washsaint

I thought James did pretty well as did Perry. Svensson was shocking! James got no support from White in the first half and the general play just wasn't there. It will be interesting to see hwo the team react to this.........it's the first real setback since pre-season and hopefully JP and co will elarn and we'll come back stronger. In the same way we weren't world beaters after beating Derby we're not rubbish after losing to Blackpool. I think too many people are doing Blackpool a disservice...........they played well and, certainly in the 2nd half, outplayed us with sharp, passing incisive football. In short, what we did to Derby last week.

I just don't get it...............people seem to wet their pants over John yet today he was total pants and McGoldrick was superb. Mcgoldrick held the ball up well, laid it off nicely and looked a real threat going forward and in front of goal. In short, everything JOhn was not. John is yesterdays man and every time I've seen him play in pre-season and regular season he's looked terrible. I hope this new loanee is good!

I felt he was a bit gimpy.....he never really leapt into headers and, when he did jump, seemed to land on one leg.

There was no booing aimed at our players. The booing was aimed at the ref, the linesmen and the terrible time wasting from Blackpool. Plenty of encouragement for the lads again but it just wasn't our day today.

http://www.thisishampshire.net/sport/saints/display.var.2436515.0.lallana_signs_new_saints_contract.php This just shows the great spirit in the camp but also the fact if we had had any decent managers who knew what they were doing they would have used Prost's tactics in the first team a long time ago. After seeing Saints in pre-season it was clear they were playing the 'Prost way' and were extremely comfortable doing it. Thank goodness we have consistency now throughout the club in terms of style of play. IT just shows the very poor standard of coaching in thjis country that the older, senior pros struggle to come to grips with the 'total football' of Prost and JP. Georges Prost - we salute you!

I don't get it....the lad has not played a game for us yet but he's been consigned to the 'hes crap' pile. By the same people who said Gillett was no good because he wasn't being picked by the drunken Scot and went on loan and struggled to get a game. And no doubt said the same about Strachan (I know I did!) and players like Marsden et al. Perhaps JP can get the best out of him - I hope so, and if he does, he'll be a good addition to the squad.

If Davies didn't want to leave why was his agent desperately trying to get him a move away (as per JPs comments)? And Davies' remarks about how he wants to play in the Prem (for one season mush then you'e back)?

http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~1378818,00.html Good to see that others are impressed with our new look side. Hopefully we can keep it a secret for quite a while longer that we're not the pushovers most think we'll be this season. Underestimate our side at your peril!

I'm a wee bit confused (not difficult I know!) as we're absolutely skint yet we're signing players (albeit on loan/free transfers) at a rate of knots. How are we able to do this if we're so skint? Or does it mean the likes of Euell, BWP, John and Skacel are off?

Fantastic news and hopefully will give everyone a lift! I can't remember the last time most fans were so positive and excited by the now and the future!

Gillett - he's showing what crap managers we have had. How he was ignored by Redcrap and Burley is beyond me (Pearson did bring him back into the fold). Not only has he been tenacious but he has more than a little bit of skill as well. Plus he lovees the club which was why he didn't leave when he had the chance to. Top lad!

I think many are getting ahead of themselves. This will be a really tough game against a team of battlers. ANyone who thinks it will be easy will be doing Blackpool a major disservice.....just like Derby fans and Brum fans did about us. Whatever happens the crowd must not get on the teams back....we won't win every game and there will be games where we do not play well. Too much ****iness is a bad thing (confidence is good but cokiness bites you on the bum). There were signs on Tuesday that some of the lads were getting a bit too ****y and this is all part of the learning curve for them. I'd be pleased with a 1-0 win.

Well if you are calling for Lowe and Wilde to apologise Darren...... How about the fans apologise for mutinying against Hoddle? Or for anyone but Lowe? Jeez......what's done is done. People can carry on living in the past and holding grudges forever or they can forget all the politics and enjoy (yes, enjoy!) the football being played by a really young siode with heart, apssion and a commitment (for now) to the club. At the end of the day, what else matters? Football is meant to be about entertainment - something lacking from St Marys for many years. The crowds will retrun (I'm sure) once people hear/see that the entertainment is top notch. I stopped going regularly about 3 years ago....not because of any board room shenanigans but because there was zero entertainment value and we had a team of over the hill has beens who could not care less about Saints. Not any more and for the first time in years I feel pride in the club, what we are trying to do and feel royally entertained after watching the lads play. JP is also a breath of fresh air!

I think JP will go with the side that started at Derby. Davis Surman Perry Svensson James Gillet Schneidlerlin White Holmes Lallana McGoldrick Subs: Cork Wotton John New striker Mills

I cannot understand why there is any slating of Pearson. As others have said, he took an unmotivated, high maintenance squad and at least managed to get us to safety. We were on a major downturn when he took over and it would have been a struggle for whomever took over. In much the same way he was nowhere near as good as some have made out, he was nowhere near as bad as others have made out. He came across as a decent, hard working kind of guy but I'm far more enthusiastic about JP and MW!

Funnily enough, I thought that was the worst we have played in pre-season/regular season! But it was still a delight to see the lads playing for each other, Wotton leading by example and a general togetherness. There's obviously a great spirit in the dressing room....just watching the pre-match warm up and subs at half time....plenty of smiles, bonding and a general look like the lads/players were enjoying themselves. And to those who said we would be outmuscled.......we outfought, outmuscled and outplayed a very strong Birmingham side. This Birmingham side was NOT a reserve side....I believe they had 4 chnages (the same as us and we took off 2 of our best players shortly into the 2nd half). In the 1st half it was great to see some of the passing and moving - Birmingham changed their tactics from the 1st game and sat deep to prevent any room. But, as JP said at the weekend, there's always part fo the game where you can play football and Saints did that with great effect last night. How JP has got this bunch of rookies playing as he has done is nothing short of a miracle - and it's fantastic to watch. Hopefully this will continue throughout the season but for all the stay aways - get down to St Marys: these kids deserve all of our support and you'll be royally entertained.

What sort of logic is that Yorkie? You say 'rupert is not getting a penny of my money' yet people who pay for their tickets help the club stay out of administration. You're a real nutfukcle if you'll crow about going to away games and filling the cofffers of opponents yet refuse to pay to watch Saints. More fool you as you're missing out on some fantastic entertainment.

One is a proven Premiership player (Ferdinand), the other is one deemed not good enough by a Prem club (Davies). Davies is also injury prone and , no doubt, had a clause written in to his contract re. when other clubs came calling.

And the great thing about this side is that they're not precious about it! Lallana said it really didn't matter who scored the result for the TEAm was the most important thing. Thanks goodness - a team that we can finally be proud of!

Very early days to be shouting from the rooftops about too much BUT......... JP seems like a top, top bloke who really cares about our club and is like a kiddie in a sweet shop (hardly believing his luck). He BELIEVES in the youngsters and they have shown (albeit over a short space of time) they can play the game in a way that any Saints fan can be proud of and put a smile back on the faces of us long suffering fans. There's a long way to go but it looks really, really promising and the Board should take credit (so far).....it's been donkeys years since we, as fans, have been so royally entertained and by players who really have a connection with the club rather than looking for one more big pay day. I just hope it continues and can't wait for the 2 home games coming up............. Much rather this than relying on over the hill crap that have no skill and can only play 1 way.

It's a bit of a Catch 22.....whilst securing the clubs future is an absolute priority, to dismantle what is happening at St Marys right now would eb a tragedy. Watching the youngsters in pre-season and so far in the regular season has been a delight. I can't remember the last time that a losing Saints said was (rightly) applauded off the field and seeing people go home with a smile on their faces even though we'd lost because they'd been entertained and could see the future loojking bright. If we now get someone in to replace JP (which would be a real travesty based on what he's done so far) and who then goes back to players like Skacel, Euell et al then , on the pitch, it won't necessarily be a better thing.

Don't you think that as we are a public company the LSE would have to be informed if we are in a bid situation? As nothing has happened there, I can't think we are about to be taken over......................... This rumour has been doing the rounds for months and still no action............

Alpine - you really are a complete waste of valuable space. You're an absolute disgrace calling our new team a bunch of no-marks and has beens playing crap football. Yet you have not seen one single bloody game this season....if you watched any you would see that most (not all) are encouraged by our start and that the football is the most attractive and enjoyable for years. But all you can do is type all day and moan from the comfort of your bunker without actually knowing ANYTHING about how the team are playing.

If there is a clause in his contract stating we have to let him talk to Prem clubs then what can anyone do about it? Except blame the muppets who negotiated that clause in the first place! This will be a big blow but hopefully we can get 1 or 2 other players in on the back of it. An experienced striker who can play on his own up front and an experienced CB and we should be fine.

You're a veritable ray of sunshine aren't you Alpine? I don't know why you bother getting up in the mornings! Moan, moan, bloody moan that's all that's ever heard! Not a word on how encouraging it is to see the team start to gel and look to play attractive, attacking football. I really do wonder why some posters on here realy do seem to want the team to do badly in order that it fits their agenda. It's hardly a wonder no-one posts on here any more!