Red

Good man yourself :-)

Naw - don't taste quite the same :-)

Fair enough - but for me the most important thing AP needs to do now is work on a tactic to break down a team that comes to us for a draw. If he is more than an a OK manager, he will figure it out - I will give him the benefit of doubt, but I have serious concerns (and no I am not suggesting we sack him!). Just not sure next year will be as easy as most people think!

Spin mate - i.e. look how good I am negotiating a great deal, when in reality Ant has been free to discuss a new contract with ANY club since Jan 1st - with NO, yes NO transfer fee. If we want him, and he wants us, and wages are agreed he is ours - please spare me the dramatics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just thought I would point out that April 1st was 24 days ago! Would have been a great wind up if on the right date :-)

This ! Play Off's were always a long shot, and we have done very well this season, considering where we were - so once the pain of last night has eased, I will be happy! What does really conern me is the almost blind belief that we will win the title next year! Not if we don't sort out how to beat (mainly bottom half) teams who only want a point home or away. We are fine (even excellent) against the better teams who want to play the ball, but lost otherwise. It seems obvious to everyone (mentioned on sky several times), even AP admits it - SO WHY can't we sort it? This is the main concern I have about AP (I don't want him sacked - far from it, but think because of this point alone he would get 6 out of 10 from me for this season). When you think of the squad we have, and the excellent support team AP has (some of them were top managers and coaches in their own right) - why can we not sort it??? I don't think it's bad pitches, ref's, players etc. etc. - it's a mindset, tactics (and how to change them quickly when they don't work - we saw a master display of that last night by the choosen one!), and most of all constant practice - go over and over that in training - including playing one or two full matches with reserve players. If we have a poor start and lose 3 or 4 matches at the start of next season (and we are certain to have a poor spell at some stage - Norwich, Leeds have had them this year), it's the same as a minus 10 point start, and then the pressure will really mount (much much more than this season), and teams will just adopt the above tactic against us all the time. Let's hope AP has a plan to sort this out prior to next season's start ?? May be we need a change or two in AP's support / coaching team, as well a player or two?

Naw - Fonte in for Morgan - can do I job there, and we have enough cover in CB. If it's not working during a game, the option to move Fonte back is always there, and sub the inferior stand-in with Wotton/Gillett/James. Simples :-)

Ofcourse it could be argued that "the kick up the ass" (albeit maybe better done privately), is what has led to the latest improvement in performances :-) Surely, it's not one or the other (i.e. sack AP he's crap, or keep him he's god), but somewhere in between, and yes loving it at the moment, but we need to learn from the poor performances and improve - just enough to get promotion / champions - does not have to be perfect and never will be ! See, there's always a middle way :-)

Ant will be free - end of contract at Reading. So a no brainer IMHO, so wages will be low, and has the potential to be a great player. Also Papa is a must as I have said before - he will be awesome in CCC / PL, a nd I am sure we can get him for 500K max.

We will win and win very comfortably - and I will keep hoping :-) COYRS Never boring supporting Saints is it ????

Despair I can live with (get over it after kicking a few cats and massive hang overs) - it's the hope that kills me :-) Just when we think we have blown the play offs for this year, we put together a few results or some bright spark comes up with a possible (completely unrealistic but just about plausible) case for us making it and I get my hopes up again - just to end up in the same old football cycle of life and disappointment !!! No matter how many times I convince myself we have blown the play off this season and just enjoy the remaining games and look forward to next season, some fracker (Caprica speak) gives me HOPE - not sure I can take any more :-( p.s. hate to say it (as they are just about an English team), but delighted Manure lost last night !!!

Great stuff - think we are in agreement :-) See where you are coming from and a valid point. I just think that NC is not really critising AP, but expressing disappointment which we all feel. You could argue if this should be done in public or not, but for me I am glad he shares the same fustration as the fans - let's not forget NC is new to football PR, and other than politics I can think of no other profession where literally everything you say gets scrutized to the last degree. If I were to take every comment my boss made to me to heart I would have either tooped myself or him years ago :-) Come to think of it ........ move over Gail Platt :-) :-) :-) Just HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY

Defo sign him - out of contract so no fee, doubt he is on too much wages wise, and if we get rid of the dross we are never going to play, then he is a great squad player and will get better and better over time. BTW - same for PW even at a £1M - but I am sure we can get him for less.

Care to elobrate??? What have you heard exactly and where from? You are playing a part in "making this a mountain out of a mole hill"! It's quite pathic really - we have just won something in a very very long time (maybe a mickey mouse cup), so just enjoy the moment and stop trying to be a drama queen! For what it's worth NC said we (yes WE, not AP not the players but WE - i.e. everyone at the club) are disappointed we are not doing better in the league after the amount of investment, support etc. And he is absolutely right! No story here, no drama - get a life! If and when (and I very much doubt it) he actually sacks AP there might just be a story! I am off to have yet another beer and pretend we just won the world cup (yes I know it's not a club competition - but who cares :-)) COYR's and NC and ML and everything red and white !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously doubt it - after the way AP pointed out how this had been missing when he first arrived

+1 :-)

+1 :-)

Very appropriate Avatar :-)

Leeds tatter more than fair - think we are the best team they have met home and away - why can't we play like this away???

Cheap shot, but fair play ! Actually the world is starting to get out of recession and if you notice the top bankers are not doing that badly again! My point was not that they are god, just that where they can they do have back up plans, and NC will have one. Personally on AP I am undecided - very frustrating we are not consistently playing well, but overall we are in a much better place than a year ago (other than being in L1 of course). However I cannot understand why we (or NC etc.) cannot criticise a poor performance????

OP is about "Cortese Reaction", and whilst no one knows for sure, I for one would be delighted if he was upset at the defeat - we all should be, including AP - after all was it not AP that claimed to change the "losing mentality"? We have to make it clear that this result and others (mainly away) are not good enough. Does not mean AP gets sacked, just that he, the players, rest of the staff, clearly understand what is expected of them. If I were NC (and yes I know I am not) I would want to see clear evidence for the rest of this season, to show we will get automatic promotion next season, and so far over the last 10 or so games that is the case despite this defeat. If we fall way short of that then maybe it's time to think of a change over the summer. Perhaps a bit unfair on AP, but the new owners might only maintain their interest as long as we are progressing, and without them where would we be - oh yes back to last summer ! Sometimes no matter how good you are at your job, luck evades you for some reason (even Coppell - widely thought to be our first choice, had very poor results in his last period at Reading). I know a fair bit about the financial industry (NC's back ground) and the one golden rule is to mitigate/cover any risk and exposure = there will be a plan B, C, D and even E.

GM, Why does it bother you??? I now live in Ireland (not sure if that counts as ex pat), but for it's worth (and obviously IMHO) you're way off the mark on this one ! Come to Ireland and chill out with lot's of stout and friendly people :-)

Have to say I am amazed at this debate / thread ??? Of course Cortese and for that matter anyone Saints related should be fuming at this defeat !!! Frankly I do not want a someone in charge who is not upset at losing. Now this does not mean we (or rather NC / ML) should sack AP - just make it clear that results like these are not acceptable. Pressure to deliver, particularly after AP has been backed all the way with massive funding and his choice of player purchase is perfectly normal. Same applies to players who do not perform. This is no different to any other job in society. I for one am glad that our owners echo what the fans feel - when we f**k up, tell it like it is. This is not about sacking AP - this is about saying, it is not good enough, so sort it or eventually I will find someone who can! I think AP is doing a good job, but there is no harm reminding him his job is not secured and is dependent on results. For me he needs to prove we are contenders for automatic promotion next season based on the results for the rest of the year, or we have a new manager in the summer – CONC !!

How about??? ..................................Davis Otsemobor.......Fonte.........Jaidi............Harding Lallana............Thomas......Hammond......Puncheon ....................Barnard...........Lambert Before I get shot down in flames - Thomas can defend, is built like an ox, so will not get pushed off the ball to easily, certainly can deliver a pass at times, and don't forget the wonder goal. Would certainly try him for 60 mins myself in that set up !

Or may be he used a "semi automatic" walter PPK to shoot him in the buttocks :-) OK OK just getting my hat & coat !!!!!!!!!!!!!