Match Day Thread Middlesbrough v Southampton, Saturday, 09th May 2026, 12:30 KO - Live on Sky TV

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I'll accept not going up this season if we keep everything, and more importantly everyone, next season. This obviously isn't going to happen, we'll lose most of our starting 11 and have to go all over again. I could really see us becoming a Norwich or a Stoke and it just doesn't bare thinking about.

Praying for promotion and to see what these boys could achieve in the Prem. Couldn't be any worse than the last go
 
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Don't remember anyone calling it a sham when we finished 6th under Koeman.


Or when we went to Milan. Memories of the San Siro will live with me forever, as will beating Inter at St Mary’s. Didn’t take long for the bubble to burst though. And the closest we came to winning anything was the Carling Cup, whereas this season, winning the greatest domestic Cup competition in the sport was definitely on the cards.
 
Or when we went to Milan. Memories of the San Siro will live with me forever, as will beating Inter at St Mary’s. Didn’t take long for the bubble to burst though. And the closest we came to winning anything was the Carling Cup, whereas this season, winning the greatest domestic Cup competition in the sport was definitely on the cards.

It's probably one of my greatest regrets as a Saints fan that I missed out on any of the European games. The boy was still too young for school and childcare costs were crippling us. We were barely earning enough to keep our heads above water so it was a complete no go from the start. I can only imagine what it'd be like to watch Saints abroad. Dream stuff :emoticon-0115-inlov
 
I'll accept not going up this season if we keep everything, and more importantly everyone, next season. This obviously isn't going to happen, we'll lose most of our starting 11 and have to go all over again. I could really see us becoming a Norwich or a Stoke and it just doesn't bare thinking about.

Praying for promotion and to see what these boys could achieve in the Prem. Couldn't be any worse than the last go


I don’t think we’d necessarily lose that many, if we don’t want or need to sell players. Can’t afford to lose the coach though. Eckert didn’t inherit a squad full of outstanding players imo, he found a way to build a team and get the best out of a bunch of individuals who were almost all struggling. Getting Peretz in got us over the line too tbf.
 
It's probably one of my greatest regrets as a Saints fan that I missed out on any of the European games. The boy was still too young for school and childcare costs were crippling us. We were barely earning enough to keep our heads above water so it was a complete no go from the start. I can only imagine what it'd be like to watch Saints abroad. Dream stuff :emoticon-0115-inlov


Hope you get the chance to see it one day
 
I don’t think we’d necessarily lose that many, if we don’t want or need to sell players. Can’t afford to lose the coach though. Eckert didn’t inherit a squad full of outstanding players imo, he found a way to build a team and get the best out of a bunch of individuals who were almost all struggling. Getting Peretz in got us over the line too tbf.
Yeah as much as I hate SR, January was pound for pound their best window. Peretz and Larin have been outstanding. If they can replicate that magic in the loan market next season I'll be very happy
 
It's probably one of my greatest regrets as a Saints fan that I missed out on any of the European games. The boy was still too young for school and childcare costs were crippling us. We were barely earning enough to keep our heads above water so it was a complete no go from the start. I can only imagine what it'd be like to watch Saints abroad. Dream stuff :emoticon-0115-inlov
With Tonda being German could be a pre season there. Not the same as a competitive matches but still a bit of fun as were the games at Feyenoord and Groningen.
 
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form and past history is out of the window for this. It will come down to the performance on the day and we have had more time to prepare than any other game in weeks and have a squad that is cohesive and playing well.

I fully expect that Fellow's only goal this season will be the winner at wembley...
My lad has been saying that all season (90th minute) so it’s bound to happen now :emoticon-0100-smile
 
For the club to move forward it has to be in the Prem - it's where the money is and where the prestige is for players. There just isn't the finance in the championship to keep a decent sized club going.

I think this team will do better than last time and the first goal is surviving that first season and I don't think we need to buy a whole new squad to do it either.
 
I’m still feeling pretty numb since our last two relegations so I’m really not that bothered. I really enjoy the championship and feel pretty negative about the self entitled premiership.
So I’m probably the only fan that feels this way so I hope those that dont feel the way I do really enjoy the upcoming matches
You are not the only doubter in the village. I really, really, really don’t want promotion. There is nothing appealing about being the plucky but pathetic PL club.
 
You are not the only doubter in the village. I really, really, really don’t want promotion. There is nothing appealing about being the plucky but pathetic PL club.
I really, really, really don't get this mentality. Tonda beat Fulham, Arsenal and nearly Man City with a Championship squad. I'm very keen to see what he could with an improved squad in the PL.
 
I'd much prefer we stay down as everyone knows, it's just a much more enjoyable league for so many reasons.

Really can't be arsed with the PL circus and want to do Lincoln away. It's why I didn't really wanna do the play off games but can't help feel it'd be daft not to complete the set.
 
I'm sure fans of Stoke and Watford and WBA and Blackburn and Swansea, and so many other Championship teams, are delighted that their teams didn't return to the PL.

And that's before turning to fans of Bolton and Huddersfield and Reading etc.

Tbf I'd much prefer a second relegation than a promotion. Yo yo-ing between Champ and L1 is my ultimate dream.
 
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Yeah it’s a mentality I don’t get either. The only reason people like the Champ is because we win regularly in the league. Not because we are a much bigger club than everyone else in the league but because we have parachute payments. When they run out we will be finishing 12th or something in the Champ

Whatever league you are in if you are winning consistently it is enjoyable. Unfortunately unless you are in the PL if you win consistently then you get promoted to a harder level the following season. I’d much rather be a yo yo club than any of the other realistic options. **** being like Everton or Fulham who finish about half way in the PL every year, much rather go down than do that
 
Yeah it’s a mentality I don’t get either. The only reason people like the Champ is because we win regularly in the league. Not because we are a much bigger club than everyone else in the league but because we have parachute payments. When they run out we will be finishing 12th or something in the Champ

Whatever league you are in if you are winning consistently it is enjoyable. Unfortunately unless you are in the PL if you win consistently then you get promoted to a harder level the following season. I’d much rather be a yo yo club than any of the other realistic options. **** being like Everton or Fulham who finish about half way in the PL every year, much rather go down than do that
Not me, I'd much prefer to be a midtable side in the championship than midtable in the PL.

For example I still enjoyed the first half of this season more than any of the Ralph ones.
 
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The Prem is too lopsided - it's not (and likely never will be) a level playing field where on their day anyone can beat anyone - it's why the lower leagues are usually considered more competitive and enjoyable - but if we have any ambition as a club it has to be as a prem club and it has to be with the aim of staying in it for the longer term.

I'd love to regularly see Saints in Europe and the only way to do that is money and time and consistency in the prem.
 
The Prem is too lopsided - it's not (and likely never will be) a level playing field where on their day anyone can beat anyone - it's why the lower leagues are usually considered more competitive and enjoyable - but if we have any ambition as a club it has to be as a prem club and it has to be with the aim of staying in it for the longer term.

I'd love to regularly see Saints in Europe and the only way to do that is money and time and consistency in the prem.

Tbf I think the championship will be pretty lopsided next season, only wasn't this season due to parachute payment clubs underperforming.