Whoever loses will be big favourites for the drop. A win and West Brom are relegated. I fancy Southampton 3-0.
Define 'a fortune'. We've got the makings of a very good squad. Just a few tweaks here and there and a competent manager and we shouldn't be in much trouble next year. There's plenty of other teams down there (yours included) whose squad needs more work imo.
Agree with this - I think there is not a lot of difference in the squads of the bottom 10 teams and it often comes down to how they start the season and the confidence they get from that. Someone did a thread earlier on who we might want from sides in the relegation zone and Southampton players figured fairly highly, suggesting they have some quality, but didnt perform this year. Think the quality of the manager and in particular his ability to motivate players is key to survival. Think we are lucky in that respect. Keeping him is more important than any players we might bring in.
In my opinion, you do not have the makings of a good squad, at all. Aside from Tadic, this is the lowest quality technical side Southampton have had in years, including championship years. Of course we need more investment (our top scorer has 6 goals!!@), but what has that got to do with what I said? You're club is the one under discussion, and will go next year unless you replace half the outfield, and the manager. I'm basing this on some of the most disgraceful performances I have ever watched, and I'm a Newcastle fan. That's how bad Southampton have been this year. The more clubs who struggle, the better for us. So don't take it personally...
Southampton have the makings of a good squad. Their problem is simple, Hughes is a gash manager. We lack quality on the playing staff. However we have a very competent manager. We seem more of a team. Southampton had both under Pochettino. Swansea, West Brom, Stoke. Slimmer pickings on the transfer front. Rondon, Phillips, Evans, Shaqiri, Butland, Allen, Ayews, Naughton, Mawson The likes of Zouma and Abraham will be of interest as given their respective seasons Chelsea won’t be using. There are others too. Taking from relegated sides is less of an issue than ever because there is so little between mid table in the PL and 6th in the Championship. If we signed Rondon, Shaqiri, Allen and Naughton to help 4 of our weak areas I’d not be massively upset. We prob won’t be signing any of this lot though as clauses will mean they will get silly wages chucked at them. Have to say I really like Mawson. I think he will be a great signing for someone.
Its looking ominous now for Swansea. They have to hope they win their last game and Huddersfield lose both of theirs. I can't see Swansea making up a nine goal deficit on Southampton (who must now be safe. Mind, those celebrations in front of their fans last night might have been a tad early...). The problem for Swansea is that I can see Huddersfield beating Arsenal at home on the last day...or at least drawing with them. Arsenal's away record this season against some of the bottom teams is dire. Good bye Swansea. Baa.
I only compared to you as I was making the point that our squad is as good as if not better than most down there. Unbalanced yes, but there's quality there for sure. Saying it's worse than our Championship squad is laughable. Our biggest problem this year was Pellegrino was woefully out of his depth and the worst manager I've seen at the club. Too early to say how we'll do next year until we see what the Summer holds.
Southampton finished 6th in the league two seasons ago. And eighth last season. What's happened? Has Pardew been there (recently)?
