saints-cris

Graeme Potter the bookies favourite..

Last season was horrible, so I hoped that this would be better; and it was, marginally. After 10 games I thought we were done for, and then after the second Cardiff game I'd written us off. So to stay up with 2 games to go, I'd have bitten your hand off after that Cardiff game. Am I too fussed that we tailed off in the last few games? Not really, because the style of play Ralph needs is so full on that once you take away what we are playing for, it's not going to be nearly as effective. We needed to stay up, we did that and now we can look forward to next season. We circled the drain and got out, and so many clubs haven't done that. If we can achieve top half form with the gaping holes we have in our squad now, then with what we suspect will be a big summer, I'd expect a stress free season next year which would be very nice after the last two. We even fixed our horrible home form voodoo. We need a rebuild. Our defence still concedes too many, and our attack is too short on options. I am certainly more optimistic than pessimistic for next year, with Ralph in charge we have someone who has a clear idea of what he wants; and he has said that we will be busy.

Millwall in our Championship promotion season was epic. 2-1 down with 5 mins to play, win 3-2. A week after that Leeds game, we got 6 points when we could have got 0.

Fair play Liverpool. Cannot stand them still, but fair play. They deserve to win something this year.

Emery - Would have done OK De Boer - No. Disaster everywhere he's been. Viera - A gamble Mancini - No Silva - Would have done better that Pelligrino. Ultimately we all couldn't really be happier with Ralph, and we can all look forward to next season. The experience of the last 5 seasons has been very up and very down. Koeman, Poch were great, Pelligrino and Hughes were awful, Puel was the in between. Whilst having great managers who end up leaving us is a shame, it's certainly more enjoyable having them whilst they're here. Yes they may move on, as will players. Sadly, the Premiership is so divided now that I've finally accepted our place in it. At best we can be like Wolves. At worst we can go down. It can all go wrong very quickly, so our club has to continually be on the look out for the next gem, be it manager or player. We've tried to keep our best players and it never works, so let em go and move on quick. Ralph has been magnificent, and for the first time since Koeman I'm looking forward to the next season.

I think we will certainly have him for the whole of next season. Assuming he does well then he will be off. As long as he leaves us in relatively stable position with a better squad than when he started that will be fine. We just have to make sure we are already looking for the next. Less of the Pelligrino/Puel type, more of the charismatic type.

Hoping for a decent window and to get some out once and for all. Outs: Austin, Stephens, Cedric, Clasie, Boufal, Hoedt, Reed, Gallagher. Ins: Proper CB, Powerful striker, quick winger/attacker., another right back.

We have 5 GD better than them, and they have Arsenal and City to play. Hard to see them over turning that. Would be nice to get 3 points and be done this weekend, as long as we match Cardiff's result this Saturday we're in the clear. Be lovely if the last two games of the season are in a relaxed atmosphere. No more dramas and looking over our shoulder. Can see Lemina coming in, and Long getting a rest; this is all on the assumption Vestergaard is fit. Gunn Valery, Bednarak, Yoshida, Vestergaard, Bertrand Redmond, PEH, Lemina, Armstrong Ings

Really enjoyed last night, thought the away end was as good as it's been in a while. Good game too, real shame we let it slip right at the end (as per) but I think most have agreed that we'd have taken a point before the game and it still feels like a pretty good one all things considered. Watford were a pretty good side, moved the ball well and Doucore looks very decent. If he's there this time next year I'll be very surprised. Pretty much safe now and plenty to look forward to next season, especially if we have a half decent window.

Heading down later, looking forward to this. Would be lovely to get the 3 points and all but guarantee safety. Still think a point could well be enough, and I'd certainly like to get it done sooner rather than later. Bit of a selection headache for Ralph as Armstrong and Lemina both looked good when they came on. Could be tempted to go for 4 at the back if Vestergaard isn't fit.

I saw an article yesterday that Chelsea, Utd and Arsenal are all chasing him.. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/11690968/manchester-united-chelsea-and-arsenal-all-chasing-paul-mitchell

Shame on any club that signs him.

I see a score draw here, which I'd take if Cardiff don't win. There for the taking after yesterday, can't see them having the same desire now their season has effectively ended. Fighting for 7th isn't the same as fighting for survival.

Cant fault the effort, first half we really went at them, certainly had them rattled. But ultimately the quality shone through in the end, we weren't able to keep up that intensity for 90 mins. Their first was (marginally) offside but who's even surprised anymore. We gave a good account of ourselves but the quality of squad depth shone through. If we play like that until the end of the season we'll get the points we need. The Sky coverage was genuinely embarassing. It really really winds me up that we have to put up with Souness, Carragher, Mcmanaman, Owen and so on dribbling week in week out providing such a bias commentary, yet Le Tiss isn't allowed to commentate a Saints game on Soccer Saturday. I hope they blow it.

Not too bothered by yesterday’s result for Burnley. They now have even bigger motivation for next weekend v Cardiff, win and stay up. It’s in our hands, we’ve got the games and as long as Cardiff don’t pick up 6 more points than us, then jobs a gooden.

Considering they have recorded 0 points v the top 6, that means they will need 3 wins out of 4 against Brighton/Burnley/Fulham away, and Palace home; seems very tough. Not impossible, but unlikely. I think they will lose to Burnley, draw v Brighton and Palace and beat Fulham. Certainly not enough.

Liverpool may have given us decent money, but they have clearly been up to no good behind closed doors. Lallana and Lovren threw their toys out the pram. They treated Lambert like rubbish. VVD met up with Klopp whilst still with us! Hell, they had to publicly apologise because they were so caught out. I have more disdain for them than Pompey, and I'd love nothing more than to bury them.

Bit of both, Hughes clearly didn't bother as proven in this interview with Targett back in December. "When I say intense I mean lots of sprints - much more than we have been doing. Lots of pressing and getting in faces" https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11700/11576833/ralph-hasenhuttl-very-intense-says-southamptons-matt-targett

I thought the 3-2 coming from 2 down was the karma we so deserved. I thought beating them in the semi final in true sh*t house manner was one better. But this, the timing is set up for us of all teams to complete the hattrick of injustice, will perhaps be the sweetest of them all. It would be simply too delicious to comprehend.

The thought of us of all teams to be the ones to derail them so late in the season makes me salivate. I'd bloomin' love it if we could hinder them. Hope we make it extremely difficult for them. Assuming Cardiff lose at City, it's a free hit. Don't expect anything from this but we're on form and have shown we can stop the top 6 sides now, fingers well and truely crossed.

Is it just me who's only really concerned about Cardiffs results? They have Chelsea, City, Liverpool and Utd to play, with tough away games at Burnley and Brighton. Hard to see them getting any change out of that. All without Bamba and Paterson. As long as we keep putting in good performances, I'm sure we'll get 2 wins out of Brighton / the sides on the beach (Bmouth, Watford, West Ham, Newcastle, Wolves) and Hudds. A draw tomorrow and a Cardiff loss will be no bad day, a win would be obviously fantastic. As long as Cardiff aren't picking up wins, they run out of time. I'd just rather we got it done sooner rather than later.

Arguably our most talented player, but right now what we're doing is working. A great option to have for the run in, as we don't have anyone who plays like he does. Having him and Ings coming back for the last stretch gives me more hope that we can add some more goals.

DEA: 'Sorry we ruin the party'

Just nice to have the options to be honest, our bench can look very weak at times. We have no one like Lemina, and Ings is still our top scorer. 3 weeks between Spurs and our next game (Brighton) so plenty of time for both to recover by then. Nice to be full strength going into the last stretch. As for the Spurs game, not expecting much. Hard to win games conceding as many as we do. With their recent form I just hope we can make it nervy, and not concede early doors allowing them to settle.

Get through this game and we should have Lemina and Ings back for the run in, certainly two of our more talented players in the squad.