Goals - and Points - As Good as it gets?

[dubai_phil]

I posted on the Cov Post Match Thread that we should be aware that we are living through some special days at the moment. The youngsters should remember these, and us Old 'Uns should get the kids/Grandkids down to watch as soon as we can.

 

Don't let them flash by unnoticed or sat in a funk of depression at what might go wrong.

 

So we have scored 37 goals in the League so far this season. (16 games)

 

When we were in the PL...

 

1995/6 34 goals in an ENTIRE season

1998/9 37 goals in an ENTIRE season

 

and we are catching up fast to 2000/01 40 goals in an ENTIRE season.

 

Oh and with 36 points we are now ONLY two points less than we achieved in an ENTIRE SEASON in 1995/6

 

(And of course 4 MORE than we achieved in our ENTIRE relegation year).

 

Another snippet - according to Saintsplayer highlights, with the Coventry game, we have now won 94 points from our League matches in 2011 to date

 

Make the most of getting the nippers hooked THIS season, because it can't possibly be as good as this when we go up next year.

 

Can it?

[Raging Bull]

Probably not no but we have been told that the idea is to compete rather than be happy to be there. That said we will never see this kind of run/form again when we do go up due to some what tougher opposition.

 

Our form is special and much needed after the rubbish we've been served up in recent years.

[Toomer]

My first game (not that I can remember it now) was back in October 59 and there was eight goals in the game and we scored six of them.

[Saint_John]

Being ultra critical there is still room for improvement.

 

The period just after half time we have a negative goal difference

0-15 mins : Goals For 7 ; Against 3 (+4) - ? start the game well

16-30 mins : 9-1 (+8 ) - ? brilliant "pass and move" football

31-45 mins : 5-2 (+3)

 

46-60 mins : 3-5 (-2) - ? switch off at h/t or do the oppo go "gung-ho"

61-75 mins : 2-4 (-2)

76-90+ mins : 11-2 (+9) - ? good fitness levels

[John Smith]

Good point Phil. I have been thinking this for the last couple of games now. Just for the young uns out there, compare this season to 1988/89, I travelled to all games, home and away, we were top of the league in November, Chrissy Nicholl got Manager of the Month award! We were away to Wimbledon, and in the away managers notes, Chrissy Nicholl said, he will open the champagne after our next win. Well, we lost against Wimbledon 'Crazy Gang' 2-1, and I should've known it was a bad omen when TYim Flowers scored and own goal, and one I can only describe as a diving header! Anyway, after the statement by the manager on not opening the champagne until our next win, 22 games later... Yes we went 22 games without winning, onthe bounce! And I watched all of them! Anyway, all was forgiven when Neil Ruddock scored with a 90th minute penalty and effectively relegated Newcastle that year. Then, last home game of the season, we beat Man Utd 2-1 with a 6min from time winner from Rod Wallace, after a surging run through the middle by Glen Cockerill.

 

Now, I'm not saying this was the norm, but, year after year we snatched defeat away from the jaws of victory. We self destructed, couldn't keep he ball by the corner flag, couldn't understand that leaving men unmarked at the far post could result in them scoring! All, of this, plus the dark lord returning, administration, relegation, relegation and then finally, being saved by ML! The tide is certainly turning and I for one, am pinching myself every day! Yes, we might not get promoted, yes, we might capitulate and start losing, but, this is the first season since the days of Kevin Keegan, Channon, Ball and the like, where I actually think we will win and hold onto a lead! It's a great feeling, one that I have missed!

 

We are Southampton, We're top of the League!

 

Enjoy it!

[trousers]

Being ultra critical there is still room for improvement.

 

The period just after half time we have a negative goal difference

0-15 mins : Goals For 7 ; Against 3 (+4) - ? start the game well

16-30 mins : 9-1 (+8 ) - ? brilliant "pass and move" football

31-45 mins : 5-2 (+3)

 

46-60 mins : 3-5 (-2) - ? switch off at h/t or do the oppo go "gung-ho"

61-75 mins : 2-4 (-2)

76-90+ mins : 11-2 (+9) - ? good fitness levels

 

Are you Matthew Le God in disguise....? ;-)

[trousers]

Make the most of getting the nippers hooked THIS season, because it can't possibly be as good as this when we go up next year.

 

Can it?

 

Yes. My hunch is that we'll be equally pleasantly surprised this time next year too....

 

....assuming the Liebherrs and/or Mr Cortese don't cash-in on their 'investment' early of course....

[Joensuu]

Being ultra critical there is still room for improvement.

 

The period just after half time we have a negative goal difference

0-15 mins : Goals For 7 ; Against 3 (+4) - ? start the game well

16-30 mins : 9-1 (+8 ) - ? brilliant "pass and move" football

31-45 mins : 5-2 (+3)

 

46-60 mins : 3-5 (-2) - ? switch off at h/t or do the oppo go "gung-ho"

61-75 mins : 2-4 (-2)

76-90+ mins : 11-2 (+9) - ? good fitness levels

 

Now this is an interesting post (rare for this place inbetween all the Hypo-Dune-Turkish nonsense).

 

I wonder is Nigel has seen these stats.

[Jones91]

As we are normally winning at half time, the opposition might be trying harder at the start of the 2nd half (not us playing worse).

[Mattio]

Its still a bit of a fairy tale for me, people are actually talking about saints positivity in Plymouth, amazing! Can't wait to get back to Southampton to see some games

[positivepete]

Now this is an interesting post (rare for this place inbetween all the Hypo-Dune-Turkish nonsense).

 

I wonder is Nigel has seen these stats.

 

The only saving of the original post by Saint John is that NA is without doubt aware of the stats! How many games in a row is it that we have won when being ahead at half time (30?)

 

Thank goodness we are doing well Saint John!

[dubai_phil]

Youch. Can you guess we have a Bank Holiday Monday here & it's RAINING! Nowt much else to do.. except turn into MLG for a day (don't worry back to normal by Friday - off to see Britney!)

 

So in that 95/95 season we had two players who were joint top scorers with SEVEN League goals

 

(Le Tiss and..... Shipperly)

 

This season

 

RL 9

Guly 6

DC 5

AL 5

 

And we're just about a quarter the way through the season.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

My 5 year old, Ricky Lambert worshiping, Godson came to see his very first Saints game when we played (or should I say outplayed) Middlesbrough recently. He absolutely loved every minute of it, but at that age they only have a sketchy understanding of the game. In his innocence it might well be difficult to explain to him when results become much harder to come by - as they're bound to at some stage.

 

Nevertheless, I'm hoping that he's on the hook now.