As regular readers know I am not a fan of those websites that rehash social media comments as news stories, but this weekend sees an ironic twist as a former "Fumed At" Saint is hailed a hero.

Saints fans are once again fuming and comments like "Joke Decision" "Useless" & "Poor" are common on twitter and the like.

But it is ironical that as yet another soft goal goes in with the keeper being found wanting, perhaps one of the most fumed at Saints players on social media in the last couple of years is hailed as a hero.

Take a bow Fraser Forster who gave a wonder performance for Celtic against Rangers on Sunday to win the Scottish League Cup for his club, not many Celtic fans are fuming, but they are suggesting he should be restored to the England squad and demanding their club sign him on a permanent deal.

Forster is not the only player who has been almost hounded out of the club by a section of fans on social media, some of these we could well do with now, Elyounoussi, Hoedt & to a lesser degree Matt Targett all have been sneered at by that section of fans who like to have a scapegoat, all are doing well away from St Mary's.

Sofiane Boufal is also an example, after being slagged off on social media for all of last season as one of the worst transfer buys the club has ever made and held up as one of the main reasons why Les Reed had to leave the club , a goal in a friendly at Anderlecht suddenly made him the hero of social media with the same fans who were calling him terrible suddenly changing their minds.

This is the problem with social media and when half the stories up about football clubs these days on the internet are basically rehashed twitter comments, it can make it seem like everything is in meltdown.

Latest fume is about the manager and the fact that he is not playing Yan Valery, but has picked Cedric ahead of him. Cedric isn't in great form, but then again nor was Valery, personally I would probably pick Valery, but there is not that much in it and in truth Cedric has been no worse than the rest of those in the back four.

He did not do much wrong at Newcastle and wasn't at fault for the two goals, yet the focus is on him and a section of supporters are looking to blame him for everything.

Truth is that although things aren't great we have come through a lot and back out the other side with our heads still just about above water, we can move forward, but we need to banish negativity and get back to creating a positive atmosphere at the games themselves.

This has been the case in recent weeks, away games have seen great support and the last two home games have seen perhaps the best support in a couple of seasons despite them both being just about the lowest crowds.

Thank God that the Saints supporters at those games in the main want the team to win, want the club to survive and want to try and help them rather than hinder.

So on Saturday we want to forget about social media and get along to the ground with one aim and that is creating a positive atmosphere that will enable the team to play with confidence and be in a position to win.

That doesn't mean everyone has to be singing for 90 minutes, that is not the way that some support their team, but we just need to be positive, focusing on the good points not those not playing.

Photo: Action Images

Frederik added 13:10 - Dec 10 So, firstly I agree we need greater positivity from the fans. I was there at the Leicester game, and I stayed until the final whistle singing my heart out for our lads on the pitch, but that also shouldn't mean we're overly positive about players who aren't up to standard, especially ones as costly as Cedric. Cedric gave away three free-kicks against Newcastle including the one that gave away the equaliser. Against Norwich, in injury time he twice was responsible for Norwich getting shots on target which would have cost us two vital points.

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JohnT added 13:17 - Dec 10 I like to think we have civilised type of discussion on our group & discuss the players fairly https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheSaintsSocialClub/
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JohnT added 13:20 - Dec 10 I think McCarthy has been good but did spill the ball for the winner at Newcastle trouble with a GK is one mistake is often fatal
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saintlee added 17:19 - Dec 10 Let's be honest. None of the back four bar Bednarek have been covering themselves in glory. I personally think Bednarek is gonna be a class act but only if he has a top class CB next to him which we currently don't have. Valery is great going forward but defensively inept. We certainly need cover at left back, a new centre back and potentially a new right back if Valery cant pick up the art of defending in the next 6 months.

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cocklebreath added 17:28 - Dec 10 What a load of sh&t, he was hopeless for about 2 years but uncle les gave him an improved 5 year contract, madness and we will be stuck with him for another 2/3 years. Saying that our current goalies aren’t much better, hopeless recruitment throughout the squad
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zonehead added 23:19 - Dec 10 McCarthy was unlucky a slight deflection etc but it’s good to see Long back our system and energy it requires suits his style and our recent upturn in performance is not unrelated
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underweststand added 15:41 - Dec 11 Ploughing through various sites ..I noticed that one had cited that..Ross Wilson "neglected" to give Saints "the right to recall" Forster for the remainder of this season, and so he is anchored to Celtic until June 2020 .. Saints can't get him back ...or sell him either... If Celtic continue to the Champions League final stages it may be thanks to Forster and Elyounoussi . and Ross Wilson. I don't know if I should laugh ....or cry !

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