Thoughts of the season so far?

[doddisalegend]

With a busy December just around the corner what's every bodies take on the season so far. Is the season going the way you thought it would? Did you excpect us to be doing better or worse? happy with the way things are shaping up or disappointed?

 

What do you give saints out of 10 for the season so far.

 

For me it's about 6/10.

 

We're in the mix for the top spots and there's still plenty of time to push on up into the all important top two, but I'm disappointed. I really expected the way last season finished for us to take the league by the scruff of the neck this season get to the top and stay there. I was hoping to see us put the lesser lights of this league to the sword on match days.

 

Being in seventh at this point of the season is frustating. Coupled with a sense that the team are still not playing to the potential they have is taking the gloss of what I hoped would be a cracking season. Hopefully we can go on a run through December and have a really good second half of the season.

 

Thoughts?

[saint lard]

Underwhelmed.

[John B]

With a busy December just around the corner what's every bodies take on the season so far. Is the season going the way you thought it would? Did you excpect us to be doing better or worse? happy with the way things are shaping up or disappointed?

 

What do you give saints out of 10 for the season so far.

 

For me it's about 6/10.

 

We're in the mix for the top spots and there's still plenty of time to push on up into the all important top two, but I'm disappointed. I really expected the way last season finished for us to take the league by the scruff of the neck this season get to the top and stay there. I was hoping to see us put the lesser lights of this league to the sword on match days.

 

Being in seventh at this point of the season is frustating. Coupled with a sense that the team are still not playing to the potential they have is taking the gloss of what I hoped would be a cracking season. Hopefully we can go on a run through December and have a really good second half of the season.

 

Thoughts?

 

My thoughts are similar to you but I would give 7/10 because of the recent improvement

[chocco boxo]

We are nicely placed but I just hope we do not rue those losses to Plymouth and Rochdale who obviously raised their games against us. I feel other teams will be doing this at SMS as they get to sample the big match atmosphere

[Toomer]

Could do better, but we are going in the right direction.

[saint lard]

I will refer the gentleman to the answer i gave sometime ago.....see post 113.....

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?26452-Is-Adkins-living-up-to-your-expectations

[Thedelldays]

considering what the hell happened pre season and that the players were clearly not fit what so ever for the season......throw in pardew going..

 

I give the season so far 7/10...that is based on the up turn in results in the last two months...

 

I would like to think come easter we will be top 2 and pushing for the top....

 

plenty of time yet

[Saint dyer]

7/10. can and must do better. and im sure we will. its as simple as that

[Charlie Wayman]

You've got it about right, 6/10 but way below what was expected after last year's run-in. I am giving the benefit of any doubt to Adders that he will spring a surprise or two with imaginative signings in January - a creative midfielder and a creative striker in the Lallana mould. Failing that then we are not going up despite all the hyperbole coming from upon high. Automatic promotion must have been written into his JD as the reason his job existing.

 

It is now clear that Pardew got the transfer kitty he wanted last year obviously underwritten by a guarantee that he would gain us promotion last year so we know how the Corteses end-game works - it's called give a bloke enough rope....

 

Thus, Adders will get his piece of silver but sure as hell, Cortese will want his pot of gold for it!

[fanimal]

As ever, get stressed before each game, just desperate to get out of this Division - not sure why, as the last season/half have been far more entertaining than the previous 3 due to goals scored and wins! Still convinced we will go up automatically, confirm it at Orient as always, but will still take the last minute of the last game finishing second if that is how its to be!

[Turkish]

As ever, get stressed before each game, just desperate to get out of this Division - not sure why, as the last season/half have been far more entertaining than the previous 3 due to goals scored and wins! Still convinced we will go up automatically, confirm it at Orient as always, but will still take the last minute of the last game finishing second if that is how its to be!

 

Hmm, bit early for Orient away to confirm automatic promotion. Brighton away 23rd of April could be massive, 4th last game and potentially a massive game to decided automatic promotion.

[Window Cleaner]

My thoughts ??? AP managed 83 points with the team we had despite an awful start.This team is no better because NA has been tinkering with it when unnecessary and ****ing players off.He needed to get what he had available playing for him as did AP.

Not sure that I really rate NA at all. We shall see.

[Thedelldays]

My thoughts ??? AP managed 83 points with the team we had despite an awful start.This team is no better because NA has been tinkering with it when unnecessary and ****ing players off.He needed to get what he had available playing for him as did AP.

Not sure that I really rate NA at all. We shall see.

 

how on earth can you say he is "****ing players off"...where the hell did you get that from..?

[The Kraken]

Our season overall, I'd give 5/10. The form we showed in the last 2 months of last season suggested a season of success, and that we were so far away from that at the end of September was a shameful indictment of the club as a whole. Since coming in Adkins has done a decent enough job of turning our fortunes around, though we are still very much a work in progress and I expect him to be allowed to bring in two or three players in the January window. Adkins is running at about a 7 or 8 out of ten so far, he's got much more right than he has wrong but still plenty of room for improvement.

[West End Saint]

6 out of 10 for me I really thought we would storm it after the way we finished last season so disappointed to be 7th dont think we have hit top form yet but I like NA and feel/hope that he will get us where we need to be.

 

I do think we would have more points if we appointed a manager sooner than we did or stuck with Pards it has taken some time to get back on track but that 7 game run without a manager may cost us come May.

 

The time to hit form is the 2nd half of the season teams like Brighton & Bournemouth will do well to mantain there form till May with there squads we however havent hit top form yet and providing we do we have the squad to mantain our run it could still turn out to be a great season if we can get into top gear.

 

Will be interesting to see what happens in Jan who comes in & who goes out we have the team to get out of this league & whilst I have enjoyed League 1 we need promotion to push on COME ON YOU SAINTS

[Window Cleaner]

how on earth can you say he is "****ing players off"...where the hell did you get that from..?

 

Puncheon, well he didn't exactly tell me himself but you know what I mean.I really don't think his management is all that great, you don't drop returning internationals just for the hell of it. It's just a personal opinion, I am wont to express it from time to time because this is a discussion forum.

[The Kraken]

Puncheon, well he didn't exactly tell me himself but you know what I mean.I really don't think his management is all that great, you don't drop returning internationals just for the hell of it. It's just a personal opinion, I am wont to express it from time to time because this is a discussion forum.

 

I don't buy Puncheon's outburst; it just smacked of a player who was a bit out of sorts at a club and looking to play the blame game. Look at his previous; he's had disagreements at many of his previous clubs, which suggests he is trouble. And saying that he is happier playing for "a manager who wants him to be there" is just rubbish, all of pardew, Wilkins and Adkins gave him plenty of chances to perform and he didn't step up to his potential here.

[Thedelldays]

Puncheon, well he didn't exactly tell me himself but you know what I mean.I really don't think his management is all that great, you don't drop returning internationals just for the hell of it. It's just a personal opinion, I am wont to express it from time to time because this is a discussion forum.

 

punchoen..the 20-something year old who has already had god knows how many clubs..

hardly set the worlk alight here...and it is no shocker that a new manager has different ideas

[Window Cleaner]

punchoen..the 20-something year old who has already had god knows how many clubs..

hardly set the worlk alight here...and it is no shocker that a new manager has different ideas

 

As you like, I'm not convinced by NA as yet.

[Andy_Porter]

4/10. I had very high hopes going into the season and we haven't delivered. Anything less than promotion will be seen as a terrible season, I am still confident we can turn it around although I have a worry there is just something not write in the camp at the moment, I've no idea what I just think there seems to be some sort of divide.

[sandwichsaint]

Massively disappointing so far! I saw nearly 20 games last year home and away and I really enjoyed it; I've only been to MK, Notts Co and Brighton so far this year.

 

At the end of last season I was really looking fd to this season but the endless PR gaffes and negative vibes through the summer really knocked my enthusiasm for it; chuck in the carp pre-season, ant and dec moved on and not replaced, carp start, the AP fiasco, individual players under-performing .... all a bit lame thus far but hopefully NA can pull it out of the bag and 'January' might bring some improvement.

 

I also hate the sash shirt and the endless talk of a 50,000 seater stadium!

 

I'm sure I'll see 10-12 games by the end of the season but there's a constant feeling that we 'ought' to be doing a little bit better!

[Thedelldays]

As you like, I'm not convinced by NA as yet.

 

we are a tough crowd to please I guess...NA has come in and had a pretty **** hot impact in terms of results....considering he has really brought in 1 player...

no matter where you are with NA....jan SHOULD be interesting and I will be dissapointed IF we dont sign (in addition to chappers) at least 1 player of real quality....meaning, will get into the first team...

[Micky]

8/10 from me. I said somewhere on here during pre-season that I didn't expect us to get promoted this year, but we are in there with a good shot at it. Yes, we are 7th currently, but the points between teams are so minimal that everybody has a chance. If Rickie finds his form during the second half of the season, my earlier prediction could leave me with egg all over me phizog...!

[Victor]

Can't believe we haven't changed our manager recently. Our cadence of managerial change is slowing. If we don'y hurry up and get rid we will miss out on the play-off places for the most managers in the last 10 years.

[thesaint sfc]

Our entire season is down to Ricky Lambert. Take Lamberts goals out of last season and it put's us lower than we were now. I think the team are doing really well, but unfortunately Ricky isn't delivering. Need to get a decent striker in so we can get him playing for his place in the starting line up. We all know he has the goals in him - but just doesn't seem to be hitting the form he had last season.

[doddisalegend]

Our entire season is down to Ricky Lambert. Take Lamberts goals out of last season and it put's us lower than we were now. I think the team are doing really well, but unfortunately Ricky isn't delivering. Need to get a decent striker in so we can get him playing for his place in the starting line up. We all know he has the goals in him - but just doesn't seem to be hitting the form he had last season.

 

Nigel says he's been carrying niggling injuries all this season which has affected his fitness.

[simo]

6.5 need to kick on now ! Every time we get ourselves a seat at the table we forget our knife and fork sort it out or we won't be there when its dishing out time !

[Window Cleaner]

Nigel says he's been carrying niggling injuries all this season which has affected his fitness.

 

So he says yes, I think he's just saying that because he has ducked the issue or as has been suggested from time to time Lambert is undroppabable. I'm sure it's causing problems because he really is playing like a sackload of crap most of the time.Way way off the pace 80% of the time. Players are putting in crosses to where he should be,trouble is he's 3 yards short of it.

[rocknrollman no2]

The season so far?

Disappointing.

Disappointed with the pre season build up,Lambert not performing,Saints losing to teams we should be beating easily,the lack of replacements when we lost Antonio and Wago.

Hopefully we can rebuild yet again come January ,so we can get out of this manky league.

[derry]

Lambert and the team were hopeless under Pardew and Wilkins. After last season and the Championship winning team promise by Pardew, followed by an incompetent pre season and a pretty poor start I would give the pre Adkins era a big round zero. In the league Adkins has w7, d3, l3 which is 24 points in 13 games. He has turned SMS into a fortress unbeaten in 7 games with 5 wins. Away form is work in progress but we have taken 7 points in 6 games and have played all but 4 games against top half teams. I have included the MK Dons game which in my view Adkins could have had little influence. Since then he is averaging 2 points a game, his influence has become apparent, the team is evolving nicely and I expect a tougher approach away from home with the flakier characters playing less of a part from now on, with significant strengthening in January. I expect him to get close to 2 points average away and close to 2.5 at home. All in all he has done a pretty good job.

[Mowgli]

Entertaining. I am finally thinking I'm getting value for money from my season ticket. At the end of the day, that is all that matters to me. Promotion is a bonus really.

[NickG]

Stuttering start - 5/10

 

crap with no manager 0/10

 

good under Adkins and promises more 8/10

[corsacar saint]

After the first 6 games,we were going nowhere fast,says it all really.

[aintforever]

6/10 so far, the managerial instability has cost us big time.

 

Optimistic about Adkins though, the team are playing good stuff and he's only brought in one player on loan. The league is there for the taking if he's allowed to bring some players in during the January window.

[NickG]

after 7 games we were 22nd on 5 points, already 7 points from play offs and 9 points from top.

 

after 18 games we are 7th on 28 points, 1 off play offs and 8 off top.

 

for 7 games 0.7 points per game is terrible.

 

for the next 11 games 2.1 points per game is good.

 

carry on as the last 11 games and we will get about 87 points.

 

this would be enough for 2nd last year, 3rd year before, 2nd year before, 2nd year before and top year before that.

 

We are heading towards top 2 finish.

 

Team is improving - many others are not.

 

We have bigger squad than most (look at recent replacements for both fullbacks) - teams are likely to start suffering from their shortfalls.

 

 

We are still waiting Lambert to hit form he can undoubtedly show.

 

We are likely to be able to spend in January - particularly if top 2 by then.

 

Other teams more likely to be weakened in Jan than us

 

 

What I have seen in the 8 home games since Adkins came in (unbeaten) would be very surprised if not in top 3 at end of season and expact top two.

[smithy]

I think the Ref's have some say, a lot of them can't handle the big crowd at our place and bottle important decisions. Lallana should've had a pen on Tuesday and I am not sure theirs was one, but we do need to improve to get promoted.

[Phil the Saint]

Lambert and the team were hopeless under Pardew and Wilkins. After last season and the Championship winning team promise by Pardew, followed by an incompetent pre season and a pretty poor start I would give the pre Adkins era a big round zero. In the league Adkins has w7, d3, l3 which is 24 points in 13 games. He has turned SMS into a fortress unbeaten in 7 games with 5 wins. Away form is work in progress but we have taken 7 points in 6 games and have played all but 4 games against top half teams. I have included the MK Dons game which in my view Adkins could have had little influence. Since then he is averaging 2 points a game, his influence has become apparent, the team is evolving nicely and I expect a tougher approach away from home with the flakier characters playing less of a part from now on, with significant strengthening in January. I expect him to get close to 2 points average away and close to 2.5 at home. All in all he has done a pretty good job.

 

This

[SO16_Saint]

December is a month of 2 halves.

 

We will win all 3 games until boxing day, then 2 toughies with Charlton and Huddersfield, I think.

 

If we can win 4 draw 1 I would be over the moon.

 

Season so far? Com ce com ca. Meh. Could do better, could be a lot worse.

 

It's what happens from this point onwards that I care about.

 

Let's do this thing!!!

[doddisalegend]

after 7 games we were 22nd on 5 points, already 7 points from play offs and 9 points from top.

 

after 18 games we are 7th on 28 points, 1 off play offs and 8 off top.

 

for 7 games 0.7 points per game is terrible.

 

for the next 11 games 2.1 points per game is good.

 

carry on as the last 11 games and we will get about 87 points.

 

this would be enough for 2nd last year, 3rd year before, 2nd year before, 2nd year before and top year before that.

 

We are heading towards top 2 finish.

 

Team is improving - many others are not.

 

We have bigger squad than most (look at recent replacements for both fullbacks) - teams are likely to start suffering from their shortfalls.

 

 

We are still waiting Lambert to hit form he can undoubtedly show.

 

We are likely to be able to spend in January - particularly if top 2 by then.

 

Other teams more likely to be weakened in Jan than us

 

 

What I have seen in the 8 home games since Adkins came in (unbeaten) would be very surprised if not in top 3 at end of season and expact top two.

 

Question is though should we be playing catch up this season? I was rather expecting us to storm out of the starting blocks and lay waste to the teams in this division building a commanding lead and finishing as champions (the last bit still possible granted) rather than chasing the likes of Bompey and Brighton.

[NickG]

I was, that's why gave 5/10 for Pardew's start, then 0/10 for Wilkins - but at least for biggest and most recent chunk we are performing

[S-Clarke]

After a slow start we've now started to continue our form from the back end of last season and if we keep that going, which i expect us to do with more additions in january, then we'll win the league with room to spare.

 

I'm very confident with our chances because we've managed to keep within touching distance of everyone, and this is also with the promise of quality additions in january to add to our already quality squad - this will be coupled with sides in and around us loosing their better players as we've seen today.

 

It's going to be a very exciting 2011, I'm sure of it.

[PaulGilchrist_76]

I am very disappointed that Saints are not in the top two.

 

I know there is still a long way to go but I hope the points we have chucked away don't come back to haunt us.

 

The playoffs are a lottery and we really need to be in the top two. With our stuttering away form, I can see us falling short again this season. Cue managerial departure and more chaos in the summer.

 

I hope we can strenghten the team in January then perhaps go on a great winning run like Norwich did last season. Just doesn't seem likely judging by performances so far this season.

[The9]

I'll give us a 6, practically exactly the same as last year with the exception of the JPT and on one hand nothing like as good as I was hoping, on the other hand, almost exactly what I was expecting.

[sadoldgit]

The problem between Pardew and Cortese was less than helpful and losing Pardew a blow.

[Smirking_Saint]

The problems between Pardew and Cortese was less than helpful but losing Pardew was a plus.

 

Happy with the team, happy with the manager and happy with the progress since Wilkins.

 

Still a little dissapointed with our position but very glad that the top teams have also stumbled along this season. We have a lot to prove what with our squad, the money we have spent and the early season (and current i believe) favourites tag. We really should be playing better and making statements by now.

 

C+ Cannot forgive the start if term but can understand why minds were elsewhere, starting to get the heads in order and progressing nicely.

[Hedgehog]

I think we can still up it a few gears, where as the rest of the teams in this league are playing at full potential. So my thoughts for this season so far, is we are just starting to go for it on the home straight. Let the others blow themselves out, if teams like Brighton feel that being totally negative against us is a good result, then so be it!

[Saint_clark]

considering what the hell happened pre season and that the players were clearly not fit what so ever for the season......throw in pardew going..

 

I give the season so far 7/10...that is based on the up turn in results in the last two months...

 

I would like to think come easter we will be top 2 and pushing for the top....

 

plenty of time yet

 

I'd hope we're in the top two by january tbh.

[lordswoodsaints]

With the resources available we really should be storming this league and preparing for the championship but we are not.we are doing ok but I'm still not convinced that everything is rosy behind the scenes,lambert doesn't look fit or interested and one or two others seem to have gone off the boil.

I'm giving the season so far 6/10 slightly above average......must do better.

[Saint Billy]

6/10 for me too. The team does not fill me with confidence and again,too inconsistent.

 

As for NA, a bit dissapointed that he has not brought his own players in so far. Although as everyone keeps stating, on paper we should be wiping the floor, there are too many like RL not performing for NA for whatever reason.

 

Unfortunately I just have this nagging feeling that we are going to miss out again this season, primarily because we lost a good manager yet again at a critical time and are expecting too much from the new guy too soon.

[Doctoroncall]

Pre-season expectations were high, then it all fell apart!

 

Annoyed with the Pardew situation in that it wasn't sorted out earlier. Sad to see him go but glad that Adkins came in.

 

It seems there are a few issues still to resolve in terms of play - CB partnering, Schneiderlin and Lambert's form. I still worry that we aren't picking up more points to close the gap to the top quicker, but that's my impatience. I suppose as long as we are in the top two at the end of the season does it matter how we get there.

 

So now, hopefully upwards with improving away form and I hope Lallana signs a new deal.