S-Clarke

Pard's was spot on with his assessment of Pato, that early miss completely ruined his head for the game Also illustrated at how mentally fragile these young lads are. He's a good talent, not exceptional, but he can certainty do a job for us. He didn't give the Milwall back 4 any piece on the opening day and showed great composure for the goal.

...not forgetting that before yesterday they lost to BRENTFORD and drew against Exeter. Patience is required. Well be ok in the end.

They finished last season quite well, top half of the form table iirc. they didn't come down on the back of a run of defeats...like us and norwich, and we're both struggling to adapt.

****ing awful. What a world we live in these days. Really hope he's ok

Preston rate him v highly and only wanted him to come here to get games - they want him in their first team. I cannot see them selling unless we're talking 1/2m

I'm not saying that at all, i just think it's a little misguided to be talking about other managers just 4 games into his regime. He's got alot of work to do and i don't envy him one bit. This is probably one of the hardest managerial jobs at the moment...trying to balance the expectation of the city/fans with the realism of the situation. His interviews have been spot on, everything he's said has been spot on. His signings have been spot on - they've mirrored exactly what we say we've lacked and what he's admitted we've lacked. He's come out today and is saying we don't get wide enough...which is spot on. I cannot remember the last manager we had who was so open and honest about the setup and actually willing to make the changes.

If that's true, then i don't give a **** if they're ****ed off. They've been pampered for too long, and it's about time someone has actually come in and set down his rules for once. If they don't like them - go.

I knew it wouldn't take long. Clueless.

I heard Pard's say that on SaintsTV...very interesting i felt too. I hazard a guess he was implying the future of the 2 poles. Regarding Charlton....i don't think they've lost many players (maybe 1?) and another aspect of why they've started so well is because they've kept the same structure in place from last year. And actually, in terms of form, they finished the season (last 10 games) last year as one of the best teams. So in a sense, they were mentally relegated quite early..so they just started preparing for L1 before anyone else, the pressure was off them i guess. In that sense...it's given them a couple of months head start on us. Obviously we haven't had that luxury and we will be playing catchup for a few more weeks yet i fear. I know who i blame for that, but i'm not going to post it in this thread.

Harding is quality, what a coup to get on a free. I agree re: pace though, reading Pard's comments though he's identified that we don't use the width enough....now as we don't really have wingers at the moment, i hope that he'll now go out and grab some pacey wide men.

Charlton came down, they kept the majority of their squad and most importantly they kept their structure, coaches and manager. They had a pre-season and the players actually knew who was going to be taking them forward... They were also relegated well before the end of last season - and ended the season quite well, playing without pressure. In a sense they've been planning for this division about 2 months in advance of us. How some people expect us to come down and completely hit the ground running with half a team full of new guys and new manager, new backroom staff, new scouts, new chairman, new owner....then you need your heads seeing to more than the ''happy clappy's' IMO. Have some perspective and look at the larger picture, rather than just short snapshots. See where we are after 10 games, I'll wager that we'll be on positive points by then.

Watch it Nick, you'll be labeled a happy clappy - and they just talk rubbish apparently. but i agree. it's only 4 games FFS.

Let's ban anyone with a bit of perspective, i agree.

It's not good enough, i agree. In reality though the state of the team and club that was left from last year, left a lot to be desired. So many aspects of the club need rebuilding from top to bottom. Teams like Charlton had the ability to come down, keep the majority of the squad and structure and kick on. We lost 10 players i think? Lots of upheaval both on and off the pitch and it will require patience. I did hold a little hope that we'd galvanize ourselves and do a leeds when they were on -15, but hey ho - this is saints, why would we do a silly thing like that??? Give us a couple of months and we'll be winning regularly. We just need that one result....then it'll all click into place IMO.

Physically we were better today, we seemed to cope with their threat. It will take us time, but we're getting ''better''. The millwall performance was built on adrenalin....i always felt the real state of the team would show in the up and coming games...and it has. We're getting there though. Slowly though, granted... Just frustrated that we couldn't see it out again though. I agree with what is said though, the glaringly obvious problem with this side is the frightening lack of pace. We just do not trouble the oppo enough by getting in behind them. And please sent Thomson out on loan, he's just ridiculously lightweight.

that was brilliant!

I think it's quite obvious that part of Lowes cut backs was the scouting, i heard a story last season that the prep for one of the games (not sure which one) was based on the players sitting in the staplewood canteen and watching the short 5 min highlights of the oppo from their website. That was it. Then they went back out on the training pitches to focus on ''one touch passing..''.

What has been with this club for the past few years? Constantly trying to find ways to play as many players as possible out of position. For once though...(it seems like it's been years!!!!) we have 2 natural full backs - both on their right sides! the future is bright...

If we are to lose one of the Poles, i'd rather it's him. Pard's said on SaintsTV yesterday ''the agenda will come clear soon, we're not trying to surround it all in mystery, but suffice to say 1 or 2 will leave and this will then mean 1 or 2 will arrive.''

He played for Wolves in the 2nd half in their Win at wigan. He looked quite classy on the ball tbh, and had much more space than he's used to. Mick played him in a ''midfield'' 3, rather than left mid or left back. Didn't look out of place at all, and i never expected him to.

Why do we need him? Good player i agree, but full back isn't really a position i'd want us to strengthen atm.

Quite and interesting bit towards the end of the interview on SaintsTV... ''The agenda will become clear in a few weeks, i don't want to cloud it in mystery, but there will be 1 or 2 going out and I'll then look to bring 1 or 2 in'' I 'guess' he means one of the Poles, and possibly Holmes - and will this then open the door for the 2n'd ''Exciting and surprising'' signing that Cortese promised?

and derby away, that was an awesome performance we took the **** out of them at times...but derby were v poor.

Lowe did want to move Davis on, as he was on a big wage... but well played Davis for sticking here....he'll end his career here IMO.

Good point if you look down the spine of the team, Lambo - Hammond - Trotter...all way over 6ft..good stuf