There must be more than a few anxious Saints fans around after this afternoon's shocking performance against Doncaster. As the game in mid-week seemed to show when we played Hull, without Lambert we are pretty ineffectual. Despite some of the comments made by Pompey fans on this board, he is very much the complete player being instrumental in contributing to the better aspects of our play as well as being our principle goal-scorer. As was the case against Bristol City, there are moments when the remainder of the team seem wholly unable to know where the oppostion goal is. Hopefully Lambert will be fit for the derby. A few weeks back I felt that a draw was the least we could expect but this is now building up to be a very challenging game indeed and Pompey fans must be secretly confident of a home win. Based on today's performance, I think that this game has the potential to be a repeat of the kind of match when we last played in the Premiership at Fratton Park when Saints were mercilessly put to the sword in front of a baying Blue Army. Without Lambert, this game is, in my opinion, very, very winnable for Portsmouth and if we play as poorly as we have in the last two away games, I fear it could be quite comfortable three points for you lot. Seems as likely that Saints can put in a shocker as a good performance when on our travels. There was a bit of a heated debate at work a few weeks ago when I suggested that our position at the top of the league was an amazing achievement given that I felt that we had managed to beat teams despite there being moments when we had not necessarily played well. Our home form is tremendous but if our league position was based soley on away performances, I don't think we would be much better than mid table. I would suggest that come the end of the season, I think Saints will be in the play-offs but i don't feel that the difference in points tally between our respective teams will be anywhere as great as it is at the moment.
No Adam, a very honestly written post by Ian, who as usual is unbiased and impartial, and tells the facts as they are
Well as you said Ian , JUST your opinion. I am sure the blue few liked the content . I have been a Saints fan for over 40 years and have seen many, many world class international players but the last season and a half has been so different to watch good young players , some cutting there teeth, some improving and moving up another level, some getting a chance to show if lady luck and opertunity had come along earlier that they were good enough. So in all a real club side with a real team spirit. I have read many threads where some saints fans have got a little carried away with things and expect to much to soon but can see true potential . And that's where i am, I believe I am watching one of the best teams in the championship and to lose games to any team in this league or any league that is around the bottom is just football and will happen. I have never said or expect to go to falling down park and expect to win BUT one thing I do know is we are a much better team than the boys in blue and will finish 20 points and more above them come what ever and promotion is achievable this year which makes me very proud and optimistic. But having played a good standard and managed a good standard with plenty of success I find negatively hard to listen to or read.
Just because we have lost our last two away games we're automatically going to lose our next one? This is what Nigel said about our next away game "Oh well,law of averages we're due to get a win away from home then,so we are looking forward to that one very much so...and again that will be a very lively one"
I don't usually wander onto the Saints not606 page Adam, but having been tipped off about the contents of the "Doncaster v Saints" thread, I have just ventured over, and cannot believe the vast number of your fans criticising Nigel Adkins for his poor tactics, and having a go at quite a few of your players for not performing in the last three matches. Also, the number of fans stating that without Lambert (and Chaplow) in your side, you lose direction, and are virtually "toothless" !! Music to the ears of all Pompey fans, you must admit ! So, Southampton are beatable away from home, are they ? Gives us much hope, in what are currently depressing times at Fratton Park. Grateful thanks to all Saints fans for cheering me up no end
The last thing Southampton will want to do is to get into the habit of performing poorly away from home. It is far, far too easy to get into bad habits in football and they will have to bounce back sooner rather than later otherwise they risk letting the season get away from they - just...perfer it if its not their next away match when they start performing again.
I think Lambert should be fit for the derby match(fingers crossed) Derbies are derbies and it could well finish 4-1,4-4 or 1-4 who knows?I'm hoping for a great match as they always are and want to see us win of course!
As much as I'd like to see Saints drip down the table I don't think it's gonna happen. On the other hand, it's not even Christmas yet and they're already bottling it We're ready for you....
WD we do have an element of very young fans that seem to think every thing is down to tactics. There is no doubt at the moment we are having a dip in form and we seem to be there for the taking at the moment. The away form will pick up at some time and our nigel will be the talk of the town again with some of the youngsters. I just hope it starts on the 18th. On another note I wonder what those same fans would be saying if we had to suffer what West Ham suffered yesterday, a loss at home. It just don't bare thinking about...... a lynching maybe?
I think that the dip in form is down to two factors. The fist of these is that Jack Cork hasn't been quite the factor in recent games as he was at the begining of the season. Coupled with Adam Lallana, I felt that Cork raised our midfield around the time we thumped Middlesborough to a level of ability that most Saints fans hadn't witnessed for years. in my opinion, Cork has gone right off the boil of late. The other factor has been the loss of David Connolly through injury. For my money, Connolly is the most cultured and intellifent player in our squad after Lallana and having him available was very much like having a new striker. It is tragic that someone of his ability is so prone to injury. The problem as I see it is that the likes of Schneiderlin go not contribute enough goals and we are over-reliant on Lambert who seems to get better and better as he moves up the league. As someone who has followed Saints for nearly as long as Saint Possum (first game was around 74/75 when we played Blackburn Rovers) I totally agree that we have been fortunate over the last three seasons to have watched some of the best football I have witnessed since the days of Lawrie Mac -even though we have largely been playing at a lower level. The club is definately moving into the same spirit as of old and there is no doubt that Cortese has transformed the club to being run in a fashion that reflects "Saints' values." Someone did mention last week about how we have always performed poorly against weaker teams and there is a lot of be said for Southampton frequently failing to beat teams we should readily turn over. Conversely, we always raise our game against "footballing" teams. My point was that two months ago we would have fancied our chances at Fratton Park but the loss in form and the failure of the fringe players to effectively take up the baton from the likes of Connolly and Chaplow (who actiually couldn't get a first team place at the time of some of our best results) has made this game far more even than the respective positions in the league suggest. Some Saints fans may disagree with me but Portsmouth's position is not really representative of where they should be. Pre-season, I expected that they could creep into the play-offs but the inability to sufficiently add to a small squad probably mitigated against this. They will definately move up the table. Conversely, most of us Saints fans will have been staggered to see that we have remained top for so long as i would have been happy with mid-table in August. I would love Saints to go up this season and part of me will be disappointed if we don't secure an automatic berth simply because we were so effective up to about a month ago. Realistically, I think we will be in the play-offs and those teams immediately below us should in no circumstances be under-estimated.
You SHOULD be there or thereabouts at the end of the season Ian. Every side suffers injuries and suspensions, some more than others- and you are quite right in your point about Lambert. He still confounds people like me that considered him too agricultural for the top leagues. If he's out of the side for whatever reason, it seriously curtails your firepower. I think Adkins will be well aware of the sides deficiencies and will do something about it in January. Conversly, I hope that we will not be conducting a firesale of any remaining talent to pay the wages of those that are left. As it stands, we have a side of under achievers. It needed someone like Appleton to come on board and shake things up a little and to be fair to him, he's played it very well so far. It's just a real shame that off the pitch matters are blighting things again. As for the 18th, it should be an intriguing game. I feel we'll be as ready as can be expected and really up for it. I don't think you're lot will be as intimidated as others suggest. The roof over the Milton End will mean more noise and you're ticket allocation percentage wise is way above the minimum Pompey would offer most sides purely down to segregation problems-so you will have the entire end under cover- that will make a difference to the past.
Agree with frattonfunkdaddy regarding us being fully prepared for the match against Saints on the 18th. As we did; most emphatically; against Forest on Steve C's return to Fratton Park, we should raise our game for this match, with our fans creating a "wall of noise" around the ground. Nigel will have to well and truly prepare your players also, for what is probably going to be the footballing equivalent of Armageddon !!
I have been bouncing and singing my heart out when it was open ended terrace at falling down park and don't ever remember it as Armageddon as I usually could only hear the full end of saints fans, I remember Pompey fans throwing coins at our players because they couldn't rattle us if that counts. It will be interesting to see how our young players cope with a great local derby but as some played in the last one, I am sure they will know what's in store and i am sure the covered end of saints fans will be making plenty of noise too. You boys in blue do give it large on thinking you will be making our boys sh.. There pants and i don't know why, maybe its because i don't do intimidation. I really can't wait for the 18th and just pray football comes out the winner because I can't pick one.
I really can't imagine what it must be like, to play in front of so many people, at any time let alone in a game like this. I used to play music, in front of relatively small audiences, as a kid and I always used to papper myself for days beforehand, and up to the event in genuine fright.
I reckon the dry cleaning shops in Southamption will be pretty busy on the Monday morning after the match !!
Well, well! The Jack Brymer of Not 606! I always prefer to use the second trill key to produce a b flat, as it gives a better tone and truer pitch than the register key. How about you?
