This Saturday

[70's Mike]

a very big test of the mettle of this side.

Oldham is the sort of place Saints teams,historically, have gone to and folded when put under pressure especially if it is wet and windy.

By 5pm Saturday we will know what we have for this season, a relegation fight or an outside chance of the playoffs

[SaintRobbie]

I think a draw - 2-2.

 

We are already in a relegation fight, the whole season was always destined to be a relegation fight. It is purely about staying up... which Pards will deliver IMHO.

 

Play-off place would make Pardew a genius. I think its unlikely, but I would be chuffed to bits if we managed it!

Edited 13 October, 2009 by SaintRobbie

[Wes Tender]

Wasn't it wet and windy at Southend? It didn't seem to bother Lallana much.

[John B]

a very big test of the mettle of this side.

Oldham is the sort of place Saints teams,historically, have gone to and folded when put under pressure especially if it is wet and windy.

By 5pm Saturday we will know what we have for this season, a relegation fight or an outside chance of the playoffs

 

It is going to be a nice day in Oldham on Saturday

 

Sunny Intervals

Max: 12°C 54°F

[West End Saint]

To be fair so was Southend that sort of game couldnt have been wetter without the game being called off but the boys dug in battled really well second half defenisvely we were top notch.

 

There is a long way to go but we are making progress no doubt about that without the - 10 we would be just outside the play offs mid table would do for me this season, if we keep grinding out results the target of out of the relegation spots by xmas is possible.

 

We cant expect to win every game but if we keep going the way we are going we will do ok.

[Capel Saint]

To be fair so was Southend that sort of game couldnt have been wetter without the game being called off but the boys dug in battled really well second half defenisvely we were top notch.

 

There is a long way to go but we are making progress no doubt about that without the - 10 we would be just outside the play offs mid table would do for me this season, if we keep grinding out results the target of out of the relegation spots by xmas is possible.

 

We cant expect to win every game but if we keep going the way we are going we will do ok.

 

Quite right. Some posters believe it is going to be either a relegation scrap or a play off place. Very different postions. What about a more middle ground view as I for one think it will be a bit more steady with what I reckon will be a upper middle finish. In that case, a good season with a platform for a promotion push next season.

[S-Clarke]

I think a draw - 2-2.

 

We are already in a relegation fight, the whole season was always destined to be a relegation fight. It is purely about staying up... which Pards will deliver IMHO.

 

Play-off place would make Pardew a genius. I think its unlikely, but I would be chuffed to bits if we managed it!

 

If we stay up, he may have delievered that, but his position would be very unstable. Scraping survial would be a disaster for this team, the money that has been spent, the players we have.....

 

if that's all we can manage this year, what's to say we'll be better prepared next year?

 

Confortable top half mid-table is my view, we've left it too late for the playoffs IMO but we're too good to be anywhere near a relegation scrap come the 2nd half of the season....and if we are, something is wrong.

[SaintDonkey]

I'm not expecting anything against Oldham. Obviously I think we should be targetting a win and on form I wouldn't rule one out, but I'm not going to be calling for Pardew's head if we lose.

 

What I do like about Saints this season is we've shown we can play pretty and play ugly. I'm not afraid of any conditions of the pitch or the weather - where as last season I was afraid of every condition!

[mikec]

Quite right. Some posters believe it is going to be either a relegation scrap or a play off place. Very different postions. What about a more middle ground view as I for one think it will be a bit more steady with what I reckon will be a upper middle finish. In that case, a good season with a platform for a promotion push next season.

 

With 6 promotion/play-off places up for grabs and 4 relegation spots, it's quite likely that we'll have at least an outside chance of one or the other (or both!) until perhaps the final 3-4 games. I would settle for that upper middle finish though.

[Golden Balls]

As much as AP will say 'we're aiming for play offs' etc. He will take a strong mid table finish and push on next season! I get the feeling he is looking to win the league next year, and the players that have come in are fully aware of that!

 

The -10 obviously had a big effect on the start of our season, as did the lack of pre season. That will not be the case next year!

[mikee]

As much as AP will say 'we're aiming for play offs' etc. He will take a strong mid table finish and push on next season! I get the feeling he is looking to win the league next year, and the players that have come in are fully aware of that!

 

The -10 obviously had a big effect on the start of our season, as did the lack of pre season. That will not be the case next year!

 

I have previously been torn between building this year and looking to go up as champions next year or going all out for the playoffs this year.

 

It is pretty obvious Pardew wants to win trophies but if we did manage to scrape into the playoffs this season via sixth place - the winning mentality and momentum created by that would, IMO, mean that would win the playoffs.

 

This would give Pards the trophy he is looking for plus the added bonus of a day out at Wembley and our first piece of silverware since 1976!

 

Therefore I think we should go all out for that 6th place - if we do fall just short then it will still have been a good rebuilding season.

 

With the current squad and resources to improve we can certainly hold our own in the Championship and I would much rather we consolidated at that level than League One.

[S-Clarke]

I have previously been torn between building this year and looking to go up as champions next year or going all out for the playoffs this year.

 

It is pretty obvious Pardew wants to win trophies but if we did manage to scrape into the playoffs this season via sixth place - the winning mentality and momentum created by that would, IMO, mean that would win the playoffs.

 

This would give Pards the trophy he is looking for plus the added bonus of a day out at Wembley and our first piece of silverware since 1976!

 

Therefore I think we should go all out for that 6th place - if we do fall just short then it will still have been a good rebuilding season.

 

With the current squad and resources to improve we can certainly hold our own in the Championship and I would much rather we consolidated at that level than League One.

 

Top post - agree with all of that.

 

If we don't manage it but we've given it a good shot, then it'll build alot of momentum for next year....then we could finally ''walk a league''

[Teddy Nutkins]

I am hopeful for a win against Oldham on Saturday.We are slowly turning into a force to be reckoned with.Thank God they don't still have that synthetic pitch from the 80's, never seemed to do very well on those surfaces, did Saints.

[alpine_saint]

I read the word "Oldham", think of Joe Royle and Andy Ritchie, and shudder...

[Draino76]

Oldham, like us have drawn a lot of games this year. I say it will be 1-1 or 2-2 after 60 minutes then we bring Connelly on to snatch the win.

 

Edit: They re averaging a goal a game at home so I'll go for 1-2.

Edited 13 October, 2009 by Draino76

[Trumush]

Success breeds success and I can see results improving as long as we can keep a settled side.

As we know there is not a great deal in reserve,especially in defence.

I would be dissapointed with a defeat at Oldham on saturday.

[Ken Tone]

It is going to be a nice day in Oldham on Saturday

 

Sunny Intervals

Max: 12°C 54°F

 

It's never a nice day in Oldham, at least not at the football ground.

 

Haven't been there for donkey's years but when there was a big open terrace for away fans the wind blowing down that slope was the coldest in the league. Bitter!

 

Segregation wasn't too good either, especially since they habitually opened all the gates 15 mins before the game finished so the home fans moved into the away end looking for 'fun' if the away contingent was small.

 

No doubt it is now all-seater with central heating.

 

K.

[Nick65]

Oldham seem to be better than Southend, but not by much, so a win has to be a realistic prospect doesn't it?

 

I'd be less optimistic if they hadn't won their last home league game, which was their first win at home since February. I'm saying that based on Saints ability to end other teams losing streaks and other team's players goal droughts ...., but maybe we're not like that anymore.

[sandwichsaint]

Can we start the season again? On the Gillingham and Southend performances and with the current line-up how many points have we nominally dropped so far?

 

You would have to think that we could/should have beaten Millwall, Brentford, Colchester, Stockport .... those points are handicapping us just as much as the -10.

 

I think if we can maintain current form/team spirit then 4 game mini-sequences of W-W-D-L (7 points out of 12) are not inconceivable.

 

Obvious concerns are squad depth and relying heavily on certain individuals, remove any 2 of KD/Trott/Jaidi/Hamm/Schn/Lalla/Lamb/Papa and we would start to notice the difference, we really do need to keep our strongest X1 fit and suspension-free for as long as possible.

 

I think we will be comfortably out of the bottom four by the half way mark (we need to make a net gain of 6 points in 11 games to achieve this) and we will then have 23 games to finish in a solid mid-table finish. For what it's worth on the evidence of the last 2 games I don't think we will finish in the relegation or the play-off places, but probably likely to finish nearer the top than the bottom.

 

Saturday at Oldham? I hope that we will be committed and hard-to-beat, and we can maybe grab one or two goals in open play again now that for the first time in ages we have got a range of goal scoring options.

 

0-0? 0-2? could be a 1-0 or a 2-0 .... tricky away game, I'll take what comes with the condition that we beat MK Dons at home the game after.

[thesaint78]

"I think if we can maintain current form/team spirit then 4 game mini-sequences of W-W-D-L (7 points out of 12) are not inconceivable."

 

If you go back five games in the league it is W-W-D-L-W (with a win on penalties in the JPT in amongst all that as well.) so 10 points out of 15 is the sort of form I reckon we can continue till the end of the season.

 

Sadly this would give us a total of just under 70 points which is probably not enough to reach the play offs. The poor start and the -10 have probably put paid to that.

 

However, it is a very competitive league and people are taking points off each other all over the place so you never know, we could have two wembley trips at the end of this season!

[londonsaint1604]

I think a draw - 2-2.

 

We are already in a relegation fight, the whole season was always destined to be a relegation fight. It is purely about staying up... which Pards will deliver IMHO.

 

Play-off place would make Pardew a genius. I think its unlikely, but I would be chuffed to bits if we managed it!

 

I wouldn't say we're in a relegation fight considering we're 12 game in and we have got 15 points from those games - we'd be 11th if it wasn't for the 10point deduction. If we're still in the bottom 4 in January then we'll be in a relegation fight, but I can't see that happening.

[slickmick]

Can we start the season again? On the Gillingham and Southend performances and with the current line-up how many points have we nominally dropped so far?

 

You would have to think that we could/should have beaten Millwall, Brentford, Colchester, Stockport .... those points are handicapping us just as much as the -10.

 

I think if we can maintain current form/team spirit then 4 game mini-sequences of W-W-D-L (7 points out of 12) are not inconceivable.

 

Obvious concerns are squad depth and relying heavily on certain individuals, remove any 2 of KD/Trott/Jaidi/Hamm/Schn/Lalla/Lamb/Papa and we would start to notice the difference, we really do need to keep our strongest X1 fit and suspension-free for as long as possible.

 

I think we will be comfortably out of the bottom four by the half way mark (we need to make a net gain of 6 points in 11 games to achieve this) and we will then have 23 games to finish in a solid mid-table finish. For what it's worth on the evidence of the last 2 games I don't think we will finish in the relegation or the play-off places, but probably likely to finish nearer the top than the bottom.

 

Saturday at Oldham? I hope that we will be committed and hard-to-beat, and we can maybe grab one or two goals in open play again now that for the first time in ages we have got a range of goal scoring options.

 

0-0? 0-2? could be a 1-0 or a 2-0 .... tricky away game, I'll take what comes with the condition that we beat MK Dons at home the game after.

 

 

When we were in the Championship, Harry Redknapps target was on a five game bases. Win 3 draw 1 and lose 1, in otherwords 2 points per game.

Our last five league games have given us that return.

Another win Saturday will help boost the attendance for the next home game and increase available funds.

[Prince Jazzbo]

Apparently they really stuck the boot in against Charlton last saturday, so we'll need to be prepared for that. I'd be happy with a draw up there.

[RonManager]

Apparently they really stuck the boot in against Charlton last saturday, so we'll need to be prepared for that. I'd be happy with a draw up there.

 

If they're not going to win, then I'm not going to go.

[Doctoroncall]

Oldham have found it hard to score so far this season (10 from 12) and their home record is won 2, drawn 3 from 6 games.

 

So if we can nick a goal with our in form attack we should be able to win this (9/5 sportingbet) in a low scoring game.

[moon monkey]

The days of Andy Ritchie and the plastic pitch are still with me and 20 years on, it's a game im dreading.

[Matthew Le God]

I think a draw - 2-2.

 

We are already in a relegation fight, the whole season was always destined to be a relegation fight. It is purely about staying up... which Pards will deliver IMHO.

 

Play-off place would make Pardew a genius. I think its unlikely, but I would be chuffed to bits if we managed it!

 

You clearly have no idea if you think it is an achievement for this squad to stay up.

 

We have the biggest wage bill in the league and have spent 5 times more than any other team this summer. Have the 3rd highest average attendance. Basically we should be still aiming for a play off spot. Our squad is in the top 3 if not the best in the league and should be getting around 90 points (or 80 including the points deduction).

[Tamesaint]

I went there in our promotion season in 1978. It was a dreary day in November - wet & bleak and we drew 1-1. It is those kind of games that shape a season & I can remember being pleased with a point back then thinking along the same lines as the OP.

 

From memory the Oldham fans that day were superb. I went into their supporters's club where I was made very welcome. Cheap, good beer and good cheap food. Since then I have always had a soft spot for Oldham.

[70's Mike]

I went there in our promotion season in 1978. It was a dreary day in November - wet & bleak and we drew 1-1. It is those kind of games that shape a season & I can remember being pleased with a point back then thinking along the same lines as the OP.

 

From memory the Oldham fans that day were superb. I went into their supporters's club where I was made very welcome. Cheap, good beer and good cheap food. Since then I have always had a soft spot for Oldham.

 

that was my experience before the game that season m problem was they put a brick through the window of the bus taking us back to the train station after the game

[Legod Third Coming]

Anything less than a convincing victory would be bitterly disappointing and a step backwards.

 

But even Chelsea lost at Wigan. It happens.

 

But not to us, not on Saturday.

 

We are on the march and I, for one, don't intend to let a Manchester suburb stall our progress!!!

[chivvy1664]

our goal diffence suggest a top ten finiish. just..... play off would be a great achievement but we are banging them in now so who knows. And no Rupert!

[Legod Third Coming]

our goal diffence suggest a top ten finiish. just..... play off would be a great achievement but we are banging them in now so who knows. And no Rupert!

 

I will not have a bad word said about the man.

 

Not since I went to Aintree and lumped on Time for Rupert in the 3m hurdle...

 

Thank you Rupert!!!

[I remember Paul Rideout!]

You clearly have no idea if you think it is an achievement for this squad to stay up.

 

We have the biggest wage bill in the league and have spent 5 times more than any other team this summer. Have the 3rd highest average attendance. Basically we should be still aiming for a play off spot. Our squad is in the top 3 if not the best in the league and should be getting around 90 points (or 80 including the points deduction).

 

Just a question but how does anyone honestly know we have the highest wage bill in this league??

 

Finances only get released with tax year etc. and we aren't the only sole owned club in this league.

 

Quite a few of our players were ex-yoof so surely they can't be on too much.

 

not a dig just interested to know how we can know our finances and that of al of the other clubs in our league....:confused::confused::confused::confused:

[Joesaint]

COYR

0-2 saints

[Panda]

I am struggling with all this 'the amount of money we have spent' in a couple of the posts above. Can someone help me here. Lambert £1m, Hammond how much? Murty free. Harding free. Connolly free. Jahdi free. Trotman loan. Melis loan. Papa loan. Antonio loan. Add to that we stopped Davis leaving and we have a complete new team for just over £1m. That is big spending?

 

AP has done what he said he would do when he first came and was widely abused for saying it. He said he would look at the players out of contract for some bargains and get in some loans. It seems to be working to me ...

[S-Clarke]

I am struggling with all this 'the amount of money we have spent' in a couple of the posts above. Can someone help me here. Lambert £1m, Hammond how much? Murty free. Harding free. Connolly free. Jahdi free. Trotman loan. Melis loan. Papa loan. Antonio loan. Add to that we stopped Davis leaving and we have a complete new team for just over £1m. That is big spending?

 

AP has done what he said he would do when he first came and was widely abused for saying it. He said he would look at the players out of contract for some bargains and get in some loans. It seems to be working to me ...

 

At L1 level it's huge spending.

 

Lambo will potentially cost us up to 1.2m, Hammond was 300-400k and you've then got the loan fees to take into account (i can assure you that Papa has not joined us for free)

 

We spent more on one player than clubs like Carlisle could spend on an entire team.

[vince]

Apparently they really stuck the boot in against Charlton last saturday, so we'll need to be prepared for that. I'd be happy with a draw up there.

 

 

The Charlton/Oldham game was the "feature" game on R5Live Saturday afternoon. Having listened to most of it, both sides were very negative (Charlton played 4-5-1 and got slated for lacking ambition at home, given that they could of gone top with a couple of goals win).

 

I know Oldham are at home this time, and that may make a bit of a difference, but they didn't come across as being anything special. We've got the form and momentum and these are exactly the sort of games we need to be winning to be mid to upper table, let alone playoff spots.

[Panda]

But we have spent real money on one player and have a completely new team. Ok £1m is a lot of money, far, far more than I have but it is not BIG money in football terms. Agreed a lot of the teams in L1 would like to be able to have that to spend but real 'big money' would be doing what Man City have done in the PL. If we had spent £5m then you could ask for more. My point is that AP has actually done this on very little money given we have a wealthy owner.