LaptopSaint

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.

Davis James Perry Size WolvesAtHome Lallana Spiderman Surman Holmes Saga DMG Barring injuries stick with that team for the next five come what may.

Meanwhile, back on topic.... I've just read the whole piece and he comes across as a really decent bloke. But there's no getting away from it. That last paragraph sounds laughably naive. These Boysh look really special. We're going to get promoted. Ach, wait a minute. Everybody elshe is bigger than us. We're schcrewed.

Anyone who says the comparison is meaningless is living in dreamland. We were looking for something -- anything -- to make us feel a little bit proud of this season, and we didn't get it against Utd. How good do you think Derby fans feel today (and they won't forget that feeling even if they get tonked 5-0 in the 2nd leg). What is the single high point of the season so far -- probably DMG's winner against Preston. Most of the time it's been unremittingly grim. Not a criticism, just the real world.

We'll go into administration next week anyway. Then in early Feburary a freak earthquake under Southampton Water will see St Mary's slip into the Itchen. In March a 747 will crash into our temporary home on the Common rendering it unplayable. Midway through April half our squad will be out injured with arse-burn due to falling over too many times on our astroturf pitch at the Sports Centre. But then on May 3rd a hat-trick from Andrej Pernecky (playing as an emergency centre-forward) will see us escape relegation on goal difference despite our thirty point deduction (10 for going into administration, 20 for having a chairman called Rupert). Supporting Saints is never dull, but some of you lot need to relax a bit. If we supported Dynamo Gaza then we'd have some real problems.

Yeah he's been here for all of six months. That's a lifetime. Sighingrollyeyesthingy.

I know what you're saying LGTC, but when people have paid more than a hundred quid to take a family of four to a game they have a right to expect a bit of passion and ability no matter how young or inexperienced the players are. And if they don't get it, they have a right to criticise. Some of our players aren't good enough. It's not a case of expecting them to be as good as Man Utd, it's a case of expecting them to be good enough for the Championship. And some of them aren't ready yet. Not a criticism, a fact.

This is the most frustrating thing for me.

1) Riley's a **** 2) Man Utd are quite good but 3) we were really poor - no pattern, no passing, no passion 4) playing one up front at home doesn't work 5) without kelvin and chris perry it could have been a cricket score and 6) I thought morgan showed more class when he came on than most of the rest of the team put together