striker

+1. Salah doesn't grow on trees. Austin, Long, and Gabbi (although I think he's leaving) are normal PL quality. Think through all the 20 teams, you can pick the better stirkers than Austin on your fingers (less than 10 for those counting impaired). Austin isn't slow, he isn't quick. Once he gets going he's actually go speed. However he makes good runs, and opens up space for others even if he's not getting the ball. This was pointed out by Hughes numerous times, and an example is Redmond's goal against Everton. In addition the guy gets shots off consistently, who else do we have you can say that about. You know in a full game Austin will get 5 or so quality attempts no matter what.

Long and Austin are fine, they are legit PL strikers and both have shown they can get double digit goals. Sure it would be great to have Salah or Arguello, but they don't exactly grow on trees. I'd be ok with all of Gabbi, Long, and Austin returning. They are all as good as most other PL strikers.

8 pts in the last 5, 3 of which were away. Could've been more pts too with a little luck. That is much, much better than we were doing. Plus the players like him and look positive. He needs to stay.

Almost makes you think the fix was in. We won't score goals, but let us put one in at the end

Did I call it or what! Jesus Christ

dam it Crouchie

And it will be Jesus who wins it for them

Called off for offsides, still Stoke 2-1.

ha ha, Swansea now into their Swan song

This is the first time all season the Saints players seem like they are having fun out there. What a difference Hughes has made, we look so much better.

ha ha ha. Swansea needs a goal every 2 minutes or so. Definitely doable for a high powered squad like that.

Austin is our best scorer and an in the box type striker. Long is quicker and better in open play, but doesn't offer nearly as much in the final third. It really gets down to what style we are playing. Sure I'd rather have Salah, who can do both, but having both is a good combination in my opinion.

There goes Redmond

Redmond gives the ball away on the dribble more than any other player I have ever seen. Its like he tried the same thing every time and the defenders just wait for it

We look so much better after Hughes has been here.

Stoke 2-1 at the half

Stoke look like they want to win more that Swansea. Swansea is truely imploding

I vaguely remember this Carrillo guy, what does he do again?

Her parents must be so proud. Then again it is Swansea

I heard it, and have read it, and honestly see nothing wrong. He said we still need to win, 10 goals is possible but unlikely, and he doesn't want to get relegated like when he was out QPR. So? What an over reaction to nothing. In fact he is clearly saying its still possible, but they knew they had to win at Swansea. To me saying that Stoke will lose on purpose is much more detrimental.

I can't believe Swansea hasn't scored a goal in their last 4 matches. Thats 360++ minutes without a score. Add to that they've only scored 2 goals in their past 8 matches.

From Wales On-line, pretty funny: "Bookmakers William Hill are offering odds of 100/1 on it happening, while others are even saying it's a 150/1 shot. The Swans are now 1/1000 on to be relegated. To put the odds into context, you can get the same odds on Swansea staying up now as pop star Kanye West winning the next Presidential election, UFOs being proved to exist by 2020 and temperatures hitting 45c in the UK this summer."

So Stoke has only conceded more than 2 goals once under Lambert, and that was at Arsenal. Meanwhile Swansea is in free fall, bickering among themselves, and haven't scored in 2 consecutive matches. I actually think Stoke wins this. On our side I bet Hughes packs the box and uses his Chelsea "counter attack" game plan keeping it close. I could see us losing 3-1, and I guess the Swans winning 3-1 (just for conversation), but that still falls well short of 10.

http://www.southamptonfc.com

I'm rooting for Swansea to stay up and Hudders to drop. I want to be able to cancel Swansea's hotel reservation when they visit St Mary's next season