SNSUN

12th up for grabs as it stands, 17th more likely. We'll know where we stand after the rest of the games this midweek. After Brighton's impressive win today they are in catching distance of us, as will Newcastle be if they win tomorrow. I feel we will end up closer to 17th, as I can't see us getting anything from West Ham. The extra prize money would be nice though, I just can't see us getting it after today.

No standouts this season but I went for Captain JWP. The ticking heartbeat, Mr Reliable, of our side and gets better every season. I’m glad his form has been recognised by Southgate and hopefully he’ll go to the Euros. Honourable mentions to Armstrong and KWP. While not in my running I also think Vestergaard has had a decent season, especially early on.

Oh I know what I was going to say... Is it standard to get VAR to check every saved penalty? There was no way Fraser's foot was off the line and it stopped me mid-celebration when they were checking it. It's almost as if VAR (or the rule makers) want the penalty taker to score. (Which is the opposite of strikers when it comes to the offside trap it seems...)

Agree, I’m not saying he didn’t do anything good because he did a couple of decent things, and he at least seemed to be trying and pressing, but he was too easily knocked off the ball and he gave it away a lot. If you count all Minamino’s touches and result thereof, I’d say he had far more bad ones than good ones. Maybe playing on the right isn’t his best position but I wouldn’t want him back after his loan as I think there would be players we could sign much more suited to the Prem. Could he change and bulk up? Perhaps but at 26 and entering his prime, I can’t see it. I enjoyed last night’s match, more as I thought Palace were decent. Che in particular started very quietly but grew in confidence and ended up with a goal and assist. A good night’s work. I also thought KWP did well bearing in mind who he had to contend with. Zaha must hate playing Saints. Oh while the way Clinton Morrison talks does grate on me, he seems to know his stuff, like how key Romeu is to us.

Shit a brick their passing is great in attacking areas. Really hope our defence can hold out but it’s fucking tense! Minamino off now! Need to attack Palace, their weak spot is in defence. Need a third I’d say... Obafemi for Ings Apparently...

Nah, you’re ok Liverpool, you keep him. For the price you’d want, just nah. Not for me ta.

First half of the season was good, second half crap. If it were the other way around, we'd be lauding Ralph as some of managerial genius for taking a shit squad (probably languishing at the bottom of the table all season) and turning it round. Questions need to be answered but I don't think our situation is terrible going into next season. We play high intensity football in a season with fixtures coming thick and fast and just don't have the squad for it, especially with the injuries we suffered. It's Gao that needs to put his hand in his pocket (ha) and find some money to improve the first team. Improve the first team and you improve the squad automatically as the existing first teamers have to fight for their places. (Can't see it but live in hope.) Still it would be nice to finish on a high. I can't see us sacking Ralph so we just have to hope the second half of this season is the worst form we ever see again. Who's to blame? For me a bit of everyone really.

Keep playing Tella. Against Liverpool I was much more impressed by his vision that the mere speed-merchant I had previously seen. The more he plays, the more experience he gets and the more confident he will become. I suspect we will see a strong side not too dissimilar to the Liverpool game but with Minamino in, although I'd like to see Salisu given more run outs for the last few games as well as Jankewitz (to see if he really 'has it') and Obafemi to see if he can be an answer up front next season. The last 4 fixtures are winnable if we can find some early season form. I have a sneaking suspicion we may get something tomorrow, despite Palace winning their last game. 6/ 7 points more could see us finish above Burnley, Brighton and Newcastle and, yes, I know that still sounds terrible but it would still finish the season on a positive note.

Saints should sign Toby Savin. 20yo and looks unbeatable!

Accrington Stanley? Who are they?

Yep playing some decent stuff. I don't think we've tested their iffy centre back pairing enough but Allison has made a few good saves and Liverpool probably have a gear or 3 they haven't used but still good. Ooh Adams should have done better there. Nick a point please!

Attacking midfield? Not sure I agree with that. I think we have quantity but not enough quality in those areas. Armstrong is obvious decent, but Redmond is inconsistent, Djenepo made of glass, Tella largely untested/unproven and Walcott, Minamino and Elyounoussi on loan with uncertain futures. I’m not sure Minamino is necessarily the answer to that (although he must have shown quality for Liverpool to sign him) but I would be looking for a better AM to be brought in, if we can find one. However I’m aware we will be on a strict budget, and money would be more importantly spent on full back areas and in attack, so I guess we will be stuck with what we have or more loans, which concerns me. I can potentially see Walcott and Elyounoussi here next season for a start, which could mean a looooong season.

Not to be cliché with my posts but... I'd take a draw. 🤦‍♂️

I’d take this point with bells on...

I love Danny and if he wants to stay and sign a contract this summer then great, but with his injury record, if a reasonable offer (over £35 million) came in for him this summer I’d be thinking about it. Arse. Great finish Bale. Now we need to show some balls.

We look so much better with Adams in the side over Redmond. Criminal he didn't start at Wembley really. Granted he should have score do early on but he gives defenders a headache. Decent performance so far. Get the second and it would be difficult to see Spurs getting back into it. Concede and we may see our heads go down. Need to see more from Tella for me (overall, there were some encouraging signs that half). Bar Armstrong I still don’t fully rate the AMs in the squad. Great header from Ings. Overall keep it up Saints. Are we still in the dark about Bertrand?

Equaliser, extra time, penalties, win penalties, beat Chelsea, win the FA Cup. Easy. Why can’t we have nice things... I really hope the higher powers of our club aren’t all sitting around post season patting each other on the back at reaching the Semi Final of the FA Cup. “...and we just survived lads. A job well done this season.” Serious investment needed.

Time for the nuns... Hmm, wrong pic... Never thought I’d say this but... get Walcott on!

Come on Saints, the more we bore them to sleep the more we can take advantage! Seriously I’m just happy to go in level at halftime. They were the better side. Please let us go through! I don’t care how, just let it happen!

Everton installed the first dugouts in England, we installed the first permanent floodlights in England. We’ve be rivals in trying to set records ever since.

Yep about 10 goals from Ings in the first season, but it was still enough for Spurs to come in and buy him for £65 million... If only it were real life... This is my first new FM since FM13 surprisingly (except on iPad I did have the basic version a few years ago), as I went a few years without a working computer and then discovered old incarnations of the game when I finally did get one. The holy grail was finding my Grandad's old laptop in my mum's house (he died circa 2008, the laptop had been purchased around 2006) which she 'inherited' and then never used, then realising my old CM2003 disc worked on it. That was my favourite game of all, Beattie, Pahars and 30 goal a season Ormerod would easily win you the Prem without signing anyone!

Finally got around to loading CM 2021 up on my laptop last week (I've been in an epic game of FM2008 for ages). I am starting off with the Touch version before I delve into the main game and all the micromanagement that goes with it. So far? I'm in 2023, Gao has given me shed loads of money to spend, I signed Nketiah who has scored 50 goals in one season, signed St-Maximin for a club record £35 million fee, won 2 Carabao cups on the trot and the Euro 2 cup, Che Adams has 16 assists and 20 goals as we marched to 6th in the league, and I have also signed 2 wonderkids. Oh and Burnley just bid £13 million for N'Lundulu and I haven't even played him. I hope the main game is more realistic! 😁

FA Cup Final day - Manchester City vs Southampton. The build up, the coverage, the excitement. Drink it in. ABIDE WITH ME with tears rolling down your cheek. The knowledge we are safe for another season and can give the game everything we have got. The lack of caring that City get 80% of the analysis to our 20%. The lack of caring that we are about to come up against De Bruyne and co. The day is all about the build up sod the result. We can dream, can't we? We've not so long ago beaten City with a similar team. It is 11 vs 11 and it is DOABLE! Just DREAM! And what if? WHAT IF we actually do it and beat City? Can you imagine that feeling? Those of you old enough know the feeling. I was there for the JPT. This would feel infinitely better than that. History. THAT IS WHAT IS AT STAKE! (Unless Chelsea get through but the principal is the same...) Only Leicester City stand in our way. We can do it people. Just believe! One game, it's just one game. Put your thoughts about our crappy team to one side and focus on the positivity. Taste the final... And hell if you don't believe, you can always stick a huge insurance bet on! 😁

We'd have no players or manager after the first minute as they'd all be in the bath... 😝 Seriously that was wank. The swear filter was not replaced for nights like this. WANK. That has to go down as one of the worst performances of the season. Sell Ings, sell JWP, sell anyone worth any money at all and rebuild the squad. Now let's go and win the cup. 🤪

Seriously crap. We look a midfielder light and our defence looks shit scared. Attack is the best form of defence, as WBA have proved. Their defence isn't great but they've hardly needed it. Leicester must be rubbing their hands together at this performance. You'd like to think it can only get better... Roll on full time!