Saints play varied last season....we would look great one match and then just as you thought we had a banker...we'd drop points. My point being that it is too early to judge from one game. Would have been nice if we'd been sensational, but we improved in the 2nd half and I see no reason to expect we won't play better in another game. I wish our next game was Sunderland in the hope we'd have a better chance of points, but you have to play everyone twice at some point. Let's go and murder the Fonte-seizers!
That Charlie Austin is a really nice Berkshire Boy. Comes from the same area as the Newbury Nipper AKA Theo Walcott.
Not sure I quite understand this "one of the best teams in the league" and "United are a much better team this season" thing after only one game. I mean they might well be, but we can't say that after one game (where they really weren't all that, either). Seems a lot of us have Mourinhoitis!
I'm not really judging on that game. More the fact they've signed players in positions they needed, had a strong squad anyway and now have a competent manager. I'll be amazed if they don't finish in the top 3.
That's my hope too, though think it's harder because we've yet to gel as well. There's also a bit of momentum up there now I think for the first time post Fergie.
I'd stick to Horlicks, tranquilzers are very addictive, you could end up on a vicious cycle of press conferences. You'll do anything to get your hands on them. I know somebody who is already cocktailing Puel's with some Guidolin's from last season, which had the nervous energy of a hostage video.
I will be very disappointed if Saints come away with nothing. Manchester United are not RM, Bayern Munich or Barca. Ibra is 34, Rooney is good but not great, Pogba has been busy at the barber's styling himself. In a nutshell they are not a great team. I'm not saying Saints are but I feel Saints are just as good as United, so Saints need to play their own game and make United worry about them rather than Saints worry about United.
Pre season means nothing. Liverpool dismantled Barca in pre season, doesn't mean they're a better team. And to say Saints are just a good a side as United is a bit silly imo.
I don't see too much to be afraid off really. But I am afraid. In fact I'll be delighted just to avoid a tonking.
Given the respective positions the teams finished last season there is very little difference. Saints have lost Pelle, Mane and Victor, but have proved in recent years a great deal of flexibility in coming to terms with the losses by prudent recruitment and attention to detail. Who would have thought that Sevilla would have outclassed Liverpool as the Mighty Reds had a team and squad that cost far in excess of Sevilla's? But through excellent management and a wonderful work ethic allied to their skills we all saw the result. I am hopeful that Southampton have this excellent management and allied to their hard work and skill level of the players (Tadic, Long, Forster for example). Saints have more than enough to come away with something.
