Mowgli

That's because we have a 'now' culture in the UK at the minute. Everyone demands instant success because that is what we see on the reality TV shows. Why work for a living when you can earn millions as a manufactured boy / girl band or play football. You don't even have to be a good footballer now to earn in excess of £1/4m per year. The reality is that we are on the cusp of somethig great here and the real enjoyment is being in on that at the very beginning. If you believe in the dream / vision then even the odd defeat won't bother you because you will not view it as a setback - just a lesson to learn from. 3 steps forward and one back should still get us promotion (although before all the bah humbugs chip in, I do acknowledge we need to strengthen the squad a tad).

Yeah, you're right there. Most of us did I think. We get cocky after a couple of wins and doom merchants after a couple of defeats. Luckily NA sees the bigger picture and can keep the players focussed. At the end of the season we may look back on that Brentford result and say we got what we deserved from a team that has performed exceptionally well away from home. Let's hope so!!

Anyone is entitled to a view. I think what people object to is your assertion that because it is your opinion it is a fact. Personally, I think we should listen to NA who, when he came here, said he wanted to be in the race at Christmas and push on afterward for automatic promotion. So far so good. It's been well documented that pre season did not go well and the change in manager upset the momentum. I see no point in using statistics in the way that you have.

You're right. Can't see any Premiership clubs being interested in our players other than in that 'one for the future' category. Even then, they would be better off learning their trade here a bit longer. By which time we could be in the EPL ourselves.

Pretty good call. Gives us strength in midfield, winger options or all out striker. His record of a goal every other game is pretty good!

I think Cortese has more intelligence than you give him. I think he is perfectly aware of that and what I heard him say was that he did not expect anyone to be leaving in January.

You were able to assess all of those players based on 48 seconds of highlights??? That's truly impressive. In reality I agree yesterday was as poor as it gets and typical of Saints in the build up to Christmas period. But it is only one result against the team with the best away record in the league. If the team are good enough they will bounce back next week. If we are good enough as fans, we won't over react to the scrore....

It was a poor performance all over the pitch. Even the crowd were not their usual enthusiastic self (apart from that good burst in the 2nd half). At half time we all thought we could go on and win it 3-2 providing NA shook them up in the dressing room. His record of half time pep talks is pretty good. In the end I think there have to be question marks over the lack of substitutions but in ome ways it was a lost cause and not one to pitch youngsters into. NA is proving to be a good appointment (and I was gutted when Pardew left) and NC will have no problem sticking by him even if we miss out on promotion. I don't think we will miss out on promotion though. The players are clearly benefitting under NA and we should view yesterday as a blip. Come on - it wouldn't be Saints if we got promotion easily!! Lambert lack of goals from open play is a concern but he is still one of the best players on the pitch. Hopefully we can secure another stirker in January to support him, a back up for Chaplow, and another winger. Then again - what do I know? I thought Hammond played well yesterday.....

Doubt it. If there was any loyalty there would not Wilkins have stepped down at the same time as Pardew?

Simple really. It's about classic leadership. Lowe had the vision and it was a good one. His big problem was he could not sell it. To the players, to the media or to the potential investors. NC is selling it - clearly evidenced in the interview and it is talking to the big names that has (in his words) unsettled his opponents to stirring things up. Unlike Lowe he will not get paranoid by their behaviour. In the main he will ignore them, winnnig others over with his actions. OK, he's not won too many friends in the media but he holds his hands up on poor communications so he is learning. He's not trying to sell directly to the players - he's letting NA do that (learning from Lowe's mistakes perhaps). And as far as the fans are concerned there are enough getting excitied about the vision to build up a decent momentum. So on balance, it's looking good so far..... .....certainly better than it has looked for some 10 years!

If NC is as determined as I think he is, there is a possibility that it will work. We know for a fact that many parents encourage their youngsters in this direction because of our track record with youngsters. The investment at Steplewood makes us an even better prospect. We need to realise our ambition to match that groundwork. Right now Lallana and Oxo will be thinking they are good enough for CCC. If we are there next year they will realise that ambition and start to target the Premiership. In 2/3 years we can match that too. NC's dream is somewhat similar to the Busby Babes (actually it was Lowe's too but NC seems to have a better ability to realise the vision with sound investment). One thing I take great pride in right now as a Saints fan is to see how many St Georges flags there are on the back of the programme. Any English youngster aiming for international status will almost certainly get a better chance of regular first team action here than at the Big 5 and that's what the english coach will be looking for - particularly if it is in EPL or CL.

I think we have sufficient strength to rest him anyway. We're not reliant on any individuals now. Depth in almost every position. It's gonna be SO cold Saturday though.....

Time to move on people. Talented player who was unfairly treated by fans. Now proving his talent at a higher level. Shock, horror.

I hope Oxo notes Walcott's development. Wenger took him to 'protect him' but he ended up spending far too much time on the training ground initially and was then over-exposed and injured. All Wenger has done is create an injury prone player - he was world class before he bought him so can take no credit for that.

Nice story and a good ending to the campaign for recognition. But please let's not use this as a another platform to criticise previous regimes without any detailed knowledge. Over 600 people lost their lives in the raids over Southampton and thousand more injured. It is entirely a matter for the occupier or owner as to whether a memorial is acceptable.

They are the best team in the division apart from us. They are our biggest threat to the title. Now even a tad bigger.

+Lallana and in the first team squad.. +Gobern +Doble If they were still here, you would also have Walcott, Bale, Baird, Balckstock, Best, McGoldrick, Dyer. And that's just off the top of my head. I guess it's pint half full -v- pint half empty but I don't think our problem is producing quality players. It's hanging on to them!

Someone blogged the Echo site claiming he had turned down a loan to Southampton preferring to stay and fight for his place but if he did not get enough games between now and January, a move here could still be on the cards.

Entertaining. I am finally thinking I'm getting value for money from my season ticket. At the end of the day, that is all that matters to me. Promotion is a bonus really.

Hard to disagree more but hey - we all have our own opinion. IMO they will be a big part of the squad next year irrespective of promotion.

No, he doesn't. But he knows how to assemble people around him who do. He knows how to bleed a club dry. He knows how to use agents (cough) to his advantage. He knows how to work the media. We did not miss out on anything.

TRherein lies the problem with a lot of fans. They assume that because one replaces the other they are doing the same job....

to the media - yes. Wonder what he said through gritted teeth aftward ;~)

Would be a big loss IMO. But that's what you get when you boo your own players for no real reason.

Was disappointed by the Adkins appointment and I was ready to criticise today but his comments on the OS are spot on and I have no complaints about his tactics yesterday. We have to learn from these poor away performances but the occassional set back against another 'useful' side is nothing to get upset about. Two big home games. Six points there and we wil lbe back biting at the heels of the leaders. I have no doubt now that Adkins can do a good job here but would like to see a couple of decent signings in the window - particularly another striker of the Lambert mould to mix it up a bit. Don't think Guly fits the bill too well.