Saxon

I get that it might impact league position, but I still don't get why everyone turns their nose up at this competition! It's another chance at a trophy fpr anyone in it, you get the fun and excitement of playing teams from other countries, and it means you can attract better players in theory too. I'm well up for this!

I pray we never end up in a situation where we have to have f*cking Sondico as our kit supplier! I mean Jesus f*cking chr*st! The away kit looks diabolical as well. I think adidas are ok for us but I don't like the template implementation very much, always looks very paneled and the three stripes prevalence just means you look like an identikit team. Nike would be better or Puma just because even though they have templates, they look a lot less uniform. Adidas I swear just struggle to make attractive looking kits, especially for stripes! That said I will get ours but here's hoping we go maybe puma or nike for the next one.

One of our biggest assets and advantages to the team, which other teams fans maybe would maybe scoff at, but we always here from e.g. Koeman, the players, Les and of course Ralph, is our team spirit. I think its clearly very infectious, you go to Saints and unless you're a complete and utter helmet with no social grasp (maybe prone to rash headbutts) then I think you'll be taken in. You have to be pretty egotistical I think to not be taken in by the dressing room and the club and I think this will subtly have an impact om the players. You know, this is their job too, and maybe some of them might think, maybe being loved at work and working day to day in an amazing environment where I am always valued is something I want quite a lot, rather than working in a more mercenary environment or one where there are some golden boys and a clear pecking order and it's all about how well you do and how much money you earn. And if this more welcoming team is fighting and making a name for itself and could go places in the next couple of seasons then that's something serious to consider. Some players want to get rich and play at big clubs, but just playing at big clubs and being rich isn't a very long lasting legacy. Maybe it's fighting with a plucky team to create an amazing story of progression that makes the rest of Europe sit up and wonder that would leave the legacy. tl;dr no one is going to remember the 2nd choice centre back at atletico madrid, or the 2nd choice midfielder at liverpool or the 2nd or 3rd choice centre back of liverpool when they look back at this era and the stand out players and performances. They will probably remember the world beating (relative to what is expected of us) Southampton squad under Ronald Koeman though. Much like Blackburn and their squad is remembered.

I mean Liverpool teams. And Also, correction, apparently they lost 5-1 t home to Coventry in 92. Still, the worst scoreline at the moment.

I gave up looking when I got to like 1987 but Liverpool haven't conceded 5 goals in a league game at least since 1986. So well done Rodgers, you've shipped the most goals in a game than any Liverpool manager in the PL era, and god knows how far back it goes until you find a team that shifted that many in the first half

There is some outstanding football taking place at the Britannia. Really really outstanding performances and it sets to be an outstanding result. I have to sat, if we do lose this, to Man City (so lets not moan too much as they're playing well and I mean come on, it's Man City) it's nice to already be drinking the consolation tonic in the form of the outstanding happenings at the Britannia. Now for Everton to get an equaliser and perk up after half-time... and maybe us to do the same?

Now that is very nice.

Any idea if they'll reveal the away kit at our last match? Either by wearing it or otherwise?

Yeah I think this is on likely to be on the money. Wonder if we ever find out the real reason. It would be interesting to see if he actually does get out as well. How far is he willing to go to get away. Suarez tried pretty hard and didn't manage it.

This all the way. If we don't win we don't get a thing. If we do win, who knows. It's very exciting to have such a huge game at the end of the season! Who'd have predicted we'd be right in the mix for fifth come the last game at the beginning of the season, or to be honest, even at the end of last season before anyone left!

I'd prefer a permanent switch to the Keegan number that would be sweet

True but... apart from the Villa game Gazza has not been that great and none of us have had much confidence in him. KD is the more experienced by a mile and will marshal the defence and organise the defence for set pieces better. He has more authority and the players will feel more secure with him behind. So actually I would say for this game, KD would be a perfectly fine. Either way, it's going to be a hell of a ride on the last weekend, but for once, not about our safety but about European qualification from league position!! We could even finish 5th!!! That is so mad! Bring. It. On!

Were you in Chapel? Because there was a bloke behind me doing that too. He'd also keep clapping about 5 claps after everyone else, every time we all clapped. It was amazing!

Well it doesn't have to be sports direct (or maybe it does as its the biggest chain) but yeah I definitely think they would be shifted now we've gained more of a reputation in the league. We're a comfy mid-table pusher, like Swansea, who most neutrals in the league will have a soft spot for and be up for watching as we play attractive football (if someone could remind the players for the last couple of games that would be great) and can give the big boys a game when we play well (again, players, someone remind). A plucky underdog against the biggest teams. Plus, the Saints fans who live round the country would buy the shirts as they wouldn't be able to get to the saints shop, and may not want to pay delivery costs, but if its right there they can get them. I really hope they get rolled out nationwide, we'd probably sell more than we think we would. And even if we don't make loads of extra money on them, every little helps, and it gets our branding and our colours out and about in other parts of the country. Besides there are people who start watching football all the time and choose a team to follow based on what they like rather then where they're from, and why not Saints, and if Saints, they'd maybe like a shirt!

I reckon if you put a handful of the popular sizes in each sports direct up and down the country you'd shift em. Not loads, but I reckon you'd see them go if you had a few of each. You gotta start somewhere!

That was amazing! Loved the dig at Pochettino by saying his name wrong "Paccino brought it in last year" and the players did a really good job. Very funny, that hit the spot for me our media team get better and better!

This.

Jonathan Walters looks like a Stoke support wearing a Stoke shirt rather than an athlete just because if the way the picture has been edited I think

I think this pre-season could be vital. After their first season together the whole squad should be better at playing together and a proper pre-season, no longer as newbies, will really help. Mane didn't have a pre-season with us remember, he joined right at the end of the window.

If we could just get that Waitrose sponsorship off of Reading and we'd pretty much be there yeah!

How on earth that works I have no idea. There's really a £120K house that is worth £900 a week in rent?? If you mean month then sure. But week? I severely doubt that.

Good first half I would say. Took a little time to get under steam and to adjust to Stoke's game to begin with, which is understandable, and then I think bar the few really silly mistakes (miss-hit passes, falling onto the ball etc) we've played very well. Good defense, some clever defending in places Yoshida included. I think if we can iron out the mistakes after half time, we should be on course for this one. But lets just see how we go. Close attempt from Pelle too which was good to see, real shame he was just outside!

Just got a brand new with tags home shirt off of ebay. The guy selling them has a few left in various sizes (inc. M, L, XL). Really chuffed I found that actually as I missed the 50% off shirts in my size from the club. Just a heads up as someone said they were struggling to find a shirt from this season.

This all the way. If they finish the season on top top form like they started, then we're golden and anything's possible.

And Liverpool. They are a game in hand, two points behind, with Newcastle (quaking boots and all that) to play. I think if nothing else, it's going to be a really exciting end to the season. We are definitely still in it, if you were to ask Pellegrini after this match (if they lose) then yes, he would say we're a threat. But we're not likely to do it. But as Pastor says, Pelle and Tadic's respective forms will be crucial. If we end the season how we started... then who knows