alpine_saint

Agreed. I will be delighted to be wrong, but doubt that will happen.

Not even going to bother to reply because as usual you've resorted to personal abuse.

There are massive gaps in the squad. Stop spinning and deal with it.

Great post.

What is this cobblers ? Yes, we've had a god-awful 5 years, but we are out of that now. Debt-free, PLC rule-free, with ownership and off-field management intent on bringing back the good times. Pardew has been given every device and support needed to deliver, and it still aint happening and the excuses roll on. He wanted to be judged after 18 months: There are 5 left and it aint looking good.

Yep, and it will be January before he can do anything more. But apparently to most on here there is no risk

Plymouth Bournemouth Orient Bolton Looks like 4 games to me. And AP sees it that way with his "winning mentality" mantra too.

He could use his substitutions properly He could change his tactics He could change the team for the next game

We've waited 2 months and secured the services of............. a loan who the manager describes as "risky" for 5 months. I thought the season lasted 9 months. And no excuses is no excuses. We had pre-season to cut our teeth and decided not to make the most of it. So I dont buy this only 2 games baloney (actually, its been 4, 10+ if you count pre-season since the team hasnt changed very much over the summer as pre-season unfolded..)

Yet we drew and lost. Dont really see the point you are trying to make, except to be abusive.

Pity he p*ssed pre-season up against a wall then, isnt it ?

Heh. Saw your lightning edit there. I was about to post, since the last one yesterday, Mr. Goolie.

FFS. Its the yearly "Ian Harte to Saints" rumour & thread.. And as you rightly say, unless AP is developing a Burley-Midfielder Complex, we have already strengthened in this department this summer

Are you for real ?

LOL, was thinking the same. And proven is such a painful manner when we were relegated from the PL. Lundekvam was a useless tw*t that season.

Did he really say this ? I am gobsmacked. This really does sound like Groundhog Day, with AP focusing on the cups and NC on the League...

Hmm, so despite spending x millions of pounds, we are still dependent on luck ? Not buying it, I'm afraid.

Its not a matter of being "good", its a matter of style/mentality. Did you actually read my post ?

Whats pre-season for ? We've only added a couple of players this season, not built a complete team FFS. We've now played 4 times and still cannot hit a cows arse with a banjo.

I thought it was an almost unanimous opinion at the end of last season that this season there would be NO excuses whatsoever. Lo and behold, people falling over backwards to make excuses and condemn the impatience of others....

Its a good question. They should have been riding the crest of a wave after last season (like many of our fans...) and bubbling with confidence.

I note everyone else is allowed to say it now, and I got abuse for having the foresight to say it at least 1 month ago...

Probably not, but it might not be far from being able to. And Bolton are not that bad -look at the current PL table. They wont go down. I understand AP has his sights on the Championship and wants to build a team for the rigors of a season there, but he's got to get there first.

Something is not right. If we need 1 -1 1.5 months to get in the groove for this season (forcing us to play catch-up), what's the f**king point in pre-season ?

Thanks for the detailled summary, but it has left me worried. I believe you and others who say were the better team by far, but : 1. Bolton didnt come and park a bus. The League 1 teams we will play will do this. Although we obviously have a quality side and could hold our own at Championship or maybe even PL level, it is NOT what is needed for a promotion campaign in League 1, it seems. 2. We...still...didnt...score - despite all the pressure and possession. Look, I am just pointing these things out. Last nights performance doesnt translate into consistent League 1 tonkings and promotion, I am afraid...