sadoldgit

One season, but on the whole I think we had better results at The Dell than we have at St Marys. I have only seen one home defeat and that was at St Marys. I know that doesn't prove anything but I don't think that SM has ever been a fortress in the way The Dell usually was.

I am not saying that they don't get flak, but the discussion now immediately revolves around the manager whereas years back it was the players first and foremost.

Because it is easier to sack a manager than a whole team perhaps? Ferguson was close to the sack before he turned things around. Burley did a great job at Ipswich and did well at Herts.

At which point did the responsibility for poor results move from the players to the manager? When I started chatting about football online most of the trafic was about the players and their performances. Gradually now all fingers seem to point at the manager when results are poor. I accept that the manager buys the players, decides tactics etc, but at the point when the team crosses the white line it is down to them. We were relegated from the Premiership with many players who still play in the Premiership. We had a strong squad last season and this yet most of the flak heads the way of the manager. Perhaps it is time to move the forensic dissecting back to the people who carry the expectation of the fans on their shoulders: the players? Chances have been made and missed. Pardew's fault or the players? Soft goals conceded, same question.

We are talking about the stick he has had about transfers/lack of transfers all this summer.

The Dell was worth many points a season to us and whilst St Mary's is a vastly superior stadium we have never really made it the "fortress" that the Dell often was through a succesion of managers. I can see Pardew's point in the same way that England also suffer from the weight of expectations playing at Wembley in recent times. A of sport goes on in the head. If players/teams aren't atttuned mentally they can be the difference in a match. Everyone at the club knows what the expectations are this season and that can be a huge burden. We are expected to be the Norwich this year but with the strength in the squad. For all the talk of spending we have only really pushed the boat out on Lambert and Fonte. I think we are a top 6 side but never believed the hype about firm favourites to go up. I am sure Pards is right, a few away games with the pressure off a bit will help. But any one who really believes that we were going to walk this league from day 1 is delusional.

If it is true that Pardew and Cortese sit on a 4 man transfer committee, why does Pardew get all the stick?

Agreed, if we haven't won in 6 games then that is very poor and changes need to be made. Hopefully the new guy will make a difference and we will get another wide player in soon. Hopefully also the chances we are making will turn into goals. Let's see. Pardew won't be happy with the start either but at least he is not panicking.

Well it appears that Reading had an extension clause in their original contract so nothing we could do about that if they want to extend. As has been said before, the reason clubs loan players out is for their development. If they develop then why not keep them? There are better players out there than Antonio though. (Alps, I assume that Cortese did this deal, how do you feel about that?).

Reasons/excuses. It is a bit like one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. So far we have only played 2 league games yet the season by some has been written off. To me a slow start means lack of success in a lot more games. If we win the next two does that mean we have had a slow start? Lets wait until we have got a few more league games under our belt before we throw a collective dummy out of the pram shall we?

We are not and have never been a "big club." We are currently a third tier club with Premiership aspirations. Even at our peak in the 80's we were not a "big club." How other clubs perceive us who knows (and to be honest, who cares). It is all very well getting impatient with getting out of League 1 but it took a "big club" (and they are more than us) in Leeds a while to get out too. There is no magic wand, just hard work and an element of luck. If we make it this year, fantastic, if we don't we are just yet another club with aspirations who have not been successful in acheiving them.

Some people's excuses are other people's reasons. The thread says, me I am out of pateince. Thing is with you Alps you never had any to start with. The good times? Yeah, because we won everything going in the past. Last year we won a cup, had a competitive team and but for the minus 10 points would have been strong contenders. THis season is only 2 league games old but you have us written off already. You have it all down to Pardew right? If what FF tells us is true and Pardew is one of 4 people on the transfer committe, and you think a lot of the problems are down to lack of transfer activity so far, logic dictates that the infamous Alpine spleen should be vented in the direction of the 4 man transfer committee. Thing is, Cortese sits on that committee, and he is fireproof, right? You need to get some persepctive mate. I know you don't go to matches but those that do say that the main problem is not converting chances. Me, I'd be more worried if we were not making chances. In the summer you moaned that we had sorted out the defence. Within days the defence was sorted. Now you moan about midfield. Guly has signed. Give these people (and us) a break. Pardew and Cortese ar professional people working to a budget. The decisions they make will either bring success or not. If the answer is not, I suspect that thobbing purple vein on your forehead will explode but do you know what, the world will keep turning. Tell us Alps, what will make you happy? Even when we were in the promised land of the Premiership you found plenty to complain about. "Ain't looking good" - last season was our most competitive for years. Most people here enjoyed it and saw that the manager was working hard and taking us in the right direction. To say it is all doom and gloom after 2 league games is crazy, even by your standards Alps.

No it won't, he can still bring in loans. Cast your mind back, when have we last been left with "nothing?"

TT, we are where we are. We don't have a divine right to be anywhere and you only have to look at all of the other teams who have fallen on hard times to see that SFC is not immune to the outrageous fortunes of the football league. The beauty of sport is that there are no givens. If there were, what would be the point. Pardew has his work cut out, as do the players. They need support but many here have already decided that Pardew is useless and the squad poor. I am looking forward to things turning round but if they don't, life goes on.

Disappointing start yes, but two league games in...hardly dummy throwing time. We have just signed a new midfielder with more to come hopefully. We are making chances. As has been said, we have a decent squad and a decent manager, to be fair I don't think we are looking at the end of the world just yet. As Pardew says, we need to get rid of the negativity, trouble is some thrive on it!

Let's look on the brightside. A lot of people here said our cup runs cost as a play off place last year. Best get knocked out of them all early doors.

Try to hold on till you get home.....

Thanks goodness the wrist slitters have been out in force over the last few days. Pardew must have read the threads about lack of signings and pulled his finger out! : )

I am sure you are right Nick. What I find interesting in this is that NC said that he and Markus discussed things about SFC a lot and I am surprised that Markus would have backed him on something like this.

Papa and Antonio were both risks and they didn't turn out to badly. The other day you were unhappy that we hadn't signed anyone lately, now you are unhappy (sorry, underwhelmed) because we have. Before you cast judgement Alps why not wait to see if the guy can play?

Nice to see that Alps hasn't lost his negative touch! Welcome to the club Guly and I hope you do the biz for us. You do have to chuckle though don't you. If the guy was any other nationality would the media put his country before his name? But because he is Brazilian they do. It is as if every manchild born in Brazil plays like Pele! He may well be Brazilian but he is signing for an English 3rd Divison club.

He said he wants to play in England at the highest possible level - do you think he thinks League 1 is the Premiership???

Thanks Toomer, thats right.

Sadly not. Even when we were on a roll last season and doing well he had his critics, you being one of them Alps.

I still think it makes no sense to panic after 2 league games.