish to ask what has become of the appointment of Director of Football? Will Henderson and Svensson follow Wotte out the door in the coming days or will we see Wotte offered a new contract as Academy Director or Director of Football?

 

but you neglect the fact that neither portsmouth nor marseille were in a particularly bad situation when perrin took over. our squad have underperformed and, it could be suggested, have not got the best of attitudes. compare this with a portsmouth team that had stayed in the prem and were doing pretty well under redknapp. what perrin did is try to fix something that, ultimately, wasn't broken.

 

if a squad needs a no-nonsense disciplinarian, then pardew's speech is perfect. perrin was foolish enough to try it with a team that already had a reasonably decent attitude and were used to a manager with impeccable man-management skills.

[Charlie Wayman]

I would have thought when addressing players who have loss all self belief that something a bit more imaginative and constructive might have been said, more a rallying call than a bollicking that they really don't need or deserve right now.

[sfc6mufc3]

hopefully he also said to them that "when you take the lead - HOLD ONTO IT"

 

Something we really struggle with. Not just yesterday but countless games over the last 2 seasons (and probably more).

 

looks like nothing has changed........first Millwall and now Brentford - take the lead and cannot kill the game off!!!!!

[sfc6mufc3]

looks like nothing has changed........first Millwall and now Brentford - take the lead and cannot kill the game off!!!!!

 

and now Birmingham

 

this is a problem taking the lead and then not winnig - so so frustrating!!!!!!!!

[lordswoodsaints]

Just to spoken to mate of mine who is very good friends with a current player. After the game AP went into the changing room called in all the pro squad even if they didnt play today and laid down some rules already. A quick summary is

 

"I want us to get the winning habit quickly"

 

"I expect us to win our home games from day one starting next week against Hearts"

 

"Im big on discipline basically expects players to arrive training on time and for other "team events"

 

"Present themselves accordingly in Public"

 

"We are all this in together"

 

"If you have to many lapses I will **** you off"

 

Im not saying the players name, but he was very happy with these demands and more which he wouldnt tell me and said AP is here for the long term. Things will be done his way and his way only.

 

I like AP more and more!

 

Doesn't sound like any of the players bothered to listen to the first couple of sentences.

[Give it to Ron]

Doesn't sound like any of the players bothered to listen to the first couple of sentences.

 

Doesn't look like they are all ****ed off with him either going by the performace tonight did it?

[hypochondriac]

We're slowly getting there.

[sfc6mufc3]

and now Birmingham

 

this is a problem taking the lead and then not winnig - so so frustrating!!!!!!!!

 

 

and thats game 4 games this season and 3 in a week.

 

This has to stop -I'm not blaming Pardew as this has been a common theme over the last few seasons, but we have to hold on - especially as it seems we cannot score more than 1 a game at the mo.

 

Don't geive me any rubbish about adapting to the divsion because Charlton are top and even Norwcih are getting wins under their belt.

 

so so frustrating I just knew we would not hold out.

 

WHY CAN WE NOT DO IT???????????????

[eelpie]

they were all out again last night getting ridiculously drunk and eating kebabs after the night out.....great way i suppose to celebrate losing a game and to keep in shape for pre season

 

After a match, win or lose, it isn't a problem imo. So long as they don't do this three days before a match.

[lordswoodsaints]

and thats game 4 games this season and 3 in a week.

 

This has to stop -I'm not blaming Pardew as this has been a common theme over the last few seasons, but we have to hold on - especially as it seems we cannot score more than 1 a game at the mo.

 

Don't geive me any rubbish about adapting to the divsion because Charlton are top and even Norwcih are getting wins under their belt.

 

so so frustrating I just knew we would not hold out.

 

WHY CAN WE NOT DO IT???????????????

 

IMO it is down to fitness,strachan got the players fit enough to last a game and a half,every man played until the final whistle,something we are not doing.

The fitness hasn't been great since strachan left,IMO the current crop of players are unfit,lazy,demoralised,Ill disciplined and basically fookin useless.

The only player who looks fit to me is Harding and he obviously gained his fitness elsewhere.

[sfc6mufc3]

Strange isn't it that despite a change in personnel within the team and new coaches and managers that we still cannot keep other teams at bay for 90 minutes.

 

I realise 2 things - that the team is still gelling with new additions and that Pardew arrived not long before the season started.

 

What is worrying though is the fact that we haven't got a win from Brentford, Stockport or Swindon, our level of opposition isn't going to get much easier than them so WE HAVE TO IMPROVE.

 

Don't tell me Brentford are a good team and it was going to be tough - remember we are Southampton FC - how long did we have in the prem????

I can accept it if we have come up from non league but we haven't - we are an ex prem side like Charlton, Leeds etc - do you think they say that they got a worthy point against Swindon??? No chance - they should be winning against most of the dross in this division.........and they are!!

 

Feel better now, but I'm so pi**ed off with thinking that the next game will be the won that we win, only to get pegged back once again.

[Window Cleaner]

Strange isn't it that despite a change in personnel within the team and new coaches and managers that we still cannot keep other teams at bay for 90 minutes.

 

I realise 2 things - that the team is still gelling with new additions and that Pardew arrived not long before the season started.

 

What is worrying though is the fact that we haven't got a win from Brentford, Stockport or Swindon, our level of opposition isn't going to get much easier than them so WE HAVE TO IMPROVE.

 

Don't tell me Brentford are a good team and it was going to be tough - remember we are Southampton FC - how long did we have in the prem????

I can accept it if we have come up from non league but we haven't - we are an ex prem side like Charlton, Leeds etc - do you think they say that they got a worthy point against Swindon??? No chance - they should be winning against most of the dross in this division.........and they are!!

 

Feel better now, but I'm so pi**ed off with thinking that the next game will be the won that we win, only to get pegged back once again.

 

I think we have to look at what Charlton are doing, p*ssing on the opposition like they don't exist, yet WE are struggling against Stockport and Swindon despite having reinforced our squad. This can only mean one thing, Surman,JPS,Skacel and McG are world beaters who kept us above Charlton singlehandedly.Other than that the team is basically the same ,yet they've picked up 15 points so far and we've got just 3.

Edited 29 August, 2009 by Window Cleaner

[Lazlo78]

Don't tell me Brentford are a good team and it was going to be tough - remember we are Southampton FC - how long did we have in the prem????

 

I certainly see where you're coming from, but on the pitch our years in the Premier League counts for absolutely nothing right now. Zilch.

 

Our history gives us fans an immense feeling of not belonging in League One, increasing the frustration of playing against League One opposition.

 

But the sad truth is that none of our players were there in the Premier League. We are a League One team with loads of issues - Brentford is a League One team with the joy of promotion fresh in mind.

 

So to the 22 players on the pitch our Premier League history means absolutely nothing. Or at least less than Brentfords recent promotion...

[hypochondriac]

I think we have to look at what Charlton are doing, p*ssing on the opposition like they don't exist, yet WE are struggling against Stockport and Swindon despite having reinforced our squad. This can only mean one thing, Surman,JPS,Skacel and McG are world beaters who kept us above Charlton singlehandedly.Other than that the team is basically the same ,yet they've picked up 15 points so far and we've got just 3.

 

They had a settled pre season, kept most of their squad and carried momentum from last season. That's why they are where they are.

[Gingeletiss]

I certainly see where you're coming from, but on the pitch our years in the Premier League counts for absolutely nothing right now. Zilch.

 

Our history gives us fans an immense feeling of not belonging in League One, increasing the frustration of playing against League One opposition.

 

But the sad truth is that none of our players were there in the Premier League. We are a League One team with loads of issues - Brentford is a League One team with the joy of promotion fresh in mind.

 

So to the 22 players on the pitch our Premier League history means absolutely nothing. Or at least less than Brentfords recent promotion...

 

Great post, and well put........some on here need to forget where we were, and look at where we are IMO.

[Professor]

They had a settled pre season, kept most of their squad and carried momentum from last season. That's why they are where they are.

 

I don't think this is quite true, Hypo. Charlton had no momentum from last season, any more than Saints had, and although they may have kept their squad, we are supposed to have strengthened ours. In defence we lost Skacel and JPS but have Murty (til this week), Trotman, Harding and Thomas. In midfield we lost Surman, but have Harding. Up front we have Lambert instead Stern, Saga still there against the loss of DMcG. The signings all look like improvements so the weakness must have some other cause, and thats what people are trying to find by comparison with Charlton and Leeds.

Splashing the cash should not weaken your side, so is it the players who have not been replaced? Is it the team selections? Is it the tactics? Is it fitness?

[Tamesaint]

I don't think this is quite true, Hypo. Charlton had no momentum from last season, any more than Saints had, and although they may have kept their squad, we are supposed to have strengthened ours. In defence we lost Skacel and JPS but have Murty (til this week), Trotman, Harding and Thomas. In midfield we lost Surman, but have Harding. Up front we have Lambert instead Stern, Saga still there against the loss of DMcG. The signings all look like improvements so the weakness must have some other cause, and thats what people are trying to find by comparison with Charlton and Leeds.

Splashing the cash should not weaken your side, so is it the players who have not been replaced? Is it the team selections? Is it the tactics? Is it fitness?

 

I agree with Hypo.

 

Towards the end of last season, Charlton started to put together a decent run. It was almost as if they had written off that season and decided to concentrate on getting their team togehter for this season. They beat us 3-2 at the beginning of April at SMS and looked a pretty good team. They definitly had momentum at the end of last season and have built from there.

 

The fact that we are still looking for signings & have made 3 signings in the last 2 weeks shows how settled we are. Our acquisitions may well be better than their predecessors - but it will take time for them to be absorbed into the team.

 

It will all take time ... but we are still in August. Lets be patient.

[sfc6mufc3]

Great post, and well put........some on here need to forget where we were, and look at where we are IMO.

 

here here I sometime need to be reminded that good times are ahead but just not in the near future.

 

It just is unreal that we can spiral from the prem and a cup final appearance to bottom of div 1 in such a short space of time.

[Lazlo78]

here here I sometime need to be reminded that good times are ahead but just not in the near future.

 

It just is unreal that we can spiral from the prem and a cup final appearance to bottom of div 1 in such a short space of time.

 

It is indeed devastating and to find any positives in our current situation you'd have to go for clichées along the lines of "this is a test of our loyalty towards SFC". Which btw isn't entirely untrue. I haven't for a single second considered following a PL-team while Saints are rebuilding even though I don't as such have any geographical limitations to my choice of team.

 

Good times are ahead but as you say probably not in the near future. In the near future we'll have ups and downs and start understanding what SFC under ML & AP is all about. Long term we'll demand more (and hopefully get it).

 

What needs to be said is that somewhere, sometime, somehow we'll have to stick with some manager for a long period of time in order to achieve anything with this club. Be it Pardew or another, we'll have to stay cool enough to not panic over minor setbacks if we can see that the course set is sensible. We simply cannot continue ****ing our pants to stay warm...

 

The Stockport game is a great example of this as this was a minor annoyance, not a reason for discarding the entire ML-setup as rubbish. Everyone was gutted and sickened after the late equaliser as this could have been a great step towards getting above 0 points. To my pleasant surprise however, I found that the majority (yes?) of posters have shown the willingness to look beyond the annoying Stockport result and look at the long term development of the club After the initial swearing, our focus was once again turned to the larger perspective, and the fact that the team seemingly showed improvements was highlighted.

 

That makes me confident that we're not going to see any premature "Pardew Out"-reactions as long as the team stays on course (and it convinced me to sign up as a full member of the board, since I now believe that this actually is not an online confessional for Hampshire Depressive SOGs Anonymous. The cuddly old swiss has done an Obama on us and convinced us that "yes we can... probably... maybe next season")

 

There are no guarantees that the current setup will deliver the results we want, but that's what faith is for ;-)

[sfc6mufc3]

and thats game 4 games this season and 3 in a week.

 

This has to stop -I'm not blaming Pardew as this has been a common theme over the last few seasons, but we have to hold on - especially as it seems we cannot score more than 1 a game at the mo.

 

Don't geive me any rubbish about adapting to the divsion because Charlton are top and even Norwcih are getting wins under their belt.

 

so so frustrating I just knew we would not hold out.

 

WHY CAN WE NOT DO IT???????????????

 

 

 

same old same old - what's that 6 games this season taken the lead but NOT gone on to win - even Tranmere won tonight FFS

I posted on 606 that we have the worst record of all the relegated teams from prem, div 1 & div 2 and was shot down in flames for being so negative - does tonights result fill anybody with anything positive - cos I'm missing something big time if it does!

[saint lard]

is it ok to be a tad negative now,a few have been a tad 'disgruntled' about our displays yet have been mocked for doing so.

We are going nowhere at this moment in time.

This was/is the primetime to make some inroads into becoming a far better footballing side than we have been used too for somewhile yet all i see and have been seeing is a stagnated club.

Fantastic that we are doing positive things off the pitch and wonderful that we are hearing all the right things coming from behind the scenes...but that wins you nothing.

We need progress on the field of play.

Keep Pardew,by all means,but if the job was as huge as he makes out and we are led to believe install some help.....DOF.

[saint lard]

I am going through the same dismay and angst as i was when we went into admin...nothing has really change.

Woot,we have a wealthy owner, but.........

[JoeShmoe]

And its taken him until now to say this?

 

Good proactive management there

 

God, I wish we'd hired Keegan

[chrisobee]

And its taken him until now to say this?

 

Good proactive management there

 

God, I wish we'd hired Keegan

 

Taken who until now to say what ? The original post was made on 18th July, just after Pardew took over so you have lost me.