Comfort Blankets of possession, fixtures and other teams games

[Dig Dig]

I was kicked off for being correct about the way the team was going, I dont think I have been proved wrong about Cortese and the signings do you?

 

If we stay up then yes you will be wrong about the signings and Cortese. It's a results based business as you advocate so I hope that you will stand by your own standards and admit you have been wrong and OTT all season IF we stay up.

[Barry Sanchez]

If we stay up then yes you will be wrong about the signings and Cortese. It's a results based business as you advocate so I hope that you will stand by your own standards and admit you have been wrong and OTT all season IF we stay up.

 

Of course I will and I will be very very very happy to do so.

[Dig Dig]

good to hear

[KelvinsRightGlove]

The problem is anyone who tries to be positive about staying up gets labeled 'Cult of Cortese' or a 'Clapper'.

 

Personally I think we'll stay up (just) simply because the other teams will run out of time. I think the timing of Adkins sacking was very bad. I also think we've played some decent stuff (at times) under MP. For me our biggest problem is we aren't taking our chances like we were earlier in the season, that isn't MP's fault tho.

 

Agree with all of this.

[Barry Sanchez]

So we stay up not on the premise of skill but merely luck and the fact others are crapper than us, this winning at all mentality is why we are known as the Barcelona of England....................................

[Turkish]

Genuine question, when was the last team all the teams in the bottom 4 won?

 

Is there not a reason they are down the bottom end of the table? I just don't get how all these teams are below us, with less points, worse goal difference, and yet are nailed on to keep winning.

 

It wouldn't take all the teams in the bottom 4 to win for us to be where 17th and one point from safety on saturday night, only two of them, which is exactly how many won on saturday if you exclude Wigans away win in the FA cup. So not really sure what you are on about.

Edited 11 March, 2013 by Turkish

[saint si]

Expectations are high, after 3 amazing seasons, and some pretty big spending (for us), but this is our first season back in the Premier League, so finishing 17th or above should be viewed as a success.

 

p.s. we are currently 16th.

[Dig Dig]

So we stay up not on the premise of skill but merely luck and the fact others are crapper than us, this winning at all mentality is why we are known as the Barcelona of England....................................

 

 

You can't stay up merely on luck, you need some skill as well.

[dronskisaint]

I've actually missed you of late.

 

Compared to the new breed of bedwetters, you are actually able to have a debate, as opposed to just circular discussions of the same points, riddled with inconsistency.

 

EDIT:It should also be said, that some (not all) of the people who claim to be bastions of truth, on a noble crusade against the evil Cult leader Cortese and his brainwashed minions are just as abusive the other way. For, balance sake.

 

 

 

I actually thought similarly - I've never doubted that Alpine is Saints through and through...his demeanour is that of a depressive and his posts reflect that but the 'new' breed are a little strange...negativity for the sake of it, dreary agenda-driven postings spouting the same tired drivel.

 

Naturally having my own opinions makes me CoC...as opposed to Canada Saint's SaD as applied to the skate-plants - sneerers and detractors sums it up very well ...in my opinion.

 

To answer the original points though

 

1) Time will tell...difficult to say that Clyne, Davis and Yoshida aren't good buys but whether Forren, Ramirez (who has undoubted class) and Mayuka turn out...I'm not going to dismiss them on the small amount of evidence I've seen.

 

2) We obviously bought well historically to be playing a nucleus of the same team that brought us through the leagues...it was never going to be easy to know how they would adapt but Morgan, Ricky, Fonte, Punch, Cork and Adam have made the step...I'd even argue the case for Hooiveld who has had more good games than bad now - they presumably knew that Shaw could come through but you can never be certain. We've replaced Davies, we have Forren as cover, Rodriguez has shown encouraging signs of late...the buys are largely good long-term. Obviously there are exceptions and they're largely out on loan but our buying committee have got more right than wrong and the youth squads are flying. Of course we could have spent stupid money and got others in....that might have taken a while to bed in but we've shown faith in the squad who have got us here..and will do unless they aren't deemed long term as with poor old Nigel. The one bit of this season so far that worries me is the timing of that decision but it's a hypothetical question that can never be answered.

 

3) There's not a manager in the world who always gets it right either tactically or team-selection-wise...until someone comes out (Pardew or NA) to say that they've been told to pick certain players it's forum speculation and my contribution to the 'honest' debate is that I think it's cr ap. Certainly the management team would lean on each others' abilities and knowledge but I don't believe a team is picked by a chairman or whatever position Les Reed holds...that's not logical.

 

Finally - we have no divine right to do better than other clubs..promoted or in situ. This is football and I'm enjoying the ride - at the moment more than we were on the way down and in danger of going out of business. This can be taken as being happier with more decisions than I'm unhappy with and if that makes me any more of a supporter then let it happily be so - I applaud all those who have the best interests of my club at heart.

Edited 11 March, 2013 by dronskisaint

[Barry Sanchez]

You can't stay up merely on luck, you need some skill as well.

 

No you dont, as others have said you merely need 3 worse teams than yourself, now if this plan works then I have to tip my hat to the don......................

[Alanh]

It is interesting that our transfer strategy changed in the summer. In the previous three seasons post Leibherr takeover, we bought a combination of players proven in the league we were in, players for the future or players from leagues above who were above the average quality of the league in their position. This summer and winter we bought almost exclusively prospects (Boruc and Davis being the exceptions). I can understand it from an investment perspectiveas buying prem experienced players is a very costly business in terms of transfer fees and / or wages, and the competition for those players can make it incredibly difficult for a newly promoted club to compete.

 

The change in strategy carries a risk in terms of what happens if the new inexperienced players don't make the step up to the level required, but it was obviously a risk that the transfer committee decided was worth taking.

 

Loads of teams have stayed up spending very little and loads have been relegated after spending big. Norwich have done so by buying quite a few Champ players (mainly from Leeds). Swansea have bought a lot of lesser known players from the continent. They have both had successful transfers (Norwhich - Snodgress, Pilkington, Swansea - Michu, Deguzman) and a few failures as well (Norwich - Morrison, Hewson, Swansea - Graham). Whether you can stay up and then thrive is down to the philosophy of the club, the quality of the management and the progressive improvement of all aspects of the squad.

 

I still think we'll stay up because I think we can get another 9 or 10 points from our remaining 9 games and I don't think two of Villa, Wigan and QPR will be able to beat that total (especially as they have to play each other so can't all get the points). I think our points will come from the games against Sunderland, Reading, West Ham, Stoke, West Brom. If we can get anything from Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs and Swansea that should be a bonus.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

I was kicked off for being correct about the way the team was going, I dont think I have been proved wrong about Cortese and the signings do you?

 

Was this last season?

 

When the direction the team was going was.......up?

[KelvinsRightGlove]

It wouldn't take all the teams in the bottom 4 to win for us to be where 17th and one point from safety on saturday night, only two of them, which is exactly how many won on saturday if you exclude Wigans away win in the FA cup. So not really sure what you are on about.

 

As I understand it, 17th is still not a relegation spot.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong on that.

[Turkish]

As I understand it, 17th is still not a relegation spot.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong on that.

 

17th, one point above the relegation zone with 8 to play is nothing, especially as we are out of form, out of luck and throwing away points week after week.

[Barry Sanchez]

Was this last season?

 

When the direction the team was going was.......up?

 

No in November, I was very happy and made up when we were promoted, they are worse than the moonies over there Christ alive, the cult is not a band on not606, its North Korea and parts of Texas rolled into one...................

[KelvinsRightGlove]

No in November, I was very happy and made up when we were promoted, they are worse than the moonies over there Christ alive, the cult is not a band on not606, its North Korea and parts of Texas rolled into one...................

 

Do you not see the irony in moaning about being called things when you constantly harp on about the Cult or Clappers.

 

As for not606, I couldn't possibly comment, as I have never been on the site.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

17th, one point above the relegation zone with 8 to play is nothing, especially as we are out of form, out of luck and throwing away points week after week.

 

It's hard to keep up.

 

I keep getting told QPR are now going to surge up the league, due to their fantastic transfer policy, and now they are going to lose to the super-duper Villa.

[Barry Sanchez]

Do you not see the irony in moaning about being called things when you constantly harp on about the Cult or Clappers.

 

As for not606, I couldn't possibly comment, as I have never been on the site.

 

Beause I could understand if we were 10th and playing well and scoring for fun, we are not, we have employed a manager in a relegation battle who does not speak English and replaced a respected manager (I did not rate him so it would be hypocritical of me saying I did but I did not want him sacked at that point) with real underhand methods, our purchases have been less than satisfactory for the money paid and no one seems to be responsible for this and yet few seem to be questioning our slow march towards the Championship.

[Bearsy]

Was this last season?

 

When the direction the team was going was.......up?

 

anyone could tell that the seeds for a prem 2013 relegation struggle had already been sown. In fact we saw this whole situation coming as far back as 2009.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

Beause I could understand if we were 10th and playing well and scoring for fun, we are not, we have employed a manager in a relegation battle who does not speak English and replaced a respected manager (I did not rate him so it would be hypocritical of me saying I did but I did not want him sacked at that point) with real underhand methods, our purchases have been less than satisfactory for the money paid and no one seems to be responsible for this and yet few seem to be questioning our slow march towards the Championship.

 

The change of manager I will agree with you I thought was bizarre. I said that at the time, and still do. Unlike you I rated Nigel, and thought he would keep us up. Also unlike you, I don't think MP is awful, or a tactical moron or whatever else it is he is being accused of. The english thing is exaggerated, as he is largely able to communicate to the players in English, and I can understand why he may want to have a better grasp before facing a rather unforgiving media, that surely we can both agree on, will happily twist things to make a story on a slow news day. Overall, I thought it was an odd decision, and not one I agreed with. However, unlike you, I think Cortese's track record with us so far (call me a CoC member if you must - but I think what has happened at the club in his time in charge is impressive) gives me cause to trust his decisions, and at least give them a chance. For example, I found the Pardew sacking odd, but in hindsight, it proved to be correct. For me, this managerial change (NA for MP) is too recent to decide definitively just yet.

 

My point still stands however, you are just as quick to dish out the terms such as clappers or Cult etc, but then when people call you (or others such as Glasgow, 110% etc) bedwetters, trolls, negative etc you get all up in arms about it.

 

Seeing as most people would have happily taken 17th at the start of the season (I know for a fact I would), I struggle to see how being out of the relegation zone, still with our Premier League status very much in our own hands with 9 games to go all that awful. Even more so after the opening 10 games, when many on here had us written off already, saying it was going to be embarassing, we would go down with a record low points tally, most goals against ever etc etc etc - it's really not all that bad. Well, in my opinion at least.

 

Is that totally unfair do you think? Or am I just a brainwashed clapping cult member?

[110_Persaint]

The change of manager I will agree with you I thought was bizarre. I said that at the time, and still do. Unlike you I rated Nigel, and thought he would keep us up. Also unlike you, I don't think MP is awful, or a tactical moron or whatever else it is he is being accused of. The english thing is exaggerated, as he is largely able to communicate to the players in English, and I can understand why he may want to have a better grasp before facing a rather unforgiving media, that surely we can both agree on, will happily twist things to make a story on a slow news day. Overall, I thought it was an odd decision, and not one I agreed with. However, unlike you, I think Cortese's track record with us so far (call me a CoC member if you must - but I think what has happened at the club in his time in charge is impressive) gives me cause to trust his decisions, and at least give them a chance. For example, I found the Pardew sacking odd, but in hindsight, it proved to be correct. For me, this managerial change (NA for MP) is too recent to decide definitively just yet.

 

My point still stands however, you are just as quick to dish out the terms such as clappers or Cult etc, but then when people call you (or others such as Glasgow, 110% etc) bedwetters, trolls, negative etc you get all up in arms about it.

 

Seeing as most people would have happily taken 17th at the start of the season (I know for a fact I would), I struggle to see how being out of the relegation zone, still with our Premier League status very much in our own hands with 9 games to go all that awful. Even more so after the opening 10 games, when many on here had us written off already, saying it was going to be embarassing, we would go down with a record low points tally, most goals against ever etc etc etc - it's really not all that bad. Well, in my opinion at least.

 

Is that totally unfair do you think? Or am I just a brainwashed clapping cult member?

Get the point - we're not playing well.

 

This is almost independent of the fact Adkins was sacked. Taking that into account makes our plight look even more ridiculous and self-inflicted.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

Get the point - we're not playing well.

 

This is almost independent of the fact Adkins was sacked. Taking that into account makes our plight look even more ridiculous and self-inflicted.

 

In what, two games?

 

Boo-frickin'-hoo. There are bound to be some bad performances now and again.

 

'Scuse me for not sounding the mayday alarm every singe time that happens.

 

Newcastle was an odd game, it really could have gone either way, and we really didn't play that badly. QPR wasn't a great performance, but still we were only undone by 2 pieces of poor defending and a keeper making good saves. Norwich wasn't that awful a performance.

 

How is it, that other teams form can change, but ours can't?

 

We did play well against Everton, Utd,for the most part Wigan & City. Shows how form can change, so if it can slump, how can it not improve?

[dronskisaint]

Get the point - we're not playing well.

 

This is almost independent of the fact Adkins was sacked. Taking that into account makes our plight look even more ridiculous and self-inflicted.

 

FFS - get the point?

 

We are playing well, we're not winning enough. We could be playing sh*t hoofball and not winning, we could be not getting any shots and not winning but that's not the case....is it?! We have a better chance of winning if we play well....get the point?

 

The one thing that worried me too was the timing of Adkins sacking but we're never going to get beyond hypothetical speculation on that one so it's a dead end to pursue.

[Saint Garrett]

In what, two games?

 

Boo-frickin'-hoo. There are bound to be some bad performances now and again.

 

'Scuse me for not sounding the mayday alarm every singe time that happens.

 

Newcastle was an odd game, it really could have gone either way, and we really didn't play that badly. QPR wasn't a great performance, but still we were only undone by 2 pieces of poor defending and a keeper making good saves. Norwich wasn't that awful a performance.

 

How is it, that other teams form can change, but ours can't?

 

We did play well against Everton, Utd,for the most part Wigan & City. Shows how form can change, so if it can slump, how can it not improve?

 

Agree, decent post.

 

Was never expecting to win at Newcastle as we never seem to do well there, and they've brought in some cracking players over January. They're probably the only team in the division who are in a false position. Should be top half.

 

If we were getting tonked every week and barely seeing the ball then I would be pretty devastated, but we're doing alright and have been unlucky.

 

As long as we've given everything this season, it won't hurt half as much if we go down as it did in 05 when we had half a team who couldn't give a **** and a manager whose heart was never in it.

 

I don't think we're a top half side but we're about where I expected to be this season, and have some good promising players. It's exciting times at this football club and I'm enjoying the journey since Liebherr bought the club. Cortese hasn't failed in anything since he took over and deserves our trust. If we go down I trust him to get us back up.

[miserableoldgit]

Isn't it threads like this that are killing this forum ?? A few manic depressive bed wetters seem to be intent on creating thread after thread belittling our achievements and convincing everybody that we are doomed.

 

Why don't they all just shut up, go to their local bookies, put loads of money on Saints being relegated (I gather the odds are around 3/1) make even more money when we go down and then b u g g e r off to the tropical paradise of their choice and leave the rest of us to enjoy our football without them.

 

 

Oh and by the way ... lets hope that the tropical paradise of their chioice has no internet connectivity.

 

^^^ This.

[ToreSF]

No you dont, as others have said you merely need 3 worse teams than yourself, now if this plan works then I have to tip my hat to the don......................

 

Jesus, you are cringeworthy...

[shirleysfc]

So we stay up not on the premise of skill but merely luck and the fact others are crapper than us, this winning at all mentality is why we are known as the Barcelona of England....................................

 

I think we'll stay up because throughout the season we'll have gained enough points where as three other teams won't have.

 

Only loons like you bang on about the Barcelona stuff. Seriously Baz, give your head a wobble!

[shirleysfc]

It wouldn't take all the teams in the bottom 4 to win for us to be where 17th and one point from safety on saturday night, only two of them, which is exactly how many won on saturday if you exclude Wigans away win in the FA cup. So not really sure what you are on about.

 

Do you think we'll stay up?

[Barry Sanchez]

The change of manager I will agree with you I thought was bizarre. I said that at the time, and still do. Unlike you I rated Nigel, and thought he would keep us up. Also unlike you, I don't think MP is awful, or a tactical moron or whatever else it is he is being accused of. The english thing is exaggerated, as he is largely able to communicate to the players in English, and I can understand why he may want to have a better grasp before facing a rather unforgiving media, that surely we can both agree on, will happily twist things to make a story on a slow news day. Overall, I thought it was an odd decision, and not one I agreed with. However, unlike you, I think Cortese's track record with us so far (call me a CoC member if you must - but I think what has happened at the club in his time in charge is impressive) gives me cause to trust his decisions, and at least give them a chance. For example, I found the Pardew sacking odd, but in hindsight, it proved to be correct. For me, this managerial change (NA for MP) is too recent to decide definitively just yet.

 

My point still stands however, you are just as quick to dish out the terms such as clappers or Cult etc, but then when people call you (or others such as Glasgow, 110% etc) bedwetters, trolls, negative etc you get all up in arms about it.

 

Seeing as most people would have happily taken 17th at the start of the season (I know for a fact I would), I struggle to see how being out of the relegation zone, still with our Premier League status very much in our own hands with 9 games to go all that awful. Even more so after the opening 10 games, when many on here had us written off already, saying it was going to be embarassing, we would go down with a record low points tally, most goals against ever etc etc etc - it's really not all that bad. Well, in my opinion at least.

 

Is that totally unfair do you think? Or am I just a brainwashed clapping cult member?

 

No its not unfair at all, its your opinion, I simply dont agree with it ie Cortese, sackings, signings and as for being called a bedwetter no no I simply dont mind at all, equal to a clapper or cultist and bothers me not.

[Turkish]

Do you think we'll stay up?

 

Just about, probably because Villa or Wigan will relegate one or the other on the last day. I'm a lot less confident that i was a month ago though, despite all the shots at goal we keep having.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

No its not unfair at all, its your opinion, I simply dont agree with it ie Cortese, sackings, signings and as for being called a bedwetter no no I simply dont mind at all, equal to a clapper or cultist and bothers me not.

 

As I said previously, this is your prerogative, and fair enough.

[shirleysfc]

Just about, probably because Villa or Wigan will relegate one or the other on the last day. I'm a lot less confident that i was a month ago though, despite all the shots at goal we keep having.

 

Yep, we're not finishing the chances we were earlier in the season.

[Wes Tender]

Ha ha, its a classic that, I can imagine his mother coming into his room telling him to calm down its only a game and Wes ripping up his season ticket and smashing his x box around like that fat kid, can someone link that as I cant as at work, thats Wes ha ha!

 

I wouldn't believe Dorkish or indeed Misguided Missile if I were you Barry.

 

Look, I've already explained it you twice Barry. If you don't believe me, the owner of the ST, and prefer to believe one of your WUM compatriots instead, then go ahead. Carry on living in your own little fantasy world, the one that tells you that I'm a fat kid, living at home with my mother, owns an X-Box, etc.

 

You're the one that had to leave your last forum because you were bullied, Barry. There, there Diddums. Hope the experience didn't scar you too much.

[Turkish]

I wouldn't believe Dorkish or indeed Misguided Missile if I were you Barry.

 

Look, I've already explained it you twice Barry. If you don't believe me, the owner of the ST, and prefer to believe one of your WUM compatriots instead, then go ahead. Carry on living in your own little fantasy world, the one that tells you that I'm a fat kid, living at home with my mother, owns an X-Box, etc.

 

You're the one that had to leave your last forum because you were bullied, Barry. There, there Diddums. Hope the experience didn't scar you too much.

 

:lol:

[Greenridge]

I wouldn't believe Dorkish or indeed Misguided Missile if I were you Barry.

 

Look, I've already explained it you twice Barry. If you don't believe me, the owner of the ST, and prefer to believe one of your WUM compatriots instead, then go ahead. Carry on living in your own little fantasy world, the one that tells you that I'm a fat kid, living at home with my mother, owns an X-Box, etc.

 

You're the one that had to leave your last forum because you were bullied, Barry. There, there Diddums. Hope the experience didn't scar you too much.

 

It's strange that Turkish didn't give his carer, The Kraken, the same grief when he stated he was going to boycott SMS for the rest of this season due to the sacking of Nigel.

[Barry Sanchez]

I wouldn't believe Dorkish or indeed Misguided Missile if I were you Barry.

 

Look, I've already explained it you twice Barry. If you don't believe me, the owner of the ST, and prefer to believe one of your WUM compatriots instead, then go ahead. Carry on living in your own little fantasy world, the one that tells you that I'm a fat kid, living at home with my mother, owns an X-Box, etc.

 

You're the one that had to leave your last forum because you were bullied, Barry. There, there Diddums. Hope the experience didn't scar you too much.

 

I was bullied and I am scarred, I went to go to counselling but went to the wrong room instead, i know know basic Mandarin and how to get a dog to sit and come back............................

[Wes Tender]

I was bullied and I am scarred, I went to go to counselling but went to the wrong room instead, i know know basic Mandarin and how to get a dog to sit and come back............................

 

This will be Pekingese dogs, right?

[shirleysfc]

:lol:

 

If you can't beat them, join them.

[Lokky_saint]

1) The fact that we had 2 back to back promotions - not enough time to judge who will be good enough for the prem and who wont, nor to get any decent squad depth

2) Playing Danny Fox and Guly - self explanatory

3) Hooiveld scoring own goals for fun and just being laughable at times. Why have we still not played Forren?!?

4) Lack of a big robust holding centre mid

[Dig Dig]

1) The fact that we had 2 back to back promotions - not enough time to judge who will be good enough for the prem and who wont, nor to get any decent squad depth

2) Playing Danny Fox and Guly - self explanatory

3) Hooiveld scoring own goals for fun and just being laughable at times. Why have we still not played Forren?!?

4) Lack of a big robust holding centre mid

 

What would a massive holding CM provide? Morgan has most interceptions and tackles in the whole league. You'd be hard pushed to find a better DM at the moment.

[Tamesaint]

I never whine about how some posters should be banned. Unlike some of you, I am able to integrate the idea that not everyone agrees with me.

 

Tamesaint is ALWAYS whining that so-and-so should be banned.

 

 

I am sorry mate. I don't think I have ever posted saying that someone should be banned. Find me a post that says this.

 

I think you have me confused with somebody else.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

What would a massive holding CM provide? Morgan has most interceptions and tackles in the whole league. You'd be hard pushed to find a better DM at the moment.

 

I thought it was not only the prem, but the 'top 5' leagues in Europe.

[Turkish]

It's strange that Turkish didn't give his carer, The Kraken, the same grief when he stated he was going to boycott SMS for the rest of this season due to the sacking of Nigel.

 

still talking about me i see. I must dominate your every thought.

[The Kraken]

When did I say I wasn't going for the rest of the season?

 

I must have been drunk as I don't remember that.

[alpine_saint]

For me the club management on- and off-field simply havent done enough to ensure PL football next year. If we survive it will be fortunate happenstance...

[Turkish]

For me the club management on- and off-field simply havent done enough to ensure PL football next year. If we survive it will be fortunate happenstance...

 

I think they did, but whoever is advising the chairman got it wrong. We clearly needed a goalkeeper, left back, centre back and wide players if we were going to play the new formation and we ended up getting the priorities all wrong. We spent lots of money on players who had potential and would need time to adapt rather than ones who could come in and hit the ground running straight away. Regardless of all the excuses, manipulation of statistics and hysteria around our signings, the fact of the matter is that our best players this season have been ones who were already here and have made the step up. For an apporaching £35m spend including Januarys transfer that is simply shocking.

[tajjuk]

I think they did, but whoever is advising the chairman got it wrong. We clearly needed a goalkeeper, left back, centre back and wide players if we were going to play the new formation and we ended up getting the priorities all wrong. We spent lots of money on players who had potential and would need time to adapt rather than ones who could come in and hit the ground running straight away. Regardless of all the excuses, manipulation of statistics and hysteria around our signings, the fact of the matter is that our best players this season have been ones who were already here and have made the step up. For an apporaching £35m spend including Januarys transfer that is simply shocking.

 

Lol, you mean facts you don't agree with, so you dismiss them.

 

Signings that 'hit the ground running', such as who exactly? several other clubs have bought uninspiring signings with the 'premiership experience' you and several others banged on about all season, that have been at best average, Andy Carroll, Matt Jarvis, Andy Johnson, Guthrie spring to mind (oh and the whole QPR quad), whilst other clubs have bought unproven premiership players from foreign climbs that have been revelations, the likes of Michu, De Guzman, Sissoko, Benteke for example.

 

Quite simply pretty much every transfer signing is a gamble, good players for one team don't always become good players for others. Out of the 9 signings we made in the summer Clyne, Boruc, Yoshida, Jay Rod, Davis and even Gaston have played signifigant roles throughout the season, none could be deemed a failure.

 

Two have oddly been unused, Mayuka particularly is odd but not all signings are for the here an now.

 

Before the season started we would have settled for staying up. Currently we are 16th, 4 points clear of the drop with a superior goal difference to our rivals with 9 games to go. I reckon 90% of fans here would have taken that if given to them at the start of the season.

 

Maybe we should have been sh*t, getting rollled over every week, that would make sense of some of the comments on here.

 

To be out of the relegation zone, with 9 games to go and a decent fixture run in, with the team probably deserving more points for their performances is a good thing. Not every performance has been great, but their have been a lot more good performances than bad.

 

How they how people can call the management 'amateurish' or the transfer signings 'inpet' is beyond me. It's funny how all thse other good teams wth better form, players, management etc. have sat below us all season.

Edited 12 March, 2013 by tajjuk

[Turkish]

Lol, you mean facts you don't agree with, so you dismiss them.

 

Signings that 'hit the ground running', such as who exactly? several other clubs have bought uninspiring signings with the 'premiership experience' you and several others banged on about all season, that have been at best average, Andy Carroll, Matt Jarvis, Andy Johnson, Guthrie spring to mind (oh and the whole QPR quad), whilst other clubs have bought unproven premiership players from foreign climbs that have been revelations, the likes of Michu, De Guzman, Sissoko, Benteke for example.

 

Quite simply pretty much every transfer signing is a gamble, good players for one team don't always become good players for others. Out of the 9 signings we made in the summer Clyne, Boruc, Yoshida, Jay Rod, Davis and even Gaston have played signifigant roles throughout the season, none could be deemed a failure.

 

Two have oddly been unused, Mayuka particularly is odd but not all signings are for the here an now.

 

Before the season started we would have settled for staying up. Currently we are 16th, 4 points clear of the drop with a superior goal difference to our rivals with 9 games to go. I reckon 90% of fans here would have taken that if given to them at the start of the season.

 

Maybe we should have been sh*t, getting rollled over every week, that would make sense of some of the comments on here.

 

To be out of the relegation zone, with 9 games to go and a decent fixture list, with the team probably deserving more points for their performances is a good thing. i;ve seen nothing from anyone on here that tells me otherwise.

 

Do you think a £35m outlay and not one of those signings is in our top 3, arugably top 5 players of the season is value for money?

[tajjuk]

Do you think a £35m outlay and not one of those signings is in our top 3, arguably top 5 players of the season is value for money?

 

Yes. Clyne, Boruc and Yoshida could all arguably be in our top 5 players this season.

 

Ramirez is inconsistent but he's played a big role in the points we have got. In recent weeks so has Rodriguez.

 

Has Johnson been Sunderland's best player, has Jarvis been West Ham's? Have any of the Reading signings this season been better than their championship squad?

 

Most new signings don't instantly become key players or top performers at their teams straight away.

[Turkish]

Yes. Clyne, Boruc and Yoshida could all arguably be in our top 5 players this season.

 

Ramirez is inconsistent but he's played a big role in the points we have got. In recent weeks so has Rodriguez.

 

Has Johnson been Sunderland's best player, has Jarvis been West Ham's? Have any of the Reading signings this season been better than their championship squad?

 

Most new signings don't instantly become key players or top performers at their teams straight away.

 

Really? You'd say Clyne, Boruc and Yoshida are in the mix with Schniderlin, Cork, Lambert, Puncheon, Fonte (before the injury) for top 5 players this season. I would say Clyne and Yoshida have been decent signings and good value for money, but not been in our top 5, Boruc is starting to show what a good keeper he is and better than anyone else in that position (but that isn't saying much) but it took him 4 months to get fit and has only played 12 times, a long way to go to prove himself one of the top 5 over the season.

 

Still i'm glad like a lot of Saints fans you've got such low expectations, anyone would think that £35m outlay and 7th highest in Europe would give you players who stand out as level above what we have and make an instant impact, not desperately trying to think who might scramble into the last of our "best performer" slots.