SaintBobby

was just trying to work that out....isn't it literally years ago? edit: did we beat Ipswich 3-0 away last season? When did we last win by 3 at home? vs. Tranmere 6-1 in the League Cup?

I doubt a close range tap-in in a friendly will do much to change anyone's mind. I'm pretty pro-Rasiak btw, but I hardly beileve this will change anyone's view (built up over dozens of matches) and neither should it. EDIT: see he's got a header too. Nice.

This is good news (I'm logging in from the USA, would be there otherwise)....seems AP may have got us into the habit of winning at the first attempt... Is the Hearts team a full-strength(ish) team?

Agree with this. But had Pinnacle not wasted five weeks, I thinkwe could have made a more serious effort of getting out of League One in a year. Who knows, we still might, but Lynam and his tyre-kicker friends have seriously compromised our chances. I'd certainly ban Lynam from St. Mary's for life.

I think you have a point, but I think we're on a two-season strategy to get out of League One, whereas I'm guessing that some of the others (Norwich?) are on a one season strategy. Obviously, I want to be "ambitious", "hit the ground running", "show intent", "build a winning mentality" (add other cliches at will) etc. But to be honest, the real test for me is whether we enter the 2010-2011 season as favourites to win League One. I don't rule out promotion this season, but think it's unlikely and should be treated as a "bonus". Certainly, if I was Liebherr, I'd be expecting AP to win L1 in 2011, and would have structured his deal (and transfer budget) accordingly...

I thought I admired his ambition for us to be "somewhere near the middle" by Xmas. But we actually need to do even better than this if we're to make the play-offs this season. We're scheduled to play 22 league games before 25th December. Looking at last season's table, mid-table is a return of 1.3 points per game. For Saints to get to 29 points by Xmas, we need - of course - to win 39 points on the pitch, which would imply us winning 1.77 points a game. If we kept that up over the season, we'd finish on 71 or 72 points (81 or 82 points minus 10). Last season, the last play-off place went to S****hope on 76 points. The season before, the sixth place team also got 76 points. And the year before that, it was 75 points. So we need to be averaging 1.87 (for a total of 85 or 86 points "on the pitch") points a game to scrape into the play-offs. Not impossible, but not easy. We essentially need to show automatic promotion form to win a play-off slot...and even if we get a play-off slot, we are odds against to go up. I reckon it's two seasons to get out of this division.

Sounds about right, actually. The tickets were free with season ticket renewals. I was sent 3, but could only use 2. I imagine 3,000+ of the tickets issued weren't used.

Great job. Glad your son is a convert!

We had some Spanish or Portuguese defender on loan back in c. 2001. he was dire. Think he played once v. Arsenal. Jordan Robertson was also abysmal. Stuart Ripley and Kanchelskis were embarrassing by the time they signed for us. (the latter made worse by being the first player to inherit MLT's no.7 shirt). And Agustin Delgado.....good grief.....

Was just trying to remember the last time I saw a Saints team score four goals.....2005 I think, against Norwich

Jason Euell? (runs for cover....)

The answer to the OP's question is "just over 22,000" according to Sky Sports News

I like Killer, but guess AP wants his own team...

I didn't punch the air at his appointment - but am warming to him very rapidly. The sort of head-screwed on, no nonsense manager we need. My ambitions for this season remain pretty limited though. Mid-table would suit me just fine (e.g. that's probably a top six finish before you take off the ten points) as long as we re-unite the club and are clearly starting to move forward for the first time in six years.

Yes indeed. Was clearer on his Sky Sports interview.

Thought we did okay. Still hope we play a straight forward 4-4-2 in future. I'm v happy with the keeper. Like Perry and Thomas as first choice centre-backs, but don't rate Lancashire as cover. Mills good at left back. Molyneuax wasn't. Murty was prety good. Gillet and James can't play together in central midfield. Think Schneiderlin is a key player for us if he stays. Didn't think Wotton was as sh*te as others are saying. Still rate Lallana as a "joker in the pack" player this season, if he stays. I'd also keep Euell if his wage demand is reasonable. Brings some experience and strength and could be good in the third tier. Neither Saga nor Rasiak can play as lone strikers. We need a pacey centre forward quite urgently to compliment Rasiak/John/Saga. After a glimpse today and a slighty longer look at Bournemouth, I think Jake Thomson is my "one to watch" this year. Really enjoyed the day (well, made a full weekend of it by going to Isle of Wight for the Newport game on Friday). It's great to be back at SMS. I genuienly feared the day may never come. Ajax were very, very good. Top 8 premiership side, on basis of today, I'd say.

I'm going for Saint 2 Ajax 6 The missus is going for Saints 1 Ajax 3. Just arrived in Southampton - am definitely going to enjoy the pre-match beers!

For those interested in yesterday evening's run out v Newport, my match report is here: http://www.southampton-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=453955

Hilarious isn't it. Some of the posters on here need to keep a seriosuly low profile for a while...My three year old nephew has been closer to the truth than some of these people's "sources"...

I see all those ITK "it's definitely Strachan" people have gone very, very quiet...

Presumably, those who are so certain it's WGS are piling money on him on Skybet, where he's 5/4....more than double your money in 48 hours...

He was quite good at Bournemouth until he pulled up injured. I keep changing my mind on being pro or anti Lallana, but am sure he's better in a central rather than wide position.

I don't have any inside knowledge, but to me, a 5 year contract makes sense. There's clearly a medium term strategy to get Saints back to the Premier League and we'd want someone who can see through that project. The position the club finds itself in - at our lowest ebb in footballing terms for 50 years - but with lots of potential (and cash) needs a manager who looks upon Saints as a project, not just a job.

Is he just a right back or can he play centre back?

I agree with the OP. At £0, the Ajax tickets are a total rip-off IMHO...