Barry the Badger Posted 24 February, 2010 Share Posted 24 February, 2010 It would be quite interesting to know what the league table would look like if the season had started after our tenth game, and we had the 10 points back. I'd have thought we'd be comfortably in the playoff places. Which means our form for about the last 6 months is pretty good. http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=19693 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 24 February, 2010 Share Posted 24 February, 2010 There could be a huge amount of extremely disappointed and angry Saints fans around if the teams current progress is anything to go by.. Well considering we have progressed from bottom at the start of the season to 11th to date, if we progress at the current rate we will be top by christmas so i for one wont be disapointed with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFKA South Woodford Posted 24 February, 2010 Share Posted 24 February, 2010 Have a look at Leeds, City and Forest, all arguably bigger than us, how did thye fare in this league? Please dont give me "we've spent loads of money" etc, money helps, better with it than without sure, no guarantees though otherwise MC would be winning the EPL yeah? Yes, this is exactly the point that Alpine is trying to make, other clubs bigger than us have struggled to make it out of this division, so what sets next seasons Saints apart from them, as many are predicting we'll stroll this division next season, even playing on bog's of pitches against teams struggling to beat relegation who battle for every second of the game? Of those teams you mention only City would have spent a comparable amount of money to Saints and achieved promotion earlier because of it, Leeds and Forest spent longer than NC and ML's plan allow in this division building up their squads to a point where they could cope with any team on any pitch, something that all three of those teams you mention were able to do. This is where our current squad doesn't look good enough to do the job, as we don't have the level of graft within the squad. On pitches like those of our recent away games, the amount of effort put in from the team is what counts, not the reputations of the players. We have to be able to play on any surface if we are going to be serious contenders next season, which means more than two interchangeable styles of play, hoofing the ball through the middle is not good enough, when our more expansive play football through the middle approach doesn't work in the conditions. The team then have to battle for the whole game and use the wings to play football, at present we play far too narrow, and one of the reasons for this is Lallana's constant drifting into the middle. Yes he's a very decent player at this level but to unlock these teams on their own pitches we need width on both wings, something that wouldn't go amiss at St Mary's either, as it would lead to scoring more early goals and us being able to kill off matches much earlier than at present. Stockport being a case in point, as we struggled to break down the worst team in the league for most of the game. Whilst it's nice not to lose games, I wouldn't mind seeing us lose one the games we've drawn if two of the others turned into wins. Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool don't go into away games thinking it'll be alright if we don't win, just as long as we don't lose, they know that to be successful you have to win 95% of your matches home and away. Alps, Glasgow and the rest of us of 'the concerned' want to see the kind of progression from the team that will see this become a reality next season, not the constant stuttering that is currently occuring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Wayman Posted 24 February, 2010 Share Posted 24 February, 2010 Depends if we can keep this squad together and add a couple more solid players in there. What is so special about this squad that we would want to keep it together? The way you talk one would think we are world beaters whereas we can't in reality beat Wycombe Effing Wan*ers... who the *!^* are they? If we lose Morgan and Adam in the summer we might as well use the stadium for growing shallots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wycombe Saint Posted 24 February, 2010 Share Posted 24 February, 2010 I have never been so excited in the build up to games as this season. And i cant even make it to many games. Just love sitting in front of the telly praying that they are going to announce a goal at whatever ground we are at. It is what makes my week now! And yes i was annoyed that we couldnt put one past Wycombe but that passed after about an hour. Do i really dare say it but i just love watching football and supporting my team! There is always something to cheer me up afterwards. I just make sure that i dont come onto this forum straight after a loss/draw because it feels like to some people that the world has ended! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scummer Posted 24 February, 2010 Share Posted 24 February, 2010 http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=19693 Fancy doing an update? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scally Posted 24 February, 2010 Share Posted 24 February, 2010 I spent years watching Saints struggle in the Premier League, I have enjoyed this season more than most that I can remember so if we don't go up this year does it really matter that much? Personally I would rather we took our time and got back to the Premier League after the fallout of whats going on down the road and hopefully by then football will of changed for the better and money won't be the only thing that matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonManager Posted 24 February, 2010 Share Posted 24 February, 2010 I spent years watching Saints struggle in the Premier League, I have enjoyed this season more than most that I can remember so if we don't go up this year does it really matter that much? Personally I would rather we took our time and got back to the Premier League after the fallout of whats going on down the road and hopefully by then football will of changed for the better and money won't be the only thing that matters. Oh no, no, no, that's not right. You see you have to want everything NOW, and scream and scream if you don't get it - - otherwise, my friend, you are 'unambitious' I'm afraid. Now re-think your post. :smt066 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 24 February, 2010 Share Posted 24 February, 2010 Oh no, no, no, that's not right. You see you have to want everything NOW, and scream and scream if you don't get it - - otherwise, my friend, you are 'unambitious' I'm afraid. Now re-think your post. :smt066 Sorry but I am with Scally too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNSUN Posted 24 February, 2010 Share Posted 24 February, 2010 Next season, if we fail to go up, I think we'll all have every right to feel aggrieved. We're starting with a clean slate, a manager that has had a year to put together the team he believes can take us up, and a chairman that has already told us that promotion is the minimum we should be looking for next season. People feeling aggrieved this season beats me. Yes, our league form hasn't been brilliant, but with -10 points it was always going to be a struggle. We're all off on a jolly to Wembley, something I didn't think I'd be saying for many years, and now have the core of a good team with quality players. Just enjoy the rest of this season, and by Christmas, if we're not in or around the top two places, start the witch hunt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iansums Posted 24 February, 2010 Share Posted 24 February, 2010 I apologise to Alpine and Glasgow unreservedly for enjoying this season so much, I realise now it was wrong of me. I promise not to attend any more matches this season, including my first ever trip to the New Wembley as I am particuarly concerned that I may enjoy that day even if we were to lose. I urge all other Saints fans to do the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNSUN Posted 24 February, 2010 Share Posted 24 February, 2010 I apologise to Alpine and Glasgow unreservedly for enjoying this season so much, I realise now it was wrong of me. I promise not to attend any more matches this season, including my first ever trip to the New Wembley as I am particuarly concerned that I may enjoy that day even if we were to lose. I urge all other Saints fans to do the same. Can I have your tickets? I'm a miserable fooker anyway. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmel Posted 24 February, 2010 Share Posted 24 February, 2010 Next season will undoubtley come with extra pressure and that's no bad thing. The key will be keeping as much of the squad together as we can and replacing those that leave, as early as possible. I've enjoyed the seaosn to date and we are all learning what life is about in League 1. Pardew will get his 18 months to prove himself and whilst not even Fergie could guarantee promotion, with the odd tweak here and there, we will have a squad, manager and fan base as well prepared as any club could be to go for it. Of course if it doesn't happen there will be blood, but i have every faith that next year we will be promoted and pass our neighbours by on the way. This is my 34th year of supporting Saints and looking forward to my 2nd ever trip to Wembley to see Saints play, so if it only comes round every 17 years, please don't shoot me for thinking thiings arent so bad this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 24 February, 2010 Share Posted 24 February, 2010 I wouldn't be surprised to see a few more players come in in the summer. Starting on the same points as everyone else will be nice. I think we shall be a lot more competitive next season ad hopefully more consistent but those who think we are certs for promotion were not around in the 70's when it took LM sveral seasons to get promotion with a decent side which included the likes of Mick Channon. Leeds have not found it easy to rebuild. We need to be patient but it won't happen. If we are off the pace come Christmas the usual suspects will be after Pardew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 24 February, 2010 Share Posted 24 February, 2010 i apologise to alpine and glasgow unreservedly for enjoying this season so much, i realise now it was wrong of me. I promise not to attend any more matches this season, including my first ever trip to the new wembley as i am particuarly concerned that i may enjoy that day even if we were to lose. I urge all other saints fans to do the same. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doggface Posted 24 February, 2010 Share Posted 24 February, 2010 (edited) IMO people have enjoyed this season in general so much because things have been so so bad the last few years. With a clean sweep in the boardroom after a succession of clowns, to have a billionaire owner who appears to be honourable & ambitious and having a competitive and comitted team again has rekindled alot of love many had lost for the club. That said despite some flashes of promise, we have been distinctly average at times so there is alot of work to do. I am enjoying saints again this season for the first time since the penultimate season in the prem. That said I want more & some performances have not been good enough. I've long thought we would not be strong enough for playoffs. For me pardew must demonstate that we can finish top 2 next season and that means a strong end to the season. If he cannot show this then I think he will be sacked. I hope we win the jpt and have a right go in the league to demonstrate we can win it next year. Edited 24 February, 2010 by doggface Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknrollman no2 Posted 24 February, 2010 Share Posted 24 February, 2010 Although promotion this season would be the icing on the cake,the fact we are going to Wembley,appear to be heading for a midtable finish at worse,have a decent manager and a good core of a team,have a billionaire who seems to really care about the club and a club which is totally debt free,is more than enough for me. Blimey this time a year ago,i was worried our club was going out of business for ever. So for now thanks very much. Lets worry about next season when it happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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