Adkins is a clever and wise person! He himself is learning at this level, the players are. I think we as fans have to learn as well, because as stated earlier, being involved in a promotion race is quite novel for the club, unlike Birmingham who either have a joust with relegation or promotion every year and are battle-hardened in this part of the game.
I saw the Reading game and felt sooo disappointed.....I've read some of the comments since I got back late on Sunday (it's a long way)....some of the comments are foolish e.g. slagging of Fonte...agreed he's lost form but the man has been immense for us since he signed...all our players are good...we have a brilliant manager and it's down to him to get the team into the right frame of mind...and even if he doesn't acheive that, I wont blame him or the players because I think that they've been fantastic this season...I'll be going to the Coventry match and just hope that whatever the outcome we will stand as one and celebrate a great team and great manager...the legacy of Markus and the history of what this club means to us...I will be on my feet, the hairs will be sticking out on my neck and I will be applauding this seasons tremendous acheivements
I always get the same way after a loss, feeling depressed and expecting failure, but like others have said you soon get over it. I start thinking of the positives, and positive possibilities, only way to be or you'll be a very unhappy person. All it would take is for a comfortable win against Peterborough, reading to loose to forest (highly unlikely i'll admit but you never know in football), and west ham to loose to Bristol (much more likely) and suddenly everything looks rosey, one more point for promotion and back to the top on points difference. We've had some unlucky results of late and deserve a bit of good luck i say. Let's just see what happens.
Crikey, crikey, crikey. Happy Clapper Warning.... here I come. This has been simply the most amazing season. We have a good manager and a good squad. We have three games left to get 7 points to get promoted which will be an incredible achievement. Someone please tell me which three teams they'd like to play to get those 7 points??? Me, I'd take the three we've got. Posh nothing to play for. Boro, may be too late for them by then, but they play football and won't beat us up or hoof it passed us. Coventry ... well, come on if they are not already goe by then (which they will be), then we can beat them more than comfortably. Part of me thinks we'll win all three, but if asked to get off the fence and predict, then here goes: Posh 1 - 3 Saints Boro 1 -1 Saints Saints 4 - 0 Coventry. Farily sensible predictions if you ask me. Hammers can win their three 6 nil for all i care... it's with us.
I see the Posh midfielder Gaby Zakuani is out. Good news! Have also just listened to Nigel on Player. The man is unbelievable. So incredibly positive. Wish I was there tomorrow but 4K Saints will make sure we can and will win COYR!
Tuesday morning and feeling positive still. Weather a bit of a worry as we don't want the Posh pitch to break up our passing game. Still we have shown many times this season that we can cope with conditions so bring it on!
I can't see that either of us have anything to worry about, it's out of West Ham's hands and you have enough quality in the squad with a canny (if not slightly smug and irritating) manager. You'll do it. Enjoy the run in - looking forward to visiting St Mary's again next season.
Why smug Matthew? I can understand outsiders seeing NA as a bit irritating (I would disagree but I can understand) but surely he's about as far from smug as you can be?
Hi Matthew first time I've heard Nigel descibed as smug. Interesting how other teams perceive him. I always find him refreshingly honest after a bad performance and he ensures, as he did last Friday that the opposition gets full credit.
I think it's just his tone more than anything, there's an air of arrogance and complacency in the way he talks but I think that's more his natural demeanour than anything he actually says. End of the day, some people don't like McDermott - but to me he cannot do anything wrong. We both have excellent managers who are destined for bright futures in the game and no matter how they're percieved by others they are getting the results where it matters.
Work system won't let me edit, so re-posting my finished reply... I think it's just his tone more than anything, there's an air of arrogance and complacency in the way he talks but I think that's more his natural demeanour than anything he actually says. I do admire the honesty but his body language sometimes tells a different story to his words. We've had a lot of managers spouting vitriol about us and how they've been robbed, I certainly cannot complain about what Atkins has said about us. It could equally be an irrational dislike more than anything. End of the day, some people don't like McDermott - but to me he cannot do anything wrong. We both have excellent managers who are destined for bright futures in the game and no matter how they're percieved by others they are getting the results where it matters.
Zakuani dislocated his shoulder on Saturday but still turned out today, takes some guts and painkillers to do that.....
^ day's and counting and it could be all over at 7pm on Saturday. A win and we're up a draww and its's highly likely. Assume we are all feeling a lot less stressed now!
