Saints 3 Sheffield United 2
The day started with fans knowing that a draw probably wasn't
going to be enough as that will be relying too much on Stoke beating Leicester
City. The atmosphere was tense but still positive and the Northam were in good
voice as I placed my 3-2 Saints win bet at 25/1 and then a beer. Ted was
confident a win will be secured and we started to analyze who will be the scores
etc in-between OWTS, We hate P*mpey and Red Army.
SMS was really a complete sell out, I couldn't see any empty seats at all as the
game got started with a great atmosphere, Saints willing a Great Escape win over
promotion chasing Blades who were firm favorites to get points from this game
with the bookies.
Saints didn't makes a good start to the game and looked a bit on edge, then the
unthinkable a early goal by Stephen Quinn who looked to have a clear path to a
header at the Chapel end. Saints fans were stunned, gutted for 30 seconds then
responded with `We are staying up` and OWTS.
Sagai twice came close to scoring, with a header which hit Matt Kilgallon and a
point-blank drive blocked by Paddy Kenny, was it going to one of those days when
the Gods or higher beings were not going to back the Saints?
The came a turning point in the game Blades were denied what looked to be a
certain second goal by a superb save by Richard Wright from Kilgallon's header.
`Richard Wright, Wright, Wright. Richard Wright, Wright, Wright` went to roar,
another quality save from a quality keeper.
Next came the moment I and the Northam went mental as did the rest of SMS,
Euell's cross was netted by Saganowski at the far post. he dive headed into a
gap between the post and the keeper, get in there, Saga back on track after so
long. `lets all have a disco, lets all have a disco`...
Halftime and the Northerners were not as confident and perhaps more worried of
losing a playoff point as I was about relying on Stoke. The other results made
it look like Coventry would be the team to go down if Saints win as reports went
round the ground that Stoke couldn't crack the foxes nut!
Saints emerged for the second half and looked a better team, more fight, more
passion, extra will power. Then 6 minutes into the second half Saganowski lofted
(or hooft) the ball into the box and John blasted a shot into the roof of
the net. F***** quality, lets go ballistic,
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! 2-1 to the Southerners,
`Southerners, Southerners, Southerners, Southerners, Southerners`.
The Northam and Itchen corner let the Blades fans know it to, Saints were in the
lead and back in business. But despair again as Stead tapped in a deflected ball
to him and it was 2-2.
Just like the Dell Days and now the Saint Mary's Days, Saints battled back 4
minutes later John got to a ball from Viafara's header, a neat turn inside the
area and shot low past stranded keeper Kenny. A wait , a millisecond delay as I
checked to see the ball hit the net and the signal for celebrating was on.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh what a great strike. This time the Blades got confirmation
of who was the top team team as SMS went absolutely mental.
John then got sent off for a tackle on a Blade who just got up after rolling
around the floor like he had been shot by a machine gun. But down to 10 men
Saints played well and cleared when the can, blocked and counter attacked.
10 minutes to go and the Saints fans all around are fantastic the support and
noise in remarkable (Pride of the South as we have been for 30 years), 3 minutes
extra time.
I getting on the pitch when the ref blows, then the ref ends the game Saints
have completed another Great Escape against the odds and we have another superb
day to remember.
I am on the pitch with 1,000s of fans celebrating, what a day, what an Escape.
WBA 1 Saints 1
Met fellow biker Dave at the WBA game and we both think the back is now much
better but again its late bolstering it up.
We talked about also going to the Hawk fest which would be a great way to relax
after a great escape.
WBA away with Yellow, Yellow, Yellow every where, and what a game. First half
was a superb display by Saints with at times some good passing football,
formation, spirit and tough determination, although we rode our luck it was
for WBA to convert their chances and not us to feel sorry for them and the ex
Saint Kevin Phillips.
The goal by Adam Lallana was truly a `sonic attack` which launched the
Saints fans into astral space, 1-0 up at WBA it couldn't get any better.
The Saints fans were miles more passionate and made a wall of yellow noise
enough to reach black space.
I believe Saints are now Masters of their own Universe and the destiny of
Southampton FC can be saved from hurtling into a black hole, if the WBA performance
can be repeated then Saints are back on the astral plain!
Come on Saints you can blast the blades into oblivion!
Well done Saints players, Nigel Pearson, the fans and the coach driver!
Saints 22nd with 50 Points
DON'T PANIC, THINK ONLY OF YOURSELF!
Saints 0 Burnley 1
Back to what we have seen all season, very poor fitness and no idea upfront.
Burnley to be fair are a awful team, just like a Sunday Pub team and in the
first 15 mins I thought 2 or 3 nil to Saints but yes you guessed it wasted
chances, rubbish corners.
A very boring game, Elvis was even falling a sleep, many fans yawning at such a
crap game of football. This season has been total rubbish and the league should
be renamed CC Championshit, cos that's what it is a bag of shit.
Football basics for some of the Saints players, and the club.
Corners = If there are no Saints players beyond the far post then don't hoof the ball at the speed of light to that area.
Attacking crosses = if Saints forwards are slow, falling over then don't cross the ball more than 2 foot in front of them.
Football Studs = If you keep falling over with or without the ball
then for f*** sake get the correct studs on or change your boots.
Off side = Just learn the fuckin rules its that simple.
Fitness = if your knackered from gardening, DIY, on the piss then
just don't bother turning up for the game, your not needed. Saints never used to
be so slow what's happened? are they drinking diesel and can't get fired up!
Burnley were not even in first gear, talk about bloody slow but Saints cant get
passed them!!
Forwards = Don't play 3 up front if 2 of them cant run! Match up 2 so
that the attack is balanced on the LEFT and RIGHT.
Thinking the opponents are shit = Don't do this or you will end up
shit by playing to their level as in 85% of the games this season.
Take over = if you think a take over is on the horizon to sort all the
problems and stop another relegation then your mad, mental, thick,
stupid, useless, psychotic and a living in a parallel relegation
universe.
One reverse takeover has given us relegation, the other is not even in place
and we are almost relegated for the second time!
WBA vs Saints = They need to win this to get promoted so yes another game
we cant rely on the opponents being more rubbish than we are!.
Saints vs Sheff United = They will be looking to win all
remaining games to get a playoff place, and yes its not difficult to work out
that we can't rely on the opponents giving us 3 points.
Just what sort of thinking goes on at the club, why cant they get a predictor
spreadsheet and work out what the effect of Saints losing and other team winning
would mean before we get into the relegation zone.
Charlton 1 Saints 1
3200 Saints fans went up for this game and the first half performance was
great, we were solid in the back and looked like scoring 2-3 goals. But as we
have seen all season the second half as defending as Charlton kept attacking. A point
was what most pundits would give Saints but I think its too points lost.
Saints 2 Bristol City 0
Fantastic performance by the whole team, the game could have been 4-0 to
Saints in the first half had all the chances been taken. John scored in the
first half from an acute angle from a BWP header and in the second half Jason
Euell made completed the task giving 3 points for a vital win when he finished
off Mario Licka's left-wing cross with six minutes left but there was also 5
minutes of extra time. Saints continued to attach at each opportunity and
defended much, much better. The team performance as a unit was also more
cohesive. A complete turn around against the top of the table team will boost
confidence for next Saturday away to Charlton.
Chris, London (Northam):
Reckon about 3 more years in championship and we get a sugar daddy investor.
Elvis, Southampton (Northam):
Will be another Great Escape with Stern John the hero like Le Tiss, we can
call him `John the Baptist`. N Pearson can do the same Lawrie McMenemy get get
us back up.
Two former Southampton chairmen have called an extraordinary
general meeting of the club's parent company Southampton Leisure Holdings (SLH)
plc.
The club has confirmed that an EGM requisition has been received.
Rupert Lowe and Michael Wilde, who control nearly half the SLH shares, had
given the current board of directors until Monday to resign or face an EGM.
But club chairman Leon Crouch insists Saints are "focused
completely" on their battle against relegation. yer right what's all the
board room power battle about during a relegation, as far as I can see the power
brokers want us to get relegated to buy the club on the cheap. Echo say club
losing £34K a week, club say £3K!
Cardiff 1 Saints 0
Not much to say!
Saints 0 Coventry 0
Grim game!
Hull 5 Saints 0.
I thrashing and poor performance, also coupled with an ankle injury to Poke
could mean no goal keeper for Coventry game. Anyone with a green shirt and a
pair of boots available for Saturday?
This has put Saints back into relegation mire with LCFC winning at WBA and Sheff
Wed drawing with Coventry, the safety gap has gone from 4 points to 2 points.
Saints 1 Leicester City 0.
This felt like a semi-final in the FA cup, such an important game that Saints
just could not lose, if we did then destiny would have been in the hands of
other clubs. It was a case of get the 3 points today and move up and away from
relegation and with the other results tonight a draw was out of the question.
Stern John got another goal and what a strike, he is turning out to be the man
of the Great Escape 2008. When the goal went in the whole team really picked up
and chased everything and kept going forward, ok we had a bit of luck with Leicester
not able to hit the target when a goal looked a cert but that's the luck Saints
need.
Poke has stepped in well and the team itself looks like a team now with Vignal
and Licka are a bonus giving us options and letting the other run off the ball.
Saints are now in the Final as it were, the last stage, just keep it sensible,
solid and take your chances like today, not many chances but won in the `back of
the net` for 3 points. The fans again did their bit, and I am sure like many
away games this season the full allocation will be taken in hope for 3 points
away as well as at home.
Blackpool 2 Saints 2.
Another penalty from Vignal and a goal from John earns Saints a point at
Blackpool. Saints just cant stop leaking goals and with Sheff Wed winning along
with Preston, Coventry and LCFC getting a point its a full Great Escape now.
Tuesday will see if Saints can get a 6 pointer vs LCFC and widen the safety gap.
M Poke steps in and does well to stand in for KD.
Wolves 2 Saints 2.
A goal from Vignal and a late equalizer by Euell in the 93rd min got Saints a hard
earned point. This puts them 18th with 41 points but Preston won with Sheff
Wed losing in the 90th min giving Saints a 5 point margin to relegation.
Pearson keeping the same squad to start and looks like if the players don't
train hard and perform in the games then they are out of the line up. Vignal
sent off is not good as the team was starting to fit together with him doing ok.
Ironically Wolves fans this time booed their team off at half time!
Saints 1 Ipswich 1.
John got a vital goal with good control and a blast of a shot but Saints let in
a goal in the next few minutes. The crowd were right behind the team all 90 mins
and the team got a standing ovation at the end. It was a much better performance
and the game looked like football for once with some nice moves by Saints.
Putting away chances is still a problem as we rely on John.
Scunthorpe 1 Saints 1.
First shot on target for Saints in 72nd min, then a lucky pen is slotted away by
Gregory Vignal got Saints off the hook as again Scunthorpe played us off
the park, who also had a player sent off.
Scunthorpe played us off the park at home and we got a goal and 3 points but
that game like so many this season confirms the poor standard we compete at in
this seasons CCC. Maybe `lady luck` is on our side this time!!
Saints 0 Plymouth 2.
Booing of team and players, chants of `your not fit to wear the shirt` in
diabolical display number 2. What more could we do as the club has been
dismantled bit by bit in a single minded vision to make money at the expense of
the `football` and the fans. Well the fans had their say and we are not finished
if the club doesn't respond to `backing the club and push for promotion, or at
least to compete with the lowest and weakest teams whatever division we are in.
Players are on very good money compared to the fans, fans pay top price £20-24
is too much for the poor quality of the CCC and should be more like £10-15. The
club once again try to pass the buck and the failure of the team on the fans.
The fans and especially the Northam end have returned season after season and
rarely boo their own team so you would think the club could wake up and try to
understand why.
Well its a must win 6 pointer relegation match at Scunthorpe and win or lose the
team must perform to the best of their abilities.
My letter to the echo after the Echo starts the Hi Echo, can I respond to
the campaign to Bring back The Dell spirit!
Firstly the majority of the fans at the Plymouth game who did not boo or try to
make some noise need to question themselves as to why they sat their and didn't
out sing the boo boys. If they had bothered to make enough noise and back the
team as we are now saying we should then this headline would not have been
printed. To those who just sit and say nothing all season while things go wrong
at the club are just as guilty of having a negative affect on the club.
Next its a paradox that the Saint Mary`s stadium (I think we should have stayed
at the Dell and just expanded it a bit) which was to enable the club to go
forward and compete has now lead to us NOT being able to compete against clubs
in a league of less quality, skill and entertainment. That has lead to the boo
boys paradox as the less money the club gets from TV etc the MORE it REALIZE on
the fans paying for season tickets and match day tickets. This now ironically
has put more power and voice back to the fans as the worse the entertainment (or
product as the club runs like a business not a football club like at the Dell)
the more the boos and negative chants. So beware Southampton FC don't be to
hasty to pass the buck to the fans, the Chav element, boo boys or whatever as we
have more influence than you had expected and think we are acting in the best
interest of the club in a desperate way, but that's what this has all come too.
Well onto the positive Bring back The Dell spirit!, yes I am all for that, we
the fans can bring the atmosphere back (those who sit quietly are included too)
and I am looking forward to the Dell spirit the players had and seamed to have
lost over this season. Lets have the club be honest with the fans and back the
success we want, it must work both ways.
Perhaps the club or echo can organize some free `great escape 2008` T-shirts or `The
Dell spirit!` T-shirts, balloons, flags etc.
FA Cup 5th Round. Bristol Rovers vs Saints. With the possibility of AD
out of defense we could be looking to the stats for a bit of luck, Southampton
have won five of the last eight league and cup meetings with Bristol Rovers, and
on four of those occasions they have scored three goals. I last went to the 0-2
loss in the 70s but we should have enough to beat Rovers. John looks good
upfront and if we keep it similar to Palace away we should be solid. 2000 fans
will travel of which some queued up overnight to get the last few on general
sale.
Bristol Rovers 1 Saints 0.
My letter to the echo after watching the biggest pile of shit in 30
years.
Hi Echo, a letter for Mondays echo.
What I saw at Bristol Rovers on Saturday confirms to me that RELEGATION is now
confirmed as the destiny for Southampton FC. An absolute load of rubbish, out
classed yet again by a lower team or a so called lesser team, a defeat with no
guts, passion, skill, team work or anything.
I now think its better to get on with the RELEGATION campaign that the board and
players are set on and get to our just and deserved place in the football
league, which is Division 1.
Then we can rid the club of useless staff and board, hangers on, business man
who have just sat and watched each week to laugh at Saints while us fans have to
endure a unacceptable performance. Its a complete con, we have been mislead
right from the start when we committed to a season tickets that the club are
looking to get promoted. All the talk before the season has not been backed up
by the board with NO commitment to get decent players into the team. Time and
time again we have to listen to rubbish about NO funds for players, well sort it
out and spend the money properly and pay salaries accordingly.
I say enough is enough, bring on RELEGATION and lets then see what this gutless
club has to say about getting out of Div 1. We will all laugh at the board when
12,000 turn up for the opening fixture against Crew or even worse Bristol Rovers
at Saint Mary's Stadium. Saints are an utter shambles, a total disgrace to the
south coast and not fit to be in the Coca Cola Championship let alone the
Conference South.