The concerning thing for us watching those West Ham - Burnley highlights is that Burnley were never in the game when they had one up front. And with West Ham having a fairly decent attack, it allowed them to cut through Burnley. They should have scored a couple. The moment Dyche changed it and put Woods up front alongside Barnes - neither of whom are Kane or Drogba, by the way - it was a different. If you go for it, you can hurt that poor looking West Ham defence. Collins was past it as a PL CB about five years ago, Ogbonna has never been a PL CB, Noble doesn't have the legs to get back anymore, and Zabaleta is getting on too. Oh for two strikers...
And Aaron Cresswell is as much a CB as he is a parakeet. If i) we have Pellgrino in charge for that match, and ii) we start Carrillo alone up top, the only logical answer is that there's some madcap The Producers scheme going on behind the scenes.
I'm starting to think it's going to be two from four. Stoke, West Ham, Huddersfield and ourselves. Gulp.
Exactly what I said driving home yesterday. The closer I look at the fixtures the worse it looks. I said on the forum after last week’s draw that the Newcastle and West Ham games determine how we do. Not a good start and although I am a positive person and one of the happy clappers on here, hand on heart, I can’t see us surviving. I am not giving up though and will start by cheering them on to Wembley next week at Wigan.
I wouldn't class myself as a happy clapper and I'm in the same boat. It's looking less and less likely that we have the tanacity to get ourselves out of this as each game passes us by. And yet, whilst there's other teams involved, and throwing in insipid performances of their own, there's still that fools hope that won't let me give up. It's probably just called being a football supporter I guess.
As eloquent as ever, FLT. As things have turned out yesterday was the end of my season, so with yesterday's miserable performance following on that ugly 0-0 against Stoke, I'd be grateful if you would allow me to give a considered opinion. I have been praised for my oratory in the past, and this, combined with a loyalty to Saints that passeth all understanding, should mean my demand to be heard is valid. Friends, Saints and fellow travellers, lend me your ears, I came yesterday to see our wonderful team. I did not expect us to sweep this meagre opposition aside This is not the Saints way But I did hope they'd politely ask them to step aside While we re-asserted our right to be in the top flight Instead, friends who share my delusion I have serious news to report .... We're ****ed, big style
I agree RSS. I feel that hope is still there because we are above the line, but to stay there could well be down to other teams ineptness. I also think that one of the teams below the line currently, Palace, will be well clear come the end.
So much crap has surrounded our last couple of years in the prem, that I actually think a spell (how long is a spell is anyone's guess) in the Championship isn't such a bad thing. Its almost like our club needs reuniting with its ways & beliefs once more. We've learned that no matter how well you do, how much pay, or how long the contract, they will leave if they want to. VAR in its tentative stages is also something I don't want to be a part of. If dropping down means a few of our home growns are given a chance, then there's a silver lining also. Obviously a lot of that all depends on what sort of owner we have, but surely its better to find out sooner rather than later what Mr Gao's plan is. We're not done yet, but it is in the post. Easier to prepare than cling to the killing hope*. uts *not recommended for everyone
We need to beat West Ham, beat one of Bournemouth/Swansea, pick up a draw or two...and hope. I don't think we survive if the line is 38, but if Stoke flops and West Ham's insane schedule, maybe we scrape it on 36 or 37 points. But that relies on us playing well twice and competently a couple more times, and that won't happen unless we find a way to wake up the team. I can think of one suggestion...
What is this "playing well" of which you speak What foul beast are you bringing on to this board? We are Southampton. We don't do "playing well".
Yep, for me they're the two sides to highlight. The three of us are the only sides who don't look like they've got the passion and spirit to try and survive. And none of us have picked up that 'key' win (or wins) in recent times. Absolutely no momentum amongst any of us. And that's before even considering our respective fixture lists. Hence why I said yesterday that, for me, it's over for us if we lose to West Ham. Results-wise, Palace are on a poor run. But anyone who has seen their recent matches (against the top five!) will have seen a team that has given it a real go. And now they have Zaha back. And a dream fixture list. It would be ridiculous to say at this stage, when they're in the bottom three, that "they're fine". But I do back them to survive. Huddersfield also have the fixtures to survive, and like Brighton and Swansea have picked up some massive results in recent weeks. They've all got sufficient momentum behind them to get themselves to the finish line. A defeat here and there for each of them really doesn't matter (even against a rival), when they're also picking up wins. And given that so many sides have been in this battle, for once there isn't someone rocketing head-first down towards the bottom three. You can't join the relegation battle in the 11th hour, when everyone has already been part of it. Yes Bmouth have wasted three successive chances to secure their safety, and no doubt their fans are looking over their shoulders now where maybe they weren't after beating Stoke over a month ago. But they still only need one more win.
It doesn’t rely on us playing well. It’s worse than that. It relies on us looking like we might put the onion in the bag. I wouldn’t have minded how **** we were yesterday, if at any point we looked like knowing how to do that.
We'll beat West Ham, they have West in their name (and are rubbish). That puts us above them and Huddersfield/Palace, where we will stay forever. Job done.
Wake up, bang, bang, bang, bang, wake up. It's nearly 11am Sunday morning and your still dreaming. Like it though.
It needs coaching. I'm reminded of when Ardiles and Villa joined Spurs. The coach came out with a ball and said "ball". He then pointed at the goal and said "goal". Ardiles interrupted and said, "Excuse me, but Ricky and I both speak English. You don't need this child-like approach for us." "Yes, I know. I wasn't speaking to you two, but to these tubs of lard." We need that coach, and we need him now!
