Gemmel Posted 27 August, 2010 Share Posted 27 August, 2010 I read Pardews article in the Echo about his relief that this weekend we are playing away and that it would be good for the team to get away from the expectations of home crowd. I am a big fan of Pardews, but don't completely agree with this. But did start wondering whether things would be any different with this squad playing at the Dell. I know we are much better off at St Mary's, I know we had to move etc etc., but if we could chose just one season to play at the Dell again, for me it would be this one. After my first five minutes at St Mary's I wanted to be back at The Dell. Probably more out of sentiment than anything else...... The old girl rocking for one more season, Champions guaranteed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deppo Posted 27 August, 2010 Share Posted 27 August, 2010 If only Nicola would have let us stay at The dell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 27 August, 2010 Share Posted 27 August, 2010 Too many people are parked on the pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toofarnorth Posted 27 August, 2010 Share Posted 27 August, 2010 I'm sorry but one week he goes on about how the crowd can cheer the lads on to victory and now he says because there are loads of us in the ground they cant take the expectation we have to win. Make your mind up Alan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 27 August, 2010 Share Posted 27 August, 2010 I read Pardews article in the Echo about his relief that this weekend we are playing away and that it would be good for the team to get away from the expectations of home crowd. I am a big fan of Pardews, but don't completely agree with this. But did start wondering whether things would be any different with this squad playing at the Dell. I know we are much better off at St Mary's, I know we had to move etc etc., but if we could chose just one season to play at the Dell again, for me it would be this one. After my first five minutes at St Mary's I wanted to be back at The Dell. Probably more out of sentiment than anything else...... The old girl rocking for one more season, Champions guaranteed Surely the pressure would be even worse at the Dell, what with the closer proximity of our fans ? I find APs comments pathetic. It seems to me that the whole team and manager are glass-jawed lightweights if they cannot perform for loyal and supportive fans who cheer them on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 27 August, 2010 Share Posted 27 August, 2010 I'm sorry but one week he goes on about how the crowd can cheer the lads on to victory and now he says because there are loads of us in the ground they cant take the expectation we have to win. Make your mind up Alan. Exactly. Excuse-making b*ll*cks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandwichsaint Posted 27 August, 2010 Share Posted 27 August, 2010 For those that want a reason/excuse for everything - it must be pretty unusual (unique-ish even?) to play your first four games of the season at home (more likely to play 4 away if your ground wasn't ready etc). Agree it will be good for the players to play an away game for a change of scene - hopefully we can win and come back to SMS with renewed confidence. AP could be building a pretty large albatross though if he is going to refer to 'the crowd' in his interviews every week - footballers play in front of crowds - deal with it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saints67 Posted 27 August, 2010 Share Posted 27 August, 2010 Hmmm I read his comments as to mean away from St. Mary's teams may open up a bit and not play negative football against us. But hey I'm an optimist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toofarnorth Posted 27 August, 2010 Share Posted 27 August, 2010 Hmmm I read his comments as to mean away from St. Mary's teams may open up a bit and not play negative football against us. But hey I'm an optimist. In fairness i've actually read the article now and pretty much agree with your assessment. Sorry Alps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 27 August, 2010 Share Posted 27 August, 2010 Hmmm I read his comments as to mean away from St. Mary's teams may open up a bit and not play negative football against us. But hey I'm an optimist. I dont agree, simply because the evidence of matches at places like Wycombe, Tranmere, Colchester, Brentford and Exeter last season does not support it. The better teams like Norwich, maybe, and it is clear that we can win against teams that try to play against us. But when all our opponents look at us and work out that they can get a result by closed-down negative play, why do we think they wont all employ the same negative tactics ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paris Posted 27 August, 2010 Share Posted 27 August, 2010 I think he's actually talking sense here and tend to agree with him,i find nothing wrong with his comments .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norwaysaint Posted 27 August, 2010 Share Posted 27 August, 2010 I agree with this. We need to rebuild the Dell and get back to the good old days when we didn't lose lots of games we wanted to win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmel Posted 27 August, 2010 Author Share Posted 27 August, 2010 I agree with this. We need to rebuild the Dell and get back to the good old days when we didn't lose lots of games we wanted to win. That's the ticket Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 27 August, 2010 Share Posted 27 August, 2010 Exactly. Excuse-making b*ll*cks. The involvement of the crowd in determining results is preety much cobblers to begin with, we proved that in the League Cup at Watford in 2003 when Saints were 4-0 down and staged a mighty comeback to lose 5-2 whilst 50% of the Saints fans were cheering for Watford. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
explorer saint Posted 27 August, 2010 Share Posted 27 August, 2010 Short memories, I remember many a game at the Dell when the crowd were right on the players back, when things were not going right, just think back to the branfoot days and a certain abuse Steve Baker used to get playing in the full back position, the latter fully justified IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkSFC Posted 27 August, 2010 Share Posted 27 August, 2010 I think the point Pardew is trying to make is not about big crowds, merely that the crowd has big expectations. And following a run of four games at home the pressure builds when you dont win. Getting into the environment of an away game (whoever you are) is completely different. Having said that, for the first time I am being to see a little crack in Pardew and maybe just maybe he is feeling the pressure just a littelbit! I still think he is the man for this season a t least but he needs to do a Ferguson and create that seige mentality....its ONLY about winning and promotion this season, nothing else matters. On the matter of the DELL...I miss that place immensly!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lets B Avenue Posted 27 August, 2010 Share Posted 27 August, 2010 The involvement of the crowd in determining results is preety much cobblers to begin with, we proved that in the League Cup at Watford in 2003 when Saints were 4-0 down and staged a mighty comeback to lose 5-2 whilst 50% of the Saints fans were cheering for Watford. With the other 50% on the way home. First and only time I've done that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheff Saint Posted 27 August, 2010 Share Posted 27 August, 2010 I don't think Pardew is making any point about the crowd. I think he likes away games cos it brings the team closer together and it can be used for a bit for bonding. The article didn't read that away was better than home, both are different and he's excited about being away this weekend merely cos we haven't had an away game yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eelpie Posted 27 August, 2010 Share Posted 27 August, 2010 Surely the pressure would be even worse at the Dell, what with the closer proximity of our fans ? I find APs comments pathetic. It seems to me that the whole team and manager are glass-jawed lightweights if they cannot perform for loyal and supportive fans who cheer them on. 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 27 August, 2010 Share Posted 27 August, 2010 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. I agree with your whole post. Which is which I find APs comments disappointing. If he is rationalising that matches will be more open (winnable) away from SMS, he isnt giving a lot of respect to the tactical nous of the opposition (if a known tactic works against us, why wont the opposing manager use it ?), and not working hard enough to resolve the issue at SMS. We have super, loyal (how loyal can be seen on here in the reaction to criticism), supportive fans who deserve a lot, lot more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheff Saint Posted 27 August, 2010 Share Posted 27 August, 2010 (edited) I agree with your whole post. Which is which I find APs comments disappointing. If he is rationalising that matches will be more open (winnable) away from SMS, he isnt giving a lot of respect to the tactical nous of the opposition (if a known tactic works against us, why wont the opposing manager use it ?), and not working hard enough to resolve the issue at SMS. We have super, loyal (how loyal can be seen on here in the reaction to criticism), supportive fans who deserve a lot, lot more. Doesn't sound like you've read the link so I've included it here for you. http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/8355013.Saints_boss_glad_to_finally_get_away_from_St__Mary_s/?ref=mr Just for future reference, if you pop 'google.com' into your browser you should be able to search for most articles that appear in the Daily Echo. That will prevent you from having to guess what people have or haven't said. Edited 27 August, 2010 by Sheff Saint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 28 August, 2010 Share Posted 28 August, 2010 I was a bit disappointed with the moaning and booing at the Orient game, dont think ML wouldve appreciated it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doggface Posted 28 August, 2010 Share Posted 28 August, 2010 I can see what pards means to a degree, however it appears to me the players are so fragile this season mentally. That is a big big concern, as soon as we concede the heads drop, we panic & don't reply. Last season we would brush it off "if you score, we will score more" Football is won just as much with the mind as with the feet & the mental side is not right at the moment. We need a win badly & hope that that will bring back the belief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 28 August, 2010 Share Posted 28 August, 2010 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 28 August, 2010 Share Posted 28 August, 2010 the "fortress" that the Dell often was through a succesion of managers. . well..there was one season when we lost two home games at SMS...at home to liverpool and man u... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 28 August, 2010 Share Posted 28 August, 2010 well..there was one season when we lost two home games at SMS...at home to liverpool and man u... 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulwantsapint Posted 28 August, 2010 Share Posted 28 August, 2010 Right now the 1st league win is in the bag lets get the 1st home league win Slight problem with SMS is that even with 25k it looks empty which gives away team boost we go away & sell out our allocation with vocal fans it gives our players a boost as we can out sign the home fans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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