Saints fans letters

AS a Saints supporter for some 50 years, I write to say how much I resent the patronising comment directed at the fans by George Burley in last Friday's Echo.

Burley is quoted as saying "Kenwyne Jones has got strength, pace, is good in the air, and can finish", and, "sometimes fans don't appreciate him".

I can assure George Burley that we fans certainly do appreciate him.

And, moreover, we often ask ourselves why is it that Jones is usually the one who is sacrificed if a late substitution is deemed necessary when Grzegorz Rasiak, whom despite his goals, rarely shows any of the above qualities but always seems to stay on the pitch?

Whilst recognising that the manager appears to be getting things progressing in the right direction, it is still disturbing to read also such things as "Grzegorz and I was (sic) very pleased for Kenwyne on Wednesday".

Clearly, Burley seems to think Rasiak can do no wrong, whereas, many of us see him as no more than an average performer - especially at St Mary's - who does not totally warrant the favoured treatment he gets.

R ELSOM, Nursling Saints have recently been involved in the sort of thrillers that causes the pulse of football fans to race.

In terms of excitement, it's been full value and a good advert for the Championship.

On a cautionary note, for Saints fans to become carried away with the latest nine points would be foolish indeed.

Individually, Saints have a great back four in Ostlund, Lundekvam, Baird and Bale with hopefully Svensson still to come.

However they are not functioning as a unit. They lack leadership.

Oh for the return of Svensson with the brilliant Baird either reverting to full back or played in midfield.

They are also playing in front of a suspect goalkeeper.

George Burley will want to justify his signing and has backed Kelvin Davis, but the evidence is there for all to see.

Glaring mistakes that have cost goals, punches that go awry and a lack of communication with his back four.

Poor Davis had problems with Sunderland in a Premiership that Saints are aspiring to.

If Bartosz Bialkowski s match fit, then surely his time has come.

On the subject of Rasiak's partners, before last season began I said in a preview that Kenwyne Jones could aspire to be maybe even better than James Beattie was in that style. In all honesty it never happened.

He did play really well recently v Wolves and had a blistering first half v Birmingham.

I couldn't help noticing, however, that much like his second half substitute appearance v Luton he was taking up a lot of wide positions from where he was doing Birmingham real damage with his running, nod ons from the flanks and sharp finishing.

Second half it was back in his shell, including an extraordinary moment where he lost sight of the ball directly in front of goal.

However, he cannot be faulted for that. Kenwyne needs more consistency - simple as that.

Yes it would be great if Saints can establish a position in the play offs - automatic promotion would be even better.

Realistically, though, the team still has holes to plug.

For if they don't, it could well be our undoing.

CHRIS NEWMAN, MIDANBURY, SOUTHAMPTON.

I HAVE been a Southampton supporter for 54 years and I am fed up with David Merrington telling the Saints manager how to run the team.

George Burley has got the team playing well and this is the best team we have had for a long time.

It's about time Dave Merrington started praising the team.

He forgets one thing: he did not do any good when he was manager; that's why Southampton Football Club got rid of him when he was manager.

MR B YOUNG, Isle of Wight