Saints outclassed by Udinese

Adam Lallana tries to create an opening Adam Lallana tries to create an opening

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Saints were thumped 4-0 by Udinese tonight in their final pre-season friendly.

Nigel Adkins' men were outclassed by the Serie A side, with veteran striker Antonio Di Natale the star of the show at St Mary's.

The 34-year-old Italian national team forward put the visitors in front after 12 minutes, rifling an unstoppable 25-yard shot into the top corner.

He then set up teammate Willians in the 24th minute, with the Brazilian producing a strike of equal quality from even further out to give Kelvin Davis no chance in goal. Jason Puncheon forced a good save from Zeljko Brkic shortly afterwards, but Di Natale pounced again, volleying home sublimely from close range after Dusan Basta had nodded back a cross from the left into his path. Puncheon flashed a shot just wide of the far post five minutes after the interval, following neat play from Adam Lallana and half-time sub Steven Davis.

But Udinese's fourth arrived in the 64th minute, as Di Natale worked space in the box and slid the ball in to Luis Muriel, who spun and swept home.

Saints: K. Davis (Gazzaniga 46), Clyne, Fonte, Hooiveld, Fox (Shaw 46), Ward-Prowse (S. Davis 46), Schneiderlin, Lallana, Puncheon (Guly 66), Rodriguez (Chaplow 81), Lambert (Sharp 46).

Udinese: Brkic, Pereyra (Zielinski 76), Willians, Danilo, Pinzi (Faraoni 66), Basta (Allan 80), Maicousel (Muriel 46), Di Natale (Fabbrini 66), Domizzi, Benatia (Coda 76), Armero (Silva 76).

Comments(141)

ghk230473 says...
9:27pm Sat 11 Aug 12

Oh f4kin hell

laffaminute says...
9:28pm Sat 11 Aug 12

Lots of positives to take from this game, Udinese are only slightly better than Bristol city and you only lost 4-0, a large crowd turned up to watch to give encouragement to the big club on the south coast which will have the premier league clubs worried, NA has everything in order and a great season is ahead for you.

Skating on thin ice says...
9:29pm Sat 11 Aug 12

Every game this season will be like this, as you are outclassed by every team in the Premier League. Enjoy!

Oh, and another attendance below 4000 !!

From the report on the club website:
"The goals aside, Nigel Adkins’ men enjoyed a large percentage of possession."
The assassination aside, Mrs Lincoln, what did you think of the play?

Did I mention the poor attendance yet?

This-country says...
9:40pm Sat 11 Aug 12

Haha,

Very funny that skunts are still coming on here to try and wind us up! I for one can't wait for the new premier league season!!!

sensablesaint says...
9:41pm Sat 11 Aug 12

outclassed ,outplayed,players did not look comfortable playing the formation .spider looked slow ,midfield looked a mess with nobody seemed to know where they were supposed to be. lallana was wasted in the middle .jay is not a left winger ,ooh dear !!!

Baddesley Bill says...
9:44pm Sat 11 Aug 12

Bloomin eck.... were we as bad as the scoreline suggests?

bakeyboy says...
9:46pm Sat 11 Aug 12

So much for the new formation, its going to make us harder to break down and beat when the opponents have the ball and make us more of an attacking threat when we have the ball, who does Adkins really think he's kidding with all this bull...t. I have been to all the pre season games at home and my honest feeling is that NA is out of his depth.On tonights game it looks like we need two centre backs not one, morgan was very slow tonight and kept getting caught in position and we just dont seem to have a second gear, all I could hear from my seat tonight was Adkins screaming "quicker! quicker! but we just dont appear to be able to go any quicker and thats been my concern since we got promoted. Clyne apart we have no genuine pace in the side and I think we will see a lot more results like tonight this season. We need to get some quality signings in quick or the team will start to get demoralised getting pasted every week and Adkins if he does'nt up his game will be looking for a new job before xmas.

angus mc coatup says...
9:49pm Sat 11 Aug 12

Skating on thin ice wrote:
Every game this season will be like this, as you are outclassed by every team in the Premier League. Enjoy!

Oh, and another attendance below 4000 !!

From the report on the club website:
"The goals aside, Nigel Adkins’ men enjoyed a large percentage of possession."
The assassination aside, Mrs Lincoln, what did you think of the play?

Did I mention the poor attendance yet?
did I mention salisbury yet!!!!

tomw1234 says...
9:51pm Sat 11 Aug 12

sensablesaint wrote:
outclassed ,outplayed,players did not look comfortable playing the formation .spider looked slow ,midfield looked a mess with nobody seemed to know where they were supposed to be. lallana was wasted in the middle .jay is not a left winger ,ooh dear !!!
Funny that your nickname is "sensablesaint" when you can't even spell SENSIBLE. Ofcourse we were outclassed, Udinese are a champions league side and one of the best in Italy. I didn't expect Saints to win this game at all. Three of the goals were sheer brilliance and completely unstoppable with a brace from a world class international player. It was a friendly which has more to do with fitness and formations than anything. The result doesn't matter. I trust NA and NC to bring in a few signings before the window closes. Granted, it would have been better for these signings to have been done and dusted by now but the transfer market has been very slow with the Olympics and the Euros before that. It has been a busy summer. Don't get disheartened Saints fans. We'll do fine in the Premier League. And for all you sad acts that comment on a rival teams newspaper, I have a message for you. Maybe you should concentrate your efforts on your own dwindling team and stop all this jealousy as that is what it is. We are Premier League. Southampton are back to stay!

angus mc coatup says...
9:59pm Sat 11 Aug 12

angus mc coatup wrote:
Skating on thin ice wrote:
Every game this season will be like this, as you are outclassed by every team in the Premier League. Enjoy!

Oh, and another attendance below 4000 !!

From the report on the club website:
"The goals aside, Nigel Adkins’ men enjoyed a large percentage of possession."
The assassination aside, Mrs Lincoln, what did you think of the play?

Did I mention the poor attendance yet?
did I mention salisbury yet!!!!
did I mention the gate of 554 yet !!!!

circa 66 saint says...
10:05pm Sat 11 Aug 12

couple of questions and would prefer an honest answer
are we still
PREMIER LEAGUE and
ARE WE IN ANY DANGER OF BEING LIQUIDATED.

nothing else really matters

sensablesaint says...
10:12pm Sat 11 Aug 12

tomw1234 wrote:
sensablesaint wrote:
outclassed ,outplayed,players did not look comfortable playing the formation .spider looked slow ,midfield looked a mess with nobody seemed to know where they were supposed to be. lallana was wasted in the middle .jay is not a left winger ,ooh dear !!!
Funny that your nickname is "sensablesaint" when you can't even spell SENSIBLE. Ofcourse we were outclassed, Udinese are a champions league side and one of the best in Italy. I didn't expect Saints to win this game at all. Three of the goals were sheer brilliance and completely unstoppable with a brace from a world class international player. It was a friendly which has more to do with fitness and formations than anything. The result doesn't matter. I trust NA and NC to bring in a few signings before the window closes. Granted, it would have been better for these signings to have been done and dusted by now but the transfer market has been very slow with the Olympics and the Euros before that. It has been a busy summer. Don't get disheartened Saints fans. We'll do fine in the Premier League. And for all you sad acts that comment on a rival teams newspaper, I have a message for you. Maybe you should concentrate your efforts on your own dwindling team and stop all this jealousy as that is what it is. We are Premier League. Southampton are back to stay!
iif the spelling worries you i can change it for you (was not ment to be spelt right ),.udenise are a champion league side yes and so are man u ,city chelsea ,arsenal etc

florida saint says...
10:14pm Sat 11 Aug 12

To all the skunt tw@ts on here tonight did i forget to mention what league you may be in next year. you maybe in league 1 or on he other hand you may not be.

W T F I L N.

laffaminute says...
10:16pm Sat 11 Aug 12

Nice to see you great fans put pompeys youth team down rather than talk about your own inadaquences, no change there then.

angus mc coatup says...
10:16pm Sat 11 Aug 12

tomw1234 wrote:
sensablesaint wrote:
outclassed ,outplayed,players did not look comfortable playing the formation .spider looked slow ,midfield looked a mess with nobody seemed to know where they were supposed to be. lallana was wasted in the middle .jay is not a left winger ,ooh dear !!!
Funny that your nickname is "sensablesaint" when you can't even spell SENSIBLE. Ofcourse we were outclassed, Udinese are a champions league side and one of the best in Italy. I didn't expect Saints to win this game at all. Three of the goals were sheer brilliance and completely unstoppable with a brace from a world class international player. It was a friendly which has more to do with fitness and formations than anything. The result doesn't matter. I trust NA and NC to bring in a few signings before the window closes. Granted, it would have been better for these signings to have been done and dusted by now but the transfer market has been very slow with the Olympics and the Euros before that. It has been a busy summer. Don't get disheartened Saints fans. We'll do fine in the Premier League. And for all you sad acts that comment on a rival teams newspaper, I have a message for you. Maybe you should concentrate your efforts on your own dwindling team and stop all this jealousy as that is what it is. We are Premier League. Southampton are back to stay!
spot on with that, I saw the game and yes we were given a lesson in how to finish and how to get the ball in dangerous areas quickly.but we had some good opportunities ourselves.we need to pass it quicker and shoot when the chances come.the only goal that really annoyed me was the third one.fox got out muscled at the far post for a headed knock down and de natale had all the time in the world to volley home.our strongest lineup with a few additions will be ok to go with, and we can then consolidate and review where we are in january when the window opens again
so stop worrying and enjoy.
wtfiln.
oh did I mention salisbury!!!!!!

Saintsayer II says...
10:21pm Sat 11 Aug 12

sensablesaint wrote:
tomw1234 wrote:
sensablesaint wrote:
outclassed ,outplayed,players did not look comfortable playing the formation .spider looked slow ,midfield looked a mess with nobody seemed to know where they were supposed to be. lallana was wasted in the middle .jay is not a left winger ,ooh dear !!!
Funny that your nickname is "sensablesaint" when you can't even spell SENSIBLE. Ofcourse we were outclassed, Udinese are a champions league side and one of the best in Italy. I didn't expect Saints to win this game at all. Three of the goals were sheer brilliance and completely unstoppable with a brace from a world class international player. It was a friendly which has more to do with fitness and formations than anything. The result doesn't matter. I trust NA and NC to bring in a few signings before the window closes. Granted, it would have been better for these signings to have been done and dusted by now but the transfer market has been very slow with the Olympics and the Euros before that. It has been a busy summer. Don't get disheartened Saints fans. We'll do fine in the Premier League. And for all you sad acts that comment on a rival teams newspaper, I have a message for you. Maybe you should concentrate your efforts on your own dwindling team and stop all this jealousy as that is what it is. We are Premier League. Southampton are back to stay!
iif the spelling worries you i can change it for you (was not ment to be spelt right ),.udenise are a champion league side yes and so are man u ,city chelsea ,arsenal etc
But there are 16 sides who are not


Never been on the poopee news site but I am getting tempted into retaliation by a couple of smelly ones who have been on here lately Please someone put them down You wouldn't let a dog suffer this much

OSPREYSAINT says...
10:33pm Sat 11 Aug 12

sensablesaint wrote:
tomw1234 wrote:
sensablesaint wrote:
outclassed ,outplayed,players did not look comfortable playing the formation .spider looked slow ,midfield looked a mess with nobody seemed to know where they were supposed to be. lallana was wasted in the middle .jay is not a left winger ,ooh dear !!!
Funny that your nickname is "sensablesaint" when you can't even spell SENSIBLE. Ofcourse we were outclassed, Udinese are a champions league side and one of the best in Italy. I didn't expect Saints to win this game at all. Three of the goals were sheer brilliance and completely unstoppable with a brace from a world class international player. It was a friendly which has more to do with fitness and formations than anything. The result doesn't matter. I trust NA and NC to bring in a few signings before the window closes. Granted, it would have been better for these signings to have been done and dusted by now but the transfer market has been very slow with the Olympics and the Euros before that. It has been a busy summer. Don't get disheartened Saints fans. We'll do fine in the Premier League. And for all you sad acts that comment on a rival teams newspaper, I have a message for you. Maybe you should concentrate your efforts on your own dwindling team and stop all this jealousy as that is what it is. We are Premier League. Southampton are back to stay!
iif the spelling worries you i can change it for you (was not ment to be spelt right ),.udenise are a champion league side yes and so are man u ,city chelsea ,arsenal etc
I see what you did there, if you make it look like you pretend that you can't spell, it doesn't matter if you can't!

florida saint says...
10:38pm Sat 11 Aug 12

laffaminute wrote:
Nice to see you great fans put pompeys youth team down rather than talk about your own inadaquences, no change there then.
That is your 1st team you fakin sk8 tw@T. Have you not read todays soap news about your grubby little pub team. your concerns should be with them not your premier league nieghbours.

red aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
rrrrrrrmy

Slick Saint says...
10:40pm Sat 11 Aug 12

Saintsayer II wrote:
sensablesaint wrote:
tomw1234 wrote:
sensablesaint wrote:
outclassed ,outplayed,players did not look comfortable playing the formation .spider looked slow ,midfield looked a mess with nobody seemed to know where they were supposed to be. lallana was wasted in the middle .jay is not a left winger ,ooh dear !!!
Funny that your nickname is "sensablesaint" when you can't even spell SENSIBLE. Ofcourse we were outclassed, Udinese are a champions league side and one of the best in Italy. I didn't expect Saints to win this game at all. Three of the goals were sheer brilliance and completely unstoppable with a brace from a world class international player. It was a friendly which has more to do with fitness and formations than anything. The result doesn't matter. I trust NA and NC to bring in a few signings before the window closes. Granted, it would have been better for these signings to have been done and dusted by now but the transfer market has been very slow with the Olympics and the Euros before that. It has been a busy summer. Don't get disheartened Saints fans. We'll do fine in the Premier League. And for all you sad acts that comment on a rival teams newspaper, I have a message for you. Maybe you should concentrate your efforts on your own dwindling team and stop all this jealousy as that is what it is. We are Premier League. Southampton are back to stay!
iif the spelling worries you i can change it for you (was not ment to be spelt right ),.udenise are a champion league side yes and so are man u ,city chelsea ,arsenal etc
But there are 16 sides who are not


Never been on the poopee news site but I am getting tempted into retaliation by a couple of smelly ones who have been on here lately Please someone put them down You wouldn't let a dog suffer this much
Inclined to agree with Sensible to a degree. The issue is, we are now trying to adopt a formation that is unknown to Saints. Why change a formation that has served us well?
Why by Jay and stick him on the wing?

Udinesse are a cracking club but that aside, we haven't looked impressive in any if the pre season games and that has to be a worry. We have to play the saints way that has worked for us in the past - great attacking okay defence. Not okay defence and limited attacking. That has 1 point from first four games written all over it!

laffaminute says...
10:46pm Sat 11 Aug 12

florida saint wrote:
laffaminute wrote: Nice to see you great fans put pompeys youth team down rather than talk about your own inadaquences, no change there then.
That is your 1st team you fakin sk8 tw@T. Have you not read todays soap news about your grubby little pub team. your concerns should be with them not your premier league nieghbours. red aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa rrrrrrrmy
Your in Florida ? Of course you are.

anderoo says...
10:48pm Sat 11 Aug 12

tomw1234 wrote:
sensablesaint wrote:
outclassed ,outplayed,players did not look comfortable playing the formation .spider looked slow ,midfield looked a mess with nobody seemed to know where they were supposed to be. lallana was wasted in the middle .jay is not a left winger ,ooh dear !!!
Funny that your nickname is "sensablesaint" when you can't even spell SENSIBLE. Ofcourse we were outclassed, Udinese are a champions league side and one of the best in Italy. I didn't expect Saints to win this game at all. Three of the goals were sheer brilliance and completely unstoppable with a brace from a world class international player. It was a friendly which has more to do with fitness and formations than anything. The result doesn't matter. I trust NA and NC to bring in a few signings before the window closes. Granted, it would have been better for these signings to have been done and dusted by now but the transfer market has been very slow with the Olympics and the Euros before that. It has been a busy summer. Don't get disheartened Saints fans. We'll do fine in the Premier League. And for all you sad acts that comment on a rival teams newspaper, I have a message for you. Maybe you should concentrate your efforts on your own dwindling team and stop all this jealousy as that is what it is. We are Premier League. Southampton are back to stay!
Have to agree with you tomw.....the doubters obviously havent thought about,
1, how many dvd's did NA study of tonights opponents?....maybe 1 or 2 if any at all,
2: How many dvd's of next weeks opponents have been watched by NA....probably every match of theirs from last season.
3:As for transfers, how many players have Man City brought in since they won the title? A big fat ZERO..... Keep the faith Saints fans....in NA and NC we should trust.

CEH393 says...
10:49pm Sat 11 Aug 12

laffaminute wrote:
Lots of positives to take from this game, Udinese are only slightly better than Bristol city and you only lost 4-0, a large crowd turned up to watch to give encouragement to the big club on the south coast which will have the premier league clubs worried, NA has everything in order and a great season is ahead for you.
Are you really that unhappy with your own poor excuse of a club that you have to try and unsettle our fans? Try and do the decent thing and stop yourself looking the complete tw@t that you are. If we got tonked 4-0 every game we play this season at least we know we have a stable well run club to support and not a shambles that had to get every senior player off it's books before another crook could take you on to screw every penny they can out of you! Enjoy watching your youth team and league 2 rejects this season :-) we sure will have fun looking over the fence and laughing at you :-)

laffaminute says...
10:51pm Sat 11 Aug 12

Slick Saint wrote:
Saintsayer II wrote:
sensablesaint wrote:
tomw1234 wrote:
sensablesaint wrote: outclassed ,outplayed,players did not look comfortable playing the formation .spider looked slow ,midfield looked a mess with nobody seemed to know where they were supposed to be. lallana was wasted in the middle .jay is not a left winger ,ooh dear !!!
Funny that your nickname is "sensablesaint" when you can't even spell SENSIBLE. Ofcourse we were outclassed, Udinese are a champions league side and one of the best in Italy. I didn't expect Saints to win this game at all. Three of the goals were sheer brilliance and completely unstoppable with a brace from a world class international player. It was a friendly which has more to do with fitness and formations than anything. The result doesn't matter. I trust NA and NC to bring in a few signings before the window closes. Granted, it would have been better for these signings to have been done and dusted by now but the transfer market has been very slow with the Olympics and the Euros before that. It has been a busy summer. Don't get disheartened Saints fans. We'll do fine in the Premier League. And for all you sad acts that comment on a rival teams newspaper, I have a message for you. Maybe you should concentrate your efforts on your own dwindling team and stop all this jealousy as that is what it is. We are Premier League. Southampton are back to stay!
iif the spelling worries you i can change it for you (was not ment to be spelt right ),.udenise are a champion league side yes and so are man u ,city chelsea ,arsenal etc
But there are 16 sides who are not Never been on the poopee news site but I am getting tempted into retaliation by a couple of smelly ones who have been on here lately Please someone put them down You wouldn't let a dog suffer this much
Inclined to agree with Sensible to a degree. The issue is, we are now trying to adopt a formation that is unknown to Saints. Why change a formation that has served us well? Why by Jay and stick him on the wing? Udinesse are a cracking club but that aside, we haven't looked impressive in any if the pre season games and that has to be a worry. We have to play the saints way that has worked for us in the past - great attacking okay defence. Not okay defence and limited attacking. That has 1 point from first four games written all over it!
Your very optomistic about the 1 point but i hope you get more, you dont want to be too far adrift too early and well done for being honest about your club instead of the usual slagging us off.

OSPREYSAINT says...
10:51pm Sat 11 Aug 12

As for the game? Totally outclassed, made plenty of chances but failed to finish.

florida saint says...
11:08pm Sat 11 Aug 12

laffaminute wrote:
florida saint wrote:
laffaminute wrote: Nice to see you great fans put pompeys youth team down rather than talk about your own inadaquences, no change there then.
That is your 1st team you fakin sk8 tw@T. Have you not read todays soap news about your grubby little pub team. your concerns should be with them not your premier league nieghbours. red aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa rrrrrrrmy
Your in Florida ? Of course you are.
Hey fish fiddler im in fl for the next 3 years.if you are ever over here let me know im sure we could have a beer together. Or have you had your sk8 passport suspended. im off for a beer now so go and p1ss smeone else of you numpty.

red aaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrr
rrrrrrrmy

Over the Edge says...
11:19pm Sat 11 Aug 12

Friendlies count for sh1t.

Next Sunday is when it all starts, start worrying if we haven't won after 8 games, not after a couple of pointless friendlies.

seany1966 says...
11:19pm Sat 11 Aug 12

Adkins .. Why does he not change the set up when it obviously not working.. 1 up front, lallana lost in the middle none effective , lambert getting no service , jay hugging the wing. Eh it just doesn't work ....... Anyone have an idea who will be our starting eleven .. I haven't a clue ... And I don't think atkins has either ..... Tonight puncheon , prowse , clyne best players for us ... IMO

Baddesley Bill says...
11:21pm Sat 11 Aug 12

florida saint wrote:
laffaminute wrote:
florida saint wrote:
laffaminute wrote: Nice to see you great fans put pompeys youth team down rather than talk about your own inadaquences, no change there then.
That is your 1st team you fakin sk8 tw@T. Have you not read todays soap news about your grubby little pub team. your concerns should be with them not your premier league nieghbours. red aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa rrrrrrrmy
Your in Florida ? Of course you are.
Hey fish fiddler im in fl for the next 3 years.if you are ever over here let me know im sure we could have a beer together. Or have you had your sk8 passport suspended. im off for a beer now so go and p1ss smeone else of you numpty.

red aaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrr

rrrrrrrmy
The clue is in the name...skates don't seen to do clues... he'll be asking me if I actually live in Baddesley next! :O)

Tirau Dan says...
11:23pm Sat 11 Aug 12

For those of us overseas could those who went please say if The Echo is right that we were we completely out of our depth or is Nigel right that we did gain good possession and create chances.. perhaps a bit of both.

It's hard at the moment even for one who is normally taken as overly optimistic to be upbeat at all.

I think we all know our team does lack pace power and accuracy: but they are Saints and we need to support them. In the sixties if Saints were playing a nobody from nowhere I think a lot more than 4k would have supported them..

Win Lose or Draw Top of the table, Mid table or struggling at the bottom SFC is ours... Love Ya Saints... all the way...

angus mc coatup says...
11:40pm Sat 11 Aug 12

don't worry dan I don't think we were out of our depth.the first two goals were stonkers from twenty yards or more.the only one I had a problem with was the third one which was down to poor defending we should have done more to close down on the first two.the fourth came after a saints attack was broken up and we got mugged. all in all we lacked a cutting edge but i'm confident we can live with the jump in class and with a couple of good players we should be ok.

Kings Lynn Saint says...
11:42pm Sat 11 Aug 12

As other posters have said on this story and other threads, pre-season friendly results aren't the most important (yes I know a win is nice as that breeds confidence and keeps a momentum).

Surely what is important for NA and his coaching staff during pre-season is the fitness of the players, working on new formations and building up match fitness.

I have every confidence that we will have a decent season, and I have every faith in NA and NC that we will strengthen the team as appropriate.

Together As One!
COYR
FOP
WTFILN

Tirau Dan says...
11:51pm Sat 11 Aug 12

I have no time for ppl who allege to be Saints supporters who spit the dummy and slag off the team at any time.

We are all worried but try to remember this is a building, learning time for the club and first team. Nicola and Nigel are building for the future long term interest of the club within means.

The window is still open, Nigel says he is still trying to add... all the big deals come through right at the very end of the window.. we all know that. Keep the Faith.

Kings Lynn Saint says...
11:55pm Sat 11 Aug 12

Tirau Dan wrote:
I have no time for ppl who allege to be Saints supporters who spit the dummy and slag off the team at any time.

We are all worried but try to remember this is a building, learning time for the club and first team. Nicola and Nigel are building for the future long term interest of the club within means.

The window is still open, Nigel says he is still trying to add... all the big deals come through right at the very end of the window.. we all know that. Keep the Faith.
Well said Dan

St Retford says...
12:00am Sun 12 Aug 12

Nigel would be an utter tw@t to ask players to bring their A game to a friendly. Not only is the result largely meaningless but it's to our advantage that City scouts don't have the chance to analyse our attacking threat. This was about fitness.

Seedhouse the Unrepentant says...
12:16am Sun 12 Aug 12

Are we going to get thumped next week? :(

Landdo says...
12:30am Sun 12 Aug 12

agree entierly with dan and st retford, i doubt very much that nigel would send the players out in the last pre season match (the one in my opinion city are most likely to have a look at) and expose our hand so to speak, and like wise it would be foolish to commit to a friendly to the point your risking injury's we lost cork on tuesday that was a stark warning to all the lads that want to be involved next sunday, as for attendences it would be nice if more were there, hell id have loved to have been there myself, but i cant justify the cost of the travelling to southampton and back, on top of the beer and pies, and 20 quid for the ticket for a friendly (wife wanting a conservatory dont help matters) but im sure there wont be many games next year when the stands aren't packed, dont be down guys and girls the season aint even begun! people have started complaining about the change of formation... whose betting they were the ones saying 442 is dated, no one plays 442 in the prem we need to change! and one more think ignore the "pompy fans" on here im sure the true pompy fans are more concerend with goings on down there than our friendly's, the ones on here aint here for the love of football there here to try and wind people up because there D%$KS and they get get a kick out of it.... not worth my time or yours

C.O.Y.R new season starts soon try a bit of optimisum peeps you might like it :)

randre says...
12:36am Sun 12 Aug 12

tomw1234 wrote:
sensablesaint wrote:
outclassed ,outplayed,players did not look comfortable playing the formation .spider looked slow ,midfield looked a mess with nobody seemed to know where they were supposed to be. lallana was wasted in the middle .jay is not a left winger ,ooh dear !!!
Funny that your nickname is "sensablesaint" when you can't even spell SENSIBLE. Ofcourse we were outclassed, Udinese are a champions league side and one of the best in Italy. I didn't expect Saints to win this game at all. Three of the goals were sheer brilliance and completely unstoppable with a brace from a world class international player. It was a friendly which has more to do with fitness and formations than anything. The result doesn't matter. I trust NA and NC to bring in a few signings before the window closes. Granted, it would have been better for these signings to have been done and dusted by now but the transfer market has been very slow with the Olympics and the Euros before that. It has been a busy summer. Don't get disheartened Saints fans. We'll do fine in the Premier League. And for all you sad acts that comment on a rival teams newspaper, I have a message for you. Maybe you should concentrate your efforts on your own dwindling team and stop all this jealousy as that is what it is. We are Premier League. Southampton are back to stay!
What a fantastic post.

Well said, I agree 100% with everything you have said.

insane saint says...
12:42am Sun 12 Aug 12

well what did we do during preseason last year and where did we end up?

well?

promoted that is where.

preseason is about fitness not results now get behind the team.

together as one

we believe

COYR

Dubai-saints89 says...
12:54am Sun 12 Aug 12

hopefully this means NA will have to bring in more players. we need new blood to compete in the prem...

Tirau Dan says...
4:58am Sun 12 Aug 12

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
Are we going to get thumped next week? :(
Probably but if we are thumped it won't be for lack of heart. We'll learn from a lesson and fair better in the rematch at home.. thats all we can expect. However we overseas lots will know the great Saints away fans will get up there and give the lads a yell for us... the louder they are the better the lads seem to perform.. Good Luck and safe journey to all... I can't wait to hear the Saints Travelling Fans sing OWTS!!!

Flashin the pan says...
6:26am Sun 12 Aug 12

The picture tells the story an empty stadium plus a bleak scoreline to boot.
Says a lot for your season ahead!

Flashin the pan says...
6:26am Sun 12 Aug 12

The picture tells the story an empty stadium plus a bleak scoreline to boot.
Says a lot for your season ahead!

likewatchingbrazil says...
7:27am Sun 12 Aug 12

Flashin the pan wrote:
The picture tells the story an empty stadium plus a bleak scoreline to boot. Says a lot for your season ahead!
23000 season tickets already sold thats more than your shed can hold, no point you coming on here as you have no brain, now go out with your bucket and try to raise some cash for your joke of a club, and when you do a pack the park again the trick is to actually pack the park. coyr foad poopey!
sha la la la la la

WECOMING4U says...
7:41am Sun 12 Aug 12

SOUTHAMPTON FC PREMIER LEAGUE
p*rtsmouth fc a couple of leagues below us a million light years behind us. FACT

Not_A_Nutter says...
8:13am Sun 12 Aug 12

Some great news, aside from all this bickering with pompey and consideration of formation and PL readiness:
Tadanari Lee was out with the subs at halftime, training, running and kicking the ball with either foot. It can't be too long before we see his pace in action again :-)
COYR

circa 66 saint says...
8:24am Sun 12 Aug 12

saints v man city 19/03/1983
on itv4 big match revisited NOW 8-30am

george chivers says...
8:37am Sun 12 Aug 12

Not_A_Nutter wrote:
Some great news, aside from all this bickering with pompey and consideration of formation and PL readiness:
Tadanari Lee was out with the subs at halftime, training, running and kicking the ball with either foot. It can't be too long before we see his pace in action again :-)
COYR
Good post. Good news.

Tirau Dan says...
8:42am Sun 12 Aug 12

george chivers wrote:
Not_A_Nutter wrote:
Some great news, aside from all this bickering with pompey and consideration of formation and PL readiness:
Tadanari Lee was out with the subs at halftime, training, running and kicking the ball with either foot. It can't be too long before we see his pace in action again :-)
COYR
Good post. Good news.
great to hear that...thanks
Bet the archer will be seen a few times this season

Folkestone Saint says...
8:57am Sun 12 Aug 12

Flashin the pan wrote:
The picture tells the story an empty stadium plus a bleak scoreline to boot.
Says a lot for your season ahead!
Must remind you of your own team even when you gave tickets away for free. Answer this would you prefer to be beaten in the prem in front of a full house or be thrashed by walsall in front of hundreds of fans (as in not thousnd's)
that is of course if you DO hve a season ahead

Saint Marlin says...
8:58am Sun 12 Aug 12

Not_A_Nutter wrote:
Some great news, aside from all this bickering with pompey and consideration of formation and PL readiness:
Tadanari Lee was out with the subs at halftime, training, running and kicking the ball with either foot. It can't be too long before we see his pace in action again :-)
COYR
Good post, it appears that everyone is forgetting about Chun, and the PL teams haven't really had the opportunity to see him play. Perhaps the new formation will suit him well, we have seen his pace, and if he scores goals like he did last season, I don't think we will have to many worries, we just need to get him playing. However, admittedly our defence is still a worry.

george chivers says...
8:59am Sun 12 Aug 12

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
Are we going to get thumped next week? :(
I would settle for a 3-0 defeat now, assuming we don't improve our defence before next weekend. Anything better than that will be a bonus.

I think the first 6 games will be a real challenge for us. Then we will settle down and start to pick up points and finish the season around about 15th.

Based on last season within the PL, there are 6 divisions; we are in Div 6.
We need to get to Div 4. Our home will be crucial. The 12th man has an important role to play in home games, we need get behind the players and urge them on to victory.

We've just had 3 great seasons but this one will be tough. Survival will be success.

The demonstration of support by the home fans, especially STH's will be paramount if we are to stay in the PL.

COYR! COYR! COYR!

franiow says...
9:05am Sun 12 Aug 12

If you manage to keep players shooting from distance in the lower leagues, not many goals will be scored against you, but not true when you play a class side. No pun intended, but a whole different ball game. However, we must remember that not all teams in the PL will be at this standard. We have to win the winnable games...it's those that count.

SFCOLDBOY says...
9:36am Sun 12 Aug 12

I have just read right through all of the comments on this thread.
With the exception of a couple of Saints doomsayers, most comments try to put a positive slant onto Saints approach to pre-season and the season ahead.
We have to be patient, we have not played in this league for a long time.
Yes our team is young and management are inexperienced at this new level.
Yes the chances are we may get a few tonkins, BUT.
We have earned the right to be playing at this level.
I like most of Saints posters want to see them continue their fantastic rise through the leagues.
I want to see Saints being a force in English football.
I say to the Saints doomsayers,think back to our recent past and then reflect at where we could have been.
A thought about the demise of them down the road may give you more perspective.
On another note I have seen in the recent past that a few so called Pompey fans have tried to dominate this site.
Just fast forward past these WUMs.
Ignor their inane comments to take away their oxygen of self publicity.
COYR.

Red n White says...
9:38am Sun 12 Aug 12

For those that haven't read Adkins report on the match on the OS, it says at the bottom that we're interested in Matt Phillips from Blackpool, but Holloway has come out and said that we've made an illegal approach for him, so will be reporting us. I hope he's got good proof, otherwise I can see a lawsuit going his way. Adkins says that everything Saints have done has been above board

Red n White says...
9:43am Sun 12 Aug 12

also, how'd gazza look?

under the tap says...
9:43am Sun 12 Aug 12

First game at St Mary's 11/08/2001 - Saints lost 4-0 to Espanyol, all goals in the first half. Big gate and the side was better than the one we have now - Did not seem to hurt us very much at that time

laffaminute says...
9:51am Sun 12 Aug 12

Nice to see you are taking the positives from your match,i suppose a video is available for the 28000 fans who couldent get to the game.

Rob The Saint NOT in NZ says...
9:58am Sun 12 Aug 12

laffaminute wrote:
Nice to see you are taking the positives from your match,i suppose a video is available for the 28000 fans who couldent get to the game.
Ha ha! Nice of you to acknowledge that we have 28000 regulars.

I'm sure you'd be happy to have 10% of that.

How's 'Pack the Park' going?

What did you think of the mighty Salisbury City?

Are you looking forward to the next crook coming along to decimate even further the smoking ruins of your club?

Have you got 11 players left for the start of the season?

I could go on, but your utter humiliation as a club is complete & all posts on here by Skunts are pure comedy gold.

WTFILN!

FOADP!!

COYR!!!

WECOMING4U says...
9:58am Sun 12 Aug 12

laffaminute wrote:
Nice to see you are taking the positives from your match,i suppose a video is available for the 28000 fans who couldent get to the game.
video!!!!!! DVD's now my old Skate. Anyway I see if i can get one formatted to a Video for your Betamax...bless

petethephantom says...
9:59am Sun 12 Aug 12

hummm
I came to southampton /uk from sydney australia for the first time as a longtime saints fan last year and watched us beat coventry and get promoted
I used to train racehorses, and a friendly in footy is like a barrier trial for a racehorse( is for fitness and trying things) you dont earn prizemoney in horserace barrier trials so why show your hand in a footy friendly
remember the preseason lst season
COYR
i am predicting we finish 14 or 15th

ps i hope to come back at end of season again

george chivers says...
10:01am Sun 12 Aug 12

SFCOLDBOY wrote:
I have just read right through all of the comments on this thread.
With the exception of a couple of Saints doomsayers, most comments try to put a positive slant onto Saints approach to pre-season and the season ahead.
We have to be patient, we have not played in this league for a long time.
Yes our team is young and management are inexperienced at this new level.
Yes the chances are we may get a few tonkins, BUT.
We have earned the right to be playing at this level.
I like most of Saints posters want to see them continue their fantastic rise through the leagues.
I want to see Saints being a force in English football.
I say to the Saints doomsayers,think back to our recent past and then reflect at where we could have been.
A thought about the demise of them down the road may give you more perspective.
On another note I have seen in the recent past that a few so called Pompey fans have tried to dominate this site.
Just fast forward past these WUMs.
Ignor their inane comments to take away their oxygen of self publicity.
COYR.
So where do you think we will be in the PL at the end of the season?

laffaminute says...
10:04am Sun 12 Aug 12

Rob The Saint NOT in NZ wrote:
laffaminute wrote: Nice to see you are taking the positives from your match,i suppose a video is available for the 28000 fans who couldent get to the game.
Ha ha! Nice of you to acknowledge that we have 28000 regulars. I'm sure you'd be happy to have 10% of that. How's 'Pack the Park' going? What did you think of the mighty Salisbury City? Are you looking forward to the next crook coming along to decimate even further the smoking ruins of your club? Have you got 11 players left for the start of the season? I could go on, but your utter humiliation as a club is complete & all posts on here by Skunts are pure comedy gold. WTFILN! FOADP!! COYR!!!
That really is a amusing photo, is there a single fan in sight ? i think you have been fibbing about your attendance.

long memory says...
10:06am Sun 12 Aug 12

under the tap wrote:
First game at St Mary's 11/08/2001 - Saints lost 4-0 to Espanyol, all goals in the first half. Big gate and the side was better than the one we have now - Did not seem to hurt us very much at that time
Your right,but only after getting rid of Stuart Gray approx 10 games into the season and appointing WGS.Lets hope the start of this season is somewhat different,as when S G left in the October of that year,Saints had not won a single game at home.

milton road says...
10:21am Sun 12 Aug 12

It was a reality check, at least we really got to see the strength and weaknesses. Both NC and NA will know this morning more clearly what needs to be done.
As for BC threatening to pull out of pompey unless the administrator pulls his fee and the PT not knowing how many will actually fulfill the pledge and even then still being short, the saga continues. I thought you pompey boys would have more to do on your own site.

Seedhouse the Unrepentant says...
10:25am Sun 12 Aug 12

SFCOLDBOY wrote:
I have just read right through all of the comments on this thread.
With the exception of a couple of Saints doomsayers, most comments try to put a positive slant onto Saints approach to pre-season and the season ahead.
We have to be patient, we have not played in this league for a long time.
Yes our team is young and management are inexperienced at this new level.
Yes the chances are we may get a few tonkins, BUT.
We have earned the right to be playing at this level.
I like most of Saints posters want to see them continue their fantastic rise through the leagues.
I want to see Saints being a force in English football.
I say to the Saints doomsayers,think back to our recent past and then reflect at where we could have been.
A thought about the demise of them down the road may give you more perspective.
On another note I have seen in the recent past that a few so called Pompey fans have tried to dominate this site.
Just fast forward past these WUMs.
Ignor their inane comments to take away their oxygen of self publicity.
COYR.
I think the fans will be patient but I'm not sure about Nicola. I had dinner at end of season with Nigel and the relationship between the two was a very different one from a year earlier. That, coupled with the limp handshake and comments after Coventry, add in the rumours after one of the friendlies is why he is favourite for the chop. I hope I'm wrong but I have a sense of unease.

Still, there's always the skunts to cheer us up. Wonder what they will do today?!? This is so set up for a fans takeover but they only raised a few bob which did surprise me what with them being the bestest fans ever ever ever anyway bestest.

truelysaints says...
10:28am Sun 12 Aug 12

This does not bode well for the game against MC. I have said before and I'll say again, not enough has been done to bring in quality players. I'm not at all confident in NA ability in the premier. To coin a phrase, this is totally deferent ball game. I really dont see that we hve done enough to get ourselves prepared for life in the premier league. By this stage we should not be loosing these friendlies, at least not by these margins

Rising_Son says...
10:32am Sun 12 Aug 12

long memory wrote:
under the tap wrote:
First game at St Mary's 11/08/2001 - Saints lost 4-0 to Espanyol, all goals in the first half. Big gate and the side was better than the one we have now - Did not seem to hurt us very much at that time
Your right,but only after getting rid of Stuart Gray approx 10 games into the season and appointing WGS.Lets hope the start of this season is somewhat different,as when S G left in the October of that year,Saints had not won a single game at home.
Untrue. Saints beat Bolton 1 – 0 thanks to a Pahars goal.

Rising_Son says...
10:34am Sun 12 Aug 12

Rising_Son wrote:
long memory wrote:
under the tap wrote:
First game at St Mary's 11/08/2001 - Saints lost 4-0 to Espanyol, all goals in the first half. Big gate and the side was better than the one we have now - Did not seem to hurt us very much at that time
Your right,but only after getting rid of Stuart Gray approx 10 games into the season and appointing WGS.Lets hope the start of this season is somewhat different,as when S G left in the October of that year,Saints had not won a single game at home.
Untrue. Saints beat Bolton 1 – 0 thanks to a Pahars goal.
Sorry, that was away.

Seedhouse the Unrepentant says...
10:39am Sun 12 Aug 12

truelysaints wrote:
This does not bode well for the game against MC. I have said before and I'll say again, not enough has been done to bring in quality players. I'm not at all confident in NA ability in the premier. To coin a phrase, this is totally deferent ball game. I really dont see that we hve done enough to get ourselves prepared for life in the premier league. By this stage we should not be loosing these friendlies, at least not by these margins
When we sacked the experienced Pardew and appointed Scunnys physio we knew he didn't have Prem experience. We also knew he didn't have the same contacts in the football world when it came to signings. It would be grossly unjust to hold that against him. He's earned the right to have a proper go at this.

ghk230473 says...
10:55am Sun 12 Aug 12

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
truelysaints wrote:
This does not bode well for the game against MC. I have said before and I'll say again, not enough has been done to bring in quality players. I'm not at all confident in NA ability in the premier. To coin a phrase, this is totally deferent ball game. I really dont see that we hve done enough to get ourselves prepared for life in the premier league. By this stage we should not be loosing these friendlies, at least not by these margins
When we sacked the experienced Pardew and appointed Scunnys physio we knew he didn't have Prem experience. We also knew he didn't have the same contacts in the football world when it came to signings. It would be grossly unjust to hold that against him. He's earned the right to have a proper go at this.
Pardew alledegdly was sacked for going against a physio/sport scientist bought in by cortese, with regards to Lamberts knee injury. Pardew played him and the rest is history.
Adkins is a good manager but without experience, his record speaks for itself. The question yet to be answered is will cortese let a
manager manage? Football is full of opinions and now science, agents and technology on top.
IMO we needed to raid the transfer Market earlier and had our players for pre-season friendlies. Players costs are to a certain degree irrelevant, remaining in the premier league is priceless. If we had made more descent and as suggested a 'marquee signing we would have had a lot more than 4000 in attendance in the last 2 home friendlies.

laffaminute says...
11:01am Sun 12 Aug 12

truelysaints wrote:
This does not bode well for the game against MC. I have said before and I'll say again, not enough has been done to bring in quality players. I'm not at all confident in NA ability in the premier. To coin a phrase, this is totally deferent ball game. I really dont see that we hve done enough to get ourselves prepared for life in the premier league. By this stage we should not be loosing these friendlies, at least not by these margins
Most sensible comment ive read about the preperation for the prem,in a months time this site will be full of comments calling for NA to be sacked,there are no easy games in the prem and after a few thumpings the fans will turn on him.

SFCOLDBOY says...
11:08am Sun 12 Aug 12

george chivers wrote:
SFCOLDBOY wrote:
I have just read right through all of the comments on this thread.
With the exception of a couple of Saints doomsayers, most comments try to put a positive slant onto Saints approach to pre-season and the season ahead.
We have to be patient, we have not played in this league for a long time.
Yes our team is young and management are inexperienced at this new level.
Yes the chances are we may get a few tonkins, BUT.
We have earned the right to be playing at this level.
I like most of Saints posters want to see them continue their fantastic rise through the leagues.
I want to see Saints being a force in English football.
I say to the Saints doomsayers,think back to our recent past and then reflect at where we could have been.
A thought about the demise of them down the road may give you more perspective.
On another note I have seen in the recent past that a few so called Pompey fans have tried to dominate this site.
Just fast forward past these WUMs.
Ignor their inane comments to take away their oxygen of self publicity.
COYR.
So where do you think we will be in the PL at the end of the season?
I would like to think that Saints can finish high enough to avoid the relegation fight.
If we have to fight then bring it on.

I try to be open minded about the Saints, I have supported them for half of a century through many ups and downs.
The teams and the managements have changed. BUT.
Nothing will change my support and belief in our great football team.
COYR

Saint. says...
11:12am Sun 12 Aug 12

Pompey fans are on here enjoying any morsal of fun they can throw at our great club, because this simply reflects their very sad existence! There simply will not be many opportunities for them for A LONG LONG TIME!

Facts are for league matches they can not fill a stadium they DO NOT OWN! They play on a pitch they DO NOT OWN! They train on fields they DO NOT OWN? They have players they can NOT PAY! They are in league ONE, while SOUTHAMPTON FC are in the PREMIER LEAGUE! They will play in front of 9k if they are lucky, while Saints will play in front of 32k plus at home! Saints are looking to buy players, while poo are looking and begging players to GO! Simply poo survived in the prem on means outside theirs financial powers, simply a badly run business, while Saints have the backing to compete with the best and the best chairman in NICOLA!

I could go on as we all could, but I don't want to push them over the edge, they can ablidge this themselves! But with the above, everyone can fully understand their over kill on a friendly game in pre season against a team they could only dream of attracting to their hole they do not own!

sarumsaint says...
11:15am Sun 12 Aug 12

Tirau Dan wrote:
For those of us overseas could those who went please say if The Echo is right that we were we completely out of our depth or is Nigel right that we did gain good possession and create chances.. perhaps a bit of both.

It's hard at the moment even for one who is normally taken as overly optimistic to be upbeat at all.

I think we all know our team does lack pace power and accuracy: but they are Saints and we need to support them. In the sixties if Saints were playing a nobody from nowhere I think a lot more than 4k would have supported them..

Win Lose or Draw Top of the table, Mid table or struggling at the bottom SFC is ours... Love Ya Saints... all the way...
Dan, I think it is wrong for the Echo to say that we were out of our depth. Sure, we were given a lesson in finishing, but played some good stuff ourselves and created a few chances. The feeling i had was that the players were holding back a bit - who wants to get injured on the eve of the biggest moment in your career (so far)? Being critical (hopefully constructively), the movement off the ball was not what we are used to seeing, it was reactive rather than proactive, the tempo was a little slow and we seemed to be happy to just pass the ball around rather than be incisive. I thought that Jay Rodriguez looked a bit lost on the left wing, Rickie lacked confidence and Scneiderlin got frustrated, kicking the ball away at one point. Plus points: Adam Lallana looked quality, as did Steve Davis - just the sort of midfielder that we need IMO, Nathaniel Clyne looks good going forward and recovered well from being caught a couple of times. we looked fit and it was great to see Tadanari in the warm-up. As has been said, pre-season is all about getting fit, so lets give the players the benefit of the doubt (especially as we don't know what was said in the changing room), we will be right up and well prepared for the Man C game. And that is when it matters.

up saints says...
11:17am Sun 12 Aug 12

i did not go to the game but i can;t understand why arron martin has left on loan.i would play him over fonte or kept him for the warm up friendlies

sarumsaint says...
11:18am Sun 12 Aug 12

**Schneiderlin**

Confucious says...
11:20am Sun 12 Aug 12

There are definitely a few on here who should never be given the job of choosing the pictures for seed packets.

george chivers says...
11:24am Sun 12 Aug 12

SFCOLDBOY wrote:
george chivers wrote:
SFCOLDBOY wrote:
I have just read right through all of the comments on this thread.
With the exception of a couple of Saints doomsayers, most comments try to put a positive slant onto Saints approach to pre-season and the season ahead.
We have to be patient, we have not played in this league for a long time.
Yes our team is young and management are inexperienced at this new level.
Yes the chances are we may get a few tonkins, BUT.
We have earned the right to be playing at this level.
I like most of Saints posters want to see them continue their fantastic rise through the leagues.
I want to see Saints being a force in English football.
I say to the Saints doomsayers,think back to our recent past and then reflect at where we could have been.
A thought about the demise of them down the road may give you more perspective.
On another note I have seen in the recent past that a few so called Pompey fans have tried to dominate this site.
Just fast forward past these WUMs.
Ignor their inane comments to take away their oxygen of self publicity.
COYR.
So where do you think we will be in the PL at the end of the season?
I would like to think that Saints can finish high enough to avoid the relegation fight.
If we have to fight then bring it on.

I try to be open minded about the Saints, I have supported them for half of a century through many ups and downs.
The teams and the managements have changed. BUT.
Nothing will change my support and belief in our great football team.
COYR
I'm with you in terms of support. I went to my first match in 1951. I can't remember it. My second was in 1960 when I was 12.

I am red and white all the way through but I do think we will have a tough season. It's 15th-ish for me.

milton road says...
11:41am Sun 12 Aug 12

The thing is that NC does not own the club and is answerable to others, who do own the club. How much money is allowed for transfers is in their hands. One suspects the Lieberrs have remained with the club in Markus's memory and for it becoming a profitable business. What they allow the club to spend from any income rests finally with them.
In the Independent a week ago, NA made similar comments about his future as he did after the Coventry game.
I do not think NC gives prizes for coming second.
WHU know what is needed to stay in the premier, they are now going after their eighth signing. This is a side that would have had to half their wage bill if not promoted because of debt. Which was paid off by promotion.
4-4-2 is said to be out dated in the PL, but it is a system we know and have been successful with. The new system maybe more popular in the PL but we are lacking the flair and attacking opps we had in the CL using this system. We either play the premier way and try to get results. Or we play 4-4-2 and accept we are going to lose some but we will also get some wins. As Robbie Savage and Alan Hansen said the other week, results don't keep you in the premier wins do.
We have experience but lack top level experience on all fronts and need some back up with that experience.
Either way the thing is do we try to defend our weaknesses or use our strengths?
Yes NA deserves his chance, I think he is a good manager.
True we do not want to pay stupid money for players.
Yes we have some championship players who will step up to this level.
Yes we have lots of young potential.
We just need strengthening with top level experience as I have said and to work out a system of play that works for us.

likewatchingbrazil says...
11:46am Sun 12 Aug 12

Saint. wrote:
Pompey fans are on here enjoying any morsal of fun they can throw at our great club, because this simply reflects their very sad existence! There simply will not be many opportunities for them for A LONG LONG TIME! Facts are for league matches they can not fill a stadium they DO NOT OWN! They play on a pitch they DO NOT OWN! They train on fields they DO NOT OWN? They have players they can NOT PAY! They are in league ONE, while SOUTHAMPTON FC are in the PREMIER LEAGUE! They will play in front of 9k if they are lucky, while Saints will play in front of 32k plus at home! Saints are looking to buy players, while poo are looking and begging players to GO! Simply poo survived in the prem on means outside theirs financial powers, simply a badly run business, while Saints have the backing to compete with the best and the best chairman in NICOLA! I could go on as we all could, but I don't want to push them over the edge, they can ablidge this themselves! But with the above, everyone can fully understand their over kill on a friendly game in pre season against a team they could only dream of attracting to their hole they do not own!
most honest post on here.
surprized laffaminute is on here so much he normally spends his time on his sister.
coyr

Seedhouse the Unrepentant says...
11:55am Sun 12 Aug 12

When the great Ted Bates retired from management we appointed an unknown with only lower league experience. We were 5th in the top flight when he took over and we got relegated! He rebuilt and won the FA cup. He rebuilt again and got us promoted and another Wembley final. His stature grew and he was able to attract great names to Southampton with European qualifications and a 2nd spot in the top flight. Today none of that would have happened because he would have been sacked in his first season.

ghk230473 says...
12:01pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
When the great Ted Bates retired from management we appointed an unknown with only lower league experience. We were 5th in the top flight when he took over and we got relegated! He rebuilt and won the FA cup. He rebuilt again and got us promoted and another Wembley final. His stature grew and he was able to attract great names to Southampton with European qualifications and a 2nd spot in the top flight. Today none of that would have happened because he would have been sacked in his first season.
Different times, that world is almost un recognisable today.
Any how Terry Paine picked the team!

Seedhouse the Unrepentant says...
12:29pm Sun 12 Aug 12

ghk230473 wrote:
Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
When the great Ted Bates retired from management we appointed an unknown with only lower league experience. We were 5th in the top flight when he took over and we got relegated! He rebuilt and won the FA cup. He rebuilt again and got us promoted and another Wembley final. His stature grew and he was able to attract great names to Southampton with European qualifications and a 2nd spot in the top flight. Today none of that would have happened because he would have been sacked in his first season.
Different times, that world is almost un recognisable today.
Any how Terry Paine picked the team!
Ha!

Manure have also proved the sense of sticking with their manager.

The skunts are dissing Rickie, silly silly skunts.

george chivers says...
12:40pm Sun 12 Aug 12

ghk230473 wrote:
Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
When the great Ted Bates retired from management we appointed an unknown with only lower league experience. We were 5th in the top flight when he took over and we got relegated! He rebuilt and won the FA cup. He rebuilt again and got us promoted and another Wembley final. His stature grew and he was able to attract great names to Southampton with European qualifications and a 2nd spot in the top flight. Today none of that would have happened because he would have been sacked in his first season.
Different times, that world is almost un recognisable today.
Any how Terry Paine picked the team!
Until Lawrie Mac arrived and then he was dispatched to Hereford United!

long memory says...
12:50pm Sun 12 Aug 12

ghk230473 wrote:
Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
When the great Ted Bates retired from management we appointed an unknown with only lower league experience. We were 5th in the top flight when he took over and we got relegated! He rebuilt and won the FA cup. He rebuilt again and got us promoted and another Wembley final. His stature grew and he was able to attract great names to Southampton with European qualifications and a 2nd spot in the top flight. Today none of that would have happened because he would have been sacked in his first season.
Different times, that world is almost un recognisable today.
Any how Terry Paine picked the team!
Fair comments you both make,unfortunately I am not sure that LM would achieve that sort of success these days.
Back in the 70's,almost any team in the Div one had a chance of winning the league,IE Ipswich,Derby etc.Now their are only 4 or 5 teams that could win it, also in those days wages were at a sensible level,and most importantly there were virtually no players agents. LM main attribute was his charisma, and his charm attracted some amazing players to the Dell,in today's game of greedy agents and players that would account for nothing.

Tirau Dan says...
12:54pm Sun 12 Aug 12

sarumsaint wrote:
Tirau Dan wrote:
For those of us overseas could those who went please say if The Echo is right that we were we completely out of our depth or is Nigel right that we did gain good possession and create chances.. perhaps a bit of both.

It's hard at the moment even for one who is normally taken as overly optimistic to be upbeat at all.

I think we all know our team does lack pace power and accuracy: but they are Saints and we need to support them. In the sixties if Saints were playing a nobody from nowhere I think a lot more than 4k would have supported them..

Win Lose or Draw Top of the table, Mid table or struggling at the bottom SFC is ours... Love Ya Saints... all the way...
Dan, I think it is wrong for the Echo to say that we were out of our depth. Sure, we were given a lesson in finishing, but played some good stuff ourselves and created a few chances. The feeling i had was that the players were holding back a bit - who wants to get injured on the eve of the biggest moment in your career (so far)? Being critical (hopefully constructively), the movement off the ball was not what we are used to seeing, it was reactive rather than proactive, the tempo was a little slow and we seemed to be happy to just pass the ball around rather than be incisive. I thought that Jay Rodriguez looked a bit lost on the left wing, Rickie lacked confidence and Scneiderlin got frustrated, kicking the ball away at one point. Plus points: Adam Lallana looked quality, as did Steve Davis - just the sort of midfielder that we need IMO, Nathaniel Clyne looks good going forward and recovered well from being caught a couple of times. we looked fit and it was great to see Tadanari in the warm-up. As has been said, pre-season is all about getting fit, so lets give the players the benefit of the doubt (especially as we don't know what was said in the changing room), we will be right up and well prepared for the Man C game. And that is when it matters.
Many thanks...

randre says...
12:57pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Saint. wrote:
Pompey fans are on here enjoying any morsal of fun they can throw at our great club, because this simply reflects their very sad existence! There simply will not be many opportunities for them for A LONG LONG TIME!

Facts are for league matches they can not fill a stadium they DO NOT OWN! They play on a pitch they DO NOT OWN! They train on fields they DO NOT OWN? They have players they can NOT PAY! They are in league ONE, while SOUTHAMPTON FC are in the PREMIER LEAGUE! They will play in front of 9k if they are lucky, while Saints will play in front of 32k plus at home! Saints are looking to buy players, while poo are looking and begging players to GO! Simply poo survived in the prem on means outside theirs financial powers, simply a badly run business, while Saints have the backing to compete with the best and the best chairman in NICOLA!

I could go on as we all could, but I don't want to push them over the edge, they can ablidge this themselves! But with the above, everyone can fully understand their over kill on a friendly game in pre season against a team they could only dream of attracting to their hole they do not own!
Superb, I shake your hand. That is so very true... But the sad skates still keep coming back for more, personally I find them funny. They know their club is an absolute embarrassment.

ghk230473 says...
1:24pm Sun 12 Aug 12

long memory wrote:
ghk230473 wrote:
Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
When the great Ted Bates retired from management we appointed an unknown with only lower league experience. We were 5th in the top flight when he took over and we got relegated! He rebuilt and won the FA cup. He rebuilt again and got us promoted and another Wembley final. His stature grew and he was able to attract great names to Southampton with European qualifications and a 2nd spot in the top flight. Today none of that would have happened because he would have been sacked in his first season.
Different times, that world is almost un recognisable today.
Any how Terry Paine picked the team!
Fair comments you both make,unfortunately I am not sure that LM would achieve that sort of success these days.
Back in the 70's,almost any team in the Div one had a chance of winning the league,IE Ipswich,Derby etc.Now their are only 4 or 5 teams that could win it, also in those days wages were at a sensible level,and most importantly there were virtually no players agents. LM main attribute was his charisma, and his charm attracted some amazing players to the Dell,in today's game of greedy agents and players that would account for nothing.
I think what seeds getting at is changing managers.
I would have preferred not to have sacked pardew and if honest felt safer with him in charge now, however Adkins has got potential, deserves his chance and is a good manager. Cortese needs to back him and get the players he wants in, obviously within reason. If the team starts well all the players worth increases so for the sake of a hundred thousand bite the bullet and get players in.
Hammond and de ridder out, I've been to friendlies and keeping the pair would be cruel.

randre says...
2:04pm Sun 12 Aug 12

This is how pathetic some Pompey supporters are. I have just had a look at The News site because I was wondering how bad can it be when a couple of Pompey morons keep coming on here every day.

Low and behold I find somebody posting uder the username randre (my user name on here). Granted, there may be another randre, but it is doubtful. Especially where this moron is throwing abuse about Saints supporters and I mean real abuse.

This is obviously one of the trolls that come on here, well grow up. No wonder their club is falling to pieces when they have to go on their own site and pretend to be somebody else.

It seems there are a few sensible people on there who are more worried about PFC and are not interested in point scoring against Saints. Unfortunately the majority of these so called Portsmouth supporters are low life idiots who are probably the same knuckle dragging idiots who believe football is about throwing stones at opposing supporters...

Best fans in the world!!

Granted, there are a few of them that love their club the way we love ours, but from what I can see the majority are brain dead morons who are just interested in throwing abuse about, which is fine, but why do it in somebody elses name?

Rant over...

Sorry guys, just hacked off that somebody so thick has used my user name to be abusive. Whoever it is needs to get a life... and they call us scum :0\

ghk230743 says...
2:09pm Sun 12 Aug 12

I said "Players costs are to a certain degree irrelevant, remaining in the premier league is priceless. "

But I forgot that that's what they thought down the other end of the M27 and look where it got them. I must be really, really stupid.

Fatty x Ford Worker says...
2:09pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Yeah you lot better get real and watch open mouthed as another goal goes in the Saints net.

roverme says...
2:13pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Just to add my five pennyworth before this thread peters out. I think some of the comments above are a bit of a jerk reaction really. We got done by a decent team in a friendly match which was mainly won by two long range superb efforts which could have gone in against any team.
None of the Saints players where going to bust a gut in this the last match before the real thing.Lets all calm down and wait for the real shooting to start next sunday, half a dozen games into the season we will have an idea of how we may cope, further adjustments can be made to team and systems as we go along. All this talk of systems, whose in and whose out etc, is Nigel staying or has NC had enough of him bla bla bla. Ease off a bit, relax, have a palma violet and be patient. 2500 to 1 to win the league, 150 to 1 to win 3-1 on sunday. I've had a punt on both. We are back, back amongst the big boys, back on the box as well and back above portsmouth. Nearly all my adult life thats where we have been and we are back there. Celebrate!! cheer up! Its football and it doesn't get much better. Man city/Arsenal/man u, bring it on!! lets love it, win lose or draw lets frigging enjoy it anyway.
One last thing as well, no one agrees with the way portsmouth has been run but thats no fault of the fans no more than it was the fans fault when the sh*t hit the fan for saints. So good luck to the pompey fans, hope you get your club back but lets hope its run and owned buy a decent enough outfit unlike the recent past. We need a pompey to keep the needle going, fun needle, decent needle not the purile stuff from the moronic few that permeate both sets of fans.
So, get settled, get set and bloody well enjoy it you moaning buggers!
COYR....

St. Saint says...
2:15pm Sun 12 Aug 12

randre wrote:
This is how pathetic some Pompey supporters are. I have just had a look at The News site because I was wondering how bad can it be when a couple of Pompey morons keep coming on here every day.

Low and behold I find somebody posting uder the username randre (my user name on here). Granted, there may be another randre, but it is doubtful. Especially where this moron is throwing abuse about Saints supporters and I mean real abuse.

This is obviously one of the trolls that come on here, well grow up. No wonder their club is falling to pieces when they have to go on their own site and pretend to be somebody else.

It seems there are a few sensible people on there who are more worried about PFC and are not interested in point scoring against Saints. Unfortunately the majority of these so called Portsmouth supporters are low life idiots who are probably the same knuckle dragging idiots who believe football is about throwing stones at opposing supporters...

Best fans in the world!!

Granted, there are a few of them that love their club the way we love ours, but from what I can see the majority are brain dead morons who are just interested in throwing abuse about, which is fine, but why do it in somebody elses name?

Rant over...

Sorry guys, just hacked off that somebody so thick has used my user name to be abusive. Whoever it is needs to get a life... and they call us scum :0\
Typical closet fans really. They can't admit it so end up being Saintaphobic. They have noone else to follow any more. Don't be surprised if this continues all season.

saintbobby says...
2:45pm Sun 12 Aug 12

I still think 0-4 is worrying, friendly or not. Friendlies are not important but are supposed to get the legs and the brains working. So 0-4 is not at all encouraging.

I said before that the equivalent of being champions is for Saints to finish 17th or a little better. That means about 42 points, which is say 10 wins and 12 draws. Oh dear, it's going to be a big struggle so think on that and let's stop going on about how brilliant the team will be.

We can do that at Christmas if, hopefully, results go better than in our wildest dreams.

I still will always say, Come On You Saints - even if I do NOT like these awful new shirts!!

randre says...
3:23pm Sun 12 Aug 12

I can remember last year we had many people doubting the ability of the Saints squad in preperation for the Championship....

The same is happening this year, whilst I'm under no illusions that this year will be much more difficult and we will no doubt go through periods where we are not picking up the points we desire, I still think overall we will be OK.

But like somebody said above, if the worse happens and the season falls apart then all we can do is work hard as a team to try and get out of trouble. But one thing for sure, I will enjoy every minute, this is where we have wanted to be for the last 7 years, lets make the most of it.

I think the people that are saying 4-0 is a bad result, yes it is.... But hold on, have you looked at the opposition we were playing? There are few teams in the premiership as good as Udinese and in my opinion, for sections of the game we did well. But the real football starts next week, this is when players will find that extra 50% in everything they do.

After all the years we stood by our side when we were struggling in the Premiership, the seasons where we finished in the top 10 through to the relegation in 2005.

Please, remember where we have come from. I believe we will be OK this year, but I am sure that the first few games are going to be very difficult to get points from, what worries me is that some supporters are losing their heads over a meaningless friendly against top class opposition. What will these same supporters be like when the team may be struggling a little and need that extra lift, that extra support?

We are supporters, we need to support, not criticise every mistake or lost goal. When times are tough, we need to do what we do best and give that extra support and belief to the team. Remember the players and NA stated on many occasions that it was the support we gave that saw the team over the line. Lets not let that support waiver.

Saints are our team, we don't care about Pompey, we care about Saints..... Let's make sure we stay with them all the way and enjoy this season.

I'm proudto be a Saint and I am proud of all our supporters, be it supporters for many years or new supporers. If we can support and believe we will be OK.... Let's all stick together, Saints is OUR team.

OSPREYSAINT says...
3:23pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Did anyone bother to tell Udinese that it was a Friendly? The way they played was darn right unsociable.

OSPREYSAINT says...
3:25pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Fatty x Ford Worker wrote:
Yeah you lot better get real and watch open mouthed as another goal goes in the Saints net.
I thought you were supposed to be one of our lot? As for open mouthed I am told yours is always open for food input and sometimes your foot!

hedge end bob says...
3:33pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Landdo wrote:
agree entierly with dan and st retford, i doubt very much that nigel would send the players out in the last pre season match (the one in my opinion city are most likely to have a look at) and expose our hand so to speak, and like wise it would be foolish to commit to a friendly to the point your risking injury's we lost cork on tuesday that was a stark warning to all the lads that want to be involved next sunday, as for attendences it would be nice if more were there, hell id have loved to have been there myself, but i cant justify the cost of the travelling to southampton and back, on top of the beer and pies, and 20 quid for the ticket for a friendly (wife wanting a conservatory dont help matters) but im sure there wont be many games next year when the stands aren't packed, dont be down guys and girls the season aint even begun! people have started complaining about the change of formation... whose betting they were the ones saying 442 is dated, no one plays 442 in the prem we need to change! and one more think ignore the "pompy fans" on here im sure the true pompy fans are more concerend with goings on down there than our friendly's, the ones on here aint here for the love of football there here to try and wind people up because there D%$KS and they get get a kick out of it.... not worth my time or yours

C.O.Y.R new season starts soon try a bit of optimisum peeps you might like it :)
Also agree, fed up with our so called fans moaning already and the sason not started.Yes wins would nice but how much do you learn when you have an easy win. lets worry if were not showing any form next January. All those moaning about empty stadium at the games so far. How many of you go to the training gound to watch the team??? . Because that is the sort of game you will see wth the friendly's. Cheer up , Turn up and support the team when it REALLY MATTERS . C O Y R.

DisplacedFan says...
4:02pm Sun 12 Aug 12

laffaminute wrote:
florida saint wrote:
laffaminute wrote: Nice to see you great fans put pompeys youth team down rather than talk about your own inadaquences, no change there then.
That is your 1st team you fakin sk8 tw@T. Have you not read todays soap news about your grubby little pub team. your concerns should be with them not your premier league nieghbours. red aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa rrrrrrrmy
Your in Florida ? Of course you are.
You are pathetic

Chet Rico says...
4:24pm Sun 12 Aug 12

For those that haven't read Adkins report on the match on the OS, it says at the bottom that we're interested in Matt Phillips from Blackpool, but Holloway has come out and said that we've made an illegal approach for him, so will be reporting us. I hope he's got good proof, otherwise I can see a lawsuit going his way. Adkins says that everything Saints have done has been above board”

Holloway has said quote ''that a Premiership club has made an illegal approach for Philips''. Doesnt necessaily mean its us does it. More likely to be West Ham who seem as usual to be chasing anyone and everyone. Cortese does things the right way and i cannot believe he is responsible. Having said that would love Philips here.

As others have said, forget friendly results and performances - we cross the white line next weekend and even if we lose its not the end of the world.
We need to be solid and not go hell for leather - first get a toehold followed by a foothold at this level and then we will be a force in the Premiership. We may not all agree with Adkins tactics and at times we all think as armchair critics we could do a better job but its vital we try different formations / personel in order to adjust to different game situations. Like many i too am frustrated at the lack of signings but i have no doubt that 2 or 3 more will arrive soon BUT its important we all keep the faith even if we lose to City.

I have been a Saints supporter and fan since the early 60's and seen many ups and downs but i am very excited by the advent of this new season. Cherish it because though we may not survive we will give it everything and thats the most important thing but remember we dont have a divine right to be there !

As for the ****head skates that come on here, dont rise to it. The big green presence of envy is very obvious from their childish remarks. Their problems are not over by a long shot and i for one love it ! They are nothing but a bunch of cheats that lived beyond their means and they are now paying heavily for it. Shame though that as usual they are worming their way out of it at the expense of everyone else but will remain as always second raters and poor relations in every sense of the word.

aldermoorboy says...
4:34pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Man City 0-1 Saints

Linesman says...
5:33pm Sun 12 Aug 12

florida saint wrote:
laffaminute wrote:
Nice to see you great fans put pompeys youth team down rather than talk about your own inadaquences, no change there then.
That is your 1st team you fakin sk8 tw@T. Have you not read todays soap news about your grubby little pub team. your concerns should be with them not your premier league nieghbours.

red aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

rrrrrrrmy
You are likely to come under attack from OSPREYSAINT and tom1234, who are the official 'Spelling Police.'

Just because you appear to be in Florida, and we all know that our American cousins claim to speak English, but abuse it in both usage and spelling, does not excuse you for not spelling NEIGHBOURS correctly.

Even Australians know how to spell the word correctly, and are so pleased with their spelling success, they have a TV series by that name.

Be warned. he Spelling Police have your number.

andysaint says...
5:49pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Poor attendance for a meaningless friendly - true - i shall give our fishy friends that one.
Now lets see about them - couldnt sell out their little s hithole of a ground EVEN when the club had no money and they were giving tickets away.
Dont think being lectured by them on loyaly really means alot.

thehoggsback says...
6:04pm Sun 12 Aug 12

When i was growing up in Southampton i supported my home town team without any care for skate's, don't get me wrong i hated them i used to enjoy **** on the blue thing in the toilet and think of them, and still do, but saints was my passion the fa cup win the league cup final great memories for a child quality players keegan, Shilts, etc...real house hold names, Wallace bro's, Shearer, how much money i spent going to watch Le god, then the new stadium and Walcott, Bale and oxo, now back in the prem an academy with cat A status and then i think about poopey over them years and think you were in div 3 then and now 40 odd years later your back where you belong no academy no house hold names(players i mean) same s**t hole stadium and the same attendances, back then a good day was 14k but who care's were are Southampton foadp.

Linesman says...
6:21pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Saint. wrote:
Pompey fans are on here enjoying any morsal of fun they can throw at our great club, because this simply reflects their very sad existence! There simply will not be many opportunities for them for A LONG LONG TIME!

Facts are for league matches they can not fill a stadium they DO NOT OWN! They play on a pitch they DO NOT OWN! They train on fields they DO NOT OWN? They have players they can NOT PAY! They are in league ONE, while SOUTHAMPTON FC are in the PREMIER LEAGUE! They will play in front of 9k if they are lucky, while Saints will play in front of 32k plus at home! Saints are looking to buy players, while poo are looking and begging players to GO! Simply poo survived in the prem on means outside theirs financial powers, simply a badly run business, while Saints have the backing to compete with the best and the best chairman in NICOLA!

I could go on as we all could, but I don't want to push them over the edge, they can ablidge this themselves! But with the above, everyone can fully understand their over kill on a friendly game in pre season against a team they could only dream of attracting to their hole they do not own!
Taking a neutral view, I would like to make a comment.

"There simply will not be many opportunities for them for A LONG LONG TIME!"

What were your thoughts a few years ago? Did you think it would be a LONG LONG TIME before there was Premier League football at St Marys?

With regard filling a stadium for league matches. Neither club have managed that on regular basis for many years.

"They have players they can NOT PAY!" They are not the only club that have found themselves in that position in the past few years.

"Saints are looking to buy players" but appear to be having not much success. This begs the question, 'Is the money available to buy, and if it is, why can't the players be persuaded to come?'

Quality players are needed to turn the team from a top Championship team, to one that can survive in the Premiership. In my opinion, they are needed now, in fact, they should have been here for the pre-season matches, so that they would be 'bedded in' by the time the season tarts. I fear that, especially with the first six games, they will be struggling from word Go, and the transfer window will have slammed shut.

I do not want to see panic buying in January in an attempt to preserve Premier League football, because it will be more difficult to persuade the ones who could do the job, and cost more than they are worth.

Silly money was paid, and silly contracts were given in an attempt to gain Premiership a few years ago, and we all know what happened. The same thing could happen if relegation is on the cards in January.

george chivers says...
6:46pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Linesman wrote:
Saint. wrote:
Pompey fans are on here enjoying any morsal of fun they can throw at our great club, because this simply reflects their very sad existence! There simply will not be many opportunities for them for A LONG LONG TIME!

Facts are for league matches they can not fill a stadium they DO NOT OWN! They play on a pitch they DO NOT OWN! They train on fields they DO NOT OWN? They have players they can NOT PAY! They are in league ONE, while SOUTHAMPTON FC are in the PREMIER LEAGUE! They will play in front of 9k if they are lucky, while Saints will play in front of 32k plus at home! Saints are looking to buy players, while poo are looking and begging players to GO! Simply poo survived in the prem on means outside theirs financial powers, simply a badly run business, while Saints have the backing to compete with the best and the best chairman in NICOLA!

I could go on as we all could, but I don't want to push them over the edge, they can ablidge this themselves! But with the above, everyone can fully understand their over kill on a friendly game in pre season against a team they could only dream of attracting to their hole they do not own!
Taking a neutral view, I would like to make a comment.

"There simply will not be many opportunities for them for A LONG LONG TIME!"

What were your thoughts a few years ago? Did you think it would be a LONG LONG TIME before there was Premier League football at St Marys?

With regard filling a stadium for league matches. Neither club have managed that on regular basis for many years.

"They have players they can NOT PAY!" They are not the only club that have found themselves in that position in the past few years.

"Saints are looking to buy players" but appear to be having not much success. This begs the question, 'Is the money available to buy, and if it is, why can't the players be persuaded to come?'

Quality players are needed to turn the team from a top Championship team, to one that can survive in the Premiership. In my opinion, they are needed now, in fact, they should have been here for the pre-season matches, so that they would be 'bedded in' by the time the season tarts. I fear that, especially with the first six games, they will be struggling from word Go, and the transfer window will have slammed shut.

I do not want to see panic buying in January in an attempt to preserve Premier League football, because it will be more difficult to persuade the ones who could do the job, and cost more than they are worth.

Silly money was paid, and silly contracts were given in an attempt to gain Premiership a few years ago, and we all know what happened. The same thing could happen if relegation is on the cards in January.
Yep Agreed. The other risk is we get off to a poor start because the squad hasn't been properly enhanced and Nigel loses his job. Then we have panic buying and a new manager. Not a good idea. New blood is needed asap.

george chivers says...
6:49pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Yep Agreed. The other risk is we get off to a poor start because the squad hasn't been properly enhanced and Nigel loses his job. Then we have panic buying and a new manager. Not a good idea. New blood is needed asap.

Oldfan says...
7:07pm Sun 12 Aug 12

We will have to play well in our "league" which will be against the clubs who will occupy the bottom half (or perhaps third) of the table - along with us.

It is worrying that we conceded four goals but was it really that unexpected? I saw enough last year to know a class team would take our defence apart and we do not have players with sufficient pace to frighten them in attack.

Man City is next up and can't wait. This was a lesson best learnt in a frienldy rather than next week on the big stage.

PS on a forum it is the message not the spelling that matters.

Baddesley Bill says...
7:15pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Oldfan wrote:
We will have to play well in our "league" which will be against the clubs who will occupy the bottom half (or perhaps third) of the table - along with us.

It is worrying that we conceded four goals but was it really that unexpected? I saw enough last year to know a class team would take our defence apart and we do not have players with sufficient pace to frighten them in attack.

Man City is next up and can't wait. This was a lesson best learnt in a frienldy rather than next week on the big stage.

PS on a forum it is the message not the spelling that matters.
Quite rite Sir! :O)

Strasbourg Saint says...
7:34pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Rising_Son wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
long memory wrote:
under the tap wrote:
First game at St Mary's 11/08/2001 - Saints lost 4-0 to Espanyol, all goals in the first half. Big gate and the side was better than the one we have now - Did not seem to hurt us very much at that time
Your right,but only after getting rid of Stuart Gray approx 10 games into the season and appointing WGS.Lets hope the start of this season is somewhat different,as when S G left in the October of that year,Saints had not won a single game at home.
Untrue. Saints beat Bolton 1 – 0 thanks to a Pahars goal.
Sorry, that was away.
Okay, a bit pointless, I know, but let me put the record straight.

The first meaningful match at SMS was a defeat to Chelsea. I know, I WASN'T there, I'd planned a house-warming party without checking the fixture list. Won't be doing THAT again!

I did, however, go to the Espanyol game in pre-season, which, as you say, was the first match ever at SMS. However, it ended 4-3. Espanyol led an awestruck Saints side 4-0 at the break, with our players seemingly lost in front of so many fans (way more than can fit in the Poopey shed). In the second half, Saints made a triple substitution (I think it was Kev Davies, Uwe Rosler & ...... ummmm ....Ormerod?) and pulled one back within about 30 seconds with a move involving all three subs.

Anyway, re: yesterday, as others have said, results in friendlies count for nothing. I think Salisbury will struggle to so easily beat everyone they play this season.

I do think we will see transfer activity this week, though, and would like to see a genuinely classy, speedy CB come in. The one we were linked with in Montpellier would be great.

Personally, I'd also like to see alternative formations tried. I'm not sure about the Xmas tree. I don't usually put mine up until December!

NC/NA haven't let us down so far, so we can back them to get it right. If not, we could force them out and invite 'Arry and Milan to work their magic ........... that would give ThinEyes and his chum, Lark-a-muppet, something to smile about.

montecristosaint says...
8:18pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Strasbourg Saint wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
long memory wrote:
under the tap wrote:
First game at St Mary's 11/08/2001 - Saints lost 4-0 to Espanyol, all goals in the first half. Big gate and the side was better than the one we have now - Did not seem to hurt us very much at that time
Your right,but only after getting rid of Stuart Gray approx 10 games into the season and appointing WGS.Lets hope the start of this season is somewhat different,as when S G left in the October of that year,Saints had not won a single game at home.
Untrue. Saints beat Bolton 1 – 0 thanks to a Pahars goal.
Sorry, that was away.
Okay, a bit pointless, I know, but let me put the record straight.

The first meaningful match at SMS was a defeat to Chelsea. I know, I WASN'T there, I'd planned a house-warming party without checking the fixture list. Won't be doing THAT again!

I did, however, go to the Espanyol game in pre-season, which, as you say, was the first match ever at SMS. However, it ended 4-3. Espanyol led an awestruck Saints side 4-0 at the break, with our players seemingly lost in front of so many fans (way more than can fit in the Poopey shed). In the second half, Saints made a triple substitution (I think it was Kev Davies, Uwe Rosler & ...... ummmm ....Ormerod?) and pulled one back within about 30 seconds with a move involving all three subs.

Anyway, re: yesterday, as others have said, results in friendlies count for nothing. I think Salisbury will struggle to so easily beat everyone they play this season.

I do think we will see transfer activity this week, though, and would like to see a genuinely classy, speedy CB come in. The one we were linked with in Montpellier would be great.

Personally, I'd also like to see alternative formations tried. I'm not sure about the Xmas tree. I don't usually put mine up until December!

NC/NA haven't let us down so far, so we can back them to get it right. If not, we could force them out and invite 'Arry and Milan to work their magic ........... that would give ThinEyes and his chum, Lark-a-muppet, something to smile about.
Do Baddersley Bill and co so diehard fans think that Saints can survive without top quality signings or do NC and NA really walk on water? totally mad if you ask me

worried of n e hampshire says...
8:25pm Sun 12 Aug 12

goals from yesterday

http://www.udineseca
lcio.tv/video/5caa9e
eae0af21d44b79689e34
090169.html

Saintsayer II says...
9:11pm Sun 12 Aug 12

roverme wrote:
Just to add my five pennyworth before this thread peters out. I think some of the comments above are a bit of a jerk reaction really. We got done by a decent team in a friendly match which was mainly won by two long range superb efforts which could have gone in against any team.
None of the Saints players where going to bust a gut in this the last match before the real thing.Lets all calm down and wait for the real shooting to start next sunday, half a dozen games into the season we will have an idea of how we may cope, further adjustments can be made to team and systems as we go along. All this talk of systems, whose in and whose out etc, is Nigel staying or has NC had enough of him bla bla bla. Ease off a bit, relax, have a palma violet and be patient. 2500 to 1 to win the league, 150 to 1 to win 3-1 on sunday. I've had a punt on both. We are back, back amongst the big boys, back on the box as well and back above portsmouth. Nearly all my adult life thats where we have been and we are back there. Celebrate!! cheer up! Its football and it doesn't get much better. Man city/Arsenal/man u, bring it on!! lets love it, win lose or draw lets frigging enjoy it anyway.
One last thing as well, no one agrees with the way portsmouth has been run but thats no fault of the fans no more than it was the fans fault when the sh*t hit the fan for saints. So good luck to the pompey fans, hope you get your club back but lets hope its run and owned buy a decent enough outfit unlike the recent past. We need a pompey to keep the needle going, fun needle, decent needle not the purile stuff from the moronic few that permeate both sets of fans.
So, get settled, get set and bloody well enjoy it you moaning buggers!
COYR....
But it was the pompey fans who booed through Ted Bares tribute so I hope their team dies and we can boo through a minutes silenxe

Strasbourg Saint says...
9:44pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Saintsayer II wrote:
roverme wrote:
Just to add my five pennyworth before this thread peters out. I think some of the comments above are a bit of a jerk reaction really. We got done by a decent team in a friendly match which was mainly won by two long range superb efforts which could have gone in against any team.
None of the Saints players where going to bust a gut in this the last match before the real thing.Lets all calm down and wait for the real shooting to start next sunday, half a dozen games into the season we will have an idea of how we may cope, further adjustments can be made to team and systems as we go along. All this talk of systems, whose in and whose out etc, is Nigel staying or has NC had enough of him bla bla bla. Ease off a bit, relax, have a palma violet and be patient. 2500 to 1 to win the league, 150 to 1 to win 3-1 on sunday. I've had a punt on both. We are back, back amongst the big boys, back on the box as well and back above portsmouth. Nearly all my adult life thats where we have been and we are back there. Celebrate!! cheer up! Its football and it doesn't get much better. Man city/Arsenal/man u, bring it on!! lets love it, win lose or draw lets frigging enjoy it anyway.
One last thing as well, no one agrees with the way portsmouth has been run but thats no fault of the fans no more than it was the fans fault when the sh*t hit the fan for saints. So good luck to the pompey fans, hope you get your club back but lets hope its run and owned buy a decent enough outfit unlike the recent past. We need a pompey to keep the needle going, fun needle, decent needle not the purile stuff from the moronic few that permeate both sets of fans.
So, get settled, get set and bloody well enjoy it you moaning buggers!
COYR....
But it was the pompey fans who booed through Ted Bares tribute so I hope their team dies and we can boo through a minutes silenxe
In fairness, only a few loony skates booed, while the decent fans tried to shhh them up.

That said, there are plenty of good reasons to want PFC to die, none more so than the hope that a new, properly run club will emerge and rise back to where the skates (with their proud history) deserve to be and have generally been all their life - struggling between the 2nd and 3rd leagues.

circa 66 saint says...
9:59pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Strasbourg Saint wrote:
Saintsayer II wrote:
roverme wrote:
Just to add my five pennyworth before this thread peters out. I think some of the comments above are a bit of a jerk reaction really. We got done by a decent team in a friendly match which was mainly won by two long range superb efforts which could have gone in against any team.
None of the Saints players where going to bust a gut in this the last match before the real thing.Lets all calm down and wait for the real shooting to start next sunday, half a dozen games into the season we will have an idea of how we may cope, further adjustments can be made to team and systems as we go along. All this talk of systems, whose in and whose out etc, is Nigel staying or has NC had enough of him bla bla bla. Ease off a bit, relax, have a palma violet and be patient. 2500 to 1 to win the league, 150 to 1 to win 3-1 on sunday. I've had a punt on both. We are back, back amongst the big boys, back on the box as well and back above portsmouth. Nearly all my adult life thats where we have been and we are back there. Celebrate!! cheer up! Its football and it doesn't get much better. Man city/Arsenal/man u, bring it on!! lets love it, win lose or draw lets frigging enjoy it anyway.
One last thing as well, no one agrees with the way portsmouth has been run but thats no fault of the fans no more than it was the fans fault when the sh*t hit the fan for saints. So good luck to the pompey fans, hope you get your club back but lets hope its run and owned buy a decent enough outfit unlike the recent past. We need a pompey to keep the needle going, fun needle, decent needle not the purile stuff from the moronic few that permeate both sets of fans.
So, get settled, get set and bloody well enjoy it you moaning buggers!
COYR....
But it was the pompey fans who booed through Ted Bares tribute so I hope their team dies and we can boo through a minutes silenxe
In fairness, only a few loony skates booed, while the decent fans tried to shhh them up.

That said, there are plenty of good reasons to want PFC to die, none more so than the hope that a new, properly run club will emerge and rise back to where the skates (with their proud history) deserve to be and have generally been all their life - struggling between the 2nd and 3rd leagues.
to be honest when chainrai first said he would not let them be liquidated he did say he would get them back where they belong, just the threat of taking them over has done that (3rd div in old money already).
imagine what damage he will do if he gets control.

now the important bit the SOUTHAMPTON F.C. roller coaster is about to depart hop on now for the ride of your life AND F.F.S. ENJOY

Seedhouse the Unrepentant says...
10:00pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Strasbourg Saint wrote:
Saintsayer II wrote:
roverme wrote:
Just to add my five pennyworth before this thread peters out. I think some of the comments above are a bit of a jerk reaction really. We got done by a decent team in a friendly match which was mainly won by two long range superb efforts which could have gone in against any team.
None of the Saints players where going to bust a gut in this the last match before the real thing.Lets all calm down and wait for the real shooting to start next sunday, half a dozen games into the season we will have an idea of how we may cope, further adjustments can be made to team and systems as we go along. All this talk of systems, whose in and whose out etc, is Nigel staying or has NC had enough of him bla bla bla. Ease off a bit, relax, have a palma violet and be patient. 2500 to 1 to win the league, 150 to 1 to win 3-1 on sunday. I've had a punt on both. We are back, back amongst the big boys, back on the box as well and back above portsmouth. Nearly all my adult life thats where we have been and we are back there. Celebrate!! cheer up! Its football and it doesn't get much better. Man city/Arsenal/man u, bring it on!! lets love it, win lose or draw lets frigging enjoy it anyway.
One last thing as well, no one agrees with the way portsmouth has been run but thats no fault of the fans no more than it was the fans fault when the sh*t hit the fan for saints. So good luck to the pompey fans, hope you get your club back but lets hope its run and owned buy a decent enough outfit unlike the recent past. We need a pompey to keep the needle going, fun needle, decent needle not the purile stuff from the moronic few that permeate both sets of fans.
So, get settled, get set and bloody well enjoy it you moaning buggers!
COYR....
But it was the pompey fans who booed through Ted Bares tribute so I hope their team dies and we can boo through a minutes silenxe
In fairness, only a few loony skates booed, while the decent fans tried to shhh them up.

That said, there are plenty of good reasons to want PFC to die, none more so than the hope that a new, properly run club will emerge and rise back to where the skates (with their proud history) deserve to be and have generally been all their life - struggling between the 2nd and 3rd leagues.
It was a big Few and one is too many. No excuses possible.

Tirau Dan says...
10:02pm Sun 12 Aug 12

montecristosaint wrote:
Strasbourg Saint wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
long memory wrote:
under the tap wrote:
First game at St Mary's 11/08/2001 - Saints lost 4-0 to Espanyol, all goals in the first half. Big gate and the side was better than the one we have now - Did not seem to hurt us very much at that time
Your right,but only after getting rid of Stuart Gray approx 10 games into the season and appointing WGS.Lets hope the start of this season is somewhat different,as when S G left in the October of that year,Saints had not won a single game at home.
Untrue. Saints beat Bolton 1 – 0 thanks to a Pahars goal.
Sorry, that was away.
Okay, a bit pointless, I know, but let me put the record straight.

The first meaningful match at SMS was a defeat to Chelsea. I know, I WASN'T there, I'd planned a house-warming party without checking the fixture list. Won't be doing THAT again!

I did, however, go to the Espanyol game in pre-season, which, as you say, was the first match ever at SMS. However, it ended 4-3. Espanyol led an awestruck Saints side 4-0 at the break, with our players seemingly lost in front of so many fans (way more than can fit in the Poopey shed). In the second half, Saints made a triple substitution (I think it was Kev Davies, Uwe Rosler & ...... ummmm ....Ormerod?) and pulled one back within about 30 seconds with a move involving all three subs.

Anyway, re: yesterday, as others have said, results in friendlies count for nothing. I think Salisbury will struggle to so easily beat everyone they play this season.

I do think we will see transfer activity this week, though, and would like to see a genuinely classy, speedy CB come in. The one we were linked with in Montpellier would be great.

Personally, I'd also like to see alternative formations tried. I'm not sure about the Xmas tree. I don't usually put mine up until December!

NC/NA haven't let us down so far, so we can back them to get it right. If not, we could force them out and invite 'Arry and Milan to work their magic ........... that would give ThinEyes and his chum, Lark-a-muppet, something to smile about.
Do Baddersley Bill and co so diehard fans think that Saints can survive without top quality signings or do NC and NA really walk on water? totally mad if you ask me
Blasphemy!! Saint Nicola has already done resurrection...

If he says Europe.. Europe it will be.

Admittedly the promised land took 3 yrs not 3 days but heck of course SFC will survive in the Prem..

Don't write off additions and the possibility of a higher finish until after the window closes and after we see how the guys settle.

oregonsaint says...
10:17pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Bring back, o bring back, o bring back the red and white stripes to me. What an awful strip we now have, but hopefully fans attending games wll still wear the stripes, and maybe send a message to the hierarchy that stripes are what the Saints is all about.

OSPREYSAINT says...
10:21pm Sun 12 Aug 12

montecristosaint wrote:
Strasbourg Saint wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
long memory wrote:
under the tap wrote:
First game at St Mary's 11/08/2001 - Saints lost 4-0 to Espanyol, all goals in the first half. Big gate and the side was better than the one we have now - Did not seem to hurt us very much at that time
Your right,but only after getting rid of Stuart Gray approx 10 games into the season and appointing WGS.Lets hope the start of this season is somewhat different,as when S G left in the October of that year,Saints had not won a single game at home.
Untrue. Saints beat Bolton 1 – 0 thanks to a Pahars goal.
Sorry, that was away.
Okay, a bit pointless, I know, but let me put the record straight.

The first meaningful match at SMS was a defeat to Chelsea. I know, I WASN'T there, I'd planned a house-warming party without checking the fixture list. Won't be doing THAT again!

I did, however, go to the Espanyol game in pre-season, which, as you say, was the first match ever at SMS. However, it ended 4-3. Espanyol led an awestruck Saints side 4-0 at the break, with our players seemingly lost in front of so many fans (way more than can fit in the Poopey shed). In the second half, Saints made a triple substitution (I think it was Kev Davies, Uwe Rosler & ...... ummmm ....Ormerod?) and pulled one back within about 30 seconds with a move involving all three subs.

Anyway, re: yesterday, as others have said, results in friendlies count for nothing. I think Salisbury will struggle to so easily beat everyone they play this season.

I do think we will see transfer activity this week, though, and would like to see a genuinely classy, speedy CB come in. The one we were linked with in Montpellier would be great.

Personally, I'd also like to see alternative formations tried. I'm not sure about the Xmas tree. I don't usually put mine up until December!

NC/NA haven't let us down so far, so we can back them to get it right. If not, we could force them out and invite 'Arry and Milan to work their magic ........... that would give ThinEyes and his chum, Lark-a-muppet, something to smile about.
Do Baddersley Bill and co so diehard fans think that Saints can survive without top quality signings or do NC and NA really walk on water? totally mad if you ask me
Don't think anyone has said that on here, we are realistic not mad.

Strasbourg Saint says...
10:34pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
Strasbourg Saint wrote:
Saintsayer II wrote:
roverme wrote:
Just to add my five pennyworth before this thread peters out. I think some of the comments above are a bit of a jerk reaction really. We got done by a decent team in a friendly match which was mainly won by two long range superb efforts which could have gone in against any team.
None of the Saints players where going to bust a gut in this the last match before the real thing.Lets all calm down and wait for the real shooting to start next sunday, half a dozen games into the season we will have an idea of how we may cope, further adjustments can be made to team and systems as we go along. All this talk of systems, whose in and whose out etc, is Nigel staying or has NC had enough of him bla bla bla. Ease off a bit, relax, have a palma violet and be patient. 2500 to 1 to win the league, 150 to 1 to win 3-1 on sunday. I've had a punt on both. We are back, back amongst the big boys, back on the box as well and back above portsmouth. Nearly all my adult life thats where we have been and we are back there. Celebrate!! cheer up! Its football and it doesn't get much better. Man city/Arsenal/man u, bring it on!! lets love it, win lose or draw lets frigging enjoy it anyway.
One last thing as well, no one agrees with the way portsmouth has been run but thats no fault of the fans no more than it was the fans fault when the sh*t hit the fan for saints. So good luck to the pompey fans, hope you get your club back but lets hope its run and owned buy a decent enough outfit unlike the recent past. We need a pompey to keep the needle going, fun needle, decent needle not the purile stuff from the moronic few that permeate both sets of fans.
So, get settled, get set and bloody well enjoy it you moaning buggers!
COYR....
But it was the pompey fans who booed through Ted Bares tribute so I hope their team dies and we can boo through a minutes silenxe
In fairness, only a few loony skates booed, while the decent fans tried to shhh them up.

That said, there are plenty of good reasons to want PFC to die, none more so than the hope that a new, properly run club will emerge and rise back to where the skates (with their proud history) deserve to be and have generally been all their life - struggling between the 2nd and 3rd leagues.
It was a big Few and one is too many. No excuses possible.
What was dumb was the club's decision to hold a minute's silence ahead of that match, especially given that we were playing Norwich (Ted's first club) a few days later.

Anyway, when the liquidiser comes, I just hope the idiot fans get pulped along with the crud of a club they have regularly helped to disgrace.

Saint. says...
1:28am Mon 13 Aug 12

Linesman wrote:
Saint. wrote:
Pompey fans are on here enjoying any morsal of fun they can throw at our great club, because this simply reflects their very sad existence! There simply will not be many opportunities for them for A LONG LONG TIME!

Facts are for league matches they can not fill a stadium they DO NOT OWN! They play on a pitch they DO NOT OWN! They train on fields they DO NOT OWN? They have players they can NOT PAY! They are in league ONE, while SOUTHAMPTON FC are in the PREMIER LEAGUE! They will play in front of 9k if they are lucky, while Saints will play in front of 32k plus at home! Saints are looking to buy players, while poo are looking and begging players to GO! Simply poo survived in the prem on means outside theirs financial powers, simply a badly run business, while Saints have the backing to compete with the best and the best chairman in NICOLA!

I could go on as we all could, but I don't want to push them over the edge, they can ablidge this themselves! But with the above, everyone can fully understand their over kill on a friendly game in pre season against a team they could only dream of attracting to their hole they do not own!
Taking a neutral view, I would like to make a comment.

"There simply will not be many opportunities for them for A LONG LONG TIME!"

What were your thoughts a few years ago? Did you think it would be a LONG LONG TIME before there was Premier League football at St Marys?

With regard filling a stadium for league matches. Neither club have managed that on regular basis for many years.

"They have players they can NOT PAY!" They are not the only club that have found themselves in that position in the past few years.

"Saints are looking to buy players" but appear to be having not much success. This begs the question, 'Is the money available to buy, and if it is, why can't the players be persuaded to come?'

Quality players are needed to turn the team from a top Championship team, to one that can survive in the Premiership. In my opinion, they are needed now, in fact, they should have been here for the pre-season matches, so that they would be 'bedded in' by the time the season tarts. I fear that, especially with the first six games, they will be struggling from word Go, and the transfer window will have slammed shut.

I do not want to see panic buying in January in an attempt to preserve Premier League football, because it will be more difficult to persuade the ones who could do the job, and cost more than they are worth.

Silly money was paid, and silly contracts were given in an attempt to gain Premiership a few years ago, and we all know what happened. The same thing could happen if relegation is on the cards in January.
Comment you made, so comment I'll answer.

I can not say that I was not concerned as much as the next Saints fan that what the future may hold a few years back. But I am not sure of your point/angle here! The fact remains we as a club went through the ringer so to speck, but with some major difference here! We sold who had our players stolen for peanuts as we look to balance the books! Poo ignored this fact and hope the future may bring their saviour who actually jumped ship! Added to this poo have had many warnings to get their house in order since, and they did nothing, hence they own nothing. Moreover we had a buyer who has put us back were we belong! Correct me if I am wrong, but no one has shown a single bit of interest in poo!

Added to this, my piece was to highlight a reason for poo fans behaviour on a SAINTS site. Which history show, that with all the banter between the clubs, most po fans will go to the ridiculous to readily! I make no apologise for highlighting the facts as they stand.

You remarks about attendance is slightly slanted. Like for like games Saints always pull in bigger crowds for home games, and history shows this! But I was talking of Saints in the premeir league, and we often play with 30k plus, and now we are back we will again! But this coming season will show, and on this point why are Saints introducing a points award system for games, and strong rumours of stadium expansion. Poo has a tidy stadium, and this they struggled to get 9k in.

Players can not play remark? What is your point here? Yes others are and have been in the same boat. But I was talking about poo today, and the facts are correct here!

Lastly your comments on if we can buy players is laughable to say the least!! 7 mil for Jay is not cheap, let alone for Saints! Reportedly 4mil for Clyne. Plus two other players on very very clever deals. This on the back of previous seasons of buying the best players of our competitors teams in summer and Jan! ML and NC promised prem in five years, and they lied! They did it in THREE! They are spending millions on a new state of the art training facilities which wil also attract players! I have every faith in NC to bring in the players we need! But not over the odds. Linesman I can tell you NC is streweder than you, and if it is slowly slowly catchy monkey, then so be it! How can you call a judgement on NC and what players he can attract, when the guy has done nothing else but to deliver time and time again!! Or would you want him to say we want Butland, so here Birmingham you want 12mil for an unknown and you know we have money, so here is 12.5 mil for him to come today. I really feel you assume too much, with out knowing much of the facts. Let's wait and see. You will be smiling soon if you are a real Saints fan for sure! NC knows no other way!

Saint. says...
1:38am Mon 13 Aug 12

Saint. wrote:
Linesman wrote:
Saint. wrote:
Pompey fans are on here enjoying any morsal of fun they can throw at our great club, because this simply reflects their very sad existence! There simply will not be many opportunities for them for A LONG LONG TIME!

Facts are for league matches they can not fill a stadium they DO NOT OWN! They play on a pitch they DO NOT OWN! They train on fields they DO NOT OWN? They have players they can NOT PAY! They are in league ONE, while SOUTHAMPTON FC are in the PREMIER LEAGUE! They will play in front of 9k if they are lucky, while Saints will play in front of 32k plus at home! Saints are looking to buy players, while poo are looking and begging players to GO! Simply poo survived in the prem on means outside theirs financial powers, simply a badly run business, while Saints have the backing to compete with the best and the best chairman in NICOLA!

I could go on as we all could, but I don't want to push them over the edge, they can ablidge this themselves! But with the above, everyone can fully understand their over kill on a friendly game in pre season against a team they could only dream of attracting to their hole they do not own!
Taking a neutral view, I would like to make a comment.

"There simply will not be many opportunities for them for A LONG LONG TIME!"

What were your thoughts a few years ago? Did you think it would be a LONG LONG TIME before there was Premier League football at St Marys?

With regard filling a stadium for league matches. Neither club have managed that on regular basis for many years.

"They have players they can NOT PAY!" They are not the only club that have found themselves in that position in the past few years.

"Saints are looking to buy players" but appear to be having not much success. This begs the question, 'Is the money available to buy, and if it is, why can't the players be persuaded to come?'

Quality players are needed to turn the team from a top Championship team, to one that can survive in the Premiership. In my opinion, they are needed now, in fact, they should have been here for the pre-season matches, so that they would be 'bedded in' by the time the season tarts. I fear that, especially with the first six games, they will be struggling from word Go, and the transfer window will have slammed shut.

I do not want to see panic buying in January in an attempt to preserve Premier League football, because it will be more difficult to persuade the ones who could do the job, and cost more than they are worth.

Silly money was paid, and silly contracts were given in an attempt to gain Premiership a few years ago, and we all know what happened. The same thing could happen if relegation is on the cards in January.
Comment you made, so comment I'll answer.

I can not say that I was not concerned as much as the next Saints fan that what the future may hold a few years back. But I am not sure of your point/angle here! The fact remains we as a club went through the ringer so to speck, but with some major difference here! We sold who had our players stolen for peanuts as we look to balance the books! Poo ignored this fact and hope the future may bring their saviour who actually jumped ship! Added to this poo have had many warnings to get their house in order since, and they did nothing, hence they own nothing. Moreover we had a buyer who has put us back were we belong! Correct me if I am wrong, but no one has shown a single bit of interest in poo!

Added to this, my piece was to highlight a reason for poo fans behaviour on a SAINTS site. Which history show, that with all the banter between the clubs, most po fans will go to the ridiculous to readily! I make no apologise for highlighting the facts as they stand.

You remarks about attendance is slightly slanted. Like for like games Saints always pull in bigger crowds for home games, and history shows this! But I was talking of Saints in the premeir league, and we often play with 30k plus, and now we are back we will again! But this coming season will show, and on this point why are Saints introducing a points award system for games, and strong rumours of stadium expansion. Poo has a tidy stadium, and this they struggled to get 9k in.

Players can not play remark? What is your point here? Yes others are and have been in the same boat. But I was talking about poo today, and the facts are correct here!

Lastly your comments on if we can buy players is laughable to say the least!! 7 mil for Jay is not cheap, let alone for Saints! Reportedly 4mil for Clyne. Plus two other players on very very clever deals. This on the back of previous seasons of buying the best players of our competitors teams in summer and Jan! ML and NC promised prem in five years, and they lied! They did it in THREE! They are spending millions on a new state of the art training facilities which wil also attract players! I have every faith in NC to bring in the players we need! But not over the odds. Linesman I can tell you NC is streweder than you, and if it is slowly slowly catchy monkey, then so be it! How can you call a judgement on NC and what players he can attract, when the guy has done nothing else but to deliver time and time again!! Or would you want him to say we want Butland, so here Birmingham you want 12mil for an unknown and you know we have money, so here is 12.5 mil for him to come today. I really feel you assume too much, with out knowing much of the facts. Let's wait and see. You will be smiling soon if you are a real Saints fan for sure! NC knows no other way!
P.S. yes some mistakes in typing here, but written after closing olympics before sleep, but you should get it still.

classof'77 says...
4:07am Mon 13 Aug 12

My recollection is that the first competitive match at St Mary's was against Leeds, and was a 2-1 loss. We have a tough opening set of matches, and should be prepared to grit our teeth and not panic. I remember it took a while to get our first win back in the old First Division in 1978, 3-2 at home to Middlesborough, sometime in September. It could be longer this time.

Hobson82 says...
8:30am Mon 13 Aug 12

Let's hope the team are getting the poor performances out of there system before the season actually starts.
I remember going to a pre-season game against Espanyol years ago - I think it was our first home game at St Marys or one of the first - and we were totally outclassed but we went on to have a superb season and reached the FA Cup Final.

montecristosaint says...
8:32am Mon 13 Aug 12

the difficulty is lack of time.The transfer window doesnt last long and NC is gambling if hev thinks he can recruit top players on a very limitedv pay policy.I just casnt see him doing the business and Saints need three or four experienced players of the highest quality to survive. This is the Premier League not the Championship and some adjustment is needed with regard to targets and expectations. I just dont think NC has made them and the club will suffer relegation as a result.A pity.

Alicesdad says...
9:07am Mon 13 Aug 12

LOOK YOU LOT STAND UP STRAIGHT AND SMILE !!!!

This country has just told the world what a great thing it is to be British.

Last season Saints showed us what a great thing it is to be a Saints fan.

It's all good !!
Now .. altogether . .deep breathe

WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE.
THERE IS NO DOWNSIDE.

SMILE !!

bigfella777 says...
9:13am Mon 13 Aug 12

And there you go.All the muppets who look through red and white striped spectacles instead of being realists,who mocked what I said on Friday.
Saints will not suceed just because they are enthusiastic or looking forward to playing in the prem.
They havent got one premier class player in the squad,3rd richest club in the league,its beyond a joke.
I do want them to suceed but its not going to happen with championship players,they need a few old heads who have done a good 10 years minimum in the prem or I can guarantee you will all be booing by October.

batesieboy says...
10:29am Mon 13 Aug 12

milton road wrote:
The thing is that NC does not own the club and is answerable to others, who do own the club. How much money is allowed for transfers is in their hands. One suspects the Lieberrs have remained with the club in Markus's memory and for it becoming a profitable business. What they allow the club to spend from any income rests finally with them.
In the Independent a week ago, NA made similar comments about his future as he did after the Coventry game.
I do not think NC gives prizes for coming second.
WHU know what is needed to stay in the premier, they are now going after their eighth signing. This is a side that would have had to half their wage bill if not promoted because of debt. Which was paid off by promotion.
4-4-2 is said to be out dated in the PL, but it is a system we know and have been successful with. The new system maybe more popular in the PL but we are lacking the flair and attacking opps we had in the CL using this system. We either play the premier way and try to get results. Or we play 4-4-2 and accept we are going to lose some but we will also get some wins. As Robbie Savage and Alan Hansen said the other week, results don't keep you in the premier wins do.
We have experience but lack top level experience on all fronts and need some back up with that experience.
Either way the thing is do we try to defend our weaknesses or use our strengths?
Yes NA deserves his chance, I think he is a good manager.
True we do not want to pay stupid money for players.
Yes we have some championship players who will step up to this level.
Yes we have lots of young potential.
We just need strengthening with top level experience as I have said and to work out a system of play that works for us.
Really excellent post. Thank you. West Ham going along spending all kinds of money and gambling their futures. Good luck to them. Saints are ahead of our particular plan, and I would prefer to go back to the Championship for a season if it ensures our long-term planning and strengthening economically, as well as on the playing side.

saintsdan says...
10:37am Mon 13 Aug 12

Im a loyal saints fan and im afriad we have to get use to being hammered every know and then its not about the bad results it about bouncing back in the next game!

This year will be hard but we are playing in the best league in the world so dont be sad that we lose but embrase the fact we are playing some of the worlds best teams.

And you never know saints 6 man utd 3!

hamblepoint says...
10:39am Mon 13 Aug 12

Southampton? Static. No running off the ball.
Even at throw ins. All very basic stuff. In possession it was square or backwards. It is going to be uphill for a while on this performance.

saintbobby says...
11:51am Mon 13 Aug 12

batesieboy wrote:
milton road wrote: The thing is that NC does not own the club and is answerable to others, who do own the club. How much money is allowed for transfers is in their hands. One suspects the Lieberrs have remained with the club in Markus's memory and for it becoming a profitable business. What they allow the club to spend from any income rests finally with them. In the Independent a week ago, NA made similar comments about his future as he did after the Coventry game. I do not think NC gives prizes for coming second. WHU know what is needed to stay in the premier, they are now going after their eighth signing. This is a side that would have had to half their wage bill if not promoted because of debt. Which was paid off by promotion. 4-4-2 is said to be out dated in the PL, but it is a system we know and have been successful with. The new system maybe more popular in the PL but we are lacking the flair and attacking opps we had in the CL using this system. We either play the premier way and try to get results. Or we play 4-4-2 and accept we are going to lose some but we will also get some wins. As Robbie Savage and Alan Hansen said the other week, results don't keep you in the premier wins do. We have experience but lack top level experience on all fronts and need some back up with that experience. Either way the thing is do we try to defend our weaknesses or use our strengths? Yes NA deserves his chance, I think he is a good manager. True we do not want to pay stupid money for players. Yes we have some championship players who will step up to this level. Yes we have lots of young potential. We just need strengthening with top level experience as I have said and to work out a system of play that works for us.
Really excellent post. Thank you. West Ham going along spending all kinds of money and gambling their futures. Good luck to them. Saints are ahead of our particular plan, and I would prefer to go back to the Championship for a season if it ensures our long-term planning and strengthening economically, as well as on the playing side.
There should be no thought of going back to the Championship. That league is the hardest from which to gain promotion and remember last season Saints should have been champions by a country mile until the very careless slips in the last few games. Luckily they had done enugh earlier to have ensured promotion

I'll keep on banging away about realism and 17th position will be the pinnacle of our season. Just realism please and also no talk of red and white spectacles. I, and some others, do NOT like those awful shirts and they will prove to be a handicap to any progress.

Just a silly change to generate more money from cash-strapped supporters - the BEST in the country. Shame!

vag says...
12:30pm Mon 13 Aug 12

I've been to all the pre-seasons at St. Mary's this year. I have to say that, from what I've seen, we may well be screwed. The Di Natale goal in the first half of the Udinese match was exceptional, other than that, I think we could have done better all round. I don't think survival is beyond us, but we will need some better signings, and quickly.

pompey in spain says...
3:21pm Mon 13 Aug 12

believe it or not ive got money on you lot beating man city or drawing with them! i think ive had too much sun!!! seriously i think like any new team in the prem if you start well youll be ok ,and your facilities should allow you to stay up...just about!....but NA will be under too much pressure if you start on a bad run and he will get dumped ...cos it aint as if you got the fans to get your team through the bad times is it..adios all

saintsdan says...
4:34pm Mon 13 Aug 12

^^^^

Fair play mate

sarfhamton says...
4:36pm Mon 13 Aug 12

I for one am glad we are not spending big, look at Pompey and Leeds examples at recent woes.

This always happens, we panic but Saints make a few shrewd signings here and there.

It will be a struggle but better than being -10 in L1!

lowe esteem says...
5:31pm Mon 13 Aug 12

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
montecristosaint wrote:
Strasbourg Saint wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
long memory wrote:
under the tap wrote:
First game at St Mary's 11/08/2001 - Saints lost 4-0 to Espanyol, all goals in the first half. Big gate and the side was better than the one we have now - Did not seem to hurt us very much at that time
Your right,but only after getting rid of Stuart Gray approx 10 games into the season and appointing WGS.Lets hope the start of this season is somewhat different,as when S G left in the October of that year,Saints had not won a single game at home.
Untrue. Saints beat Bolton 1 – 0 thanks to a Pahars goal.
Sorry, that was away.
Okay, a bit pointless, I know, but let me put the record straight.

The first meaningful match at SMS was a defeat to Chelsea. I know, I WASN'T there, I'd planned a house-warming party without checking the fixture list. Won't be doing THAT again!

I did, however, go to the Espanyol game in pre-season, which, as you say, was the first match ever at SMS. However, it ended 4-3. Espanyol led an awestruck Saints side 4-0 at the break, with our players seemingly lost in front of so many fans (way more than can fit in the Poopey shed). In the second half, Saints made a triple substitution (I think it was Kev Davies, Uwe Rosler & ...... ummmm ....Ormerod?) and pulled one back within about 30 seconds with a move involving all three subs.

Anyway, re: yesterday, as others have said, results in friendlies count for nothing. I think Salisbury will struggle to so easily beat everyone they play this season.

I do think we will see transfer activity this week, though, and would like to see a genuinely classy, speedy CB come in. The one we were linked with in Montpellier would be great.

Personally, I'd also like to see alternative formations tried. I'm not sure about the Xmas tree. I don't usually put mine up until December!

NC/NA haven't let us down so far, so we can back them to get it right. If not, we could force them out and invite 'Arry and Milan to work their magic ........... that would give ThinEyes and his chum, Lark-a-muppet, something to smile about.
Do Baddersley Bill and co so diehard fans think that Saints can survive without top quality signings or do NC and NA really walk on water? totally mad if you ask me
Don't think anyone has said that on here, we are realistic not mad.
Totally with you on this one.

lowe esteem says...
5:33pm Mon 13 Aug 12

oregonsaint wrote:
Bring back, o bring back, o bring back the red and white stripes to me. What an awful strip we now have, but hopefully fans attending games wll still wear the stripes, and maybe send a message to the hierarchy that stripes are what the Saints is all about.
TOTALLY WITH YOU ON THIS ONE!

lowe esteem says...
5:41pm Mon 13 Aug 12

lowe esteem wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
montecristosaint wrote:
Strasbourg Saint wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
long memory wrote:
under the tap wrote:
First game at St Mary's 11/08/2001 - Saints lost 4-0 to Espanyol, all goals in the first half. Big gate and the side was better than the one we have now - Did not seem to hurt us very much at that time
Your right,but only after getting rid of Stuart Gray approx 10 games into the season and appointing WGS.Lets hope the start of this season is somewhat different,as when S G left in the October of that year,Saints had not won a single game at home.
Untrue. Saints beat Bolton 1 – 0 thanks to a Pahars goal.
Sorry, that was away.
Okay, a bit pointless, I know, but let me put the record straight.

The first meaningful match at SMS was a defeat to Chelsea. I know, I WASN'T there, I'd planned a house-warming party without checking the fixture list. Won't be doing THAT again!

I did, however, go to the Espanyol game in pre-season, which, as you say, was the first match ever at SMS. However, it ended 4-3. Espanyol led an awestruck Saints side 4-0 at the break, with our players seemingly lost in front of so many fans (way more than can fit in the Poopey shed). In the second half, Saints made a triple substitution (I think it was Kev Davies, Uwe Rosler & ...... ummmm ....Ormerod?) and pulled one back within about 30 seconds with a move involving all three subs.

Anyway, re: yesterday, as others have said, results in friendlies count for nothing. I think Salisbury will struggle to so easily beat everyone they play this season.

I do think we will see transfer activity this week, though, and would like to see a genuinely classy, speedy CB come in. The one we were linked with in Montpellier would be great.

Personally, I'd also like to see alternative formations tried. I'm not sure about the Xmas tree. I don't usually put mine up until December!

NC/NA haven't let us down so far, so we can back them to get it right. If not, we could force them out and invite 'Arry and Milan to work their magic ........... that would give ThinEyes and his chum, Lark-a-muppet, something to smile about.
Do Baddersley Bill and co so diehard fans think that Saints can survive without top quality signings or do NC and NA really walk on water? totally mad if you ask me
Don't think anyone has said that on here, we are realistic not mad.
Totally with you on this one.
Erratum!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!
Don't know why I responded to this in the first place, more confusing than Confuscious! Think I was trying to work it all out, finger hovering over keyboard...nodded off...we've all done it!
I AM, HOWEVER, TOTALLY in AGREEMENT WITH OREGON, this all-red kit is so not SAINTS!
Bring back the White Stripes or Red on White or White on Red with BLACK shorts= SAINTS.

saintbobby says...
8:17pm Mon 13 Aug 12

lowe esteem wrote:
oregonsaint wrote: Bring back, o bring back, o bring back the red and white stripes to me. What an awful strip we now have, but hopefully fans attending games wll still wear the stripes, and maybe send a message to the hierarchy that stripes are what the Saints is all about.
TOTALLY WITH YOU ON THIS ONE!
Red and White stripes forever! Even the white shirts with the diagonal stripe, though understandable in 2010/11, were unwelcome and looked very strange.

Why do clubs do this? They must realise it raises totally unnecessary aggro.

By the way, I don't know what our change of kit will be - all white, I suppose!!

randre says...
11:28pm Mon 13 Aug 12

bigfella777 wrote:
And there you go.All the muppets who look through red and white striped spectacles instead of being realists,who mocked what I said on Friday.
Saints will not suceed just because they are enthusiastic or looking forward to playing in the prem.
They havent got one premier class player in the squad,3rd richest club in the league,its beyond a joke.
I do want them to suceed but its not going to happen with championship players,they need a few old heads who have done a good 10 years minimum in the prem or I can guarantee you will all be booing by October.
I will not be booing in October. I SUPPORT saints and have done through hard times. I believe the support of real fans that stand by the club through thick and thin has helped get us where we are today.

We should ALL be happy with what has happened. I am happy with our signings so far. We could do with 2 more signings (central defender / pacey winger) but if we don't get them so be it.

I am proud to support saints. The players and manager will be a breath of fresh air. If we do struggle then the fans will support. We will be ok if the fans stay with the team... Knowing what we have been through I have no doubts that the majority will do this.

randre says...
11:59pm Mon 13 Aug 12

pompey in spain wrote:
believe it or not ive got money on you lot beating man city or drawing with them! i think ive had too much sun!!! seriously i think like any new team in the prem if you start well youll be ok ,and your facilities should allow you to stay up...just about!....but NA will be under too much pressure if you start on a bad run and he will get dumped ...cos it aint as if you got the fans to get your team through the bad times is it..adios all
Do you know what, after reading some of the comments on here from certain so called saints fans I am inclined to agree with your last statement there.

I tend to think these are a minority though, but when you read some if the moaning ungrateful supporters on here who are quick to write saints off before a ball us kicked in the new season it does make you think.

Luckily I think these are a minority and that many fans are delighted with our current position. There are many supporters that would swap.

Good luck with the bet!

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