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The Run-in: Remaining Games; All Teams


.comsaint

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For the momentous 1000th Post. Why is everybody predicting a defeat against Brighton, They let 3 goals in from Dagenham and Redbridge for gods sake, yes Dagenham and Redbridge, I am sure on a good day our defence is much better than the Daggers, Brighton are away for winning the title on Saturday against Walsall, and will want to put a good showing against us when they play at home possibly as Champions for the first match, that will mean they will not want to sit in defence all game and will open up the play allowing us to play our style, thus giving a good chance of a draw or victory

 

For those of you with little faith I am glad I was proved right

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I reckon 7 points from our last 4 games will see us finnish 2nd. 6 points will maybe be enough.

 

Huddersfield have 2 easy home games on paper, but I have a sneaky feeling they're gonna come unstuck at home to Dag and Red.

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The wisest thing to assume now is that Huddersfield will push us to the wire.

 

But it could, just could, be a lot easier than that.

 

Presumably, Peterborough and MK Dons are now preparing for the play offs. They will now rest players who have a knock or niggle, one would think.

 

I think if we can open daylight between us and Huddersfield, they may start to do the same.

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Huddersfield have the worst home record out of any of the teams in the top six so i believe they will draw at least one at home. Maybe today.

I reckon 7 points from our last 4 games will see us finnish 2nd. 6 points will maybe be enough.

 

Huddersfield have 2 easy home games on paper, but I have a sneaky feeling they're gonna come unstuck at home to Dag and Red.

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1 Brighton & Hove Albion 43 17 4 1 52 19 11 5 5 29 16 46 93

2 Southampton 42 14 4 3 39 12 10 4 7 36 24 39 80

3 Huddersfield Town 43 11 7 3 32 16 12 4 6 36 25 27 80

4 Peterborough United 44 14 4 3 62 38 9 4 10 36 33 27 77

5 Milton Keynes Dons 43 13 5 4 33 22 8 3 10 30 35 6 71

6 AFC Bournemouth 43 12 5 4 44 21 6 8 8 26 28 21 67

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The ideal scenario would be us 3 points ahead with a 10 goal better goal difference going into the Wallsall game. That'd set the whole occssion up for a big party throughout. Not guarenteed to finnish 2nd, but we'd all know it was really.

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If anyone does not allow for that scenario, then they will be in for a shock. Huddersfield WILL win that game.

 

Yeah - I must admit, I've got them down for a win in that one too. Brighton have lost that ''edge'' and Huddersfield have everything to lose....only one winner. We just need to make sure we do the biz.

 

Fair play to Huddersfield though, I honestly didn't see it getting this far! I thought they'd drop some points in their games at Charlton and MK Dons...

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Match Huddersfields result away at Brighton with either of ours at Brentford or Plymouth

Match thier result home to Brentford with our home game at Walsall and we are UP unless a very unlikely reversal of goal difference takes place in these matches giving them a 14 goal swing!

 

Our task is just to match them out of their remaining games!

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My prediction:

 

Both matches will be drawn on Saturday.

 

We will then lose to Plymouth, leaving us to clinch 2nd place at home on the last day of the season in front of a full house.

 

Any other scenario just wouldn't be the Saints I know and love so much.

 

;)

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My predictions:

 

Southampton:

 

Brentford (a) Saints will win this, Brentford, though tough opposition, have nothing to play for.

Plymouth (a) A draw here IMO. Plymouth are still fighting for their lives, and will be tough opposition. Remember their position is false.

Walsall (h) It depends how truthful my predictions are but we could go into this needing nothing, but if not we should win fairly easily. Win.

 

Huddersfield :

 

Brighton (a) I reckon they'll draw this. Brighton will still want 100 points, and it's their last game at the Withdean, but Huddersfield will fight.

Brentford (h) They'll win this fairly easily IMO.

 

So, it comes down to Huddersfield's result against Brighton. A draw for them will mean we could be up against Plymouth. (Although if we manage a draw against Plymouth as per my prediction, we'll still need a point against Walsall to be mathmatically safe, though goal difference should see us through.)

 

Ergo, after all that, I think our superior goal difference will have a massive part to play in us getting second, unless we really do go and win all three games...

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Its very close indeed. Huddersfield could still edge it, although the play offs would not be a disaster.

 

Be interesting to see how Hudds supporters see things.

 

I don't think it's THAT close. Lets assume we'll beat Walsall (we have won the last 8 in a row at home so it has to be expected) so that leaves us needing one win from Brentford and Plymouth away, which I don't think is that unlikely.

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Brentford have nothing to play for and Plymouth will have to come and attack us needing 3 points to stay up. Both of these factors will work in our favour. Hopefully Walsall will be either relegated or need 3 points when they come to SMS, meaning they wont just park the bus in front of the goal.

 

Brighton... just depends how badly they want the 100 points and how petulant Poyet wants to be. Brentford at home is a home banker, but hopefully we will be up by then.

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I think Huddersfield will pick up all 6 pts in their last 2. Sadly I think we'll only get 4 pts from the last 3 games. As I've feared all season, if we don't go up automatically we won't go up at all. I still think we'll f*ck this up and end up losing the play off final. :-(

 

Bloomin' 'eck, you make Alpine look optimistic...

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I think Huddersfield will pick up all 6 pts in their last 2. Sadly I think we'll only get 4 pts from the last 3 games. As I've feared all season, if we don't go up automatically we won't go up at all. I still think we'll f*ck this up and end up losing the play off final. :-(

 

Try prozac dude.

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Put yourself in Hudds shoes, their only realistic option is to get maximum points in the remaining two - if we think they are relentless in winning, they think the same about us and we have the extra game. They will be under just as much pressure - one scenario that nobody has mentioned is they lose their final two games making it academic what we do from here on in.

 

Think we should just sit back and enjoy the ride.......

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I think Huddersfield will pick up all 6 pts in their last 2. Sadly I think we'll only get 4 pts from the last 3 games. As I've feared all season, if we don't go up automatically we won't go up at all. I still think we'll f*ck this up and end up losing the play off final. :-(

What a little ray of sunshine you are... Or how about, Brighton beat Hudds, we beat Brentford = promotion!

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I liked Adkins comments about brighton probably playing the youth team against Huddersfield. Nice bit of psycology there - be interesting to see if a rattled Poyet does this or goes for the win. He should be wanting the win because invariably how you finnish a season is how you start a season and if they were to lose at home again they'd have reason to doubt themselves over the summer.

 

If we get back up I can see it getting very amusing with them and Pompey in the same league. Nigel Adkins has shown he enjoys the banter so you just know he's gonna ruffle some feathers with his mind games.

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I liked Adkins comments about brighton probably playing the youth team against Huddersfield. Nice bit of psycology there - be interesting to see if a rattled Poyet does this or goes for the win. He should be wanting the win because invariably how you finnish a season is how you start a season and if they were to lose at home again they'd have reason to doubt themselves over the summer.

 

If we get back up I can see it getting very amusing with them and Pompey in the same league. Nigel Adkins has shown he enjoys the banter so you just know he's gonna ruffle some feathers with his mind games.

 

I think Brighton will try for 100 points now that we beat them; it's their last home game, Poyet will want to cement what a manager he is. So it's better for us that Huddersfield is the first of their last two games. 1-0 Brighton.

I believe we'll see the job done on Saturday 3-1 Saints.

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For the Huddersfield game Brighton have Greer back from suspension, which looking at the debacle that was their defending against Colchester is probably a good thing. They also, as suspected, gave a few fringe players a run out in that game. Whilst they were up for it against us, they were very much on the beach for Colchester - and Poyet's "well it doesn't matter now" type comments had encouraged it. I suspect they'll be more up for the last game at the Withdean against another one of the top sides that they haven't beaten yet.

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Poyet could affect the Brighton-Huddersfiled result by playing a weakened side but he can't tell players to throw a game, or even not to try too hard. Whoever he selects, his team will go out to win, and if the Albion fans thought the manager or the team were not trying to win against Huddersfield, they'd feel insulted. But its not going to happen, for Poyet and Brighton, the Saints game is over, it makes no difference to them who goes up with them and they will not want another home defeat. But Huddersfield could be too good for them so get ready for the conspiracy theories if Udders do win it. As for Saints, of course we don't care if we get promoted because of another team's failure but trheree wiull be more pride in doing it ourselves without any help from Brighton. Two wins out of three, please.

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Poyet could affect the Brighton-Huddersfield result by playing a weakened side but he can't tell players to throw a game...

 

I believe Poyet's psychology will mean he will want to win this game, and badly. He was to an extent humiliated by our win there (and his silly remarks afterwards), so I reckon he'll go all out for the 100 points, and beat Huddersfield. But it won't be pretty, and I wouldn't be surprised to see at least one red card in the game.

Edited by hughieslastminutegoal
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For the Huddersfield game Brighton have Greer back from suspension, which looking at the debacle that was their defending against Colchester is probably a good thing. They also, as suspected, gave a few fringe players a run out in that game. Whilst they were up for it against us, they were very much on the beach for Colchester - and Poyet's "well it doesn't matter now" type comments had encouraged it. I suspect they'll be more up for the last game at the Withdean against another one of the top sides that they haven't beaten yet.

 

After watching those Colchester highlights, I am not sure Brighton are able to get back to their normal standards whether they want to or not. Losing Murray is a big blow to them and after holding your concentration and discipline for so long through a season, it's not as simple as being able to switch it back on. Everything I have seen and heard makes me believe we put up a decent performance at Brighton, what I am not sure of is how effective Brighton were in comparison to their pre celebrations.

 

I feel Huddersfield will win their remaining games upon everything I have seen so far, though their form is as not as good as their results of late. If they don't it's as good as over anyway. To me everything rests with the Brentford game, our performance and theirs. If Brentford continue to put in recent performances, I don't see a repeat of their St Mary's result. But if they get up for this game and we go in with the team we started against Hartlepool, I feel we could be in trouble. Start with that midfield we had against Brighton and I feel the odds will be with us.

 

I can't remember being so paranoid over an end of season, even in all the relegation years. Maybe it's because I just see disaster if forced into the play off's and the effect that will have mentally on the team. Equally with Huddersfield should they go down that route. I really feel our fate is in our own hands and if we picked the right players and formation it would be a formality. My big fear is that Adkins will have too much talent at his disposal and we end up with that unbalanced fookin diamond. No problem at home to Hartlepool, another away to someone who digs their heels in.

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After watching those Colchester highlights, I am not sure Brighton are able to get back to their normal standards whether they want to or not. Losing Murray is a big blow to them and after holding your concentration and discipline for so long through a season, it's not as simple as being able to switch it back on. Everything I have seen and heard makes me believe we put up a decent performance at Brighton, what I am not sure of is how effective Brighton were in comparison to their pre celebrations.

 

I feel Huddersfield will win their remaining games upon everything I have seen so far, though their form is as not as good as their results of late. If they don't it's as good as over anyway. To me everything rests with the Brentford game, our performance and theirs. If Brentford continue to put in recent performances, I don't see a repeat of their St Mary's result. But if they get up for this game and we go in with the team we started against Hartlepool, I feel we could be in trouble. Start with that midfield we had against Brighton and I feel the odds will be with us.

 

I can't remember being so paranoid over an end of season, even in all the relegation years. Maybe it's because I just see disaster if forced into the play off's and the effect that will have mentally on the team. Equally with Huddersfield should they go down that route. I really feel our fate is in our own hands and if we picked the right players and formation it would be a formality. My big fear is that Adkins will have too much talent at his disposal and we end up with that unbalanced fookin diamond. No problem at home to Hartlepool, another away to someone who digs their heels in.

 

I watched the whole thing live in the pub, they were absolute comedy gash for about an hour, but somehow dragged a point out of it even after playing terribly poorly for all that time. Greer coming back will give them stability, and hopefully they'll be trying to make the point to Huddersfield about their amazing passing football that they have so far failed to make in the 4 matches I've seen them in this season (the obvious 2, the Stoke FA Cup match I went to when our Rochdale match was called off, and Colchester on the box).

 

That's not to say that just because they've been cack every time I've seen them that their timewasting and hoofing up the line to Elliott Bennett won't work, it clearly has on plenty of other occasions.

 

Also, we didn't use the diamond against Hartlepool, Guly and Lallana/Forte played conventionally wide.

Edited by The9
"watches"
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Yes we did.

 

When Chaplow came on in the 69th minute, Saints switched to a diamond with Lallana behind the front two and Stephens sitting in front of the defence.

 

Can't say I noticed, but then I'm not sure I watched anything other than my phone from the time we scored until the moment Huddersfield failed to concede. :)

 

Come to think of it, I forgot Guly went off as well.

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