jasonb

Very good point. Perhaps it is my own confidence that has reached new heights this season then as opposed to the team itself which as you rightly say have had this mentality for a number of years.

I hear you mate. I'm the most pessimistic person you'll ever meet. I've ruined away days by sulking after a defeat. I get warned by my mates now not to mope about if we lose. But I tell you what. I'm loving this season and we've already proved everyone wrong. For the first time in many a year I have the belief that the team has a mentality of winners. They truly believe they can give everyone a game. They are respectful of the oppo and prepare extremely well. You need luck in any sport sometimes as well as talent. We've had our fair share of luck and the talent is there for all to see. Should the luck evade us during a couple of upcoming games it doesn't mean our talent has diminished any. We just need to keep confidence high, even in defeat, and keep the momentum going. It's a life skill i like to think I am slowly mastering... Being a pessimist really is shortening my life.. Time to change. Ergo, I'm going to go for 3 nil home win against the foxes.

Koeman. He has won everything bar the World Cup as a player. He's won things as a manager and got teams playing at their maximum potential (Feyenoord years). Let's not forget he was once one of the best defenders in the world, even if his modesty says otherwise. If you can't get motivated by this guy.. You never will. Combine this with confidence (a massive factor in professional sport) and you have the recipe for a team that has the winning mentality. I wonder if Ralph has had any input at all at any level in terms of motivating the players. That guy knows a thing or two about motivating teams and also has a proven track record at it.

Annoyed I can't watch it on the iplayer.. Assume it's some absurd rights issue. Anyone know where this can been seen unofficially? The misses wants to see it too!!

Speechless. Off for a few beers.

Don't worry. I've been and already got my coat!

Fixed that difficult third line for you. EDIT: and the first line sings better with a couple of words taken out... You're welcome

Word on the street is that Brucie's dog has died... bad times

HAVE THAT STOKE YOU C*NTS!! Goodnight.

Ship!?! WTF?? I thought we were still driving a bus?

Distinct lack of score predictions in this thread.... 1-1 (Schneiderlin 19, Crouch 45 +2) Tough second half with lots of effort from both teams, Forster producing a fine double save around the 70 minute mark to keep us level. Ultimately the game fizzling out to a commendable draw. Saints bemoan difficult opposition and a lot of huffing and puffing. Stoke City bemoan the fact we are bemoaning about them. They carry that chip off with them about everyone hating them whilst we carry on thinking we play the best-est(sic) football in the land. In reality its a good honest contest and a fair result.

They do something similar on the Liverpool RAWK forums... alternative top 6 (the big 4 plus themselves and Spurs IIRC) table or something. Anyway, they have graphs and all sorts. Being a creative type I'd like to see more graphs throughout the season.

Hehe knob chops! Like it Not heard that for a while. Right up there with cock scoffer or knob jockey.

Hehe. Its the only issue I have with them, honestly They might very well play like Barcelona under Hughes but I hate their navigation! 'Back to top' shortcuts are an extra, unnecessary click IMO ...and yes.. I'm not being totally serious FYI

Always amuses me how other teams get upset by what is being said on another teams forums. Dear Oatcake's, Like they seriously think we think we can crack the top four... You idiots!! Of course we don't FFS. That sort of thing really shouldn't have to be spelt out. Yes you get a few hypothetical threads on here but if you bothered to read a little more you would see the general consensus is that we would be delighted to go one, maybe two better places than last year.. given all that has happened to our team etc. It's really not that difficult to understand. We also have some melons on here who will go over the top.. every club has them. Stop tarring everyone with the same brush. As for Stoke's reputation as a team of hoof-ball thugs - well so what if people think that?? What do you care?? Just shove it in our faces when you score that 40-pass wonder goal on Saturday. We can take it. Oh and the real issue with the Oatcake fanzine is its stupid navigation. You scroll to the bottom reading the threads and then have to scroll back up to the top to get to the next page buttons. That is my biggest complaint about them. I couldn't care less about thuggery, Mark 'sodding' Hughes or Hoof ball. Move your next page buttons to the bottom of the page. Basics. There, I've climbed down off my high horse, now get a grip!

Found it:

As is the WE MARCH ON painted overhead at the entrance to the tunnel leading to the pitch! Very motivational and inspiring. Although the WE MARCH ON is a relitively new slogan introduced by the club, can anyone remember what was on the wall at the entrance to the pitch at the Dell? I seem to recall something along the lines of 'You are now entering the Dell' but not sure?

For those without SKY or those who missed it like me (first video) from 18:20 onwards: http://www.footballorgin.com/2014/10/premier-league-2014-2015-skysportss.html

The reverse pass down the inside left to Davis to square for Pelle to tap in was so simple but brilliantly played. The weight of pass and the vision to spin on a sixpence and slot it down to Davis was telepathic. We haven't seen a player like that for years and I include Lallana. Lallana had it in his locker for sure but rarely did we see it IMO. Not to be negative about Lallana whom I believe gave us superb drive and power when running with the ball, not to mention the tricks and spins in tight situations. Tadic for me perhaps hasn't shown the same drive from midfield but boy does he spot a pass.

I'm sure I heard Ronald field a question in a recent press conference saying 8 weeks. Not sure if that's 8 weeks to be available for selection OR 8 weeks until returning to full training.

My Villa supporting mate said to me at the time we signed Davis that we had a fantastic player with an even better attitude. His comments have certainly been proven correct. I also agree that I think he has improved and is possibly playing his best football in our progressive system. It just highlights what an excellent pro he is, his adaptability and enthusiasm to constantly improve should be rubbing off on all our young midfielders.

Do I say goal number eight? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

My boy kept turning to me and saying "good game to come to dad" and "uou said this would be a tough game". He's only ten and has a lot to learn about Saints and football in general. However, I was glad to share this experience with him as we don't get down from Manchester too often. I've never seen a team fold so easily. At least Oldham were trying when we smashed them 6 nil away a few years ago. Sickening for S'land

Golden post. Follow the Bear folks... ...to the promised land.

My memory of that period was our inability to win on potato fields. It seemed to be a real stumbling block.