Rasiak-9-

This I'm afraid. I hate to say it but its plain old head-in-the-sand stuff to pretend that wasn't a crippling result for us. Arsenal gaining three points where its quite likely all their other rivals for the top four will get none whatsoever (In fact, Liverpool, United and Spurs have all already lost there, so its only us to go) is huge. Take a look at the market on Betfair. Arsenal have plummeted from 1.8 to 1.45 to finish top four on the back of that result alone, with us shooting up from around 2.1 to 2.65. You can 'control the controllables' all you like but ultimately, us finishing top four is contingent on us getting to a specific points target, and that points target has just had three added onto it that if we do finish with the 72-73 or so that many of us thought was achievable, could make all the difference I'm sorry to say. Catching City is pie-in-the-sky stuff.

City look incredibly toothless

This. He's hit the woodwork, what? six times now since last scoring? Not to mention having it brilliantly cleared off the line against Arsenal. Just a horrible run of luck but he's still doing an awful lot for the team; they'll start flying in again soon. I'm still confident he'll beat Rickie's total of 13 last season (a total which included 3 pens and 2 FKs btw)

Despite the squad looking like its just come back from Iraq and had to play three away games in one week... https://imgflip.com/i/gi9uh

Could really do with a favour from at least one of Sunderland or Villa today or even QPR if they can manage it. It'd really add unnecessary pressure to go into today's game knowing that we've got to 'run to stand still' so to speak, in the form of winning up there in order to keep pace with the other results.

Question: You are offered a dice, and told that if you roll a 5 or a 6, Saints qualify for the CL, anything less and we miss out. Do you take the offer? FWIW I personally would in a heartbeat but the bookies don't think you ought to, and that the chances of us finishing in the top four are significantly higher!

I hope to **** you're right and I'm wrong. I for one do not fancy us at all against Newcastle

****ing knew we should have played the kids and gone out of this sodding waste of time. Every FA cup game from now until the end of the season is our least important match of the season as long as we have a chance of the CL

That *could* just be a pulled muscle rather than a tear. Its happened to me a few times where I've sprinted, felt it go twang, thought it would be far worse than it is but actually its not that bad. Don't get me wrong it could be terrible, but it could be only one match.

Justifiably so, because the range of where we could finish in the league, even then, was literally like 7th to 10th, which absolutely wouldn't have made a blind bit of difference to anything. Finishing 4th in this day and age, and successfully qualifying for the Champions League, could potentially change what Southampton FC are forever. Look at Napoli for instance in Italy; decent-sized club with decent money, but since making the most of their golden-ish generation with the likes of Cavani and Lavezzi and suchlike, qualifying for the Champions League and doing relatively well, combined with the demise at several of the other big Italian giants, they're now not just a flash in the pan but a solid top-four side in the Serie A, with the ability to buy players from the likes of Real Madrid for £30Mn, continue qualifying for the Champions League in the future in order to maintain that, and of course, compete in the cup competitions in the future really just as a side-effect of being good. That's the kind of thing that could happen to Saints if we did qualify for the CL and make a good fist of it. I mean, if we were in a group with Real Madrid, Ludogoretz and Basle, would we have no chance of getting through it? (This may not apply as I can't remember if Liverpool were seeded because of their history in the competition or just got a favourable draw). Finishing 7th meant nothing, whereas the FA cup really opened up for us to win a trophy. Finishing 4th means everything, and besides its only the 3rd round. Would happily go out of the FA cup in return for 1 extra point in the league. Would happily sacrifice the trophy in return for 5 extra points in the league.

My estimation has always been that if it all does fall down, it won't be in the matches against the big sides with the pressure off, but in the next run of fixtures where we really need to be collecting at least five wins out of seven at an absolute bear minimum. Going away to the likes of Newcastle, Stoke, Everton, Sunderland and West Brom not just having to win, but in situations where your opponents, good though they are, are actually happy to hold you to a draw at home, is a test that we'll be very unfamiliar with. This is the period of the season where Arsenal know how to deal with that mental pressure and kick on. As must we.

Oh W.Brom away between Liverpool and Palace should be in there; guess thats a 'par win' if we want to finish top 4.

Woo hoo! Back to even par on the 'top four schedule' I made a little while ago (and who saw that coming after the Burnley disaster?) Villa (a) -------------------3 (-2) City (h)--------------------1 (-3) Arsenal (a)---------------1 (-4) United (h)----------------1 (-5) Burnley (a)---------------3 (- Everton (h)---------------1 (-6) Palace (a)----------------3 (-6) Chelsea (h)---------------0 (-5) Arsenal (h)---------------1 (-3) United (a)-----------------0 (back to even par!) Newcastle (a)------------3 Swansea (h)--------------3 QPR (a)--------------------3 West Ham (h)------------3 Liverpool (h)--------------1 Palace (h)-----------------3 Chelsea (a)---------------0 Burnley (h)----------------3 Everton (a)---------------1 Hull (h)---------------------3 Stoke (a)------------------3 Spurs (h)------------------1 Sunderland (a)-----------3 Leicester (a)--------------3 Villa (h)--------------------3 City (a)--------------------0

Shat myself with 15 minutes to go, stuck 20 on united to win (would have returned £300+ and dashed out the pub - my old man (who I was with) might well by registering tonight to berate me!

Because I'd like to hear a bit more noise from our fans? Either way, you're certainly flattering yourselves if you think that anyone is remotely fussed about whether or not they get attention from yourselves, or indeed what kind. I'm not particularly bothered by you thinking that I'm a pillock, but I am a little mystified by it, especially as there are plenty of people on here who've agreed with me entirely. Ahwel, at least you can get loud over the internet.

Any time the skinny, handsome lad from France who's surely supposed to be a pussy flies into a tackle with all the ******** of a third-division, wide-as-he-is-tall centre half and ten times the technique. Awesome player. His crossfield diagonals to Clyne sprinting up level with the right side of the opposing penalty area always look great (especially from where we sit near the Itchen North; looking straight down the barrel!).

Jermaine Wright was pretty dreadful, but it wasn't down to any lack of effort or trying, which for me, is the one and only reason to ever boo or abuse your own player. The poor guy was quite simply, a woeful footballer in a woeful team in what at the time was a woefully run club who couldn't afford to sign anyone better. That should have been self-evident to anyone there; blaming someone simply for a lack of ability is just daft as hell. Mind you, I think during the 07/08 - 08/09 seasons most of us could do little more than just sit there in silence watching the inevitable unfold whilst singing the occasional round of 'swing Lowe' so I guess people did want an outlet.

What are you complaining about? According to most of the grandads on here anyone who wants to sing and shout for their club should **** off and join a gospel choir! Haven't you heard? Hoping for a decent atmosphere at a football match is ridiculous!

Wouldn't want him. Vastly overrated player even in his prime. Very good, but never world class. Vieria, Rui Costa, Figo, Zidane, Riquelme, Xavi, Iniesta, Deco, Schweinsteiger, Khedira, De Rossi, Pirlo all danced around him and made him look very, very ordinary at international level. Incredible goalscorer from midfield at club level though.

Ha! Snap

****ing deluded fanbase. Forster, Bertrand, Alderweireld and Clyne would all walk into their first-choice back-four-and-goalkeeper no question and further up the pitch, so would Schneiderlin and Wanyama. They're simply better players, who comprise a better team.

Funnily enough I thought our support was awesome today, huge gulf between today and Chelsea which proves my point that we can, could and did do better. Great stuff I thought.

How old are you and where on earth have you picked up the word 'melt'?

We... ...do agree that this is ****ing epic right? That loud, passionate and vociferous support is pretty cool? No? Because that question seems to be up in the air right now.

Do you think loud noise and singing in support of your team at football is bad?