MarkSFC

For the last 50 years we haven't met in a League game since we were last in this level. Says it all really. This Ossie bloke is clearly over excited about a meaningless game other than the three points we are going to win. Of course it's their "cup final". Without our financial help in the past in terms of players and friendlies they may not exist now, ungrateful w******!! And as for the c*** Howe, he has shown his true colours recently and soon will meet his comupence as his team fall down the table and back into oblivion. They have peaked and now will start the decent. Jumped up *****

Irrelevant!!

If you could have pre-season all over again would you have signed: 1) another striker? 2) another centre-midfielder? 3) a speed merchant similar to papa or Antonio? and also; 4) would you have planned pre-season better in terms of fitness and real team preparation for the season as opposed to the shambles it was? 5) what do you think if Dean Wilkins? 6) where do you see you ruined career going from here?

Great move. Not been playing so a month is sensible. If he is match fit and plays well could be key to out season as hopefully we will sign him in Jan!! Well done NA!!!

Like this!!

Once again a thread that descends into "hate him" or "love him" and a few who are rational enough to realise that once again an Echo story is in my view deliberately inflamatory.

" Mitchell is a w*****, he wears a w****** hat, and when he tries to mess with our Nic, he looks like a f****** p****" (to "my old mans a dudtman if you hadn't realised!) Not particularly classy but if you act like a **** he should expect to be treated like one!! I hope to hear a few rounds on Saturday!!!!

One word....complacency pardew f**** up and Cortese did what he had too. We will be promoted, it looks difficult but really it isn't when the players start firing. Well really just Rickie and Adam just need to get going which they will and with a couple of additions now and in January no worries. The fear of no money is illogical and I see no evidence of that.

What a truly ridiculous thread...why even bother!! I will comment though, just because these types of threads need quelling!! IF Pardew had still of been in charge we would still have the sane team playing predictable generally long ball upto the big man football (especially while Lallana was out). IF Pardew was in charge still we still would not have signed the striker we ate desperate for, the wide pacey player we didn't replace Antonio and Papa with, and we'd still lack a different (better) option in centre midfield. And given that Pardew managed to fail in this recruitment in the months he had over the summer, what posseses anyone to think he would manage them all via loans. Adkins WILL 100% IMO get us promoted if not as Champions then certainly as runners-up. Last year when the vast majority were questioning whether we would even stay up let alone get into play-offs I was confident. I'm even more confident this season that we will win more than the 83 we did last year and I should think 87/88 will be top two. The reason for my optimism is not blind faith it's based on these points: •we have only let in 8 goals in 9 games-4th best •adkins is incredibly positive and makes impactful subs already with a group he hardly knows •Rickie WILL start scoring and once he does the whole team will explode •the style of football Adkins plays suits our players and is effective when implemented. He also is implementing planB,C,and D. •we will sign a couple or three loanees •none of the other teams look better than we do-seriously I stated on a thread before the MKDons game that I thought we could win three and draw one from the first 4 games of Adkins reighn. That would have put us on 14. A win on Saturday will put us on 12 points ONE point behind where Norwich were last season. If pardew had still been here I for one would be far less confident than I am right now that we will get automatic promotion. At the end of last season I had every faith in him but he failed overall in the summer in terms of key signings and clearly could not motivate the players or get them effective enough from game one. Last season he had an excuse this season he didn't. I was sceptical when Adkins was appointed but the more I hear from him and watch the team the more impressed I am. Corteses best decision so far by a mile!! Promotion...not under Pardew.

Played in the league cup last week

Was grateful for t'internet when in Sydney for the Ashes in 2002/3 because we were able to get the FA Cup win over Spurs straight away early in the morning!!a good few days as England won the test too!!

Two changes from the starting XI v Colch hopefully. Holmes for puncheon and with any luck a loanee CM for Hammond. Ideally a loanee striker for the bench too as all 3 strikers are not 100% for different reasons!! Probably a really good time to play at Hillsboro too

Well "John Smith" if you think I'm scum thats an interesting situation. Your opinion of me is based on my very constructive post on my opinion of watching Hammond for getting on for 25-30 games this and last season. And you call me (and others) scum without any debate. Having an opinion on a footballer who I pay money to watch is perfectly fair, whatever I think. Having an opinion of the person who had their say rather than purely the words written is truly pathetic. When you get a chance maybe you will read my post in full and debate "my opinions" as you feel fit. If though you want to comment on me personally without knowing or meeting me then you should not be welcome on this forum.

I can't think of a game where Hammond has run the show. Sure I didn't see them all but neither do I recall Reading that he was awesome, even for one game. This sums him up for me. His "range" of performance is quite narrow and his "best" is good in league 1 but beyond no way. He also fails to produce his best regularly and this wasn't noticed in a winning team. In a losing team it is obvious. I've also said on another thread that I don't think he has known whether to sit or run but that could be partly Pardews instructions. He would be best used from the bench. It's strange that he is captain cod he seems quite quiet on the pitch and never seems to get the game by the scruff of it's neck to coin s phrase and certainly doesn't lead by example.

Until yesterday I thought a speedy right winger was top priority. I'm not do sure now. I thought Alex Ox-C looked like he is becoming settled and st times looked superb. Maybe getting someone else right now will stunt his development a little. Also I just wonder whether maybe Lallana will go out there as NA seems to like righties on the right and lefties on the left! Perhaps wait till jan and sign Antonio permanently rather than a stop gap now? Defensive CM is paramount. Butt/Case type of player to let Morgan attack. I think Hammond and Morgan never really knew who was doing what role...sitting or running! Butt is available isn't he?! Another striking option is obvious. A loanee will be difficult I suspect. I think we should go for Vassell as could also play down the right if needed. Experience and would buldoze a few defences. Not prolific higher up but maybe great here. Surprised he hasn't gone any where yet so may be easier to get now.

It was interesting today. Under Pardew this season the first 20 odd minutes were played at ultra high tempo and then we petered out to nothing. Today I though in the first half we played some ok stuff on two or three occassions but at a much slower tempo. In the 2nd half though I noticed a completely different team. They appeared to step up the pace and seemed more confident - I wonder if it was coincidence or magic words from Adkins - they played the simple ball quicker and the team seemed to move as a unit up and down the pitch better. Width was utilised whenever possible but there were also lots of balls in to the feet of mainly Barnard but also Rickie. When Holmes and Dickson came on we looked very potent down the left and it was great to see a double substitution, very positive stuff. Of course the quality of play is no where neat but it was a bit Spainesque stylee. Hammond although better in 2nd half is the weak link. An average tackler at best and an average passer at best. Seems to me he's never worked out whether he's a sitter or a runner, neither of which he's good enough at. For me although the quality and consistancy is lacking I think Morgan showed glimpses of being very good. Got his foot in s few times and made (or looked to produce) some very good clever passes. For me it's going to be fascinating how Adkins fits Lallana back in because so far he has put round pegs in round holes. Lallana playing left mid/winger is not that!! After today though I am extremely confident that we have a clever manager in place, someone who plays football in a positive exciting way and is focussed on results. We still need two or three more loanees but we will be right up there come May I have no doubt excited again........

Great letter, well done The Kraken! Glad The Echo published it but they had no choice really!! Hopefully they will canvass fans' opinion in a better manner?!!

Affiliating myself to SISA or having the suggestion that they represent my viewpoint on Saints is like saying my political views and affiliation is that of the BNP. In other words they are in my opinion a nasty blight on our club and our fanbase. Their tactics are always confrontational, egotistical and self-serving. They have strong beliefs which manifest themselves in the wrong way. The Echo let's itself and it's readers down everytine it gives the association lines in it's paper. Of course it's their choice what they publish but maybe they should realise in reality there is no official Saints supporters group. The Internet has changed that. This forum, SISA, the Trust and others are littered with people who in bygone tears have either had some sort of local fame and or some inside track to Saints, and or felt like they were somehow more worthy than most fans. It seems to me that under the new owners and boss all the aforementioned "perks" and or "kudos" has disappeared. Because of this the slightest little difference of opinion is made out to be something much more serious or sinister. To cover something from that article in the echo if I recall correctly, fans are not entitled to know who owns us. The company is a privately owned business. The clues in the title! As a customer either buy the product or go elsewhere. If your emotional attachment prevents this then form a group get a few thousand of the customer base, sign a petition or hold a rally or something similar. If indeed thousands upon thousands feel the same (ie the majority) then fair enough, your petition will speak for the fans. Holding a meeting in a small pub with your mates hardly constitutes collating the view of the fans.

Well I'm glad you're not motivating the team!! Class (whatever class that is) is permanant, form is temporary. Top coaches are just that because they get players to perform. Pardew had 2 months and couldn't do it....adkins has 3-4 games. I think he will, but more importantly so does he!!! We will of course see in a couple of weeks!!

Excellent post!!

I can't agree with the OP at all and I do think that sort of attention seeking self serving rant is pathetic. But if that's your true feelings St Marys will be a better place without you. As for Pardew, I do think that we may have got one or two more points but at the time of his dismissal he had failed me in terms of his squad. He did improve the defence, well the full backs at least. However he completely failed to improve on the attacking options we have. About 3-4 weeks beforehand I remember a thread where Alpine amongst others were very critical of this lack of activity and at the time I remarked that as ling as Pardew added 2-3 attacking options by close of the window then I would be happy. Although he did not get the last two days there are no signs that anything would have changed. As such we would be in exactly the same position with no striker on the bench (when one is out) no width in our play, a lack of pace particularly out right and up front, as well as another option to Morgan and Hammond in midfield who are not good enough. I think it is very probable that the last 4 results still would have happened with Pardew in charge and he would now be gone for football reasons.... In hindsight he seemed to have got quite complacent and full of excuses. Adkins will bring in a new energy, enthusiasm, coaching ethos, fresh ideas and (hopefully!!) two or three loanees. My gripe with Cortese (now) is that he didn't get rid of Pardew earlier!!! Boycott all you want you will miss out.

As disappointing as this start has been for a dew reasons I thought I would look at Norwichs start last year and compare our chances. After 6 games: Saints 4 pts. Norwich had 8pts after 10 games Norwich only had 13 points. Our next 4 games are; Colchester (H) Sheff Wed (A) Yeovil (A) Bournemouth (H) now if we were firing on all cylinders we would probably expect 3 wins and a draw in Sheffield. That would mean we would have 14 points, one ahead of where Norwich were last season. Let's assume that we win the home games and get one draw at Yeovil, that would put us on 11 points, two behind Norwich. Nigel Adjins has to get this team team going very quickly and 2 or 3 people in and the next 4 games are likely to be the only "grace period" he will get. Coming out of that series of games with at least 7 points will be ok. In the last 10 seasons it has taken an average of 92 pts to be champions and 83 for runners-up. 76 is average for 6th place. So what does this mean? Well at the start of the season the target must have been 92 plus points. If after 10 games we only sit on 11 points (7 in next 4) we will be 2 behind Norwich last year. Therefore matching their form would mean 93 points and certain promotion. Of course this "looks" tough but even if we had more points now I suspect that most on here would expect a points tally in the low 90s. Therefore if in fact we were to win the next 4 we would be on 16 pouts and 3 ahead of Norwich last year. We can still go up!!!!

Blackmore or Merrington (cant remember which) made the point that as Adkins (alledgedly) refusedcto resign and insured that the deal be done fairly and properly, then he most certainly is not a yes man. I tend to agree. I think he is a decent bloke with principals but had a very clear vifion kn what he wants snd how he's going to get it. His " I'm the manager of the football club" comment yesterday also suggests he is his own man.

He seems to have a good eye for a striker, so I would be very surprised not to see one loaned very soon. We also need pace out wide, more so on the right and a decent midfielder! I would think he will address that quickly.

What an incredibly depressing thread. Speculating in this is symptomatic of this site, football in general, and the world at large...speculation based on failure and negativity. I wonder how (almost) anyone on here ever achieved anything when their first though is one of failure. I accept the range of possibility stayed but by asking the question in the way you did you are leading the answer in a closed mind, negative manner. Someone at some stage WILL manage this club for many many years, maybe even more than Ted or Lawrie. How many Ssints fans in 1977 thought we will go up AND stay there for 27 years? Football has become synonymous with the society of wanting everything now if not before and if that doesn't happen try something else. It is my sincere hope that Nigel Adkins (and NC) are here for the next decade. Of course in this day and age most people in every day life will stag in any job fir about 2-3 years. Therefore, football MUST adhere to this!!!