LaptopSaint

We deserve to go down because we're not good enough. On and off the field this season has been a disgrace. The lack of heart and spine is unacceptable. Anyway we've got bigger problems than which league we're in next season. Still need to fill the ground for Burnley to show would-be owners that the fans care even if the team don't. Then I'd like to see a firesale of players - get rid of 'em. We need to spring clean the negativity out of the place. Even those who've done OK this season will have been scarred by it and we can't afford to have the ghosts of the worst season in this club's history hanging around the training ground in July and August (if we still exist). Brave new world, and a long road ahead. COYR

For me the significance of the occasion is just as important. So Pahars with his little diving header to secure safety, BT scoring with his arse in the semi final against Watford (right in front of where I was sitting in the Watford end), David Peach at Wembley, Henri Camara with his shirt off, and of course Bobby. And, of course of course Steve Moran at Fratton. Oh man that was good.

Anyone else struggling to come to terms with the fact that this could be our last ever game as a functioning football club?

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/saints-battle-to-stay-in-business-1659806.html And the Independent (I'm not a heavy sleeper in case you were wondering...) What price a legal challenge from, say, Plymouth or Norwich if we survive at their expense?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/championship/southampton/5090954/League-face-backlash-as-Southamptons-parent-company-goes-into-administration.html Similar line from the Telegraph. We are going to be really popular at grounds up and down the country!

Here's the Guardian's take on it. If we get away with it -- and I know this won't be a popular view -- it looks like a pretty smart move from Lowe. Still want him gone for good though. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/apr/02/southampton-saints-administration-championship-relegation The Football League was last night accused of "double standards" by clubs who have been docked points, after it emerged that Southampton are unlikely to attract a penalty when their holding company is placed into administration today. Southampton Leisure Holdings announced to the stock market yesterday that its shares were being suspended because the uncertainty around the company meant it was unable to meet the deadline for posting its half-year results. The club has debts of close to £28m, comprising a £4.5m overdraft with Barc*lays and a loan with Norwich Union that financed the stadium. It is understood that negotiations with the bank have foundered, leaving administration as the only option, with the accountants Begbies Traynor believed to be standing by. But it appears that Southampton would be able to avoid a penalty being applied at the start of next season, as long as the football club subsidiary avoided administration. In order for that to happen, it is believed that new investors would have to be found by the summer. The issue will be discussed at a Football League board meeting next Tuesday, but if Southampton do avoid incurring a penalty it would open a can of worms with other clubs who have had deductions applied. Luton Town's managing director, Gary Sweet, who had to contend with a 30-point deduction after rescuing the club from administration last August, said: "This makes a mockery of the Football League's attempt to uphold the integrity of the competition. If this sails through I see no reason why any footballclub should not set up a holding company that carries the entire debt of the club which is periodically put into administration in order to cleanse debt whilst attracting no sanctions." He added: "This smacks yet again as double standards between clubs at diff*erent levels of the game." Sweet said an additional 10-point penalty incurred by Luton from the Football Association was imposed because the previous owners paid agents from the club's holding company, which he said "clearly recognises the relationship between the holding company and the club itself".

Big crowd would be great news. Didn't work that well for the Forest game though, did it?

Tricky one. Let me get back to you.

three minutes to go. sad day. but we've bottomed out. i think.

So we've got the next Vieira and the next Arjen Robben. I reckon we're sorted.

I hope we don't get sent down by Duh duh duh duh duh Dexter.... From BBC gossip column: Nottingham Forest are trying to sign striker Dexter Blackstock, 22, from QPR after missing out on Marlon Harewood, who has joined Wolves on loan from Aston Villa. (Daily Mirror)

Just done the BBC predictor and was rather surprised to find Saints safe with 51 points at the end. I had us going 3-3-2 in the last eight games -- which isn't far out of line with recent form. Norwich and Barnsley down with Charlton -- if you look at Barnsley's remaining games they're tough. Wolves, Reading, Sheff U and Swansea at the top, Plymouth and Forest at the bottom, Derby and Watford in form... Norwich have a really tough run in too -- including Brum, Reading, Swansea away, a derby at Ipswich and Charlton away on the final day who will already be relegated and playing free-flowing football. Anyway makes me more hopeful. But I have put us down for a win at Blackpool!

Just imagine if we'd taken JP Saeijs (or equivalent) at the beginning of the season instead of Robertson, Pekhardt, Smith... apart from one flukey wonder goal what on earth would we have missed? Baffling.

How much influence will the Derby result have on the Administration "decision" ? None. HTH.

If we stay up, and if Morgan stays, I think he could well be our best player next season. He needs to get stuck in more, no doubt, but he's a class above 95% of this division. If we don't treble our money at the very least when we eventually sell I will eat my 1979 League Cup Final scarf (Austin Hayes RIP)

I know what you mean Steve, but I'd have taken a 4-0 battering at Reading if we'd won six out of the last eight! Ras won't play but I bet Cork has a stormer. Tough game -- whereas hopefully Sheff Wed will have nothing to play for and Palarse will still be slipping warnock-style towards the drop zone. I don't agree with a lot of Mr Canteen's views, but i agree that we don't have too bad a run-in. The concern is that we've played shyte too many times against the poor teams. And that has to change. I think it might because with JPS in defence we let in far fewer goals. Here's hoping.

And anyone else notice that Watford have been flying since Jack Cork got there (and a new manager...). And Wor Greg can't stop scoring now. That'll be a tough game.

Here's the form guide for the last eight matches -- Derby are flying and have scored more goals than anyone else. So not a bad point... as long as we beat rock bottom QPR on Saturday. And then win at Blackpool. And then beat Charlton. Bite yer nails time. 1 Watford 8 6 0 2 16 8 +8 18 2 Doncaster Rovers 8 6 0 2 12 10 +2 18 3 Derby County 8 5 2 1 18 9 +9 17 4 Burnley 8 4 3 1 13 10 +3 15 5 Cardiff City 8 4 2 2 12 6 +6 14 6 Swansea City 8 3 4 1 13 9 +4 13 7 Bristol City 8 4 1 3 9 5 +4 13 8 Sheffield United 8 3 4 1 11 9 +2 13 9 Birmingham City 8 3 3 2 7 5 +2 12 10 Southampton 8 3 2 3 11 9 +2 11 11 Sheffield Wednesday 8 3 1 4 10 9 +1 10 12 Reading 8 2 4 2 7 8 -1 10 13 Coventry City 8 3 1 4 8 11 -3 10 14 Wolverhampton Wanderers 8 2 3 3 8 9 -1 9 15 Preston North End 8 2 3 3 9 11 -2 9 16 Ipswich Town 8 2 3 3 8 12 -4 9 17 Norwich City 8 2 2 4 9 11 -2 8 18 Nottingham Forest 8 2 2 4 9 13 -4 8 19 Plymouth Argyle 8 2 2 4 8 14 -6 8 20 Barnsley 8 2 2 4 6 13 -7 8 21 Crystal Palace 8 2 1 5 7 12 -5 7 22 Charlton Athletic 8 1 3 4 10 12 -2 6 23 Blackpool 8 1 3 4 8 13 -5 6 24 Queens Park Rangers 8 0 4 4 4 10 -6 4

If they do, then the first person to say 'told you so, we're ****, false dawn, it's ********'... can ferk right off. Now is the time to believe.

If we can't win two of those five at a minimum we're in the brown stuff. Saturday will show whether we've turned any sort of corner. I think (hope) with the millstone of not winning at home for about seven centuries lifted from our backs we might just relax a bit, fight a bit and go on a run. But I've been wrong before.

Looking at their away record -- 4-10-2 -- you'd have to put your money on a draw. I'd settle for that if the performance level remains the same. And because I think we can win at either Ipswich or (yup) Brum. I'd love to get six points from the next three games. (Actually I'd love to get nine, but I'm trying to stay vaguely realistic). But I'd settle for five with (after that) a slightly easier run of games to come.

Looking at their away record -- 4-10-2 -- you'd have to put your money on a draw. I'd settle for that if the performance level remains the same. And because I think we can win at either Ipswich or (yup) Brum. I'd love to get six points from the next three games. (Actually I'd love to get nine, but I'm trying to stay vaguely realistic). But I'd settle for five with (after that) a slightly easier run of games to come.

Things around the corner? Hmm, let's see. Relegation?

Depends what formation he decides to play. Two up front at home and i'll give him a chance.

It's still a thin line though isn't it? Forest and Donny at home did for Jan. If we'd have won both we'd still have a very poor home record (as opposed to a disastrous one) but we'd have been in 17th place 5 points clear of relegation. Not safe, but doing OK. If that had happened I reckon he'd still be in a job.