Dusic

Its definitely still possible (albeit unlikely), but we would need at least 8 wind from 11 and likely to win vs at least two of the top 3 away from home. But fair enough, we can only control what we do. Leeds and Leicester were better than us last year and especially Leicester for a good few of the years before that. Personally I would fancy us in the playoffs against any of the teams apart from Leeds. Would rather face WBA than Hull also.

Realistically its going to be very tough to overtake Leeds, despite the two games in hand. Becoming obvious that we will need to win an absolute minimum of 8/11 to have a chance. Also caveat this with I don't think this is some kind of huge failing on Russell Martin's behalf...these teams were better than us last season and the margins are small - we had no right to expext auto promotion and can still consider we have had a great season even if autos become very unlikely in coming gameweeks. Hope fans feel the same because the last thing we need is friction over getting 90 points rather than 96!

Plus the club driving a style of play shift that is almost the entire opposite of Rohl/Ralph.

Typical Ipswich, quite hard to see what they do especially well and yet could have scored 5 in this half. Bristol City been pathetic since Wells missed the chance for 2-0.

Yeah I have rarely been impressed with Ipswich but they always seem to just about do enough, and sure they will tonight. McKenna has done a superb job getting that group of players to be firmly in contention for automatic promotion. Fair play.

Will be interesting to see who we target to replace Wilcox when the inevitable happens. Lots of clubs seem to replace from within but it doesnt seem like there are any obvious candidates within our structure. This stuff seems like Rasmus' bag so sure he will already have an idea of who he wants and probably had conversations. Clearly not got everything right, but a lot of the offield appointments seem to have been decent so far, indicated by the fact Chelsea and Utd who could pretty much get anyone they want have moved for Shields and Wilcox after such short tenures.

Both were controlled finishes into the corner. So low and hard enough for what was required. All the goals yesterday were good composed finishes. As have been a lot of our goals this season actually. Both the goals vs WBA were very well taken for example.

We always play better when Adams plays vs when he doesn't. Thought he was good yesterday, especially with his link up play. Hopefully he starts every game until the end of the season.

Basically what we did for the 4 (FOUR) goals we scored away from home yesterday then.

Whether he starts or is on the bench I hope thw travelling fans sing his name all game rather than drivel about Pompey. When seemingly everyone wanted to leave this summer hebwas very outspoken that he really wanted to play for this club, and has largely been very good this season, hence why he has played so much. For a club like Saints, these are the kind of players and people we need more of, not less.

Not sure its primarily about defending Smallbone - afterall what has he done that needs defending? He misplaced a pass after being very good for most of the season - you would have to be an absolute tool to give him vile abuse for that. I see it as RM attacking the types of lowlifes who wish illness and death on in this case someone who is seemingly a great lad and has obviously been through a lot for a person in their early 20s. The "However...." bit of your post suggests you haven't really grasped it. There is no "however" in this situation.

Absolutely nailed this: https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/24156403.southamptons-martin-feels-sick-online-abuse-player/ Easy to see why players like playing for him.

Would anyone who knows enough about Saints to travel to Liverpool to watch us really be suprised about a selection that was fairly similar to what most had predicted, what the manager has done in previous rounds and what he basically said yesterday it was going to be?

Pretty much all managers could do better at times, and all fanbases think the stuff they do wrong is extremely obvious - its always been like it and always will. The fact is that there is also so much that he is doing and has done well, that IMO it massively outweighs the stuff he could have done better. He joined a club with ingrained poor performance where virtually every player wanted to leave and was asked to get results whilst simultaneously completely changing the style of play. He has achieved strong enough results to mean he went unbeaten for more matches than any other manager in the history of the club and by Feb have pretty much guarenteed a playoff place with auto promotion still a possibility, albeit not as strong as about 10days ago. He has been integral in signing certain players who have been amongst our best (Downes and Fraser in particular) improved players, motivated players, kept pretty much every squad member involved and created what appears to be a good team spirit. We are in a Championship season with unusual performance at the top of the league, and were unfortunate that the two others who came down were already better than us last season and had a lot of good players who they kept. Is he perfect? Which managers are? Is he doing a good job? By pretty much every criteria - yes. As for the emotional stuff - would prefer that than some of the managers we have had who barely seemed bothered.

Any chance of getting Dave Earnsburger on the pod before the end of the season? Feel like his name is etched in my memory so may as well hear from the lad. Maybe a joint app with Colt Baker?

Leeds have just been lucky tonight. Incorrect offside stops Leicester being 2-0 up, a goal out of nothing and a deflection of a terrible off-target shot. Shows how important a 2nd goal is as Leicester have massively dominated yet seem set to lose.

Shea Charles is a 6 IMO. Not trusted by the manager to do the role he was signed for.

https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/waterfords-teen-attacker-romeo-akachukwu-17-seals-500000-move-in-the-summer-to-championship-side-southampton/a979771622.html Summer signing agreed according to this. Possibly the one Andy Goldie refered to in his recent interview. Was previously linked with Man City and Arsenal but the report says we will being him straight into the first team setup whereas those clubs would sign him for their U21s. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/arsenal-and-man-city-join-hunt-to-land-17-year-old-waterford-star/a39238394.html&ved=2ahUKEwjc-vHOo7OEAxUcWkEAHdVYBZgQFnoECDAQAQ&usg=AOvVaw03xzR8citDXk499Uk9TnCF

I think we all know what happens in reality - it just hasn't progressed enough to be confirmed yet. And also no guarantee we would have a replacement for the summer because these kind of roles inevitably involve someone moving from another club, with notice periods due to the nature of the role - just like Wilcox served before joining and Crocker served before leaving.

Was really good off the bench yesterday and clear RM trusts him because he is strong on the ball and makes good decisions. Once Downes is back I think him and Smallbone are competing for a place in the first choice XI.

Find it amazing that some still don't know how these kind of conversations and moves come about!

Despite the stick he gets, we nearly always look better when Adams starts. Hope he is available.

I don't think many are actually reacting like that, just expressing disappointment that it would be so soon into a successful tenure. Its obviously a no brainer decision for him and one he is perfectly entitled to make.

Would be a huge blow as by all accounts very well respected. Has overseen a complete change ib the way we play and made significant change in the Academy. Was also responsible for the RM hire which has been a massive success. No other view to take than a negative one, not least because of the noise it generates at a key time of the season, plus impact on planning for next - which will be critical no matter what league we are in.

Key for him will be whether he can put in a good performance from the start in a league game, when he inevitably gets a chance soon...