sadoldgit

LOL, screaming??? New season but same old digs. I an simply pointing out the fact that we are supposed to be super rich nowdays but are still operating on a budget. We used to have no choice, now apparently we do. Or do we? I have never said that money doesn't make a difference, I have said that money doesn't guarantee sucess. If you want to have a go get your facts right. I don't believe that we can buy promotion, but I believe that we can buy the type of players that give us a better chance (as we have done so far with Lambert and Fonte). Tell me Mr Fry, are you happy with the sqaud right now and what would you do exactly?

A dig? It was a comment and a valid one at that. Tell me, do you think that Antonio and Tyson would be here if money was no object Alps?

Thats a bit harsh. Lambert scored all of those goals last seaosn due to teamplay. Pardew aalso got us some silverware and would have made the play offs last season but for the minus 10 points - you can't tell me he was not under pressure last season. As for Strachan, could well be an early casualty in the sack race if things don't pick up.

Did people watching it on TV boo I wonder? Sadly for us, frustration comes with supporting SFC. The expectations are often dashed by a heavy dose of reality, even in the heady days of the 80s we usually managed to fall short. This season the expectations are huge and Pardew is expected to serve up guaranteed promotion. Although we have brought in some players, I agree with many. I did expect to see some extr firepower in for the start of the season. I am not blaming Pardew or Cortese for this as I have no idea why that has been (assume that clubs want more then we want to pay for players - maybe issues with salaries too). What we have got to get our heads around is the fact that teams, like last year, are not going to roll over for us. It is going to be a tough season (as any Leeds fan) and the more that is expected of us the tougher it gets to deliver week in week out. I fully expected a draw to be honest and was gutted along with every else. But maybe this will give Mr Cortese and his chequebook a bit of a reality check as we do need cover for Lambert and a decent wide player sooner rather than later and he may find that he has to pay more if he wants to get what we need.

If it is the case that NC is witholding "proper" money to see how things pan out with Pardew then I find that very worrying. You either back your manager or you don't. Given that we have tried to sign Tyson and bring Antonio back it sounds like NC is looking to bring players in but at a price. All very laudable and following in Lowe's footsteps, but it won't help us get promotion.

Nope, can't see a thing!

You kow Apline, he goes from 0 to 60 in Warpspeed on the frustration meter! Pardew in his interviews has always said he knows what is at stake and what is required. We know we failed to land Tyson and Antonia, probably because Cortese won't pay over the odds, so we know Pardew is trying to bring in players. Signing players is not difficult, signing the right ones is and takes time - especially if we are not doing a Man City and just throwing money at the problem.

I disagree. Lambert himself said the pre-season was the toughest he has had and apart from his groin strain is in great shape. I have been supporting Saints since 1966 and can count on the fingers of 1 hand the number of times we have started the season strongly. I have yet to watch the match but will watch it this morning, but from all accounts we were pretty much on top for most of the game and were against Reading until the substitutions. I accept that teams like us ought to be able to hit the ground running - and perhaps with Lambert and Lallan aplaying from the off we would have done, but be honest, did you really think we would get anything more than a draw form our first game of the season?

The original Sissor Sisters?

Booing is counter productive. I don't buy all this it gives the players a kick up the a*se cr*p. The team need support an encouragement. They know losing their first game at home is poor and don't need telling. It is a long tough season and if this club is to go up it needs everyone pulling togther. Booing after the first match is plain stupid no matter how far you travel or how much you spend. No one is saying don't critise Alps, just save that for later and suport the team on the pitch.

What have they been using in the toilets then?

I hope he plays every minute of every game. Teams thrive on confidence and good cup runs help in that respect. We scored an awful lot of goals last season and occasionally didn't. There is no reason why this season should be different. Granted, the start was not fantsatic but we are notoriously slow starters and going into the first game without two of your best offensive players is not helpful. I stall think the red hot favourites thing is rubbish and unhelpful but we will have to live with that. We should be a top 6 team though ut we all know we are still 2 players short and hopefully that can be sorted soon.

Pardew has talked aout bringing more in and we know he wanted Tyson. Is the fact they are not here down to him? Cortese aparently chose the last 3 weeks to be on holiday so I doubt if that has helped. As for managers, I see that George Burley dragged himself out of the pub in time to get a win for Palace! Are you watching Alps?

There is nothing wrong in questioning things, it is when things turn abusive that the problems start. I am not a great fan of Cortese but so long as he does a decent job, thats all you can ask. I don't get the stick that Pardew has taken from some quarters as I think he has done well so far, but you are always going to get people who will take a pop at the manager if he isn't perfect in every decision because they need a fall guy. The same stuff was going on when we were a Prem club (that seems so long ago now). It will continue to go on even if we top the league this season (as Steve Bruce found out at Brum). Such is life.

Post of the day.

Could you take your own photos of the event John, or do you have to buy them from the syndicate? ; )

ex-wife

I have just read the comments on The Guardian web page following the article. I am not sure how much money we will make from this and maybe it is a good idea, but I can't help feeling that we have made a huge PR gaffe with this. As a previous poster said, I don't want SFC to be viewed as a L1 "Manchester City." As a London born Saints supporter if was the family club image that drew me to Saints in the first place. Whilst I accept that football is a business now it is still possible to run that business with family values.

There will a a radio station and Saints insurance soon ; )

Happy days Minty, I used to love the reoprts from training. Just as well Nicola wasn't in charge then or he probably would have had you locked up!!!

I wonder if all visitors will be asked to hand over their mobie phones at the gates?

And the response would have been if Lowe had pulled this stunt? NC sounds like a bit of a control freak to me and is certainly not out to make friends. Oh well....

Yep, never got that either. What difference does the water make? You wouldn't wave like and idiot at someone walking down the road who you didn't know from Adam.

How do you know what kind of effort we made to keep those players David? But if their clubs call them back after their loan periods are up there is nothing we can do.

Best not, I seem to remember Minty getting some grief about posting about corner tactics a while back!!!