Thought a few weeks ago that Palace could be in trouble with their run in and the injury to Zaha (not sure when he’s back but they’ve not won without him for a ridiculous amount of games I think). If the big clubs can do us a favour this time, then Palace could find themselves adrift. The teams above us seem to show a lot of fight though and are getting results so maybe it could be Brom, Palace and one of us/Stoke to go. Will 38 be enough this season? We are ten points off that with ten to play.... Stoke is more of a must win than Palace and Brighton at home were.
Bit fed up relying on other teams to do us a favour, not a tactic that's worked too well this season. Apart from a bloody precious point the late goal yesterday also gave the message that we can scrap as well. The boost that other struggling teams would've got from our defeat was avoided. But you're right, there's a lot of fight in these teams, all capable of getting points in any game. Not many games left but still time for the traditional "win no games in your last 6" suicide attempt from a few clubs to gatecrash the relegation party.
The frightened way the fans watch football is more annoying. It has to be accepted in this dog fight that we are not the team we were a couple of seasons back and this is disappointing in the extreme to the regular Saints watcher, but we are what we are. The team have not given up, they are trying to the end and that is what got us a point today. As said, this is how it is going to be till the end of the season....we need to keep calm and hope for those odd occasions when things go right (as they appear to do for our rivals for relegation). Had a bit of the rub of the green in this match, but we are owed a lot more this season to even get close to parity....if we get our share of luck I would like it to result in 3 points and not the usual one. The footballing gods are trying to palm us off with FA Cup wins, but that isn't good enough. Only saw highlights....so well done to those who made it to Turf Moor in freezing conditions...but pleased to see Sims getting involved and so nearly scoring. He could do very well for us if he stays fit. Carrillo gets another assist...so he is doing his part...a goal just round the corner? Pleased for Gabbi...had few chances in the team, but took this one (and valuable it may turn out to be).
Gabbi scores once and suddenly its ridiculous he hasnt been playing and should be an automatic starter? I wonder if after Carrillo gets one people will be saying great buy - worth every penny!
Given the fact that we only have one win since November (and that was against bottom of the table WBA!), and only said WBA side have won fewer games than us, but yet we are currently outside of the relegation zone, I would say that it's a tactic that has really helped us out. Only in the past few weeks have other sides started to pick up any sort of form; hence why WBA are suddenly cut adrift, and why us and Stoke now keep on bobbing either side of the relegation line. You, me, everyone associated with the club, would no doubt like to rely on ourselves to survive. Frankly though, the 28 games played so far do not exactly suggest that as a realistic outcome. And in any event, it's not exactly how league football works. Unless you finish with a perfect 100% record, you are always relying on the misfortunate of others, regardless of your own aims and ambitions. It is possible that we might go and win five or six of our last ten, fly into the top half, and finish nicely clear of 18th. But if we are to survive, I suspect a more likely route is three wins, a draw or two, and sufficiently dropped points from at least two others.
I can't imagine that anyone is basing it on yesterday alone. It's been said for a while. I think it's more a case of following his goal, it should make it harder for MP to leave him out. So the prospect of us finally starting two strikers has arguably become ever so slightly more likely.
Worth noting that teams around us will often appear to have 'more fight' in them because most of us will only see their games as highlight packages rather than a full game.
Phil Thompson was pretty scathing on his analysis of us on Soccer Saturday, said we just looked like we were going through the motions with no sense of urgency
https://southamptonfc.com/news/2018...me-post-burnley-vs-saints-premier-league-1718 McCarthy saying that he is enjoying a run in the team. Bet he is....the 2nd goalie is the eternal bridesmaid. Not exactly wanting bad things to happen to the bride, but ready to step in. And he is now difficult to displace. The eternal problem of being a keeper.
I thought much the same. To be honest I think we’ve been fairly directionless and urgency-free for most of the season.
