Lallana's Left Peg

I remember reading Pardew saying he convinced Lallana to stay, and that he should give him the opportunity of this season to get the club up to the Championship so we can see how far he can go. I guess those plans were shelved bank holiday monday. I can't see him sticking around, unfortunately.

Is it true he is out of contract at the end of this season? If so, bye-bye. Can't blame him.

Nah I don't pretend to know any different than any fan etc. - only comment on what I see. I just feel that this is 'Pardew's team', so I think it will be hard for Adkins to put a stamp on things and turn it around instantly. Not been to any of the games since Pardew left, but from reading it sounds like the players are missing something, and it has taken the wind out of their sails. Of the team that played on Saturday, I make it that 8 of them were Pardew's guys. I'll certainly agree that promotion isn't unrealistic, and it looks like plenty of teams will be dropping points this season so we won't find a Norwich / Leeds situation, but I just feel that Adkins is less of a motivator to get the most out of any group of players and more of a 'system' man who needs the players to fit his approach. I'll be delighted if we do go up this season though!

If you think different, probably worth saying why so rather than resulting to a half-wit quip. We still don't know why Pardew was sacked, but I consider him a better Manager than Adkins for the aspirations that Saints have. Right now we've appointed a Manager who I feel confident will get us out of this division (maybe next season) but as for the end-game of the Premier League, I consider it a risk. I wish him well though, obviously!

At best Adkins replicates what Pardew achieved last season. So best case scenario is playoffs. This doesn't feel like progress.

I would just like to point out that the run we had under Pardew once we got over the slow start and 10pt deficit is the best we could hope for from Adkins when he takes over. This slow start is going to cost us, and I hope Cortese realises so, the *****.

I'm not disappointed with Adkins when you consider the circumstances. I am disheartened by the fact that our new model in the football club dilutes the influence as Manager has and he is now effectively a first team coach having to deal with several other roles that influence what he can do. It is this that will impact our ability to appoint a good Manager and achieve. I don't believe this model works in English football.

Whilst the backing Saints have would suggest we'd be one of the few clubs that would be active in the market at an early stage, people worrying over a lack of news (or even rumours) in early June is a little short-sighted. All we know from Pardew himself is that he is looking at a target man to back-up Lambert and a fairly reasoned conclusion is that we'll be interested in several new players from the sheer amount we released in May. There are plenty of clubs in financial trouble in the Championship and there is no point going after players of these clubs until their financial situation means we get the best value - I think the least the new Board and Pardew deserve is our trust that they are working diligently to bring in the right players. I am sure they will arrive.

Surman's past 12 months are the best reason Lallana will want to stay. Surman has disappeared off the radar.

I haven't heard any, but it isn't uncommon for organisations to sit on planning permission for years before implementing anything. I am going to guess we'll hear something at the turn of next year, when (hopefully) we're near the top of the league and the club can feel confident that investing millions in the training facility will be for Championship / Premier League players rather than League 1 players.

I don't think Pardew would still be here (or indeed take the job) if he thought he either couldn't accommodate the request or if it matched his own approach to the game. The one thing about this now public requirement from Cortese is that to play 'the beautiful game' requires a fair bit of money, so I expect some quality signings to be made in the summer, whether we believe the squad needs them in certain areas or not.

Since relegation from the Premier League, I should add!

To be fair to Jaidi, he obviously realises what many Saints centre-halfs haven't been able to do since we were relegated. We've had some very bad ones.

No idea - like I said, I think it is rubbish but thought I would share to add to the hysteria that consumes this place on a daily basis!

Just got a text claiming that Pardew was saying goodbyes to players today. Person sending the text claims this comes from a reserve team player. I personally think this is bull****.

Now we have the players in the team who may be able to carry him when he isn't doing too well, I think he is worth signing permanently. The comparison to Jones is a good one - remember Antonio has only been in league football a few years. He could be crafted into an explosive player.

I wasn't at the game today but I sincerely hope people don't start to get on Puncheon's back for trying to make things happen. The more our more gifted players try to make things happen the better it is. They won't always get it right, but I'd hate to think they would be scared to express themselves for fear of the crowd getting on their back. The moment they stop trying is the moment I start to get agitated.

Wasn't there, but if we played as badly as people make out then I quite pleased (and relieved) that we won the game. As obvious as that sounds, to play poorly and see moments of quality win us the game gives us a good platform that we can feel we are never out of a game no matter if things aren't going for us on the pitch. I've seen too many performances over the years where we don't ever look like doing anything simply because the players don't believe.

I don't think we defend well enough as a team whether it is 4-4-2 or 4-5-1, so I prefer 4-4-2 as it gives us a better chance of scoring goals. 4-5-1 just seems to invite more pressure.

I take all these transfer stories with an even bigger pinch of salt than usual. Don't we now have 6 scouts around the country watching players for us? I imagine that is plenty more than most other clubs in this division so the moment we have a scout at a match (anything up to 6 a weekend!) I imagine the rumour mill starts.

Delighted for the owners, club, players, and supporters. Especially delighted with the response the crowd gave Pardew right in front of Cortese. A great day out and hopefully something that becomes a benchmark for success in the future - winning things.

I'm glad we won. It is winning this sort of game while not playing great that will see us contend for automatic promotion next season (if we don't go up this season). Plenty of teams will come to St Marys without any expectation on them which will allow them to raise their game. Getting used to winning will give us the mentality to win games when not playing well.

Whilst I expect supporters from every end of the spectrum to be present on a forum like this, in my few weeks of being a member here in general I find the response to someone having an opinion different to someone else is met with pathetic responses. Instead of having a reasoned disagreement people just degenerate their response into half-witted sarcastic comments that turn this place into a farce. Has it always been like this?

Leeds were given the option of 3200 tickets but were told they would have to pay for them up front (as they did to us back in December). Ken Bates is a tight man so he said no, so they only got 2000 on sale or return basis.