Sutton Utd

[Viking Warrior]

Don't encorage him Chez

[SFKA South Woodford]

I cannot believe that there are those on here who think that Pardew doesn't know the capabilities of each of the players in our squad. What the hell has he been doing while the squad is training?, if after working with them all for a year he doesn't know the chaff from the wheat, then I would say that the guy is not fit to be our manager.

 

The way some of you make excuses for him, you make it sound as though Pardew is doing everything at the club himself, from washing the kit, to cooking the players lunches and then fitting in five minutes of training when he can find the time. When in reality he has a large staff to back him up and do almost everything for him.

[Viking Warrior]

Its vry worrying SFKA.

 

Some indsiduals are not in touch with realty Its the victim syndrome

[Torrent Of Abuse]

I'm fairly happy with the pre-season really. We wanted fitness and they've worked extremely hard on fitness. We worried about away games on bobbly pitches and that's the sort of game we are focussing on. Don't really see a need to play a Premiership side if we are not playing that kind of team except in the big cups (which surely the "promotion at all costs" posters will say are unwanted distractions).

 

I'd rather they did a simple, short boot camp and hit the actual tactical games earlier but that's splitting hairs a bit. Here's to the season start.

[ericofarabia]

Everyone knows that certain posters are boring vom-minded, hyper-self-important, smog-visioned, dunder-block-headed, uber-****tish, rtard-jizziming feckwits.

 

Treat the ****s with the contempt they deserve,

 

Come on benji, stop sitting on the fence and tell us what you really think!!!

[david in sweden]

I cannot believe that there are those on here who think that Pardew doesn't know the capabilities of each of the players in our squad. What the hell has he been doing while the squad is training?, if after working with them all for a year he doesn't know the chaff from the wheat, then I would say that the guy is not fit to be our manager.

The way some of you make excuses for him, you make it sound as though Pardew is doing everything at the club himself, from washing the kit, to cooking the players lunches and then fitting in five minutes of training when he can find the time. When in reality he has a large staff to back him up and do almost everything for him.

 

The side that finished the season was AP's SECOND squad - built after New Year. Others like Holmes and the younger lads had no chance to try out in mid-

season..so that practice games like these with no real meaning - and no loss of points - are ideal to see them try-out.

I've never been troubled by the result f such games - except that I wanted Saints to win - and at least AP will be able to make a better judgment of their potential for the new season. My only reservation is that two new signings -designed to solve our defensive shortcomings-have been injured already.

[View From The Top]

Any particular reason?

 

He based it on watching his displays last season and his poor goal record.

 

Alpine is never wrong about these things, seeing Adam play on a regular basis 'n all.

[S-Clarke]

 

Anything less than 30 goals is a disgrace.

 

TBF I wasn't convinced he had the necesarry discipline to play "wing" in 2008-2009 but it was obvious last year that he had improved his fitness and team ethic. I knew this because I watched some matches.

 

Apparently, people who don't attend matches have a better understanding of the team and the performance.

 

This was a comment from our esteemed alpine not so long ago.

 

If we had won all our pre-season games his presence on these forums would be non-existant. It's really quite odd. When we do well, he's no where to be seen, but as soon as something goes wrong (We drew freidnly FFS) he's out in force. He'll deny this time and time again and come up with the stupid reason that there is less to debate when we're doing well. No alpine...there's less negative things to debate...but plenty of other positive stuff to talk about.

[The Kraken]

Our 3rd choice 11 on a hangover with AIDS should beat sutton utd

 

Yet an unfortunate Crystal Palace second string side (in all likelihood sober and disease-free) lost 2-1 to the same Sutton Utd team last week.

[Giordano]

I went to the match. Joensu and Ewell's match reports are pretty much as i saw it. I been to a few of these "meaningless" preseason matches and this one was probably one of the more disappointing ones but by the same token im not too worried about it. Sutton were much better than i thought. Well organised and compact with a few pacey + mostly technically competent players. I listened to their prematch team talk and the funny thing that stood out was "they are not superstars" or words to that effect plus "if you kick it long we will be chasing it all day". Pity we didnt add that to our teamtalk as there was way too much "hoof" from us...If AP learned anything from this its that compact well organised teams can stifle us out quite easily- even non league teams.......but i guess we knew that from the last half of the season...just seems we dont have the guile to sort it out, especially without adam and puncheon.

 

FWIW I think that the bench were also unimpressed, especially by the lack of urgency of our guys in the first half- someone screamed at lambo from the dugout to get in front of a sutton free kick as he was watching them about to take it so to me it was clear the manager was NOT happy at the lack of concentration...screaming at lambo in public vs a nonleague team is not something i imagine is normal.

 

The number one reason for me was the reluctance to tackle. I suppose over 46 matches we will be good enough with a deep enough squad to get through on percentages in our league and thats the smart move so best to avoid preseason injuries if you can but i prefer our squad players to bust a gut in these matches especially to show why they should start. The only guy to do that was Oxlade, but his nerves made him fall on the floor a lot (free kicks in a league game hopefully) and he really should practice crossing with his left foot as he has a good trick to cut in but the space he created for a left foot cross is wasted if its a "swinger"...which i suspect his left peg is....

 

Overall id say that too many on the pitch knew they were guaranteed starters against plymouth whatever happened v sutton and thats never a good incentive to put your foot in ...two or three strong incoming players would not go amiss.

Edited 25 July, 2010 by Giordano
SP errors.

[Cabrone]

LOL at all the bile on here.....calm down folks, it was only a friendly.

 

A sense of perspective please.

 

I'm just glad no injuries were picked up.

 

Its Barnet next as we continue on our journey to automatic promotion .

[krissyboy31]

.....calm down folks, it was only a friendly.

 

 

[funkymojo44]

That result was a disgrace, no getting away from that. We seriously need to start playing better if we are to start well this season. No excuses we should be beating sutton easily and comfortably.

[benjii]

That result was a disgrace, no getting away from that. We seriously need to start playing better if we are to start well this season. No excuses we should be beating sutton easily and comfortably.

 

[S-Clarke]

Seriously, if this is how many pages of debate we get after a 1-1 with Sutton in a pre-season, god help this forum if we draw away at Hartlepool.

[alpine_saint]

 

So what's going to change in the next two weeks, Mr. Einstein ?

[benjii]

So what's going to change in the next two weeks, Mr. Einstein ?

 

 

No idea. What I expect will happen is that we'll start playing better as players up the intensity and the likes of Lallana, Pucheon, Connolly etc play, fitness imporves and people get back in to the swing of competitive play.

 

That's what I think.

[alpine_saint]

No idea. What I expect will happen is that we'll start playing better as players up the intensity and the likes of Lallana, Pucheon, Connolly etc play, fitness imporves and people get back in to the swing of competitive play.

 

That's what I think.

 

Worked well for England, didnt it ?

[Saint_clark]

Worked well for England, didnt it ?

 

Certainly worked well for Newcastle.

[funkymojo44]

Well that's kinda my point - losing to teams like FC Thun and Socheux are acceptable but Sutton?

 

I completely agree with the fact that the first few matches are all about match fitness, but where does the cut off point come when we need to start to perform and win games going into our first league game.

 

Bear in mind we also have a cup game as our 2nd competitive match will we still be accepting a poor result against Bournmouth for example? Who are much better than Sutton?

 

I know Pardew for one will be starting to knuckle down with the squad and drill it home that they need to start NOW not 5 games into the new season!

[benjii]

Worked well for England, didnt it ?

 

What the **** are you talking about you complete ****? How can:

 

- "No idea. What I expect will happen is that we'll start playing better as players up the intensity and the likes of Lallana, Pucheon, Connolly etc play, fitness imporves and people get back in to the swing of competitive play.

 

That's what I think." -

 

work or not work well for England? That's a complete nonsense statement. And in any case, why are you talking about England? I assume you're referring to our poor world cup performance. Oh yeah, I see now, that is a perfect analogy for a pre-season friendly and league campaign.

 

Stop being such a ****.

[S-Clarke]

Well that's kinda my point - losing to teams like FC Thun and Socheux are acceptable but Sutton?

 

I completely agree with the fact that the first few matches are all about match fitness, but where does the cut off point come when we need to start to perform and win games going into our first league game.

 

Bear in mind we also have a cup game as our 2nd competitive match will we still be accepting a poor result against Bournmouth for example? Who are much better than Sutton?

 

I know Pardew for one will be starting to knuckle down with the squad and drill it home that they need to start NOW not 5 games into the new season!

 

but we didn't lose.....

[Matthew Le God]

Worked well for England, didnt it ?

 

Why do you keep bringing up England?

 

For a start Saints have just had a summer off and are building up fitness in friendlies.

 

England played Mexico and Japan when the season had just finished, so should have been already "fit".

[alpine_saint]

What the **** are you talking about you complete ****? How can:

 

- "No idea. What I expect will happen is that we'll start playing better as players up the intensity and the likes of Lallana, Pucheon, Connolly etc play, fitness imporves and people get back in to the swing of competitive play.

 

That's what I think." -

 

 

 

work or not work well for England? That's a complete nonsense statement. And in any case, why are you talking about England? I assume you're referring to our poor world cup performance. Oh yeah, I see now, that is a perfect analogy for a pre-season friendly and league campaign.

 

Stop being such a ****.

 

 

Oh dear, toys out of the pram time...

[suewhistle]

Steve wasn't there. He was in Leeds

 

And suewhistle was zombied out after driving through the night from home in Italy to me mum's and suffering the M25 on Friday afternoon!

[suewhistle]

And I do reckon we could start this season as bad as last form-wise.

 

Hurrah! That's the first time I can ever recall you using a modal in one of your posts. "Could"! For a bit of variety can I also suggest "may" and "might".

 

It's not just the unremitting pessimism of your posts but the way you are so dogmatic about things. Oh, and your heavy-handed sarcasm and assumptions...

 

Feck me, has the penny only just dropped with him ?

[benjii]

Oh dear, toys out of the pram time...

 

[OldNick]

friendlies mean SFA. it would be nice to win them but it is not the priority at this stage.

I do think we need some more players to add to the squad though

[alpine_saint]

friendlies mean SFA. it would be nice to win them but it is not the priority at this stage.

I do think we need some more players to add to the squad though

 

What's the Sweaties got do do with this ?

[Thedelldays]

im still not accepting friendlies mean anything..when a few months back, pre season (or the lack of it) was EVERYTHING

[alpine_saint]

im still not accepting friendlies mean anything..when a few months back, pre season (or the lack of it) was EVERYTHING

 

Agreed. But then the people who said it will come along and said it only applied to the manager, or they really meant the -10 points....

[benjii]

im still not accepting friendlies mean anything..when a few months back, pre season (or the lack of it) was EVERYTHING

 

Agreed. But then the people who said it will come along and said it only applied to the manager, or they really meant the -10 points....

 

Yes, because that's probably what they meant. It's a jump from "having a pre-season where the manager can work with the squad would have been better than not", to "pre-season results are important".

 

We're all still waiting to hear why we had a better chance of getting promoted last season than we do this coming season. I'd also be interested to hear your critique of Lallana and why you're, "not convinced", if you have time.

 

Thanks and kind regards.

 

Toodle-pip.

[The Kraken]

im still not accepting friendlies mean anything..when a few months back, pre season (or the lack of it) was EVERYTHING

 

First of all I don't believe friendly results are meaningless; while I also don't believe they're hugely important, I do think there is definitely some significance to putting together a good win/performance or two to get the team into the right mentality. I'd certainly much rather we won all our pre-season games than lost them, that's for sure.

 

That said, I can also see the separation between the "lack of pre-season" last year and the comparisons to this year. Last year was seen as a lack of pre-season as most of our current players did not arrive until the season was underway; similarly AP only had 3 or 4 weeks to work with the squad prior to the big kick off. This season, while results are below par of what we hope for, the fact is that the players have had a reasonable amount of time with the manager and each other to prepare for the season ahead; so even despite the fact that the results aren't yet up to scratch, I can go along with the argument that all the other pre-season training with the bulk of the squad is still taking place.

 

I have always maintained though that if we got into August without being very close to the full squad for the season ahead I'd start to get concerned. Yes, I know that the window is open until the end of August and beyond for loans, but I still think we're 3 players short for the whole campaign, and the injuries to Lallana and Punch show how light we are in those areas. So I'm hoping to see at least 1 signing by the end of the week to start to address this. Our first XI is still perfectly good enough to kick off the campaign, but it would be nice to have the backup in place with the squad before long.

[NickG]

not at all worried about this one, still would be nice to have a good result but its widely acknowledged that pre-season results have little bearing on the season.

 

pre-season is important, for manager to judge players and work on any aspect needed, identify new signing needs, - this was what was the problem last year, not the results

[Thedelldays]

not at all worried about this one, still would be nice to have a good result but its widely acknowledged that pre-season results have little bearing on the season.

 

pre-season is important, for manager to judge players and work on any aspect needed, identify new signing needs, - this was what was the problem last year, not the results

 

well, we shall see....I fully expect us to start the season all guns blazing then and not a single muttering of anything to do with pre season....

[The Kraken]

well, we shall see....I fully expect us to start the season all guns blazing then and not a single muttering of anything to do with pre season....

 

There are and can be no excuses for the season ahead; a substantially slow start to the season will be met with criticism of the manager and team, and rightly so.

[NickG]

I agree.

 

Think we will continue last season's form and gradually get a gap at top.

 

Be good to start with a good win for a change.

[Alanh]

I was there and the match was a typical pre season affair. Sutton looked up for it from the off and had a couple of players with abit of pace who chased everything. Sainrts looked awkward. AOC and MS shone throughout but the others looked sluggish - a bit like playing at Sutton was beneath them. The defence was fairly tight apart from the goal and one shot in the second half didn't really give Sutton a chance. With the exception of MS our midfield looked unbalanced and did not boss the game. We really suffered not having Puncheon and Lallana in terms of balance and having an outlet. Hammond is not an attacking CM and Dickson was injured too soon to be able to make an impression. Lee Holmes huffed and puffed but to little effect - I would sell him as we can do better. We bossed the second half in terms of possession and territory and their keeper stopped at least three certain goals with decent saves.