When we started this season, what exactly were you expecting?

[Legod Third Coming]

I'll be honest, I dreamt about a stunning start, proving to the world that we were an unexpected force of nature, driven on a wind of teamwork and optimism.

 

And for a while at the Etihad, I had visions of collecting on my 2500/1 each way...

 

But then I'm 42 years of age. And in life, and football, I'm old enough and ugly enough to know that dreams rarely come true.

 

And I'm sensible enough to know that nothing worth having was not hard work.

 

If you'd been stopped by a MORI poll researcher on the 1st August 2012, with the Olympics fresh in your mind and Premiership football relegated to the basement of dignified sport, and they'd asked you to nominate the number of points from the following games, what exactly would you have said:

 

Manchester City - away

Manchester United - home

Arsenal - away

Everton - away

 

I know what my answers would have been. And for 27 years they would have been very similar predictions... And I bet they would be very similar for fans of 16/17 of the clubs in this league.

[Whitey Grandad]

To be honest what I expected is what we have. I would probably have hoped for an extra point or so from Wigan. From those four games: nul points.

[madruss]

I think the problem is, we've spent the last 3 seasons being the best/second best team in the league. In almost every match we've played in those years: we've expected to win, the form guide has expected us to win, and in most instances we did win.

 

Any defeat/draw in those games needed to have an explanation, someone was at fault because the form book was upset by us not winning.

 

This year, there's a new reason why we're losing games....The other team is better than we are

We have to accept, and remember that it was like this last time we were in the Prem, that sometimes no matter what the tactics, player selection or however many centre-backs and left-backs we signed over the summer...the other team had better players, better form, had been playing together in the Prem for a long time, and rightfully, as expected, beat us. That's how the Premier League works!

 

If our first 6 fixtures had been:

Norwich H

Swansea A

QPR H

Reading A

West Ham H

Wigan A

 

and we only had 3 points, then yes I would be very worried. Am I worried, or did I expect that we'd get anything from playing 4 of the top 7 teams, 3 of which were away? Not a bit.

[S-Clarke]

I think the problem is, we've spent the last 3 seasons being the best/second best team in the league. In almost every match we've played in those years: we've expected to win, the form guide has expected us to win, and in most instances we did win.

 

Any defeat/draw in those games needed to have an explanation, someone was at fault because the form book was upset by us not winning.

 

This year, there's a new reason why we're losing games....The other team is better than we are

We have to accept, and remember that it was like this last time we were in the Prem, that sometimes no matter what the tactics, player selection or however many centre-backs and left-backs we signed over the summer...the other team had better players, better form, had been playing together in the Prem for a long time, and rightfully, as expected, beat us. That's how the Premier League works!

 

If our first 6 fixtures had been:

Norwich H

Swansea A

QPR H

Reading A

West Ham H

Wigan A

 

and we only had 3 points, then yes I would be very worried. Am I worried, or did I expect that we'd get anything from playing 4 of the top 7 teams, 3 of which were away? Not a bit.

 

Great post, and it's this change in mindset which some are struggling to come to terms with.

[Thorpe-le-Saint]

It has gone pretty much how I thought, except I thought we would beat Wigan at home.

[Window Cleaner]

Top 10 of course cos that's what NC said our aim was

Now I'd be pleased if we aren't relegated with a horrificly low points total.

[JackFrost]

Apart from Wigan it has gone as I expected.

 

Our defence is a concern but as we start facing teams that aren't in the top 6 with regularity we'll start to pick up more points.

[Elmore]

To be honest what I expected is what we have. I would probably have hoped for an extra point or so from Wigan. From those four games: nul points.

 

True. I was expecting:

 

Manc C: 0 points

Wigan: 3 points

Man U: 0 Points

Arse: 0 points

Villa: 1 point

Toffees: 0 points

 

 

So we have one point less than I expected, but have played some great football. My only concern at the moment is the amount of goals we are letting in. We are being punished for every single mistake we make. So we need to cut out the mistakes and also get a bit of luck go our way (i.e. other teams make a mistake and we capitalise or other teams messing up one of their chances).

[Dig Dig]

I hoped that we would have lost every game 1-0, maybe even a 0-0 which shows we are building from the back.

 

Very dissapointed, time for a manager like big eke who knows how to set up a team defensively because that's what fans want

[sugarbabe64]

Exactly as I expected bearing in mind we have not bought enough quality in the defensive part of our team. Never doubted we would score goals but knew with the difference and step up in quality in strikers and attacking play of teams in the premiership knew we would/will struggle. Start at the back and work from there that is what you need to prioritise in this leaugue .

[Legod Third Coming]

Exactly as I expected bearing in mind we have not bought enough quality in the defensive part of our team. Never doubted we would score goals but knew with the difference and step up in quality in strikers and attacking play of teams in the premiership knew we would/will struggle. Start at the back and work from there that is what you need to prioritise in this leaugue .

 

And had we bought three new defenders (as well as the goalkeeper and new CB), would you have expected to beat: United, Citeh, Arsenal and Everton?

 

I expect to beat them in a couple of year's time when Ramirez is among many players we have worth £15m and upwards...

[Saint Without a Halo]

Patience and faith we have had 34 years in the top division and for those that remember them all like me, all but a handful were stark hard relegation dogfights where defeats were plentiful and often heavy and wins were infrequent and hard to get (anyone remember Ruddocks penalty for a 1-0 that stopped a winless streak of countless matches or the 8-0 and 7-0 defeats to Everton and Leeds).

 

The good thing is that unlike at the top of the championship and League 1, a defeat has far less effect on your league position given those around you are struggling too and a draw is often a good result!

 

Statistically to be promoted you need approx 2 points a game whilst around 1 point a game is usually sufficient to stay up! We are currently 3 points of the pace we need and given the fixtures we have had that is not a disaster yet.

 

The test will be the 6 pointers against those around us i.e the teams in positions 10 to 20! So far we have had 2 one good result and one bad! Early days yet!

Edited 30 September, 2012 by Saint Without a Halo

[CB Fry]

I expected five points by now, winning one of Villa/Wigan drawing the other leaving one point from the four others. It's not uncommon for the big teams to drop points early in the season, and to drop them to new teams playing out of their skins is also not uncommon.

 

And let's calm down about Everton. They've suddenly become world beaters? Traditionally they start terribly so expecting a possible point from them at the start of the season not that unreasonable.

 

I guess we'll now be lumping Fulham in with the Champion's League contenders now because they've had a good start?

 

 

So I expected five, we got three. So far, not bad. We only need to win ten more games and we're safe so perfectly calm for now.

[Toadhall Saint]

To struggle at times, to play well at times and have about 4 - 6 points by now. Didn't expect anything against EFC yesterday - not too often we get anything at theirs.

[Window Cleaner]

I expected five points by now, winning one of Villa/Wigan drawing the other leaving one point from the four others. It's not uncommon for the big teams to drop points early in the season, and to drop them to new teams playing out of their skins is also not uncommon.

 

 

United were there for the taking, they're a shambles right now, if reffing decisions in their game against Liverpool had gone against them they could be already on 3 losses so far. We f*cked up because we got the subs wrong against them and a point

at least was ours to lose.

[Nadia Sllim]

Jay Rod to have been on fire and Fonte on subs bench and 14th with 6 points.

[AussieDog]

I thought we'd get something in the Wigan and Villa games and was optimistic of a result against Man Utd - but I'm an optimistic sort of person. Having said that - I've enjoyed watching us in the Premiership more than I thought I would (with the exception of the Arsenal game) and although we're behind my hoped for points total I don't really care as yet

[Ohio Saint]

I've had problems adjusting my expectations for this season. I can't begin to imagine how difficult it is to adapt to this massive step up in quality of opposition for our players that were here last season.

[Window Cleaner]

I've had problems adjusting my expectations for this season. I can't begin to imagine how difficult it is to adapt to this massive step up in quality of opposition for our players that were here last season.

 

Unsurprising, didn't the chairman say we were expecting top half? Guess he got that wrong then, we'll be lucky to get above the bottom quarter.

[Griffo]

Anyone that wants Adkins out is a c*nt.

[View From The Top]

Anyone that wants Adkins out is a c*nt.

 

Seems a fair assessment.

[Colinjb]

I expected a long hard struggle and hoped to be in touch with the pack after the first five fixtures where out of the way.

 

Even mid-table teams in this league only win 1 in 3, we better get used to the fact that every win at this level is an event to celebrate, not a divine expectation.

[hypochondriac]

I expected a long hard struggle and hoped to be in touch with the pack after the first five fixtures where out of the way.

 

Even mid-table teams in this league only win 1 in 3, we better get used to the fact that every win at this level is an event to celebrate, not a divine expectation.

 

I expected this but spunking so much money in the summer raised my expectations slightly

[doddisalegend]

I expected it to be just like last time we were in the top flight so far it's living up to expectations........really can't understand why people wet themselves over the PL

[John B]

I expected this but spunking so much money in the summer raised my expectations slightly

 

I expected us to get relegated as the team even with the new players was not as good as the team we had in 2004/2005 .

 

Especially as the coaching team we currently have has little or no experience of the PL.

 

Of course it is possible for the team to start playing well and survive but I dont think £30million was spent effectively and if we get a couple of further injuries to key players things may look bleak.

[ottery st mary]

4 points and even 6 from beating Wigan and Villa..

 

Still remain hopeful we will move up the table after beating Fulham 3-1 or even a cheeky 4-1...

 

We miss Puncheon believe it or not.

 

We will move up this table...

 

Can the Pompey idiots on this forum ..get lost:rolleyes:

 

COYS

[David Strover]

Away from home? Some 5-1, 5-0 hammerings, a couple of really frustrating 1-0 defeats after playing really well, maybe one or two wins and about four draws.

 

Home? About six or seven defeats, at least one shock win and some draws.

 

Points? Maybe enough to keep us up - just. I was hoping we wouldn't be involved in ice-hockey scores every week but oh well....

 

Mainly just like being in old division one - mostly really, really frustrating and mainly losing.

 

I cancelled Sky Sports in the summer and don't watch match of the day - so funnily enough since the last promotion my football interest has wained. Let's face it this is a w*nk league unless you're a top four side.

[sotonjoe]

To look less dazed and lethargic on the pitch?

[saint si]

I just happen to have looked at West Ham's results so far... played 5, won 2, drawn 2.

 

Sounds like a pretty decent start on the face of it, but then they've faced Sunderland, Fulham and Villa at home, and Norwich and Swansea away.

 

All games that I think we are well capable of winning, and I would probably expect us to get a similar return from those 5 matches (and of course we're part way there already).

 

Next 8 games will go a long way to telling us our "true" position in this league.

[Golac's Cunning Stunts]

Expected some thumpings away from home as we are so lightweight. Was quite pleased to get away with a 3-1 at Goodison in the end. Wasn't expecting us to be so promising offensively and this gives me hope we can beat some of the teams in our "escape relegation" mini league which is all that counts this season really

[corky morris]

I was hoping for 6 points, but would have taken 4 points. Thought we would beat Wigan & draw against Villa. I would hope for a win against Fulham too. The rel surprise is the ease with which teams are ripping us apart & with 5 in midfield how we cant maintain possession.

[david in sweden]

Given our expectations, I suppose that after three seasons of beating (most) of our opposition, we'd like to have thought that we'd continue, BUT...

......we've seen that the difference between to the top of the Championship ......and the bottom of the Prem...... is much more than just three League places.

......we've seen that (most) of the loyal players we had in L1 just can't make it in the Prem.......even on their best form, and more will have to go.....

......we've seen that having bought some very good (young) prospects..... it'll take a bit of time before they can fit into the jigsaw of a stable, winning side.

 

and finally we've seen that our manager is not infallible, but neither is he stupid. He's made mistakes, and will learn by them.....and so will the team, and they will improve.

 

....there are quite a few other sides in this league who will come away from games at; Etihad, The Emirates and Goodison Park without any points this season....we just happened to be the first.

Edited 1 October, 2012 by david in sweden

[Norm]

To be honest what I expected is what we have. I would probably have hoped for an extra point or so from Wigan. From those four games: nul points.

 

Sums up my pre season thoughts. The only real disappointments were Wigan and letting in 6 at the Arsenal.

[Sour Mash]

and finally we've seen that our manager is not infallible, but neither is he stupid. He's made mistakes, and will learn by them.....and so will the team, and they will improve.

Well this is the only thing that has worried/surprised me. Having had our full backs hugely exposed against Arsenal, we've allowed the same to happen at Everton, a team famed for attacking down the flanks. Really surprised Adkins didn't do more to address that.

[rick1976.4.38]

to get battered by the top six teams and hopefully to win our games against those around us in the bottom half and to knick the odd point away

so losing to wigan was a low point but as im now 52 it still hurts but only for a day not a week like it did when i was a lad.

long season ahead,still dont think we have a defence good enough for this league,we should just about stay up but if we go down i wont miss the premiership this time.rip off ticket prices,games changed for tv and souless stadiums,imo.

[david in sweden]

Well this is the only thing that has worried/surprised me. Having had our full backs hugely exposed against Arsenal, we've allowed the same to happen at Everton, a team famed for attacking down the flanks. Really surprised Adkins didn't do more to address that.

 

 

Everyone makes errors of judgement

....and we made one by not signing the extra defender before the window closed. Then everyone seemed to comment on Arsenal's (supposed) £4 million bid for Luke Shaw ..If indeed there was one ???

When we started the season, we still had Harding ....and Seaborne on the mend, Fox was first choice - so (on paper).... we had FOUR left backs.

 

Fox has had a poor start and Shaw (sadly) has been ill ......and/or injured, too? (not sure?). Dan Harding has gone permanently and Ryan Dickson doesn't seem to be in the running at all.......

Recent rumours that Seaborne will go out on loan.......and Yeovil (supposedly) wanted to loan Dickson, but couldn't afford his salary !

Clyne.....who isn't really a leftie seems no worse than Fox although interestingly.. they've both managed to score a goal.

Richardson isn't the worst RB we've had in recent seasons, but Jack Cork's injury rules out a lot of alternative defensive shuffles..... that we might have used.

 

Our alternatives are very few, and it comes down to Jack Stephens and Ben Reeves.....both excellent young talents (at their level)....but untried in the League and not the ideal choices to put up against the likes of the strikers we've seen already in opposition sides.

 

It's case of " grin and " .....unless we can find an experienced veteran interantional .....who is OOC, who can help plug the gap until January.

Edited 1 October, 2012 by david in sweden

[Window Cleaner]

We should be looking to at least match QPR's record last season although that might not be enough

 

W10 (7H 3A) D7 (5H 2A) L21 (7H 14A)

[Sour Mash]

Everyone makes errors of judgement

....and we made one by not signing the extra defender before the window closed. Then everyone seemed to comment on Arsenal's (supposed) £4 million bid for Luke Shaw ..If indeed there was one ???

When we started the season, we still had Harding ....and Seaborne on the mend, Fox was first choice - so (on paper).... we had FOUR left backs.

 

Fox has had a poor start and Shaw (sadly) has been ill ......and/or injured, too? (not sure?). Dan Harding has gone permanently and Ryan Dickson doesn't seem to be in the running at all.......

Recent rumours that Seaborne will go out on loan.......and Yeovil (supposedly) wanted to loan Dickson, but couldn't afford his salary !

Clyne.....who isn't really a leftie seems no worse than Fox although interestingly.. they've both managed to score a goal.

Richardson osn't the worst RB we've had in recent seasons, but Jack Cork's injury rules out a lot of defensive shuffles that we might have used.

 

Our defensive alternatives are very few. and it comes down to Jack Stephens and Ben Reeves.....both excellent young talents (at their level)....but untried at League level and not the ideal choices to put up against the likes of the strikers we've seen already in opposition sides.

 

It's case of " grin and " .....unless we can find an expereinced veteran interantional .....who is OOC, who can help plug the gap until January.

I'm not sure of the relevance of your post, to the post of mine that you have quoted. My post referred to the protection given to our full backs, as opposed to the quality of the full backs themselves. Adkins didn’t learn from the Arsenal game at all in that regard and it looks so obvious.

[david in sweden]

I'm not sure of the relevance of your post, to the post of mine that you have quoted. My post referred to the protection given to our full backs, as opposed to the quality of the full backs themselves. Adkins didn’t learn from the Arsenal game at all in that regard and it looks so obvious.

 

OK . Re-reading your original point (quite valid, I thought,).... it wasn't immediately obvious to me that you weren't criticising our full backs.

[SNSUN]

Besides Wigan, which perhaps we should have got all 3 points from, it's gone pretty much as I expected. I did think we'd get a point at Everton, but that was at the start of the season before I knew they'd be flying. The Wigan game really cam at the wrong time - I'd have rather had Chelsea in that second game and got the toughies out of the way early on.

[S-Clarke]

This is actually quite an interesting debate, and it's interesting to see that most people are thinking along the same lines, and that the overreactions are from a minority.

 

Personally, with our start, I didn't expect a great deal if I'm honest. I fully expected us to be in the bottom 3, so the fact we're not is pretty astonishing (OK, that may end tonight..).

 

But we're playing as I expected. Fluent, expressive, enthusiastic - but probably slightly more naive than I thought we would be.

 

It has been a baptism of fire, everyone has been given a short, sharp lesson on the Barclays Premier League. It holds no prisoners. So, I think the start will have given us a quick education on what to expect and I think we're looking a bit smarter.

 

The quality is there though, technically we're a terrific little side. If we can just get the balance right between attacking and defending then we may have a good season after all. I know a fair few fans (not particularly just saints fans) are saying that we're doomed, we look relegation fodder etc - I don't think we do. I see a team that creates plenty of chances, causes any team problems and scores goals against anyone - bearing in mind we've just played what will probably be the top 4 or 3 in the league.

 

If I was a Reading fan I'd be slightly more worried. They've had a pretty straight forward start compared to us, yet they haven't won a game. They concede goals, yet never really look like scoring. They don't stand out with the quality whereas I think you'd look at us and immediately see quality in certain area's.

 

If we stick together and do what we have been doing in an attacking sense, then against the likes of Norwich, Reading, WHU I think we'll start to shift up the league. We're not a bad side, we just need to learn.