The Kraken

Forever in their shadow; I'm just bitter, jealous and upset.

Why is it odd? My emotions say that a draw is the likely result, but my head says we're also on form and could win.

Q1. What are your opinions on Southampton's season so far - has it gone how you expected? Its exceeded my expectations. I expected a real struggle to stay up, but we've really pushed on and look like we can begin to relax a little for our remaining games. Q2. What are your opinion on WBA's season so far? - Have we exceeded your expectations? I've been really impressed with WBA. At the start of the season I thought Steve Clarke would struggle in his first managerial position and be a bit of a Brian Kidd. but he has been superb and a top ten finish looks likely to be a just reward for his endeavours. Q3. You made a controversial change not so long ago. What are your thoughts on MP and what difference has he made to your side? The move came out of the blue, and it was probably the timing and the way it was done that stuck in the throat of supporters rather than the actual decision itself. Nigel Adkins had a shaky start but we had turned the corner under him, were 15th in the league and looking upwards rather than over our shoulders. That said, credit to MP, he has taken us onwards and developed the side and has us playing a really good, high tempo passing game. And wins against Man city, Chelsea and Liverpool suggests we'll give every game a proper go rather than set out just to consildate in games. Q4. What are your opinions on West Bromwich Albion Football Club and its supporters? Well, my Wolves supporting mate would want me to chime in with something here but.....! If I'm honest I don't really have an opinion. You're a club similar to us, rather inoffensive, you play football the right way and have a decent following. Q5. Peter Odemwingie became a laughing stock during the transfer window. What did you make of his antics and how our club dealt with it? It was utterly hilarious, and if anything his actions since have proved was a classless idiot he is. I think WBA handled it spot on actually, and hearing him gripe about how unfair ti is and badly he's been treated just makes me laugh even more. He came out of it looking terrible. WBA came out fairly positively I feel. Q6. The game at The Hawthorns finished 2-0. What were your opinions on this game? That Saints side was in terms of personnel not too far away from our current side, but a world away from the way we're playing now. I think you'll find the return trip a different matter altogether, we have a team full of confidence and with a bit more Premier League know-how behind us we've become a lot more difficult to beat. That game for us was pretty dreadful really, and quickly forgotten! Q7. Which players should we be wary of in your side and who do you fear in our side? At the moment Jay Rodriguez is probably our most improved player; he's rapid and forming a great partnership with Rickie Lambert, who you clearly know about. Our most creative players are Adam Lallana and Gaston Ramirez but I've been somewhat disappointed with both of them of late. Indeed against Swansea in our last game Ramirez started on the bench and Lallana was subbed off after a subdued game. In midfield we have a massively under-rated partnership of Jack Cork and Morgan Schneiderlin who are just getting better and better, I genuinely think Jack Cork should be in the England reckoning, he turned our season around when returning from injury after 9 or 10 games of the season gone. Also our full backs Nathaniel Clyne and Luke Shaw are earning rave reviews for their attacking instincts. As for WBA, I'm a massive fan of Lukaku, if you can keep hold of him for another season it'll be a massive coup. Q8. What side is MP most likely to choose for Saturday's encounter? Our side against Swansea was: Boruc; Clyne; Fox; Yoshida; Hooiveld; Cork; Schneiderlin; Davis; Lallana; Rodriguez; Lambert. Hopefully Shaw will replace Fox at left back (he was ill during the week so missed the game), other than that I'd be happy with that side, though being at home MP may decide to use Ramirez perhaps in place of Steven Davis. Though I hope he doesn't do this. Q9. And finally, score predictions. I think it'll be a tight game; heart says a draw but I'll go with a Saints win 2-1.

I heard yesterday during the commentary that Liverpool wouldn't take up the option of qualifying if they were offered it. And its not just on red and yellow cards, if it were we would be top.

To finish top ten we'll need to topple our "mid-range clubs" hoodoo. Against the current top 7 in the PL we've won 3 games. Against the bottom 6 sides we've won 6 games. Against the 7 mid-table clubs we've won zero games.

"Loudest away fans at the liberty I've heard bar none". That can't be right, surely. Have Pompey never played there? They're bestest most pashunest fans ever.

The transfer market is ridiculous, and with the injection of money from next year will only get worse. Begovic is being linked with a £15M move from Stoke over the summer, which is ludicrous. Bentele is a striker who is in his early 20s and has scored nearly 20 goals this season. Carroll was vastly overpriced at £35M but it shows the levels that some clubs will go to. And I've lost count of the number of posters on here who justify Ramirez's transfer by saying that £12M is nothing in today's prices.

Even if Villa get relegated it will probbaly take £15M - £20M to prise Benteke away. I'd have thought he'd be quite in demand over the summer, and I don't see us splashing that sort of cash around. Its always worth looking at the relegated clubs to see if there are other bargains to be had, though. I don't imagine Readin have got too much to go after. QPR, well wages will likely be a problem but the likes of Remy, Taraabt and Julio Cesar will surely be able to find another PL club if they want. Villa do have some promising youngsters, and Wigan also a few players that might be worth a punt.

Trying to do what now, Diggers?

Well done Bourney. Did my degree down there and went to Dean Court plenty of times so have always had a bit of an affection for them. Eddie Howe has done a stunningly good job there, they were hovering around the relegation zone early in the season.

Never looked troubled? According to the taters I watched, if Dyer had any idea how to play a final ball Swansea could have been out of sight. His first 20 minutes was terrible, though he did do a lot better than that for the rest of the game. I'm not Fox basher for sure, I don't mind him and as a reserve full back we could do a lot worse. But he's not good enough for a starting spot and I thought he struggled at times today. Anyway, its all about opinions so I respect you feel differently

Bournemouth are pretty much promoted unless they get thrashed by 7 or 8 goals next week. Brighton right in the mix for the playoffs. Next season the south coast wil have 3 clubs in the top two divisions. Plus them lot in the 4th division, vying with Aldershot for the pride of being the south's 4th biggest club.

Rickie had a poor game today, no doubt. But I thought we actually looked worse when Rodriguez went up top on his own. Perhaps would make more sense positionally for Mayuka to play in the Rodriguez role, but no way would I advocate that right now.

Different position. He's not a midfielder.

Thought he was pretty average actually. Poor first 20 minutes, constantly out of position. Got a lot better after that; but as the commentators I was watching said, if Dyer had any idea how to provide a final ball Swansea could have been out of sight. Luke Shaw back next week please.

Who would you drop to give him a chance?

Kraken's player ratings: Boruc: 8. Largely untroubled but superb when needed. Distribution pretty good (though seemed to kick long a bit more often than usual). Clyne: 7. Good defensive display, got forward well but once again failed to pick the right pass when getting in really good positions. Fox: 5. Torrid first 20 minutes but got a grip and sorted himself out. Failed to support the play going forwards though, Shaw must come back in next week surely. Yoshida: 6. Comfortable enough but never really got the idea the defence was fully calm at times. Hooiveld: 6. As above, lucky that Boruc bailed him out with a great save. Schneiderlin: 7. Typically good battling display. Cork: 8.5 MOTM. Second week in a row I've given him MOTM, he was absolutely superb today. If he could just add goals to his game.... Davis: 7. Good display, has definitely added a settling effect to the midfield, especially away from home. Feel like he has improved throughout the season. Lallana: 5. Poor; a few nice touches but didn't do much at all. Rodriguez: 7. Good running from JRod without too many chances for him. Has he got quicker? Aboslutely rapid at times. Lambert: 5. Not at the races today. Ramirez: 5. Pretty poor really, gave it away too much and didn't have an impact coming on. Puncheon: 5. Looked rusty, also gave it away a bit and didn't offer much going forward. Mayuka: 6. Looked lively, could have got himself a goal. Would be good if he could turn out to be a genuine sub option up front.

Come on the Copper Bullet!!

I think you've got me confused for someone else Baz. I don't think Ramirez justifies a place in the side right now.

I know you're not Baz! For me, he needs to cut out the number of needless mistakes he makes, just easily surrendering possession. If he was doing it while trying really creative things, or eye of the needle passes then fine. He's not though; he's making a hash of really easy things. Very frustrating player.

Lallana rightly off, been poor. Gaston has given it away so much since coming on.

What are we doing? Gaston keeps giving the ball away and the defence have got jittery. Lallana has been fairly poor by his standards.

No it wouldn't you moron. We were 15th when he left us.

F*ck's sake Lallana.

Dyer having a field day. Must be laughing his socks off he's up against Fox. We're getting mullered.