As Saints are one of the most experienced PL teams outside the Top 6, bar Everton and West Ham, the fact that the team is hovering just over the last relegation place is an abject failure by all concerned. I hope for everyone here,that SFC pick up at least 3 more wins to take them above the 40 point mark, and then set about goals for next season, which to my mind should be aimed at getting 60 points, because as I said SFC are one of the most experienced PL sides so should know how to put away teams that have been in the PL a shorter time and should have garnered the nous to beat the top 6 on a more regular basis.
Cardiff's remaining games include matches against Burnley, Brighton, Fulham and Palace. The other two fixtures are against Liverpool and Man Utd where I would expect them to get nothing. Potentially, I would suggest Cardiff have 12 points to play for which, if they won, would take them up to 40 points. We would therefore need to acquire 8 points to beat this target which means, on playing terms, 2 wins and 2 draws or 3 wins. (which would be nine points.) Current form is interesting but I think this is not reliable now that teams will be fighting for survival in the final straight. As I said last week, I think we will get 43 points but there is not much margin for error if Cardiff pick up points. Of those matches, I think Burnley will be the most difficult and Brighton and Fulham the most "do-able" for them. Palace could go either way. Should Cardiff lose next weekend and Saints beat Wolves, I will be more confident but it is too early to suggest that Cardiff are doomed. I see Warnock is predicting another 10 points for Cardiff but I feel that this season 40 points may not be sufficient for survival. Anyone playing the bottom two teams will pick up 3 points because they have been so abject. Saints have to concentrate of winning the remaining home matches. I think the Bournemouth and Huddersfield games are shoo-ins for three points with Wolves being the most "tricky" of the three visitors. The away games are too difficult to call as anything could happen in them. At the moment Saints are playing well but the thing is to do this and pick up points too.
Fans being confident has no effect on results....it just means that we don't fall into abject misery. I am basing that confidence on the fact that I cannot see us losing all our remaining games....and that even one win increases Cardiff's problems as I can't see them winning half of their remaining games. I just hope it is sorted in our favour before the Huddersfield match as I selflessly want a nice party atmosphere for fans that attend (I booked a holiday in Malta for that weekend in error ).
Using your analysis, and given their abject form of late, Bournemouth could well crash out of the PL if they lose all their remianing games. It has happened in the past so it is posible. Thank you for your update.
What you are overlooking is that by beating Burnley & Brighton, they are dragging them back in the mire too.
I am happy to consider that Brighton could finish below us, but not so happy to consider them as relegation candidates, because that means that so are we (and we're not, so there!).
I see Milner, Henderson, Salah and Van Dijk are in Garth Crooks team of the week. Nothing new there as the guy is always way off with his choices and was clearly watching a different game.
I think that Brighton are the most likely team to occupy the last relegation place should Cardiff pull clear. Burnley had to win at Bournemouth because their run in is so tough. I was a bit concerned that they started to pull clear but think they could get sucked back in when your see that they have to play Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal in their last 5 matches! The away trip to Everton will not be easy either. The only likely win would be at home to Cardiff but I this Warnock's men will make that a target for three points too. It will be interesting to follow their fortunes. I don't think they will finish above Saints. What is interesting is that Brighton have a split of easier matches at home including Brighton. If Cardiff take points off Brighton too, they will not be relishing the fixtures in May. Brighton also have to play Newcastle. Thankfully there are matches where the relegation rivals can take points off each other and I think this will work to out advantage. Strange that no one is really considering Newcastle who are on 35 points and have some awkward fixtures to play too. I think this year has seen a relatively weak Premier League. Fulham and Huddersfield have been hopeless and never really competed so that it has let some of the teams like Newcastle and Bournemouth off the hook. Next season should be more difficult. I think Southampton have had a weaker squad than last season but largely managed to play better since Ralph's appointment. You would tend to fancy us more than Cardiff, Brighton and Burnley let we still make mistakes and cannot be guaranteed to pick up three points is we outperform the opposition.
The moment you start considering any game a shoo-in for three points, is the moment you’ll get bitten on the arse.
Bit late in the day but read the thread & had to comment. Nope, don’t agree with your Chelsea comments & I’m pretty sure the majority on here don’t agree with you. Of course, you don’t do consensus which is certainly your prerogative but please don’t in your next breathe say we all dislike Chelsea & their “vile supporters”. Me? Don’t really give a ****e about Chelsea but ffucking hate Liverpool. Spuds & MU joint 2nd of PL sides. Won’t even discuss the ****ers in L1. But of course you don’t care either
Have no feelings about Chelsea or Man City. Always disliked United...but that's been ameliorated by their new manager being a likeable guy and by them not winning everything anymore. My dislike of Spurs and Liverpool is more recent, but once again is fading. Life's too short.
