Legod Third Coming

There is no other implication possible. We should have an alternative formation = the manager does not understand tactics as well as he should.

Bourbon. The site can now be closed for good.

No, say we had started with 4-4-2 and then not won a game? Then what would our esteemed Jonahs be moaning about? Answer - they would be calling for the manager's head. Especially as most expressed the opinion he was underperforming for the first nine games... and now are clutching at straws to prove their point.

Yeah, cos last time I checked a formation didn't score for anyone.

For years we have rightly (and sometimes wrongly) criticised managers for failure to deliver results. Finally we get a manager who starts to deliver results, and STILL some criticise. Well, that's poor, very very poor. When managers do badly, criticise and correct, when they do well prasie them for doing well. That's how it has to work to be fair. Yes, there are people who think they know better. They might be right. But if we had played 4-4-2 for the last five games we might have lost them all. You have no idea. So to Champion it as a way forward is laughable when we are winning regularly playing an alternative but totally flexibile system. It just makes you sound like a stuck record.

13 points from 18 says we don't have any problems with our current formation but some people are hell bent on criticising and glory in it. It's not their fault, it's the product of the Lowe years. We can discuss it all we want. The reality is we are winning matches under a manager who has proven a number of posters wrong. Funny how they're the ones predominantly advocating their own views over the manager's...

if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Do you think Manchester United considered their draw at Sunderland a good result? No. Nor was this. The manager agrees with me thank God. Otherwise we will be losers forever and a day.

Can we have an option that says the manager is better placed than some Luddites stuck in the 70s to decide our formation? Or would that offend all our Mike Basset community...

Two points droppped. We should be winning these games. Anything else is underperforming. To be fair, underperforming away from home and drawing is not a disaster. However, we missed a golden chance to reduce the play-off deficit to 10 points. It's now twelve, with one game less to play. Let's hope this is the last draw this season. Victories only from now on chaps.

Imagine a 5-10% payment into a fund from current footballer salaries to pay for those less fortunate that themselves... Surely that's the role of the PFA?

Does the club not have: a) an official historian. If not, it should. It might be an unpaid role, mind... b) a PR manager whose job encompasses working with the above? The first one Duncan should be you. I am not being sycophantic. I have read your books, they are excellent and have pride of place in my collection. With respect you are a better writer/historian than you are a poster... The second is a job I can't believe NC doesn't value and I think, Duncan, you should be more pro-active in contacting NC and offering your services. Never mind what else you have to do, this is more important!!

My point Phil, which was subverted as usual by 'you know who', is that we should show what we know as 'Christian values' given that we were a Church of England team... Those values of charity and forgiveness (which frankly could be ascribed to any faith) are sadly lacking among some of our fans. That was my only point, not to enter some nit-picking religious argument, since I don't believe in any of the propoganda Gods currently being peddled.

I didn't suggest Muslim fundamentalism was remotely wrong. I just doubt that they show many Christian values. Don't you??

I prefer the last four game league table. On that basis we will earn another - 96 points. We will therefore finish on 107 points. That will do me, thanks.

I agree there are more deserving people Phil and they also have my support. But of those how many: 1) won us the FA Cup 2) put their hands into their own pocket to a substantial level to keep us afloat? I detest the t055pots on here who slate people who are the fabric of this club from afar, often without going near the ground and with a fraction of the commitment to SFC. People like Lawrie and Leon should be welcomed with open arms at our club. We are called Saints, named after a church and show all the Christian values sometimes of a Muslim fundamentalist... Well people need to adopt a more tolerant demeanour. Otherwise success will ill become us.

If others will, I will chip into a whip round to pay for both of these fellas' tickets. They deserve it. End of.

Only losers assume losing is inevitable John. If Lighting Bolt was running in the local athletic events around here, who would expect him to lose?? Exactly. We are too good for this league. We must play like it. Dominate like it and then half our opponents will beat themselves. I know Saints struggle with this concept, but until we shake off our 'losing culture' we will lose. That Southampton should be dead. Long live the new Southampton!!!!

Our only enemy is complacency. Both on the pitch and in the stands. Guard against it.

To clarify, I meant this season!!!

Can you name those who don't?? Personally, I always find it sad but entirely predictable that it takes three points for some people to get excited. I was delirious to have a team to support and have been enjoying every second since the start of the season. I don't begrudge those who stayed away while we weren't winning, but they cannot enjoy it half as much as those of us who have been there throughout.

That is tautology. One objective is required all season: Win the next game.

Why budget/plan to not win 8 games?? Win them all - that must be the aim. We are the Chelsea of this league - we must start to think about winning EVERY game. We have lost three already, that's enough for one season.

There is only one objective. Win the next game. That is all.

There are countless examples of managers arriving at clubs, seeing an instant impact on results, and then that impact tailing off over time and results reverting to type. You cannot say that 9 points in 9 games was damaging unless Pardew started the season with the current team in place. He didn't, he had to assmble that team. Therefore your only criticism must be that he did not assemble the players quickly enough. Well, my view is this: how was he supposed to know what to assemble without evidence?? For years we built up a bloated squad (about 13 midfielders under Burley) fixing things that weren't broke, breaking things that were fixed, because managers had not taken (were not given) sufficient time or resources to put together the right squad. Your assertion that this should have happened sooner is fine, that's your view. Personally, I would rather Pardew took the requisite amount of time and got it right. It looks to me like he's got it right. If we go the rest of the season unbeaten and are promoted, those 9 games are the price you had to pay to get it right. You can't have success without putting in the effort. I think you seriously underestimate the amount of work Pardew had to do with our team. Don't believe me,? Check the opening day line-up and the one that actually won the last four games...