sandwichsaint

That old chestnut, form, stats, damned lies and statistics. Five games: Reading A 2-0 West Ham H 1-1 Swansea A 0-0 West Brom H 0-3 Spuds A 0-1 Taken in the round you couldn't get a better run of 5 PL fixtures (admittedly 3 aways and only 2 homes), 5 points from 5 games = 38 points in the season = relegation. 3 goals scored in 5 games (and 5 conceeded in 5) makes it hard to win games. We 'were' on a good run ..... our current, immediate form, as represented over the last five games is not really enough to take us to the points we need. (Ignoring the Spurs 'performance' and concentrating on the result - if we play really well at Sunderland and lose 1-0 we will get no points for artistic interpretation).

Can't see past a Wigan win (but then again I'm carp at predictions) so hopefully that will be wrong as well.

This game is woeful, absolutely the other side of the 'THE-PL-IS-THE-BEST-LEAGUE-IN-THE-WORLD' coin, if this had been a Championship game I'd have turned it off by now. Sunderland were one of the most limited sides we have seen at SMS all season, parked the bus, their best players were Cuellar and O'Shea (both v good on the day) who did a job on RL all day long. Stoke are typically niggly/physical with no shape or pattern, this game really is from the dark ages. We have a two leg play-off against these two inadequates and need to win just one of those games to stay up. Unfortunately we have hit our worst form of the season right at the wrong time. I'm going on Sunday, can't wait, I've no doubt our players are up for it (see Spuds on Saturday when they made 90% of this forum's predictions look stupid) - I really hope Poch has a Plan B tho, we're not scoring goals and not really looking much like scoring. I called it 0-0 or 1-1 last week and seen nothing since then to make me change my mind.

Keep up, the Northam's been a dead duck for at least 2 seasons now.

I read that as 'lingerie', WTF?

Done (can you really get degrees in this sort of stuff?)

Progs are great, thanks. I think we'll draw at Spurs - Poch will want a reaction (and to get us MATHEMATICALLY SAFE!) and I think he'll get one, if you had to pick one team even more adept at Saints at falling over their own feet and plucking defeat from the jaws of victory it would be Spuds. DRAW. I'm going to Sunderland, it will be grim attrition if they still need the points, we're not scoring very freely, 0-0 or 1-1. DRAW Stoke home, we will both be safe, we can celebrate and look forward to bigger and brighter things, not sure what Stoke have to look forward to though? Entertaining nothing game, 1-1 or 2-2. DRAW.

Draw Draw Draw Odds:?:

Best add Olssen and McAuley to that list, Lambert didn't have a kick Saturday either.

Agreed, probably the best 'individual' performance I've seen this season, he was the difference between the teams on the day and we would have won that game without his performance for them.

Lukaka Fellaini Maloney Caulker and Gallas were both excellent RVP (tho can't recall him doing much other than scoring 3 times!) Collins played well for West Ham O'Shea Junior Hoillet ... is he a realistic target? Thinking back there haven't been that many stand-out individual performances against us.

Par for the course, 'Arry has previous for 'regretting' taking a job .......

9 or 10 positions yesterday. The single biggest difference between the teams yesterday was their pace 1v1, West Brom were quicker man for man in attack and defence in virtually every position on the pitch. I'd even wager Foster could beat Boruc over 10m, 25m and 50m. We really seem to have lost shape in attack and defence since Puncheon has been out of the team, and obviously Shaw is a massive loss at LB. I also think our attacking options have changed since Davis has come in - he's doing a good job and until yesterday the goals against was very much under control (3 in the previous 6). Earlier in the season when we were playing 4 attacking players across the front the movement and interchanging was excellent, for my money we always seem to struggle when we play Lambert with just 2 other attackers. Our default front 4 was Punch, Ramirez, Lallana, RL and these 4 put in some good performances together. J Rod is well worth his place but we don't seem to have found the same balance when he's been in the team. I think it's becoming increasingly clear that Lallana and Ramirez together is not really working out, and I'm starting to think there might be similar thing with RL/JRod playing together. I can't work out why Puncheon is the fall guy in all this (new contract, he's done a Saganowski on us?)? His combo down the right with Clyne has been a strength all season. Lets not sign anymore tippy tappy one-paced touch players, we need either a beast up front (Carrol dare I say?!) or a really quick and adept finisher (possibly JRod on a full time basis), not sure where RL is fitting in as a striker for next season but would be a vast improvement on Ramirez at number 10 (see Villa away). We will stay up We will finish somewhere between 12 and 16 We will finish higher next season. COYRS.

If you want entertainment, personality and a quality keeper all in one package look no further than Eric Martin.

You have text.

Anyone reckon Moyes would have got 11 years at Saints?

Gentle Bump, ticket still available.

I have one spare, back of Block 39, £35, meet outside before game. PM me or leave email on here.

I think the word you are looking for is Fallaini, when he plays they play, when he doesn't they are just another prem team; pound for pound we are not a million miles away from them now, some decent business in the summer (and Moyes moving on would help) and we could have their number next season.

Always! Been pretty good all season, hope it doesn't degenerate now the pressure's off. Very pleased with my choice of STs, 38+39 has been good all season, and to think I nearly got all premature and plumped for blocks 1+2.

Anybody want a tkt? I have one spare in Block 39, good view, great atmosphere. £35, meet outside on Saturday. PM me or leave email here

Anybody want a tkt? I have one spare in Block 39, good view, great atmosphere. £35, meet outside on Saturday. PM me or leave email here

If we are serious about any of this then Liverpool are a pretty good benchmark. There are 5 teams clearly above them and they compete with Everton for 6th/7th. What do we want our second season to look like? a) 'second season syndrome', fade away badly and have to scrap to stay up or possibly relegated b) about the same as this year, 'consolidation', finish comfortably-ish 'mid table' c) continue our momentum, we are on a mission, the next level is top-8, top-6, top 4. Judging him on his previous thoughts and deeds I would say NC is a c) man all day long, a) and b) are not on the agenda, next year's challenge is simple ... finish above Liverpool! I think we might just do that.

Watch the disallowed goal, Swansea's defender 5m away and with the best view in the ground puts his head in his hands when Vorm drops it and we bundle it in. Likewise several other defenders turn away - not one appeal bar the goalie (who always appeal in these situations). Memo to refs and linespeople, if defenders have their heads in their hands it's because they've just conceded a goal. **** poor decision from the lino who was just 'guessing' on a handball.

How wrong can one person be? Niemi was very good,but he was also not fit to lace Shilton's boots, the two statements are not incompatible. Shilton was a world player, regardless of 'standards have improved' (whatever that might mean?).