Somene get me a gun. I've just realised its shit being a Saints fan. I've been wrong all along.

So what do you prefer to see, a truthful look at what is happening, or should i just say that Saints are brilliant, that all those dropped points are down to bad luck and ppoor referreeing decisions etc.

Perhaps we are doing a lot better than we expected, but having set standards we should look to maintain them and to do that we need to set targets, be disapointed when we dont achieve them and be ecstatic when we do.

Nobody said its shit being a saints fan, but supporting a football club is all about winning football matches isnt it ? that is what we are judged on

Ok I jest a little. I think there has been a fair bit of bad luck away, but no, that shouldn't be an excuse. I'm preparing myself for a tough second half of season, but feel positive (at the moment) that with players back and signings, that we can achieve promotion hopefully through the automatics. And hopefully the away form will pick up, cos like you say, it just has to.

I do feel that Adkins is the fella to do this, as he is so meticulous with his preparation and planning. With regards to winning matches, maybe thats why I still feel OK, we've won a fair few.

:O)

Time for the bad form blip to come to an end. We started storming League 1 at this time last year, and we could do with that kind of run starting up again. Grab 3 points away at Forest (definitely doable) and then get solid results in those two home games and life will look a little bit rosier.

Oh and Nick, everyone agrees with you that we should have won at Doncaster, and that we really needed to win there to keep the pressure on our rivals and we may well regret not winning there if we do end up falling short in some way. If those are the attributes that make it a "must win game" for you then I will make this my last pedantic post.

For me, must win has always been about needing those three points or your target is mathematically unachievable. I would call Doncaster a critical three points, a game against Cardiff a "six pointer". I wouldn't have called it a "must win" game.

Like I said, this will be the last time I mention it, as I have more opinions in common with you than I have different to you and I don't want to be defined by our differing interpretations on this score and I frankly don't see either of us changing our minds!!

Looking forward to Saturday - I have a good feeling about this one...

Dont apologise stevie 280, I share your reaction to st nicks gloomy outlook.
He is responsible for the most negative,pessimistic articles I have ever read.
Personally I dont agree with him when he states ''that supporting a football club is all about winning.''
I have loved and supported this team for more years than I care to remember, through thick and thin, win or lose.Its in my blood, its a part of me that I enjoy.

I am not daft enough to think that we will win every match we are involved in, so when we do have a poor run I try to take it on the chin.
At this moment in time I can see that the club is in very capable hands, it enjoys financial stability and is in a stronger position now than it has been for many years, The academy is held in such high esteem it is the envy of many of the larger more prosperous clubs with many of our lads showing promise, which, if we can hold on to them,could go on to form the nucleus of our 1st team. All in all we are definitely moving in the right direction.
I believe that in N.A we have a competant astute manager who has proved his ability beyond any doubt, he is a guy that wants to win football matches every bit as much as any of us supporters, He is not a fool, he knows what is at stake, he knows all about 'must win matches' just as we all do, let us not forget that it was under his guidance and leadership that we worked our way to the top of the championship, scoring more goals and winning more matches than any of our rivals, following a very successful promotion last season from div 1. He is very very good at his job.
It goes without saying that there are those amongst us that think that they know better than N.A.(stnick) and are conceited enough to offer him 'expert' advice on who to pick and how to play.
It can be interesting to hear other supporters views, in fact that is why most of us connect with sites like this one. listening to or reading a cross section of opinions is valuable and helps us assess the true situation.
But, I have to say that the persistant knockingback and critical pouring of scorn that appears on this site week after week is beyond my understanding.
I can only assume that these articles are written by a very unhappy fan whose insatiable hunger for 'on the pitch' perfection is compelling him to spread his discontent to all those that are prepared to listen.
Ive got news for you St nick, it doesnt get much better than this, we will have both good and bad times, Its for you to take some pleasure in our football club,the teams general success is something for you to be proud of.
Those dark 'Branfoot' and 'Rupert' days are long gone and despite all your negative predictions we are on the 'up'.
We may or may not get automatic promotion this time around but if we fail it wont be because we, as a team, didnt do our level best .
I also doubt if your woeful articles will have made the slightest difference to the outcome

Good passionate post Michaeljoy, didn't mean for a full on apology, but tend to revert to diplomatic mode a bit quick! Like many, having a great season.

perhaps the negativity stems from a starting point of 'every game can be won'. in a literal sense it is a true statement. however in relation to supporting saints (or any other team) it is pure fantasy. i don't think until this is overcome anything will change on this site, but it certainly makes for interesting reading at times.
there's no hiding from our average run of results and happily neither is there from the fact we are doing very, very well. this time last year what were we, 3rd/4th in league 1?
we are first and there to be shot at, but a bit less of this shooting from our own fans would go down well. such as a balancing of reports when there are excellent solid wins (palace most recently, a compliment or two) and when there are less convincing displays (many, many comments about it being unacceptable).

i've got a good feeling about tomorrow.

Whatever you may say about Nick, and I have generally agreed with him, you can't say he doesn't stir things up. The result has often been some well reasoned, passionate and strong views which demonstrate how much Saints fans support their club. I'm proud to be one of them. 3 points tomorrow please.

^^^ Don't be so precious.
What you see as 'negative/pessimistic' et al., others see as critical analysis. Don't take it to heart. There's always the official site, or @CORTESE ..
If these posts are 'the most negative, pessimistic articles' you've ever read, then why bother reading them ?
A dose of reality and supporting the team 'aint mutually exclusive.

Toodle-oo