AussieDog

Couldn't agree more. This season is about consolidation and survival and anything else is a bonus. Of course we are aiming higher, but it's not a disaster if we "only" achieve survival. I wish people would be more realistic. As an aside.... Swansea got 1 point from the same 3 fixtures last season with a GD of -5, Norwich got 1 point with a GD of -5, QPR got 3 points and a GD of -1

Lambert was class but was looking stuffed so wasn't surprised he came off. Lallana the same. It was probably all part of the game plan for them to chase everything for the first hour and then when they started to flag late on, to put on replacements. Fox had a torrid time and seemed to be scared to get too close to the person he was marking. Thought JWP was great in 1st half but (understandably) faded near the end. S Davis was solid, Schneiderlin was outstanding and I think that was partly because Davis played Schneiderlins old role,giving him the chance to be more expressive and get forward more often. Clyne had a good game going forward, but needs to improve (or maintain his concentration better) in defense. Puncheon had his best game. A bit surprised he was taken off. At that point though, Scholes was running the show in midfield, and you could see pretty much the whole team seemed to be running out of steam. Maybe a more astute substitution would have been to bring Richardson on and double tag Van Persie. Until then I hadn't thought Fonte wasn't too bad, but he just seemed to have nothing left. KD made some dodgy clearances, but some of those were because balls were played back to him in desperation. All 3 goals were defensive errors. Clyne was scrambling already and lost his footing for the 1st. No-one was marking Ferdinand for the 2nd - if he hadn't got his header in, then VP wouldn't have got the rebound. the 3rd was both poor marking on VP, and a stupid corner to give away (Fonte at fault for both?). If you give Van Persie 11 shots on goal during the match, then it's not surprising he converts 3 of them. Felt sorry for Mayuka. He obviously wasn't ready for this game and didn't really seem to know what he was expected to do (hint: defend from the front!). Felt sorry for Jos - it was ALMOST a great tackle, but yet again, the forwards are clever enough to react in a way that the ref blows his whistle. I can't remember who it was on, but Ferdinand did almost the same thing right at the end, but the ref didn't give it. Didn't think the Ref was particularly bad, but as per usual, Utd got the majority of decisions, and really not sure how we ended up with so much stoppage time. No time wasting, no trainers on the field - it should only have been 2 minutes tops. Linesman weren't the best - Lallana was definitely NOT offside when he was played through. All in all I enjoyed the game and can't believe how much we have improved over the summer, even though we've got zero points. Finally - and I will be sounding like a broken record by the end of the season - less than 3 hours sleep doesn't agree with me and I am going to be an even grumpier b45t4rd at work today. Can we please have some Saturday TV games - or even Sunday lunchtime as the 9 hour time difference would mean I at least get to bed before midnight! After October when there's a 10 hour time difference even a midweek 7.30 game means I can get up at my normal time and just go into work an hour or so late!

After last seasons' tantrus, and only ever having seen him play shyte I would have bee nquite happy for him to rot in the reserves until his contract ran out (unless someone offered stupid money of course), but today's game was his best by far for us. He just seems (or seemed) to have a fragile ego and as soon as things go wrong he wants to bail or thow a massive sulk. Let's hope he's grown up. If he stays in the first team it will be on merit, but hopefully he can handle being a sub most of the time once Mayuka and Ramirez find their feet.

Not sure which of our new signings may be eligible to play. If we keep the same side as Wigan then 3-1 loss. If we go with a more attacking line up then 5-3 Utd...if we can improve the back line (but not our attack) then 1-1. If we can imrove back and front, then a 3-1 win to us. Have I covered all my bases here? lol

Lee won't go, obviously Rodriguez won't go. Definitely think we will be shifting forwards and midfielders before the window closes. I could see either Lambert or Sharp going, as well as 2 out of Chaplow, Hammond & deRidder...possibly even Guly (scapegoat after his DD incident). Either Fonte or Seabourne as well. That is, of course, assuming we get at least a couple of more players in. It doesn't sit well with me that either Lambert or Sharp would be moved on, but I can see the logic, and I think Sharp brings us something different so Lambert may be the unlucky one. Of the current side, I don't think any player has an assured place in the team (not even Lallana, even though he has the Captain's armband at the moment) - but it's a squad game now and it won't hurt if they know they have to perform at their best every week to be in the match day 18.

3 or 4 in - and 4 or 5 out, including at least one surprise. Hopefully 1 or 2 CB (if 2, then I reckon Fonte will go) Would be amazed if we got a quality midfielder but think both Chaplow, Hammond might go. If we get a winger then deRidder will go (overseas probably) Cant see any fullbacks coming in. I would like to see a top GK but only if they are going to go straight in to the 1st team (sorry Kelvin!)

Disappointing result but the lack of belief and faith in this team and the Manager is quite astonishing. Did you really think we wouldn't screw a few games up? This IS Southampton after all, and even in our 2 successful seasons we had some horrible games. I'm glad this is only an internet forum because I would hate to know some of you guys in real life. You come across as people who are only happy if you can pick a fight or run someone down. Would you be happy supporting any team? We ALL want our team to do better. We ALL would like to see team improvements. Just give the team, players and Manager your support. If they give their best that is all we can ask for, and as someone else has already said....enjoy the ride! Sometimes reading this forum, and realising the "quality" of support we attract is more disappointing than seeing the actual result!

I know you're just trolling, but does it matter WHEN we sell the tickets? Surely all that counts is that they are sold by the time the match kicks off? Maybe some people would prefer to keep their money in their pockets rather than SFC's until they have to spend it. Maybe some people are still on their summer holidays with their families, or spent all of this month's budget on going to the Olympics (a once in a lifetime event for the most in the UK, whereas Saints have been in the premiership before). Maybe they are already disillusioned that we're not going to win the league after such an appalling result on Sunday!

Interesting how NA's tactics seem to polarise people. Now that I'm in Australia (and let's face it - the football here is cr4p!) I've watched a lot of Rugby League and that is very much a squad game, although there are key players who stay on the pitch for the full game. As somebody already mentioned, Sir Alex has no qualms in resting virtually any of his players, and the Premier League is high intensity from beginning to end and players like Ricky will need breathers from time to time and in certain games will have more of an impact coming off the bench. I was surprised to see Rickie on the bench but I think NA got it spot on yesterday.

Their first goal was offside and Fonte missed a sitter late on. you can pick up the positives and negatives from both sides. Football will always be a game of "ifs and buts" and that is one of the reasons why I love it!

Davis 6 - he did save a penalty! -but he shouldn't have been beaten on his near post (and Tevez was offside!) Clyne 8 - thought he looked excellent and would have been by MOM if he hadn't rushed off his line so quickly, and ignoring the guy to his right for the 2nd goal Fonte 7 - would have been a 10 if he'd converted that knockdown for SRL! Very pleasantly surprised today by his showing Hooiveld 7 - unlucky with the penalty (but it WAS a penalty) Fox 5 - failed to give much going forward and poor attempted clearance for their 3rd Ward-Prowse 7 First half good but ran out of steam 2nd half Lallana 6.5 Probably a touch low on the mark, but I was hoping for more. Puncheon 7 I hate the guy - but I thought he did OK Guly 7 No real penetration going forward but thought he found space well and linked up well with the players around him Rodriguez 6 Tough 1st game and I can't remember him getting a shot in, but didn't look out of place Schneiderlin 6.5 Lost the ball a little too easily a few times but didn't look out of place. Lambert 8.5 Great start, great goal, great lay-off to Fonte - if only it had fallen to Billy Sharp! S.Davis 8 Great goal. seemed very assured. Taking into account the quality of the opposition (and the history books) I thought it was a pretty good showing. I was hoping for a draw but expecting a 2-0 loss, so all in all, not too dispirited.

I used to visit the OS every day. Now I'll visit once a week, and even then will leave the site feeling annoyed and frustrated. The club really don't seem concerned about increasing the fan base - or even keeping those who can't go to every game. They seem to fail to realise that making information easily accessible stimulates conversation and interest. Another example of their attitude is the fact that a large percentage of reserve games (sorry..."development squad") are played behind closed doors. As a kid, when I couldn't afford to go to a 1st team match at the Dell I'd make the effort to go and watch the reserves to see the future stars and maybe one or two first teamers who would be coming back from injury. Thank God for Sky Sports!

If I was another FL1 team I'd be pretty p155ed if they can just round up another bunch of out of contract players with a few spare Saturdays on their hands, just to make them "competitive. They really are flouting the system aren't they. Rotten and cheating to the core. I'd rather give up watching football than support that corrupt bunch.

If the Championship is that poor that we need to replace virtually our whole team upon promotion, as several vociferous posters would claim, then how come the 3 relegated premiership teams don't all get promoted the following year?

I think he would be a good signing - but considering we're light on cover at the back, it's not the signing I was hoping for.

Seriously. If you're not excited, pick another sport or another team. Fearful AND excited....well yeah, I can understand that

Maybe the pre-seasons have been about trying new formations and getting the fitness levels up. A novel idea, I know. Possibly it's about ensuring the players expand their horizons and try different formations without having to risk their win bonuses, or without the loyal supporters turning suicidal if we tried it in some of our league or cup games. Or maybe it's to ensure both players and supporters go into the new season with a sense of realism rather than some ridiculous notion that we are going to challenge for a European place. Everyone is harping on about us "only making 4 signings - but there have been SEVEN new players in the first team (eight if you included Chambers but let's not be greedy). The aim has always been to supplement signings with academy players and this year we are trying to do that (but I'm not going to complain if a couple fo extra suddenly appear either - even if it is on the last day of the transfer window). As for the fact that we are regarded as relegation favourites by the bookies - I didn't see any of them tipping us for promotion last year either. They do get it wrong (occasionally)... Of course I am going to be disappointed if (when?) we get beaten by City. Before the fixture list came out, how many of you really and truthfully thought we would actually get a positive result in that game though? If those first 4 games had been spread out throughout the season, how many points would you have realistically thought we would have gotten from them? I wager 4 would have been a good result, with 3 being more likely. Just enjoy the season. Enjoy the higher standard of football. Enjoy the opportunity to attend a full St Mary's. If you can afford it, enjoy the opportunity to visit some of the best stadiums in England and in some cases, in Europe. All I hope is that we don't disgrace ourselves (100% effort and defending from the front would be a good start), and that our players are given the chance to show that they can improve and are good enough to be successful in the premier league. Personally, I can't wait and I'm looking forward to a season of broken sleep and coffee-fuelled Mondays at work

OMG...this forum must be getting really sad when this is the best thing I can find to waste one of my 3 posts on today. THERE IS NO CRISIS Pre-season results are meaningless (ask Man city if they are wrist slitting because they've lost in pre-season) The price of the home friendlies were ridiculous, hence the low crowds. Yes, it would be nice to have an additional CB and some extra cover at GK in the bag. No we are not going to be relegated having not scored a goal or gained a point all season (just following the logical progression of the wrist slitters on here) No we're not going to win the league (just saying that so no-one accuses me of being happy clappy as that would really hurt my feelings). LOL Get a grip people or are your lives that meaningless and boring that you have nothing better to do than come on here and have a ***** on a Saturday night!

I think there will be 3 distinct groups again this year. I think the top half is the easiest to predict by far, but I think there will be a few surprises in the rest. so in no particular order other than the 3 groups being distinguished (I certainly don't think Spurs will finish above Arsenal), here's my prediction. FWIW I think we will surprise a lot of teams this year, just as we did last year - but we will also get a couple of wallopings along the way. 1) Man City 2) Man Utd 3) Spurs 4) Arsenal 5) Chelsea 7) Newcastle 6) Liverpool 8 )Everton 9) Sunderland 10) Aston Villa 12) Fulham 13) QPR 15) West Ham 17) Southampton 18 ) Reading 19) West Brom 20) Swansea 11) Stoke City 16) Wigan 14) Norwich

I went into a restaurant yesterday and ordered a steak. The waiter asked how I'd look it cooked and I said "Australian Gold please" but the waiter said they weren't allowed to serve them that rare.

It's that bad that I couldn't even find a feedback page so that I could tell them how ****e it was. Who the hell did the usability testing? It seems like I have to do everything twice to access any recent information. If I wanted to see the fixture list there are a hundred sites I could visit for that. I'm interested in match reports and stories of all Saints teams, not just the first team.

I was beginning to think I was turning into an Australian (after being here for 9 years) as I had no interest or patriotism towards the English football team (or the GB football team either), but have been getting more and more patriotic as the week has progressed, culminating in that 10,000 metres this morning ....sorry...evening. It's certainly been a challenge trying to watch the events at the right time! Was worth getting up at 6am on a Sunday morning to watch it though, and by the end I was on my feet and shouting (sorry neighbours, but you can f*** right off it annoyed you ) I originally put in for the ballot for tickets and was going to come over, but got nothing so ended up coming over earlier and saw some of the promotion run-in. Sort of a win win situation really as I probably ended up saving about 10 grand

Didn't see any of the game so can't comment on individuals, but can't believe some of the negative comments on here. We're playing one of the top 10 (or thereabouts) teams in Europe who are only one week away from the start of their season, whereas we are still 3 weeks away. It's already been said that we're going to sign another centre back so I think we have to trust it's going to be somebody better than what we have. We still have Chung and Davis to come in to boost our options.

I think we've made astute signings so far, but was hoping for a "wow factor". Personally I think we're only going to get 2 more before the start of the season - GK and CB. Can't see either of those being the "wow factor" though.

Man Utd, City & Chelsea will finish above us...and we could finish anywhere between them and Wigan who will finish bottom. Gut feeling is still top 10 providing we keep the team ethos going. Standout player either Schneiderlin or Rodriguez of the current squad. Have a feeling as well that Lambert and Lallana will both struggle unless they are at the top of their physical fitness levels. I'd be happy with 2 more signings - GK and pacy CB. Think Sharp is the "fox in the box" we've been missing but not sure how many games he will start in - may be our "supersub" though.