Switzerland Tour Thread

[Dave Benson Phillips]

Only had an ice cream from there, to be fair. Just had a meal here, salmon steak with saffron risotto

 

Are you staying in the Ibis in Fribourg on Saturday?

[Minty]

And I don't for one minute believe that Mr Grant is drinking pints either...

[stevegrant]

Are you staying in the Ibis in Fribourg on Saturday?

No, we are in an even cheaper option, a backpackers' hostel

 

And I don't for one minute believe that Mr Grant is drinking pints either...

You shall be surprised, then, Mr Mintram (mostly on the basis that vodka is far too expensive)

[Dave Benson Phillips]

We now have our travel plans sorted. We are travelling through the night, leaving Friday evening, tents in the boot so if we can't get kip on our 'off-shifts' driving ( we have 4 now so going to do 2 people awake, 2 people asleep ) then we can find a field and grab a couple of zzzz's ( very army like ) , if we stop for the kip in a field then we will be there for lunch, if we go straight through then we'll be there in time for Brekkie!

 

You have your phone on you Steveo?

[stevegrant]

You have your phone on you Steveo?

Yep

[Dave Benson Phillips]

Yep

 

Stupid question really.

 

Laptop in your rucksack?

[iansums]

Day 7 update now on the OS:

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2092600,00.html

 

It appears NC is there dragging them up a mountain!

[paris]

For those that are interested day 8 pics on the OS now......

[Barry the Badger]

This is tremendous.

[suewhistle]

I was thinking of going to Fribourg as well as the Thun game as it's a bit closer to me but I can't really afford it, and do I really want to meet some of the people who are going?

 

Not you Steve Grant, remember you've got my fiver!

[itchen_dan]

Anybody know who that is stood on his own to the right of Davis in the last picture on the Day 8 report?? Looks like Papa to me.

[NickG]

Holmes impressing with his crossing

[John Boy Saint]

Looks like they picked the right day to go up the Mountains, looks like the weather closed in yesterday.

[trousers]

I'm no fan of the health and safety laden nanny state but surely this isn't the cleverest thing for our players to be doing, is it...?

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2093760,00.html

[Nexstar]

Anybody know who that is stood on his own to the right of Davis in the last picture on the Day 8 report?? Looks like Papa to me.

 

Could be puncheon but it actually looks more like Antonio to me more than papa.

[stevegrant]

Looks like they picked the right day to go up the Mountains, looks like the weather closed in yesterday.

The weather was fine yesterday (albeit much more humid than other days), but they timed it right on Wednesday as there was a massive thunderstorm that evening.

 

We went to Jungfraujoch, which is about 2000m higher than Schynige Platte (where I believe they went), and it was cloudy when we got to the Sphinx viewing platform, which is the highest point you can get to in Europe without physically climbing it.

 

 

Could see plenty from about 150m lower though:

[Saint J 77]

What I would really like to know is if there are any trialist out with the Squad then? Does anyone know? We have heard rumours that Papa Waigo might be with the squad but has anyone heard anything about any other possible new first team players? Twitter does not seem to be very forthcoming with any such information. I am guessing if there are any players out there they don't want to alert potential rival clubs so they are keeping it under wraps.

[suewhistle]

What I would really like to know is if there are any trialist out with the Squad then? Does anyone know? We have heard rumours that Papa Waigo might be with the squad but has anyone heard anything about any other possible new first team players? Twitter does not seem to be very forthcoming with any such information. I am guessing if there are any players out there they don't want to alert potential rival clubs so they are keeping it under wraps.

 

Don't reckon so. I'm overseas and see few games a season, hence my wry comments in my report on the Thun game about not knowing who was who. Definitely didn't see PW, even if I didn't know who Callum McNish was! My personal opinion is that the training camp was organised in advance, and games and signings are of secondary, or perhaps parallel importance.

[Barry the Badger]

Anybody know who that is stood on his own to the right of Davis in the last picture on the Day 8 report?? Looks like Papa to me.

 

Best guess, Puncheon.

Edited 16 July, 2010 by Barry the Badger

[Barry the Badger]

I'm no fan of the health and safety laden nanny state but surely this isn't the cleverest thing for our players to be doing, is it...?

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2093760,00.html

 

I'm sure they checked it out for safety before they let the players do it.

[saintscottofthenortham]

Anybody know who that is stood on his own to the right of Davis in the last picture on the Day 8 report?? Looks like Papa to me.

 

Oxlade-Chamberlain or McNish. If you read the text you can work out that they were crossing in from the right hand side.

[suewhistle]

I'm no fan of the health and safety laden nanny state but surely this isn't the cleverest thing for our players to be doing, is it...?

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2093760,00.html

 

In the middle of Thun kids were jumping off a bridge into the river which was flowing really fast and then guiding themselves to an iron ladder on the side of the river 200 m downstream.. I'm sure if it were that dangerous it would have been stopped. The funniest thing I saw there was a dog diving for stones at one of the other bridges: I've never seen it before, and his little back legs were kicking away in the air and the water before he'd bring up these big stones (think large potato size) for the owner, who'd then chuck them back in. Even to maintain himself against the current he had to doggy paddle like mad - hilarious. The dog rarely picked up the same stone but was enjoying himself immensely. Beats taking the dog for a walk.

[Big Dick Last]

Some of my mates are out in Switzerland and have been speaking to the players.

It appears that they have lost their complimentary tickets for games this season and have to pay to park in the stadium car park !!

I did not realise we were that hard up.

if this club is going to be that obsessed with making money who knows what it will cost to watch games when we get to the premiership !

[NickG]

http://yfrog.com/mrnh9j

 

and tour over.

[hughieslastminutegoal]

Some of my mates are out in Switzerland and have been speaking to the players.

It appears that they have lost their complimentary tickets for games this season and have to pay to park in the stadium car park !!

I did not realise we were that hard up.

if this club is going to be that obsessed with making money who knows what it will cost to watch games when we get to the premiership !

 

LOL, people worried about what the cost will be when we are in the prem. You couldn't make it up!

[Glasgow_Saint]

Anyway........

 

This tour - played 2 lost 2? Or have I missed some results? Playing some pretty tough sides, and guess results dont matter in friendlies.

[Rut]

Every now and again I think I really must get around to pledging my fiver and supporting this forum properly. Then threads like this, which started out as interesting and a good reason to pay up, are hijacked by complete t*ssers.

 

Just wait for the new season and the 'back from the game' threads. 100 posts in the thread. 90 of them from the same 10 people - none of whom were actually at the game.

[hutch]

Anyway........

 

This tour - played 2 lost 2? Or have I missed some results? Playing some pretty tough sides, and guess results dont matter in friendlies.

Or, played 4 halves, won 1 half, drew 1 half and lost 2 halves.

 

Always look on the bright side.

[benjii]

Played two, lost two certainly but against teams who are likely to me signifcantly better than 90% of League One.

 

Let's pick the results up from here on in.

[OldNick]

Some of my mates are out in Switzerland and have been speaking to the players.

It appears that they have lost their complimentary tickets for games this season and have to pay to park in the stadium car park !!

I did not realise we were that hard up.

if this club is going to be that obsessed with making money who knows what it will cost to watch games when we get to the premiership !

 

I think there was a thread last season about staff losing their free parking at SMS and had to catch a bus etc. Any of the low paid staff i feel for but all the players on very high wages???

The salisbury hospital is charging the staff to park, now they are a different case IMO.

If the players start to resent the chairman, that in turn upsets their mindset is not good i suppose, but it hardly is life changing for them.I assume Nc will have to pay as well

[Dave Benson Phillips]

I think there was a thread last season about staff losing their free parking at SMS and had to catch a bus etc. Any of the low paid staff i feel for but all the players on very high wages???

The salisbury hospital is charging the staff to park, now they are a different case IMO.

If the players start to resent the chairman, that in turn upsets their mindset is not good i suppose, but it hardly is life changing for them.I assume Nc will have to pay as well

 

Charging players, let alone staff to park in the staff car park is quite frankly, as absolute joke. I don't know of many businesses that have their own ample on-site parking that charge their staff to park on it.

 

As for Salisbury hospital, they do indeed charge some of their staff. The majority paying £12 a month, with the higher earners ( consultants etc ) paying £20 a month... nominal fees in relation I would suspect.

[Saint_Ash]

At the University of Southampton, all staff have to pay to park. Roughly about 25 quid a month.

[OldNick]

Charging players, let alone staff to park in the staff car park is quite frankly, as absolute joke. I don't know of many businesses that have their own ample on-site parking that charge their staff to park on it.

 

As for Salisbury hospital, they do indeed charge some of their staff. The majority paying £12 a month, with the higher earners ( consultants etc ) paying £20 a month... nominal fees in relation I would suspect.

 

do you know how much the players are being charged? I think at one stage businesses were going to be charged more council tax if they had parking spaces.Im not sure if that went through though

[Dave Benson Phillips]

do you know how much the players are being charged? I think at one stage businesses were going to be charged more council tax if they had parking spaces.Im not sure if that went through though

 

I'm not getting into another Cortese bashing, I just think it's funny as f*ck the lengths the club are going to, to make a few hundred more quid.

 

As I said, i have never heard of a business that has so many parking spaces not in demand that would dream of charging their staff to use them.

[Turkish]

I have to pay to park outside my own house, that is even more scandelous, as i work from home then i have to pay to park at work, bloody council.

[Thedelldays]

anyway...any pics to post here of the tour from anyone who went..?

[Professor]

Back to the topic. Two friendlies arranged in Switzerland to be played after the squad had done some detailed fitness and technical work. The opponents chosen not especially strong - Thun FC in the Swiss league only just promoted from the league below and FC Sochaux who finished in the lower half of the French League. It seems unlikely that to lose both games was in Saints' game plan and although the OS claimed that the 2-0 defeat to Sochaux failed to reflect a well contested and even match, that's not how Sochaux saw it. On their website, Sochaux said that they dominated Southampton and achieved a well-constructed victory. Not quite what we were told and possibly not up to Pardew's expectations when the tour was organised.

 

How we assess the pre-season now depends very much on the results of the friendlies against Barnet and Reading. As AP said last season, the team needs to have a winning habit so at the moment I don't have as much confidence for the opening game against Plymouth as I would like, although a couple of signings could yet improve that.

[suewhistle]

Not quite what we were told and possibly not up to Pardew's expectations when the tour was organised.

True, although whether he was entirely happy with that aspect of the summer training camp I'm not sure. As I pointed out earlier the information about the games came out very late and perhaps they weren't in the original plan? I read the Sochaux web-site and i'd agree with you, but I actually saw the Thun game and I'd have no problems about conceding AP's point that it was too early. Thun were sharp and ready for their season: they drew 1-1 with Berne on the Saturday. Saints were in the middle of a training camp designed to bring them up to speed (and presumably try out new formations) and they patently weren't there yet.

 

I'd be very unhappy if I didn't see improvements - and a winning habit - but as usual some of the other posters will jump to their usual conclusions.;-)

[Pilchards]

Thanks Sue Whistle.

It's nice to hear real news at last, maybe those two moaners have finally found a room and sorted it with bum bashing.

[Ewell]

Thanks Sue Whistle.

It's nice to hear real news at last

 

Agreed.

 

It would be nice to hear other fans take on the matches and how they think we did especially in the second game. Steve G are you listening?

[stevegrant]

Back to the topic. Two friendlies arranged in Switzerland to be played after the squad had done some detailed fitness and technical work. The opponents chosen not especially strong - Thun FC in the Swiss league only just promoted from the league below and FC Sochaux who finished in the lower half of the French League. It seems unlikely that to lose both games was in Saints' game plan and although the OS claimed that the 2-0 defeat to Sochaux failed to reflect a well contested and even match, that's not how Sochaux saw it. On their website, Sochaux said that they dominated Southampton and achieved a well-constructed victory. Not quite what we were told and possibly not up to Pardew's expectations when the tour was organised.

 

How we assess the pre-season now depends very much on the results of the friendlies against Barnet and Reading. As AP said last season, the team needs to have a winning habit so at the moment I don't have as much confidence for the opening game against Plymouth as I would like, although a couple of signings could yet improve that.

Thun looked very impressive against us, although I suspect a lot of that will be due to the superior fitness levels. It was our first pre-season friendly and their last. They played Young Boys Berne, runners-up last season, on Saturday in their opening league game and led until the 94th minute. Not entirely sure how, but they managed to cram nearly 10,000 into the ground for that game!

 

Sochaux kept possession well in the first half against us, but never really looked like scoring. Their first goal came out of the blue as nothing was really happening at that stage and the second was completely against the run of play.

 

Agreed.

 

It would be nice to hear other fans take on the matches and how they think we did especially in the second game. Steve G are you listening?

Yep, been tidying up this thread

 

I'm not too fussed by the results in Switzerland, really. They have to be taken in the right context, insomuch as they were our first games this summer against teams who have been playing friendlies for a few weeks, and who are both in the top divisions of their respective leagues, whereas we are in the third division (albeit perhaps with a second division first-choice lineup).

 

Defensively we looked shaky against Thun, but much more solid against Sochaux. Against both sides, we didn't really create that many chances, but that's the nature of playing opposition who are clearly better than we are.

 

I exchanged a few words with Pardew as they came off the pitch at Thun and he was relieved it had ended as we'd been given the runaround for long spells of the game, but he did reply with "fair point" when I suggested it's no big deal when we're playing the two strongest opponents at the start of pre-season and their league season starts in 4 days time.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Thun looked very impressive against us, although I suspect a lot of that will be due to the superior fitness levels. It was our first pre-season friendly and their last. They played Young Boys Berne, runners-up last season, on Saturday in their opening league game and led until the 94th minute. Not entirely sure how, but they managed to cram nearly 10,000 into the ground for that game!

 

Sochaux kept possession well in the first half against us, but never really looked like scoring. Their first goal came out of the blue as nothing was really happening at that stage and the second was completely against the run of play.

 

 

Yep, been tidying up this thread

 

I'm not too fussed by the results in Switzerland, really. They have to be taken in the right context, insomuch as they were our first games this summer against teams who have been playing friendlies for a few weeks, and who are both in the top divisions of their respective leagues, whereas we are in the third division (albeit perhaps with a second division first-choice lineup).

 

Defensively we looked shaky against Thun, but much more solid against Sochaux. Against both sides, we didn't really create that many chances, but that's the nature of playing opposition who are clearly better than we are.

 

I exchanged a few words with Pardew as they came off the pitch at Thun and he was relieved it had ended as we'd been given the runaround for long spells of the game, but he did reply with "fair point" when I suggested it's no big deal when we're playing the two strongest opponents at the start of pre-season and their league season starts in 4 days time.

 

Were we playing decent football at times against these teams?

[stevegrant]

Were we playing decent football at times against these teams?

On the relatively rare occasions we actually got the ball, we looked alright, although played far too much long ball in the first half against Sochaux. Second half was a massive improvement.