John Smith

lol, I'm guessing you're busy this week end, arranging that march on SMS to rid us of this evil NC. Good luck.

Apart from you being one sandwich short of a picnic, let's say I agree, let's say we all agree with you, what then? Do you want to organise a march on SMS and chanting NC out? In fact, why not, go for it. The Saturday after this, call up the echo and warn them that your staging a protest to rid this club of this awful man that has done nothing than drag this club down through 2 divisions, not invested and employed more managers than tea ladies. Hell, what's all this with sticking with the same manager for a whole season????? In Lowes day, we'd be on manager number 3 by now. A week Saturday, march on SMS and get him removed. And because I only get 3 posts, I'll cover one of your responses now - "Because that's what many fans did when Lowe was in charge"

Colin Clarke David Armstrong Neil Shipperly Ostenstadt Pahars

Good response, wish others would learn to debate, as you have shown. I think our differences of the same subject warrant the major difference of opinion on this site, and mabe with Saints fans as a whole. First off, glad you got a ticket in the end, surely was great being at Wembley, no matter the occasion, and we won! The programme debacle, now, there's a mystery? Without any explanation, there can be no positive or negative analysis of the situation. Doesn;t stop fair minded chaps, as yourself, trying to understand the possibilities. I won;t be 'demanding' and explanation, for me, it was unimportant. However, considering the AP position and the unpleasant murmerings, you can certainly opt for certain conclusions. As for not criticising 'minor' or not so 'minor' indescretions maybe this is part of the reason the fanbase is so split. I think we agree, that whatever has gone on, it will not chase you or I away from SMS (however far we are disenfranchised by mileage). However, maybe there is truth in the rumour that AP was going to be sacked. FWI, I'm torn on this matter, but think keeping AP in place was the best decisions all round. Certainly, the players he has brought in, have been great additions in many positions, rarely a dud amongst them. If NC can take solace from his decisions to retain AP for another period, I think the squad additions that may come in over the summer, will only improve this squad. Now, the bit that I think many are running with, may not be the whole story, whereas the echo, the mail and other sources have wanted NC to keep AP, what has been missed is AP's willingness to stay. Through all this talk of NC chasticing his manager for not winning a play off spot and ML maybe not turning up as he was p*ssed off with not obtaining that place, we may be missing something else. To me, that is - 'is AP wanting to continue with NC and ML?' - From NC's side, I can see that he wanted to put the pressure on AP to suceed and maybe through the press or the OS, these objectives were over stated. Maybe AP found his position and the pressure on his players too harsh? Maybe his stern behaviour and his forthright views in interviews were tell tale signs of the pressure getting to him? All in all, I think NC has kept AP on his toes, and through this war of words, public and in private, surely their relationship should strengthen. If AP has learnt anything in his job, he knows he is at the mercy of the board. But, I commend his behaviour and his efforts this season. I think with the squad he has put together and is putting together, nearly 'any' half decent manager would get us promoted this coming season. But, I think AP deserves another go at it. I think he was very close to an impressive season. I think he has had to learn this league and forge team in doing this. the proof of his management skills have be proved on the pitch as when we play well, we score goals, and lots of them given the chance. Also, it;s been great to have such a good defence, and those errors which caused us vital points last season will be improved upon going forward. For the first time since Clause and Svensson, I feel secure at the back!! I don;t want to give NC 'cart blanche' to run riot through this club, but, for whatever the reasons, this coming season, we have a great owner, a very good Chairman and an experienced manager at this level, with, a team that could 'walk this league'! We have good times ahead, what I say is, 'if we can suffer Rupert Lowe, surely we can give these new guys some time to find their feet in this 'business'?' Saints fans deserve some good times, hell knows we've had a lot of tough ones!

'Regularly quoted on here'? LOL. Come on, get serious, this site, the place for all factual information? Even if he is on 6K per week, who on this site would know. Now, If you had a photocopy of his wage slip, I may believe it, but seriously, you're getting your facts from this site...

OK, the italics didn;t come out too well, so I understand your misunderstanding on my original post, I was attempting to break it down, badly by all accounts. Anyhow, I'll try this way, to help (not being sarcastic, I am actually debating and I have got confused by your latest response above: 1, I'll come back to this 2, covedred this already, apologised for confusion 3, A direct quote from you on - "Can't believe that I won't be there tomorrow. Shan't even have the pleasure of skiing tomorrow so excuse me if I have no sympathy; I simply couldn't get a sodding ticket. Went to my first Saints game 47 years ago but length of service and suffering wasn't one of the criteria for getting a ticket unfortunately." presumed it was on the JPT final? 4, quotes from you, which, make me think your opinion was formed from other media (my understanding follows in brackets after your "quotes") - "And a new manager? It's all beginning to sound depressingly familiar. The club must be aware of fans' unease and should allay any fears, otherwise the good will they have built up will fall away.." (wasn;t sure if this was from the echo or the mail?) "Meeting postponed". (from the echo?) "and they might as well close down the OS as it will have proved itself as totally pointless and irrelevant." (so read the echo/mail for info?) 5, I know what you said, and I pointed out that we were nowhere near a comparison with Manure, the paralells are unparalelled! 6, well, you said this - "I agree with you to an extent, F'sC, but NC needs to take me along with him if I am to continue supporting Saints." Sounds like you throwing the toys out yourself and annopuncing you might give up supporting saints for goodness sake? Not having a direct go at you sir. Just, I found some of your comments contradictory with what you have said prior. Equally, you seem to support the new regime, so am a little confused with this stance. Certainly, I am not throwing you in the loonet bin of opinions and I hope you get to see a few more games this coming season (unless I am wrong again and you are indeed a ST holder? ). I am just a little disurbed thaqt rational, long standing fans, such as yourself, feel unsettled by this situation. I personally feel that we are in safe hands and that comparisons with Lowe, which other posters make, such as arrogance, should be put to bed. The level of arrogance shown by NC are not on the same level as Lowe and I can remind you of his comments made toward our own fans in the Northam, Lowe went a bit doo lally in the end and lost site of the goal (for the club), IMO. Let's back these guys, we are currently in League 1, the english 3rd tier, a damn good season ahead if I'm not mistaken. I'm glad he sat down with Pardew and went through (every player?) on the retain list and discussed very deeply those that would not be offered a new contract going forward. I believe this is why the meeting was 'postponed' according to the echo, not becdause of anything else. To me it made sense that time and care should be taken over our future whoever is in charge, NC or ML or whoever else would back this club. The echo and the mail should be treated with the contempt they deserve, peddling out untruths and rumourmungering is what this site is for!

oh, 6k per week, just interested where you got that from, didn;t think we had to disclose wages now we are no longer a plc. And have you got examples of when he'll go missing next season, we'll get some backup in. Oh, this is just made up, got it.

Victor, you are welcome to your opinion, but seriously, Man Ure, prawn sandwich's, I think we're a long way from that yet. And if you think ML bought this club using debt, like the Glaziers, then you are in la la land. They are here to make things better, but not laddling the club with debt, I applaude them for this, and so should you and so should the echo, we shouldn't tell them who the manager of the club should be, and then when they agree, still attack him. The echo has lost the plot, you knpow it, I know it, NC knows it, we all know it. The echo brought it on themselves, they wanted a reaction, and in the end, they got one, what's to complain about?

I think EastleighSoul Boy is a reliable source. I think The SKATE should be sacked as Saints' main football rag leader. He obviously has an agenda! Being a SKATES fan does not lend itself to an impartial view of things. I think we need a statement from this SKATE editor, dod he ever go to one of their games? If he did, he should be sacked! Seriously, this makes total sense, SKATES in Cup final, let's bash the scum before we sink without a trace. SKATES should be banned from the echo, or at least they should print their name in blue so we know they are biased in their views and want only to destroy our club. SACK SKATE MURRAY!

Am I reading this right?

So, the echo has been 'wet slapped' and I couldn't agree more. They don;t deliver news or views, just trash. I suggest you stick it in bin with the rest of the trash. Look, I didn;t mind the rumours on here that AP might go. I bet every set of fans in every club, particularly those lower down that have performed pretty well, would be questioning if their manager would still be there next season. What I expect from a local paper is some 'insight' into this matter, not gossip, idle speculation and general badgering of the club in order to create a story where there isn't one. Look, the season ended just 5 days ago, just a mere 4 days after it's conclusion, NC sits down with AP to see where things lie. Obviously NC & AP are disappointed that we didn;t get into the play-offs, but, I'm sure NC wanted to hear from AP that he was still up for it and wanted to take us to the next level next season. I'm sure NC had some ideas and I am certain that the thought of replacing AP was a consideration, of course it is. How strongly he felt about that could only become clear after he met with his previous choice of management, led by AP. They met, they agreed, we move forward, end of. Strangely enough, THIS IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE!!!!!!!!!!!!! I suggest you stop buying the echo and stop buying the mail, because the best unfounded rumours are to be found on this site. On this site you can make all the rumours you like and then sit back and get slated for being wrong when Kaka doesn;t sign. So, for all of you that hate AP, think he's rubbish, think he should go, you're in for a long season. AP will be here for some time to come. If we get promoted as Champions next season, we'd be mad to let him go. Promotion to the Prem the following year, is AP going anywhere, I think not! ML, NC and AP have a vision, their vision is clear and agreed. Don;t let sh*t rags ruin our club, they are smaller than Saints and they will never be supported like Saints fans support our club. I applaude ML, NC, AP, the players, the staff and all you fans, it's been a great season and I love being a Saint!

I was going to attach all the quotes but then found there were far too many for me to bother and it would look like I was being OTT. Read the thread, you'll happily find a number of requests for proof or evidence. I see you have made a few posts on this site, if you are here in the summer months, you'll know what I am saying is perfectly reasonable. Some people demand proof or evidence, I'm just stating it is unlikely 'any' information posted on here first is going to be nailed on. Should have gone to 'SpecSavers'...

I do find it funny that some on here 'demand' factual 'evidence' of anything that is quoted. Let's face it, if you knew for fact that something was going on, this would be the 'last' place you'd post it. For one, I'd put a bet on. For 2, I would keep quiet and watch the pantomime go on and maybe drop a couple of ITK statements. But seriously, people on here really want signed statements from board members or managers and then that to be backed up with a taped conversation that is certified as not being tampered with! It's the end of the season, let the rumours begin. Don;t demand what is not available, if you think you know something, share it, it may be right, it may be wrong, who cares, until the World Cup begins next month and if AP isn't dismissed, we have nothing to talk about...

I thought it was all very funny. I hadn't realised people were actually going to go on the pitch at the end, and I'm not sure many would have if it weren;t for the announcer going the young and the drunk to do so. The reaction to his announcements were fantastic and I have rarely heard the whole ground react as one like that before, solidarity! I also found the Kingsland goading of the Northam very funny. 'Shall we sing a song for you?!' And then when the old 'we're the Kingsland, we're the kingsland...' started and the Northam responded half heartedly, the Kingsland Booed them and then the Notrtham got a big ssshhhhh. All in all, a great day that could have been a dull 0-0 with not much going on. The players and the fans put some effort in and we all had a good day. So what if a couple of lads ran on the pitch. Watching one of them get flipped and slammed to the ground was hilarious. I think they thought they would just get hearded off rather than the odd one being the dummy for a wannabe WWF! Next season, we clinch promotion and win the league, that game, we invade the pitch. Also, when we go on to win the Championship, we go on the pitch. Lastly, when we win the Premiership and the Champions league, we will all remain in our seats, pinching ourselves and having heart attacks, you choose.

I think some people round here are so used to being losers, they've forgotten what it's like to dream. Surely we haven't become so conditioned to losing that we can sneer and laugh at those who dare to dream? Look, come Saturday, for those of us that are there, are you going to sing any quieter or not care so much if we concede a sloppy goal? Will you not cheer every goal, will you not sing the players' names? I think play-offs dissappeared when we lost to Swindon at home. BUT, for some strange reason, this club just won;t lie down and accept it's fate. Somebody or something keeps kicking that play-off door slightly open, just enough to slam it back in our faces again the very next match. Does it matter if we have blown it already? Because I thank those that still have hope, makes it all that more interesting. If you believe we still have a chance, you won;t look stupid if we don;t get there, because hey, nobody thought we could do it. BUT, those that are slamming those that dare to dream, how STUPID will you look if we just dare to realise that dream...

Personally, I think the ref got this spot on. The players also got on with it, not calling for a red card. The ref got it right because it wasn't a 'clear' goalscoring opportunity, which is what the rules say. If anything it was a clear 'possible' goal scoring opportunity and here's why. Rickie was not in cotrol of the ball, Rickie was being marked by a covering player, no contact had been made with the ball and so was not 'on its way in. If Rickie had headed the ball toward goal and the defender clearly and deliberately handled it to prevent it going in, then different story, mandatory red. However, under the rules of the game, deliberate hand ball is a yellow card offence and a penalty was awarded as this offence took place in the box. Just because we all saw Rickie steaming in behind, doesn;t mean he would've headed it or would've scored if it weren;t for the intervention. A goal scoring opportunity was prevented, BUT, not in the eyes of the law. Ref got it spot on.

Having the username of a player that plays for a different club is embarrassing. Do you glow red every time you post? I think the general gist of this thread is due to Lambert being the top scorer in this country, once Rooney is taken out of the equation. And that would be right. Cappello has always said he'd pick the team on form, again, Lambert would fit the bill. However, it is a massive leap of faith, ney, a cavern to leap over if you were to think Cappello were to pick Lambert for the World cup 'if' Rooney couldn't go. But I'll tell you something, seeing what we see week in week out, I'd choose Lambert over Heskey and Carlton Cole, probably over Darren Bent as well, due to Bent just not doing it for England. Will it happen? Of course not, but, it should.

from the 'fans' being idiots, to the players not performing, the manager not performing, the chairman being booed, and now the manager being 'apathetic' after winning a cup after clearly celebrating each and every goal and having a 'proud' look on his face when Antonio scored on his birthday, an almost 'we' helped him achieve a dream (the club, the manager and the fans, that is). This forum just pushes the boundries of what it is to be a supporter or fan. And after reading more derogatory comments on another thread and the self loathing that some on here obviously feel, I just find it all so childish. Yes, everyone is entitled to a view, everyone has different views, everyone should debate those views, but seriously, the OP wasn't even at the game, doesn;t comment on whether he witnessed AP celebrating any of the goals, or anything else apart from pictures from his mate? A Saints supporter? Not in my book.

Whether you are being sarcastic, ironic, moronic or serious, you have just lowered the level of this forum. I don't know why it is that people like you find it funny or quirky or maybe it just makes you feel big, I generally think it's a 'look at me' moment. One where you just want everyone to look at you and laugh or think you’re a really great bloke. Trouble is, most human beings on this forum would still look at you and have pity. Using somebody else's issues, that you obviously have no knowledge of, in such an off the cuff comment, a throw away comment if you like, goes to show how shallow and self centred 'people' can be. Many on here were having a laugh, having a jibe, but then it goes too far. You should be ashamed of yourself. Am I the moral police? Not by a long way, I just find the infantile way people deal with certain illness and disability, repugnant.

And when we scored, some people around me had the audacity to cheer and then others bashed their hands together making a strange 'clapping' noise? I can't understand why these people do this, we'd already scored, were we encouraging them to run back to the centre circle really quickly? Mor*ns. And then, when the whistle blew after 90mins, some people stayed behind and started that cheering, clapping thing again? What encouragement do they need to climb those stairs and lift that cup? Bizarre. Then in the pub, and so I'm led to believe, in other pubs across North London AND even at the railway station, some so-called 'fans' were still heard to be singing and clapping and all sorts! Idiots. We'd already won, thew team didn;t need any more support, they should all just go home and sit in the dark.

Mills and Seabourne are getting a bit of a slating (here and there), but, the back 4, as a unit worked well. We have to remember that players need time to settle in a team and both of these players are young, inexperienced and fringe players. They did a job tonight. Seabourne was a bit out of position but Fonte covered well. Mills made a couple of mistakes but his pace got him back into the tackle. Nothing terrible at the back and they will learn from this. Morgan was absolutely superb 'again' tonight. Shame he went off, but, the real plus for me was to see Hammond really step up to the plate. He was everywhere and we barely missed Morgan (although having him in would've been better). Also, I think I'm the only one in the ground and from the reports that think Hammond scored our first goal. He was certainly the one celebrating in front of the Northam and from what I could see, he headed the ball in and not Barnard. Probably I'm wrong, but I found it weird when they announced Barbard as the goal scorer. Where we faultered tonight was in feeding the front 2. We were losing the ball out wide or being countered after trying to get the ball into the box rather than crossing it. When we crossed the ball, we looked dangerous, but, Puncheon cuts in from the left as well as the right. For me, when he plays on the left, he should be beating the man and whipping it in, away from the keeper. Second half and later on, he mixed it up enough, but Lambert was substituted around this spell. Also, noticed Lambert wasn't getting in the box as much as usual? 2 more things; firstly, there were 170 away supporters. And lastly, we started off 4 3 1 2 and you could see Hartlepool were stripping us out wide and by-passing our midfield. After the goal, went back to 442. However, I think the issue came about because Hartlepool went with 2 up front, unlike most teams that come here.

Realistically, no chance for us. But yes, Charlton will struggle.

Against Swindon, we froze. We ran out of idea's, both on the pitch and from the management. Swindon had the extra man in midfield, and apart from about 10mins in the first half, they bossed that area, unusually for us. Morgan was doing his best, but Hammond was running across the pitch far too often. The wide men eventually got pulled in to mark the extra midfielder, leaving the winger one on one with the full back. Essentially, we played their game, not ours. What could have been done? Many things. What should the players have done? Lots of options? What did the management do? Waigo on after 65mins rather than 70. It just wasn;t enough. No creativity, no passion, no anything. Were we tired (Swindon played this week end also)? Were we not good enough? Had we run out of ideas? Become stale? I think any chances of play offs has now gone, beating Swindon at home was a must. We didn't realise the importance and let them boss us on our own patch. Maybe we should just learn a lesson from this, but the talk coming out from the club is that it's in denial. I'm proud of you this season, the players, fans, management and owners, looking forward to next season, please God, let us have learned. Push on next season, we need to raise it, now that the team knows each other.

Haven't noticed any threads on the idiot who taunted the Leeds fans after the game. He goaded them, the police stopped all but 2 getting round them, then it was them 2 chasing the saints fan whilst the families looked on. The Leeds supporter was shouting at him, "where are your mates now? Where's your red army?" As he looked around, all there were were families and small children by and large, and anybody else was, well, you asked 'em over here mate, you're on your own! The guy was an absolute tw*t, and if the Leeds guy hadn;t scared the sh*t out of him, then someone from our side should have given him a slap. He was on his own and trying to start on the whole of the Leeds supporters with family and children all around. If you read this board mate, have you cleaned your trousers yet? You dipstick!

thought I'd bump this one back up, save re-doing the positive versus negative thread as this one will be a possible classic through to the end of the season. FWIW, I still think we are doing well, I still think we are looking up rather than down and over our shoulders, which is exactly what I hoped for this season. And, as long as there's a possibility of a play-off place, it makes the season more interesting. Brilliant 'solid' performance today, roll on Tuesday and gaining three points on Swindon, or one of the negatives bumping this to the top again when we lose, c'est la vie.