Cabrone

Yes but who? QPR - with a good manager they could do well and I think Harry is a good manager. Norwich - good team ethic, will fight to the last and well capable of grabbing the points when needed. Wigan - capable of getting out of tight spots as they have demonstrated in previous seasons. Villa - IMO probably the weakest team but the manager is a good motivator. Stoke - the awkward squad, have too much about them IMO, should stay clear. Reading - recent win will have their tails up - starting on a run? Sunderland - like Stoke, I think they should clear the drop zone Dark horse - Liverpool, if Suarez stays fit then they are OK but an injury a long way from the transfer window could see them drop lots of points. Could they handle the pressure? No obvious candidates for bottom 3 IMO (Villa maybe). It's going to be a tight race.

Bad news for us...despite the hatred from the one-eyed on here I can see him turning it around for QPR. Now QPR look sorted I think it's 40 points for survival this season. I just can't see any real mugs in this division.

No, he's past it now and would probably want too much. Always had split feelings about Beckham, I hated the showbiz crap that surrounded him but can't criticise the guy's commitment to his clubs and England. He was always a model pro. Time to close the book on Beckham's playing career, he won't be coming to Saints.

It's a non contest, Boruc is clearly the best keeper we have. Gazza looked like a league 2 keeper yesterday. Quite mystifying why Boruc isn't playing and it makes me wonder if something is going on behind the scenes because by rights he should have been between the sticks over a month ago now.

Shilton\Niemi (can't choose them apart) Mick or Steve Mills - Mark Wright - Michael Svensson - Mark Dennis Terry Paine - Jimmy Case - Gareth Bale MLT Alan Shearer - Ron Davies Subs: Watson (Dave - not Gordon ), Rod Wallace, Channon, Steve Williams, KK

That's a very strange team he's selected. Shearer right midfield? Ostenstad left midfield Benali left back above Dennis\Bale\Bridge Flowers above Shilton\Niemi Very odd.

I think Hughes is closer to the trap door than Nige. He's had a fair wedge of cash and a fair bit of time now so it's delivery time. Nige won't go even if we lose, he still needs more time IMO.

Their finishing wasn't lucky, it was razor sharp. Probably the best finishing I saw in that division last season. We were like a mace and they were like a rapier. We kept on pounding them and got no-where, they countered with pace and cut us to ribbons. It was no fluke they beat us that night but quite what it has to do with now is anyone's guess. Different players, different league, different confidence levels, different injuries etc. I'd say we go into the game as equals.

I think 8 points has to be the benchmark, 10 or more would be very good. Either way we are going to in and around the relegation zone for the rest of the season IMO. I can see this season being a last day shoot out, we just need to be in a position where our destiny is in our own hands.

Boruc for the rest of the season as he's the best (no problems with his bottle too).

Disappointing, really needed a win. 35 points needed from 27 games and TBH I'm not sure where we're going to get them from. We need a win or two to get some confidence going. Boruc in goal please for every game. Stop chopping and changing and stick with our best keeper.

As has been said many times on here the magic ingredient is confidence. A few wins under the belt and this team would be unrecognisable. Unfortunately the lapses from a defence that has had a baptism of fire started the rot and now it's spread to the rest of the team. It also doesn't help that we left our best GK off the team sheet. We need as much defensive ability as possible and to drop our international keeper at the moment seems strange. Sorry MS fans but I don't rate him, never really have. He's being shown up rather badly at this level now. We need a centre mid with some real steel and we just don't have it at the moment. Whilst the team go out and show some heart them I'm OK with things, it's when heads drop that you need to get concerned and there is growing evidence that heads are dropping. Nige, you have to stop the rot ASAP or it's going to be another 04/05 season all over again.

Wes Morgan, Jack Hobbs.

Boruc to have a blinder and a sqeaky 1-0 win.

My thoughts.... - Very tough start. - Not an unexpected low tally of points although obviously we'd all like more. - NA and the team on a vertical learning curve. After two seasons of wins it's a reality check all round. - Would like Nige to start with his best 11 (including RL) for every game. - Defensive lapses have cost us dearly but these can be coached for. - Strike force looks good enough for this league and we are creating chances. - Boruc is going to play a big role this season. - Heads haven't dropped, performances have been generally good and chances are being created. - 10 games isn't enough to judge this team on, end of December is better when we've played everyone. - November and December are going to be big months. - Not atall downbeat - I've seen enough to believe that there is still everything to play for.

Man U/City, Arsenal, Spurs and Everton. I never expected much from these matches. The only games where we may be considered to have rolled over and died in are possibly Leeds and West Ham IMO. Man City/Utd/Arsenal/Spurs/Everton all eventually outclassed us, Wigan stung us, Villa lost to us and we fought a close game against Fulham. I wouldn't say that any of the performances in those games was of the 'roll over and die' variety but reality bit us in the bum, we got beat by teams with a little bit more about them. Any realistic fan knew that the games against the top 5/6 were always going to be very tough to get points in and factored that into their expectations. What we seem to have here are unrealistic expectations that haven't been met and now they are chomping at the bit for a new manager. If Saints were producing flat performances in every game I'd be concerned about NA but they aren't. Yes, we have been defensively naieve and some of our subs have been questionable but we have continuously created chances. There is still very much to work with so give him a chance and judge him once he's had a go at playing teams around our level. Far too much knee-jerk reaction on here.

Let me see. We've just been promoted into one of the toughest leagues in the world having been in league 1 just 2 years ago. We have played 9 games, 5 of which were against the top 6 sides in the division. The only top team we haven't played yet are Chelsea. Of the 'realistic' games we've played we have won 1, drawn 1 and lost 2. Not too shabby under the circumstances. NA has faced a baptism of fire, to get rid of him at this moment in time would be grossly unfair. Too many knee jerk types on here.

Good grief what a storm in a teacup from a tiny number of pansies that apparently follow this club. When he has gained full match fitness I suspect Boruc will turn out to be the most important signing we make this season. With a defence as porous as ours he may well turn out to be the difference between relegation and survival, he's that important to this team (not that any of the boneheads have given it any thought). He's our No 1 so back him, back NA and back the team. They are giving it their best shot but to go from league 1 to the prem in 2 seasons is very very tough ask.

NA should be given the whole season and if we go down then so be it. This is a very tough learning ground and realistic fans always knew it was going to be a relegation scrap. I'll be backing him all the way.

Every player has his price and if Stoke come up with the readies then he'll go, just like every other player I've enjoyed watching over the years. I'd like to think he'd play out his time here but football is a business and money talks.

Boruc, he's a proven quality keeper who will make a difference given enough match fitness. Surprised it's taken this long to play him TBH.

Agreed, whilst I think Harry's a great manager who did a brilliant job at Spurs Nige is our manager and right now him and the team need the support of all the fans. Nige will come good but he needs time. Remember Fergie took 4+ years to get things going at Man Unt. Patience + realistic expectations are needed, survival will be an achievement. If we survive then we can concentrate on moving up the table. Best of luck Harry but not at SFC.

He's a decent manager and I wouldn't mind him back if NA walked on his own accord but I want NA in the seat for the rest of the season, I think he's earnt the chance and I want to stick with him.

Not really surprised, prem league attacks are razor sharp and our champ defence hasn't yet learned how to cope. They need to learn quickly now + RL needs to start every game up front if he's fit. Think the spending was too biased towards attack and we are suffering as a result. For me Boruc needs to stay in goal and get as much match fitness as possible, if we survive he's going to be a big part of it (IMO). My target was, is and will be 17th so we're about where I thought we'd be. No panic, just hope the team can suss out this league ASAP. Long way to go yet.

I feel that BT doesn't really get the credit he deserves from Saints fans - he was a quality player for us. Great to see those goals again and what a deadeye he was from the penalty spot.