macca155

Good point I forgot we used to play more games. 70 points is at least possible. Wouldn't that be amazing.

Playing the predictor sites is good fun and if you remain objective they all have us finishing 5th or 6th. 4th is probably beyond us but not as mathematically unlikely as you would think. The fixture list stagger has to unwind and Saints are definitely in lane 1. All the top teams have to play each other which means if Saints keep winning then they will make progress pretty much every week. Saints won't win every game obviously but they definitely have the best run in. The infighting between the other contenders will be interesting to watch. the first three places are settled and 4th is almost certainly going to Utd. As an earlier poster observed they won't lose 3 out of the next 8 games, although we live in hope. No way will Swansea catch Saints, they need 4 wins to our 4 losses in the next 8 games. That is very unlikely so 7th is pretty much in the bag. This means that Liverpool, Spurs and Saints are slugging it out for 5th, 6th, and 7th. The games are running out and as soon as one of those teams falls off the pace they are done for... there is no coming back. Spurs have a very similar fixture list to Saints but crucially they have to play Saints away, that game will be the decider I suspect. Liverpool have to play Arsenal and Chelsea and despite some good form may find their run in difficult. Of course into that mix come relegation teams fighting for survival and pulling off shock victories. Plus the time honoured variables that make football so enjoyable to watch and impossible to predict. It has been a great season and hopefully we will see Saints amass more than 60 points which will be an incredible effort considering the departures in the summer. A glance at the record books shows that this is the 12th best season already and there are still 8 very winnable games to play. Five wins would see Saints match their 2nd best ever points tally. Saints would have to win every game to match 77 so in reality that has to remain a target for next year The goal difference is likely to be one of the best as well. Season Pos P W D L F A GD Pt 1983-1984 2 42 22 11 9 66 38 28 77 1980-1981 6 42 20 10 12 76 56 20 70 1984-1985 5 42 19 11 12 56 47 9 68 1981-1982 7 42 19 9 14 72 67 5 66 1979-1980 8 42 18 9 15 65 53 12 63 1970-1971 7 42 17 12 13 56 44 12 63 1968-1969 7 42 16 13 13 57 48 9 61 1982-1983 12 42 15 12 15 54 58 -4 57 2013-2014 8 38 15 11 12 54 46 8 56 1989-1990 7 38 15 10 13 71 63 8 55 1994-1995 10 42 12 18 12 61 63 -2 54 2014-2015 6 30 16 5 9 42 21 21 53 To put things in perspective Saints have only ever finished above 6th place twice. I for one will celebrate 7th and hopefully a European adventure. Anything more will be amazing and a solid platform to build on for the following season. What isn't to like about this season whatever happens now. Enjoy it as we haven't seen it often before.

Of course Lallana would walk into our team he's a good player. Why on earth do you think some/most of our fans are so bitter. I wish he was still a Saints player but he isn't and I've moved on. He'll get dogs abuse tomorrow from me during the match as that's our job. Put him off a bit and Liverpool will lose an edge. Other than that good luck to him.

Bottom line is that he isn't our player and belongs to Athletico Madrid. Like everybody else I think he is probably the most accomplished and highest quality player I have ever seen playing for Saints. Way way too good for us at the moment and he deserves to play at the very highest level. Saints aren't there yet but we are getting close. Toby's a Saint for another 13 games so lets just enjoy him why we have him and wish him well when he goes. I think its a shame that Jack Stephens, an obvious understudy hasn't been able to train with him. I've high hopes of that lad and maybe we'll see him next year starting to fulfil his promise. As others have pointed out Yoshida and Gardos are playing well so we don't exactly have a crisis at the back. Wouldn't be wonderful if he stayed though....

40 quid for half the pitch... an away win is good value though

My view

I'm at the game and you won't have seen that corner on the stream. Unbelievable accuracy and swerve... brilliant

top 6/7 is the new top 4 Actually I think the way Newcastle and Liverpool (our genuine rivals this year) have been taken apart by the Arse and Utd is actually quite encouraging. They had much harder games against us and whilst Arse kicked us off the field and we gifted Utd the win, there was no way Saints were going to be beaten like that. City took us dead serious brought their 1st team and A game and we had sore bottoms by the end of the game but there was a level of respect there that I haven't seen before. Personally I'm not bothered about Utd, City, and Chelsea. They probably earn more in programme sales than Saints do at the gate and we simply cannot compete with that at the moment. RVP is not what he was but that finish for their winner was world class and that is what you get when you pay the big money. Look at Liverpool without Suarez they have lost that edge. Saints are in a league of Everton, Newcastle, Swansea, West Ham, Spurs and Liverpool. Arsenal are on the fringes but I suspect they'll pull away once the real infighting starts. 7 points cover the teams so we best brace ourselves for a roller coaster ride. Everybody is going to be beating everybody else its going to be like a relegation fight but without the consequences. Spurs seem to be getting it together which is a worry but Saints have to play 5 of those teams at home so there can't be any excuses.

Certainly thin on the ground in midfield. However we know Target can hold the lb position so maybe push betrand forward. Same for Clyne if we have someone who can play rb

Beaten by a better team who took us very seriously. Expect more of the same against arse Utd and Chelsea. First half was good we absorbed their early pressure and started to cause them problems. Losing Morgan (why) was critical for us. City took over the midfield and our weak attack needs a strong midfield. But hey things have been a lot worse than this. Need to regroup and get some confidence back. This wasn't a cup game and will be forgotten with a few wins.

Just on the train home. A great win against very tough opposition. Hull played well and never gave up.they've some good players but weren't clinical on front of goal. Good! because neither were Saints. First goal came from a sloppy kick by their goalie. Big Vic ( who was immense today) simply dinked it into the empty net... from 35 yards. ... with 3 hull players on him... class. Hull threw the kitchen sink at Saints for about 20 mins and even Clyne was being roasted by overlapping players. 2nd half Saints took control as Koeman moved Davis across to protect Clyne and our subs made an impact. Towards the end Davis Pelle and Mane all missed sitters from close range. Hull were left taking long shots and frankly our defence weren't troubled towards the end. You could tell from the players reactions that they knew this was a top performance. These wins are obviously brilliant but they also mean that draws will do against the top three. As long as they are kept below us happy days. Toby and Morgan were just brilliant today. Big test for the board to keep them beyond the summer. Best start saving for some euro travels

Its all very well saying play a strong team but if we really are going to make serious challenge on the top 7 then we need the same mentality. Players get injured and banned so we need players to come in who have had some game time. This would be my team just a few subtle changes, defo rest Morgan, Wenger doesn't get to see him or talk to him Forster Clyne Gardos Fonte Target (He was solid at Millwall no problem playing him) Cork (Needs game time) Wanyama (Deserves start) Davis (Guaranteed start) Maine (He's fit and rearing to go and needs playing time) Pelle (Needs Goals) Long (Desperately needs goals) In the background we have Reed and Isgrove but in fairness not much else... oh yes Mayuka. Glad I've got a ticket as this will be a spicy game

Good win against a top notch side away from home. Well done Big Vic but he should have been on from the start even if to just bully Bony. I thought Bertramd was a contender for MoTM but mightily impressed with Gardos, he looks the full monty. Pelle is no Lambert but he does occupy the defenders. 3 points, 4 wins in a row and 2nd in the table .... happy days

Just leaving the game and I hate to say it but Cork looked like he was waving goodbye tonight. ..hope not he looked class tonight

Look we're going to be beat 4 - 1 probably as that's our nightmare score. I've got a ticket and frankly I don't care. I'm going to give Lovren dog's abuse, support the team and look forward to the future. Personally I'd play Stephens for Yoshida. Young hearts have a big capacity and the boy needs to show us what he can do. It would be a great show of defiance and he's old enough now to brush off a defeat. I suspect Koeman will send out a defensive format as he'll want to minimise the damage and watch players in game time. WBA is the start of the season in reality.

Plenty of links and crucially nothing to say it isn't, which means a whole bunch of jounos are desperately trying to tie down (or destroy) the story right now. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11700/9348423/premier-league-dutch-legend-ronald-koeman-is-set-to-become-the-new-head-coach-of-Southampton http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/next-southampton-manager-set-ronald-3690634 http://talksport.com/football/reports-southampton-set-name-koeman-new-manager-14061396233 Yay we've got Ron manager.... "Oh, those Brazilians, you know? Circa 1970? Broke the mould. Theory out the window. Free expression of football. Uncategorisable. Is that a word? It is now! You know? Far cry from small boys in the park, jumpers for goalposts. Rush goalie. Two at the back, three in the middle, four up front, one's gone home for his tea. Beans on toast? Possibly, don't quote me on that. Marvellous." I'm not sure I'll be able to live the with the disappointment of it not being Ron now Anybody else playing a video in their mind of us beating Spurs and Liverpool and singing "you've bought our old ****" .... no just me then

"...they are not considering what a character SRL was in the dressing room and how he motivated the youngsters to believe anything was possible" That's true but anybody who has played any sort of team sport also knows what a 'big' character can do the dressing room if they are unhappy. I would imagine an unhappy Lambert would be a nightmare in the dressing room. As you say no one begrudges him his move, on its own it isn't a big deal but in context of all the others the timing is not good. Lambert going isn't a particular shock, his demeanour has been pointing that way for a while. The money is ok (no more than that) and it possibly clears the way for Osvaldo if our new manager can forge some sort of rapprochement.

I particularly liked "Southampton, Everton, Newcastle, Tottenham…all these teams are in the same situation. They can all attempt to establish themselves at the top of the game, but they’ll never actually do it: without making a quantum leap in status or without becoming the apple of a billionaire’s eye" A few years ago we would never have been compared to those three, perhaps we've made progress regardless

Window your irony is not lost or unfounded but that isn't too far from a reasonable solution. Osvaldo is the Italy No 9 and a has the pedigree to be a top class striker, without the attitude we wouldn't have got near him. He is still ours and with no Lambert around he may just do the trick. If our new manager is Moyes then no doubt he'll be back in the fold. Mayuka and Sharp should either be played or shipped out, I have doubts whether either can make it in the Premier league but they are way better than Gallagher. But for a moment lets assume we get a Benteke or Lukuka in (probably not them but the equivalent) add that to Osvaldo and JRod... well we've had worse.

Moyes is defensive I grant you that. Knows how to win a game once in the lead, he grinds out results. Considering we have a strong midfield (still) and defence and no strikers (Jay Rod is broken and Gallagher is League 1/CCC at best at the moment), it strikes me we might need exactly this type of manager. None of your list inspire me - Moyes I sense will be hungry to re establish his reputation. Moyes would be an awesome appointment, I remember his name the last time we needed a manager and everybody just laughing at the ludicrous idea that he would even consider Saints. He is exactly what we need at the moment but I can't see it myself, he is probably a shoe in for Celtic anyway. McClaren is tainted goods I know but he is probably the sort of manager we need, experienced, calm and able to manage some big egos. One thing is for sure the board need to sort this asap. Rudderless ship at the moment and we are under attack.

Lambert going is the sort of dagger to the heart those of us who have been around too many years have experienced far too often. If you think this is bad try Channon going to Man City, that destroyed me at the time. This list is long Chivers, Channon, Wallace, Shearer, Walcott, Bale, Ox to name a few. We'll get over it and lets not be holier than though we were happy enough when Saints played the big man and nicked the main man from other teams. Lambert from Rovers an ironic case in point. The money doesn't bother me 32 year olds don't raise much money and his career at Liverpool will be brief but knowing Rickie there will be some moments to celebrate. He is cramming a 20 year career into just five years and who can blame him. I've always watched ex Saints players with indifference but I reckon Lambo will be different. What odds he misses his first penalty against Saints. We all know his form was going and his hogging of the number 9 shirt probably led to the whole Osvaldo fiasco. Lets face facts the Italian No9 didn't come to Saints to play second fiddle to Lambert. Maybe the new manager will be able to bring Dani in from the cold. Football fans are pretty shallow and one decent goal early doors and all will be forgiven. I can see the goal celebrations now with Fonte and Osvaldo head-butting each other. What annoys me is how this is being conducted, our board look like naïve fools and the press sense blood. The English press love to build people up and then knock them down again, it is just our turn. Sadly he isn't going to be the last either.

Really cannot see how they can spin this. The funny thing is that halfway through the season when Sir Rickie was labouring I wouldn't have been surprised to have seen him sold. He rallied at the end of the season but JRod and Lallana had a lot to do with that. He is in extra time with his career and is in a hurry but why do this now. Rodgers is mad, you have Suarez, Sturridge, Stirling and probably a whole crop of youngsters coming through... and you buy a 32 year old striker from a team that finished below you. Hope Rickie enjoys cup games...

Now watch Lallana go to Liverpool for 20 million... bad smell about this

Echo reporting it as done deal now confirmed with player http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/11245417.Lambert_close_to_shock_Liverpool_move/ Can't begrudge him the move we owe him so much but it will hurt to see him playing for Liverpool. Daft money for a 32 year old to be honest, forget the emotion its a good deal for Saints but a bad deal for our hearts.