SNSUN

A guess at the line up though it is so tough to predict in a game like this, even though Ralph often likes to go strong. Forster Valery Lyanco Salisu KWP Armstrong Diallo Walcott (nah, me either but we're paying him so we should play him in this and keep him away from the league) Tella Armstong Adams Armstrong if fit but Romeu if not - we are definitely light in CM unless Smallbone is seen as a long term option there.

This would be the most satisfying win in ages... if we can get it. A draw would be tolerable, but lose now and result wise this would be worse than the Wolves game. Staying positive for the last 15.

Howe! Fucking hell some of you need to get a grip. There are better options than Howe if we were to get rid. Redmond has been one of better players last few games. Not saying much but still...

Simply needs a win or two in the next few games no excuses. Wolves was a winnable game and we lost poorly. We've had tough fixtures and had we won early doors, some of the draws we've had are decent. We just need to start scoring goals from open play. I think our strike force has potential, I just feel we're lacking in the attacking midfield department without SArmstrong. Go balls out... Livramento further up and Broja starting alongside AArmstrong.

Broja has scored for Albania... again. What a goal too

Oof if that was in a penalty shoot out... but it wasn't so YAY!

I like Che but he'd be the man I'd be dropping right now, to try and get a win against Leeds, so perhaps a tweaked hammy isn't the worst thing. He did play well though for Scotland, worked hard. Glad I caught the second half of that game. JWP up next. I know it's Andorra and we'll probably struggle to a 2-0 win or something but I hope he comes out of the game with some credit. He has a point to prove after not making the Euros. Also, he needs some form to take back to us, even if he's out for a few games.

Seems like the VAR monitor had a meltdown before it was even used.

To me VAR is using infallible video evidence (it's right there on camera) by fallible human beings. Until you remove the human element, somehow, there will always be mistakes, even by those watching replays. What can be done the change it? Improve the technology somehow? Sure. Improve the standard of refereeing? Sure. VAR is still in it's infancy so we probably have a few more seasons of annoyance to go yet before it's anywhere close to perfection. Other ideas? Foreign refs in our league to stopped bias? Lines drawn on the pitch by grounds staff as a guideline? Refs are annoying though - your title is missing a "T" as the fourth letter. 🙂

Absolutely hate myself for saying this, as he's so ruddy frustrating, but right now I'd pick Redmond. Then Djenepo. @nta786's idea above sounds good for me. This has been an issue for me for seasons though - we have quantity over quality in attacking midfield.

If we could score goals from open play, we'd have a chance of a decent points haul. Need a LOT of players to step up over the next few games or we really will be in the shit.

So I've waited until now to write my thoughts on the game, partly because I had a busy weekend and partly because my daughter has been ill. Anyway, result aside, I thoroughly enjoyed my first trip to SMS on Saturday in nearly 2 years and really hope to go again soon if shift work allows. I thought the band were decent and the pre-match buzz around the stadium meant that many thought we could win that. Then the game started. We weren't terrible, we were just dull and without ideas. We did have chances just not really clear cut ones. Wolves, like us, seemed to be low on confidence, but that moment of class from Jimenez and iffy defending from us was all that separated us from another draw. I'll stop short at ratings but I thought McCarthy, Salisu, Livramento, Romeu (for the most part, he started poorly) and Redmond did OK, and Armstrong was the better of the two strikers. The rest weren't up to much at all really. I think having 2 attackers at the moment is all wrong and we need an extra midfielder - I'd be tempted to start Romeu as a deep DM and have JWP and Diallo as box to box. We wanted to play wide but we don't have decent wide players. KWP and Livramento on the right would make so much more of a difference IMO. Still overall I enjoyed the game and, though it looks worrying right now, especially with Chelsea ahead, I still think we'll have enough to avoid the drop. Goals are an issue but with Stu Armstrong to come back hopefully we can play someone shite and get a confidence boosting win.

Cheers JRM. Will try again for fuel in the morning otherwise train it is.

Hey all, for those in the know, are the buses from Southampton Central still running to SMS? I don't mind the walk but won't have a lot of time. Been years since I used public transport but my car has no petrol as all the idiots are panic buying so looks like train is my best option.

Currently available on a free transfer...

Papa Waigo in the last minute. Then Bialkowski saved 3 pens. I was in the Kingsland taking the piss out the wife (who thought they'd won) and it was frigging freezing.

My first game in ages wahoooooo! Taking the Norwich supporting wife so she can watch a Premier League team for a change. 😈😈😈🤪 Really think we can win here. Two goal shy sides suggest a dull 0-0 but get the team right and we CAN win! Hoping for the 4222 with 2 strikers. McCarthy, Tino, Bednarek, Salisu, Perraud/KWP, JWP, Romeu, Elyounoussi, Redmond, Adams, Armstrong.

Banana skin avoided... just.

Bloody iPad died just before that goal so can't see the goals on Sky Sports News. Pah. BBC website and SaintsWeb it is then. (Wife has hijacked the TV for Bloody Bake Off.)

Forster, KWP, Bedders, Lyanco, Small, JWP, Diallo, Moi, Djenepo, Tella, Broja for me. Rest Tino. Perraud for Small if he’s not ready. 0-2. Think we’re slightly lucky Berge and Gibbs-White miss this one.

Quick game before Sheffield Utd then? Maybe he’ll be subbed off early.

Let's start with a win against Wolves and see how we get on. Both us and Wolves are struggling for goals in the league, so you could say another 0-0 isn't impossible, but if Ralph structures us right then I think we can win that. Stephens will be a loss if he's out but with Bednarek, Salisu and Lyanco we have strength in depth there this season. Then there's Chelsea who we will probably lose to, but having said that we did get very good points from both Manchester clubs so it's not beyond the realms of possibility to do the same - I just think Chelsea will be a different animal this season with Lukaku up top and will probably win the league, unless Liverpool stay clear of injuries, City can stop the blanks due to a lack of attacker and United's new players click quickly. Then follows 5 eminently winnable fixtures if we play well and stay hard to beat. I'm not predicting those directly but a ratio of 2 points from 3 isn't impossible. So 11-13 points from those 7 should put us in decent shape for the Christmas period. I'll say 11 with slight pessimism. Looking at the bottom of the league, you can already see the teams that might struggle. Poor Norwich are looking like fish in a barrel and everyone has a loaded gun. Normally tight Burnley have already conceded 9 and are struggling for goals, this could be their season. Newcastle and Leeds are conceding goals for fun right now too, though you think Leeds could improve. I also think Palace and Watford could slip though I liked the look of Palace last week and Edouard looked like a decent acquisition. Then there's Wolves who are struggling for goals. If we can keep our heads above water, we should be looking more towards mid-table than over our shoulders come the second half of the season.

We need this... Pleasssse

Wtf team selection. You can only imagine Ralph sees this as a free hit and is saving key players for Wolves next week which is very winnable.

I'm personally making more of an effort to get down to St Mary's this season than I have for a few years. I'll be at the Wolves game firstly. Trouble is as a shift worker it greatly restricts how much I can get down there. I miss the Royal Oak though. Used to be a good atmosphere for pre match pints.