Saint Fan CaM

Come Alps, how can you possible support this statement?!? We have 4 points which is more than we had after the same number of games last season and have brought in 4 players in areas we needed to. We have given a half decent Prem side a good run for their money and won the last game 0-4. OK, it's not been thoroughly overwhelming, but why was it a waste? And how have we fallen on our arse?! Totally over the top and the evidence is just not there at the moment to prove anything like that!

Have to say I agree a little with the OP, although it was inevitable that fans would chant for AP when all they know is what they've been told - i.e. he's gone and that means instability again. The fact the team seemed so rubbish after a 0-4 victory just enhanced the feeling I would suggest. But today is all about helping our team get 3 points - nothing else matters until 90mins have elapsed. Sing for a Saints victory whatever part of the ground you sit in. WIFM. COYS!

Guly will start - it's been mandated by the Board and Connollys legs will be saved until 80mins. Therefore team IMO will be... -----------------------DAVIS-------------------- BUTTERFIELD-----FONTE-----JAIDI-----HARDING PUNCH-----SCHNEIDERLIN-----HAMMOND-----DICKSON ----------------------GULY---------------------- ---------------LAMBERT------------------------ Subs: Connolly, Bart, Fish, Martin, Wotton, Ox-Chamberlain

Dean Wikins 16/1 : Amazing odds given that he's still in charge of 1st team affairs for this Saturday...worth a punt I would say.

Might be worthy of note - on Tuesday I saw Hammond have a massive rant at Fonte after their 2nd goal went in. Fonte was not happy and squared up to Hammond but then calmed down. It was over in a flash, however it stayed with me because I've rarely seen Hammond have a go like that since he was made Captain.

You've raised some good points there Yorkie as usual. I made a post a day or two ago debating that there are essentially two type of team in any respective division... a. the team that is made up of more expensive players that are individually classed as top players for the division they are in, but for some reason these teams sometimes underachieve. The team is put together with the intention of keeping most players together for the next league up. (Saints now). b. the team that is made up of lesser talent, but have a charasmatic Manager who tells them they're the dog's B's - they believe him because he gets them playing as a unit to their strengths (weaknesses) - no pretences - no fancy stuff, just hard grit and determination. They tend to punch above their weight and win some surprising games, but also live a bit on the edge. (Saints in the Prem under Strachan). Actually there is a third type in the Prem - the teams that have money and a combination of the above two types....e.g. Man U, Chelski, Arsenal and Spurs.

Will you be charging a £3 handling fee? If not it can't be good enough so for that reason, I'm out.

Fixed it for you. (;

Mmm, have just read Gross' bio and it does show him to be more competent than I thought him to be. He must be in with a shout assuming he's applied.

Benjii - that's good!

Well, I guess there's no concrete evidence as such, but it does seem somewhat reminiscent of tail wagging dog. Also, with this many 'policemen' at Staplewood I would imagine there were plenty of 'unofficial reports' getting back to NC. I do hope our new manager is built of sterner stuff and is whiter than white.

TBF it's not my article and I was not suggesting I would not want him here. He is a good manager, but is he the RIGHT manager? The key though is what you mean by "US". If that means the fans, then yes he's the right choice because he's a big name (but that doesn't guarantee mid to long-term success at Saints). If you mean the club as whole then perhaps there's a question to be asked - i.e. would he be right for NC and also the players or would it be another crash waiting to happen, thus not providing the stability that this club desperately needs?

We will lose. It is inevitable.

Before anyone creams themselves over MO'N, I suggest they read this... http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2010/08/10/2063739/aston-villa-players-celebrate-martin-oneills-exit-by-texting Puts things a little bit more into perspective and I am not so sure he would be good for the team at this moment in time particularly.

Before anyone creams themselves over MO'N, I suggest they read this... http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2010/08/10/2063739/aston-villa-players-celebrate-martin-oneills-exit-by-texting Puts things a little bit more into perspective and I am not so sure he would be good for the team at this moment in time particularly.

I will wonder whether he will make it to Xmas, but that will be true of any appointment now. However, I don't think there's a cat in hells chance of him coming to us - even if we were in the nPC he wouldn't because he knows (in fact most managers will now know) what comes with the territory....i.e. a lot of grief and intervention for a not very attractive salary over three years (although the bonuses for promotion might be very attractive I s'pose). It will be Howe or Zola IMO, although Howe could well be a disaster waiting to happen (for both parties).

Mmm, bit pointless possibly. Mind you, if on hols abroad and at wi-fi point it might come in handy at some point. And it's free so no loss.

Would this work with an i-Touch? It's got wi-fi so it could update that way I s'pose? Would there be any point?

Quite a nice little empire that one for a L1 club don't you think? Now in my simple view of the world, the development arm of a football club is a supplier to the 1st team squad. Providing any part of that organisation with the ability to influence the 1st team in any shape or form is at best counter productive and at worst fately disruptive. I am not surprised if AP had words if his position was becoming untenable due to unwanted interference in team selection.

Absolutely. My feelings are that Mr Wilkins is still at Saints because he didn't offer to follow AP out the door and NC therefore gave him the job of holding things together - i.e. he is in NC's pocket. The story about a Martin is another indication. The start handed to Guly is another. Case closed.

Howe has done some good stuff at Cherries, but it's too early for him to take Saints through the leagues to the Prem - he wouldn't handle the pressure IMO and it could ruin his career if he's sacked by Xmas because we're not in the top 6.

I would imagine it will be a foreign coach - someone who is used to working under a DoF type system. Zola stands out as a candidate for this reason alone, but add to this that he is friendly with NC and I think we have a strong contender.

Be careful what you wish for. I don't agree with AP's departure - not one bit - however the plain truth is, Markus saving us was frankly almost a miracle given the other options that were available and within that package came NC. And let's not forget that it was NC that suggested us to Markus, so in one regard HE saved us from disaster. We may not agree with everything going on right now and yes we're stinging a bit from recent events, however it could get a lot worse if NC were to decide he no longer wished to be the guardian and enactor of Markus' dream.

Completely agree - we could do a LOT worse than Zola TBF.

Anus. Errr, sorry I meant annus. Errr.