MarkSFC

Golac by an absolute country mile!!!!!!

If it makes you feel better then yes I agree with you stating the bleedin' obvious! Keep the inciteful comments coming cos without them we wouldn't know what to think!!

Forgot Lambert was injured so would be interesting to see Guly and Barnard! I think Martin is far better than Seaborne and will develop quickly. Don't think Adkins doesn't rate him, he got injured and Adkins stuck with Seaborne for consistancy.

I like him, particularly his sense of urgency. Very few players seem to have his desire to get on with things. He is talented has a great touch and tries to make things happen. As with his type of player when things aren't going for you you look worse than other more "boring, less skillfull, do the basics well" type of player but when it is going well that's why they get more money! Puncheon needs to have more of a "result" to his play more often, i.e. that defence splitting ball or even a goal!

Stupid comment....they all are until we go up

I think NA may well stick with Seaborne because he adds a bit of balance being left footed but I hope not. Although he's done ok lately I think his weakness was shown last week (from the radio comentary) that he is nor great under pressure, both in the importance of the game and also when put under physical pressure especially when attempting to pass out from the back on the desk. I would question his speed of thought and decision making. At home he gets more time so may get the nod but I would go for Martin. My starting XI would be; Davis butts. Fonte. Martin. Harding Lallana. Morgan. Chaplow Punch Guly. Lambert

Never said I liked him. Bad memories!! Against us though never saw anyone rip us apart as often.

That was a great game, Rooney was a fascination...it was a case of is he as good as they're saying? Of course he was!! Ian Wright was always unplayable against us but not the best. The best for me was Zola, Dalglish, Rush, Gazza to name a few. In the red and white, Steve Williams was great, Shilton just awesome, Moran just a brilliant goalscorer, Keegan was an idol, David Armstrong was brilliant, but fairly obviously LeTiss was better than all the above. I bought my season tickets just to watch him.

Imagine our left side of Bridgey and Bale?!!!!

and I've commented on the goalscoring!! Whatever has happened over the summer has happened and we are where we are. Your "glass half empty" attitude is not what's needed. Criticise where criticism is warranted but have the ability to look at the bigger picture and asses logically. Successful sportsmen and women are so mainly because of their never say die approach, there desire to win and the belief in their ability. Those traits will be within some very naturally and those people tend to have sustained success throughout their lives. Others can learn those attitudes and train their minds to think like that. That's the main role of a coach at the top level. At league one level the coach will spend more time on technique and organisation than at Prem level but what makes him successful is how he communicates. Your approach "seems" to be old school...."you're doing great at this BUT not very good at this". This style ( and I apologise if I seem to be going off topic, but it's symptematic of this forum in general) of coaching/feedback only created a cycle of peaks and troughs in performance where one element is foccussed on at a time and the good bit is not and round the cycle goes. Anyway,the ability to see "half empty" is useful AND the ability to see "glass half full" in equal measures is key. Adkins is so obviously a good coach, and a modern type of coach, I'm just glad that he's not like a few people on here, then we would be in trouble!!

I find it hilarious that after losing away from home to the 2md best "home team" in the country a thread like this pops up. Sure, we are not top two, nor indeed top 6 but we are very close with 34 games to go!! In the last six games we have only conceded 3 goals, one from a corner, one from a free-kick, and one from a penalty. Hardly the sign of a poor team. Some may argue that we have just had that so-called " honeymoon period" of the new manager. Well I suppose we have in some terms...fresh face, different voice, but what Adkins has done very quickly is instill confidence and a style of play that will build and build. Defensively we are looking very strong. This is the basis of a championship winning team. Going forward it is seriously only a matter of time before we click and (thanks Echo) as Lambert is basically on the same level as this time last year it shows that there is plenty of time. Bournemouth will fade considerably with a few more injuries. Brighton will also, indeed my brother works with 3 of their season ticket holders and even they dint believe what's happening. They expect play-offs and nothing more!! We do need to string some wins but that's par for the course anyway. Top 6 at least come Jan 1st and no more than 10 points behind first and I am certain two or three good signings will power us to the title. If the players have the outlook and nerve of a lot of people on here then there would be no hope!! As they proved last year they do know how to win and win consistantly. 5-0 Saturday anyone?!!!

Yes

"spot the cvnt" competition. Ties will be decided by the following: "..........…… is the worst cvnt of all because ……...................(complete in no more than 10000 words)

My teens . Amazing team. Remember the million passes move?

I don't think it has anything to do with ambition. I think it's the major failing of Pardew not to get the 4th striker he went on and on about and nor did he get an extra CM or a nippy winger. I'm sure we will see some permanent signings in those areas come January. Until then carry on finding anything to moan about......

This result will not matter. It was always going to be the hardest game of the season (look at thtir home record) and we are only 6 points behind 2nd place and have played most of the top half already. Disappointing day but nothing to concern ourselves with too much. Adkins will learn from this.

Some hystyria on here. Yes we have played well lately and we will still go up but we are playing the team with the 2nd best Home record in English football over the last year. First real test of NAs tactical and motivational powers in half time.

Well said...

Keep it at worst 1-0 at half time and I think we will get at least a draw!!let's hope this half is the worst for a long while.

Surprised neither Dickson or Holmes are on the bench. They give great options up the left. All of a sudden we look extremely strong.

They may well be but I think he doesn't need to! He is one of just a very small group of true Saints Legends who are widely regarded as so nationally and even internationaly.

Just been on Danny Bakers show playing "the sausage sandwich game"!! Always great to listen to him and hear his famous KK story again. Shame he made a couple of very subtle digs towards NC but he dos also praise his intentions for the club!

Who? Never heard of him so can't have been very good. Happy Birthday anyway whoever you are.

The big thing for me in the difference between NA and Pardew is Adkins unadulterated enthusiasm for the job. You can tell from the very moment he " walked in the building" (to nick one of he phrases!) that he has landed his "dream job" (not that he dreamt about managing Saints persee) in the terms of a fairly big team, great stadium, great training facilities, and financial backing. As well as that feeling he will have it is also his first real opportunity at achieving unlimited success. In theory (although unlikely) Saints could win the Champions League or even the Premiership with the money we potentially have. It's almost like he has a credit card with unlimited funds to do exactly what he wants. In comparison he'd maxed out the three 5k cards he had!! Pardew and many of the other "journeyman" managers are not always fresh when they walk unto a new job. Almost always tainted by their previous failure (otherwise they are unlikely to be available!!) and probably more motivated by continuous employment to pay the bills than the excitement of the job. Pardew particularly this year seemed to be just " going through the motions" and for whatever reason that maybhave been the case we now have someone who I suspect would have taken this job on a "commission only" basis. I doubt anyone else would have, least of all Pardew!! I'm glad Pardew was here but I'm extremely happy we now have Adkins. He has the enthusiasm of youth with the head of a pro.

It's an interesting one this. I voted for Morgan and Dean but think NA may stick with Chaplow!! I wasn't at the game Saturday so didn't watch him play but when he came on against Bournemouth I thought he looked very energetic but a little lost! Either way we will win!!