Tom & Gerry

Sometimes Ralph gets it right and sometimes, too often for some he gets it wrong, but that is hardly surprising given the quality of the league. To get results against teams of equal or greater ability you can't always stand toe to toe with them, you have to think outside the box and occasionally be a little unorthodox and also a lot goes on behind the scenes with players that we don't know about. However in this game you are only as good as your last game and that was deeply concerning, but before that we should really have got a point away which isn't bad and the game before that we all enjoyed. So I suggest the sensible way to go is to see how we do in the matches leading up to the world cup break and then decide if we want to make a change. If Ralph were a cat he'd be very much on his 9th life.

That is true

It seems to mw that we have 3 categories of players. Players we want to keep. Players we would sell if a very good offer came in Players we would like to move on. Which category each player is in is only known by the club. The media speculate , often based on what is not said or interpretation of what is said and mostly get it wrong. Agents will try to offer players to other clubs, but it all depends on which group they are in whether a transfer is possible. Of course circumstances can change , as can the resolve of the club, and the categories might be quite fluid but very little of what we read can be taken as true.

For me Broja has too many weaknesses to be worth £30m. His strengths have been nuetralised as premier league defences became more aware of him. To an extent this happens to all young players and how they overcome it decides what value player they are. He may become a £30m player or more or maybe not.

Not surpised they are not happy., perhaps they should look at themselves though. I wonder why we are concentrating on defending hmm.

Yes, if someone makes us an offer too good to turn down, but I can't see that happening ( fortunately or unfortunately) All our players are for sale at the right price but their not all going , are they?

Well yes that is the plan. If you don't like it - SR out - Sunak in. He'd love to run us. Mind you he'd put up ticket prices but bring them down when we've paid off the debt.

When did rosettes die out? I think they might still have been around in '76 and I might have one in the loft.

I don't care what we wear, only how we play, but I wouldn't be seen dead wearing either of them.

Every year we hope to get our business done early and every year we don't. Early this season probably means before August.

Could be a good game of footballl. I don't see why I have to pick a side. Nobody seems to watch football just for the love of it anymore.

We now know that Saints became mathematically safe when they drew with Leeds on 2nd April and got their 36th point. Believe it or not I do understand the point made by some that they were safe much earlier because with so many games left they couldn't help but get the few points they needed however badly they played and not all the teams below them would be able to find the form to get above us. Saints tried their very best to test the first part of that theory to the max and although I believe that the likes of Everton Leeds and Burnley were all capable of getting better results ,they didn't, and so you are right. In fact we are both right but to slightly different questions. It's just that I have a preference for mathematical certainty. Have a good summer and please let me know when we are safe next season so I can breathe a little easier. I am and always have been Tom & Gerry.

Oops, having a bad day

Sorry to have upset you, I'll go now, but just a few facts. Saints have been in more major finals(fa cup & league cup) 6-5 More fa cup semi finals 11 -7 More seasons in Europe 9-1 Hope that cheers you up.

I'll simplify it for you , The earliest we could have been safe is February. If Burnley get any more points it's April. Those are the facts. Just because I don't get the we've been safe along argument doesn't make me a wind up merchant. As for my sanity - well I have been watching Saints a long time.

The point was when we were safe. To have been safe for ages your argument appears to be that we knew we would always beat Arsenal or if we hadn't we would have got what we needed against Leicester or Liverpool. It's a valid argument but for me not an entirely convincing one. Mathmatically at least we will not know when were safe until after the final games. To avoid any misunderstanding, I agree we are safe now

I wasn't criticising anyone's opinon. Just putting the we've been safe all year view in to some sort of perspective.Burnley getting 2 more points and Leeds beating Saints isn't that fantastic a run. Your view is valid but the facts don't lie.

We will not know when Saints were safe until the end of the season but the earliest possible date (assuming those below us get no more points) was the 25th February when we moved to 35 points by beating Norwich. If Burnley get 2 more points (or 1 and maintain a superior goal difference) the earliest possible date is 2nd April at Leeds. Without that point Leeds would be on 36 points and we wouldn't have beaten that total until 16th April. Anyone still with me?

The brilliant responses to my previous post sum up the situation perfectly, thank you

I'm sure most people think Saints will survive. I'm intrigued however as to why some are so touchy and will not even countenance the slim possibility that they will not. Are Pompey fans singing "your going down" outside their window every night? Is that to do so would be to admit that Saints have not only been battling for a top ten place but have also been in a relegation fight for the last few months? Or are the even more worried than the rest of us and don't even want to think of the possibility that it might happen? Just wondering.

No not at all. With Saints anything is possible.

OK fine if that's what you believe great. I'm just of a more nervous disposition when it comes to following Saints and I'm sure I'm not alone. I'm not trying to boost or dent anyones confidence, just give what I see as a realistic appraisal of the situation and you don't. I wonder why if you are so confident that you choose to misrepresent what I've said. All 3 teams in question don't have to win every game. Burnley have to win 2 from 3 -do able on their recent form prior to last Saturday. Everton 2 wins from 4 or probably 5 points - very do able. Leeds 7 points from 3 - less do able, but if they were to beat Chelsea the odds would shorten and you wouldn't be getting 60/1 from the bookies on Saints staying up. For all 3 to happen would be remarkable, but remarkable things happen in sport , that's all I'm saying. Of course if Chelsea beat Leeds then the scales will be lifted from my eyes and I like you will become a believer, and I will be very happy for you to tell me, I told you so.

Thats why I said I'm slightly more optimistic, but it is not unknown for teams desperate to stay in the Premier league to produce blistering form. The odds might be against it but it's a possibility and will remain a cause for concern until it isn't, when we can all breathe a sigh of relief.

Of course Burnley couldn't possibly win 3 matches in a row could they? Oh I forgot, they only need to win 2.

Yes, but what if they win. I feel slightly less worried than last weekend, but only slightly.