Once again Clive Foley brings us his report from the pre season tour of Holland and this time he is in Rotterdam for the game with Feyenoord

Another convincing away win and a great boost for Confidence for the new season. I really was expecting a much tougher game but credit to Saints for again looking sharp and fit.

That's all you can ask in these pre-season games. Forget the results but the signs are good and the players look together.

It was quite an emotional welcome for the returning Jordi Claisse. The stadium erupted as he was interviewed before the game. De kuip is a great stadium and you could imagine it to be very intimidating for visiting fans.

Sadly for them the atmosphere never really got going again and a lot of that was down to how well Saints contained them. The few hundred Saints fans made most of the noise located high up behind the goal.

The welcome for Clasie highlights the difference in attitude of both sets of fans. Basically he is their version of Lallana. They were saying thank you and good luck for the future whilst when it comes to Lallana most of us see things very differently. Who is right is down to your personal opinion but I could see this argument sparking some heated debates.

Of course all Saints fans are buzzing for The Europa cup games coming up. There has been talk of potential trouble but if last night was anything to go by its going to be more like one big party than a riot. The Feyenoord fans, who lets face it do have a rep in Europe welcomed us with open arms.

We ended the night with a big sing song on the tram before shaking hands and heading for our various watering holes.

I hope we can show the same hospitality to the visiting Arnhem fans next week. Hupp De Saints.

Photo: Action Images

saintwizzler added 09:46 - Jul 25 What were the Jamacian Woodbines like?
0

StRipper added 10:21 - Jul 25 That is a random Lallana comparison. You could make that claim about Shaw or Chambers too really.
1

BarnetSaint added 12:46 - Jul 25 Got back from Feynoord myself last night. Good report and agree with all observations. They are a brilliant set of fans, passionate for their club but very sporting too. As we got into the ground, they were observing a minutes silence for their fans ( and ex players) who had recently passed away. Nice touch. You can bring beers down to your seats, have a smoke if you want and fans are left to sit or stand as they please, and the majority of their fans seemed to be standing. I would imagine that for competitive games it's a very intimidating place. But holland, the people and their football fans are superb. Enjoy Arnhem if you're going , you'll have a great time in a great country. Final word on our team, tho only a friendly, we were excellent. COYS

2

TygerUppercut added 13:19 - Jul 25 I'm getting fed up of the digs at saints fans regarding lalana & it is a completely different situation to classie - if a player leaves with his head held high & with respect to the club that made him then as fans we should show our appreciation when they return - which saints have done on many occasions ie Walcott , lambert ,dean Hammond etc just to name a few Lalana was captain of the club & weaseld his way out to suck up to brenda when he should of been concentrating on World Cup with england and showing some faith in the saints board who were taking it from all angles ! I don't begrudge him a move after his years of service , hes one of the best players I've seen in a saints shirt but his actions and words last summer will always leave a sour taste - you reap what you sow & as has been mentioned before football fans do not forget !

3

BarnetSaint added 15:51 - Jul 25 Good point. Feynoord's former players handled their moves with dignity, lalanna didn't. That line where he said he was thinking how great it would be to be playing for liverpool, whilst still our captain really rankles with me. And as for that pitiful little advert he felt compelled to put out afterwards. Too little too late. Forgot to mention, we gave really good support there and good to see some Dutch and Belgian Saints.

3

SaintBrock added 17:05 - Jul 25 IF WE WIN THE EUROPA LEAGUE DO WE GET AUTOMATIC ENTRY TO NEXT SEASON;S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE? JUST ASKING
0

bstokesaint added 20:38 - Jul 25 Brock,fairly sure winner of Europa gets CL spot as rules changed. And amen to the comments about Lallana. He acted with complete disrespect when leaving the club. He doesn't deserve appeciation from the club or fans.
0

eastlondonsaint added 00:22 - Jul 26 Lallana is a prik
0

SaintNick added 09:52 - Jul 26 I think too many people are quick to jump on Lallana, like the comment that he thought how great it would be to play for |Liverpool whilst playing for Saints, Lambert said how he had always dreamed of playing for Liverpool, presumably he did that whilst at Saints too, ! Yes Lallana did not behave well last summer that cannot be denied, but he was no worse than Walcott or most of the other players who have left Saints at one time or another. Mick Channon for instance put in a transfer request in the summer of 1975 and eventually moved in 1977 yet back then we never called him a traitor Morgan Schneiderlin demanded a move last summer and threw his toys out of the prams and only stayed because we put our foot down and although he put in effort this season he made it quite clear that he would not stay another My view is that Lallana could and should have behaved better last summer, but did he behave much worse than anyone else ? not that much I don't think, he stayed loyal in our darkest days, yes he has tainted his image a little but not to the extent that some seem determined to portray

0

Blogs 32 bloggers

Crystal Palace Polls