Excited or Fearful?

[Professor]

Ricky Lambert says the 4-0 defeat by Udinese could be a blessing in disguise. If it helps us all get used to losing to premier quality teams maybe so. Perhaps we should hope for a heavy defeat at Man City to take forward the learning process.

 

Just a few weeks ago, it was exciting to anticipate competing for real in The Prem based on statements from the club about long term ambition and seeing the first 3 signings adding quality to the team. But in the last month things have changed. The only addition a reserve GK, a poor record in the pre-season games, quite a reliance on newly promoted teenagers and an away draw to a championship side followed by a heavy home defeat to a Prem level side. Excitement is turning more towards a worry that we could be humiliated.

 

Obviously, none of us know what will happen in the first 6 games, or whether there are signings of real quality to be unveiled in the next 3 weeks. If we are mid table by the end of Sept the excitement will be back, but at the moment I just can't see it.

[Thedelldays]

Come on. Remember, the prem is average and all that

 

 

We will more than likely be bottom come september

[Asaint4ever]

I'm fearful! Just so angry we ain't signed a decent CB! Fonte is gonna get killed in the prem! But can't say to much on here as they will bully you! Sticks and stones!!!

[70's Mike]

imo to finish one place above the relegation zone will be exciting, anyone who expects anything else is being unrealistic. The side of 84 took 7 years to build, patience will be required.

The hard core know that the johnnie come lately will have to learn it

[Glasgow_Saint]

Fonte was a legend 8 months back...... What happened?

[ericofarabia]

I'm pretty impressed with the standard of posting ...... 'excited' spelt correctly in Thread title and all posts so far.

 

Lost count of the number of times it normally gets posted as 'exited'

 

Let's hope the team can match our high standards and excite us rather than exit The Prem!!

[THEVMAN]

Well im excited because im going on holiday for a week ,but shall keep my eyes peeled for any Saints fans that are tied to the bar drowning their sorrows before the season starts lol.Keep your ****ing heads up.

[BadgerBadger]

I am a little concerned if I'm honest - our defence needs to improve but I'll reserve complete judgement until the end of the Wigan game.

[Give it to Ron]

Depends what your expectations are and whether the Prem is the be all and end all.

Personally I think it will be a tough long slog and we could see a change at the top, however

I quite enjoyed the Championship going to games expecting to get a result and bing able to

afford to go.

Anyone expecting us to be up there competing for Europe after this pre-season may have a few shocks.

On the whole most Saints fans are realistic and can see that we haven't yet recruited what we needed.

 

I think we will be Ok this season...just but we will have to learn a few lessons upstairs and realise if you want quality

you have to pay and promising youngsters are fine if you mix with quality experienced pro's. Steve Davis aside we are

too short of quality and experience to do anything but struggle in midfield.

Not one fan disagrees the central defence needs strenthening - that was clear after Coventry yet 7 days away we still have not addressed that.

We still have time its a long season and no doubt that Fonte/Jos would of started that game unless we bought someone in at the time we got Rodriguez.

Not enjoyed pre-season I hope the season is better.

Edited 12 August, 2012 by Give it to Ron

[ericofarabia]

 

 

Not one fan disagrees the defence needs strenthening - that was clear after Coventry yet 7 days away we still have not addressed that.

We still have time its a long season and no doubt that Fonte/Jos would of started that game unless we bought someone in at the time we got Rodriguez.

Not enjoyed pre-season I hope the season is better.

 

Did I miss something?

[Rebel]

Excited and nervous - maybe a little bit fearful. I always thought we needed to add 6 or 7 premier quality players to our squad to make the setp up and the fact we haven't done so yet worries me. But it's important to remember the transfer window is not yet shut and there is still time to bring in another 3 or 4 players.

 

It was obvious last season that our defence was never going to make the step up - the full backs simply couldn't defend and the centre backs made too many mistakes - and far too many goals were scored from the edge of the area as they backed off attacking players far too much.

[Griffo]

Bit of both. Not that fussed if we go back down though. Just looking forward to football being back now.

[itchen_dan]

Is scared ****less an option?!

 

A couple of weeks ago, I couldn't wait, as we've got closer, i'm hoping it doesn't start for another month or so yet!! We just aren't quite ready for the challenge IMO. Another couple of 'easier' friendlies would be ideal to get confidence in the side and score some goals but we have to go with what we've got so far. Gonna be a brilliant season no doubt, but need to get the first 6 or so games out of the way before I can begin to enjoy it!

Edited 12 August, 2012 by itchen_dan

[aintforever]

Both. I'm surprised at our lack of top quality signings and my main concern is that our management and players have precious little or no experience of the Prem and don't really know what is needed.

 

We could surprise everyone but I am expecting us to go down. I think our signings are good long term ones though who shouldn't have a problem getting back up if we do.

[itchen_dan]

Fonte was a legend 8 months back...... What happened?

 

We didn't know at that point that we would end up being such a quality Championship side and him not being up to the standard. Thats what happened. League 1 was too easy for him, Championship, much more realistic and much more of a struggle numerous times for him.

[Professor]

Come on. Remember, the prem is average and all that

 

We will more than likely be bottom come september

 

If that is also the assessment of the club management it would suggest that the Prem was not being taken seriously, but if it isn't their assessment, then I'd be worried about complacency. The only hope seems to be the unexpected, that the best team we can put out performs beyond expectation, unless of course, our best team is seriously improved over the next week or so with 2 CBs and a fast RW. Anyone holding their breath?

[Turkish]

There have been a lot of fine talk coming out of the club but not a lot to back it up so far. People were wetting themselves at Buttners comments that we want to challenge Man City but in reality actions aren't backing this up. We've only spent any real money on one player with the rest of our major activity being to get players on the cheap. We've been crying out for pace and at least one proven centre back for months yet still this hasn't been addressed. Clearly Adkins wants a new left back, hence the Buttner deal, but nothing has been done since to address this. Im sure as usual people will go mental that I dare to say that all is anything other than amazing, that I don't know what is going kn behind the scenes, yet here we are a week away from the season ith the manager wanting to strengthen at least 3 areas and yet to do so. Make no mistake we are in a relegation battle this season and given our fixtures early on will be playing catch up with the rest. Every point will be crucial which is why a settled team is important from the off this season more than ever. The fact remains that quality costs money. It's all very well talking about champions league football but you can't then bualk at paying the price for players to get you there, or at least establish ourselves as a premier league club. A bit less talking the talk and a bit more walking the walk please mssrs Adkins and Cortese.

Edited 12 August, 2012 by Turkish

[doddisalegend]

I'm well relaxed I'm not expecting much from this season if we survive relegation great if not the lower leagues are good fun and cheaper. Ticket pricing means I'm going from regularly attending (ST) to being a once in a while punter which quickly took alot of the gloss this season for me anyway. I think a lot of people are going to struggle to get used to being plucky little Southampton relegtion fodder again after a few seasons of being the team people wanted to beat fighting it out at the top of league. I'm pretty sure will get smashed a couple of times this season so even that won't upset me to much. Might as well relax and try and enjoy the (bumpy) ride. After all this is what everyone wanted to play with the big boys can't them complain when the big boys hurt you.......

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Favourites for the drop in this morning's Observer {11/8} and our odds on being Champions a rather sobering 7500/1

[Micky]

Bit of both. Not that fussed if we go back down though. Just looking forward to football being back now.

 

This. Got to take the rough with the smooth. Think back 3, 4 seasons ago. Enjoy.

 

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

[Ewell]

I am not really fearful and definitely not that excited. I am no longer a fan of the Premier league and I do not think it is the be all and end all of English football. We will get some right spankings this season but I also think we will turn over a few and get away points here and there where we are not expected to. If we finish 4th from bottom then we will have done well. If we go down then so be it and I will look forward to a great season in the best division in English football.

[Give it to Ron]

Did I miss something?

 

Obviously you did.

[doddisalegend]

I am not really fearful and definitely not that excited. I am no longer a fan of the Premier league and I do not think it is the be all and end all of English football. We will get some right spankings this season but I also think we will turn over a few and get away points here and there where we are not expected to. If we finish 4th from bottom then we will have done well. If we go down then so be it and I will look forward to a great season in the best division in English football.

 

This the PL is probably the most uncompetitive league in England...

[alpine_saint]

There have been a lot of fine talk coming out of the club but not a lot to back it up so far. People were wetting themselves at Buttners comments that we want to challenge Man City but in reality actions aren't backing this up. We've only spent any real money on one player with the rest of our major activity being to get players on the cheap. We've been crying out for pace and at least one proven centre back for months yet still this hasn't been addressed. Clearly Adkins wants a new left back, hence the Buttner deal, but nothing has been done since to address this. Im sure as usual people will go mental that I dare to say that all is anything other than amazing, that I don't know what is going kn behind the scenes, yet here we are a week away from the season ith the manager wanting to strengthen at least 3 areas and yet to do so. Make no mistake we are in a relegation battle this season and given our fixtures early on will be playing catch up with the rest. Every point will be crucial which is why a settled team is important from the off this season more than ever. The fact remains that quality costs money. It's all very well talking about champions league football but you can't then bualk at paying the price for players to get you there, or at least establish ourselves as a premier league club. A bit less talking the talk and a bit more walking the walk please mssrs Adkins and Cortese.

 

This. My hopes and expectations have plummeted the last couple of weeks on news that Lambert and Lallana are playing like carthorses and the transfer activity has not just petered out, its hit a brick wall.

[Horley CTFC Saint]

I'm well relaxed I'm not expecting much from this season if we survive relegation great if not the lower leagues are good fun and cheaper. Ticket pricing means I'm going from regularly attending (ST) to being a once in a while punter which quickly took alot of the gloss this season for me anyway. I think a lot of people are going to struggle to get used to being plucky little Southampton relegtion fodder again after a few seasons of being the team people wanted to beat fighting it out at the top of league. I'm pretty sure will get smashed a couple of times this season so even that won't upset me to much. Might as well relax and try and enjoy the (bumpy) ride. After all this is what everyone wanted to play with the big boys can't them complain when the big boys hurt you.......

That about sums it up for me

[hypochondriac]

People can talk about having to wait to do our business but we really should have got a cb in earlier. I think if we do go down that could be a major talking point and a poor start made it too difficult to recover from.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

A bit of both. Excited that we are back to pit ourselves against the best. Fearful that this Summer has been a bit of a shambles so far, and that we have such a difficult start to the season.

[hypochondriac]

This. Got to take the rough with the smooth. Think back 3, 4 seasons ago. Enjoy.

 

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

 

I will never understand that attitude. Just because we were poor three seasons ago does not mean we just happily accept failure now.

[Thedelldays]

With our relative penny pinching

I don't want to hear about champions league, challenging for the top again

 

Just plain ridiculous

[John B]

Favourites for the drop in this morning's Observer {11/8} and our odds on being Champions a rather sobering 7500/1

 

Seem realistic odds to me

 

Davis

Cylne Fonte Hooiveld Fox

Guly Schneiderlin Davis Llanna

Rod Lambert

 

Seems a good Championship side to me but nowhere near PL standard

 

Hope I am wrong

[hypochondriac]

With our relative penny pinching

I don't want to hear about champions league, challenging for the top again

 

Just plain ridiculous

 

If we get relegated then that sort of talk will have been a totally embarrassment.

[swannymere]

I never understand why they don't target a player at the end of the previous season and do the deal as soon as possible, it's obvious we need a handful of players yet it feels like any time the squad has to knit is being wasted, i don't see how any players will settle into the squad with the season just around the corner. It's not just NA either of the NC regime, it just seems to be the SFC way.

[Turkish]

If we get relegated then that sort of talk will have been a totally embarrassment.

 

It's not like it's not happened before.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jul/26/blackburn-rovers-champions-league

Edited 12 August, 2012 by Turkish

[alpine_saint]

I suspected we blew our transfer kitty on Rodruigez at the time, and said those expecting a 25m tranfer window were lunatics.

 

Consdiering we already had a few forward options, that business is now looking like an act of suicide.

 

If we still had significant money available we'd have our CBs by now.

[alpine_saint]

I never understand why they don't target a player at the end of the previous season and do the deal as soon as possible, it's obvious we need a handful of players yet it feels like any time the squad has to knit is being wasted, i don't see how any players will settle into the squad with the season just around the corner. It's not just NA either of the NC regime, it just seems to be the SFC way.

 

Yep, and I complain about it every summer.

[dubai_phil]

Find it really depressing that after the sheer joy spread by the Olympics we are now (with the Citeh Chelski game today) back to the depression of over hyped, over paid over analysed under performing Football.

 

The gloom of sitting in the pub again expecting us to lose and finding platitudes to say well we expected that in another manner.

 

Damn how I miss the joy of expecting to win every week and being mad when we didn't.

 

Back to the old days and old ways. No wonder Saints fans have such a reputation for moaning. Hell, I say we resign from the League now and save all the pain, let's set up a 2016 cnetre of Olympic Excellence at SMS and bask in glory instead in 4 years and avoid all the ups and downs of a fight to try and stay up.

 

 

 

Or we could sit back, get the old shirts out and say

 

BRING IT ON. We've had far worse teams and stayed up

[Turkish]

Find it really depressing that after the sheer joy spread by the Olympics we are now (with the Citeh Chelski game today) back to the depression of over hyped, over paid over analysed under performing Football.

 

The gloom of sitting in the pub again expecting us to lose and finding platitudes to say well we expected that in another manner.

 

Damn how I miss the joy of expecting to win every week and being mad when we didn't.

 

Back to the old days and old ways. No wonder Saints fans have such a reputation for moaning. Hell, I say we resign from the League now and save all the pain, let's set up a 2016 cnetre of Olympic Excellence at SMS and bask in glory instead in 4 years and avoid all the ups and downs of a fight to try and stay up.

 

 

 

Or we could sit back, get the old shirts out and say

 

BRING IT ON. We've had far worse teams and stayed up

 

How's your sat Nav working Phil? Has Cortese put the wrong postcode in or are we still on course to challenge Man City?

[doddisalegend]

I suspected we blew our transfer kitty on Rodruigez at the time, and said those expecting a 25m tranfer window were lunatics.

 

Consdiering we already had a few forward options, that business is now looking like an act of suicide.

 

If we still had significant money available we'd have our CBs by now.

 

It's hard to know what the budget was/is. I mean we finished last season debt free (not many clubs can claim that) the PL is worth what? 60 million? and we ramped up ticket prices. Naturally the players wages no doubt shot up (plus all the promotion bonuses) but you'd like to think the kitty was a little more than the cost of J-rod........ but really who knows were the clubs money goes behind the scences maybe it's all being saved up to expand SMS;).

[View From The Top]

I find myself currently indifferent. As long as my nipper enjoys himself then I've had a good season.

 

Either way, other sports + cost means that this will be our last season as season ticket holders.

[Ewell]

People can talk about having to wait to do our business but we really should have got a cb in earlier. I think if we do go down that could be a major talking point and a poor start made it too difficult to recover from.

 

I actually think our business has been decent other than this one obvious issue.

 

Last time we were relegated if I am not mistaken Claus and Svensson had fitness issues, Fitz Hall had just been sold and we were relient on Jacobsen and Davenport who were both pretty awful. Not having decent centre back coverage was the main reason we were relegated.

[Northant Saint]

I think with Lee, J-Rod and Lambert up front there is some hope, I do fear for The Centre backs though. Could be a long season.

[Crowds]

Whatever the transfer budget was or is, I think they need to rethink it after this rather Embarissing eye opener... Champions League don't be silly we need investment inthe playing squad to sustain us as a prem team ASAP. I'm terrified of the City game which is only a week away.... This could be a score that Tom dailys proud of!

 

Crowds

[Saint Charlie]

Excited...reality is promoted teams often struggle, staying up is an achievement. Next week we will be playing the English Champions. Jan 2011 we played Dagenham away. If you can't enjoy this then something is wrong.

[SNSUN]

IMO we've signed four quality players today that will do very well for us this season and in the future, and whose worth will only multiply should we need to sell them. We also have some quality players that we brought up with us. I still think we're favourites for a relegation for a reason though, and largely that's because the two areas of CB and a winger have yet to be strengthened. I do think we'll sort them out by the end of August though, and as long as we get a result against Wigan (which we are currently good enough to get), nobody really expects us to do much against the Manchesters and Arsenal. So really, the fixture list falling as it has has done us a big favour, buying Adkins more time to bring in the right players by the end of August.

 

I'm chilled, and looking forward to the new season, but I won't base our season on the first four results.

[ericofarabia]

I think with Lee, J-Rod and Lambert up front there is some hope, I do fear for The Centre backs though. Could be a long season.

 

Although I rate SRL very highly, he needs to up his game it seems on what we have seen so far, and we need to play to his strengths. The formations and style of play seems to have left him stranded, same with J Rod.

 

Billy Sharp has scored a few goals but will he get such easy chances in The Prem?

 

We seem to be 1 week away from KO without really knowing our best line up or formation which is a bit of a worry, before we even look at The CB situation.

[ericofarabia]

Excited...reality is promoted teams often struggle, staying up is an achievement. Next week we will be playing the English Champions. Jan 2011 we played Dagenham away. If you can't enjoy this then something is wrong.

 

Our Role Model .... Gus should try it and get to The Prem!!

[The9]

Looking at the relative teams from the last time we went down was sobering. Reading Theo's book about how slow Championship CBs are has worried me a lot, and seeing our lack of experience and the likely demolitions in 3/4 of the early games makes it easy not to enjoy. Also, that crappy kit just puts me in denial that it's Saints anyway.

[Saint Fan CaM]

I'm now airing on the side of fearful I suppose and that's tempered with disappointment so far that pre-season has not been what I expected - i.e. all our signings have been from Championship or lower. If there's one thing I think is true is that if you try to improve your team largely from a lower division, you will end up in that lower division.

 

Although the concentration on lack of quality/pace etc seems to be targetted by many as being CB related, in my view there's not enough quality throughout the team and that is being highlighted even further by playing players out of position.

 

It seems to me that as intelligent as Adkins appears to be, he doesn't understand the concept of risk too well. If you keep adding more and more risk to a situation, you eventually find yourself in a position of no-return. What are our key risks?

 

a. Lack of quality cover at CB.

b. Trying to get certain players play out of position.

c. Rely almost entirely on players only proven at Championship level or lower.

d. Rely on youth to step into an arena that they (and most of their teammates) have never experienced.

e. Change a system that has served the team well over the course of two seasons ahd brought success.

f. Lack of pace and attacking guile, including an ability to hit long-range shots on target.

g. Entering a Prem campaign knowing that pre-season has failed to provide confidence to the team in relation to the task ahead.

 

And if you think the last point is invalid, watch RL's interview on Saintsplayer - he looks beaten already. I wonder why we've not seen any vids of Lallana and JayRod espousing how great things are and how well the new system is working?

 

I truly hope we get in another 3+ players that are demonstrably from a better heritage than the signings made so far. Otherwise my prediction of 15th will be looking very optimistic indeed and I'll need to revise it to relegation zone material.

[CB Saint]

Both - looking forward to typical saints season in the prem. lots of frustration and disappointment, interspersed with a few cclassics moments when we turn over an out and out favourite. Followed by a nail biting end to the season, clinging onto our premiership status by our fingertips.

 

This is what saints football is all about

[CLOTH EARS]

I was talking to a 'well known' Ex Saint back in May and i asked him what he thought we needed for this coming season and he said that we'd need a right back ( we have since bought in Clyne ) he said that he was concerned about Hoiveld and Fonte, he felt that the forwards in the PL are far superior to those in the championship and he felt that they would both be 'found out' at this level. He also said that De Ridder would never be a Prem player so we need to get someone in with pace and 'genuine' quality for the wide positions. He also said that we needed an attacking midfielder who would score 10 goals a season.

 

My view is that without further additions we will probably struggle to stay up. Lets be honest we will get a tonking or two but as long as we don't allow ourselves to be dragged down by pessimism we can still be a PL side come May. Without stating the obvious the more 'quality' signings we make the better our chances of avoiding a season of struggle. We have worked hard to get where we are so lets kick on and become an established PL club with higher expectations than finishing 17th every season.