Saint Fan CaM

O'Hara would be a great shout for CM.

What a bunch of bed wetters some people are! Nigel was only stating the bleedin' obvious - I love this club and I want to be here for the foreseeable - but I'm as vulnerable as any other Prem Manager if I don't get results. The realisation of getting to the Prem also brings with it the added pressure and for a split second he probably reflected on what he'd got himself into! He would be completely daft to jump ship at this stage of his career. And Cortese would be completely daft to not back the Manager that had orchestrated back-to-back promotions, unless the wheels were seriously coming off the tracks big time. I truly believe that with the right circumstances Nigel will become our 'Fergie'.

Hopefully the belief will be with the team, however two things concern me - (a) We did not finish the season confidentally and spluttered across the finish line...(b) the pace in the Prem in even some of the relegated teams is frighteningly quick and my view is we're too flat-footed...e.g. can you remember a goal that was scored on the break this season? We could get trounced by teams that have almost all the whole squad made up of guys that are as capable as Lallana or better. I will be delighted to find us in a position any higher than 18th to be honest until Nigel has time to assess the team and what he's up against. That will not stop the hope and belief being there, but realistically there's a significant gulf between our squad and those at the top of the Prem at the moment.

There are plenty of people with wealth - lots of wealth in some cases. But it takes a very special person indeed to invest in a friends dream and yet that's what Markus did. His legacy will live on at Saints for decades to come. So THANK YOU Markus and Nicola for saving our club, for setting a course and having a vision. Thank you to Markus' family for continuing to support the dream and to Nigel, his players and backroom staff for providing us with a club to be proud of. I would LOVE to see a statue of Markus outside SMS - it would be truly fitting for Markus to be seen next to Ted. Lastly, I think this weekend underpins the vision and plans NC has for the club. We are ahead of schedule on a journey that will place this club at the forefront of English and potentially World football. How can anyone think otherwise given what we've achieved in just THREE YEARS! It is nothing short of miraculous and we've not even seen the products of the new Development Academy come to fruition yet. There are many years ahead of stunning achievement for us I feel sure!

After necking some at the pub, then some at home while watching the game again, I woke up on the sofa feeling sick at 1.30pm - Mrs' gone to bed - so I watched League Show highlights before drinking lots of water. Pizza leftovers and a nice mug of tea this morning after getting up at 11.00am. And I feel reasonably OK.

I really can't wait and of course all the signs are that we'll win. That's the nub of my problem though - there's too many thinking it's going to be a stroll in the park, but I reckon Coventry are not going to be as bad as some think and they'll be surprisingly difficult to break down. I just hope Nigel has what it takes to get them into the right frame of mind and ensure they spend the entire game chasing down every ball and closing down any advance near our pen area. It'll not be a big scoring game IMO - IF we win, it'll be by a very nervy single goal I'll wager. It's probably going to be 1-1...if we're lucky. And I'm concerned about Fonte fouling in the box, giving away a pen and worse still getting sent off. Or Spiderman making some rash challenges as he gets too much of an adrenelin kick. I can just see it happening - the ref has an awful record for giving out cards. Mark my words, they'll be falling over if the wind picks up! You know what, if I'm really honest, it won't be the end of World by any stretch of the imagination if we don't go up auto. Or indeed if we don't go up atall actually. I'll still be enjoying going to see Saints with my mates, soaking up the atmos, having a beer after the match, etc. etc. But without the plastics. Still feel sick thinking about Saturday for some reason though!

A good summary - I agree.

We sit back and defend a lead of 1-0 until the 89min when they attack on the break, Fonte panics and gives away a pen which they score from for 1-1 FT. He also gets sent off meaning a very nervous last 5 minutes stoppage time. Wet Sham win 4-0 and gain auto promotion. Adkins is consequently sacked and Wigley is hired in as provisional Head Coach. Nicola announces NPC ticket price rise of 45% and shortly after signs Paul Scholes on loan until the end of the season. Then I woke up. (;

Would love Sharp to get the 1st goal and Lambo to get the goal (2nd) that effectively seals our promotion to the Prem. THEN I'd like to see Lallana, Spiderman and Corky all get one to wrap up an incredible last hoorah in the NPC. Unfortunately it just ain't gonna be like that I fear. There's far too many on here counting far too many chickens.

Of course Wet Sham will win tonight - Sky have made sure of that and money talks. Just forget tonight and start worrying about whether the team turn up for the game Saturday.

Tonight - why not? We handed Reading the title, so why shouldn't we be handed auto? However, Wet Sham will win tonight so I thoroughly expect a very tense last day of the season. Actually, I don't really mind if we don't go up this season - Prem is overrated.

Massive result for Saints. Sharp is really really coming good. Almost there, but it could still quite easily go wrong. We need a point at Boro and if we lose it's going to be a very nervous last game of the season. COYR!

Yes - Sharp as your like!!!! 0-3 Saints!!!!! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEASSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Saints supporters deserve a mention - very loud - sounds like a home game - well done all.

If I did not know better, I would say the WH-Brighton result was as close to seeing a prime example of match fixing as you'll ever see. Someone should be keeping a very close eye on Poyets bank balance - it might receive 'a Hammering' in the not too distant future.

Last night was a kind of early "welcome to the Premiership" message to the players. I think this was a good representation of how we will fair against a fair few of the teams BELOW the top 6 - any team above 6th place will tear our midfield and defence a new one IMO. Having said that, the ref last night bottled two nailed on pens for some reason - one was so blatant it was criminal that it was not given.

Sorry to say, when I post on threads like this one, we invariably lose. However, I think this has got a 1-1 draw written all over it. Although, knowing our lot, we'll end up switching off at the back and giving up a draw to a 1-2 defeat in the 94th minute. Watch this space.

Great article - it's happening - just some people still don't believe quite how big this club is going to be in 10 years time.

Control the controllables, so we should forget the result in Brighton V Reading tomorrow. If Reading lose we will be looking just a little bit closer, but still not over the finish line. However, I thank we'll struggle against Reading - they have pace and skill in their side, plus they also have some tenacity too. I can see this being a 2-3 loss. (;

Massive result - could so easily have been a disaster.

His ligament detached from the bone - he's out for the season and then some due to rehab.

That's jinxed that then. ):

Well if ever there was a must win game, then this could be it. Not easy atall going to Selhurst and getting anything out of it. Can see Lambert getting rested and Barnie and Sharp up front. Or Guly perhaps - for some reason he seems to get onto the teamsheet despite poor perforancees. Would start Chappers as front of a diamond and possibly Puncheon or SDR on the right. As our Nige keeps on saying, it's about the squad - well utilise it then. Prediction? Not good - we're falling away now - so it's 1-1 for me.

The row depends on which block you're in...i.e. if you're near the centre line, then rows T - Z are best IMO. If you're near a corner of the ground or behind a goal then further up the stand is better e.g. row AA and up. Some like being near the pitch, but personally I wouldn't like to sit anywhere in the ground lower than row S.

I am LOVING this!!! It should be put up on the screens and chanted at every home game - would send a tingle down the spine to hear all SMS do this!