salisbury saints1

Shilton and Bale probably the closest.

A fun but tough question! Where would the four players most improve the current team? For me our biggest issue is a reliable finisher - in my time Shearer edges Lambert (only saw Channon on TV). Difficult to look beyond MLT as the most creative player I've seen but he'd have to buy into modern day fitness regimes! Then is it's 2 from David Armstrong (edges Chris Marsden), VVD, and Tim Flowers (I only saw Shilton play for Forest). Manager Poch ahead of Strachan.

Even with Palace injury list I'd have them safe with Newcastle/ Huddersfield more likely to drop.

After this weekend's results I'm really concerned. I'd hoped Newcastle and Huddersfield were in free fall and either stoke or west brom (or both) wouldn't start winning. The glimmer of hope is we're playing better away with matches at Burnley, Newcastle, Swansea, and west ham to come before the end of march (plus stoke at home). I think 38 points will be sufficient this year so realistically need to win 3 of those 5 to stay up.

That is exactly what's driving the change - on R5 last night they said the Qatar winter world cup would affect 3 seasons.

I'm usually optimistic but I just can't see where we can pick up enough points in the remaining fixtures to stay up - plus every other bottom half team are improving results wise - even Swansea!

Agree - if I can't have something I want it even more!

Yes Gary Neville provides insights I can't get from just watching the game on TV. I was really impressed with his documentary at the referees training weekend - his desire to continually learn and improve was impressive.

I'm glad someone else said that before me as he's a skate I wasn't sure it would be acceptable to say you liked him on here! Incidentally he came up with a great stat recently that stoke had out spent saints by £90M over the last 3 years- worth bearing in mind when looking at our league positions.

Hereford takes a lifetime to travel to!

Disagree it was a clear pen - there would be a meltdown on here if it had been the other way round. If Smith keeps running as Henry suggested he risks getting injured. Really glad it wasn't given as not sure we'd got back from 0-2.

Agree Everton were abject - a performance as bad as Sunderland (8-0) and Aston Villa (6-1) I've seen in recent times. But we can only beat what's in front of us. Hoj was a revelation.

Absolutely agree - imo our league position is inflated by a relatively easy start (only Man U at home so far played as part of the big 6). In reality I think we'll be involved in a relegation scrap but have just about sufficient to keep clear. Hopefully this will be the wake call to the owners they need to invest in attacking players. However, I thought Everton would kick on from last year and compete for top 6.........

Yes a breakaway league would be much more likely than Barca joining EPL. Still an annual trip to the Nou Camp would be something to look forward to.

A brilliant series - I'm convinced the writers get some their material from my place of work but I guess many of the situations are common to all large organisations.

Mane was brilliant that season for but don't forget he was dropped for turning up late followed by an abysmal team performance at Norwich. Also Shane Long had a rare consistent spell and towards the end of the season was 1st choice ahead of Pelle. But the player who made it all tick was the under-rated Steve Davis - we've not seen that form (other than for Northern Ireland) since. Maybe RK was lucky but he made his own luck with the way he put the team together.

Interestingly when Leicester signed Kante is was a toss up between him and JC. It just goes to show how difficult it is to predict potential in the recruitment process.

The premise of the article is Saints should be a champions league club- whereas that's well above our expectations. Remember the most popular chant in Koeman's first season as 'the saints are staying up'. We were many pundits favourite for relegation. Our last few seasons have been fantastic for league position with the only downer the entertainment value at St Marys last year was dire.

I guessed that would happen so pleased a ST holder lets me use their numbers when they don't need them. Are the tickets being sent out quickly? - I need them before going on holiday on Friday!

Totally agree - I've long thought Saints play well when Davis plays well. Davis went under the radar but imo was a key reason behind the fab 15/16 end of season run.

100% agree -saints fans are some of the most forgiving in the country.

Who takes the pens if JWP and Austin are not on the pitch?

I always thought the away team were offered 10% but would hand back blocks if they weren't selling well (assuming segregation can be maintained). I've benefitted from that at St Mary's when I've managed to get a ticket last minute in a newly released block. It seems to be more complicated than that if the club can just take a small allocation initially- it seems a bit odd to only take a small allocation and then have a high bar (ST + history of 4 away matches). Maybe I'm missing something?

Just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary where we listed best footie matches attended. This match plus the same fixture in the previous season (Man U changing shirts at half time!) were both in the top 5. However, I don't agree with the article that the PL was better in the early days - IMO the standard of football and players is much now than 20 years ago. eg I love Benali to bits but he wouldn't get near any current PL 1st team.

In terms of a fantasy footie team I wouldn't have Austin or Gabbi - too big a risk they'll be on the subs bench or get subbed until we know what the 1st XI is. Plus from last season saints defenders were much better fantasy points gainers than strikers/ creative players. For team selection equal goal scorers then it's toss up between Gabbi's movement vs Charlie's hold up play. That depends on formation and style of play.