Sorry, can't see you picking up a point at St Marys. We screwed up against QPR but we are strong at home (as Liverpool and Man City will tell you).
Man City and Liverpool fans do indeed tell me that Tom. Wigan, Sunderland and QPR fans however, have told me different.
Plus, why does everyone (Saints fans) chalk us down as losing to Sunderland in the predictions for remaining games? Is it cos we lost to them first time round, or have they got a style of play no one fancies us against? Surely we should be looking to win that one.
I think the original poster deserves some credit here cos its lookin like he's right. Sunderland look bloody awful to me.
Well I'm still not convinced Villa have it in them to stay up. My predictions have always been QPR, Reading and Villa and I'm sticking to that.
No one knows thats fur sure. But villa have team spirit and that counts for a lot. Average age 23 they deserve credit. Sunderland on the other hand look like a broken squad. Somethings not right there
When the fixtures came out, I was really hoping that we were not in the position of needing to win or get points from our last 3 games(Spurs A, Sunderland A and Stoke H) as I thought they are 3 teams hard to get points from, now its looking like a dream run in, but I think we will be clear anyway.
In a weird sort of way, I don't think today has had that much of an impact on QPR. Yes, they'd have preferred us to have lost, but Sunderland still did. And so did Newcastle and Norwich for that matter. It's not like everyone has pulled clear of them. And yes, they'd have preferred Wigan to have lost (or drawn), but Wigan are now only level on points with Villa - and QPR had to chase Villa down even before today. So not a huge amount of difference between one team on 30 points and two teams on 30 points. If Villa lose tomorrow, and QPR win on Monday, I think you have to say it's a good weekend for QPR. Four points adrift, Wigan at home up next, Sunderland in freefall. Of course the same cannot be said for Reading. Put simply, if we beat them on Saturday, that really is them done and dusted.
St Bendy I would tend to agree with this assessment. The last few weeks have seen all sorts of permutations being possible in the relegation battle and it would be fair to argue that this is likely to continue in the remaining weeks. After today's performance, I don't think Southampton will be anywhere near the relegation zone and two more wins will see us safe. With regard to the other teams, as much as I respect Nigel, I think he must realise that Reading are doomed. Of the teams to visit St Marys this season, for my money they were by far the worst. I really think they will be joined by Sunderland whose inability to motiviate themselves and some tough fixtures would have me marking them down for relegation. The remaining place is open to conjecture. I feel Villa will come off worse in a straight race with Wigan and I have a sneeking suspicion about QPR even though the league position looks hopeless. What QPR have in their favour is an exceptional manager and a run of winnable fixtures. Out of the three, I feel QPR are most likely to spring a surprise although Wigan's record of avoiding the drop should stand them in good stead. It is becoming a fascinating watch with the remaining place possibly filled by any team up to 12th position.
It's just occurred to me that, conceivably, three ex-Saints managers could be relegated from the PL this season.
