Dusic

A couple of weeks ago you said we would be fine and listed about 5 teams more likely to go down. Whats changed your mood?

They would have been a slow, static partnership, often occupying the same space.

TBH relegation is being brought on by those who bring chicken cooked at home in a tuppaware. Absolute disgrace.

He had a really good game. Would be far more odd if he was dropped.

Will be mostly happy clappy day trippers and French tourists angling for a Jeremy Pied shirt.

Austin = good goalscorer Austin = woefully unreliable fitness wise and that very much diminishes the above Surely that is simple to understand? At least he can enjoy Cheltenham again.

He won't be fully match fit by the end of the season as by the time he is back there won't be enough games left to achieve that. He is a 10-15 game a season player now, as proven by significant injuries in each of the three seasons he has been at Saints. That is little use to any side.

Palace have some really kind fixtures to come. Win this and they will be fine. The pool of teams who realistically might go down is shortening. I think its between the current bottom 3, Newcastle and Hudds but if they beat us then Newcastle will be fine. Not looking good and won't be 7/2 after tonight.

If we had a player like Austin who was actually available for more than about 10 games a season (instead of Austin) then we would be nowhere near relegation. His inability to keep himself in the condition needed to play PL football is a big factor. All very well scoring 6 goals in 8 games or similar but not much use if those 8 games are all you manage in a season because you aren't in good enough physical shape.

I have forgotten about him for thisbseason as no way he will be sharp enough to play until right bear the end, by which time it will be too late. Very poor signing overall, simply doesn't spend enough time available to play, and its not bad luck, its poor conditioning. We should have shipped out Austin and Long last summer.

Palace, Hudds and Swansea for certain. The first games listed on that graphic have now gone and we failed to win our best opportunity. Some have tougher games in the nezt 1 or 2 but then very appealing games in May. We have ****ed up so many chances to escape from our position.

I think we are stuffed now. Yesterday was a must win and we didn't win. Other teams have far kinder fixtures than us, and a few like Brighton have now hauled themselves safe. The next two are absolutely huge and if we don't win at least one of them then its time up in the PL. I think the three that will go down are WBA, Stoke and Saints - the three worst teams in the league this season. The worst thing is that relegation when it happens will have been so utterly avoidable. The club has been absolutely mismanaged on and off the pitch the last 2 seasons. Unforgivable.

We are only a couple of wins from the top half. As MLG says, we should want the sides at the bottom to beat the midtable teams as then we have a better chance of overtaking them. 8th and 9th gone but 10th still achieveable.

Probably going to be difficult to stay up now, unless we get 4 pts minimum from Newcastle and West Ham. ****e first half, better second but still not enough of a threat. Redmond and Sims were good, but feel for Carillo - never really gets into the game. Ultimately, a **** season for which I blame the board primarily. A selection of crap decisions that have cost us.

Did well today IMO.

I don't think much thought is given to whether people can get to the game. They just consider the areas around the ground and whether that will be safe. Unfortunately quite a lot from outside Soton will struggle to get there. Shame as its such a huge match.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/16051409.Euro_dreams_drive_Saints_on/ Some truely baffling quotes in here from JWP. Head. In. Sand. In fact, I can't remember a single player interview where they have even acknowledged we are in a relegation battle. We definitely aren't too good to go down...

Would be annoying for it to be moved as would start a bit of a fixture pile up for us.

As ever, if the interest is serious then it will happen. Hard to really get too bothered by individual players these days as anyone good leaves.

One up front is an absolute misnomer. Our problem isn't formation, its the type of players we have and the Manager.

Wow. Hashim Amla. Great signing.

Would consider a front sweeper and five strikers for this one. Leave out the ball recyclers aka midfield. Hit the channels.

Afridi probably!

I reckon Morkel will go elsewhere. Topley has signed a white ball only contract, as an injury prevention mechanism, which seems to make a lot of sense. That said, are we a bowler light? Championship bowlers (spinners aside) will be: Abbott, Edwards, Berg, Wheal, Holland and then whatever there is in the 2nd XI I guess?

Probably he and Hesketh have gone on the Marbella training camp.