In its season preview, the above magazine has us finishing 17th. They suggest the lack of Premier League experience is a weakness and that our ability to convert a win from a half time lead is a strength. Apparently we won every one of the 21 games we lead at halftime last season. It also has NA as 6th favourite for the sack. it points out that we had 49 yellows last year; the lowest in the Championship. I realise we dominated possession a lot last year and so that may be different this year, but I do think it is also a sign that we may not be nasty enough.
A team is bound to get fewer cards if they dominate the way Saints have in recent times. Without getting dirty, I'm sure there will be more last-ditch panicky tackles this season resulting in yellow cards.
Yes Fran, that is what I inferred in my post. I do however believe that we lack a little nastiness that is not in a last ditch tackle. The sort of Jimmy Case player who just occasionally would really kick someone hard so they just knew it was his back yard.
Trouble is FLT thjat therse days a Case or a Dennis or even a Hurlock would end up spending more time banned than on the pitch!
There are three kinds of yellow cards, necessary, unfortunate and stupid. Saints didn't get many stupid ones, and when you are a top two side and playing like it, you get less necessary/unfortunate ones as well. That number will go up next year, but I can't see us being off the chart, it just ain't Nigel. Whether you like it or not, giving someone a kick let them know they are there is more likely to get you a card of a different colour now.
I'm the Southampton FC contributor for 'Match of the Day' magazine - I undersatnd their preview has us finishing 16th.
Which category would you place Sharp's yellow after celebrating in front of the Pompey fans? It's got to be necessary for me!
I'm subscribed to 442 but I was a tad pissed off with that issue, it say's "new signing Nathaniel Clyne could add some much needed steel to the centre of the defence." He's a 5 foot 7 right back! So I ignored that prediction and got in a huff.
Le Tiss season review: - http://www.skysports.com/tv_show/story/0,,12383_7979752,00.html Jamie Redknapp Prediction on our chances: - I had six months at Southampton and loved it down there. They will be hoping Rickie Lambert can be the new Grant Holt and take his goalscoring form from the Championship into the Premier League. I think Southampton will stay up, too. With the fanbase and the stadium they have, everything is there for them to be a Premier League club.
