SNSUN

Almost identical to the Brentford/Doncaster events of the last day of the season, that was.

Very happy with that line-up. Pretty much exactly as I'd have chosen, possibly with Yoshida in instead of Fonte. Easily good enough for three points today, especially against a weakened Sunderland. This will be no walk in the park, but I do think we're good enough to win this. I'd still take a draw though, natch.

Where we're going, right now, I'd take the Premier League safety, especially as the money being pumped into the top league, well managed, could buy players we could only dream about in the nPC. But a cup win would be fantastic, if only the relegation didn't come with it!

Safety is in our own hands, so it's moot really, but I still think that because Arsenal have too much to play for to get into the Champions League, they'll be up for that. Then there's the chance of a post-FA Cup hangover for Wigan too. I'd rather be in our shoes than theirs...

Simply the only way we can get relegated is if Wigan win both their games and we lose both of ours. 4 points for them isn't enough as our goal difference is very unlikely to be bettered by them. Wigan winning both and us losing both? No. My biggest worry is that we'll finish 17th, which after the season we've had would be a disappointment, irrespective of whether we'd have taken that at the start of the season. I can't see it happening, I think we'll pick up three points minimum from our last two games. Remember too a point tomorrow sees us mathmatically safe, as we can't be overtaken by both Wigan and Villa, who play on the last day. Any doubts? Put a large amount of money on Wigan winning against Arsenal on Tuesday. Happy if they lose, as it guarantees Saints safety (pending us not securing our own status tomorrow), consolation prize of money if they win.

He was better than that - Kompany was going mental having to deal with him - although I admit his finishing needs work. He should've scored twice today, once in both half. When he cut inside with on his left in the first half he could've scored, and the chance in the second half when he tied the City defence in knots definitely should've deserved a goal. Pleased for Wigan - I hope they go out and have a bloody good hard drink tonight - and forget they're playing on Tuesday.

Liverpool wanted Ince back, it can happen. McManaman is one of those players that the opposition hates - and his name has gone down as MOTM in an FA Cup final in history. I'd happily take him if it were possible, but I would be surprised if we brought in ANY English players this summer - I can see us going on a Spanish binge.

A season of mixed emotions for Wigan fans then. The sad thing is Wigan actually play better football than some of the teams that will stay up, like Stoke and West Ham - they're just mightily inconsistant.

FA Cup winners and relegated in the same season - that can't have happened to many teams. (Ignnoring Birmingham winning the League Cup and getting relegated a couple of seasons ago...) Wigan aren't down yet though, and if their players play anything like that then 6 points isn't impossible for them, but I think Man City have been strolling for weeks and Arsenal will be a different, more difficult nut to crack. Funnily enough, I'd struggle to name any QPR players I'd want, I definitely wouldn't want any of the Reading players, but there's a good two or three players from Wigan that I think could strengthen us. Maloney, McManaman (who was superb today and caused City's defence to lose their discipline) and their on-loan keeper Robles impressed me today too.

We will WIN on Sunday. I don't know why I think that, just an inkling in my heart. I'm feeling overwhelmingly confident about this one. The Di Canio transformation is wearing off, they've got big players out, and after stuttering form I reckon our lot will want to perform. Long journey up, great journey back for our loyal fans. Or a draw, which I'd take now if offered. Head says a draw. But 3 points would be sweet, keep us in touch with the mid-table clubs, make us mathematically safe, AND set us up lovely for the Stoke game. Let's finish the season in style.

Again you could argue the case for him so perhaps I should have included him on that list, but he's really only hit his form in the last 10-15 games and I also did it with their transfer fees in mind, and £7 million is still a lot. Boruc too has only really played this calendar year, but he's improved a very important position no end. Clyne would perhaps win it on performance throughout the season, and all of Clyne, Davis and Yoshida were really bargain buys, but I just feel that as Keeper is such an important position, Boruc's signing, especially on a free, was massively important.

My Palarse supporting mate claims Bolasie is the bogs dollocks. Aside from that rose-tinted recommendation I'd take Schmeichel and Ince as squad-strengtheners.

Without looking at this thread first I voted Barry for best comedy moment, I'd forgotten about Puncheon's poo break. Best signing was tough too, you could argue good cases for Davis, Clyne, Yoshida and Boruc. Boruc won it because I think we'd have gone down with Gazzaniga/Kelvin in that position all season. No worst signing? Gazza or Ramirez surely would have got votes there! (Though of course I'm hoping both come good if they stick around.)

I apologise for ruining this for everyone...

13th, unlucky for some, not for us.

Exactly. Only 6 points from Wigan would see us back in trouble. 4 or fewer for them and we're safe even if we finish the season on 39 points, as our goal difference is much better than theirs. (Pending getting spanked by both Sunderland and Stoke.) :-) Looking up the table now, and I think 11th is doable, but finishing anywhere higher than we are currently would be a good result for me.11th-13th IMO.

Forecast, Pulis, Ted Bates statue Mk1 - when we make mistakes we make whoppers. A sell on clause for Bale would have seen us cash in big style - we get a keeper that didn't even see action when we were in League One.

Well bugger me! (Don't.) I wasn't expecting that! Well done Swansea but on seeing the highlights Wigan shot themselves in the foot with their defending. Awful stuff! That's that then. Wigan won't beat Arsenal, not with their injuries and having to play two massive games in basically 3 days. Whether they win on the last day of the season or not, I can't see them getting more than 38 points. Even a win and a draw for them and we'd be safe on goal difference - and this is all speculation that we won't get another point. Which I think we will. 6 points now could mean 11th, and we'll wonder what we've all been worrying about! (Though personally I think we'll either get 3 or 4.)

I would like our midfield to score more goals than they do, especially Lallana who's made his name as a goalscoring midfielder really, but Puncheon's goal against Chelsea in Adkins' last game does stick in the memory. I'm surprised Punch isn't getting more of a look in at present.

All signs tonight point to a Wigan win. Their form, Swansea's form, Swansea's safety... I'll be cheering on the Welsh. Come on Swansea!

Happy, as long as in the third minute of injury time we long balled the ball up to Rickie to head in for a sneaky 1-0 win. Beat them with their own weapon.

Looking at the fixtures, Newcastle and Norwich are really in the shyte. Norwich can't score goals and Newcastle are badly out of form. We'll survive, but it won't be as comfortable as it looked a few weeks ago. A win at Sunderland would be MASSIVE.

We will win. Don't ask me how I know, I just do. I will laugh, dance around, and rub some stinky, pooey, skidmarked pants in Di Canio's smug face. Seriously though, While I'm still confident with 39 points and a decent enough goal difference, I still think 41 will guarantee safety. That's two draws. I'd take a draw from this game.

I think we'll easily finish on 44 points. :-)

From the bench? That'd be impressive. Typical Saints doing it the hard way. To be fair though, this was a free shot and we've played well. Still safe, but we need something from the last two games to do it confidently. Still wish Wigan would bugger off though.