NickG

I will look forward to it if we get there, infact looking forward to going to 2nd leg - arn't you? It would be great for Markus to be able to take his family and friends to Wembley just a few months after taking over - sure he wouldn't stay at home and think its a joke. Think keeping him enthused about saints is more important than trying to convert you!

because there is still a chance if we carry on as we are, or improve a bit, in making play offs - while there is a chance they are going for it! Also still in 2 cups.

performances have definately dipped - in some ways its good to still get points when not playing great football tho!

so you believe, that we are now finished?

because its a decent return and will be looking forward towards - hopefully a visit to Wembley.

agree, sure ML and NC are looking more long term -and are fairly happy - particularly if they get a day out at Wembley. The last 4 months we have just about had automatic promotion form (around 2 points per game)

true but the question was why sign Barnard - over next few years Barnard is more likely to perform for us.

Perhaps we should agree to disagree. The above posts detail what I think. I do not feel we have underperformed over the season. I do feel the "-10" washes - a manager and players are there to be judged on their points won (and 2 per game is not under performing) not what random punishment given to the club due to previous regime. If we go back to 1 point per game that will be under performing over next 4 months. If we continue to return 2 per game then that is not bad at all.

and if we continue with a return of just 2 points per game (not unreasonable as our squad has improved and should be able to deal with the season better than others) we will return the season with 71 points (81 earned). last season 71 would have got us 8th, 81 -5th season before 71 would have got us 6th, 81 -2nd. So after starting the season with a practically blank first two months, the fact that we are on target to return 81 points earned for the season is commendable

I think anyone who follows saints and is not spoiling for arguement can see that; we started the season in chaos, losing mentality, a fraction of the current squad, no scouting network, no forwards, not even a coach! It would have been amazing if we had started with an average return! We can keep beating the team and manager up for what happened before they were here, or their form more than 4 months ago - but I feel that is pointless. In the last 4 months - not a blip but a true indication of where we are we have; Had a return of 2 points per game (over 17 league games). This form is around the form needed for automatic promotion. We have reached the semi of the JPT and are winning with home leg to go. We are in the last 16 of the FA Cup. Pardew has never said he expected more than this, and nor did I.

manager after draw saying we need to win shock!

Barnard is 7 years younger

29th OS David Connolly is also getting closer to a return from his groin injury.

so if you are only saying we have to win more than we are at the moment (to get to play offs) I think Pardew and most here would agree. If you think Pardew is underperforming I think you may have two or three with you. Notice Pardew is still mentioning the -10 problem, do you agree with him on that as well?

and after the away draw - and I think this is the bit where he thinks him and Pardew sound identical! Attention now switches to the visit of Stockport County on Saturday which the gaffer is confident his side will get a result from if they and the supporters don't get restless. "It looks like one of those games that everyone will pencil in as a win and that puts a bit more pressure on us, but I hope the crowd and we stay patient, and if we do then I think we will win. "The ten point deduction was a blow for us, but we have to win games, and win more than we are winning at the moment. It puts a lot of pressure on our home game on Saturday, and we can put a lot of ills right by winning that as the games look a little more friendly than Millwall and Brentford away. The support was brilliant tonight, it's just a shame we couldn't see the game out."

Pardew most recent - bit more positive than dulldays! We have had a great run of games, we have drawn a couple here and there that has cost us some progress, but that is going to happen in a season. We know that we have got to win three quarters of our games left we have done that today, and not lost anyone to any injuries so we go onto the next one."

I would imagine the Markus would be thrilled to see his team play at Wembley. I would imagine he would love taking his family and friend there, and even more so if we win. I think that is a fair return for saving our club and giving us a positive future. It is also likely to keep his enthusiasm going for us. It could be a vital victory in our return to better things.

after Pardew saying we are finished in transfer dealings, and the quality of Danns I would be stunned if we do sign him. But lets hope so!

when did Pardew say he realistically targetted top two? He didn't. Pardew said first target was to overcome -10. Then it was to get out of relegation zone. Then it was top half. Then he spoke about if we were within 9 points of play offs by the end of January he would start targetting play offs. He would have loved automatic, or even play offs. He would aim for a team that could do as well as possible. But, with the handicaps he started with he would never have expected top two - quite the opposite and often said how far we were behind. Think people are forgetten what a complete lack of confidence we had in the squad when he took over. The mentality that even if we were playing well we would still manage to lose a game. The fact that for the first 8 games we didn't even have a first team coach. 7 of the players used yesterday were not with us for the first games of the season.

am a criticing Lambert? he is doing well.

agreed. Doing just fine. Lets move on!

the game that was 3 weeks after we first appointed a coach? Don't think so.

not seen him posting cr*p on here or making up quotes. We need to win more than the last couple of weeks to get to play offs, prior to last few weeks the performance was good enough. As soon as we lose or draw one game you can always say we need to win more. If we keep averaging over two points a game he will have done well - with the cups as well.

3 people have this opinon, think you need to accept a mixture of Delldays opinion and his trolling. Not heard anyone at the games saying Pardew is underperforming - just two or three on here

Jens Berthel Askou (Kasımpasa), Goran Maric (Celta Vigo), Rhoys Wiggins (Crystal Palace), Simon Whaley (Preston), Ben Alnwick (Tottenham), Grant Holt (Shrewsbury), Paul McVeigh (Luton), Stephen Hughes (Motherwell), Michael Theoklito (Melbourne Victory), Michael Nelson (Hartlepool), Owain Tudur Jones (Swansea), Matthew Gill (Exeter), Fraser Forster (Newcastle) Bit of a head start!