Where did it all go right?

After a promising pre-season Saints have yet to get going in the UCL and early exit in the FA Cup compounds a pretty disapointing start to the season. I was in Italy for game 1 so missed our only victory (shame but I'd take the sunshine anyday!). At Holbeach by all accounts we played really well and fully deserved an opening day win. So 5 games in what's gone wrong? Well nothing I guess that isn't pretty obvious ... and importantly nothing that can't be fixed. We start scoring and eradicate the basic mistakes and Saints start winning games. OK, another largely frustrating Saturday at WWR V Long Buckby but a certainly a better performance. Saints dominated large chunks of the game and had we taken early chances I'm sure we'd have enjoyed a fairly comfortable afternoon.

So where now? Well Potton in the HBC now becomes an important game and one we need to take seriously. Saints need to end our losing streak and find some goals. Up the confidence and transfer this to the UCL and next string of fixtures. A top 6 place is still possible but we need to do the hard work first and make sure we don't get bogged down at the bottom. Facts are we have got injuries to key players and we've not had much luck in games so far. But the players we have got are better than displayed in recent weeks and I'm sure that things will turn around soon. Time to dig in and turn in some results. We're right behind you on the terraces and will remain so whatever happens.

40 years of watching City has taught me that to enjoy the good times you've got to take some poor results on the chin. Now as a blues fan I'm still arguably waiting for the good times (and probably always will be) but following Saints we've enjoyed lots of highs in recent years. Team and formation changes plus injuries may mean that these transitional times may not be immediately fruitful. As fans we need to believe in the team and management. Saints together ... matchin' in.

Finally, I'd encourage anyone who has not done so to buy a season ticket. I've just got mine and for £40 it is outstanding value. Money to the club and real live football around 30 times a year. For an exiled City fan it gives me my weekly footy fix and has led to me meeting lots of top people at this really friendly family club. Ok, I still can't help doing the Eastland's thing when possible but Saints run City pretty close these days.

All the best

Tim H

Slow start or sign of things to come?

My season starts in the Floods as I watch City 'tactically' defend for 90 mins and pick up a point at White Hart Lane. Not a bad result but still think Bobby Manc needs to get the boys to attack more away from home. Still lots of new players all finding their feet and hopefully the next few weeks will see us settle down and put together a run of results. Guess it's a little similar at WWR where Saints will also take time to bed in new players and systems. In both cases I'm sure success will be somewhere round the corner! At WWR Saturday's early FA Cup exit may not be the worst thing in the world as fixture congestion has in recent seasons proved our undoing. Although nice to have a decent cup run I'd rather have it in the Vase (where chance of winning is a posibility) and push-on in the UCL. Cogenhoe were on balance better than us on Sat and no complaints about the result really. We never got to grips with their runners at corners and found it difficult to clear our lines all afternoon. Not all bad though as new signing Dan Matson looked lively until being injured and Ricky as usual put himself about in the midfield. Quiet game from a few others but I'm sure as games progress the team will find its rythem and balance. So out of the cup before end of Aug but still lots to look forward to both at WWR and on the road. Hopefully Dan's injury will not be as bad as it initially looked and Lee Ellison will be back soon to bolster the midfield. Anyway we move on and Northampton Spencer away on Tues night. Sure 3pts will help put this weekend's dissapointments behind us - lets hope the lads deliver. Sure as always they will do their best. Good luck Saints. As for City - lets just buy the league and get it over with.