In a probably genuine heartfelt gesture, the PL powers to be are going to make it a cringeworthy event by not knowing when to stop.
I have faith in the really good Saints turning up this weekend (and for more than just 45 minutes!), so on that basis I'm going for a really strong 2-0 win.
Actually, I don't think st_brendy will mind me saying, after all this time, but he is Mark Lawrenson although I might be lying
Have you seen Lawro's prediction table? He has Chelsea in 2nd. Leicester in 17th and West Ham in 18th. OK he has us in 5th but who wouldn't?
http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/20151119-training-gallery-southampton-stoke-city-2808772.aspx Team looking so happy in the rain.
This isn't his pre-season prediction table - it's the one that updates every week from his weekly predictions!
lol! out of 26 images I caught one smile - a very wry one on Koeman's face. Even the ever-reliable Graziano couldn't break into a grin and poor JWP looked as though he was about to cry. Aawwwww!
Then even dafter...both clubs are playing too well. Could be in for a surprise, but I think both will be mid-table.
I think that a spontaneous gesture of support would have been great, but not this staged and planned mass singalong across all the matches. To be honest, I don't sing our own anthem so I would never have joined in singing some other country's anyway. Last Friday was a terrible series of events (my birthday also) however I think that the time has come and gone for using a sporting competition to show support and solidarity for what happened ( we did that on Tuesday already). It also seems slightly ludicrous to even think about singing a foreign national anthem at events where we never even sing our own as they are not international competitions. 129 innocent deaths was terrible, however the French are not unique in suffering civilian deaths at the hands of extremists and IMHO, the reaction of many people to this tragedy seems to be completely over the top. I don't remember this kind of public grief and subsequent enforced "support" when terrorists killed loads of kids in Kenya ...just saying.
http://www2.premierleague.com/en-gb...k13-southampton-vs-stoke-pre-match-stats.html Talks about our being unbeaten in six and trying to beat our 8 games unbeaten record. I wish we would (and not just for the obvious reasons)...it is a hurdle that keeps being mentioned. Let's try and get over it this season. Article points out that there are usually goals in encounters between us and Stoke, but Ron suggested this will not be a goal fest with a meeting of 2 good defences.
Sky do 10 questions about the EPL before each weekend. The following is the one about us. Pointing out that we do well before international breaks, but less well afterwards. Happened a few times....not sure that so few examples are statistically important. However, it is possible that players take time to acclimatize again after being away. How many internationals do Stoke have? Will international break slow Saints again? (Southampton v Stoke, 3pm Saturday) While some managers might enjoy the international breaks as a chance to recuperate, Ronald Koeman will probably be glad to see the back of them for 2015. With Sadio Mane and Victor Wanyama away in Africa and Graziano Pelle and Jose Fonte featuring for Italy and Portugal respectively, Southampton have not fared well in the weeks after international fixtures. They drew with West Brom and lost to Manchester United after the first break of the season, then won three on the spin before the second break, after which they drew with Leicester and Liverpool. Before this most recent break they had again won three in a row, but they will be hoping to avoid another post-break slump and make it four this time.
I suppose it might have some foundation, but it pays no reference to the general quality level of teams Saints have played before and after international breaks. It may be nothing more than a coincidence. How do Stoke do.? Personally, I'm hoping Jon Walters' head is still in the Euro clouds.
