Forester

So looks like we exceeded almost everyone's predictions finishing 8th. And a cup final reached without conceding a goal against all Premier League opponents. Looking forward to seeing everyone's predictions for next season now....

Update please Batman?

I have consistently backed Puel and have enjoyed many good away days this season while sharing the home form frustration of many on here. If people are honest, rather than reinforcing their own bias, all would agree that we would have been delighted with 8th and a cup final. And then, throw in missing our best player for half the season and our top goal scorer for even more and things could have been expected to be much, much worse. Additionally three of the seven clubs above us had no European football which is very unlikely to be repeated any time soon. My view right from the start of the season is that we would struggle to score without Pelle and Mane. Any assessment that ignores this, plus VVD and Austin absence is grossly unfair. As one of the loyal fans who stayed back after the game I was fuming at the shambles of the lap of honour. People dribbled out of the tunnel, initially a ludicrous choice of asking a security guard to walk round with Puel and the sight of Forster who clearly resented being made to go out there. The "group" ended up being multiple groups of staff and their players and it looked the opposite of "the Southampton Way". This makes me think, more than the results and the home performances, that he may be gone next week. It was the worst possible advert of team spirit. I worry greatly about the future. To think some idiots were proclaiming Silva to be the answer a couple of weeks ago. His last three games have been a home defeat to a relegated side, a 4 goal defeat in a relegation six pointer with no shots on target and then a 7-1 home defeat. Perhaps that is what the "don't care about results and League table, just want entertainment" brigade want to see. What ever happened to letting a manger learn and reflect on their mistakes, celebrate their achievements, then back them in the summer? As many older fans know, things get a lot worse than 4 top eight finishes. I hope some of the most vocal on here will still be around to see how changes work out if that is what to happen.

The voice of reason

I believe a major factor in the return to "business as usual" for the top 7 has been the absence of European football for three of the seven which is very unlikely to happen again for some time

A good summary I think

Have a look at the predictions thread as someone has kindly bumped the ore-season forecasts. Most fans predicted we would finish between 10th and 14th withthe odd optimist daring to think about 9th or 8th........

Thanks for finding this. So it looks as if most thought we would finish between 10th and 14th before the season started, with some optimists saying 10th or 9th. Very few mentioned 8th....

How is it looking for your 15th prediction?

This completely summarises my view. For those fans who travel it's been fantastic and I understand the frustration re a number of home performances which drives the sentiment. Puel will want to work on that in the summer. But he should be very proud of how we have done on the road

What a curious reaction! I have searched my post and can't find the words "I have been to more away games than you" anywhere. Hope for your sake you made it to Watford, Sunderland, Bournemouth, Wet Spam, West Brom, Boro. Or perhaps Liverpool, Man City or Leicester for good draws. If not perhaps you watched us win with clean sheets at Arsenal and Liverpool en route to a great family day out at Wembley. Yes? Or were you just typing away on here getting angry?

Just out of interest, is the 17th home place reflective or not or the fact that we still have two games left whereas many have now finished? Either way I take your broader point as I have enjoyed watching us away this season, and in addition to the 7th best league record away we also won in the cup at Anfield and Emirates. I mentioned on the match thread that we benefit from having more space away and so in the summer Claude can focus on different routes to increasing goals at home, including our strikers doing the job they are paid for! As has been mentioned, the loyal visiting fans seem to live in a different planet to some of the less bright posters on here, many of whom seem to have gone missing tonight! At the game today about eight lads not old enough to remember two relegations a decade ago tried to get a "we want Claud Puel out" and they were looked on with a mixture of despair and pity. It's been an enjoyable away season and like Shroppie says there is an absence of realism from some. 8th place and a cup final remains very much on if we can finish the week as we have started it. I will be saying well done Claude

Just on the coach contemplating another five hours or so of travel but great to get back to winning games. It's a shame that those fans who can't get to away games (I fully appreciate that not everyone can) have been starved of goals this year. But for those who have travelled we have seen four at Watford and Sunderland, three at Bournemouth and Wet Spam, wins at Boro, West Brom along with league cup wins over Arsenal and Liverpool. Added to decent draws at City, Stoke, Leicester and Liverpool in the league I would say it's been a good away season. The extra space suits us. Enjoyable

A very intelligent and balanced post.

I agree. I have written before about the difference between being a supporter and a customer. We have too many with the mindset of the latter on here. Don't get me wrong, I want to win big time and it's why we travel all over the country to support the team. But backing people to learn from mistakes and improve seems to be a thing of the last for some. Key words in any fair summary are: VVD, Austin, Pelle, Mane and Wanyama

Anyone trying to compare that performance with the Hull one is being hugely unfair. We were the better team in the first half than and Arsenal team with much to play for, and should have been ahead bar a good bit of goalkeeping from Cech. Second half we had lots of good attacking moves, with two outstanding crosses from Bertrand in particular, but the confidence in front of goal is very low. Sanchez really was the difference with two great bits of quality, the first his goal and the second his wonderful cross for the first header. That is why he could move for £70 million. For the rest of the twenty one players there wasn't much in it. I thought Bertrand was outstanding and Gabby worked his socks off. As others have commented we need a player who has much greater off the ball movement to get in and around Gabby as Mane did with whoever he played with last year. I left the ground feeling it was a cruel result. A very long journey Saturday and hoping to be rewarded with goals which hopefully is the start of a good week to close the season out. Three poor results though and things will be very negative heading into the summer.

Good shout on N'Dong. A bit like Guye who was relegated at Villa in a poor team but has been excellent at Everton. I think with us now playing 4231 again we need another real holder alongside Oriel and let Davis play further up

Does someone know how to get the link to the pre-season predictions on her about where we would finish? Would love to see if people's expectations have been met or exceeded with a cup final thrown in too?

When Mourinho does this at Anfield, parking the bus and getting a nil-nil, he is described as a tactical genius. Puel will never get credit in the eyes of some no matter what he does.

Well said

But you have form Saint Benali don't you? Check out your posts in July 2014 when you told everyone we wouldn't maintain Poch 8th position. We didn't... we finished 7th. Then 6th. So you are kind of half glass empty aren't you? Be good for you to clarify whether or not you think 8th and a cup final is a damn good season? Then we can find out in three weeks time how happy you are.

Today's results increase the chances of a top eight finish, four points off eighth place with two games in hand. And a cup final. You must be devastated. Good luck in your home game against Cheltenham later today, hope you enjoy League One next season.

I enjoyed my coach journey back having watched Puel's Saints knock four past Sunderland. In the minds of the knee jerk brigade on here, presumably this immediately rules out the Great Marco Silva......?

It also allows a player or two on the goal line at near or far post. The same reason that Koeman also never left a player upfront. It seems that people are starting to find new ways to oppose Puel. We should impose a fun new rule on this debate which forces folk to include the words "Mane, Pelle, Wanyama, VVD and Austin" in any assessment. Be really interesting to read. Let's go for it for a day....

When they do come up wth that stat, make sure it is net spend recognising the sale of Big Vic, Pelle and Mane. I don't recall any major exit in the summer with MoPo. We signed Big Vic and Lovren