Of course we’ll all return week in week out to support the team, that’s our part of the deal, but the current run of form is trying the patience of quite a few Saints. You would have to go back a few years to find a sequence of four consecutive losses so assurances that we are gradually getting it right when its plain that yet again we have not learnt from our mistakes, makes that frustration all the more acute. We don’t want to keep hearing how rough those seas are we just want you to bring home that ship.
I am sure in time we can turn it around but time is not something of a commodity at the moment. The Heineken Cup starts in two weeks and by tea time on Saturday virtually a third of the Zurich Premiership will be over. Problems have to be solved and quick but putting your finger on the exact problem doesn’t seem an easy task in itself.
Discussions on the various Saints websites this week point to all manner of things being at the root of our inability to score, most of them contradictory and in some cases downright daft. I don’t profess to be any expert on the game but I just can’t believe this is the same club that ran in 60 tries in the ZP last season and given the possession we are getting we should be running them in by the hatful, but for whatever reason it’s just not working.
You cannot fault the lads for effort, we again, dominated the game with possession and territory but as was said on the television commentary it was all perspiration not inspiration. Where was the incisive running? Where was the mix and match game, the variation. At times we looked like we wanted to walk the ball in rather than take the odd chance at something different that might have unlocked the Sarries defence. There almost seems to be a fear of failure so we keep ball in hand and continue to batter away and run up blind allies. We’re starting to look a pale shadow of the team that ripped Quins apart a month ago but what better way to put things right than to down high flying Sale at the Gardens on Saturday. The teams well capable, we know that, what they need is belief in themselves and our continuing support.
LOOKING FORWARD
So it’s the visit of the Sharks to FG on Saturday. People may talk of the Cueto’s Hanleys and Robinsons but the player I’m most looking forward to seeing is Frenchman Sebastien Chabal. In the nicest possible way, the guy is an absolute monster. He’s like Martin Johnson without the finesse, Dean Ryan without the charm and Garath Archer without the toys and pram all, rolled into one. We’ve got the pack to control him but please lads no one on one heroics, he’ll rip off your head and spit down the hole. I watched him on the television for Bourgoin playing against Stade Francais last season. He was a one man wrecking crew till a quite appropriate card (yes a French ref issued a card) saw him leave the field, then quite simply his team fell apart and Stade walked away with it.
From what I’ve seen and heard he is being that same type of talisman for Sale too this year and is in such fine form he has been recalled to the French squad. He’s at the centre of everything usually right on the limit and it should make interesting viewing should we dominate the set piece as we have in the last couple of weeks.
And it being midweek I am gradually becoming that glass half full optimist again so I’m taking the boys to finally pull things round and get something out of this game, a fifth defeat would be unthinkable, a win would go down quite nicely thank you very much before we break for Europe. Have faith.
SAINTS WITH HEART III
This Saturday also sees the third annual ‘Saints with Heart’ sponsored walk for the British Heart Foundation.
A band of walkers will be setting off at first light along river and canal from Wolverton heading to the Gardens meeting up with a second group of walkers, including Keith and Maggie Barwell and Bernie along the way at Stoke Bruerne.
For the young, and a few not so young, there’s a barge trip through Blisworth tunnel in the middle of the walk while the more hardy of us march, as Saints do, over the hill. We should all be arriving at the Gardens around two. Give us a wave.
There will be a bucket shake at the ground in aid of the fund so please fill your pockets with all that unwanted lose change before you head to the ground and if you’re feeling more generous, stop one of us in the walk shirts and we will happily take your hard earned cash off you on a sponsor form so we can claim the tax back too.
Having raised over £13,000 in the first two walks we are looking to make this a record year and every little bit helps. Dig deep.
DEDICATOR FOLLOWER OF FASHION?
That Stuart Barnes a cheeky so and so. I’m sure a few of you heard his ‘witticism’ on Sunday about Saints supporters, “they may be one of the most numerous and vociferous but certainly not the most sartorial bunch of fans”.
Who is he comparing us too? Leicester, Gloucester or Inter Milan and Paris St Germain? I mean he’s hardly the dedicated follower of fashion himself is he? Always struck me as the kind of chap who penny pinched on his clothing allowance, going for the large boys rather than the adult sizes. And that goatee beard he tried? Well if that was his idea of sartorial elegance then the Three Musketeers look must be coming back.
Lets face it to criticise other peoples dress sense you have to be more Savile Row than Jimmy Saville. Stick to the rugby Stuart, stick to the rugby.
I am sure in time we can turn it around but time is not something of a commodity at the moment. The Heineken Cup starts in two weeks and by tea time on Saturday virtually a third of the Zurich Premiership will be over. Problems have to be solved and quick but putting your finger on the exact problem doesn’t seem an easy task in itself.
Discussions on the various Saints websites this week point to all manner of things being at the root of our inability to score, most of them contradictory and in some cases downright daft. I don’t profess to be any expert on the game but I just can’t believe this is the same club that ran in 60 tries in the ZP last season and given the possession we are getting we should be running them in by the hatful, but for whatever reason it’s just not working.
You cannot fault the lads for effort, we again, dominated the game with possession and territory but as was said on the television commentary it was all perspiration not inspiration. Where was the incisive running? Where was the mix and match game, the variation. At times we looked like we wanted to walk the ball in rather than take the odd chance at something different that might have unlocked the Sarries defence. There almost seems to be a fear of failure so we keep ball in hand and continue to batter away and run up blind allies. We’re starting to look a pale shadow of the team that ripped Quins apart a month ago but what better way to put things right than to down high flying Sale at the Gardens on Saturday. The teams well capable, we know that, what they need is belief in themselves and our continuing support.
LOOKING FORWARD
So it’s the visit of the Sharks to FG on Saturday. People may talk of the Cueto’s Hanleys and Robinsons but the player I’m most looking forward to seeing is Frenchman Sebastien Chabal. In the nicest possible way, the guy is an absolute monster. He’s like Martin Johnson without the finesse, Dean Ryan without the charm and Garath Archer without the toys and pram all, rolled into one. We’ve got the pack to control him but please lads no one on one heroics, he’ll rip off your head and spit down the hole. I watched him on the television for Bourgoin playing against Stade Francais last season. He was a one man wrecking crew till a quite appropriate card (yes a French ref issued a card) saw him leave the field, then quite simply his team fell apart and Stade walked away with it.
From what I’ve seen and heard he is being that same type of talisman for Sale too this year and is in such fine form he has been recalled to the French squad. He’s at the centre of everything usually right on the limit and it should make interesting viewing should we dominate the set piece as we have in the last couple of weeks.
And it being midweek I am gradually becoming that glass half full optimist again so I’m taking the boys to finally pull things round and get something out of this game, a fifth defeat would be unthinkable, a win would go down quite nicely thank you very much before we break for Europe. Have faith.
SAINTS WITH HEART III
This Saturday also sees the third annual ‘Saints with Heart’ sponsored walk for the British Heart Foundation.
A band of walkers will be setting off at first light along river and canal from Wolverton heading to the Gardens meeting up with a second group of walkers, including Keith and Maggie Barwell and Bernie along the way at Stoke Bruerne.
For the young, and a few not so young, there’s a barge trip through Blisworth tunnel in the middle of the walk while the more hardy of us march, as Saints do, over the hill. We should all be arriving at the Gardens around two. Give us a wave.
There will be a bucket shake at the ground in aid of the fund so please fill your pockets with all that unwanted lose change before you head to the ground and if you’re feeling more generous, stop one of us in the walk shirts and we will happily take your hard earned cash off you on a sponsor form so we can claim the tax back too.
Having raised over £13,000 in the first two walks we are looking to make this a record year and every little bit helps. Dig deep.
DEDICATOR FOLLOWER OF FASHION?
That Stuart Barnes a cheeky so and so. I’m sure a few of you heard his ‘witticism’ on Sunday about Saints supporters, “they may be one of the most numerous and vociferous but certainly not the most sartorial bunch of fans”.
Who is he comparing us too? Leicester, Gloucester or Inter Milan and Paris St Germain? I mean he’s hardly the dedicated follower of fashion himself is he? Always struck me as the kind of chap who penny pinched on his clothing allowance, going for the large boys rather than the adult sizes. And that goatee beard he tried? Well if that was his idea of sartorial elegance then the Three Musketeers look must be coming back.
Lets face it to criticise other peoples dress sense you have to be more Savile Row than Jimmy Saville. Stick to the rugby Stuart, stick to the rugby.
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