We don't always play a derby and promotion rivals in close succession under this much pressure either.
If anybody doesn't have the slightest bit of worry about tomorrow and doubt about the next few weeks then good for you, but it's only natural to panic a bit. Tomorrow is quite potentially the biggest south coast derby ever - when has it ever mattered this much for both teams? It would still be huge if we were both mid-table, but they need the points desperately as do we. If we lose (and yes I know all the signs point to us to win) then West Ham are breathing down are necks and we're in a bad mindset having lost two in a row (and remember the blip that we went through last time it happened). I'm nervous and I couldn't care if anyone has a problem with it! It's only natural for christ sake!
I don't think that there's any problem with being nervous; even those of us who are quite confident will have our hearts in our throats the first time Pompey possesses the ball in our half. There is a bit of a distance between nerves and the rending of garments because West Ham has won a game that we all expected them to win while we were idle, though.
I know you are not a negative poster HR, but posting things like... if we don't win tomorrow, then we are in trouble... is a pointless exercise. We would still be 3 points ahead of WHU having played the same amount of games. Certainly not in trouble. Besides, we'll win anyway.
Calm yourself Jasper. There's plenty of time for bricking it..! Do you really want to endure agony all the way until the end of April..? No, of course you don't. So, take a leaf out of Nigel Adkins book, and control your own controllable. There's nothing you can individually do to affect the outcome of a game, so relax because you might as well, as do anything else.
Ask yourself HR, do you think we are capable of getting 12 points from the remaining 6 games..? Yes or No..? If the answer is Yes, then Saints are home and hosed, because WHU will only be able to equal us on points. Feeling better yet..?
I've got absolutely no problems with people feeling nervous or pessimistic. I myself have spent most of my time at work this week worrying about us only taking one point from this Easter weekend, before then losing to Reading. A part of me, frustratingly, is just waiting for us to blow up. But I just don't get why some people appear to be more nervous or pessimistic now than 12 hours ago. For me, nothing has changed. I expected Reading and WH to win, and they did. I expected us to be in a position where we probably need to beat Pompey, and we are. Of course it would have been nice if one of them - or both - had slipped up, but the fact that neither did really is not the end of the world.
Not really more nervous than 12 hours ago, but if Reading & WHU had dropped points then I certainly would be less so!
Results were what I expected but not what I hoped. I am concerned that West Ham got their tails up by having a decent win. I am usually very positive, but getting worried even though I know we are in a good position. Win tomorrow and all will be well with the world again. Do you think Nigel does home visits?
Sums the situation up for me although I think we should beat Pompey. I had been predicting a 3-1 home win but my fear would be a repeat of Blackpool or a doue 1-1 affair like the Fratton Park game where neither team really deserved all three points. It will be a season defining afternoon. If Pompey win, I've now doubt that we will both be playing in the Championship next season but an on form Southampton should sweep away what even a passionate and committed Portsmouth should be able to throw at us.
If they get into us, pack the midfield and work hard to hassle our midfield then they have every chance because we don't seem to be able to deal with teams that have done this to us. If they sit back and defend deep and attack on the break then I would fancy us to break them down and score a couple. Pompey's recent mini revival (excluding Burnley) were both Home games, their away form is poor, our home form is very good. But this is football...anything can happen, I'm just hoping that the anything is an SKD goal, Cork to score the perfect hat trick and Lambert to get 7 in a 14-0 win.
Agree with this for sure. It's the main thing causing me doubt. Dignity and success would for them and their fans look like a 0-0 draw. Any team of professional footballers, if their heart is set on it and the occasion demands it, can pretty much put in a stolid defensive performance that drains the life out of a game but gets them a point, just like cup finals. That's no good for us. The one upside of this tactic would be that they now have a weaker team in all areas than most teams who do it, so it will be a less convincing version of this tactic. An early goal for them, or a spirited performance like their first half performance by all accounts was against Burnley, could unsettle us. And certainly depends on who is on the pitch for us, given it's not certain at the moment. I just hope we come out on form, and score early.
not so sure mate - would really mean winning all our home games including Reading and drawing all the away games or winning at palace or one of the boros. More hopeful of hammers not getting max pts from their games to see us getting over the line
expected to win in this anyone can beat anyone league - maybe but they still had to do it and credit they did. in the same breath then saints should be expected to win away to palace given they are only 2 league places above barnsley. we have still got to do it and i expect it to be tough
So you're not confident Saints can manage 12 points from 18, but you're pretty confident WHU can win every single game from here on in. WOW..! That's one heck of a Saints supporter from the old school.
We beat west ham, birmingham, hull, Brighton and middlesbrough at home, why not reading? Beat Pompey, beat reading, have a half decent end to the season with a win against Coventry to finish. Bish bash bosh, top of the league and champions thank you very much
I must admit frankimus, I'm as perplexed as you by certain people's lack of front, so to speak. Anybody would think all the previous games since the beginning of the season were for nothing. I'm not decrying the hesitancy or the nervousness, it's the sudden sheer lack of confidence that amazes me. This is Southampton FC 2012, and it's about time we became Southampton FC Supporters 2012, rather than the supporters from a different era who were continually let down by an inconsistent club. This club is anything but inconsistent.
