The difference between Southampton and Brighton...

[saintfully]

It's not big enough, sure. The fact that we've sold 10,400 season tickets already, and have 4,000 presentations lined up in March (all of whom can buy up to 4 tix) are testament to that fact. They were targeting 17,000 season tickets, but it looks like they might sell all 19,000 seats to season ticket holders. Good job it's been built to house 30,000 really, with the seats missing from the corners and the stadium configured so that a tier can be added to another stand with ease. We're simply waiting on planning permission.

 

When he says one of the best stadiums in the country, I'm not sure it's top 2 because of the concept that many hold that it is a relatively small small ground capacity, but in terms of the spec and quality of build, it is certainly one of the very best. We have a bloke on our site who is worker on the site and has said as much (he's a Swansea fan calling himself natterjack). He says it pìsses on pretty much every other provincial stadium. It certainly is a thing of beauty when you're up close.

 

What the stadium gives Brighton is potential, that's all. Let's see how you compete once Poyet goes (which he will) and results start to go against you. FWIW, I think the city/catchment is big enough and attractive enough to support a see-saw team like WBA or Norwich/Ipswich. Any talk of a 'fun-size Barcelona' however is as embaressing as a monkey-petting zoo.

[Lighthouse]

It's not big enough, sure. The fact that we've sold 10,400 season tickets already, and have 4,000 presentations lined up in March (all of whom can buy up to 4 tix) are testament to that fact. They were targeting 17,000 season tickets, but it looks like they might sell all 19,000 seats to season ticket holders. Good job it's been built to house 30,000 really, with the seats missing from the corners and the stadium configured so that a tier can be added to another stand with ease. We're simply waiting on planning permission.

 

When he says one of the best stadiums in the country, I'm not sure it's top 2 because of the concept that many hold that it is a relatively small small ground capacity, but in terms of the spec and quality of build, it is certainly one of the very best. We have a bloke on our site who is worker on the site and has said as much (he's a Swansea fan calling himself natterjack). He says it pìsses on pretty much every other provincial stadium. It certainly is a thing of beauty when you're up close.

 

If there's anyone likely to be more biased towards that stadium than Seagul fans, it's the bloke building it. Not saying it won't be nice, but I'd hardly take it as Gospel.

[Papa Shango]

You have the best side in the league, you are so arrogant so wheres the evidence you are the best side in the league? because from where i am sitting i havent seen any evidence of that yet.

 

We have a lot of completely deluded fans.

[Simster]

What the stadium gives Brighton is potential, that's all. Let's see how you compete once Poyet goes (which he will) and results start to go against you. FWIW, I think the city/catchment is big enough and attractive enough to support a see-saw team like WBA or Norwich/Ipswich. Any talk of a 'fun-size Barcelona' however is as embaressing as a monkey-petting zoo.

Or Southampton? You're right, it gives us the potential to be like any other provincial team.

 

If there's anyone likely to be more biased towards that stadium than Seagul fans, it's the bloke building it. Not saying it won't be nice, but I'd hardly take it as Gospel.

Fair point. I think the £93m price tag might provide more evidence than anything else that this stadium isn't going to be like a bigger version of Colchester or Chesterfield.

 

And with that, I have to leave this tin-pot site as I have reached my 3 post limit. A shame, because most of you seem decent enough. Seriously, what an embarrassing way to run the main football forum for your clubs fans. I bet we get as much traffic on NSC as you do, the bloke running this site could do worse than PM Bozza (Darren) on our site and ask him how we cope. Darren still has £6K in the coffers, running a busy site funded purely out of click-thrus to Amazon FFS.

[saint1977]

Brighton are far more clinical in front of goal, plus they didn't have a complete hiatus in August and September. We've effectively got one striker and that's Lambert and the teams that get automatic promotion usually have two firing at least 15-20 goals. Barnard works hard granted but often in areas that don't hurt the opposition and Adkins doesn't seem to rate him. Guly should be the second striker, get rid of the diamond formation and get the flipping ball wide where Lallana and Chamberlain/Forte/N'Guessan can do the damage and supply the strikers. Bread and butter for these final games - get wide, get crosses in and have a go at teams full tilt.

[Seagull]

The reason Brighton are doing better than us is that they have a team full of players that will scrap for you on the pitch but they will struggle in the championship. We have just one or two scrappers. We will do much better in the championship because we have players who can pass the ball where the pitches will be better,bigger crowds and better atmospheres where we seem to do much better.

 

I think it's very important in this league to have a team who can scrap and nick a result here and there when you're not at you're best. I think we can do that reasonably well. However it's far, far from our normal game. Obviously you're not going to, but if you saw us play at home against an average League One side, you'd see we are an excellent passing side. We also played excellent football in the cup against Portsmouth and Watford so there's the confidence that we could do it at a higher level too.

 

Have our friends from Brighton forgiven us for "the conspiracy with Spurs" - us drawing 0-0 @ home v Spurs in the last game of the 1977/8 season and Spurs and us & not Brighton going up to the top div on goal diff ? PS Who have Brighton got in the last game this season ??

 

We certainly remember it but no matter how much some fans may find it rather amusing if we were to rest a few players I can't see it happening. Gus and Lee Clark had a bit of a falling out at the Galpharm and I'm pretty sure he'd want to get one over him. Having said that, if our season is over, he did play some youngsters in the last few games of last season to give them a chance so who knows.

 

There's no doubt Brighton play a style which is unusual. Having said that, I have only seen them play once this year which was when we played at St Mary's and the style was very easy to contain indeed and we completely outdid them tactically. We should have won the match fairly comfortably and the only time Brighton looked dangerous was when they stuck a bigger player upfront towards the end of the match and lobbed it long. That's hardly a tactical revelation; it is what teams have always done when they want a goal towards the end of the match. Having said that, judging from the wild celebrations at the final whistle they were clearly pleased with a draw. Their centre backs looked like a very good pair.

 

It's very easy to ignore a few things about that game though. We had to play a youngster, Lewis Dunk, at centre back after El-Abd got injured. He's only made 2 apperance this season, he started at Tranmere and he came on against you. He made his debut in a dead rubber at the end of last season. So he has 2 starts and 1 sub appearance in the league in his entire career. We were also forced into starting Battipiedi in midfield due to injuries/suspensions. He's only made 3 starts (5 subs) this season and was massivly, massivly out of his depth.

 

You certainly had under the cosh first half and put us under a lot of pressure but we delt with that pressure and didn't fall to pieces. We weren't at our best, we had a couple of players with very little experience but we dug in, played some good football in the second half and could have won it in the end. Given the players you have, the threat you are to us and the pressure you put us under, no wonder we celebrated a good point away from home!

[Thimble]

Thanks for that - I've just spilt coffee all over myself laughing.

 

I live near Brighton and drive past the new stadium regularly. If you think that its in the top 2 in the country its because you've spent the last few years slumming it at the Withdean.

 

Your problem= 22,000 capacity.

 

Nope, it is based on the fact that for luxury, comfort and facilities only the Emirates is apparently better...It has been designed and built to a higher specification than just about every other stadium the country. Take the seats as just one example, every seat is to be completely padded (there is a homophobic joke coming surely) even for the rank and file supporter...These seats are exactly the same as those going into the Olympic Stadium...VIP section...

 

The stadium has been designed for 30,000 but will have an opening capacity of 22,500 and just because that is rather small does not mean it is better...I mean, the Amex will be smaller than St Marys but it will be better. Just look around the Premier League, Chelsea have a 40,000-ish capacity but that main stand is looking ancient and from the back of the lower tier you are unable to see the pitch if everyone stands...Another example is Goodison Park which is another ground that can hold about 40k but the place is falling apart and I believe they still have wooden seats/benches in one stand!

 

The stadium should finally unlock the potential. It is a strange one for the ALBION as the support comes mainly from outside the city. The club draws most of it's fanbase from just to the west of Brighton in the neighbouring towns...Also some to the east and north. Rome was not built in a day but there are signs of progress and even this season if proving it. The aim of the chairman is to get us established in the Premier and although that is a long way off at present the goal is achievable...If Bolton can make the grade and sustain it then the ALBION (and clubs like us) have a chance...

 

As for the "fun-Size Barcelona" quote, I am merely saying what Poyet has said himself in so much how we wants the club to be run...It is not meant that I expect us to become massive and start winning league titles (well, maybe League 1) but in the way that the whole total football philosophy will be filtered through the entire club...

 

Anyway, as my fellow Seagull has mentioned himself, the 3 post limit is up so this is from me for a little bit which is a shame as this site is fairly entertaining and I have enjoyed reading the threads debating your manager and certain players...So, as I am off for a bit, let me ask one question: If you do not get up automatically and fail in the play-offs, would you want Adkins sacked?...I know my answer but I am not a Saints fan so it does not really matter...

[Minty]

So, as I am off for a bit, let me ask one question: If you do not get up automatically and fail in the play-offs, would you want Adkins sacked?...I know my answer but I am not a Saints fan so it does not really matter...

 

lol, that's a sure-fire way of getting the thread to descend into chaos! Let's stick to Brighton on this thread... it's one of the few with decent discussion and that has seemingly remained respectful!

[Frank's cousin]

Interesting thread - and good luck to the Seagulls as far as I'm concerned... they had it bad for 20 years, we had it bad for about 2 so we cant complain and unlike pompey, their situatiion was not down to trying buy success.

 

I think we have struggled a little for consistency, but that is to be expected given the early season changes and just when on a good run, the injuries to Lallana and the huge unsettling aspects to the OXO speculation have not helped... now we are getting to crunch time and as teh pressure buids on all sides, it will be time for the players to show what they are really made of. I do think we are not a complete unit yet, and Poyet at Brighton has had longer to mould and gell the side, so its no surprise that they have that consistency that others lack. Our Nige is not far behind, over the period he has been in charge, but our 'bad' results seem to be more clustered so we tend to view it as a bigger swing up and down, where as Brighton have the odd blip which is seen as such... what is important for us now though is to stop worrying about what everyone else is doing and focus on our own form and results - its also about belief. And we have been notoriously bad /nervous over the last few years, that whenever it get tight we lose confidence and that can filter through to the pitch. Belief is what it is all about now and handling the pressure of expectation.

 

The playesr know they are good enough. They know when it clicks together, most will be on the end of a trouncing, so they can do it. Luck will play a part to, and thats the same for everyone... we just need to believe. I know that when everyting is analysed its easy to find fault in style, selection, tactics whenever things go bad, some like Alps tend to focus on these things, and I can see the point of view of thsoe who are negative about our chances, because we do tend at times to shoot ourselves in teh foot, but now is not the time for this self analysis, now is the time for belief and full support.

 

If we have confidence and show that, it all helps and the results since nige joined show we CAN do it... COME ON, second place is in our hands - so its there for the taking.

[Legod Third Coming]

I'm not so sure our squad is better than Brighton's. We have two players (Lallana and Chamberlain) who are head and shoulders above anyone else in the league, but take them out and we are probably pretty close to Brighton. Lallana has been injured and Chamberlain slightly off form recently, hence why we've not been playing quite as well. A lot of the rest of the squad isn't nearly as good as some people on here think. Brighton have been pretty darn impressive this season and it can't just be down to having a supposedly better manager. Poyet can only do so much, and they must have some pretty impressive players to have done as well as they have done. It's a bit arrogant to suggest we definitely have a much better squad than them. How many times have you watched Brighton this season? How do you know their players aren't as good?

 

Rickie Lambert - £1m

Lee Barnard - Second Top Scorer in the League Last Season

Lallana - enough said

Chamberlain - enough said

Richardson- Charlton player of the season and believed by many to be the best right back in the league (impartial observers not Saints fans)

Butterfield - wouldn't get into 4/5 of the teams in the league?

Harding - arguably the best left back in the league?

Fonte - easily the best centre half in the league

Guly - you're telling me he wouldn't walk into 2/3 of the league's sides?

Davis - arguably the best keeper in the league even with a dip in form (Have you seen most keepers we play??!)

 

Now I have no doubt that other teams have good players, but none with the strength and depth we do. We were the TENTH highest spending club in England last year during the summer transfer window... We trebled Rickie's salary and spent over a million pounds on a player which is unheard of in this league.

 

Feck me, are we not supposed to expect some sort of return??

 

Brighton's success is down to a better manager getting a better return from his players than ours is currently getting from ours. They have some decent players I'm sure, but their budget simply doesn't come close to what we have spent so ergo we have the better players, no question. There is no doubt in my mind that if Poyet managed Saints we would be well clear of where even Brighton are.

[Bailey]

Difference is quite simply down to home form.

 

We've lost 3 at St. Mary's, whilst Brighton are undefeated at home.

 

Our away records are pretty similar.

 

In terms of squads, on paper, I believe ours is better, but with Poyet at the helm, Brighton have had a fantastic season and fully deserve to be top.

[Alain Perrin]

I bet we get as much traffic on NSC as you do, the bloke running this site could do worse than PM Bozza (Darren) on our site and ask him how we cope. Darren still has £6K in the coffers, running a busy site funded purely out of click-thrus to Amazon FFS.

 

And therein lies the fact that those that pay for this site are being taken for a ride by the admins. Advertising should be sufficient to fund a site of this size, so what is happening to the subscription dollars? Show me the money.

[Mr X]

Brighton travel better up the hershey highway..?

 

Thats exactly the type of homophobic behaviour ive come to expect from this village! good day to you!

[OVER THE HILL]

And with that, I have to leave this tin-pot site as I have reached my 3 post limit. A shame, because most of you seem decent enough. Seriously, what an embarrassing way to run the main football forum for your clubs fans.

 

 

So to sum up , Brighton has a better team, stadium, manager,fans and web site.

[Minty]

And therein lies the fact that those that pay for this site are being taken for a ride by the admins. Advertising should be sufficient to fund a site of this size, so what is happening to the subscription dollars? Show me the money.

 

No one is being taken for a ride and to say they are is tantamount to accusing them of fraud.

 

They're running things in the way they feel is best and have been let down by the hosting providers I believe. They're not perfect, just like you and me, and I'm sure they would be glad of any helpful suggestions, but given that they know a damn site more about hosting than probably 98% of members of this site, I think such accusations are out of order, without any kind of proof. Also, with respect to the Brighton poster, without specific details about the load on their server vs ours, it's easy to *say* 'I bet we get as much traffic as you do' but that proves nothing.

[Mr X]

No one is being taken for a ride and to say they are is tantamount to accusing them of fraud.

 

They're running things in the way they feel is best and have been let down by the hosting providers I believe. They're not perfect, just like you and me, and I'm sure they would be glad of any helpful suggestions, but given that they know a damn site more about hosting than probably 98% of members of this site, I think such accusations are out of order, without any kind of proof. Also, with respect to the Brighton poster, without specific details about the load on their server vs ours, it's easy to *say* 'I bet we get as much traffic as you do' but that proves nothing.

amen to that!

[The9]

You have the best side in the league, you are so arrogant so wheres the evidence you are the best side in the league? because from where i am sitting i havent seen any evidence of that yet.

 

Funny that, as our match at Rochdale was called off when I was half way there last weekend I decided to go to Stoke v Brighton instead. You lot were embarrassingly bad in the first half against a Stoke side that had little more than strength, a quick right winger, and decent execution of set pieces. It took them stopping trying for 20 minutes when 3-0 up before you could play your passing football. Meanwhile when we played Man Utd we passed the ball around beautifully whilst leading against them, even keeping possession for a significant period when we should have been under the cosh. We both lost in the end, but only one of us looked like a quality passing team against Prem opposition. In addition, your lot were cynical time-wasting garbage from 5 minutes gone at St Mary's and didn't do much then either.

 

And as far as arrogant goes, we also happened upon a couple of your fans in a local pub. Blimey, you'd think you were already in the Championship !

[Mr X]

Shouldnt we be adding bournemouth to this debate? they're the real club performing miracles!

[OVER THE HILL]

Shouldnt we be adding bournemouth to this debate? they're the real club performing miracles!

 

 

No, we need another thread "The difference between Southampton and Bournemouth";)

[The9]

Difference is quite simply down to home form.

 

We've lost 3 at St. Mary's...

 

One on the opening day under Pardew, one in September when God knows what was going on, and since then just the one home league defeat to Brentford under Adkins - and anyone can have an off-day.

 

http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/league-one/2010-2011/table/2010-09-21

 

The League Table on 21st September had us 9 points off the top and 9 points behind Brighton. Not much has changed in terms of the gap since then and until Tuesday it had actually closed.

 

Our terrible start and managerial pi ssing about is what's cost us, but we still have plenty of time and matches to overcome it. The long and short of it is we still have a lot of promotion rivals to play (Brighton, AFCB, Colchester, Rochdale and Charlton away; Charlton and MK at home) and if we win those matches we'll deserve to go up and if we don't, we'll probably only deserve the playoffs.

 

We still have 6 matches against the bottom 7 to play as well, mostly at home.

[Whitey Grandad]

One on the opening day under Pardew, one in September when God knows what was going on, and since then just the one home league defeat to Brentford under Adkins - and anyone can have an off-day.

 

http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/league-one/2010-2011/table/2010-09-21

 

The League Table on 21st September had us 9 points off the top and 9 points behind Brighton. Not much has changed in terms of the gap since then and until Tuesday it had actually closed.

 

Our terrible start and managerial pi ssing about is what's cost us, but we still have plenty of time and matches to overcome it. The long and short of it is we still have a lot of promotion rivals to play (Brighton, AFCB, Colchester, Rochdale and Charlton away; Charlton and MK at home) and if we win those matches we'll deserve to go up and if we don't, we'll probably only deserve the playoffs.

 

We still have 6 matches against the bottom 7 to play as well, mostly at home.

 

Nutshell.

 

(Am I allowed to say that?)

[Minty]

Nutshell.

 

(Am I allowed to say that?)

 

Given some of the things others have said, I think you're safe.

 

The9 is spot on, but then this thread has become a bit circular and others have made the same or similar points to him previously. Most people have made up their mind and clearly won't be swayed.

 

Until maybe after the next result.

[hasper57saint]

The main reason BHA are where they are is because they are the ONLY club in any league who have 'To see the match please bring your binoculars' printed on the away supporters tickets. Whenever I see the Div 1 Table I think of Leeds. They were at the top for ages and then, CRASH! They lost five games on the trot. Anyone believe history dosen't repeat itself? Saturday brings us the opportunity to gains three more points. Don't worry about BHA just keep your support for Saints.

[NickG]

In the same way you seemed to have had a bad day at Tranmere the same could be said of the ALBION down at St Mary's. As I posted on here after the game we were pretty average in the first half. I say average becase without the ball we were excellent as we defended very well, making tackles and getting in blocks. Alas, on the flip side of that when we had the ball it was one of the worst passing perfomances we have put in all season. This was in no small part down to yourselves as you worked extremely hard in closing us down and forcing us into making basic errors...You really came at us but for all that rarely caused problems as I can only recall one dangerous shot and that was from a free-kick at the end of the half.

 

But all your efforts took it's toll on your team. As early 5 minutes into the second half the sheer amount of work Saints put in with trying to stop us playing and coming forward themselves saw them visibly begin to tire...Gaps started to appear and we brought on Murray upfront and Smith who is a pacey winger we started to pass it round with a lot more ease. Southampton were clearly tiring and we really should have gone on and won the game without too much trouble but we just missed some decent chances. Squandering the penalty was criminal and you definitely had a look of a team that had just got out of jail following that incident and were happy to take a draw there and then!

 

The return game could be an interesting fixture and I just hope we perform better this time round...

 

 

 

Personally I believe Poyet will be around for quite a while and he would be mental to jump ship too soon.

 

Next season we will be moving into one of the top 2 stadiums in the country and have plans to build a complex with mutiple pitches where the first team can train and will also have academy status for the youth teams. Poyet has said he wants to be a part of this and seems to seriously want to create some sort of empire! He has met with all the coaches right down to the youngest age group and has instructed them that even youth teams have to play the total football or the 'Brighton Style' as Poyet has dubbed it. Poyet genuinely wants to turn us into some sort of institution or a fun-size Barcelona if you like...Now, I know that sounds mad it is the way he comes across.

 

Obviously he will not be around forever, no ALBION fan honestly expects that but he will be but he will move on when he can take us no further...Or gets an offer at a very big club...Like, say, Chelsea which would only be viable if he had sustained success with us. He would never leave us for a Championship club or even an average Premier League team such as Bolton or Blackburn he knows deep down he can take the ALBION to that level himself...So why jump when you can obtain success and grow with your current club?

 

So in summary here is going to be at the ALBION for the long-haul unless something special comes his way...But for that to happen he needs to achieve something special first!

 

Oh and for living among Palace fans you have my deepest, deepest sympathies...

 

lol! If stayed in league 1 would be probably in top two in that division! Have you ever been to another ground, or watched football on tv?

[Miltonaggro]

Reading this bollo makes one realise how important it is to get out of this tosspot league with its psuedo rivalries. At least I now know what Leeds supporting mates went through when Huddersfield and Hartlepool fans (their Brighton and Bournemouth) used to get on their case and message boards with similar nonsense. The current Brighton fervour reminds me of Oxford United fans in the mid eighties when Smith and Maxwell were in charge, a bit of sporadic success and they were going to be the Real Madrid of the Thames Valley right up until the point where the wheels came off. I can't recall us posting on Arsenal and Spurs sites when St Marys was being built 'our new ground will only have 5000 less seats than your decrepit stadia, but our toilets are better and the radio station is tip top, and given that we are only 80 miles away you must be looking over your shoulders and crapping yourselves at the birth of Leviathan'. We would have looked a bit silly, wouldn't we...

[Gemmel]

Heres what a tranmere fans thinks the diffeerence between the two teams are;

 

 

27. At 3:09pm on 23 Feb 2011, Tengullenhat wrote:

As a Tranmere fan, I hardly expected my team to get any mention. However, as someone who regularly travels throughout the UK, I have managed to see some of the better teams in this league throughout the season.

 

Firstly, let me say how I totally disagree with Steve's description of either Brighton or Southampton.

 

Having seen the Saints play five or six matches, I can honestly say that they play in the same way, game in, game out. Because of this, then most sides are able to counter their style and nullify the threat from their undoubtedly talented strike force. My own team were able to make them look very ordinary, and certainly nowhere near automatic promotion candidates.

 

Brighton on the other hand, and completely the opposite of Steve's summing up on them, play football, not only on a skill level way above this league, but they are able to play and adapt their formation and style during a match, according to that played by the opposition. This is something that has never been witnessed in the lower league levels before, and they will be able to adapt the style in the Championship to gain further success. You have to credit the way that the club is run now.

 

Southampton have their work cut out to make second spot, and because they are reluctant to change their system, then I feel either Bournemouth or Charlton will be gaining the runners-up position. Whoever does finish second, they will be a long way behind Brighton.

[Window Cleaner]

Murray, scored as many goals as Lallana and Guly combined.A real goal poacher.

[Window Cleaner]

Heres what a tranmere fans thinks the diffeerence between the two teams are;

 

 

,

 

Having seen the Saints play five or six matches, I can honestly say that they play in the same way, game in, game out. Because of this, then most sides are able to counter their style and nullify the threat from their undoubtedly talented strike force. My own team were able to make them look very ordinary, and certainly nowhere near automatic promotion candidates.

 

Brighton on the other hand, and completely the opposite of Steve's summing up on them, play football, not only on a skill level way above this league, but they are able to play and adapt their formation and style during a match, according to that played by the opposition. This is something that has never been witnessed in the lower league levels before, and they will be able to adapt the style in the Championship to gain further success. You have to credit the way that the club is run now.

 

 

And that's about Poyet and his coaches,as long as we have Wilkins involved anywhere in our set up we will be staid and unimaginative.As I personally think that Adkins doesn't have the experience or savvy to override this we will always be predictable.As we have chosen to alternate Jaidi and Seaborne in defence rather than bringing on the more talented Martin we'll always either get caught for pace or give away stupid penalties and soft goals.

Edited 24 February, 2011 by Window Cleaner

[The9]

Heres what a tranmere fans thinks the diffeerence between the two teams are;

 

 

27. At 3:09pm on 23 Feb 2011, Tengullenhat wrote:

As a Tranmere fan, I hardly expected my team to get any mention. However, as someone who regularly travels throughout the UK, I have managed to see some of the better teams in this league throughout the season.

 

Firstly, let me say how I totally disagree with Steve's description of either Brighton or Southampton.

 

Having seen the Saints play five or six matches, I can honestly say that they play in the same way, game in, game out. Because of this, then most sides are able to counter their style and nullify the threat from their undoubtedly talented strike force. My own team were able to make them look very ordinary, and certainly nowhere near automatic promotion candidates.

 

Brighton on the other hand, and completely the opposite of Steve's summing up on them, play football, not only on a skill level way above this league, but they are able to play and adapt their formation and style during a match, according to that played by the opposition. This is something that has never been witnessed in the lower league levels before, and they will be able to adapt the style in the Championship to gain further success. You have to credit the way that the club is run now.

 

Southampton have their work cut out to make second spot, and because they are reluctant to change their system, then I feel either Bournemouth or Charlton will be gaining the runners-up position. Whoever does finish second, they will be a long way behind Brighton.

 

Interesting theory, but can you now find an Oldham fan with a similar opinion ?

[Window Cleaner]

Interesting theory, but can you now find an Oldham fan with a similar opinion ?

 

But since then we've changed both full backs, are alternating Seaborne and Jaidi,we've replaced a flair midfielder with a cart-horse,Lallana has been injured,we've burnt out Ox and Guly can't score for toffee.

[hypochondriac]

Heres what a tranmere fans thinks the diffeerence between the two teams are;

 

 

27. At 3:09pm on 23 Feb 2011, Tengullenhat wrote:

As a Tranmere fan, I hardly expected my team to get any mention. However, as someone who regularly travels throughout the UK, I have managed to see some of the better teams in this league throughout the season.

 

Firstly, let me say how I totally disagree with Steve's description of either Brighton or Southampton.

 

Having seen the Saints play five or six matches, I can honestly say that they play in the same way, game in, game out. Because of this, then most sides are able to counter their style and nullify the threat from their undoubtedly talented strike force. My own team were able to make them look very ordinary, and certainly nowhere near automatic promotion candidates.

 

Brighton on the other hand, and completely the opposite of Steve's summing up on them, play football, not only on a skill level way above this league, but they are able to play and adapt their formation and style during a match, according to that played by the opposition. This is something that has never been witnessed in the lower league levels before, and they will be able to adapt the style in the Championship to gain further success. You have to credit the way that the club is run now.

 

Southampton have their work cut out to make second spot, and because they are reluctant to change their system, then I feel either Bournemouth or Charlton will be gaining the runners-up position. Whoever does finish second, they will be a long way behind Brighton.

 

Yep and this inability to change things effectively is down to Adkins.

[Window Cleaner]

Yep and this inability to change things effectively is down to Adkins.

 

Adkins,Crosby and Wilkins.

 

the sign of a good coach or a good manager cum coach is that he improves his players. Who thinks that any of the above has improved a single one of our players?

[The9]

Personally I believe Poyet will be around for quite a while and he would be mental to jump ship too soon.

 

Next season we will be moving into one of the top 2 stadiums in the country and have plans to build a complex with mutiple pitches where the first team can train and will also have academy status for the youth teams. Poyet has said he wants to be a part of this and seems to seriously want to create some sort of empire! He has met with all the coaches right down to the youngest age group and has instructed them that even youth teams have to play the total football or the 'Brighton Style' as Poyet has dubbed it. Poyet genuinely wants to turn us into some sort of institution or a fun-size Barcelona if you like...Now, I know that sounds mad it is the way he comes across.

 

Obviously he will not be around forever, no ALBION fan honestly expects that but he will be but he will move on when he can take us no further...Or gets an offer at a very big club...Like, say, Chelsea which would only be viable if he had sustained success with us. He would never leave us for a Championship club or even an average Premier League team such as Bolton or Blackburn he knows deep down he can take the ALBION to that level himself...So why jump when you can obtain success and grow with your current club?

 

So in summary here is going to be at the ALBION for the long-haul unless something special comes his way...But for that to happen he needs to achieve something special first!

 

This makes me laugh a lot. Saints and more importantly the vast majority of teams in the top two divisions already have such novel concepts as "a training ground with lots of pitches" and "a manager who wants all the teams to play the same style". Funnily enough we're just rebuilding our long-standing Academy to improve it even more - this wonderful thing that's happening to your club has already happened in numerous other clubs and all you're doing is playing catch-up. Poyet's savvy enough to know that.

 

So other than the chance to get Brighton into the Championship which will raise his own stock, and a nice new mid-sized ground on a par with more attractive prospects a lot higher up the league, there's not a lot of reason for Poyet to stay.

 

He'll also be exactly the kind of big name that won't look like too much of a gamble as soon as the likes of Wigan or Wolves give their manager the boot as well, and then we'll see if he's just talking big, or whether he really wants to do something at Brighton.

[Alain Perrin]

No one is being taken for a ride and to say they are is tantamount to accusing them of fraud.

 

They're running things in the way they feel is best and have been let down by the hosting providers I believe. They're not perfect, just like you and me, and I'm sure they would be glad of any helpful suggestions, but given that they know a damn site more about hosting than probably 98% of members of this site, I think such accusations are out of order, without any kind of proof. Also, with respect to the Brighton poster, without specific details about the load on their server vs ours, it's easy to *say* 'I bet we get as much traffic as you do' but that proves nothing.

 

I chose my words carefully Minty.

 

They are running a mini-business, fair enough, and I'm sure it takes up a fair bit of their time. However I feel that, as a former subscriber, when the subscription was put it place it was presented as necessary in order to keep the show on the road - altruism, rather than entrepreneurial. I'd just like there to have been more transparency.

 

Subscription is just another revenue model (albeit guaranteed and upfront vs. ad revenue drip feed) and they're entitled to run their business the way they see fit, just as I am entitled to put up with Markus and his Plenty of Fish ads - which occasionally I click on to make an invisible contribution. I am surprised that for a vocal population who ***** about a 'ticket tax' that such a rogering was taken without complaint.

 

I don't run a forum and I don't know how many active users (paying or not) this site has or the bandwidth or cycles it demands, but I do work in IT and have significant and relevant hosting experience.

 

Like I say I don't object to money being made. They give up their time and that's capitalism baby. I'd just like honesty and transparency.

[jam]

One on the opening day under Pardew, one in September when God knows what was going on, and since then just the one home league defeat to Brentford under Adkins - and anyone can have an off-day.

 

http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/league-one/2010-2011/table/2010-09-21

 

The League Table on 21st September had us 9 points off the top and 9 points behind Brighton. Not much has changed in terms of the gap since then and until Tuesday it had actually closed.

 

Our terrible start and managerial pi ssing about is what's cost us, but we still have plenty of time and matches to overcome it. The long and short of it is we still have a lot of promotion rivals to play (Brighton, AFCB, Colchester, Rochdale and Charlton away; Charlton and MK at home) and if we win those matches we'll deserve to go up and if we don't, we'll probably only deserve the playoffs.

 

We still have 6 matches against the bottom 7 to play as well, mostly at home.

 

Can't see much arguing with that.

[The9]

But since then we've changed both full backs, are alternating Seaborne and Jaidi,we've replaced a flair midfielder with a cart-horse,Lallana has been injured,we've burnt out Ox and Guly can't score for toffee.

 

We've been alternating Seaborne and Jaidi all season, and contrary to the beliefs of the "he's changed nothing" brigade, the Lallana injury (and lack of goals immediately evident against Notts Co and Tranmere) led to us changing the shape of the midfield - which worked well to counter the staleness of the approach without our best player as we started scoring goals without Lallana for the first time this season.

 

The bit I couldn't figure out was taking away the narrow diamond BEFORE Lallana was back against Carlisle, thereby expecting N'Guessan to create as much as Lallana does. That was Adkins' first obvious error in my eyes, but even that can be argued away by him needing to see if N'Guessan could step up in that formation. Because he didn't (he might yet) Adkins then risked Lallana, and we killed off the match and won, albeit a tad unconvincingly for those used to us hammering forward at all times.

 

I can't really comment on what's happened in the one match since as I wasn't there and I haven't seen how we set out, but I'm not surprised that after conceding 4 at Peterborough we've suddenly become more defensive, with two clean sheets in a row - that usually comes at the expense of goals - the criticism of Chaplow for not getting forward might hint at the key to this.

 

One thing's for sure, Ox-Cham's not burnt out, he's played less effectively since he was forced narrow for a few games in the diamond during and after Man U, but he was very good at home to Carlisle back as a conventional winger. The other possibility of course is that he's getting more closely marked - which should create space for the other attackers anyway.

Edited 24 February, 2011 by The9
Can't type "Jaidi" for some reason.

[hypochondriac]

Adkins,Crosby and Wilkins.

 

the sign of a good coach or a good manager cum coach is that he improves his players. Who thinks that any of the above has improved a single one of our players?

 

Yep.

[The9]

I am surprised that for a vocal population who ***** about a 'ticket tax' that such a rogering was taken without complaint.

 

As a major complainant about Cortese Tax and someone who knows "teh owners", I didn't bother subscribing until it became obvious that by doing so I'd get a chance to play at St Mary's. It's entirely possible that many people who don't like the service now no longer use it. Can't say I've had anything other than a minor issue with it myself, I don't come on here on match days as I'm either at the match or avoiding the knee-jerkers.

[The9]

Adkins,Crosby and Wilkins.

 

the sign of a good coach or a good manager cum coach is that he improves his players. Who thinks that any of the above has improved a single one of our players?

 

I have no idea what they actually do, but the improvement in Puncheon when the manager first arrived was tangible, and after 3 straight defeats without a goal, in the next 9 games we won 6 and only lost away at Huddersfield, so I'd be inclined to think they improved quite a lot of them.

[Window Cleaner]

I have no idea what they actually do, but the improvement in Puncheon when the manager first arrived was tangible, and after 3 straight defeats without a goal, in the next 9 games we won 6 and only lost away at Huddersfield, so I'd be inclined to think they improved quite a lot of them.

 

I see last season's statistics as an argument to the contrary. We're still 34 points shy of our total last season (3 more if you think that once the play-offs were gone we experimented at Gillingham).We're about 35 goals shy as well,two players who were brought in at the close season are either on the bench or in the stands and we're giving away more soft goals. I really don't think Adkins and his staff are doing any better than Pardew and Downes last season, I really really don't.

[beardy]

Funny that, as our match at Rochdale was called off when I was half way there last weekend I decided to go to Stoke v Brighton instead. You lot were embarrassingly bad in the first half against a Stoke side that had little more than strength, a quick right winger, and decent execution of set pieces. It took them stopping trying for 20 minutes when 3-0 up before you could play your passing football. Meanwhile when we played Man Utd we passed the ball around beautifully whilst leading against them, even keeping possession for a significant period when we should have been under the cosh. We both lost in the end, but only one of us looked like a quality passing team against Prem opposition. In addition, your lot were cynical time-wasting garbage from 5 minutes gone at St Mary's and didn't do much then either.

 

And as far as arrogant goes, we also happened upon a couple of your fans in a local pub. Blimey, you'd think you were already in the Championship !

 

I'm not sure a game against a full strength Premier League side (and they were at full strength) is the best gauge. Plenty of Premier League teams struggle to cope with Stoke City, that's why they're now established as a top 10 side. Meanwhile we were missing four first team regulars.

Meanwhile, everyone saw how useful a MUFC XI is against Crawley.

Lastly, if you were 4 points clear of second place with 3 games in hand and 7 points clear of third with 2 in hand do you think this place may be thinking Championship football was looking on the cards for 2011/12? To fecking right it would.

[The9]

I see last season's statistics as an argument to the contrary. We're still 34 points shy of our total last season (3 more if you think that once the play-offs were gone we experimented at Gillingham).We're about 35 goals shy as well,two players who were brought in at the close season are either on the bench or in the stands and we're giving away more soft goals. I really don't think Adkins and his staff are doing any better than Pardew and Downes last season, I really really don't.

 

I don't particularly either, but it's a game of inches.

 

I'm just not sure what people were expecting - ignoring all the pre-season hype, we're still doing pretty well considering the early season sacking, the delay in replacement and the injuries to Lallana.

 

Current record : Southampton Pld 29 14 7 8 50-27 +23 49 Pts

Last season... : Southampton Pld 29 12 11 6 49-32 +17 47 Pts (with the 10 restored, of course)

 

The difference this year is we've got the 3rd most points per game and we're shooting for the top two not a -10 play-off scramble.

Edited 24 February, 2011 by The9

[Big Bad Bob]

I see last season's statistics as an argument to the contrary. We're still 34 points shy of our total last season (3 more if you think that once the play-offs were gone we experimented at Gillingham).We're about 35 goals shy as well,two players who were brought in at the close season are either on the bench or in the stands and we're giving away more soft goals. I really don't think Adkins and his staff are doing any better than Pardew and Downes last season, I really really don't.

 

I don't particularly either, but it's a game of inches.

 

I'm just not sure what people were expecting - ignoring all the pre-season hype, we're still doing pretty well considering the early season sacking, the delay in replacement and the injuries to Lallana.

 

Current record : Southampton Pld 29 14 7 8 50-27 +23 49 Pts

Last season... : Southampton Pld 29 12 11 6 49-32 +17 47 Pts (with the 10 restored, of course)

 

The difference this year is we've got the 3rd most points per game and we're shooting for the top two not a -10 play-off scramble.

 

Hah, pwned (as they say in iternet vernacular).

 

So depsite the damned awful start to the season and the 3 games lost in transition (that's a good idea for a film title methinks) we're actually faring better than at the same stage last season.

 

Our main striker isn't firing on all cylinders yet we have scored more goals.

 

Out defense is leakier than a rusty sieve yet we have conceded less goals.

 

Of course we still have our main promotion rivals to play so the stats could well be skewed but there you go..

[Window Cleaner]

Hah, pwned (as they say in iternet vernacular).

 

So depsite the damned awful start to the season and the 3 games lost in transition (that's a good idea for a film title methinks) we're actually faring better than at the same stage last season.

 

Our main striker isn't firing on all cylinders yet we have scored more goals.

 

Out defense is leakier than a rusty sieve yet we have conceded less goals.

 

Of course we still have our main promotion rivals to play so the stats could well be skewed but there you go..

 

Don't forget our awful start to last season 9 points from 10 games,doubt if we scored many goals either.After that APs stats are superior to this season's.

[The9]

I'm not sure a game against a full strength Premier League side (and they were at full strength) is the best gauge. Plenty of Premier League teams struggle to cope with Stoke City, that's why they're now established as a top 10 side. Meanwhile we were missing four first team regulars.

Meanwhile, everyone saw how useful a MUFC XI is against Crawley.

Lastly, if you were 4 points clear of second place with 3 games in hand and 7 points clear of third with 2 in hand do you think this place may be thinking Championship football was looking on the cards for 2011/12? To fecking right it would.

 

They weren't at full strength, they had a left back with only a couple of appearances (Pugh), a keeper who only plays cup matches (Sorensen), missing a midfielder who plays almost every game (Whitehead) and leaving leading scorer Jones on the bench.

 

Point was that you weren't in that position on Saturday, you've gained 2 points on everyone since then, but your boys were bigging it up. And if it was us I'd be shi tting it.

Edited 24 February, 2011 by The9

[The9]

Don't forget our awful start to last season 9 points from 10 games,doubt if we scored many goals either.After that APs stats are superior to this season's.

 

Southampton 09/10 11 2 6 3 14 13 +1 12 pts (with the 10 added back)

Southampton 10/11 11 4 3 4 11 8 +3 15 pts

 

Last season... : Pld 29 12 11 6 49-32 +17 47 Pts (with the 10 added back)

Current record : Pld 29 14 7 8 50-27 +23 49 Pts

 

There's really not a lot in it... both seasons we started very poorly and both seasons we've recovered to challenge.

 

But as I pointed out weeks ago, THIS season we don't have Norwich or Leeds running away with it, and there's no 10 point gap from the top 6 to the rest (or at least if there is we're the right side of it). The whole league is closer this season.

Edited 24 February, 2011 by The9

[Big Bad Bob]

Don't forget our awful start to last season 9 points from 10 games,doubt if we scored many goals either.After that APs stats are superior to this season's.

 

Wrong, wrong, wrong :-

 

12/9/2009 we'd played 7 games. Got 5 pts.

 

12/9/2010 when Adkins was appointed (actually I'm counting the game played on the 18th Sept here too) we'd played 7 games and got 5pts!!

 

F & A was 5v8 for '09 and 5v7 for '10.

[NickG]

so enjoy the progress!

[Minty]

I thought we already had an Adkins thread, with all the same arguments, and just as few conclusions? Do we need another one?

[Lord Duckhunter]

Perhaps we should sack the Manager every time we fail to win, would that make people happy?

 

Poyet seems to be attracting a lot of praise on here, so I thought I would look at his record and compare his first few months in charge with NA's.

 

He joined Brighton when they were 20th and gained 45 points from 31 games.

Nigel joined us in 22nd and has gained 42 points from 23 games.

 

Also in there was a 2-0 loss at Hartlepool, but Gus somehow managed to cling on to his job despite that massive setback.

 

My maths isn't great and maybe the BBC stats might have the odd error, but Nigel's record seems pretty good. Then again we are Southampton and we do not lose or draw matches in League 1.

 

Lawrie took over from a legend and then promptly got us relegated. I'm just glad none of the moaners on here were in charge of the Club then, because we would have missed out on the greatest era in the clubs history.

 

We've had 8 years of chopping and changing Managers, perhaps we should try something else.