Saint Fan CaM

Saints player will not work for me...waste of money.

Sounds like the lads have lost their way a bit.

I have to say, I really detest the Solent commentary.

Hammond in - gotta be good.

COYSaints! This will be the next big hurdle - getting out the rele-zone. We will march on.

He could get a job with the blue few down the road I suspect.

Mmm, think we are due to lose as I didn't start the match build-up thread! Seriously though, this is a tough one to call as we may be missing a couple of key players and in particular Hammond. Having said that if the 3000 Saints supporters don't intimidate the locals I will be surprised and for that reason I will say Orient 1 Saints 2. COYS!

The bitr I loved was... Exterior: Yes Water proof: No lol

Very sensible post. There's a lot of football to be played yet and like the CCC any team can beat any other team. Not only that, but let's face it we're not out of the relegation zone yet - one or two loses and all of a sudden we might look in danger again VERY quickly. Be happy we're looking better and safer now, but let's not get carried away until we're at least mid-table.

Don't see the attraction of having a couple 1,000 Liverpool fans at SMS to be honest.

Yes, I can see the attraction in this. ST holders of at least 3 seasons get a free 1st team shirt signed by the squad - ST holders for two seasons or less get a scarf and all others coming through the gate on Boxing Day get a Yorkie. Make it so.

I think he is getting better and he definately has something to offer in attacks. However, it is noticeable that many of our opponents seem to target our left back position when attacking more often than the other side and I think this is because THEY see it (the lack of pace and strong tackle) as a weakness.

A. Trotman and Antonio made permanent. If only that happened I would be happy. If we could get another RB with Murty as cover and a LB to cover for Harding that would be good. Otherwise we are sorted until the CCC beckons as Perry and Thomas can cover across the back. Also need a new decent understudy to Kelv D. B. Get shot of Saga, Pulis, Molyneaux, Gillet, Forecast, Bart.

To answer the OP, the Leon/Lawrie box is no longer there. The Fullers Group box is not longer held by the company, however occasional purchase of a box will continue (as per the MK Dons game). To the best of my knowledge Leon no longer attends games regularly. I think it is best remembered that Leon had built a long association with the club and invested in many areas to assist in its general well-being. After administration and ML's purchase clearly that investment came to an abrupt end (not only in shares, but other varied interests including a large amount of his own time). That loss is something few on here will be able to comprehend I suspect, however we should try to show a little respect for Leon and all he did to help the club. Incidentally, the boxes cost in the region of £1400 per game (10 persons) now I believe. And yet the package is somewhat different this season - gone are the free spirits, the crisps/nuts on the table, the half-time sarnies and the hot snacks/cakes at full-time. The service is still very good and the food is pretty good too. You can have Guiness, but only from a can. HTH.

Bloody Connolly - he cost me £35 today scoring that goal (had £5 on 2-1). Never mind, it was worth it to see another point on Saints GD.

Fantastic result - so proud to be a Saints supporter again. The whole team were on top form with perhaps the exception of Papa who somehow forgot the rules of the game for 45 minutes. I just wonder how long it is going to take to wake up and realise this is all a bit of dream and we're still being managed by a couple of Dutch goons. AP and his backroom team are the REAL DEAL.

I think AP might actually go with the 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation again as a precaution. As much as I want to see Connolly up front with Lambert, I still think he will come off the bench. (PS: Connolly is scoring great for me on FIFA08 in CCC at the moment alongside Lopez - about to be promoted as champs).

I have no problem with him being discussed on Saints Web if that is your 'bag', however I do think a seperate forum for all Lowe era threads would be appropriate now actually. His time/era ended with administration and disgrace, so personally I don't want to see his name tarnish the main forum (which largely discusses our bright future the likes of which Lowe could only dream of, despite the Stadium and Cup run - yawn).

You'll have to be on your best behaviour mate - the missus will be in the car with us! See you later - hopefully not too wet.

Blimey - still no build up thread to post on! Oh well, I'll do the duties again. Really looking forward to this one - mainly to see if we can mix it with another in-form team and come away convincing winners. I'm feeling either 2-1 Saints or perhaps 2-2 (prediction league score is 2-1). Would love us to hammer the Dons 4 or 5 nil though. COYS!

I am astounded that Lowe is still getting airplay on this forum frankly. He has been banished from the club we all love to the wilderness and that's how it should be on here. He never represented the football of this club IMO and so if anyone feels the need to talk about him, can this not be done in another forum slot? I just don't want to see his name or anything about him posted on the main board - it just lowers the whole tone and positivity by several notches.

Such sad news - huge lump in me throat - best wishes Big Ron...you'll always be one of my boyhood heroes. RIP Chris. I echo all those who would love to welcome Ron home to SMS...for one game or for the rest of his life. There's more than enough love and goodwill here for him to last him two lifetimes. I'm sure there would be few dry eyes left in the stadium to see him alongside Markus and the whole ground singing "There's only one Big Ron Davies".

It starts with respect and that is earnt. The players know who Pardew is and where he's come from...he had earnt respect in the industry before he came to Saints. He had not come from the backroom (e.g. Wigley etc), so did not have that cross to bear. The next thing is that AP has switched the side around such that there is a bias of HIS players in the team - it is the classic managerial ploy to bring in your own players because these guys will not be tainted with old principles, especially if those old ways failed. If the new guys are for you, the best of what's left of the old guys will also be on your side. Lastly, it is essential that the Manager has the support of his superior. If there is a hint of being undermined, then the whole respect system comes tumbling down. I feel certain that AP has the full support of Nicola and Markus. Everything in the manner in which the club is now run tells me the managerial set-up is far, far more healthy than in the previous regime. (PS: Good OP - good discussion - lol at the cross-over attempt to religion again!).

Not quite true. He may have hung up his boots, but he still has an eye on the game since signing up as presenter on SSN one could argue.

In terms of the Wotton versus Schneiderlin debate, the essentials might be summed up as... Wotton : Provides solid, no-nonsense defensive duty and breaks oppo play up, but offers less in the way of positive, attractive offensive play. Schneiderlin : Provides a degree of defensive duty alongside positive, accurate passing, but is not a threatening physical presence and tends to go in for rash challenges due to his lesser experience. With Connolly up front, whose attributes would servce the team more? It's a real dilemna because both of them offer benefits. Perhaps its a case of who would complement Hammond more? Incidentally, my take on the undercurrent to AP's recent comments are that he is readying Connolly for 4-4-2 action possibly at home. Lastly, is it easier for us to go from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 or vice versa do you think?