Relegation 19/20

[Dusic]

So, first Intl break, usually a good time to reflect on the start of the season having seen what each team has to offer over more than 10% of the season.

 

Having been in a relegation scrap the last two seasons - who looks likely to be involved this time around?

 

I think its a tough one, with lots of teams of a similar level but nobody who is absolute dross like Huddersfield and Fulham were.

 

Promoted Teams:

 

Sheff Utd - decent enough start and certainly no whipping boys. Will be involved in the scrap but have a decent chance to stay up.

 

Norwich - similar. Concede too many goals but capable of scoring and play some nice football. Will be involved for sure.

 

Villa - have lots of good players but not sure where the goals will come from. If they find a goalscorer they could be comfortably safe. If not they will be in it.

 

Strugglers from last Season:

 

Saints - decent start points wise but iffy performances. Will be bottom third most likely but surely are better equipped than the last two seasons?

 

Brighton - style improved but as always not a prolific team goals wise. Could go either way.

 

Burnley - will be the same as always. Poor but effective in both boxes. Have goalscorers and a generally solid defence, plus strong home record. Will be safe IMO.

 

Palace - Already top half, good side away from home and in Zaha have a matchwinner. Some good, experienced PL players.Will probably have enough.

 

Newcastle - Shambles but seem to pick up results when they most need it.

 

Possible droppers from last season:

 

Watford - not a good start and Manager under pressure. Have a lot of PL experienced players but a bit flaky. One to watch perhaps if they struggle in the next few games.

 

Bournemouth - too much going forward to be in trouble even if their defence is permanently awful. May be involved at stages but not come the end of the season.

 

Wolves - tough fixtures to start and Europa to contend with. May not do as well as last year but no relegation danger.

 

Man Utd - will be pleased with their point against fellow struggers Saints, especially after losing to Palace. Should just about have enough to avoid the drop.

 

Overall

 

Very tough to call this season. Hard to believe Saints will be too far clear from the fight and almost certainly at some stage we will be under threat, as will most of the bottom half.

 

Would be good if someome goes on a terrible run, and the promoted teams struggle.

 

If pushed: Norwich, Sheff Utd and Newcastle

 

[RedArmy]

Palace better hope they get enough points on the board before Zaha inevitably leaves in January.

 

Take away the result at Old Trafford and they’ve been very very average. They held on against 10 men Everton, struggled to hold on against 10 men villa who were robbed by a ridiculous decision and got beat by Sheff Utd.

[Batman]

Palace better hope they get enough points on the board before Zaha inevitably leaves in January.

 

Take away the result at Old Trafford and they’ve been very very average. They held on against 10 men Everton, struggled to hold on against 10 men villa who were robbed by a ridiculous decision and got beat by Sheff Utd.

You have seen us this season, right?

[OldNick]

You have seen us this season, right?

Have you?? I havent apart from the highlights. We are a big project and it will take 3 seasons for Ralph to turn it around, whether he will stay that long is another thing!

[Heisenberg]

The next 3 games for us are absolutely HUGE. Sheffield United Away, AFCB Home and Pompey Away

 

Need Wins/Points/Goals and confidence from those 3 as the following 7 fixtures do not look great for us -

 

Tottenham Hotspur A

Chelsea H

Wolverhampton Wanderers A

Leicester City H

Manchester City A

Everton H

Arsenal A

[RedArmy]

You have seen us this season, right?

You know more than 1 team gets relegated don’t you?

[Give it to Ron]

You have seen us this season, right?

 

Deserved a draw versus Liverpool, beat Brighton, drew with Man Utd with player of season out we are 2 points up on this stage teams from last season.

We are not playing well yet but let’s see at end of September.

Injuries may hamper us need Bertrand back asap

 

 

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[Give it to Ron]

Deserved a draw versus Liverpool, beat Brighton, drew with Man Utd with player of season out we are points up on this stage teams from last season.

We are not playing well yet but let’s see at end of September.

Injuries may hamper us need Bertrand back asap

 

 

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[Saint_Tony]

Looks a stronger division than last year. There doesn't seem to be any completely hopeless sides this time. We've looked OK in parts, but Ralph has inherited a mentally fragile squad, and I just think we will come up short in the games where we need points such as sheff Utd next up. Wouldn't be surprised to see us bottom within the next few weeks.

 

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[lickierambert]

Watford have Arsenal, Man City and Wolves their next 3 games. If they don't win any of those 3 that'll be no win before October and full panic stations

 

Friend of mine went to West Ham on Saturday and Norwich looked really poor apparently

[Tamesaint]

You have seen us this season, right?

 

Do you still think that we will "clearly" get relegated this year ?

[Dark Munster]

The next 3 games for us are absolutely HUGE. Sheffield United Away, AFCB Home and Pompey Away

 

Need Wins/Points/Goals and confidence from those 3 as the following 7 fixtures do not look great for us -

 

Tottenham Hotspur A

Chelsea H

Wolverhampton Wanderers A

Leicester City H

Manchester City A

Everton H

Arsenal A

That is a nasty run of fixtures. But if we can scrape 5 or 6 points from them (and 4 from the next 2) we'll emerge with 13 or 14 points from our first 13 matches, having played all of the big 6. It'll be all smooth sailing after that!

[Dalek2003]

I made my prediction of 15tth before the first game of this season. I expect to be right as I was in the last two seasons.

[trousers]

I made my prediction of 15tth before the first game of this season. I expect to be right as I was in the last two seasons.

It's a sad day for the forum when this routine now gets no bites whatsoever

[saintmatt]

It's a sad day for the forum when this routine now gets no bites whatsoever

 

When did it change from 17th?

[Chewy]

In response to the OP I think a reasonable assessment except that I think Norwich are screwed. Lovely attacking football, but last year it seemed as if every week they scored a late winner in a 3-2 win. In the premier league they'll lose all of those games. I like their mentality but give them no hope. With the other two promoted sides, as ever it really depends on how long the promotion bounce lasts. It served Huddersfield well a couple of years back. So far it looks like sheff Utd have more of it than villa, but we're in league one a couple of seasons back so you'd think the lack of quality will be telling over a season.

 

In terms of the Europa league effect, fair on wolves and Watford, but I think you're forgetting how much it damaged Burnley last season. They're ugly but without Europe are in no danger this season IMHO.

 

And lastly, while I think it's a real stretch to say they're in the relegation mix, I think Everton will continue to disappoint the pundits. Silva is overrated, they vastly underperformed last season and have lost their best player in Gueye. Won't take too many poor results for the pressure to be heaped on.

 

Fwiw I think Norwich, sheff u and Newcastle with Brighton and villa next most likely. Another couple of bad weeks for Watford and I might revise that! I reckon we'll be 13th - 15th.

[Dalek2003]

It's a sad day for the forum when this routine now gets no bites whatsoever

 

Because it is a statement that is factually correct, so why would it be challenged?

[Charlie Wayman]

The next 3 games for us are absolutely HUGE. Sheffield United Away, AFCB Home and Pompey Away

 

Need Wins/Points/Goals and confidence from those 3 as the following 7 fixtures do not look great for us -

 

Tottenham Hotspur A

Chelsea H

Wolverhampton Wanderers A

Leicester City H

Manchester City A

Everton H

Arsenal A

 

Quite ridiculous for you to start panicking yet, as long as we pick up a point per match we'll be fine and we are doing that already.

[Charlie Wayman]

Who's going down?

 

Newcastle, Bournemouth & Sheff U

[Dusic]

Palace and Burnley have had good starts. Brighton playing well but struggling to convert it into wins.

 

Newcastle solid enough but lacking goals. Norwich look quite open but Sheff Utd and Villa seem decent sides.

 

Would think its very likely we will be in the relegation mix unless we have a month where we pick up 10 or 12 points.

 

IMO there are 3 worse teams than us attacking wise but at the back we are probably amongst the three poorest sides, and yet again failed to strengthen this area in the summer.

 

Overall we are easily in the bottom 6.

 

Will be another tight one.

[saint97]

Sheffield United, Norwich and Newcastle to go down imo.

 

Think we'll just have enough.. again. But still another season of dire football

[HarvSFC]

January will be decisive again, and we don’t usually do anything in January.

[Dusic]

Looking bleak and not picked a good season to be truely terrible as few other sides are, which is different to previous years.

 

Its looking hard to even mention anyone else apart from Saints, Norwich and Watford.

 

Sheff Utd, Burnley, Palace, Newcastle and Brighton all have at least 7 points more than us.

 

Of the sides below them: Spurs, Everton, Man Utd, Wolves, West Ham and Villa its only really possible to see Villa go down but they look fairly decent to me and could have more points by the end of the day. West Ham an outside shot but surely too much quality.

 

We are going to need to micraculously improve as well as hope one or two others implode.

 

It looks the most likely we have been for relegation since probably the day of the Swansea game under Hughes.

[Heisenberg]

Quite ridiculous for you to start panicking yet, as long as we pick up a point per match we'll be fine and we are doing that already.

 

Is it OK now?

[austsaint]

Looking bleak and not picked a good season to be truely terrible as few other sides are, which is different to previous years.

 

Its looking hard to even mention anyone else apart from Saints, Norwich and Watford.

 

Sheff Utd, Burnley, Palace, Newcastle and Brighton all have at least 7 points more than us.

 

Of the sides below them: Spurs, Everton, Man Utd, Wolves, West Ham and Villa its only really possible to see Villa go down but they look fairly decent to me and could have more points by the end of the day. West Ham an outside shot but surely too much quality.

 

We are going to need to micraculously improve as well as hope one or two others implode.

 

It looks the most likely we have been for relegation since probably the day of the Swansea game under Hughes.

 

You've summed it up well. It's hard to see how we can escape relegation - my faintly hopeful glimmer is Ralph entrusting four attacking players...Djenpo, Ings, Boufal and Redmond; trusting Romeu and PEH in midfield - playing specialist full backs and including Danso as one of the two CBs....McCarthy in Goal. Players like Armstrong, Obafemi, JWP on the bench at best.

[Mr X]

You've summed it up well. It's hard to see how we can escape relegation - my faintly hopeful glimmer is Ralph entrusting four attacking players...Djenpo, Ings, Boufal and Redmond; trusting Romeu and PEH in midfield - playing specialist full backs and including Danso as one of the two CBs....McCarthy in Goal. Players like Armstrong, Obafemi, JWP on the bench at best.

This would be exactly the right way to approach things why can Ralph not see this!

 

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[Nordic Saint]

You've summed it up well. It's hard to see how we can escape relegation - my faintly hopeful glimmer is Ralph entrusting four attacking players...Djenpo, Ings, Boufal and Redmond; trusting Romeu and PEH in midfield - playing specialist full backs and including Danso as one of the two CBs....McCarthy in Goal. Players like Armstrong, Obafemi, JWP on the bench at best.

 

Agreed. You should be selecting our team! The danger now is tht Ralph is going to keep picking JWP & Vestergaard & mess about with the full back positions until it's too late. Managers often get hoodwinked by how players perform in training, when the pace and pressure is not so intense. Presumably, that's where JWP and Vestergaard look good.

[Morse]

You've summed it up well. It's hard to see how we can escape relegation - my faintly hopeful glimmer is Ralph entrusting four attacking players...Djenpo, Ings, Boufal and Redmond; trusting Romeu and PEH in midfield - playing specialist full backs and including Danso as one of the two CBs....McCarthy in Goal. Players like Armstrong, Obafemi, JWP on the bench at best.

 

I agree too. Seems like a rare moment of mong board unity. So if we can all see what needs doing why the **** cant Ralph

[Doctoroncall]

First time since our return to the top flight I think we are in real danger of going down.

 

With the Gao lies, the January transfer window will pass without any players/staff to address our deficiencies so it’s down to what the squad is now.

 

It seems Norwich and us will fight it out for bottom place and there will be a fight for 18th place which will hamper any revival.

 

Newcastle, West Ham, Watford and perhaps Palace will fight it out for that place.

[hypochondriac]

First time since our return to the top flight I think we are in real danger of going down.

 

With the Gao lies, the January transfer window will pass without any players/staff to address our deficiencies so it’s down to what the squad is now.

 

It seems Norwich and us will fight it out for bottom place and there will be a fight for 18th place which will hamper any revival.

 

Newcastle, West Ham, Watford and perhaps Palace will fight it out for that place.

You didn't think we weren't in real danger this time last year? We got away with it last season and the season before but this time we won't get lucky.

[Doctoroncall]

You didn't think we weren't in real danger this time last year? We got away with it last season and the season before but this time we won't get lucky.

 

A combination of good timing of new manager and decent fixture list in both situations which galvanised the squad (new manager) and other factors (Swansea implosion from the pressure, Huddersfield and Cardiff being awful and not scoring enough) that helped.

[hypochondriac]

A combination of good timing of new manager and decent fixture list in both situations which galvanised the squad (new manager) and other factors (Swansea implosion from the pressure, Huddersfield and Cardiff being awful and not scoring enough) that helped.

Yes but before we chucked Hughes you must have thought we were in danger of relegation. I know I did.

[Vancouver Saint]

Cannot see us surviving this season unless three things change:

- we invest in some decent CB's and a goalkeeper in January (what is it with us and goalkeepers?...Gazzaniga now turning good at Spurs)

- we get a truly gifted and inspiring captain on the field (I don't believe PEH or JWP are the answer)

- we start winning games at St Mary's

[SaveloyMush]

McCarthy

 

Valery Bednarek/Stephens Yoshida/Vestergaard Hojbjerg

 

Romeu Danso

 

Boufal Armstrong Djenepo

 

Ings

 

 

Armstrong is the player to drive the ball forward.

 

Danso, whilst we haven't seen enough of him to decide on his footballing skills, is quick, a physical unit and has a killer throw-in.

 

Hojbjerg is a good footballer but, at present at least, is not the midfield general; he makes a reasonable fist of left-back and, crucially, displaces the disgrace that is Ryan Bertrand 2018-19.

 

Cedric should never wear a Saints shirt again; if Valery has another mare, put Stephens at right-back.

 

Adams can come in for Ings at some point. Hopefully a goal will set him on his way.

 

Bo!!ocks to Redmond and Ward-Prowse, last season was a long time ago.

 

Stop p!ssing about with formations and play 4-2-3-1, the players aren't cut out for any other system.

[Saint Fan CaM]

McCarthy

 

Valery Bednarek/Stephens Yoshida/Vestergaard Hojbjerg

 

Romeu Danso

 

Boufal Armstrong Djenepo

 

Ings

 

 

Armstrong is the player to drive the ball forward.

 

Danso, whilst we haven't seen enough of him to decide on his footballing skills, is quick, a physical unit and has a killer throw-in.

 

Hojbjerg is a good footballer but, at present at least, is not the midfield general; he makes a reasonable fist of left-back and, crucially, displaces the disgrace that is Ryan Bertrand 2018-19.

 

Cedric should never wear a Saints shirt again; if Valery has another mare, put Stephens at right-back.

 

Adams can come in for Ings at some point. Hopefully a goal will set him on his way.

 

Bo!!ocks to Redmond and Ward-Prowse, last season was a long time ago.

 

Stop p!ssing about with formations and play 4-2-3-1, the players aren't cut out for any other system.

 

I agree with most of this. The only thing I would change is rotating Redmond with Boufal or Djnepo depending on performance. The disturbing thing is this is probably the strongest side we’ve got and that there is very little quality coming off the bench to change a game.

 

I definitely agree that JWP needs to be dropped...he’s just not providing enough defence or attack...and even his fabled dead ball delivery has been poor.

[Kingsbridge Saint]

We are in a shocking mess top to bottom as a club. Riddled with Losers and Wantaways, an invisible and disinterested owner and next to no stewardship or strategy. If Ralph doesn't walk before the end of the season it will be a miracle. If we stay up, even more so. On the pitch stop with the 5 at the back - none of the muppets can defend so why invite the pressure? The way out is 4-2-3-1 with an attacking front 4 and probably JWP or Hoj on the bench each week. Maybe both. Need a new captain too as Hoj and JWP are not leaders.

[danjosaint]

100% this ^^^^ has to be a 4231 but we'd need a new quality acm, dcm and right back

[HarvSFC]

Giving the armband to Ings would make sense. Southampton's his hometown, puts maximum effort in every match, one of our better performers, not just an effort merchant. Hell, he doesn't even seem to get injured anymore. (Okay, I've just jinxed that now)

[Reinhard]

McCarthy

 

Valery Bednarek/Stephens Yoshida/Vestergaard Hojbjerg

 

Romeu Danso

 

Boufal Armstrong Djenepo

 

Ings

 

 

 

No Bednarek, he is a liability in the moment. No marking of men, only marking empty space. A few savings per match but that is what is expected from a CB at least. Remember last game when he was sort of hiding behind the other CBs although we had the ball. Sorry, should not be in the squad right now.

[Nordic Saint]

No Bednarek, he is a liability in the moment. No marking of men, only marking empty space. A few savings per match but that is what is expected from a CB at least. Remember last game when he was sort of hiding behind the other CBs although we had the ball. Sorry, should not be in the squad right now.

 

Vestergaard is more of a liabilty than Bednarek but, let's face it, all of our central defenders are nowadays. I guess, because we have seen so little of Danso so far, we still hope he will be better than the rest.

[Reinhard]

Vestergaard is more of a liabilty than Bednarek but, let's face it, all of our central defenders are nowadays. I guess, because we have seen so little of Danso so far, we still hope he will be better than the rest.

 

i have no realistic hope to see Danso soon. Maybe he is too fast for our defense or too physical and so does not fit into the line .. (ironic)

[Red]

i have no realistic hope to see Danso soon. Maybe he is too fast for our defense or too physical and so does not fit into the line .. (ironic)

 

Naw, he's just not very good. Being fast doesn't mean you are automatically good. Has potential but not the finished item we need now.

[Reinhard]

Naw, he's just not very good. Being fast doesn't mean you are automatically good. Has potential but not the finished item we need now.

 

Yes, but RH does not buy finished items, he buys/borrows players he can develop to higher standard.

[Reinhard]

Vestergaard is more of a liabilty than Bednarek but, let's face it, all of our central defenders are nowadays. I guess, because we have seen so little of Danso so far, we still hope he will be better than the rest.

 

But the last goals happend on Bednarek's side ...

[Red]

But the last goals happend on Bednarek's side ...

 

Don't know why but the saying "One eyed king in the land of the blind!" seems to pop in to mind

[whelk]

Calling it early. Bournemouth going down

[trousers]

Calling it early. Bournemouth going down

We could* be above them by the end of the weekend...

 

(*Yes, I know....counting chickens etc)

 

[whelk]

They’ve only won 7 of last 29 PL games and Ralph gave them our game with that defence

[beatlesaint]

They’ve only won 7 of last 29 PL games and Ralph gave them our game with that defence

 

Is that so? Wow, and Eddie’s changed the style so they don’t even score many now !

[whelk]

And now Ake off with hamstring. Hit hard by injuries. Used to like them but they can fck off back to where belong