Here we are two games into the new season with Saints back in the PL and we have some fans happy with progress and patiently waiting for Nicola and Nigel to tweak the squad for survival and more this season. Then we have some fans that are quite impatient and want some action taken fast for otherwise they believe we will be relegated by Christmas. Given these differing responses what are your expectations this season in terms of how the team develops and how Nicola and Nigel handle life in the PL? Perhaps just as importantly how do you think our fans should respond to life in the PL. Should they have low or high expectations? Should they have faith in Nicolaâs ambitious plans or should they have the limited horizons of the old Saints?
They should have ambitious hopes, but we need to realise this season is all about staying up, whatever Nigel says. I do worry a bit with the current squad, but with a couple of additions I think we will be able to stay up. I'm not sure where my expectations are at, as I'd call 17th a respectable season and a success, but currently I am uncertain.
I would hope for anywhere between half way and above the relegation zone, which strangely enough is what I thought last season. I want to be clear of the risk of relegation with a few weeks to go...no last dayers please.
I'm not one for Saints predictions, but I'd be happy with anywhere with Nigel in charge. There are things worse than relegation out there, such as Qpr's blue print where Mark Hughes risks the clubs financial viability. I think we'll be okay, just hope we don't piss on the last three years by doing what most fans want & blowing millions on the hope of survival, theresa better way, but you need to be patient.
I don't really know what I expect of this team. I will however accept 17th place if offered it now (and that has nothing to do with yesterday's result - survival has always been my aim).
I think we will go down if we continue to play 451 with players out of position. We need to start playing 4411/442 with our players in the right position and we will have a chance of staying up
Have just watched Nigel's interview on Player. Thought he was very realistic. Beaten but if we had taken our chances early could all have been very different!
We have some good young players who are going to get better with PL experience and a little more time but I think they may need a lsome help on the pitch. Despite our abundance of good midfield players we still are desperately missing an on the pitch leader in the mould of Ball or Case. I will be happy if we can get a little pace on the wings and some support for Jos and Jose. I think it is true to say that we fans from our experience of watching Saints in the PL last time recognise that we need to make sure that we stay up this season but without spending stupidly. So for me I would be disappointed if we are fighting for survival on the last day so I am hoping that we are nearer mid table come Easter but if we survive by a point or a better goal difference then so be it but survive we must.
I don't know what to expect, quite honestly, although I know what I hope for (avoiding the drop). We're two games in, the first gave us cause for optimism, with an exciting 3-2 defeat away at the champions where we even led for a while, while yesterday's match gave us cause for alarm, losing 2-0 at home to Wigan, regarded as (fellow) relegation fodder. Without a couple of astute additions of Premier League quality - notably defenders plus a winger - we will struggle and possibly go down. We have a good Championship team but I don't think that it will necessarily turn out to be a good PL team, giving the champions a scare on their home patch aside. Not to mention playing the likes of Rodriguez in the correct position. Let's see where we are at the close of the transfer window, if there are no such additions, then I'll be worried. Spirit and confidence count for quite a bit but we need some PL quality as well otherwise we won't compete.
I remember how it was at the beginning of last season. Most posters professed that they would be happy with a "top-half finish" and the few that suggested that we would make the play-offs were rounded on as dreamers. I expect us to survive this season. I am confident that Nicola and Nigel are trying their best to get the right players in. If we can't do that in the next few days then they will have another go in January. What I don't expect is a ridiculous spending spree which would make survival more likely, but put at risk the strong financial base of the club. It was a five year plan which was achieved in three. This was always going to bring its own problems, particularly with integrating the youth players, but I expect us to do better than many of the doom-mongers have suggested and possibly better than many might dare expect.
I think we will be somewhere around the relegation zone. However, I will be holding Godders to his prediction of 8th.
I forgot about that whiskey fueled prediction. Why have you got such a good memory I can't remember what I said or wrote half an hour ago.
In preseason I thought 15th was achieveable. However, it was on the assumption that we had sorted out the defence before the start of the season. If the management fail to address this problem, which was with us at the beginning of last season; at best 17th.
I expect my expectations to change continously until Christmas at least. I don't expect us to beat Man Utd next Sunday, but if we do, I expect my hopes to soar to unrealistic levels. On the other hand, if we get gaped I expect to plunge to the depths of despair for a day or so. In truth, I don't know what to expect. I'll just try to enjoy the ride, I expect.
