eelpie

Everyone is getting carried away with rumour and counter-rumour. The poor second half performance against Orient was the deciding factor, simple. We now know that Marcus was unhappy with AP (and his family would have concurred), and then. in front of the whole family on the sacred day after his memorial service at the match that was intended to honour his memory with a resounding home victory, it all went flat. It would have been the big talking point between NC and Marcus's family over the next few days. AP could not have been sacked so soon after Marcus had passed away and so the date was fixed, whatever the result at Rovers. NC decided a clean sweep was need and so AP's close team went all together. Whatever went on during training was smaller beer because the decision had been made, but did make a convenient excuse. All very tragic.

And there certainly is' a full house of gullible, seriously pessimistic/over-optimistic (delete as appropriate) posters on this site.

. This forum has shot at and rubbished every single manager that has had his head raised above the parapet. This forum doesn't deserve a manager installed at SFC. We could do better ourselves.. .

And win by at least 5 goals each week

One good thing in this mess is that Wilkins will be overseeing the team for the immediate future. This is the best continuity we could have in the circumstances I like the football that has been developing and he has been part of the progress being made. My gripe with AP was that he could have been more animated and forceful with the players when they were playing timidly. But they were well on the way to becoming a very good squad playing some exciting football to watch (if not all the time). I'm hoping Wilkins will continue that development. Whatever our feelings (and I would love to hear 'There's only one Allen Pardew' on Tuesday) we must wholeheartedly get behind Dean Wilkins during the next important matches. A welcoming song for him?. Dean Wilkin's red and white army!!!'... It's a bit like 'The king is dead - long live the king'

The Guardian seems to think that unrest between training staff was the catalyst for the sacking of Pardew and his close coaching team. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/aug/30/southampton-sack-alan-pardew One thing I did notice recently was that I have not noticed Wilkins on the touchline recently, apart from handing AP notes. Was there a rift between AP and Wilkins?

ooaaaarrrgh

It is/was well known (as you should know) that visiting teams did find The Dell intimidating from their own reports. Our home record at The Dell kept us up for several seasons. Visiting teams don't find St Mary's so intimidating as stats prove. It may be something to do with the seats being further than the players here than at The Dell, and that the stands are more gently raked than at some other grounds. For whatever reason our team are suffering from a lack of confidence which comes with any team when they have suffered so many near misses, not to mention that important first win. At any level players are affected by the confidence factor. Fwiw I agree that they have been unneccesarily too timid for most of the two league games so far (but not against Bolton). I have every belief in them though. The crowd have to have belief. You know very well that supporters can be the twelfth man when things are not going well and can make the difference.

Not everyone on this site feel they have to score points against others, but sadly the petty point scoring bores are taking over and driving others away. I fear you may be the only one left on here Alps.

No, Alpine is not allowed to leave Switzerland.

So long as it's not a palindromic score. We don't need replays. We need to concentrate on the league.

A fair observation. Puncheon may not yet be the finished article, but let's not forget that he was one of the injured players for much of pre-season, so he has some excuse for not yet being able to play at his best (like Adam and Lambo). Let's not also forget how many very successful players have learned their trade on the pitch and come good. On Saturday we watched a directionless jaded group of footballers, not playing as team, in the second half. Just a few players were putting in that extra effort, and that included the unlucky - not to score - Barnard, Butterfield and Puncheon. Puncheon was taking on defenders and battling forward but so often without support. It is an unlikeable aspect of this forum that so many on here always must have a scapegoat to pillory. It is a form of cowardly group internet bullying and rather pointless. Puncheon has undoubted talents. Better to appreciate a players strengths and weaknesses. Criticism is ok and part of the learning experience. But why not support Puncheon as he progresses, as he will? More rewarding too.

Pretty much as I saw it. Poor show in front of Liebherr's family. I hope they have not been put off by the inept tactics and performances this season so far..

Puncheon's effort was better than most today and he frequently battled forward but lacked support. Had opportunities but shooting was like Kenwyne Jones on a bad day. Low flying aircraft beware!

We on this forum are pretty much in agreement (surprise, surprise) in diagnosing the teams weaknesses and faults and it is so frustrating watching the predictable. Why is AP so expressionless and inactive on the touchline? He should be bollocking the players for not getting stuck in, for failing to win the ball so often. A repeat (lack of) performance of how they played against Plymouth. Simply not good enough.

It really is tiresome that threads are so frequently spoiled by petty squabbler point scorers (PSPS). Time methinks that admin warn and infract them.

Spot on. Petty squabblers take note In NC I trust.

Whilst I think this is a sensible post, I don't believe that this issue would force his removal. It might be more likely that Cortese tires of us and leaves. But Nicola's views on his position at the club following Markus's sad passing is crucial. WE cannot have forgotten that it was he that persuaded Markus to invest in us, and it only happened because Markus persuaded Cortese to be fully responsible for running the club. We are all awaiting developments anxiously. Cortese may be a bit of a business totalitarian but I fear the return of the indisciplined muddle at the top that so ruined us. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the spat with the hypocritical rag it pales into insignificance for us now. RIP Marcus.

I'll never forget that first appearance at St Mary's a year ago waving to the crowd from the front row of the director's stand. Markus looked so happy to be here. He looked the picture of health too. We all love you, Markus. Your name will be revered here with the greatest of Saints legends. Thank you so much. Sympathy and condolences to all your family.

rally nice pic. Mods - how about putting a picture of Markus on our top banner?

Perhaps we should change our name to Saints South Coast FC when Pompey disappear.

The press have never given SFC a monkey's appraisal in the past. I don't expect this ever to change. Reports in the London papers rarely credit Saints when we win. It's usually the other team that lost. So I'm not too bothered. Our only response should be comprehensive victories on the pitch.

A good thread and post and so very true. It was pathetic the way we - as a crowd of supporters - fell silent after Plymouth's first goal. We on this site so often project ourselves (as a small sample of Saints supporters) as a bunch of faint-hearted whinging moaners who cannot stomach a challenge. We are above ourselves when we expect everything to go perfectly all the time. W,e together with the players, have got to grist away when we are behind if we want to claw out those vital points against frustrating teams that pack their goalmouth and play for lucky goals. There are many times when the players need our vocal support - not stunned silence. The most humiliating chant from opposition supporters is 'You're not singing any more!' Fair play to Northam who do their bit, but those of us in other parts of the ground need to be encouraging those around us to shout and chant more. As a body could we do more in the stands to rouse more noise from those around us? Well, done Pardue, keep saying it as it is.

Well this may not last for ever because as soon as Cortese gets tired of Southampton and leaves (which some on this site seem to want) taking Marcus with him (which nobody wants) we will be back to square one. If we lose against Bournemouth, who are up for this and determined to win, while we are bit blase and overconfident, expect Nicola to be reconsidering what he is doing here, and reacting accordingly. I hope I am wrong..

I reckon we'll all get motivated about Bournemouth matches if they beat us -which is not unlikely since they'll have watched and learned from the Plymouth game, and I'm not convinced our players recently are showing enough bottle against physical opponents.