Saint Fan CaM

Nice to meet you this evening Sir - I concur with your overview. Are you going to tell them about your chat with AP?

You've got one back - will be going, but your phone number was wrong.

I think I am worse. When travelling east on the M27 and I get some horrible little chav in a beat up fiesta (or whatever) tail-gating me or generally driving like a tw*t, I instantly consider that person to be of P*mpey stock and let forth a torrent of abuse. Can you refer your doctor to me please?!

Err- whats the ground like? Is it under cover? The weather looks like being a bit sh*te. Depends - I might consider the journey (and offering a lift) if getting drenched is not involved!

TBH, I completely agree with the sentiments of this post. Now is the time to start showing some true worth.

I think this is the key point of your post TBH. Why should we not expect a win? Let's face it, AP has had enough time with the squad (even Jaidi) now not to be able to use the 'gel theory'. You might expect most of this team to compete in the CCC surely, so why not run all over lowly Yeovil? This Saturday the excuses must stop - I fully expect a win and I see no reason why I should not do so. In fact, I urge ALL Saints fans at the game to expect a win and support the team with that in mind - perhaps a strong positive vibe might have an effect, who knows???

I understand what you're trying to say there, but to be fair Delap was of a higher standard in relation to the Prem than Pulis is to L1. I am not exaggerating atall when I say Pulis would find his level in a Sunday league team. He really is THAT level. Mind you the sentiments are the same for both these players. When we were in the Prem, Delap was a player that was below the standard we SHOULD have been aspiring to given the heights we started to achieve under Strachan. He should have been replaced with someone better. He was not and continued to be selected. This was repeated with too many other players in the squad and consequently the 1st team as a whole performed at a standard that was always going to fail to stay up - failure was pre-determined by lack of investment in the playing side. In the CCC, the same happened again - instead of signing players that would grace teams at the top of the table we started signing players like Pulis. What happened next was inevitable once again. Thankfully, the decline appears to have been arrested although thanks to our really lowly position on negative points, I suspect its been tough for AP to get the players he needs.

+1...

Err, I have seen Pulis play and I can honestly say he is one of the worst players to ever pull on a Saints shirt - useless is a word invented for him. Molyneux I am not so sure about actually - I think he could do an emergency job for us. Wotton is just not good enough and we have too many CM options to need him anyway. His wage could be put to MUCH better use.

It is a good question and one I am not wholly able to answer. Mainly because AP was quoted as opposed to being interviewed. My take on what was said, based on the context of the piece, was that it was financial constraints. Why would he not want a larger squad, when we're hardly bursting at the seams with talent?! I think it basically stems back to the comments from Markus and Nicola saying that the club would be run as 'self-sufficient' - i.e. we've reached the wage ceiling. Now if true, I actually find this a little remarkable given we've offloaded Rasiak and his supposed salary, not to mention quite a significant number of others out the door too. Looks like Papa and Jaidi better be the answer to our prayers, because if not AP could find himself up a creek without a paddle.

Solent reported this morning that AP has said the club will not be bringing in anymore players unless squad players exit. So - if you could chose three pro players to move on out of the club, who would it be? Just three mind . Mine would be - Wotton; Pulis; Forecast.

You've made a very important point - at the moment we're lagging behind and that is compounded every week the three team above us pick-up points. We need to start winning those three points soon or we will simply run out of time. Sure there's no need to lose sleep right now, but we must be mindful that it could become critical much more early in the season than in previous seasons. I want to see us safe come Jan/Feb. time - that has to be the minimum target in my mind. I do believe the turn about will come this Saturday though. Yeovil should be no match for our team and if they are, something is very, very wrong.

The stats on Lamberts goal assists are interesting as they appear to mostly come from central midfielders suggesting that he likes the ball played to his feet rather than from aerial crosses. What that means to me is that Hammond and Schneiderlin/Lallana are probably our best CM pair options (at the moment). Also, Lallana is not really a winger, so why play him there? I would have him at starting at CM alongside Hammond. Get Papa and Mills or Papa and Holmes on the wings for pace.

Perfect summary for Lallana IMO. He presents AP with a bit of a dilemna frankly. However, I have to say that he showed some foresight to judge when to get on the ball for his goal on Saturday. That's the mark of a good player TBF - he is making it hard NOT to pick him, which can only mean good things for Saints in my book.

AP is not messing about then - no Saga or Wotton in todays squad. Wotton is a no-brainer (ha!) but Saga is a bit of a shocker - the guy clearly doesn't want to be here.

With Jaidi and Papa in the team, I reckon we'll run away with a 2-1 loss...or maybe, just maybe, we might actually let Charlton have the wrath of our administration and **** 'em 1-3 - it could happen...why? Because we're The Saints! COYS!

I think Vokes would be a very good loan move - I feel sure he would work his socks off for Saints.

I think the OP has a very valid point - we play rubbish when Saints kick off the 1st half right to left and I'm sat in the Kingsland. However, when I sit in the Itchen and they're kicking off left to right the team seem to play that much better. HTH.

And Pulis at RB ?!?!?!?!? WTF ?!?!?

I am not so sure it's down to individual players as such now, although hitting the opposition on the break is not a phrase in Saints training manual I would suggest. My personal belief is that our problems stem from the type of players held. There are some that just don't compliment each other....there's a lack of balance. And this contributes to a lack of belief in the tactics and team.

As others have said, if this does nothing to unsettle Pardew then fine. I am frankly more concerned that the team is sorted out on the pitch and we start winning frankly. But I think it's important to recognise that ML and Nicola are trying to re-build this club properly and for a lasting future so that mistakes of the past are not made again. If true, I think this could be another inspired 'signing'.

But what do you really think? lol

Ouch!

Never started one of these, so hopefully the MODS will oblige and sticky it? Anyhow, really, really need to see a Saints win today and a convincing one too. Our time surely must be right now for a big push out of the negative pts zone and upwards. All the components are in place! Hope for a noisy and fun atmos from all stands today too - the team needs every minute of our support even if things are not looking rosy. Come on you Saints!!!! PS: contrary to previous reports, Papa Waigo will not be playing but will be revealed to the crowd 10 minutes before KO today.

Unfortunately Burleys reputation will precede him now. He'll be lucky to get a job in L2 or perhaps Poopey might take him on as Asst. Mgr.! Lol.