Seems like this forum is good therapy for the last month or so of the season so here goes. Hands up (well metaphorically anyway) who in the summer of 2009 would have believed me, if I said that Saints would be leading the Championship (and have done on and off for 4-5 months) with 10 games to go. On sound financial footing, have the top scorer in the league and the most promising squad of our generation in March 2012? The only team ALL SEASON we have played who were above us is West Ham. I know our expectations have risen because of the start and middle to our season, and to be fair I would now be devastated if we were not playing Premier League football in 2012/13. People say it is ours to lose etc...maybe they are right. However, I have been a Saints fan for over 30 years and this is the proudest I have been, as a fan ever. Whatever we are doing, we are doing the right way. Whatever has gone in the past has gone. We are the new Southampton. We are exciting to watch, we play beautiful football and we have model pros at the club. In Lambert we have the best No 7 since the great, great, great Matt Le Tiss. In Lallana we have one of the most skillful players to wear red and white. We have a central defending partnership not seen since Claus and Svensson (maybe better). Our midfield is bursting with skill and Adkins must struggle to keep everyone happy. Which brings me nicely on to Adkins. This man is the best thing to happen to our club since Laurie Mac (I'm ignoring Liebherr & Cortese for the sake of this!). If I ever meet the man, I won't say much. I will just walk up to him, shake his hand, look him in the eye and say "Thank you Nigel".
Wow, shows what a little belief can do. Been lots of ups and downs but now we can fully focus on where our club belongs. Together as one, COYR!
I did, in the summer of 2009. That's why I made a bet with my supporting friend that we would be in the prem before them. I was scoffed at by several... Who the **** is laughing now?
I think Nigel would prefer a hug over a hand shake. His enthusiasm is infectious and has spread through the whole city. He is the glove around Cortese fist of ambition. Even though i'm full of nerves for the last 10 games I know us as supporters will get behind the lads in numbers. We have the chance to take big followings to both Millwall and Crystal Palace. All the remaining home games are likely to be sell outs or Doncaster will be close to one. Lets keep a consistency about ourselves
Good post although would have to say that Jos and Jose, although good, are a long way off the class of Claus and Killer. They were one of the best, if not the best, central defensive partnerships in the Premiership in their prime.
Stats wise I presume, ie. clean sheets? Have the quality of the rest of the team to factor into that. Who were the Liverpool pair, Carragher and Hyppia?
In 2009,when Markus bought the club and after listening and reading to Cortese's plans and his vision for the club,I knew straight away that this club would change forever and that we would be on the verge of promotion to the premier league within the next 5 years like he had planed and even more exciting stuff to come in the future.I know we're not in the premier league yet (getting carried away). In my eyes,Nigel Adkins,Nicola Cortese and of course Markus Liebherr are true legends of our club,even at this early stage.
It was goals conceeded, clean sheets, interceptions, tackles won... Hyppia and Henchoz I believe. They were a quality partnership, Carragher played RB and Riise LB.
The key word is pride and i'm bursting with it, pride in the way that we have taken the Championship by storm. The other feeling I get with the club now is confidence...confidence in the way that the club is run, in the way that the team is trained and managed, confidence in the players that have performed so well all season. We WILL get promoted this season because we are winners and we have the strength of squad to do it...this is the new Southampton, the team has never been prepared for a match as thoroughly as they are now. We have also laid so many hoodoos to rest, bogey teams, playing on tv etc and even if we drop out the top 2, I'm certain that we will win the play-offs (not that I think we will need to!)....COYR
The thread started with "let's take stock", so let's... We are too of the league, playing well and having the time of our lives, BUT... No trophies or promotions are given out in March! My feet are staying on the ground
I agree. Just listen to Adkins' comments at the end of the Barnsley match. Let's not get lost in the future let's focus on the now, the present. We all have dreams, but it's vital we take each individual game as it comes.
Yep can't argue with the "no trophies are handed out in March" scenario. We have to keep our feet firmly on the ground. As Nigel says......Yes we won that one......now lets get on with the next........
Nigel's philosophy has always been to take one game at a time. How many times have we heard him say it..? He's always on about it. We don't usually mention it because it's not unique to him. In fact, it's a well worn football platitude. Now he's on about living in the present. It means the same thing. Fantasising about the future is something for fans to indulge in and for managers to stop players doing the same.
I'm sorry, but how is me expressing my confidence in the club finishing the job that they have started going to affect the team's performances? This is not the old Saints and I have total belief in them to finish the season strongly like last year.
My mate Matt down the pub said at the start of the season putting a tenner on saints to go up was a safe bet. So safe infact that he wouldnt even put a quid on it but there we are... Great times are ahead I feel.
No chickens counted. I am just reflecting on the last 3 years as a fan, as I know the next ten games will be hell! there will be ups, downs and hopefully ups again....All I know is whatever happens we have had one hell of a couple of years, and if the autos are a bridge too far, I'll be upset, but so be it. We have a club again - for the last couple of years I feel the club has come back to the fans. Cortese at the helm, Adkins with the team - whatever happens this year, success will happen in the near future. Take one game at a time and stick together as one. Proud again to be red and white! COYR!!!!!!
I'm sorry to say that I've not only counted my chickens, I've given them all names. I have never felt so confident in my life as I am that we will be promoted.
