SNSUN Posted 5 December, 2009 Share Posted 5 December, 2009 Everyone is getting ahead of themselves. Our target should be to avoid relegation. That should be every single club in the world's target, naturally, but I think we can look above relegation battles. There's enough crud in this league to cushion the blow (no offence to every other club in the league) and we should now be looking to the play-offs. I'm suprised that I'm saying that - twas only a few games ago that I said the same about relegation - but I'm now struck by the quality and belief our team has to move onwards and upwards. One win changes little. Lose against Tranmere and the pessimists will be out, but looking at the League table I'm starting to genuinely believe we can be there at the end of the season in the top six. There's tons of time to go this season - it's not even Christmas yet. We should be higher in the table, but that's to do with the first few games of the season when we hadn't gelled and were mixing and matching the team - since then we've been very good and had promotion form - hiccups like Brighton will happen, but overall we should get more wins and draws than losses this season and absolutely our target should now be the play-offs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintSparky Posted 5 December, 2009 Share Posted 5 December, 2009 Happy Days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicestersaint Posted 5 December, 2009 Share Posted 5 December, 2009 Great result - big test passed - well done my team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 5 December, 2009 Share Posted 5 December, 2009 Good professional performance, last time we were this good away from home was in promotion season in 78. target should be to keep winning every week and see where we are, i do not believe any club sets out to lose because they are not ready for promotion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 5 December, 2009 Share Posted 5 December, 2009 Wouldn't give our fans 9, more like 7. After the huff and puff of first 25 minutes we completely controlled the game. Connolly really was a class apart, and I enjoyed seeing Morgan switching play with a number of pinpoint 50 yard passes out to the wingers. This is something we really struggled at earlier in the season. 6 or 7 points in our next 3 games will see us comfortably mid table. 2 trips to Wembley this season is an enticing prospect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkie Posted 5 December, 2009 Share Posted 5 December, 2009 On the where should we aim stakes...here's my take. I've seen 3-games in 11-days and we really are too good for most teams in this league. I do not think we have to fear anyone - and hence even as Saints fans we should be more optimistic and set our targets high. I don't believe automatic promotion is an option but surely the play offs is the least we should be aiming for. If Leeds and Charlton wobble who knows sod the play offs let's take an automatic spot. Personally I'd take a trip to Wembley and a win in the play offs - we should fear no one providing the players and staff do not lose focus! I've seen so called top teams play us and honestly they weren't that good...Leeds will realy test us - but even they aren't bullet proof. Huddersfield made us look like amateurs earlier this season - but we are a totally different unit now. The first half dozen games were Pardew's pre season preparation. I still think he is tinkering and does not have the best side out there - but even that is better than over 50% of the sides in this division. We are truly a lucky lot. The new owner invested in a goal scorer, a giant colussus at the back and a decent midfield general with experience in this league. If we get promoted all the teams will say be bought success - but who cares? We are the Chelsea of League 1 - let's not get as arrogant as Chelsea fans... Love the fact I can go to work most Mondays feeling good thanks to a real team performance...COYR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazlo78 Posted 5 December, 2009 Share Posted 5 December, 2009 I really like how the whole 4-5-1 vs. 4-4-2 discussion has died down as it seems AP is continuously switching between the two systems to actively shape games in our favour - even switching back and forth more than once during games! Personally I think it's Connolly's "fault" that we are starting with the 4-4-2 as he is just too good to leave out. But with Wotton, Antonio and Waigo waiting in the wings, we can build that 4-5-1 the moment we need it... Having a manager who is willing to do more than set out a starting XI and see what happens (Redknapp, Burley and... well just about every other manager for the last 5 years) is a real strength. It will certainly give us an edge over those teams that are not able to adapt and adjust properly during a game... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonManager Posted 5 December, 2009 Share Posted 5 December, 2009 Where was Papa? Perhaps a little bit of 'discipline' handed out by AP on the back of his mini tantrum after being subbed against Wycombe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedAndWhite91 Posted 5 December, 2009 Share Posted 5 December, 2009 Where was Papa? Perhaps a little bit of 'discipline' handed out by AP on the back of his mini tantrum after being subbed against Wycombe? Back injury according to official saints twitter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickG Posted 5 December, 2009 Share Posted 5 December, 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8377213.stm Pardew asked on here, back and hopes to be back next game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikethesaint Posted 5 December, 2009 Share Posted 5 December, 2009 According to official website, Harding, Jaidi, Hammond and James were all on 4 bookings going into Walsall game. Both Harding & Jaidi were booked today so both will be suspended against Tranmere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 5 December, 2009 Share Posted 5 December, 2009 According to official website, Harding, Jaidi, Hammond and James were all on 4 bookings going into Walsall game. Both Harding & Jaidi were booked today so both will be suspended against Tranmere. better they're suspended for that game, than leeds away! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ooohTerryHurlock Posted 5 December, 2009 Share Posted 5 December, 2009 Just opened a bottle of my fav tipple (Glenmorangie ) to celebrate ! Great result COYR slangevar;) coyr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saints foreva Posted 5 December, 2009 Share Posted 5 December, 2009 According to official website, Harding, Jaidi, Hammond and James were all on 4 bookings going into Walsall game. Both Harding & Jaidi were booked today so both will be suspended against Tranmere. ****, don't really feel confident with Mills at LB! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suewhistle Posted 5 December, 2009 Share Posted 5 December, 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8377213.stm "Cruised to victory" eh? That'll do me. Off to bed. Two hour coach trip and on the bench against the top of the table tomorrow. I feel an Antonio moment coming on: off the bench to score a Ron Davies type headed goal in the last few minutes.. If I do I'll let you all know!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 According to official website, Harding, Jaidi, Hammond and James were all on 4 bookings going into Walsall game. Both Harding & Jaidi were booked today so both will be suspended against Tranmere. Don't think so. http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/Discipline/0,,10280~200910280,00.html Harding and Jaidi were both on three BEFORE the Walsall game - I checked during the match. So they are now both on four. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonManager Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 4 players on 4 bookings, gonna have to be careful against Tranmere as they will be needed for Leeds. Harding Jaidi Hammond James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stknowle Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 £50 on each. Never been a betting man, struggle to understand odds. What do you stand to win if both bets come in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsbridge Saint Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Nice result. A few more wins and maybe we can look at the playoffs. Pards managing expectations well though - mid table target, then maybe top 10. We can't win every week surely and the first setback will seem a disaster if we are hell bent on the play offs. One game at a time then... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M271 Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Match highlights (brief) is on bbc iplayer League Show at about 52 minutes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legod Third Coming Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Never been a betting man, struggle to understand odds. What do you stand to win if both bets come in? £8400 but as I said above the chances of us winning the league are now very very slim. So I hope to collect £900 for promotion which would give me a profit of two season tickets! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Porter Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 I really love watching Connolly play. He's just a class above anyone else in this league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fen Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Here's my attempt at ratings, 6 being the average, meaning they had an ok game, like on football manager Bialkowskli - 6 - Didn't have all that much to do but did well when called upon. Murty - 6 - Passing was a bit dodgy but some good link up play with James, and fairly solid. Jaidi - 6 - Average game, did what he had to do. Perry - 6 - As above really. Harding - 7 - Looked good again. Hammond - 8 - Seemed to be everywhere, got a goal and held it together in the middle well. Schneiderlin - 7 - Nothing sensational but played well, great ball to Connolly for the first goal. James - 8 - Yes, shock, but James played well today at right wing, a definite improvement from past weeks. Lallana - 6 - Had a quiet game, had one good effort towards the end. Lambert - 8 - Lambert is such a good player, and proved it again today. Connolly - 9 - A class above, scored one, set up one and his shot practically set up Hammond's goal. MOTM for me. Antonio - 8 - Looked good when he came on for the last 20 minutes, lively, everywhere, and was unlucky not to get a goal. Wotton - 6 - Just held it together at the end like he usually does nowadays. Paterson - 6 - Only was on for about 5 minutes. Our fans - 9 - Their fans - 2 - Very fair ratings, agree with all of these although would have probably given Perry 7 as I thought he played really well. Connolly is absolutely class, if he'd was fit tuesday he would got a couple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissyboy31 Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 4 players on 4 bookings, gonna have to be careful against Tranmere as they will be needed for Leeds. Harding Jaidi Hammond James Think they'd be suspended for the JPT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genk Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Think they'd be suspended for the JPT. That's what I thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Monkey Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 I really love watching Connolly play. He's just a class above anyone else in this league. What did you think of his second half display? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwertySFC Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 match report from their fans , http://upthesaddlers.com/wp/archives/2009/12/06/walsall-vs-southampton-report/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 3-1... again. Honestly, its becoming dull this scoreline. Where's Alps so he can moan about it properly!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 match report from their fans , http://upthesaddlers.com/wp/archives/2009/12/06/walsall-vs-southampton-report/ 'You just felt Southampton had a couple of extra gears if they needed them' Nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubai_phil Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Dubai Rugby 7's all weekend, just seen some pictures that show I was apparently there. :-) Completely forgot there was a game on Saturday. Only just worked out that the txt messages from EoA were new ones not ones from a week or so ago. How could I have been the only one in the prediction league NOT to pick 3-1? Great result though and brightened by the news that it's a year until the next 7's so may have a chance to recover and also that I have to make a biz trip next week so I'll be able to be back home for the Norwich game! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonManager Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Think they'd be suspended for the JPT. In which case, perhaps some 'tactical' yellow cards are in order. The ref'll be thinking 'why are 4 Saints players swearing at me all the time?'...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aardvark Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Just back from the game, what a great atmosphere it was in the away end! Really good fun! On the negative side, Murty had a poor game, his passing was extremely erratic and looked almost a little out of his depth. Ricky looked knackered but took his goal extremely well and Lloyd James needs to practice taking people on but otherwise his workrate and skill was outstanding. Our defense looked rather shakey at times, we need a bit of youth and enthusiasm in the centre back position, needs to be a priority for Jan. Positive things now, we utterly utterly ooutclassed one of the leagues in form teams in their own back yard. Our midfield was dominant, we always troubled them when we went forward and totally deserved the 3 points. Could easily have had 4 or 5 goals today. Loved it today, loved it. MOTM, Lloyd James Hmmm he looked spent in the second half against Wycombe as well. Is there a problem with him? I hope not as I consider him to be THE key player in our armoury.:confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Hmmm he looked spent in the second half against Wycombe as well. Is there a problem with him? I hope not as I consider him to be THE key player in our armoury.:confused: he doesn't look quite right, i agree - but he's still got 3 in his last 3 games! Just imagine what he's like when he's fully fit!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickfinks Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 happy daze !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericofarabia Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 In which case, perhaps some 'tactical' yellow cards are in order. The ref'll be thinking 'why are ONLY 4 Saints players swearing at me all the time?'...... If he is of the standard of the majority of refs we've had this season :mad: AP will have given strict instructions to everybody else to keep mum so the ref can easily identify The Gang of 4 and book em BUT having said that the game against Naaaaaarwich is possibly going to be harder than the game against Tranny ( and a potential Wemberlee Final at stake) so what to do :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Porter Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 indeed...im amzed that some think reaching the playoffs is is unlikely....even if we have another little stutter we are easily good enough to make up the ground on swindon etc... Anything below 8th is a very poor season imo, anything below the play offs and i'll be disapointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bailey Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Great result, especially considering Walsall had only been beaten once at home all season prior to yesterday. I listened to it on the radio and apart from the opening 20 minutes, we were comfortable winners. We could, and probably should have scored a few more with the game at 3-0, but a lack of concentration at the back meant we had to be professional and see the game out. It sounded as though Connolly was a real livewire once again; great to see him slotting straight back into the side after a few games out. Another goal for Lambert, undoubtedly our best signing in years! Lallana sounded as though he was causing the opposition all sorts of problems with his runs too! All in all, a fantastic performance and a great 3 points. With Tranmere next up and confidence sky high, who knows where we'll be placed in the league after the busy Christmas period. Onwards and upwards! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 http://www.upthesaddlers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=32781 What a tw @. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docker-p Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 I was on the other side of the ground from the female linesman was she fit? (looks wise) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 7 December, 2009 Share Posted 7 December, 2009 I was on the other side of the ground from the female linesman was she fit? (looks wise) Not particularly. But as she was a girl in uniform I would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericofarabia Posted 7 December, 2009 Share Posted 7 December, 2009 I was on the other side of the ground from the female linesman was she fit? (looks wise) I think it was Amy Rayner On Google there is another Amy Rayner but I think you would have spotted the difference even from the other side of the pitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 7 December, 2009 Share Posted 7 December, 2009 I think it was Amy Rayner On Google there is another Amy Rayner but I think you would have spotted the difference even from the other side of the pitch Isn't that Charlotte Church? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericofarabia Posted 7 December, 2009 Share Posted 7 December, 2009 Isn't that Charlotte Church? I don't know .... blame Google not me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hughieslastminutegoal Posted 7 December, 2009 Share Posted 7 December, 2009 My parrot has no need to fear me anymore. Saints good form is certainly a blessing for pets. I think the RSPCA should present us with some sort of award... Why was he still afraid? Didn't we lose the pattot-shoot payment a few years ago? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graffito Posted 7 December, 2009 Share Posted 7 December, 2009 Another glowing reference: http://www.walsall-mad.co.uk/news/loadfeat.asp?cid=ED16&id=476136 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutch Posted 7 December, 2009 Share Posted 7 December, 2009 I think that one lost something in the typing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissyboy31 Posted 7 December, 2009 Share Posted 7 December, 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8398376.stm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Without a Halo Posted 7 December, 2009 Share Posted 7 December, 2009 Everyone is getting ahead of themselves. Our target should be to avoid relegation. Why? Do you really think we will perform worse than those already below us from here on in? motivation is all about setting tight but achievable targets! which is exactly what the playoffs are now avoiding relegation from here should be pi** easy given the standard of those already behind us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 9 December, 2009 Share Posted 9 December, 2009 This was our best result of the season so far, imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNSUN Posted 9 December, 2009 Share Posted 9 December, 2009 Why was he still afraid? Didn't we lose the pattot-shoot payment a few years ago? He was still getting whacked during the early season form, but has been happy since. Thing is, I don't want to stop whacking him lest he gets too ****y, so from time to time he'll cop an unfortunate one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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