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Farewell to Dell Bike ride. Steve Rhodes biked it down from Selby, North Yorks, for the opening game at St Mary’s against Chelsea. We rode out to the Dell to say farewell to the old girl then down to St Mary’s Stadium to welcome the new era for Saints. Steve was suitably impressed with the new ground. Except for the result Steve enjoyed the trip down south and I may now bike up to see saints play Leeds next season! |
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As own label dumped, Saints endorse `Strachan` brand name.
Well it had to happen after the majority of Saints fans wanted a `name` Gray
finally got the sack. But was this the right decision? I don’t think so I
would prefer someone with a bit of passion for the club and who has a genuine
interest in Saints. Many of the managers that have legged it for better
opportunities and cash just aren't committed to the club and only bring
short-term results. Judas Hoddle who had no intension of staying at Saints I am
sure would have ran out the back door 2 games into his term if Spurs (or another
small club) had contacted him early on. But would Saints go for another risky PR
appointment? Well no they went for Gray and all hell broke lose as fans begged
for Kevin keegan, Harry Rednapp and George Graham, and to their astonishment
Gray was in place like it or not.
What got me pissed off was that cash didn't seam to be available or the impetus to get new players in when Gray was in charge unlike now that Strachan is in place. We all knew the Saints team was 6-7 players short of quality from the squad of last year so why wasn't the chequebook out last July?
Gray should have had a caretaker role in case he didn't fit the bill, then Saints would not have lost a valuable coach who will no doubt go on to be successful somewhere else, nor would £2m be wasted on compensation. Lowe knew that this was a gamble, so why did he put all his eggs in one basket? Only to sit on them and fall over with egg on his face.
The Arsenal 0-2 defeat was a game I watched in horror and astonishment as the Saints players strolled about the park and didn't want to get their shirts dirty. This to me is not a management problem but a player problem; the players should want to `play` for the FANS, TEAM, CLUB and themselves. Had they lost all motivation and confidence since last seasons top 10 finish. Where had all the skill and tactics gone? That they practiced under Judas Hoddle and coached by S Gray? You can’t seriously tell me it has all gone to London to that small club mhhh what's the name?
Saints are now back to basics learning how to defend, how to close down the opponents, why the whole team needs to move as a unit when attacking putting even more pressure on the games before the new year.
A total of 20 points by January is an absolute minimum to keep the Saints on track for survival. The Blackburn Rovers, Derby County, Charlton Athletic, Everton, Leicester City games are all ones Saints can and must win, with Sunderland, Manchester United, Leeds United, games to show how committed they are and the Tottenham Hotspur game a MUST win game to show the Fu*@er Hoddle that he will be a `born again loser`.
Fans have given 100% in all games and must continue whether you like the
new manager decision or not we just can afford to have another new manger
installed after 8 games in mid December!