Saints warm up with a win (From Daily Echo)

Lets play Billy and Jay off Rickie with Adam Spider and Davis in the middle Geting excited now

so who went and what did you think?

Where is everybody? in the pub ?

Anyone else worried about rickie, I have the feeling he's going to be fighting for his spot this year and wont feature so much, billy no pun intended looks very sharp and seem's to be going from strengh to strengh can't help wondering how many goals billy would have grabbed last season if we'd secured his services in the summer rather than in the january window

Seems to me all bodes well for the coming season, NA rightfully looking at different tactics and formations over the course of pre-season (after all, aren't pre-seasons all about getting players match fit and trying out new systems??) ahead of what will be a difficlult 1st season back in the Prem.

I think we also have to bear in mind that Cork will be a major player this season but due to the Olympics isn't featuring in pre-season. The same canbe said of Davis. Not featured due to a slight niggle. Come the Man City game, Cork will be back, Davis will be nearing full fitness etc etc.

My view is that NA is looking at players (such as JWP) who can cover for injuries. Punch seems to be putting in a good shift.

Sir R of L will be fit and do what he does best - score goals. I agree with most views on this site that we need to look at defence and I also agree with most that NA and NC have got htis covered (BTW just my suggestion, but how about Craig Dawson from WBA, been with Team GB??).

Anyway, ramble over, Saints to finish top 15, and the Skunts will soon be a blot on the memory.

COYR

WTFILN

Tirau Dan wrote:
so who went and what did you think?

Clyne excellent, Gazza looks competent, did fluff one cross, Puncheon very enthusiastic, Fox was classic Fox, Hooiveld steady as a rock, Stephens a few shaky moments but fair, Lala busy and set up several chances playing in the hole behind Sharp, who took his goal well but did get caught offside too often, must show more awareness if he is going to lead the front, showed a bit of pace and is getting fitter, Chaplow busy, nothing special, Hammond more back passes than you can shake a stick at but competent, Guly was very versatile, here there and everywhere, should have scored a couple of times, De Rid was like a headless chicken when he came on, final ball decisions not good, Fonte and Seaborne don't seem to be on the same wavelength at times, Ward-Prowse and Davis didn't see much of the ball so hard to judge, Richardson seemlessly took over from Clyne, there were some good movements down the flanks, but better teams will exploit this if we lose the ball in crucial areas, not a bad work out, no one really broke into a real sweat, particularly Wolves who just made it a stroll in the Park.

I really enjoyed the game - it's always good to see us win of course. Punch's goal was real quality and should earn him a place in our squad this year. Not sure exactly what is to be learned by playing a team a division below us, but if NA thinks it's better to try out a new formation in a real game against weaker opposition instead of in a private practice match against our reserves, then that is good because he is the expert and I am only a supporter (40++ years and counting!). What really worried me was the crowd. Another pitifully low attendance - less than 4000 !! - apparently them up the M27 got more for their game today - and, even more importantly, a total lack of atmosphere. I have been to non-league games with better atmosphere than we managed today. Come on guys, we need to do better than this, especially in the first few home games of the season.

I thought saints played some good assured possession football today. I thought jos and Stephens were really steady after the first 20 minutes. I honestly thought the young lad Stephens was safer than fonte, who took his place with about 30 minutes to go. I hate to say it, but he looks like our weak link, I would be tempted to start with Stephens.

Generally our retention if the ball was good and for much of the game wolves were chasing shadows.

Lallana was class and in whole I think we played well. Puncheon and clyne were very affective when going forward and our new goalkeeper looked calm and did what was needed with little fuss.

Sharp looks fit and really up for the challenge. His movement off the ball was good and wolves had trouble picking him up.

I was really happy with our passing though, we look like a side who wants to keep the ball and can control a game, which for the majority of this match they did.

Wolves came wanting to win this and by the reaction of the supporters and players they were disappointed that they never got a result. The supporters seemed surprised how much saints controlled the game. Apart from the first 20 minutes, saints did control the game and were easy winners in the end.

Crossley Place Saint wrote:
I really enjoyed the game - it's always good to see us win of course. Punch's goal was real quality and should earn him a place in our squad this year. Not sure exactly what is to be learned by playing a team a division below us, but if NA thinks it's better to try out a new formation in a real game against weaker opposition instead of in a private practice match against our reserves, then that is good because he is the expert and I am only a supporter (40++ years and counting!). What really worried me was the crowd. Another pitifully low attendance - less than 4000 !! - apparently them up the M27 got more for their game today - and, even more importantly, a total lack of atmosphere. I have been to non-league games with better atmosphere than we managed today. Come on guys, we need to do better than this, especially in the first few home games of the season.

I agree. But to be honest I have rarely been to a pre season friendly where the atmosphere was rocking. It is basically a training game so the support isn't going to show the same blood and thunder as games that mean something.

Also, pompeys game could be their last at home and it was an opportunity for them to show support. Considering the importance for them I am surprised they didn't get far more supporters.

I never thought we would get many today. I used it as a chance to take my 6 year old son to enjoy a game that I could also relax... Normally my blood pressure is at the max with competitive games. It was nice just to enjoy the football with a calm head.

How good is it to be a Saints fan right now? Well done lads!

Crossley Place Saint: "Another pitifully low attendance - less than 4000 !!...Come on guys, we need to do better than this, especially in the first few home games of the season."

With well over 20,000 season tickets sold, I think you can expect a few more people there for Premier League games than for a meaningless pre-season friendly with daft ticket prices...

The Liebherr family and NC have, to date, fulfilled every single promise they have made to get our great club back to where we all think it belongs.

Big money has already been invested, and the majority of fans, myself included, still want more. This too has been promised.

Given their commitment to the cause, the 4,000 crowd today was a pathetic response.

I wonder how much longer they will subsidise such a one sided arrangement, because I know that if it were me, I would by now be seriously re-considering how much I was prepared to pay out for a fan-base who don't seem remotely interested.

Business is business after all, and the Liebherrs aren't multi-billionaires because they throw money away.

Pre-season games are vital for the players and for the club as a whole.

Let's start showing that we care.

Well over 20,000 people have forked out £600 plus for the season - hardly a one sided arrangement.

If there are any empty seats for any home games this season then by all means come back on here and complain but don't try to claim lack of commitment based on how many people will fork out daft money for a meaningless pre-season runabout against a team that dropped out of the PL last year.

It was a pre season friendly. I am sure most people including the liebherrs and Cortese would be concerned if this was the league.

I believe I'm right in saying our last few games of the season were complete sell outs.

No club will be concerned about attendances at a pre season friendly. Especially when many families are away on holiday or people are aware that they have a couple of league games to pay out for this month!

I went today, because I wanted to take my six year old to a game where I was calmer than usual!!

If the ticket price had been £5 I could have afforded to go along with 20;000 others......

Velleity wrote:
Well over 20,000 people have forked out £600 plus for the season - hardly a one sided arrangement.

If there are any empty seats for any home games this season then by all means come back on here and complain but don't try to claim lack of commitment based on how many people will fork out daft money for a meaningless pre-season runabout against a team that dropped out of the PL last year.

I agree. Well said.

Although i paid £15 for my son and I to go today, I felt that was good value. Can't do much for 7.50 per person these days. It was a good opportunity to get young children to watch a game. I feel it was not a bad turnout considering it was a friendly and the time of the year. I know many who couldn't go because they are either away or are saving their money for the man city away game and Wigan at home, which come around before most people get paid again.

And let`s not forget a small event going on in London and various places at the moment, also a test match......

For goodness sake some people, winge winge winge

shaun_inuk wrote:
And let`s not forget a small event going on in London and various places at the moment, also a test match......

For goodness sake some people, winge winge winge

Yea, just a few small events!! Rewind a few years, we really would have something to moan about.

Anyway, I'm happy to be a saint and I'm astounded that people are moaning about the attendance at a pre-season friendly!

Cheer up everyone, you could be a skunt, then you would have reason to moan!

Velleity wrote:
Well over 20,000 people have forked out £600 plus for the season - hardly a one sided arrangement.

If there are any empty seats for any home games this season then by all means come back on here and complain but don't try to claim lack of commitment based on how many people will fork out daft money for a meaningless pre-season runabout against a team that dropped out of the PL last year.

12 million quid. That doesn't go far in the Premiership world nowadays!

Don't forget £600 is the cheapest price for a ticket and also hospitality boxes are as much as £45000 for a season.I think when someone worked it out on here a few weeks ago, we had sold in the region of 24000 season tickets, Which is now more than that no doubt. So allowing for away support, at most there are 4-5000 tickets left for match days. I think normal premiership service will be resumed where St Mary's will be filled for match days, the only time it won't is when away fans do not fill their section.
Do not forget 2/3rds of Hampshire is red and white and always has been.

check BBC football page transfer gossip. Click Independent, article with NA on Saints. Good article.

4000 which ever way you look at it is p155 poor attendance, more needs to be done to get bums on seats.
Next season we will still have less attractive games ie carling cup and I hope the club is learning from this and will offer a deal/promotion to sell tickets.
As for the game it was more like a training session with no great urgency. Some good link up play by saints and 2 good goals. Negatives Hammond and sdr.

I live in Southampton, have been a season ticket holder for the last 6 years (all the bad times) but did not renew this year.
Fewer games (of which I always miss a few around the family holidays), a higher price, more games on telly and more bills to pay mean I cannot justify the expense. I don't care who we play as long as we play well. I will watch all the games I can afford to this year but TBH will probably skip the "big" team games, I get the feeling that they won't be as enjoyable.
Pre-season friendlies can be fun, but price is an issue.
If you got the "package" then Liebherr cup, Ajax & Udinese would have cost £47, too much for many (including me) to justify at the moment.
Yes 4000 is not a great attendance, but I remember not so long ago that Crouch set a cup game against Yeovil at £10, kids for either free or £1, we had the largest walk in crowd on record for Saints & the top attendance that day. This was at a time when we were doing PFS, but the fans turned up.
Fairplay, the club cannot run as a not for profit, that just would not work in the real world. But when we know just how much TV money is being earned, the club can afford to give a little back, call it a promo, a loss leader, whatever, but FFS don't expect big attendances for extra friendlies at these prices.

The attendance was actually 4001. I suppose I should let it ride over me, but it is disappointing that a quadruple season ticket holding ardent supporter such as myself should be so casually overlooked.

It is a low figure but I can't knock it as I don't do pre season friendlies myself. The season is long and expensive and I attend as many games as possible - missed 1 home and went to 10 away last season. So I do stuff with my kids and other hobbies during close season. Maybe others the same but I'm sure come the season SMS will be full or very near full for each game.

jezza wrote:
The Liebherr family and NC have, to date, fulfilled every single promise they have made to get our great club back to where we all think it belongs.

Big money has already been invested, and the majority of fans, myself included, still want more. This too has been promised.

Given their commitment to the cause, the 4,000 crowd today was a pathetic response.

I wonder how much longer they will subsidise such a one sided arrangement, because I know that if it were me, I would by now be seriously re-considering how much I was prepared to pay out for a fan-base who don't seem remotely interested.

Business is business after all, and the Liebherrs aren't multi-billionaires because they throw money away.

Pre-season games are vital for the players and for the club as a whole.

Let's start showing that we care.

I think we are allowed to sale 24,000 Season Tickets. I have been told we have sold over 23,000. Commitment shown i think.
Today's game was what it said , a friendly were i think we played about 18 to 20 players. People will not pay nearly as much to watch games like this as they will to watch Premier games. It's holiday period, you have got the OLYMPICS are on T V . Come the football season you will see a difference. Full stadium rocking ground if not i will give you my season ticket. Have faith.

I still can't believe all this over the attendance of a pre season friendly.

Come on guys, we have a good team and we played some good football. We are back in the premier league and we have done it with a style of football that we should all be proud of.

Attendances at preseason friendlies are not important and we all know that demand for tickets this season will again be high, like they were for most of last season.

It beggars belief that after all that has been achieved over the last three years some people still manage to moan about something! Look east, things could be worse, much worse.

On the note about the cost of this game, it was one adult and one child for £15, for a parent to take a child along I think is great value (£7.50 each). There is not much you can do that costs much less these days.

Cheer up everyone, we have a club to be proud of. I thought the attendance was not bad considering all the other sporting events and summer holidays at the moment. Not bad for a training session!

jezza wrote:
The Liebherr family and NC have, to date, fulfilled every single promise they have made to get our great club back to where we all think it belongs.

Big money has already been invested, and the majority of fans, myself included, still want more. This too has been promised.

Given their commitment to the cause, the 4,000 crowd today was a pathetic response.

I wonder how much longer they will subsidise such a one sided arrangement, because I know that if it were me, I would by now be seriously re-considering how much I was prepared to pay out for a fan-base who don't seem remotely interested.

Business is business after all, and the Liebherrs aren't multi-billionaires because they throw money away.

Pre-season games are vital for the players and for the club as a whole.

Let's start showing that we care.

Not prepared to pay £20 plus £15 for my son for a pre season friendly. I have already forked out nearly £900 on two season tickets. Is that fair enough?

Landdo wrote:
Anyone else worried about rickie, I have the feeling he's going to be fighting for his spot this year and wont feature so much, billy no pun intended looks very sharp and seem's to be going from strengh to strengh can't help wondering how many goals billy would have grabbed last season if we'd secured his services in the summer rather than in the january window

Yep. I worry about us in the transfer market. We seem to be driven too much by saving a few quid here and there.

george chivers wrote:

Landdo wrote:
Anyone else worried about rickie, I have the feeling he's going to be fighting for his spot this year and wont feature so much, billy no pun intended looks very sharp and seem's to be going from strengh to strengh can't help wondering how many goals billy would have grabbed last season if we'd secured his services in the summer rather than in the january window

Yep. I worry about us in the transfer market. We seem to be driven too much by saving a few quid here and there.

Really? I think we have signed some good players so far... Maybe I'm wrong.

For those whingeing about the low attendance, get real, there is a recession on, and friendlies are often as excitnig as watching paint dry. go if you want, but I prefer to wait for the season proper..plus the Olympics are here.

Ricky Lambert will not score as many goals this season as he is already being used in a different style.
The goals will be shared out a great deal more with the formation we are likely to use.
The front 6 will interchangeable, each of them with a different skill set and there are 15 players to fill those 6 spots.There is likely to be at least one more signing of a higher calibre than those already here.
That is what these preseason games are for, another learning curve and there are only 5 -6 games to get it right.

the third hardest man in sholing wrote:

jezza wrote:
The Liebherr family and NC have, to date, fulfilled every single promise they have made to get our great club back to where we all think it belongs.

Big money has already been invested, and the majority of fans, myself included, still want more. This too has been promised.

Given their commitment to the cause, the 4,000 crowd today was a pathetic response.

I wonder how much longer they will subsidise such a one sided arrangement, because I know that if it were me, I would by now be seriously re-considering how much I was prepared to pay out for a fan-base who don't seem remotely interested.

Business is business after all, and the Liebherrs aren't multi-billionaires because they throw money away.

Pre-season games are vital for the players and for the club as a whole.

Let's start showing that we care.

Not prepared to pay £20 plus £15 for my son for a pre season friendly. I have already forked out nearly £900 on two season tickets. Is that fair enough?

Yep. My total cost for one ticket including a Saints car parking space and all other expenses including an allowance for tax is £1600 gross.

And I usually miss 2 games per season, so I give my ticket away to mates.

Enough I think.

randre wrote:
I still can't believe all this over the attendance of a pre season friendly.

Come on guys, we have a good team and we played some good football. We are back in the premier league and we have done it with a style of football that we should all be proud of.

Attendances at preseason friendlies are not important and we all know that demand for tickets this season will again be high, like they were for most of last season.

It beggars belief that after all that has been achieved over the last three years some people still manage to moan about something! Look east, things could be worse, much worse.

On the note about the cost of this game, it was one adult and one child for £15, for a parent to take a child along I think is great value (£7.50 each). There is not much you can do that costs much less these days.

Cheer up everyone, we have a club to be proud of. I thought the attendance was not bad considering all the other sporting events and summer holidays at the moment. Not bad for a training session!

I agree Randre, attendances are not that important for pre-season friendlies.

I never recall lots of fans at pre-seasons in other seasons.

I've been a STH for many years, but I have never been to a pre-season but I am there for the league and cup games.

the third hardest man in sholing wrote:

jezza wrote:
The Liebherr family and NC have, to date, fulfilled every single promise they have made to get our great club back to where we all think it belongs.

Big money has already been invested, and the majority of fans, myself included, still want more. This too has been promised.

Given their commitment to the cause, the 4,000 crowd today was a pathetic response.

I wonder how much longer they will subsidise such a one sided arrangement, because I know that if it were me, I would by now be seriously re-considering how much I was prepared to pay out for a fan-base who don't seem remotely interested.

Business is business after all, and the Liebherrs aren't multi-billionaires because they throw money away.

Pre-season games are vital for the players and for the club as a whole.

Let's start showing that we care.

Not prepared to pay £20 plus £15 for my son for a pre season friendly. I have already forked out nearly £900 on two season tickets. Is that fair enough?

Under 11s were free with adult ticket priced at £15.

On another note, the Adkins "interview" on Sky sports website is positive:

"We have to go into the Premier League with the belief that we can be strong in it. Aiming for 17th place is wrong. If you just fall short of it, there is a consequence. Aim higher, and if you fall short of that you've done all right."

I think that is the right mentality to have.

Kings Lynn Saint wrote:

randre wrote:
I still can't believe all this over the attendance of a pre season friendly.

Come on guys, we have a good team and we played some good football. We are back in the premier league and we have done it with a style of football that we should all be proud of.

Attendances at preseason friendlies are not important and we all know that demand for tickets this season will again be high, like they were for most of last season.

It beggars belief that after all that has been achieved over the last three years some people still manage to moan about something! Look east, things could be worse, much worse.

On the note about the cost of this game, it was one adult and one child for £15, for a parent to take a child along I think is great value (£7.50 each). There is not much you can do that costs much less these days.

Cheer up everyone, we have a club to be proud of. I thought the attendance was not bad considering all the other sporting events and summer holidays at the moment. Not bad for a training session!

I agree Randre, attendances are not that important for pre-season friendlies.

I never recall lots of fans at pre-seasons in other seasons.

I've been a STH for many years, but I have never been to a pre-season but I am there for the league and cup games.

Thank you.

I normally wouldn't bother with pre season friendlys, but it was a chance to take my 6 year old to a game where the tickets were a good price and the usual "passion" was not involved. I enjoyed watching the game because there was no pressure on the result, it was nice to see the team play well. Most importantly my son enjoyed it and he has been talking about it all morning.

For this it serves a good purpose, otherwise I wouldn't bother! Bring on competitive games with an edge. I can't wait for the season.

randre wrote:

Kings Lynn Saint wrote:

randre wrote:
I still can't believe all this over the attendance of a pre season friendly.

Come on guys, we have a good team and we played some good football. We are back in the premier league and we have done it with a style of football that we should all be proud of.

Attendances at preseason friendlies are not important and we all know that demand for tickets this season will again be high, like they were for most of last season.

It beggars belief that after all that has been achieved over the last three years some people still manage to moan about something! Look east, things could be worse, much worse.

On the note about the cost of this game, it was one adult and one child for £15, for a parent to take a child along I think is great value (£7.50 each). There is not much you can do that costs much less these days.

Cheer up everyone, we have a club to be proud of. I thought the attendance was not bad considering all the other sporting events and summer holidays at the moment. Not bad for a training session!

I agree Randre, attendances are not that important for pre-season friendlies.

I never recall lots of fans at pre-seasons in other seasons.

I've been a STH for many years, but I have never been to a pre-season but I am there for the league and cup games.

Thank you.

I normally wouldn't bother with pre season friendlys, but it was a chance to take my 6 year old to a game where the tickets were a good price and the usual "passion" was not involved. I enjoyed watching the game because there was no pressure on the result, it was nice to see the team play well. Most importantly my son enjoyed it and he has been talking about it all morning.

For this it serves a good purpose, otherwise I wouldn't bother! Bring on competitive games with an edge. I can't wait for the season.

And hopefully he'll be pestering you to take him to more games this season

milton road wrote:
check BBC football page transfer gossip. Click Independent, article with NA on Saints. Good article.

Correct. Very good article. Here it is in full:

If Portsmouth want a sign of hope in their present predicament, they need only look a few miles up the M27 at their greatest rivals.

Three years ago, Southampton were also newly relegated to League One, in administration and facing a points deduction.

Today they are looking forward to returning to the Premier League, and if the prospect of facing Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal among their opening four matches is daunting, the manager, Nigel Adkins, can't wait. "When we were bottom of League One we'd gladly have taken those fixtures," he said. "Everybody should be looking forward to it, enjoying it."

Saints last played in the Premier League seven years ago, but Adkins' route back to the top after failing to make the grade as a goalkeeper with Liverpool in 1983 was even longer. He played for Tranmere Rovers and Wigan Athletic, then in the lower divisions before becoming player-manager of Bangor City in 1993. He won promotion to the Championship with Scunthorpe United after stepping up from long-time physio to manager, roles that he had prepared for well in advance.

"I was lying in a hospital bed with a double fracture of the spine at 23, thinking: 'What am I going to do now? Am I going to walk again, never mind play?' So I came up with a master plan to get some coaching badges and qualifications in physiotherapy. I got back playing, but I'd given myself an opportunity for when I stopped."

His achievements at Scunthorpe attracted the attention of Nicola Cortese, the chairman of Southampton and right-hand man of the late Markus Liebherr, the Swiss businessman who bought the club out of administration. Adkins inherited from Alan Pardew the makings of the team that would win back-to-back promotions – including Rickie Lambert, who scored 27 League goals last season. Adkins added judiciously and brought an analytical, businesslike approach to the training ground.

Like Lambert and most of his players – including new signings Jay Rodriguez from Burnley, Nathaniel Clyne from Crystal Palace and Steven Davis from Rangers – Adkins, 47, will be tasting the top flight for the first time. He admits the set-up is short of Premier League know-how. "But there is also enthusiasm and there's no fear. Don't get me wrong, I do realise that it's the toughest league in the world, but we go into it with an open mind and a positivity.

"People questioned Rickie Lambert before last season, his first in the Championship, and look how well he did. You have to have belief, go and grasp the opportunity that we have worked very hard to get. You know you are going to play against teams and players who are better, so you have to be as smart as you can be to deal with that, try to play the game on your terms and not theirs.

"Not everyone was expecting us to do as well as we did in the Championship, but we were in the top two the whole season – on merit. Yes, we are going to the next level, but there is a stability here that should give us strength. You can't underestimate team spirit."

Adkins hopes to add to his squad, but Southampton's history means that they do not need the example of Portsmouth to know what can go wrong when a club overreaches in search of success. Adkins preaches evolution rather than revolution, with the club's highly regarded academy continuing to play its part.

"Finance is there, but in the right, structured way. We've learned the lessons of administration. It was a horrible time for the football club and a lot of people suffered.

"As a manager you sometimes think of winning the next game and needing money for a player, and you forget about the heart and soul of the club. If we get the structure right then there'll be a production line for many years to come of players playing the Southampton way, which will be financially right for this club. Whether I am still the manager at that time is another question, but you've got to think above that."

Is he encouraged by the examples of Norwich City and Swansea City, who finished in mid-table after promotion last season? "Yes, but how many points were they clear?" he said. "Probably only a couple of results going the other way from being relegated. That is how close it is. There's no relaxing. But because they stayed up it's like Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile – no one thought it was possible but after he proved it was, suddenly four or five people did it within weeks because they knew it was possible.

"We have to go into the Premier League with the belief that we can be strong in it. Aiming for 17th place is wrong. If you just fall short of it, there is a consequence. Aim higher, and if you fall short of that you've done all right."

OSPREYSAINT wrote:

Tirau Dan wrote:
so who went and what did you think?

Clyne excellent, Gazza looks competent, did fluff one cross, Puncheon very enthusiastic, Fox was classic Fox, Hooiveld steady as a rock, Stephens a few shaky moments but fair, Lala busy and set up several chances playing in the hole behind Sharp, who took his goal well but did get caught offside too often, must show more awareness if he is going to lead the front, showed a bit of pace and is getting fitter, Chaplow busy, nothing special, Hammond more back passes than you can shake a stick at but competent, Guly was very versatile, here there and everywhere, should have scored a couple of times, De Rid was like a headless chicken when he came on, final ball decisions not good, Fonte and Seaborne don't seem to be on the same wavelength at times, Ward-Prowse and Davis didn't see much of the ball so hard to judge, Richardson seemlessly took over from Clyne, there were some good movements down the flanks, but better teams will exploit this if we lose the ball in crucial areas, not a bad work out, no one really broke into a real sweat, particularly Wolves who just made it a stroll in the Park.

good report, concise full of info, just what we away fans love : Thanks very much. This fella Clyne has more to learn.. sounds exciting. Nigel still hoping to add.. sounds like things are coming along.

What you have to consider is that this was far from the finished article, there was much experimenting within the format throughout the game and without several of the starter squad for the Premier, and still the possibility of some late signings you cannot read too much into it, but there were positives and a win is good for morale. The Udinese game may give us more indication of the final first team choice, but I doubt Nadkins will be giving away all of our secrets!

Kings Lynn Saint wrote:

milton road wrote:
check BBC football page transfer gossip. Click Independent, article with NA on Saints. Good article.

Correct. Very good article. Here it is in full:

If Portsmouth want a sign of hope in their present predicament, they need only look a few miles up the M27 at their greatest rivals.

Three years ago, Southampton were also newly relegated to League One, in administration and facing a points deduction.

Today they are looking forward to returning to the Premier League, and if the prospect of facing Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal among their opening four matches is daunting, the manager, Nigel Adkins, can't wait. "When we were bottom of League One we'd gladly have taken those fixtures," he said. "Everybody should be looking forward to it, enjoying it."

Saints last played in the Premier League seven years ago, but Adkins' route back to the top after failing to make the grade as a goalkeeper with Liverpool in 1983 was even longer. He played for Tranmere Rovers and Wigan Athletic, then in the lower divisions before becoming player-manager of Bangor City in 1993. He won promotion to the Championship with Scunthorpe United after stepping up from long-time physio to manager, roles that he had prepared for well in advance.

"I was lying in a hospital bed with a double fracture of the spine at 23, thinking: 'What am I going to do now? Am I going to walk again, never mind play?' So I came up with a master plan to get some coaching badges and qualifications in physiotherapy. I got back playing, but I'd given myself an opportunity for when I stopped."

His achievements at Scunthorpe attracted the attention of Nicola Cortese, the chairman of Southampton and right-hand man of the late Markus Liebherr, the Swiss businessman who bought the club out of administration. Adkins inherited from Alan Pardew the makings of the team that would win back-to-back promotions – including Rickie Lambert, who scored 27 League goals last season. Adkins added judiciously and brought an analytical, businesslike approach to the training ground.

Like Lambert and most of his players – including new signings Jay Rodriguez from Burnley, Nathaniel Clyne from Crystal Palace and Steven Davis from Rangers – Adkins, 47, will be tasting the top flight for the first time. He admits the set-up is short of Premier League know-how. "But there is also enthusiasm and there's no fear. Don't get me wrong, I do realise that it's the toughest league in the world, but we go into it with an open mind and a positivity.

"People questioned Rickie Lambert before last season, his first in the Championship, and look how well he did. You have to have belief, go and grasp the opportunity that we have worked very hard to get. You know you are going to play against teams and players who are better, so you have to be as smart as you can be to deal with that, try to play the game on your terms and not theirs.

"Not everyone was expecting us to do as well as we did in the Championship, but we were in the top two the whole season – on merit. Yes, we are going to the next level, but there is a stability here that should give us strength. You can't underestimate team spirit."

Adkins hopes to add to his squad, but Southampton's history means that they do not need the example of Portsmouth to know what can go wrong when a club overreaches in search of success. Adkins preaches evolution rather than revolution, with the club's highly regarded academy continuing to play its part.

"Finance is there, but in the right, structured way. We've learned the lessons of administration. It was a horrible time for the football club and a lot of people suffered.

"As a manager you sometimes think of winning the next game and needing money for a player, and you forget about the heart and soul of the club. If we get the structure right then there'll be a production line for many years to come of players playing the Southampton way, which will be financially right for this club. Whether I am still the manager at that time is another question, but you've got to think above that."

Is he encouraged by the examples of Norwich City and Swansea City, who finished in mid-table after promotion last season? "Yes, but how many points were they clear?" he said. "Probably only a couple of results going the other way from being relegated. That is how close it is. There's no relaxing. But because they stayed up it's like Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile – no one thought it was possible but after he proved it was, suddenly four or five people did it within weeks because they knew it was possible.

"We have to go into the Premier League with the belief that we can be strong in it. Aiming for 17th place is wrong. If you just fall short of it, there is a consequence. Aim higher, and if you fall short of that you've done all right."

Thanks kings Lynn saint, that is a great article.

I think Adkins is a superb manager and hasn't had the credit he deserves. We were 21st in league 1 when he took over. His transformation of saints has been phenomenal.

We are lucky we have Nigel looking after our team and Nicola looking after the business, great job thus far.

Yes NA is a great manager. I am concerned that the only player we have signed with proven premiership quality is Davies. The others are all capable championship players as is most of our squad. Yet whether they are premiership class remains to be seen, would like to see some more players brought in with top level experience.

Well done lads!! Beat wolves not bad! Need to strengthen in mid wings and defence to have a chance of Europa football ect ect. Come on NA NC keep them comming!! Need to off load some of the stragglers!!

jezza wrote:
The Liebherr family and NC have, to date, fulfilled every single promise they have made to get our great club back to where we all think it belongs.

Big money has already been invested, and the majority of fans, myself included, still want more. This too has been promised.

Given their commitment to the cause, the 4,000 crowd today was a pathetic response.

I wonder how much longer they will subsidise such a one sided arrangement, because I know that if it were me, I would by now be seriously re-considering how much I was prepared to pay out for a fan-base who don't seem remotely interested.

Business is business after all, and the Liebherrs aren't multi-billionaires because they throw money away.

Pre-season games are vital for the players and for the club as a whole.

Let's start showing that we care.

I agree with with your comments, my son and I attended ML cup wolves and wll be at the Udinese game.. I'm surprised by lack of support at the stadium. I remember attending friendlies when Burley was in charge and there were at least 10k and we were in the championship then. I have to travel from Canterbury to watch games, so where are all the locals on these days?

abbiscuits wrote:

jezza wrote:
The Liebherr family and NC have, to date, fulfilled every single promise they have made to get our great club back to where we all think it belongs.

Big money has already been invested, and the majority of fans, myself included, still want more. This too has been promised.

Given their commitment to the cause, the 4,000 crowd today was a pathetic response.

I wonder how much longer they will subsidise such a one sided arrangement, because I know that if it were me, I would by now be seriously re-considering how much I was prepared to pay out for a fan-base who don't seem remotely interested.

Business is business after all, and the Liebherrs aren't multi-billionaires because they throw money away.

Pre-season games are vital for the players and for the club as a whole.

Let's start showing that we care.

I agree with with your comments, my son and I attended ML cup wolves and wll be at the Udinese game.. I'm surprised by lack of support at the stadium. I remember attending friendlies when Burley was in charge and there were at least 10k and we were in the championship then. I have to travel from Canterbury to watch games, so where are all the locals on these days?

The BBC viewing figures would suggest that everyone was watching the Olympics. I don't think we should get too hung up on gates for friendlies.

randre wrote:

george chivers wrote:

Landdo wrote:
Anyone else worried about rickie, I have the feeling he's going to be fighting for his spot this year and wont feature so much, billy no pun intended looks very sharp and seem's to be going from strengh to strengh can't help wondering how many goals billy would have grabbed last season if we'd secured his services in the summer rather than in the january window

Yep. I worry about us in the transfer market. We seem to be driven too much by saving a few quid here and there.

Really? I think we have signed some good players so far... Maybe I'm wrong.

I meant it in terms of what Landdo said about holding off on the Billy Sharp deal until January to buy him cheaply because he was then nearer to the end of his contract with Doncaster. I think it would have been better to pay a bit more for him at the beginning of last season.

I do think we have bought well so far this season, but we have probably missed out on some deals because we are not willing to pay a little bit over the odds to get players in.

Gorkss who went from QPR to Reading last year was an example of that. We dithered and he went to the club that became champions. I'm sure that was about a small amount of money.

I am concerned we have a serious weakness at CB and RM and possibly LB and we are leaving it late to bring players in for those positions.

I think football clubs have foolishly hit into trouble by just bidding that little bit more all the time. Any other business you have a ceiling limit of what you are prepared to go to, football clubs need to be run on similar principles, especially with the fair play rules coming in, many clubs will be in trouble with this.

By all accounts Gorkss was an enquiry but they went for jos instead. But I am not really bothered by that deal, we must run this club properly. The football world is being hit by greedy agents and players, we must put a limit on all deals. If it can't be done then move on to the next. It is important we don't fall into the trap of being forced to pay more than we deem acceptable.

We are Southampton, we need to have strong principles in place, it will make us stronger in the future whilst many others fall to the sword.

george chivers wrote:

randre wrote:

george chivers wrote:

Landdo wrote:
Anyone else worried about rickie, I have the feeling he's going to be fighting for his spot this year and wont feature so much, billy no pun intended looks very sharp and seem's to be going from strengh to strengh can't help wondering how many goals billy would have grabbed last season if we'd secured his services in the summer rather than in the january window

Yep. I worry about us in the transfer market. We seem to be driven too much by saving a few quid here and there.

Really? I think we have signed some good players so far... Maybe I'm wrong.

I meant it in terms of what Landdo said about holding off on the Billy Sharp deal until January to buy him cheaply because he was then nearer to the end of his contract with Doncaster. I think it would have been better to pay a bit more for him at the beginning of last season.

I do think we have bought well so far this season, but we have probably missed out on some deals because we are not willing to pay a little bit over the odds to get players in.

Gorkss who went from QPR to Reading last year was an example of that. We dithered and he went to the club that became champions. I'm sure that was about a small amount of money.

I am concerned we have a serious weakness at CB and RM and possibly LB and we are leaving it late to bring players in for those positions.

there is not a bottomless pit of money , some people are never happy its a buisness money in money out look down the road for gods sake!!!

worried of n e hampshire wrote:

george chivers wrote:

randre wrote:

george chivers wrote:

Landdo wrote:
Anyone else worried about rickie, I have the feeling he's going to be fighting for his spot this year and wont feature so much, billy no pun intended looks very sharp and seem's to be going from strengh to strengh can't help wondering how many goals billy would have grabbed last season if we'd secured his services in the summer rather than in the january window

Yep. I worry about us in the transfer market. We seem to be driven too much by saving a few quid here and there.

Really? I think we have signed some good players so far... Maybe I'm wrong.

I meant it in terms of what Landdo said about holding off on the Billy Sharp deal until January to buy him cheaply because he was then nearer to the end of his contract with Doncaster. I think it would have been better to pay a bit more for him at the beginning of last season.

I do think we have bought well so far this season, but we have probably missed out on some deals because we are not willing to pay a little bit over the odds to get players in.

Gorkss who went from QPR to Reading last year was an example of that. We dithered and he went to the club that became champions. I'm sure that was about a small amount of money.

I am concerned we have a serious weakness at CB and RM and possibly LB and we are leaving it late to bring players in for those positions.

there is not a bottomless pit of money , some people are never happy its a buisness money in money out look down the road for gods sake!!!

So true, some people need to get a grip on reality. Surely our own flirtation with administration and the current state of Pompey is a lesson to all.

I don't want saints to pay over the odds for players. A fool and his money are easily parted, luckily Cortese and Adkins are not fools, they know what a player is worth. If the price for a player or his wages are higher than we deem suitable then we should move on to the next target. Not let players, there agents or clubs push for more than is acceptable.

thanks randre your a bit more eloquent than me!. but thats what I meant!!!

george chivers wrote:

randre wrote:

george chivers wrote:

Landdo wrote:
Anyone else worried about rickie, I have the feeling he's going to be fighting for his spot this year and wont feature so much, billy no pun intended looks very sharp and seem's to be going from strengh to strengh can't help wondering how many goals billy would have grabbed last season if we'd secured his services in the summer rather than in the january window

Yep. I worry about us in the transfer market. We seem to be driven too much by saving a few quid here and there.

Really? I think we have signed some good players so far... Maybe I'm wrong.

I meant it in terms of what Landdo said about holding off on the Billy Sharp deal until January to buy him cheaply because he was then nearer to the end of his contract with Doncaster. I think it would have been better to pay a bit more for him at the beginning of last season.

I do think we have bought well so far this season, but we have probably missed out on some deals because we are not willing to pay a little bit over the odds to get players in.

Gorkss who went from QPR to Reading last year was an example of that. We dithered and he went to the club that became champions. I'm sure that was about a small amount of money.

I am concerned we have a serious weakness at CB and RM and possibly LB and we are leaving it late to bring players in for those positions.

I agree, and alledegdly we signed forte as a panic buy which if true is bad business. Same as not lowering ticket prices for wolves game getting bums on seats and food and drinks sold.
If you pay peanuts you get monkies, until we reap the rewards of our youth system, to stay in the prem we have to buy.

It's all good.

Our priorities change as we make signings. Not so long ago we were short up front. Tad, Billy and now Jay solved that. So then we needed a midfield captain/general as next priority and in came Davis. Lack of pace and now weak defence became the priority and Clyne helped big with that. Only having one keeper on the books also got sorted. So now I guess a centre half is top priority. Keep going and we'll be back to strikers. Strengthening is endless.

ghk230473 wrote:

george chivers wrote:

randre wrote:

george chivers wrote:

Landdo wrote:
Anyone else worried about rickie, I have the feeling he's going to be fighting for his spot this year and wont feature so much, billy no pun intended looks very sharp and seem's to be going from strengh to strengh can't help wondering how many goals billy would have grabbed last season if we'd secured his services in the summer rather than in the january window

Yep. I worry about us in the transfer market. We seem to be driven too much by saving a few quid here and there.

Really? I think we have signed some good players so far... Maybe I'm wrong.

I meant it in terms of what Landdo said about holding off on the Billy Sharp deal until January to buy him cheaply because he was then nearer to the end of his contract with Doncaster. I think it would have been better to pay a bit more for him at the beginning of last season.

I do think we have bought well so far this season, but we have probably missed out on some deals because we are not willing to pay a little bit over the odds to get players in.

Gorkss who went from QPR to Reading last year was an example of that. We dithered and he went to the club that became champions. I'm sure that was about a small amount of money.

I am concerned we have a serious weakness at CB and RM and possibly LB and we are leaving it late to bring players in for those positions.

I agree, and alledegdly we signed forte as a panic buy which if true is bad business. Same as not lowering ticket prices for wolves game getting bums on seats and food and drinks sold.
If you pay peanuts you get monkies, until we reap the rewards of our youth system, to stay in the prem we have to buy.

The goals against MK Dons made his cheap price in one game. Now we move him on. Sometimes a short term fix is good as a last resort.

I agree about prices for friendlies. Free for kids under 16 through a school promotion and a tenner for the parent. Aim it at people who don't attend or attend rarely.

ghk230473 wrote:

george chivers wrote:

randre wrote:

george chivers wrote:

Landdo wrote:
Anyone else worried about rickie, I have the feeling he's going to be fighting for his spot this year and wont feature so much, billy no pun intended looks very sharp and seem's to be going from strengh to strengh can't help wondering how many goals billy would have grabbed last season if we'd secured his services in the summer rather than in the january window

Yep. I worry about us in the transfer market. We seem to be driven too much by saving a few quid here and there.

Really? I think we have signed some good players so far... Maybe I'm wrong.

I meant it in terms of what Landdo said about holding off on the Billy Sharp deal until January to buy him cheaply because he was then nearer to the end of his contract with Doncaster. I think it would have been better to pay a bit more for him at the beginning of last season.

I do think we have bought well so far this season, but we have probably missed out on some deals because we are not willing to pay a little bit over the odds to get players in.

Gorkss who went from QPR to Reading last year was an example of that. We dithered and he went to the club that became champions. I'm sure that was about a small amount of money.

I am concerned we have a serious weakness at CB and RM and possibly LB and we are leaving it late to bring players in for those positions.

I agree, and alledegdly we signed forte as a panic buy which if true is bad business. Same as not lowering ticket prices for wolves game getting bums on seats and food and drinks sold.
If you pay peanuts you get monkies, until we reap the rewards of our youth system, to stay in the prem we have to buy.

The two goals that Forte scored against MK effectively kept us in the L1 promotion race....call me pedantic...but seemed like good business if you ask me. Also....ticket prices were reduced yesterday. It was a choice between going to the game or watching the Olympics...I went to the game...most chose to watch the Olympics...simples.

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:

ghk230473 wrote:

george chivers wrote:

randre wrote:

george chivers wrote:

Landdo wrote:
Anyone else worried about rickie, I have the feeling he's going to be fighting for his spot this year and wont feature so much, billy no pun intended looks very sharp and seem's to be going from strengh to strengh can't help wondering how many goals billy would have grabbed last season if we'd secured his services in the summer rather than in the january window

Yep. I worry about us in the transfer market. We seem to be driven too much by saving a few quid here and there.

Really? I think we have signed some good players so far... Maybe I'm wrong.

I meant it in terms of what Landdo said about holding off on the Billy Sharp deal until January to buy him cheaply because he was then nearer to the end of his contract with Doncaster. I think it would have been better to pay a bit more for him at the beginning of last season.

I do think we have bought well so far this season, but we have probably missed out on some deals because we are not willing to pay a little bit over the odds to get players in.

Gorkss who went from QPR to Reading last year was an example of that. We dithered and he went to the club that became champions. I'm sure that was about a small amount of money.

I am concerned we have a serious weakness at CB and RM and possibly LB and we are leaving it late to bring players in for those positions.

I agree, and alledegdly we signed forte as a panic buy which if true is bad business. Same as not lowering ticket prices for wolves game getting bums on seats and food and drinks sold.
If you pay peanuts you get monkies, until we reap the rewards of our youth system, to stay in the prem we have to buy.

The goals against MK Dons made his cheap price in one game. Now we move him on. Sometimes a short term fix is good as a last resort.

Good point seedhouse. Your previous post was also spot on.

I find it hard to believe some fans just have to complain about something. What has been achieved in the last three seasons is nothing short of remarkable. However some fans still are not happy.

It's a good job the fans don't run the club otherwise we would very soon be in the same predicament as Pompey.

Never forget what has been achieved and how the club went about fulfilling these successes. Some players can be good signings, even if they never play. It can sometimes give other players a lift or a push into raising their game in order to maintain their position in the team. All our signings over the last 3 years have been part of the journey.

Baddesley Bill wrote:

ghk230473 wrote:

george chivers wrote:

randre wrote:

george chivers wrote:

Landdo wrote:
Anyone else worried about rickie, I have the feeling he's going to be fighting for his spot this year and wont feature so much, billy no pun intended looks very sharp and seem's to be going from strengh to strengh can't help wondering how many goals billy would have grabbed last season if we'd secured his services in the summer rather than in the january window

Yep. I worry about us in the transfer market. We seem to be driven too much by saving a few quid here and there.

Really? I think we have signed some good players so far... Maybe I'm wrong.

I meant it in terms of what Landdo said about holding off on the Billy Sharp deal until January to buy him cheaply because he was then nearer to the end of his contract with Doncaster. I think it would have been better to pay a bit more for him at the beginning of last season.

I do think we have bought well so far this season, but we have probably missed out on some deals because we are not willing to pay a little bit over the odds to get players in.

Gorkss who went from QPR to Reading last year was an example of that. We dithered and he went to the club that became champions. I'm sure that was about a small amount of money.

I am concerned we have a serious weakness at CB and RM and possibly LB and we are leaving it late to bring players in for those positions.

I agree, and alledegdly we signed forte as a panic buy which if true is bad business. Same as not lowering ticket prices for wolves game getting bums on seats and food and drinks sold.
If you pay peanuts you get monkies, until we reap the rewards of our youth system, to stay in the prem we have to buy.

The two goals that Forte scored against MK effectively kept us in the L1 promotion race....call me pedantic...but seemed like good business if you ask me. Also....ticket prices were reduced yesterday. It was a choice between going to the game or watching the Olympics...I went to the game...most chose to watch the Olympics...simples.

Agree 100% Baddesley Bill, well said.

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
I agree about prices for friendlies. Free for kids under 16 through a school promotion and a tenner for the parent. Aim it at people who don't attend or attend rarely.

If we are to compete in Europe as hoped and want an increased ground capacity, it is a must we increase our support. I appreciate there are other events happening but watching saints live on a sunny day has to be better (if priced right) than sitting indoors watching Olympics on the box? Don't wish to say it too loud but how many did the skates get?
I don't think the club would have to work too hard promoting as they did have saints in the community, don't know if they still have and yes go for the kids as they are future supporters.

DONT FORGET TO SIGN A.D. FROM BRISTOL CITY!

George Chivers: "... holding off on the Billy Sharp deal until January to buy him cheaply because he was then nearer to the end of his contract with Doncaster. I think it would have been better to pay a bit more for him at the beginning of last season."

>> Yeah, we did really badly last season thanks to that decision.

George Chivers: "I do think we have bought well so far this season, but we have probably missed out on some deals because we are not willing to pay a little bit over the odds to get players in."

>> Where's the evidence for that? Pure guesswork.

George Chivers: "Gorkss who went from QPR to Reading last year was an example of that. We dithered and he went to the club that became champions. I'm sure that was about a small amount of money."

>>Where's the evidence for that? Pure guesswork again.

C'mon guys, stop whining about things that may well not even have happened.

I know the sky's about to fall in in your world, but why not break the habit of a lifetime and try to see something positive in the fact that we've signed plenty of players already and the window's open until the end of August.

Ghk: "If we are to compete in Europe as hoped and want an increased ground capacity, it is a must we increase our support. I appreciate there are other events happening but watching saints live on a sunny day has to be better (if priced right) than sitting indoors watching Olympics on the box? Don't wish to say it too loud but how many did the skates get?"

Come back later in the season and if our gates are low then I'll listen to any whines you may have about lack of support. Until then, get a sense of perspective.

i know i shouldn't, but i can't resist it and i have the utmost respect for our aussie cousins and especially our fellow saints supporters and it could still backfire on me, but anyone noticed the olympic medal table and the lack of gold for the aussie's


sorry mush and co

Velleity wrote:
Ghk: "If we are to compete in Europe as hoped and want an increased ground capacity, it is a must we increase our support. I appreciate there are other events happening but watching saints live on a sunny day has to be better (if priced right) than sitting indoors watching Olympics on the box? Don't wish to say it too loud but how many did the skates get?"

Come back later in the season and if our gates are low then I'll listen to any whines you may have about lack of support. Until then, get a sense of perspective.

Don't doubt our gates will be full for next seasons prem league games, carling cups maybe.
Sorry for voicing an opinion just think the club is missing a trick in not getting higher attendance for all games........ or maybe our support is not so fanatic say as a Newcastle or liverpool?

we bought sharp at the right time.we did not need him we were top of the league we were scoring goals.
billy had time to settle and learn the saints way, improve his fitness without the pressure of HAVING TO SCORE GOALS.
over the months since he came here he is now like his name "SHARP"
you can see the improvement

circa 66 saint wrote:
i know i shouldn't, but i can't resist it and i have the utmost respect for our aussie cousins and especially our fellow saints supporters and it could still backfire on me, but anyone noticed the olympic medal table and the lack of gold for the aussie's


sorry mush and co

I'm surprised it took someone so long to get the knife out! :-) Still, with home ground advantage and a population over twice Australia's you should be doing far better than you are.

And I'd like to apologise for not attending the Wolves game (although I did attend the Wolves game in 1965 - look up the score) and not being a STH (padded or not) and all the other sins that living in Paradise bring down on my head.

Guys don't be so quick to bite each others heads off! Everyone has opinions, they vary greatly and always will. If we all agreed life would be boring. Except from the odd skunt that stops by here we all want the saints to do well, I feel that spending premium to get a couple of needed reinforcements sooner rather than later to get them into the Southampton way as soon as possible would be a good thing, But I'm thinking about spending money now with the view that we won't need to spend as much further down the line, being in the premier league alone isn't enough to keep our young stars of the future, many of the talented players we produce will still want to move on to the likes of arsenal for European football or to achieve the kind of recognition that leads to England call up's... People have mentioned saints being a business and indeed it is, I'm sure most are familiar with the saying speculate to accumulate, it's all theoretical because we don't know what will happen in the future not even the most wise season ticket holder can see all ends,but i would be concerned that saving money today could cost us in talented youngsters of the future, I like our measured approach but some times I feel it's too measured for my liking, to compete with the likes of manure and co we will also need revenue from emerging markets in china etc, the only way to get them wearing saints shirts is success, the sooner we have it the sooner that revenue stream is opened up to us. Back to getting billy in the summer rather than January could have been the difference between us finishing 1st instead of second, a longer cup run perhaps... And in that way the extra money spent could have been recouped. The premier league is tight a couple of results going the other way can drop you from 15th to relegated or somthing like that... On a final note I'm sure NA and NC no all this and think long and hard about it all, after all it's there job and I trust them to do it well! I can't wait to see who we sign... I doubt it will be someone like Dann I think they will be quality I'm not worried about "premier league experience" experience can be gained its all the attributes there born with that are key in my eyes, coz you either have them or your don't.. You can't gain talent through experience

Velleity wrote:
George Chivers: "... holding off on the Billy Sharp deal until January to buy him cheaply because he was then nearer to the end of his contract with Doncaster. I think it would have been better to pay a bit more for him at the beginning of last season."

>> Yeah, we did really badly last season thanks to that decision.

George Chivers: "I do think we have bought well so far this season, but we have probably missed out on some deals because we are not willing to pay a little bit over the odds to get players in."

>> Where's the evidence for that? Pure guesswork.

George Chivers: "Gorkss who went from QPR to Reading last year was an example of that. We dithered and he went to the club that became champions. I'm sure that was about a small amount of money."

>>Where's the evidence for that? Pure guesswork again.

C'mon guys, stop whining about things that may well not even have happened.

I know the sky's about to fall in in your world, but why not break the habit of a lifetime and try to see something positive in the fact that we've signed plenty of players already and the window's open until the end of August.

Velleity: To answer your points. We did do very well last season and as a STH I was very pleased. Indeed I am very pleased with what we have achieved over the past three seasons. That goes without saying!

However, I do believe if we had signed Billy Sharp earlier and paid say, an extra million we would have won the league and not come second.

It was widely reported and commented
on by the then QPR manager that we were in negotiations for Gorkss for three weeks, arguing over the transfer fee when Reading stepped in and did the deal in two days. He cost £1.2 million.

We appear to have had similar problems with the French fullback Buttner? recently.

My frustration comes from our inability to sign key players for key positions in a quicker time scale so they can be fully integrated into the squad before our first 4/6 tough fixtures.

I am looking forward to our first season back in the PL after 7 years and although I think we will get off to a slow start my belief is we can finish in and around 15th which given, our inexperienced squad in PL terms would be an outstanding achievement.

I would have a more positive view if we had completed our acquisition programme 2-3 weeks ago and the new players were fully integrated as a unit. Then I would be saying 12th place in the PL. But I am fearful we could end up with say 6 points after 6 games because of our slowness in bringing players in. And I hope I am wrong! And if you want to slag me off when we have 10/12 points that's fine by me! COYR!

I don't suppose that the Billy Sharp move was delayed until jan because his partner was heavily pregers No of course not it was all Cortese's fault

Landdo,

current theory suggests that "talent" is still 90% practice, 10% DNA.
a good book to read on the subject is Daniel Coyle's "the talent code" or Geoff Colvin's "talent is overrated".
both avoid bad science well and give me faith that Saints are doing things the right way, with the right people.
PMA, team spirit and hard work is what will carry us, lack of premiership experience may be a good thing, but I am more worried about a lack of "bouncebackability" experience. It's been so long since we have had a losing streak :)

COYS

The same people who are doubting our ability to compete in the Premier League are probably the same ones who doubted that we would compete in the Championship due to a perceived lack of investment.

I know we have to have pessimism to balance out optimism, but I do hope the doubters will be singing their hearts out at SMS in a few weeks time & won't be one of TBBM that we all hate to sit near.

Get behind the lads & remember how far we've come & the philosophy that has got us here - COYR!

We prepare to enter the arena of fear, where not to loose is greater than anything else. Where finance dominates everything and where the end result justifies the means as we saw with a very second best Chelsea in the European Champions Final.
We will now be taking on several sides where their worst squad player, will be rated on paper better than our best by the pundits. Sides who are lower down who have cultivated a premiership squad over 4-5 seasons. Promoted teams like West Ham substantially in debt before promotion, who knowing what is needed to survive have bought extensively.
Whilst the championship remains a breath of fresh air because of its unpredictably and entertaining for the same reason. The theater of dreams we now enter, is stale because of its predictability. The same teams challange for the title each year, the same teams go into Europe and the same clutch of teams fight relegation. Where will we be in all this?
On paper our squad is probably the weakest, with a large degree of unknown potential. How that potential fares at PL level will determine our future. We have hardly any players with PL experience. We will either be seen to be a a breath of fresh air or extremely niave. One thing for sure the coming season is hardly likely to be boring.
COYR

Hopes and fears abound then.
But we should recall Kipling's immortal lines....

If you can keep your head
When all about you are losing theirs
It's just possible you haven't grasped the situation.

Saintsayer II wrote:
I don't suppose that the Billy Sharp move was delayed until jan because his partner was heavily pregers No of course not it was all Cortese's fault

Also Billy and his parner knew months before the birth that there was a problem with the baby (though not how bad it was). I think we were always going to get Billy, but it was delayed because of this and the sad outcome).

Saintsayer II wrote:
I don't suppose that the Billy Sharp move was delayed until jan because his partner was heavily pregers No of course not it was all Cortese's fault

Also Billy and his parner knew months before the birth that there was a problem with the baby (though not how bad it was). I think we were always going to get Billy, but it was delayed because of this and the sad outcome).

circa 66 saint wrote:
i know i shouldn't, but i can't resist it and i have the utmost respect for our aussie cousins and especially our fellow saints supporters and it could still backfire on me, but anyone noticed the olympic medal table and the lack of gold for the aussie's


sorry mush and co

It has indeed been a shocker for the Green and Gold, In fairness though we did take out top prize in the getting trollied and smashing shop windows event.

Confucious wrote:
Hopes and fears abound then.
But we should recall Kipling's immortal lines....

If you can keep your head
When all about you are losing theirs
It's just possible you haven't grasped the situation.

And I seem to recall he did make exceedingly good cakes as well

franiow wrote:

Saintsayer II wrote:
I don't suppose that the Billy Sharp move was delayed until jan because his partner was heavily pregers No of course not it was all Cortese's fault

Also Billy and his parner knew months before the birth that there was a problem with the baby (though not how bad it was). I think we were always going to get Billy, but it was delayed because of this and the sad outcome).

Actually he turned us down the first time because the deal Saints offered wasn't good enough. Check it out.

Mush On The Beach wrote:

circa 66 saint wrote:
i know i shouldn't, but i can't resist it and i have the utmost respect for our aussie cousins and especially our fellow saints supporters and it could still backfire on me, but anyone noticed the olympic medal table and the lack of gold for the aussie's


sorry mush and co

It has indeed been a shocker for the Green and Gold, In fairness though we did take out top prize in the getting trollied and smashing shop windows event.

only because the olympic trials for this event held last summer (riots) was so successful our best competitors are still in jail

milton road wrote:
Don't forget £600 is the cheapest price for a ticket and also hospitality boxes are as much as £45000 for a season.I think when someone worked it out on here a few weeks ago, we had sold in the region of 24000 season tickets, Which is now more than that no doubt. So allowing for away support, at most there are 4-5000 tickets left for match days. I think normal premiership service will be resumed where St Mary's will be filled for match days, the only time it won't is when away fans do not fill their section.
Do not forget 2/3rds of Hampshire is red and white and always has been.

Where did the figure of 24000 season tickets come from,nothing on the website