Wouldn't it be nice if the Football Gods gave us a break?

[Secret Site Agent]

Wouldn't it be nice if:

- Leeds, Leicester and Ipswich fluff their lines

- We beat Leicester with the final goal an own goal by Jaime Fucking Vardy

-We have Alex McCarthy in goal and he turns in a season beating 4 games with 4 clean sheets

-Adam Armstrong gets a few more goals and assists to top both of the leagues, (and shit on not being in the Team of the season)

-People talk about Saints, the 24 games unbeaten, the running back up the league at the last knocking.

-We finally win a league to go up.

 

But the pessimist in me just knows that if we do achieve the above, just to have the commentators in our first game back in the Premier saying none of this, and mentioning the 9-0 losses.

 

It's a roller-coaster of a ride, being a Saints Supporter. 

 

OK, my little bundles of pessimism and Half Empty glasses, over to you.

 

 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Saints often have to suffer for their beliefs, so I'll not be getting my hopes up.

That said, we've dropped points when absolutely dominating games, and easily look to be the most controlled team in the league.

All the others will be having their meltdowns as their form rises and dips. Leeds and Leicester will be wishing they weren't up against us, to reach their own promotions.

If not straight up, then we'll be one of the strongest going into a play off.

[SNSUN]

It's Sunday 26th May. Eager and excited Saints fans head up on trains in their droves from Southampton Central to Waterloo. Trains are buzzing with noise from young and old, alcohol is flowing, red and white scarves being swung above heads. At Waterloo the giant Brewdog is pumping. Tubes are packed as Saints fans make their way to Wembley. The atmosphere is electric. Literally tens of thousands have made the trip, a full allocation has been taken for Wembley stadium but even fans without tickets have made the journey just to experience the day. 

Inside the stadium both ends fill up slowly, flags waved aloft excited heads. Across from Saints fans are West Brom fans, delighted after their two legged victory over 4th placed Leicester who capitulated in the Semis. The stadium finally full, the players head out on to the pitch for the warm up. Noise, so much noise. "Oh When The Saints" rings out the loudest. The final is finally here.

The players head back on to the pitch after the final team talks. Saints players look confident. The joyous nature of the fans turns to nerves as the referee put the whistle to his lips. He blows. The game begins and the cheers echo around the ground, heard from as far away as Neasden.

Saints start positively. Possession based football means Saints control the game in the initial stages. There are chances for both sides but a great performance from both Goalkeepers means the sides go in at half time all square.

In the concourses conversation between strangers is rife. There are nerves but there is still plenty of excitement. Has Russ made the right call with the team? 

The second half begins. WBA push Saints and finally break the deadlock with Thomas-Asante getting a corner from a header. The Saints fans get behind their team, roaring them on. This is a one off game and everything is at stake. The players heads don't drop. They know. They know.

80 minutes on the clock and Wee Man, on as a sub, whips a ball in which is dealt with badly by WBA. The ball bounces out to Smallbone...BANG! The equaliser! There is tumultuous applause around the ground and cheering. Throats are hoarse but Saints fans keep singing.

Saints push. WBA begin to tire. Russ decides to make his last two subs, on come Ross Stewart and Kamaldeen Sulemana. It's the last roll of the dice.

The clock ticks past the 90 minute mark. Fans are preparing for extra time but nobody is leaving the stands. Russ is waving the team up the pitch.

Harwood-Bellis finds time on the ball and sees Sulemana making a run. He picks out the perfect cross field ball diagonally straight into the path of the fresh legs of Kamaldeen. He controls it first time and starts dribbling. He runs, and runs, and run. Saints fans roar him on, the hair stands on the back of necks. He reaches the edge of the area and keeps going. There's a shimmy and... WHAM. He's brought down. Half of Wembley screams at the ref, but he's already made his decision. Penalty. 

AA has been subbed. Ross Stewart in true striker fashion grabs the ball. The stadium volume dips. The ball is on the spot. Ross looks only at the ball. The ref blows his whistle. He runs up... BANG! Top left hand corner. Saints are winning!

Literally two minutes of incessant Saints possession later and the ref blows the final whistle. Game over! In the stands, the Saints fans tumble over one another in celebration. Southampton Football Club win the richest game in English club football and are promoted to the Premier League as play off winners. Russ runs on to the pitch and applauds the noisy Saints fans. The players hug each other. Harwood-Bellis kisses the badge of the shirt he will be playing in next season. 

Post game Saints fans fill the bars and pubs with cheering and celebration. The party starts now. 

 

(Meanwhile I'll be at work watching the game on a tiny iPad Mini hoping not to be bothered by anyone.)

[rooney]

Cor that is motivational SNSUN. You should be giving the team talk.😀

[saintant]

12 hours ago, SNSUN said:

It's Sunday 26th May. Eager and excited Saints fans head up on trains in their droves from Southampton Central to Waterloo. Trains are buzzing with noise from young and old, alcohol is flowing, red and white scarves being swung above heads. At Waterloo the giant Brewdog is pumping. Tubes are packed as Saints fans make their way to Wembley. The atmosphere is electric. Literally tens of thousands have made the trip, a full allocation has been taken for Wembley stadium but even fans without tickets have made the journey just to experience the day. 

Inside the stadium both ends fill up slowly, flags waved aloft excited heads. Across from Saints fans are West Brom fans, delighted after their two legged victory over 4th placed Leicester who capitulated in the Semis. The stadium finally full, the players head out on to the pitch for the warm up. Noise, so much noise. "Oh When The Saints" rings out the loudest. The final is finally here.

The players head back on to the pitch after the final team talks. Saints players look confident. The joyous nature of the fans turns to nerves as the referee put the whistle to his lips. He blows. The game begins and the cheers echo around the ground, heard from as far away as Neasden.

Saints start positively. Possession based football means Saints control the game in the initial stages. There are chances for both sides but a great performance from both Goalkeepers means the sides go in at half time all square.

In the concourses conversation between strangers is rife. There are nerves but there is still plenty of excitement. Has Russ made the right call with the team? 

The second half begins. WBA push Saints and finally break the deadlock with Thomas-Asante getting a corner from a header. The Saints fans get behind their team, roaring them on. This is a one off game and everything is at stake. The players heads don't drop. They know. They know.

80 minutes on the clock and Wee Man, on as a sub, whips a ball in which is dealt with badly by WBA. The ball bounces out to Smallbone...BANG! The equaliser! There is tumultuous applause around the ground and cheering. Throats are hoarse but Saints fans keep singing.

Saints push. WBA begin to tire. Russ decides to make his last two subs, on come Ross Stewart and Kamaldeen Sulemana. It's the last roll of the dice.

The clock ticks past the 90 minute mark. Fans are preparing for extra time but nobody is leaving the stands. Russ is waving the team up the pitch.

Harwood-Bellis finds time on the ball and sees Sulemana making a run. He picks out the perfect cross field ball diagonally straight into the path of the fresh legs of Kamaldeen. He controls it first time and starts dribbling. He runs, and runs, and run. Saints fans roar him on, the hair stands on the back of necks. He reaches the edge of the area and keeps going. There's a shimmy and... WHAM. He's brought down. Half of Wembley screams at the ref, but he's already made his decision. Penalty. 

AA has been subbed. Ross Stewart in true striker fashion grabs the ball. The stadium volume dips. The ball is on the spot. Ross looks only at the ball. The ref blows his whistle. He runs up... BANG! Top left hand corner. Saints are winning!

Literally two minutes of incessant Saints possession later and the ref blows the final whistle. Game over! In the stands, the Saints fans tumble over one another in celebration. Southampton Football Club win the richest game in English club football and are promoted to the Premier League as play off winners. Russ runs on to the pitch and applauds the noisy Saints fans. The players hug each other. Harwood-Bellis kisses the badge of the shirt he will be playing in next season. 

Post game Saints fans fill the bars and pubs with cheering and celebration. The party starts now. 

 

(Meanwhile I'll be at work watching the game on a tiny iPad Mini hoping not to be bothered by anyone.)

It was all fairly believable until I came to the bit which stated 'Sulemana controls the ball first time'

[Doctoroncall]

1 hour ago, saintant said:

It was all fairly believable until I came to the bit which stated 'Sulemana controls the ball first time'

That’s the problem with ChatGBT, it needs verification of the results. 

[SNSUN]

10 hours ago, saintant said:

It was all fairly believable until I came to the bit which stated 'Sulemana controls the ball first time'

I went with the two players who need to justify their price tags the most! Both get us promoted, both end up being money well spent!

[Holmes_and_Watson]

I'm delighted that we went/ will go up, but have to admit that it's a little flat now I know exactly how it happened/ happens. 🙂