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SaintsWeb highllights of 2011


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Given that we're already 10 days into 2012, now might be the last time to reflect on the achievements of our squad in 2011.

 

Personally, my highlights are:-

 

  • The emergence of Richard Chaplow as a much better player than I ever gave him credit for.
  • Rickie making the step up to the NPC with consummate ease.
  • The signing of Jos.

What did it for you in 2011?

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My few:

 

- The performance against Manchester United, only one team looked top flight in that first half.

- The run of form that led to our promotion from League1, I doubt we'll ever see Saints that relentless ever again.

- The Leeds game, and realising what this team might be capable of this season.

- Taking the Arse to the cleaners with the Chamberlain transfer. Do not play poker with Nicola Cortese.

- Our steal of a signing in Jos Hooiveld

- The away win at Coventry. Bragging rights for me over my Neighbours for the first time since I moved here nearly a decade ago.

- Rickie's goal v the Skates.

- Somehow staying top of the league through december despite our stuttering form.

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Opening game of the season v Leeds. A tough game that many were very weary of, we destroyed them and went on a great run.

 

Watching Jos get better and better by the week.

 

Plymouth Away was just superb, as was Walsall of course.

 

Working on my garden, listening to Brighton v Saints, losing 1-0 with 10 minutes to go and Connolly bangs in the equaliser, I give a good pump of the fist and urge the Saints on. "Davis hangs a long ball upfield, Fonte rises at the back post and loops the ball across the face of goal... (ERUPTION)" Its fair to say, I went f*****g berserk. And all I could hear was various other Saints doing exactly the same from properties and gardens around me. I ran up and down the garden, the feeling that I would never be able to fully explain, just pure adrenaline. That for me is my moment. To go from feeling like we had thrown away promotion, to within minutes have pretty much guaranteed it, was incredible.

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Exeter away - Winning that game from being behind so late meant so much I thought.

 

Brighton away - When we equalised I went up the park with my mate for a kick-about as I just couldn't bear to listen any more. I said to my dad "only call me if we score or at full time". Little behold after about 5 minutes of nervously pacing around the park I heard my phone go off. "Surely we haven't?" to dads response of "2-1! 2-1! F***ING GET IN!"

 

Truly one of my best moments as a Saints fan, especially living just around the corner from Brighton.

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Brighton away. Went camping with my mates in the new forest, been at a pub called The Chequers all day following Soccer Saturday. Left with 20 mins of the game to go to return to our tents, put the radio on about 15 seconds before the equaliser, went mental, cracked open the beers singing to Connolly and then THAT moment. Fonte scores the winner and we go beserk! Had other lads from all over the field running over to celebrate with us. Turns out the campsite was full with pockets of Saints fans. To cap off a perfect day there was a group of skates in the middle of the field who got absolutely abused for the rest of the day/evening! Brilliant!

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I'd like to add the Leeds game to my highlights. Wasn't the win, rather the manner of the win that got me so excited.

 

Put down a £25 bet for us to win the Championship after that game.

 

Oh, and Jonathan Forte against MK. Remember that day clearly - was in work on a priority project. Remember jumping around alone in an office when Forte got his second goal. The turning point of our L1 season - we never looked back after that.

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My few:

 

- The performance against Manchester United, only one team looked top flight in that first half.

- The run of form that led to our promotion from League1, I doubt we'll ever see Saints that relentless ever again.

- The Leeds game, and realising what this team might be capable of this season.

- Taking the Arse to the cleaners with the Chamberlain transfer. Do not play poker with Nicola Cortese.

- Our steal of a signing in Jos Hooiveld

- The away win at Coventry. Bragging rights for me over my Neighbours for the first time since I moved here nearly a decade ago.

- Rickie's goal v the Skates.

- Somehow staying top of the league through december despite our stuttering form.

 

 

....and I'd add the possibilty of signing T. Lee (who sounds to be a real find !)

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MK Dons was a great one for me - my brother had travelled to stay with me and to watch that game and at 0-2 down at HT the disappointment couldn't be contained. However, neither could the jubilation when Forte got his 2 and Barnard got the winner - had a group of bald men in the row behind us who fell into our row whilst celebrating which battered us on 3 occasions but they kept celebrating with us and was such a superb comeback and atmosphere which led us to believe that we could secure a top 2 finish.

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I've signed up for the text alerts as I don't get to many games. The MK Dons game we were two nil and I thought I'd burst if i didn't do something other than stare at Soccer saturday so went into the garden. I opened the shed went in, took out my phone and shouted Come On saints at it. No text alerts so i went on the BBC website to see their text updates and the score was 2-2. I walked back to the house intending to watch the rest of soccer saturday and I received a text. Thinking it was one of the goals I'd missed i was in no rush to check. however i did check it as I went into the kitchen only for it to be Barneys goal and the score was now 3-2. I believe I yelled F**KING GET IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Has to be Man Utd, MK Dons at home, going up after the incredible run, that superb victory against Leeds (and the manner of it- ho ho against my 2 brothers in law!), finally getting to top spot...and staying there week after week... and the HOPE of yet more to come. What a year!

Huge credit to the manager et al.

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  • MK Dons. I had believed all season but then I really, really knew.
  • Brighton. Was doing a BBQ as it was the weekend of my nippers 9th birthday and when we knocked in the winner the pair of us were hugging, shouting, cheering, crying & running around the garden going mental.
  • Plymouth. It made all the hard L1 miles worth it.
  • Derby. My nipper was the mascot and his face when he met all the players was priceless. Dad enjoyed it as well.
  • Pompey. Best goal scoring mental I've enjoyed for many a long year.
  • Doing it all with my nipper.

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SaintsWeb highlight of 2011? The last server upgrade - well done admin/mods for sticking with it, it is a thankless job.

 

Taking my 5YO nipper to the ML tourny, getting his name on the back of a shirt and setting the seeds of future support. Only downside was the look of disappointment the next game when the funfair wasn't there....live with the highs and lows son, it's Saints, mush.

 

Taking Leeds apart day 1. Hoped we'd do well, knew we could thereafter.

 

2011 has given me renewed hope after several years of despair. Come on, the Saints!

[/rose-tinted-happy-clappy-couple-of-glasses-of-red-wine-mode-off]

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