Saint Fan CaM

Just wondering whether we will see him in a Saints shirt again if he's now busy trying to make it as a TV personality. Perhaps the injury was worse than we've been led to believe?

That's pretty spectacular by L1 standards really. Thanks to Markus and NC for supporting AP to the hilt.

We had our 2nd bid accepted, however Danns did not accept his terms offered by the club and NC would not budge. Pity, but it's good to see we're standing tall and tough when it comes to player negotiations. Players need to WANT to come here for all the right reasons, not just to pick up a fat pay packet. His loss.

Congratulations Alpine. Don't know you personally, but congrats to you and yours from a fellow Saints supporter. RE the OP and AP: Based on what I have seen of NC and his pro outlook on the running of the business, I think AP will be given a good chance to succeed even if we don't make auto's next season, providing it is clear we are (a) improving and (b) there were good reasons for not performing better...e.g. like a massive injury list. I think AP is probably the best manager match this club could possibly have and I will not be best pleased if he leaves before the 5 year plan has been delivered.

Surely we have cause to complain to the FA anyway as Poopey have a squad they just cannot afford which makes a mockery of the rules AND provides them with an unfair competetive advantage?

Bit of a leap of faith saying it's Markus' money surely!?

This is fairly recent - sorry if it's been put up already...not seen it. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12874_5903676,00.html Looks like Warnock (I detest that guy) is boo-hooing about Saints putting in an offer and their Administrator taking the money. Frankly, he'll not be able to influence the deal if it's to be done as the money will talk in this case. So it looks to me like there's still some legs in the Danns transfer - could still be on for a last minute signing. And that would mean that we would see Punch out on the left most of the time - a perfect compliment to Antonio on the right...oppo defences will be completely battered!

Do we enjoy our football at our football club? Are we glad we have a club that is now well run and able to support the Manager (a proper Manager)? Of course we do and that surely in itself is positive. We may all have different views on how the team should be selected, the tactics, have a view on our chances of reaching the playoffs etc. That's banter and that's part of footie - it's not negative. Calling someone a numpty or whatever on here for holding a view - now that's negative. So to answer the OP, I don't think there are actually too many negative posters on here atall. Can't really think of anyone who thinks we will be relegated this season. Is there ANYONE who actually now believes this?!

Antonio is a no-brainer yes...he's got better since he arrived and will continue to grow, he's settled here now getting a good number of starts, he's taking his chance and playing well and he's free in the summer. Cannot see AP sending him packing now. Waigo is a bit of a strange one. He's worth between £2m-£4m supposedly on paper and he does have skill and pace. On balance he provides something different to any other striker and he is a striker...not a winger. I think if he wants to stay he will get a contract but only if we go up and so can justify the fee.

He may be irreplaceable in the sense we have no other target man like him, however with Waigo, Barnard and Connolly on call, not to mention Lallana, Antonio AND now Puncheon, I think that our goal threat would not be seriously under threat if Rickie was out for a spell. Might even be better if we were at full strength in the midfield. As a last thought, I would suggest you check out who has scored the goals in the last 10 games...I think you will see that Rickie is far from the only goal scorer.

That is a very harsh assessment - he made a decent contribution. However, he will be understudy to Puncheon as soon as he's available.

Danns looked really good in their match tonight on the box. Better than Stock by some margin I would say.

Ticket on its way. I'm there already and can't wait. This is win-win for us even if we lose. It will be a brilliant day and one of stellar proportions if we win.

As said many times already a fantastic signing - just watch what this boy brings to the team play regardless of where he plays. Same mould as Antonio but a cut above. I think we'll see the following team in future with many 442 or 451 options to interchange depending on the opposition etc... Davis/Bart Murty/Semi Jaidi/Thomas Fonte/Seaborne Harding/Fish Antonio/Waigo Spiderman/Lallana Hammond/James Punch/Holmes Lambo Bernie/Connolly Fantastic squad to be fair, with many (if not all) good for the CCC. Reserves to make the subs bench?: Wotton, Gillet, Perry, Pulis (only joking!)

I think it was said that he can play a number positions. This seems to be a bit of a recurring theme for AP's players. So perhaps we'll see him at cm.

Unveiling at SMS tomorrow?? (Pleeeeze)

To answer Dunes assertion above, I disagree. The Kingsland has too many ST holders to displace and also, the access for away supporters would not work - far better to contain them in the Chapel / corner. So for me blocks 18-24 would be the ideal solution. With the disabled seating areas breaking up the stand, I do not think Northam peeps would want to relocate to the Chapel. Far, far better to create a kop end in the Northam - blimey, I might even consider moving there myself from the Kingsland if they were to do that...upper block 44 right behind the disabled area would be pretty cool view-wise.

Fantastic signing if true. He can play in a number of positions, so I could almost see him sitting next to Hammond or Morgan as CAM. He is another player that could go all the way with us - close to Prem standard easy.

I would counter the OP by saying why do we need to stick with one system?!?!? 4-5-1 should be played when we wish to dominate midfield. When we wish to play both Lallana and Waigo, because they compliment each other (more 4-3-3 really). However, the tendency is to hoof to Lambert when this system is played. 4-4-2 is better understood IMO and brings a different option based on the opposition, the type of pitch and a myriad of other reasons. In short, it's better to have both options, but retain consistency of the team sheet when playing those respective options.

Excellent post. It is now extremely urgent to bring in 1-2 new PROPER midfielders, one of whom can partner Hammond consistently and provide an engine that will deliver to the strikers/wingers. Schneiderlin is not that player - if anything he should be understudy to Hammond. James is OK and getting better, however he does not have a top footballing brain or pace to really get an attack moving fast through central midfield. We nearly always seem to go hoof to Lambo or wide to the wings (but then rarely get to the byline).

Exactly correct. Waigo is similar to Lallana and in a 4-5-1 they compliment each other's play and it works. If we play 4-4-2 then both of them should not be picked IMO.

Well if you can't find the heart to truly be proud that we've got a Chairman of NC's calibre then I honestly don't think you've got the best interests of Saints at heart either. That statement is a very well intentioned and detailed account of NC's position. Not only that, he has taken the trouble to make it clear that he is a football man himself - not just a money man (or penpusher!). I think a huge debt of gratitude is owed to NC by every Saints supporter, if not the entire population of Southampton - because he has saved the club and is slowly but surely putting Southampton back on the map. I am convinced that within 5-10 years we will see a remarkable transformation of the club - one that will see us back at the top table of English football.

Dealing in the facts, it will be a sad day when NC decides he's had enough - he has started a fine project to re-build SFC and I for one truly hope he sees it through to the end. I fail to see how the Echo can claim to 'support' the club, yet cannot even censor itself such that stories that do nothing other than stir up tittle-tattle do not see print. It shows a remarkable contradiction, a lack of self-restraint and serves only to alienate the readership it's supposedly trying to attract.

The reason for this problem lies simply with the midfield. They let the opposition rule the roost for long periods by sitting too deep and eventually the team cracks under the pressure. I have seen this happen time after time after time and its still not been addressed. Why? Because the central midfield pairing has never been addressed by appointing two top midfield generals - one a playmaker, the other a holding play-breaker. A pairing something along the lines of Safri and Quashie perhaps would dominate midfield AND put in a decent shift defensively. Our midfielders are currently too niave (Morgan), too unskilled in terms of holding and playing the ball to feet (Wotton) and too scarred to take responsibility (all) - so they sit back and allow the opposition to dictate the play. A decent midfield would be.... Antonio ?New Signing (Playmaker) Hammond Holmes with up front.... Lambo/Lallana/Connolly/Herbie

The trouble is it's not Morgan himself exactly, although he is quite inconsistent - it's the manner in which he operates alongside his central midfield partner. For example, if he is playing with Wotton who is your meat and potatoes play-breaker, he always seems to play in a similar style. Morgan is no play-maker - he just ain't good enough. And when the chips are down and we need someone to take the fight to them - to be a midfield general type, we see him back-pedalling too deep because he doesn't have the balls, the confidence and/or the skill. Just how many goals has he scored? For a supposed attacking midfielder he is a disaster and I actually rate James higher than him at the moment. He may be one for the future when in the CCC or Prem, but for this league he is not the right type of player IMO. He is costing us games and we need to find someone to replace him as a regular in the side PDQ to stand a chance in any of the competitions. Perhaps James is that player?