Article: The Positive Middlesbrough v Saints Match Thread. Football Southampton

Nigel won't allow any complacency!

 

I expect your right Lamballana! Although I think it will also help that we still have the title to aim for, the lads want that first place after being top for the majority of the season. If they get two more wins then there is every chance that that might happen (fingers crossed). First things first though, 3 points at Boro and Promotion!!

 

As a long time Saints fan I have got used to not having coonfidence in our team to bounce back from a defeat or hold on to a lead. These last two years with Nigel in charge have turned this on it's head. We have shown we can cope and even thrive on pressure so as you say fingers crossed tomorrow is the day!!

 

Bishops are usually on the side of the Saints

 

I would be very surprised if Adkins choses Barnard (who has not started a league game this season) over Guly who may be on a poor run but has scored 10+ goals so far this season. I also think Richardson is more likely to be on the bench with either Harding or Martin making way. This is supposing Hooiveld is fit - we really need him to be!

 

There is a new interview with Adkins on the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17784259

He was asked if the game was 1-1 all with 10 minutes left would he go for the three points of play for one to get us promoted. He replied 'This club has a winning mentality.' Sounds like we will go for it for better or for worse .

 

Agree with Adkins...go for a win...if you play for a draw you can end up losing. I'm sure he doesn't mean go hell for leather, but keep pressing for the win.

 

**** I forgot about Guly, Okayy put Guly in place of Harding then - We need as many attacking options as possible tomorrow

 

Also you would always wonder 'what if' if we played for a draw Boro and Reading then slipped up.

 

I think Adkins may go for Richardson, Harding, De Ridder, Schneiderlin and Guly - he likes to have a left footed player on the bench and assuming Hooiveld is not a doubt we can probably take a risk in defence. Also we then have pace on the bench, but I admit it is impossible to call.

 

I wonder if the players will even be allowed to know the Reading result before we kick off. Could work either way, but as Nige likes to say 'we can only control the controllables' so let's just win our game and then see what Reading got up to.

 

We want a win whatever the Reading result. Have just checked our recent away results...what a turnaround from early in the season. In the last 10 away games, we have won 6, drawn 3 and lost 1. We have won 6/7 of our last away games.

 

I just don't get the defensive minded bench we've been having, I don't agree with it personally

 

Will Guly return to be Middlesbrough's bane once again? Can The Boro sure up their defence with the return of Bennett and will either Saints fan Jutkiewicz or former Saints player Scott McDonald dent Saints' promotion push?

 

thats hilarious

 

That Boro thread is fabulous. I love the post that says Saints to win 4-0. Lambert to score 5, one disallowed and Sharp to get three, two disallowed.

 

Just read on BBC match thread that Boro was 2nd at the start of 2012...completely forgot that!

 

I have read Julien Barnes "A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters" which has put me off going to heaven.

Any way Channonfodder you and I have both been around long enough to have learned that it is the bad guys that have all the fun.

 

And Reading weren't even in the play-offs.

 

You sound like BlackAdder when he becomes the Bishop of Cantebury and is trying to persuade the noblemen to give their lands to the king (Brian Blessed) rather than the church when they die.