Forester

I personally would be delighted with us climbing one place each season over the next 5 years - not sure that type of slow progress will please NC but to my mind it would be sustainable success and if accompanied by stadium expansion would be in our long-term interests. If you buy-in to the fact that we will be mid-table, as per my prediction, then we should be prepared for it appearing at one point during the season that we are in a relegation battle. Its kind of unavoidable unless you are a top half team that at some point a loss of form sees you looking over the shoulder. This will be the key point for us - trust NC will back MP when this happens and keep the stability there.

Far, far better than he was at the beginning of the season and has become part of a reliable back four. The stats since Xmas are pretty good defensively. To rate it on own goals is a bit daft

. Yep! And bearing in mind who was the only keeper who saved a MLT penalty......!

surprised no one has mentioned Sheff wed away under Burley. Bale played like a genius pouring forward from left back. Saints winning 3-2 in stoppage time. Sheff Wed get a corner - and MARK CROSSLEY scores!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not a deviation at all - you are absolutely right. MP is undoubtedly a very shrewd tactician and what I like, despite a disappointing (and undeserved) result at Spurs is that he fixes problems. If you watch that West Brom game again, you will see Jos being sucked into the hole between defence and midfield and this way out of position for the through ball. This was also our problem early on in the season when we just could not cope with the ball being pinged around our centre backs. I thought our defence was superb at Spurs and this article highlights a key reason why. Lastly, as a huge Rickie fan, I do feel he has tired recently and we should consider more frequently bringing him off the bench a la Man City, Chelsea more often away from home. His fitness understandably isn't as high as you would want for a striker playing the way that this tactical approach demands. we need to strengthen in that area in the summer big time

I understand the sentiment here, but reality is that IF we are serious about pushing on to top half or better we need 2 Premier League quality options per position. And Richardson and Fox don't fit the bill. So I'd expect/hope for some signings this summer in positions where we don't have a crisis, but we absolutely need competition for places. And one of those is Lambert, an absolute legend, but not irreplaceable as he moves through his 30s....

very well put

Clearly all games are crucial, but I think there are two really big ones - yes its Wigan v Swansea (which I think they will get either 1 or 3 points). But the other key game for me is Villa v Chelsea next Saturday. Reason being that if that one goes to Chelsea, who are clearly still going for Champions League, it means that one more point for Saints will almost certainly be enough. That Villa v Wigan game really helps us, and you would have to budget that Wigan would need to not only beat Swansea but ALSO Arsenal for a draw between Villa and Wigan to send us down. So for me its one point needed unless Villa get something against Chelsea.

in this thread I can't see anyone mention the intended new capacity - how many would it hold?

I have us finishing on 40 points (that included a correct forecast of a draw against Norwich) and I'm convinced that will be enough. However......I fear we will only get one point from these next two home games. Liverpool look in absolute prime form which is sods law. If I'm right, I just hope everyone sticks together because as others have identified the fixtures then get a lot better. The preachers of doom will be trotting out anti-MoPo stats about only one win in lots, so it won't be easy to keep things positive. But we absolutely must!

very fair and accurate

Massively worrying perfromance yesterday, although QPR still did not deserve more than a point at best. Providing we dont have another big debate about Adkins/Cortese and the mood is positive I expect us to get 40 points (exactly by my predictions) and still have us staying up. But Norwich needs to be at least one of them

of th Spot on. And the point of the thread was that, if we are really looking to go up to the next level, this is the scale of squad trimming needed. It seems 110 Persaint is a delicate wallflower on these subjects!

Fair shout re Steve. Re Lee, just don't see Premier League quality but perhaps he will prove us wrong. Think we should really push ourselves if we are serious about top half next season

Given that we have increasing confidence of staying up, it looks like the opportunity to have the mother of all clear-outs in the summer. Most, but not all, really good servants who would be a great asset for teams lower down the pyramid - but lots of trimming to help create some room for two or three quality signings. Here's my starter for 10 - what do you think? Forecast Davis Richardson Butterfield Seabourne Martin Dixon Fox Chaplow Hammond Guly Forte Barnard Sharp Lee

Have to say I disagree. If you compare the bottom 4 when we last went down (WBA, Norwich and Palace) those sides were massively weaker than anything I've seen this year. Telfer, Jakobsen, Delap, Ormerod, etc would not hold a candle to our current team in my opinion

says it all...............what a compliment. BBC interview

Fair play to Artur - like many I was really unconvinced initialy but he has looked superb last three games. Commands his box, big guy who does not get pushed around and looks calm and confident. Lets hope he continues this form

Kamil Kosowski - and DM's legendary inability to pronounce his name!

go on - try and engage with the debate. It won't hurt! which bits are bullsh!t?

I do genuinely believe there is a route to Saints competing to regularly be a top 6 team over a ten year period but not in a simple "chuck wages at players" style a la Pompey. To be fair to NC he is addressing the infrastructure with nothing but the best at the academy, but as others have said an absolute must is to expand the stadium. Our attendances now, with the constraints of a 32500 capacity, show us about 12th. However I think we would regularly get crowds of over 40,000 when playing top half teams, and our catchment area exapands throughout Dorset, Wiltshire and most of Hampshire. Just look at the JPT final for a glimpse of what is out there. So if the stadium is firmly on the agenda I don't think its madness but it will take a decade

I've said on another thread that i would not have done this, and feel gutted for NA. However....................... ................proper fans will want to focus on supporting MP and the team - THEY HAVE NOT MADE THIS DECISION. If we turn St Mary's into a difficult and unpleasant place we will go down. Why do that? So let every one let off steam over the weekend but then get behind the team and the manager on monday night

I'm really gutted to hear about Nigel going - I've seen every one of our last five away games and its clear we were making good progress after what was I accept a naive start to the season. Nigel did a great job, will always be loved by Saints fans and should leave really proud and get a good job elsewhere. However what I would really ask people to step back and reflect on is their reaction on monday night and beyond. Its not about the chairman or manager - we will hopefully be here long after they go. There should be one objective only and thanks to support the new manager (its not his fault!) and the players who are representing our club. We didn't agree that Pardew should be sacked but things have gone well by everyone sticking together. So I would not be doing this is I were NC - but he isnt gonna change his mind now

Can't work out what they are saying re engineering work. Booked on 845am from King's Cross and National Rail Enquiries says hourly train from York on divert. It still doesn't say there is any issue with my train (albeit its a slightly longer journey than the others later in teh day) so should I be worried?

sorry lifted wrong quote! Davis (not willingly but we won't play Boruc and Gazza isn't fit ) Clyne Yoshida Fonte Shaw Morgan Cork Davis Gaston Puncheon J Rod