Saint Fan CaM

There is something wrong with him - he is not trying because of lost spirit or because he's still carrying an injury. Adkins needs to get inside his head and sort it out. I did wonder for a fleeting moment whether he was one of Pardews 'inner circle' drinking buddies and when AP/friends got busted RL got a dressing down but they couldn't afford losing him from the team. His whole demeanour is night and day different to last season IMO.

There...fixed it for you!

I understand the frustration. The never-ending churn of managers...the unfulfilled expectations, season after season (except last season, which was actually pretty good in comparison). We'll never really know the reasons why - they could be more complex than we think. Trouble is, boycotting at this time is going to do what? It's going to reduce the income to the club sure, but if many did it there would be less support for the team (assuming you make a noise) and that would potentially enhance the adverse results. Boycotting is a lose-lose strategy right now IMO.

Cheers Guvnor. (:

Fixed.

Look at his contribution SINCE that game. Scored how many? He needs time to sort himself out.

Lallana and Barnie. The rest of them leave me wanting more. Even Lambert this season so far - he's been a massive disappointment.

You have hit the nail on the head there mate - bang on centre. Lambert should be dropped, but will Adkins have the bullox to do it?

Needs a shake up - so team I would like to see start would be... -------- Davis Butters Fonte Martin Harding Ox-C Guly Spiderman Dickson --- Barnie Connolly Subs: Bart, Wotton, Puncheon, Hammond, Lambo, Seaborne, Jaidi

Simple fact is our squad has been weakened over the summer, whereas other teams that were there or thereabouts last season have all strengthened under a consistent Manager in the main. Same old story - poor sorry Saints don't come up with the goods when they're needed...sell out rather than improve.

In Prem it was often said of our team under Lowe's reign - "if you pay peanuts expect to get monkeys". Now I wonder whether it's more appropriate to say "if you pay monkeys a lot of money you're still left with monkeys". That's what it seems to me - let's face it Adkins got Scunny promoted with supposedly lesser players - AP assembled a bunch of supposedly top players for this league and now he's gone, well they've just lost interest now. Adkins has got a massive job turning this around...possibly needs 5-6 new players to go straight into the 1st team to sort things out. Of course that's not going to happen, so the task looks pretty much impossible and destined to fail. Gutting.

Not entirely convinced with the preparation thing. Do agree with the bench options though and I also think that the rest of the first team might react in a negative way just to the fact that these guys were not re-signed or replaced - i.e. "where's the ambition gone?".

Are you suggesting that Wilkins has spoiled the team Art? Perhaps not deliberately, but in a "too many cooks spoil the broth" type of way.

Yep, 0-4 under Pardew and no goals since. Speaks for itself IMO and for once I am in agreement with Alpine. What I am not so sure about is why that is so. Is it because AP was the glue that held the team together or is it something else, like AP had the presence to keep other members of staff at bay and away from the 1st team (i.e. Reed). Or something else???

Mmm, said stuff that I've heard a thousand times before. Not that I don't believe he's saying what he feels is right - it's just that there's only so much deja vu one can take. Someone iterated my fears on the match thread by suggesting AP was the glue that held this team together and I am not convinced that NA is made of the same sticky stuff AP had. And that means he needs to take this team apart and start from scratch when we don't really have enough time for that IF this season is going to be a success. The deja vu will be complete when we're struggling against the tide come Xmas and NA is replaced because NC's patience runs out (or Reed has a little word in NC's ear).

Is anyone else feeling deja vu from the Lowe days in the CCC? It really is starting to feel like it's all happening again - lots of effort and focus on the youth and academy and no-where near enough investment in ensuring there is consistency and quality in the first team. NC may swear blind that the first team manager is getting no interference, however I do wonder who has NC's ear - for example when it comes to whether to bring new players in (or not). What I do know is that something is wrong - something has changed - and it seems to be too much of a co-incidence that the rot seems to have set-in since Reed stepped through the Staplewood door.

Jeeezzz. How the hell can it get so bad so quickly FFS? Incredibly bad performances and there is no way anyone can call our team the best in L1 now...

What a load of bowlocks - this team has completely been ruined by something or other. Surely Lallana is not the glue that held the side together??? FFS.

Fonte AND Puncheon are both playing rubbish it seems.

A very good point.

A very good point.

Oh FOOOKKKK!!!

Yes.

Puncheon playing like a freaking twerp again.

Mills onto left. Chamberlains up front.