Reading must be nervous...a lot rides on Saturday's result now. It could be very interesting by the time we kick off...rather have a 3 pm match.
Which means that we need 14 points from our last 7 games to guarantee going up, or probably 13 with our good goal difference. Whatever happens, I can't wait!
The Plastic Cockneys and Joey Essex boys will be beside themselves on the kumb forum tonight saying that they will be champions...
If the players thought we could be complacent then this will be a friendly reminder. Hope we can hold on to our cushion before the Reading game.
With Pompey having a good win against Hull it helps to make things more interesting. Hammers had a massive possession edge in their game at Peterborough and could hurt the Royals on Saturday though I still predict them drawing.
Control the controllables. Have to expect our promotion rivals to win every game from now on (apart from Saturday - both can't win!).
As you and Nigel say, control the controllables. That means paying zero attention to what the rivals are doing and focusing on what Saints do. Whatever Saints do, they have no control over what WHU or Reading do, so what's the point of giving them any thinking time..? If Saints get sufficient points, they win the league. Simple..! So the effort is to win every single game. It's why a team should try to win every single game from the first game of the season. And Saints have undoubtedly tried to do that. Hence they are at the top of the league. From the fans point of view we can do anything we like. We can be pessimistic, optimistic, realistic, whatever. It makes not a jot of difference to the team. But we can at least support, and show our confidence in them, because they will feel that. So when people come on here saying... I've got a bad feeling about this... it's about getting them to see sense, because bad or funny feelings are for fairy stories and fables. It's about getting people to see that they may as well celebrate the time that is now, because if they don't stop worrying or feeling funny, by the time they get to enjoy it, it will be over. So be positive. You might as well be.
Lot of sense there but being a Saints fan from the year 1952 onwards it is easier said than done. God, I am an antique!!!!!!!!!!!
Our worst-case scenario after this upcoming weekend is still finding ourselves five points plus goal differential (and thus essentially two wins) above third place with six games to go. As far as worst-case scenarios go, it's pretty sunny; we couldn't exactly count on West Ham to drop points in each and every game.
Having been following our superb club since 1952 in my knee length shorts and clogs, I have become used to the occasional moment of doubt. My age is my only excuse for having such poor use of the English language at times. And no I don't still wear the clogs.
We did wear metal studded boots in those days...remember skidding along archers road to create sparks..
Yeah you're right....and that is funny! But to support Saints through thick and thin for 50 odd years has been a priveledge and to be on the brink of further success after sinking so low(e) 3 years ago is amazing....Saints forever!
Full-page ad for tickets to west ham v reading in the metro this morning has it billed as a 'top of the table clash'. Erm- not quite, lads. Almost as bad as the other ones all season banging on about their supposedly entertaining, free-flowing, attacking football...
