How do you feel this season compares to last with regards the push for promotion, very differant in that we have a lead this year and have been top 2 all season; last year we had to put a run together to overhaul 'udders. Personally I never had any doubt that we'd come good last year, it was just a case of how and when it would happen, however despite not being out of an auto spot all season I really am nervous this year. Is this simply post season delusion and I was in fact as big a bag of nerves last season as I am this year? Anyone else feel the same?
Think most people feel pretty relaxed when they have little to lose. Middle of table must be really cosy. Last year, I was nervous before the Plymouth match because I desperately didn't want it to go to the last game. This year I hated being second after being top for so long, but of course would accept second on last day of season. I think I'm more confident this year than last.
The only reason you feel like this is because you actually know how last season turned out. This season you don't hence the nerves. I bet last year you were ****ting it about Huddersfield and were a bag of nerves.
Most of my life as a Saints fan, I could only dream of what comfortable mid-table obscurity feels like! I remember so many last "can we avoid the drop?" days, I could do without the tension. last season, Huddersfield did eventually lose points which we did not. I suspect that the tension will only be relieved when one of our rivals do the same.
All I know is we are excellent under pressure having held off an unbelievable run by Huddersfield last season, they gave us no breathing space
Last season was mere training for this, we'll be fine. Nerves the same, must be said. If Donny win tonight, I might have a wee air punch.
I am unbelievably nervous, especially about Milwall on saturday. It's because after being a life-long saints fan, I am still having to pinch myself that we are top of the league.
I'm a Saints fan; I'll worry until we're there! I took a mate to Barnsley game and he said I did his head in at two nil up when I said "if they score now, it'll get nervy". He replied, Barnsley haven't touched the ball for twenty minutes, let alone score!
If it's any consolation, the pie chart on odds checker showing favourite bets (which normally shows about 75% bets on Saints) indicates that no one has put money on Millwall.
I think I can safely say that I was more nervous last season that this season. That's not to say that I'm not nervous now - I'm still partly expecting us to finish in the play-offs (although that part is decreasing in size by the week) - but I really did have my doubts last season. And I guess also there was more pressure on us last season. We were the equivilant of West Ham now - promotion was an absolute miniumum for us last season. Even finishing in the play-offs would have been a failure. The fact that there was only one automatic space u for grabs last season, and for a long time there were four of us fighting over it, is probably the biggest reason though why I found last season more nerve-wracking. There's no run-away leader this time, using up one of the spots, and there's a fairly healthy gap between 3rd and 4th. Two from three is a much better prospective than one from four.
This season vs last is interesting, last season there was an accute expectancy as we were the big club fighting it out against a couple of good squads - Brighton surprising many, Huddersfield putting a solid run together at the end, and us, the obvious choice to go up - expectant and therefore with the greatest pressure on us (even the Brighton fans were saying we would catch them) As much as we didn't like them last season I think we're playing the role of Brighton this season, strong early season form coming as a surprise to many, putting us in pole position. Reading are showing themselves to be Huddersfield putting a very strong run together, and West Ham are the big team with the greatest pressure, and in reality more hinging on it than us and Reading, imagine the implications on our squad/revenue if we were to have spent another season in League 1? West Ham will be feeling it. I think theres less pressure this season. Everyone looking in won't expect us neccessarily to get the top two, and if we don't I can't see it decimating our squad in the same way as failure last year
