The Kraken

I struggle to take anything meaningful from pre-season games, I really do. From the 14-0 victories we used to see on our Scnado tours, right through to these, I really don't look into these any further than as a fitness and sharpness exercise. With regards to the defence, I do think Jaidi will get found out at times at this level. In the air he's still going to be as dominant as ever, but for teams/strikers that don't have to resort to lumping it he may struggle. Fonte should be fine, Harding/Dickson also, I'm still very unsure about Richardson or Butterfield and whether either are good enough for a team in the higher echelons of the Championship. I guess we'll start finding out pretty soon.

JustMike is right; all speculation is premature, whether it be now, after August, September or whatever. I don't think anyone could have predicted our run in the last 15 games last season, which was necessary to clinch promotion. All I'm saying is that it would be a bit boring if we can't/weren't to use a chat forum to engage in what might be after we've played a handful of games. Of course it holds no real sway at all over the rest of the season, but as I've said, it's a bit boring waiting for a few months before having the conversation isn't it?

Or maybe if I waited for 16 games it would be much more accurate.

How many home league games must I wait until I'm allowed to speculate (rightly or wrongly) on how we may fare for the whole season?

No-one is saying August is the be all and end all Mike, calm down. It's just an indicator to what the rest of the season MIGHT hold in store. A potential benchmark of things to come, if you like. Of course it may bear no relation whatsoever, but even still it would be a bit boring if we had to wait until May before we could actually discuss where we might finish in the league.

August will go some way to telling us quite a few things we currently can only speculate on: Has pre-season been a success; are the players as fit and as sharp as they can be? Can the likes of Lambert, Barnard, Hammond, Lallana, Seaborne make the step up to Championship level; in the case of Lambert & Lallana, can they show they are the match winners at this level that they were at League 1? Is Jaidi really past it; or can his aging legs get him through one more year at a higher level of football? Do we really look like a side who will be genuine contenders for automatic promotion; how about a play-off spot; is it likely to be a season scratching around mid-table; or are the minority of doom-sayers valid in suggesting we'll do well to avoid relegation? Of course, August alone will in no way answer those questions, but the results and perhaps more importantly the performances in those 5 games will certainly go some way to highlighting what type of season we're in for.

They also played Seattle Sounders and thrashed them 7-0. It's about getting the balance right of games that will challenge you and getting confidence levels up. You could argue that stuffing someone 7-0 (as in the games we used to have on the Scando tours) actually don't really do the defence and keeper a lot of good. But they are good for early games to get everyone playing again.

Not sure I'd pay any attention to that, it's got 28 players listed and seems to just be a listing of the entire senior squad (plus Ben Reeves and Harlee Dean). I'd expect the game to be similar to the WBA game with 3 or 4 players getting the full 90 minutes and most of the others seeing at least 60 minutes of playing time.

Ignoring stats when they don't fit your argument

NickG just got out-statted

A fair bit of journalistic licence there I feel. Headline: "Ex-Saint Wotton tips Saints for back-to-back promotions." Actual quotes: “I see no reason either why they can’t push on and compete this year too." “I think they will be absolutely fine going up a level." “They have made some good signings and I’m sure they will make a few more.” But then I guess the headline "Ex-player says some obvious things about his former club" doesn't have the same ring to it.

Yeah, it's funny how fans would rate a player who has played for England at U16, U17, U18, U19, U20 and U21, is still very young, and has played in the Premier League, over a player who has played most of his career in the 3rd tier of English football.

You're a waste of bandwidth.

I think you need some new material. You started off badly, this is just poor.

I literally cannot believe that post. Amazing. He's been a captain for more than one football league side (one who just got promoted), but he's not a leader or a driver. Suuuuuuure he isn't.

There's also the contention that we made an approach for Gorkks a couple of months ago but were rebuffed. Whether he was offered to us or not is irrelevant; for this stadard he is a top player and we'd be crazy not to take him, unless we have someone even better lined up instead.

Agreed, I hate being forced to spend £84 of my hard earned cash every year with no choice in the matter. Disgrace is absolutely the correct word.

Ignore these mate, they're just winding you up. You were close, it's now called the St. Mary's aap 3 year plan to the Premier League in association with Nicola Cortese Stadium. A bit of a mouthful, but it does the trick.

Agreed; Ipswich 12th? They've made some very shrewd signings, particularly Bowyer and Chopra. I'd expect to see them up there challenging.

I'm not denying any that. I was simply pointing out the pure folly of another poster claiming "if you doubt Kelvin's ability in the Championship you are a plum". As you say, he has had good years, and he has had bad years. So there are clearly grounds for concern that he may struggle in this league. On the other hand he may well excell. We will see, but in the meantime it's idiotic to throw around accusations such as the one I've highlighted.

The gelling argument is all well and good. But what happens if we have a decent season, and narrowly miss out on going up? Our players are in the shop window, so some Premier league teams come sniffing around the likes of Chamberlain, Lallana, Fonte etc etc. Those are key players for us, and if we lose just one or two of them then it really affects the team harmonic. Assuming we'll keep all of them if we don't go up is perhaps unrealistic. of course, we'd likely replace them, but then that negates the whole "gelling" argument.

I would hate to see the Sash kit ruined by having a sponsor plastered over it. Great kit, and a great season, but Saints are red & white stripes for me so I'm happy to return to that.

See above, I've said a few times that he improved from his early spells with us. I think he's been excellent over the past 2 years in particular. But the fact remains, he's had 2 seasons with us in teh Championship, one where we has very poor and one where we has very good. So, with that in mind, it's a bit ridiculous to say something like "if you doubt his ability in the Championship you're a plum".

It'd hardly rocket science, no. So I guess I must have been completely imagining the amount of criticism that he got from his own fans, was I? And if he was one of the best keepers in the division, why did he not play instead of Richard Wright, who we brought in? Kelvin has very much improved as a keeper, as I've said. But let's not re-write history, he came in for a lot of criticism for his performances over an extended period of time in the Championship.

I think you're the plum if you can't even remember that Davis has previously looked very shaky at times in the Championship. It's why he (regrettably) used to get a fair amount of stick from the fans. Sheffield Wednesday away, I believe, being a point in case where he gave a bit back to the fans who had been giving him stick. A number of home games too when he used to get pelters and gave a bit back. His game has moved on from the early days with us and I think he's a better keeper now than then, but it's a bit naive to completely obliterate all that from your memory. Edit: Here you go, the match report. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-493062/Saint-Davis-shamed-named-Owls-run-riot.html "Davis was at fault for at least three Sheffield Wednesday goals in this hammering at Hillsborough.....