Next league games see Brighton v Swansea and WBA v Huddersfield. Someone’s going to lose out there. Cherries also play Newcastle
Someone will lose, but head-to-head matches between relegation sides are, in the aggregate, bad for us. A drawn match sees each team take an average of 1 point apiece; a won match sees that upped to 1.5. As the overall points taken in those matches greatly exceeds the average number of points taken by the strugglers overall, I'd much rather see them all play Leicester or something. Just not at the same time, because it'd be really difficult following the action with eight teams playing one simultaneously.
What we don't want is everyone sharing the points out....we need to win (obv) and pray that 3 teams just fold. We mustn't share our voodoo out....we must decide on the likeliest to go down and give them the evil eye and ignore if other possible relegation candidates pull away. We only need 3.
I’d be happy for our fellow strugglers to share points, so long as we win a few. The more teams below us, the better our chances of staying up, simply by matching their results.
In other seasons I'd agree with you, but I have no confidence that we will get a few wins....I can see us getting draws. Under those circumstances it would benefit us to have teams fall away. Of course I hope we will finish higher in the table, but realistically I'd settle for 17th and have the chance to sort out problems over the summer.
If as you are suggesting, some of the players are underperforming to get a possible transfer fee reduced to enable them to move on? Conspiracist!!! As for who would stay? The star players such as Lemina, Gabbi, Tadic, Bertrand and Soares would move on. Others, SFC would have to keep and try and motivate.
A few seasons back West Ham went down with 42!! So to survive 17th placed team may be 40 this time around. Let's hope so, and if Saints are below that figure, then relegation will have been merited.
I don’t understand why you hope survival depends on getting 40 points. I am sticking to my prediction of 35 or 36, which Saints should be able to reach.
Is that what they do where you work then? Things aren't going well, so sack everyone? In which case, who does the sacking, and who sacks them? Or would it make more sense for everyone concerned to work together to find a solution?
Now is not the time for a clear out....now is the time to support the manager and team. Gao may decide to sack people in the summer, but does he know enough about football to make the right decisions. Be very careful what you wish for.
One could argue that the 'boo boys' saw off the pace that Saints DID HAVE ~ Redmond ~ they succssfully 'destroyed' his confidence (some say arrogance) and, effectively, removed the only 'real pace' in the team. Booing, I believe, has never 'motivated' a single Saints player!
Any evidence to back up that 'spurious claim'??? Maybe the fact that the club GOT the striker that MP said he wanted and thatthe Russian club 'hung' Saints out to dry' as their 'mega-deal' for Promes was the pace/ goals/ creativity option that they were chasing ever since the Walcott issue went 'bosoms up' has passed you by; or just easy targets, Mmm.
No point in sacking anyone now, but I expect a cull in the summer. I've always defended Les, but he has some serious accountability issues. Saying all that, if Gao is who I think, we'll be lucky if any of them want to stay.
At least make a 'reasoned case' for your comment. Afterall, sacking the last manager worked well (not!); could've been a better end to the season ~ but hey, Wembley & 8th without your star centre back (and captain!) plus losing your leading scorer, was really asking for the 'tin tack' on your rationale it seems.
