SNSUN

Tricky game to call. If West Brom still think they have a chance to escape relegation (11 points gap and a shitty goal difference says otherwise) and buoyed on by their Chelsea win, then they will come out fighting (especially an Allardyce team although he's bitten off more than he can chew this time). However they may realise they're down now and feel deflated, not to mention we just had a decent victory against Burnley and have a cup semi to come. Even if they hit 2 points out of 3 though (16 points puts them on 37, only 5 more than Newcastle have now) I don't think it will be enough. It is probably one of those games that will end in a draw - not enough for WBA and it keeps us edging closer to that 40 point mark. Win though, and we hit 12th, so there is incentive for us too, especially going into a cup semi. Sod it, I'm going 2-1 Saints. Let's get a Diallo goal.

Was it Watford that were relegated because of it? Think it was them and not Bournemouth. OK the Hornets are going up anyway, but I'm surprised they didn't make more of a stink about it at the time. OK, probably not as bad as West Ham surviving over Sheffield United when the Hammers signed Tevez and Mascherano as the Hammers broke the rules and Villa didn't, but still. Had Villa gone down last season they certainly would have lost Grealish and would have been a shadow of the team they are currently. With the backing they have they'll be a Premier League force for years to come IMO. I don't like VAR but I do think it has a place. However there is a human element to it and humans are fallible. Some of the "armpit offsides" have been ludicrous this season, and some of the lines drawn (as above) have been crazy. If it is that close, or takes ages to make a decision, surely the benefit should go to the attacking side. Che Adams goal that was ruled out by a finger when playing United was crazy. Oh and well played Leeds - shows that our path to FA Cup glory is not completely impossible! <<<SNSUN daydreams about winning the cup...>>>

In the Championship? Plenty. Farke at Norwich is doing great things on a limited budget for instance, although as my second team (as my wife and all my in-laws are from Norwich and support them) I follow them a bit more closely. Hopefully his hands aren't as tied in the summer and they are able to bring in a few players of quality to do better than they did last time. Ismael and Paunovic have got their teams playing above expectations too, and Cooper at Swansea has done a great job bearing in mind the high turnover of players since they got relegated. I appreciate Parker is still cutting his teeth in the job, but with the players they signed this season and the team they had last season, I still think they should be doing better. Oh, and I'm a Ralph fan too. 😀

I like Fulham and a couple of mates support them but I don’t rate Parker at all. He underachieved with them last season. Yes he just about got them promoted but he should have smashed that league with the players they had. They’ve made some decent signings this season and with that squad are still underachieving. Still, some good players to potentially pilfer if required...Robinson for one. Sadly they look doomed this season. When was the last time the bottom 3 was decided long before the end of the season? (Assuming the bottom 3 now are the bottom 3 come May of course...)

I listened to the last 15 minutes of the Saints 5 - 4 Norwich game live using Clubcall when Monkou scored the winner I went apeshit and danced around the living room. I got a bollocking for running up the bill but it was worth it. I remember ringing it and they would waffle on for ages before they even said anything of note. I seemed to remember using it to find out about friendly scores as there was no other way then and Ceefax didn’t always display them.

I became a virgin after we had Virgin on our shirts but then my daughter arrived and screwed that up. 😏

I think he'll get better, and therefore should be kept. He should, however, never be considered as our "number one" striker. If Ings leaves, we really need to be sourcing a goal machine from somewhere. Whenever we've had a goal scoring striker, most often there has been a player alongside that hasn't contributed so many goals - Ormerod for example. I can't think of many occassions where we went out to sign a proven goalscorer to play alongside a goalscorer except Kevin Phillips. (From my era 90's onwards in the Prem I mean. I guess Barnard/Sharp alongside Rickie counts if we look at our lower league years). If we do have inspiration for top 8 then maybe we should try to add a better 'second' striker, but I can't see us having the money for that. With Ings' future up in the air, Long not wanted, Obafemi not trusted by the manager, N'Lundulu not exactly setting the world alight, and Walcott's iffy finishing, we should be doing everything we can to keep Adams happy this summer. EDIT: In addition however, if someone offers stupid money for him (Like north of £30 million) then I'd be thinking about it!

I’m not a big fan of Walcott*, I think he’s clumsy amongst other things, but in a transfer window where I think we will be strapped for transfer cash, it does make sense. He’s showed he still has some pace for his age and can be a threat, not to mention he wants to be here. If the wages are right, he’s a decent squad signing. My worry is that this is a precursor to doing things on the cheap. Still, Long or Walcott? Answers itself. *watch him bang in the cup winning goal now...

Burnley still up for this. Dare I say we need a 4th? Salisu on for Armstrong. Nervy last 10...

Absolute joke of a decision. KWP was clearly pulled out the way for that. All that preparation ruined. Burnley are the best team at defending their lead. This will be uncomfortable viewing for the rest of the game as we should now be the possession-heavy team. Need the equaliser and fast.

I’m going to stay positive before I die of blood clots, we will win today. 3-1 Saints, looking like our old selves.

He'll be a Liverpool player by the time the Euros comes around anyway then we'd have to hear commentators calling him "Liverpool's Ward-Prowse" 😁😜😈 Seriously I'd love a Saint in the England squad but I don't think he'd get much game time. Maybe a late sub to whip balls in or a reliable penalty taker. I like W-P but I don't think he's first XI material.

Am I looking too much in to JWP's post match comment... Head turned. See ya James! 😁 In all seriousness, with us skint, would selling Ward-Prowse in the summer give us vital funds to rebuild the team? I hope not, I'm a fan.

Tough to call POTS. JWP probably but I am a fan of KWP. Vestergaard gets most improved player. Tella probably gets the young POTS in lieu of much other choice, unless Diallo qualifies at 22.

My WiFi decided to die on the 40 minute mark so I missed the Redmond goal. Ergo he's still crap. Seriously 2 nil is breathing space but it isn't over yet. Would be nice for Adams to continue his scoring run. Would be nice to give Jankewitz and Watts a run out before the game is over if we have it in the bag.

2-0 Saints, Armstrong and a KWP rocket. JWP and Diallo will boss midfield, Vestergaard MOTM. Watts to come on and show class. Then City in the semi... 🤪

GTFI ADAMS!!! Lovely volley. Last post so...

That was coming. From their most likely source too. Arse. Now is the test of our confidence.

Brighton are a strange team in that they put in good performances but don't get results. They struggle to score goals and have a lightweight, although technically good, midfield. We, on the other hand, have some key players back from injury, and a striker who has scored 2 in 2. On paper and ignoring form, this should be 3 points to us. If KWP, Diallo and Minamino are all fit, then a team of: Forster, KWP, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Bertrand, JWP, Diallo, Armstrong, Tella, Minamino, Adams should be enough for the win. I can't see Brighton winning this despite the bookies having them down as favourites, but I can see a draw would be possible. That said I think if we get the first goal, then it's virtually game over. And I think that will happen. 2-0 Saints in a scrappy but determined performance, goals from Che and Armstrong. Confidence for the following few fixtures and the cup game.

I can’t watch the second half so if we miraculously draw 3-3 or even win then it’s my doing. You can’t make mistakes against a City team on this form. Now make subs, put players where they should be, and go for it. Anything less than 5 goals for City tonight would be a respectable result.

Fucks sake Che, I'm a fan of yours and I think you're a great passer of the ball, but that was a brain fart of epic proportions. We go again...

15 minutes in and it is already a damage limitation exercise. I didn’t like that line up. That was the line up of someone who fears the opposing team and has previously had a couple of 9 nil thrashings on his CV. I’m a Ralph supporter but that was an odd line up. Still this is a free hit and Brighton is more important. That said we don’t want another thrashing crushing our confidence levels again.

Minamino will score the second, Sheffield Utd will get one back through Mousset fairly late on, but as they push forwards, Adams will bang one in from distance. It is written. Then we can all sleep easy tonight with our bellies full of vino. Addendum: This is one of many scenarios that could happen...

We should have a sweepstake on which player will get injured each game. Crazy. For a man already in no form, you could probably say his Euros campaign seems a distant dream away now. Adams then? Please not Redmond. Yes Che against his former club. I like Che. The Ormerod of the current day. 😜

Premature EjaculaNun? w00t! UTS - we CAN win this and that is probably our strongest team sans injuries. STOP THE ROT AND WIN!!! FFS