Saint Fan CaM

Nothing wrong atall in showing our support to AP. It's part and parcel of being a supporter of course and therefore should come naturally. Show us the way Northam.

Actually I thought it might be that the interviewer had dog's breath! He seemed to be closer to AP than usual (even got in the way of the camera a bit too much) and I got the slight impression that AP was trying to move away! Also wonder whether AP's black tie had something to do with the matter?

Punch is going to be a bit of a hero in time. He was superb yesterday, but then so were all the team...even the subs. Cannot think of one under-par performance TBH.

Massive game really - I think we'll win, but by how many? Mmm, could be 2-1. Same team I would think as there should be no knocks from Sats game - Walsall never got near us!!!

DEFINATELY not booing - it was "SHOOOT!". I really like Thomas - he takes absolutely no prisoners and if I was on the opposing team with him looking for blood it would put me off me game!

Agree with the OP - the old Marian tune would be a welcome return for the 17 shirt and it's easy to sing/remember etc. Make it so.

AP is undoubtably the best manager we've had since Strachan. He has forged not just a formidable CCC level side, he has repaired the coaching infrastructure also. He is producing exciting football where it counts primarily - at home games in front of the supporters that pay the money that keeps the club alive. He is bringing in players that our youngsters can identify with and hold as their heroes. The whole atmosphere at SMS has improved immensely and it is his work that is creating this. Part of this is his open and honest approach. He comes across very well indeed in interviews. I remember him mixing with supporters in the clubhouse at Salisbury in pre-season - very personable guy. (In terms of his interview yesterday, I wonder if his black tie might have some bearing on his mood?). Frankly, I don't even want to contemplate losing him at the end of 2010 - to even think this is accepting defeat and I would like to see him in place for many years aka Fergie. To be fair, we have no idea about NC's thoughts until the man himself tells us. All the rumour from so called ITK's about this just undermines the positivity we should ALL be feeling right now. All the stats have been stated already, so suffice to say AP is doing a great job and long may it continue.

I thought he was on-side and so did all the guys next to me.

Agreed with all that except MOTM - for me it was Barnie...not just for his goals but for his work rate defending from the front line - he put himself all over the park today and made a real difference. What was completely evident to me today was ... (a) we have some real quality coming off the bench in Waigo, Antonio and even Thomas, and (b) I think the team is starting to really find out about itself and crucially really starting to understand how to translate AP's tactics into game winning performances. If we don't make the play-offs this year we will storm next season. AP's interview? Could have been anything that got to him - a comment from an opposition staff member, a urgent phone call from his family...anything. Let's not speculate on something we've got no way of knowing anything about and spoiling what is a famous victory for the super Saints. COYR!

Don't agree - their free-kick to score was class. They could pass the ball when they could get hold of it. The difference was the class in a Saints side that hassled and harried all afternoon and didn't let them have any time on the ball. We were brilliant in all departments today.

I heard it and before the interview ended I said to the Mrs that I thought the interviewer sounded very amatuerish and negative. I dare say AP was reacting to what was a totally banal set of questions that it seemed nobody had given any proper thought to. Here is a manager who has just gained 7 from 9 possible points and two away games, has masterminded a 5-1 thrashing of a team with play-off place hopes and he gets a complete no-mark asking him stupid questions. Would try the patience of ...err... well, a Saint.

Jeez - I'm glad I've not got the same manic depressive tendencies some on here have got. If we win 14 games from our remaining 17 and do not reach the playoffs I will not give a monkeys because I will have enjoyed watching my team winning more games than losing with a trip to Wembley in the meantime. What more could a supporter wish for FFS?! I think we'll win today...probably 3-1.

I just hope that the players don't think in the way some of you so called supporters do. It's fine having an opinion, but come on...why worry about something that is out of our hands? Is anyone going to risk stability by booing AP to try to get him sacked if we don't get into the playoffs this season? My message to the OP and all the others contemplating AP's position is simple - do what you can to influence success now by supporting the team FFS. Don't think negatively - there's no reason for it - certainly not yet anyway!

Thanks for you comments Duncan. You know I echo your last thoughts in a way - I would perhaps be more tempted if there was more information about the club as a whole - pictures of Staplewood, behind the scenes in the kitchens, stuff about pitch maintenance, etc etc. It would be good to have a paragraph from each of the 1st team players on how they're doing in training, thoughts on last match etc. I think I may buy todays programme and provide everyone on here with a critical report of its contents etc. actually.

That's a great story- what a Grandad!!!

What's the betting Storyteller will be taking the opportunity to go on an extended overseas holiday before that happens?!

Hilarious. Dinnage was trying to find a question that might provide some small sliver of hope and yet the more he pushed, the more it became apparent that all he was going to get from Madj was doom and gloom. My favourite bit was when he was asked what it might take to sort out Pimpley and he said "a billionnaire, but that's highly unlikely". Sweet.

You know, that's what I find interesting actually - isn't it strange that we think of old programs as more 'interesting' and in a way more 'valuable', but of course that's because someone has taken the time to collect them! Sounds a bit obvious I suppose, but your comment struck a chord there - i.e. if someone doesn't collect them now, in 20, 30 or 40 years time there will be no old things for the youngsters to look back on. In some respects modern forms of communication, where we crave information immediately (like on here for example), perhaps tend to lead us to think history is being written for us so we don't bother recording it for ourselves. I'm reminded of digital photos (can you imagine life without them now!) - we must each take 100's more photos a year than 20 years ago and yet how many of those do we bother to go back and look at?! Soooo.... if it cost say £2, would anyone buy the program more if it were downloadable from the OS the day before the game? Or does that defeat the whole object of owning it - i.e. it's the paper in your hands that counts? Even then I'm still not sure I would to be honest. Bit surprised FF has not made a comment yet - this kind of thing must be right up his street I would have thought and I would have valued his comments as a historian type fellow.

Latest offering explained here... http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~1978599,00.html But... do you buy them? I have on occasion in the past, but then they tend to just lie around at home gathering dust until Mrs.CaM decides a clear-out is in order. Is there too much advertising to make them a worthy read? Is the information any different to what you can glean from the OS, Saintsplayer or on the forum? I guess there must be some fans who have collected them for years? If so, how many do you have/what years etc? I would buy one if it was a really special game I suppose (whatever that may be), but nowadays it's not £3 I need to spend. Am I missing out on something?

Yeah I agree with the burgers from Adams Park - they were surprisingly good with cheese and bacon. The portion of chips wasn't bad either - I had two comments from lads on the way in that the pile of chips I was balancing was generous. I was really pleased the security guy took pity on my balancing act and decided not to search me!

Agree with you there - bit of a missed trick really to lose the Flybe early, but then there are other shirts in the store I s'pose.

Is that all?!?!

I guess they could say you could have pulled those tickets out of the bins around SMS and collected them up. I wouldn't say that of course, but they might. On the other hand, you could try offering someone in the ticket office a BJ - might work, although there might be a queue. Failing the above, e-mail David Luker directly and ask nicely. Say you'll send the tickets in as proof of purchase. Contact details are on the OS.

Now that's what I'm talking about .... BJ's all round. Err, sorry I mean I agree with you...stability...ahem.

Sounds good. Trouble with your arguement is unless you give a manager time, how will you know? We've LEARNT from Lowe's managerial efforts that sacking before time will achieve nothing unless you've made an obvious howler in your choice in the first place (and I don't think anyone could seriously claim AP is a howler of a choice). NC has to have the courage of his convictions and stick with HIS 5 year plan. Our best players will stick with the club - why? - because they'll be playing on the Worlds biggest stage at the end of March in front of potentially millions (via TV), wearing the Saints colours and they're doing that because they have bought into NC's 5 year plan. Dis-assemble that plan and NC will start to lose his own credibility just as Lowe did. Not only that, but I would lay odds that if AP was sacked at the end of this season (along with his staff), we would not get promotion next season on the back of it. Without a shadow of doubt in my mind, NC has to stick with AP unless we reach a point next season where we cannot get promotion.