cf saint

I think we both said the same about Silva in the summer. Hull are a disaster yet I can see him giving them a chance of staying up. I don't think we will change CP this season so at least Silva is out of contract come the summer. I don't post too often and only did about Silva having seeing him work wonders in Portugal. In general it is odd to be in first major final for over a decade and feel so meh. It is not a sense of entitlement, it is the sense of some very poor decisions in last year eroding a position that so promising. It seems a lot of people, including me, who would be to the clapper end of the range have now flipped even with one game away from a cup. Anyway back to finding a ticket for that final anyway!

Re Badger's question above on Silva, I think both Sporting and Olimpiakos have "interesting" presidents. I don't know so much about Greece but with Sporting there was a strong desire to bring in Jorge Jesus who was benfica's manager. Before that he had been at Estoril for years as player and manager. I have held a season ticket at Estoril since moving here hence this being one of the few subject I comment on. He payed great football, normally 433 and using fast wide players. Estoril is a tiny team - crowds are small in Portugal but even so, the attendance is only around 1200 other than for the big teams like Porto, Benfica, Sporting. Yet he took them to the Europa league twice. He went to Sporting ad won their first trophy for several years, then to Greece. Of course he may tank in the PL but when I said when just putting his name out there back in January I think he could be the next Poch.

Ps I now defer to Saint Armstrong for the link

I haven't seen Silva linked other than a me and a couple of other posters saying he would be a good potential manager. I am no way ITK - just saw him work very well at tiny Estoril and then likewise at Sporting.

Has anyone but you and I mentioned Marco Silva?

Agree! Other than naming him during the January mini meltdown I had not seen his name on here - be a great choice

Agree far better RK stays. If he goes I will put in shout for Marco Silva. Managed local club here in Portugal and got them twice to Europa league on zero money. Then to Sporting and now at Olympiakos where Asenal defeat aside he is 16 wins in 16 in their league. He seems good where there is little money and only reason I see Koeman goes in near term is if it seems we are not going to spend.

A long overdue thanks- living overseas your blog is spot on to have a real fan view.

Thought Reed was fantastic, took a few minutes but then great. If/when Morgan goes he is the replacement. I spent 30 years worrying if we had a 3-0 lead with 10 mins to go.... Now I just expect us to do it.

The Sporting fans I speak to seem content if goes for 15+m euros - Portuguese football is broke so they need money and seem to think the team may be improved by the money rather than keeping him.

Estoril, Portugal. Getting the weather before my fellow saint up in Porto.

Yesss!

Estoril Praia ... 5 minutes from home and Porto / Benfica come to a little 5000 seat ground in a league game

yessss!!! phew

This, can't wait to see that goal again.

run is gonna kill me...get in!!!

Rest in peace - and thank you

Arrived in from Lisbon, after working 2 pc's and 2 phones on the am of general sale...stressful morning!

Only the first 150,000 who text get the three months so best to register quickly. I think you need a unique code- sky changed mine but not the same as above. Great service - worked really well last night.

Dry side, row E....much easier to see when you ducked

Don't remember exactly where - just remember it meant there were more saints supporters at school on IOW than Liverpool and how my home and away patrick kits were my pride and joy If this is true please let's have a retro patrick kit next year!

DoF? so with Wotte kept on?

There were plenty of people who seemed to think administration was acceptable if it got rid of Lowe - i rarely post but did to respond to that because i have seen how administration can really screw things up. It may or may not do that with Saints but it is high risk and a few months back a lot of people seemed to think administration was a harmless panacea. People like Stanley understood the risk of administration but thought it worth taking and although i dont have that view i respect it. I have less time for those who wanted rid of Lowe at all costs yet now are worried the club may fold - of course it can. So i guess in a months time if the club survives this forum will be full of people claiming it was their actions that rid the club of Lowe whereas now apparently it was only Stanley and Alpine that really wanted this. Likewise when we fill SMS for the last 3 games I am sure there will be 15,000 returning "because Lowe has gone" - yet if it all goes tits up there were only 2 posters who really wanted that....

It was a wonderful save- and as others have said I can't remember the last standing ovation for a save.

On train back from the game. We were poor but it was suicidal defending that undid us. Let a team score two in the first 15 mins at home and they then just sit back just like away sides at SMS and of course we can't break them down. We did look like we could score in the first half but the second half was drivel from both sides. Not sure anyone played that great for us (James maybe before the howler) but particular low marks for rudi, DMG, pearce and wotton. Good attempt by our fans at end of first half....and that is about it for the positives.