SNSUN

I had 42 too. I think the majority has it at 43 points. Can see us beating Stoke and finishing the season on a high. No Charlie Adam for them should help.

Strong team please, there's still quite a lot at stake. Boruc Clyne Yoshida Forren Shaw Morgan Cork JRod Davis Puncheon Rickie Forren to make his debut now we're safe. Should be interesting. A win would see us seriously fly up the table, based on looking at other teams' fixtures. Even a draw would see us perhaps jump a spot or two. Lose and there's a good chance of 16th place. 17th spot should be covered by Sunderland, Wigan or Villa, so we should finish higher than that. We're good enough to beat Stoke though. I really think we are.

Does anyone think the higher up in the table we finish, the more attractive we'll look to players from abroad?

Oh Lord. We're going to have "If we lose 12-0" posts all week aren't we! (Or at least until Arsenal spank Wigan on Tuesday...)

I like what Villa have been doing lately - their young players have finally gelled and they have good attacking talent. So Villa. I like the way Wigan go about their football, and their never say die spirit they've shown in recent weeks too. So Wigan. I like Palace in general, it's one of the few away grounds I've visited and they have overachieved this season. They'll also be the easiest of the play-off trio to beat next season! So Palace. I care not for Sunderland really, I think they've woefully underachieved this season. Watford have used tons of loans all season, it's worked for them but I like teams to have a family of players of their own, not borrowed from abroad. And finally Brighton, whose fans and manager irk me. It'd be good to have a derby of sorts next season, but I prefer Palace. None of this will happen though, bar Villa staying up. I think Brighton will go up, although them in the final with Watford would make for a good game anyway, and of course it's Wigan who we can see going down.

Yep, pretty much my thoughts on Lallana. He's not been the same since his injury, but with a full pre-season, he will be a useful player next season. He's Premier League quality IMO, having powered us up through the leagues, he just needs to find some form. I would strip him of the captaincy, but aside from that to replace him would cost lots, and I do think he'll have a better season next year. At one point today they were safe, but I don't think they have too much to worry about. Wigan's fight will be over on Tuesday IMO, and the last day will be a massive anti-climax for the teams above them.

Yep, just noticed. Changed "beat" to "thrash"! Still two Wigan wins, which still won't happen, and Sunderland could be toast. They were safe before Puncheon's goal too.

As it turns out it is Sunderland that will have fishy pants this week if Wigan thrash Arsenal. A Wigan/Villa draw and it's Sunderland that will be going down.

There's a reason we're all breathing a sigh of relief at safety! ;-) Ok, I'd rather our season didn't have to come down to safety just because two of our rivals are playing each other, but nonetheless that's the case. And I still think we'll pick up a point or more next week anyway.

The voice of reason...is....a...bear! And I thought it was Owls that were supposed to be wise! ;-) I like this. Improvement every season please.

THIS!!! But for now I'll say 13th.

I think with a summer of training and additions to the squad (and there will probably be a complete overhaul of the squad), we'll really challenge next season. We seem to play a good pressing game which has the bigger teams struggling but then struggle against the scrappier lot. I think he just needs to learn when to press and when not to, and improve our finishing, and we'll be flying. While our recent form hasn't been good, I still think he's a good manager and we'll do well under him next season.

It is - looking at the fixtures on paper, Norwich probably won't beat Man City, Newcastle have a tough game against Arsenal and Sunderland have a tough game against Arsenal. On West Ham, in 10th, perhaps have a guaranteed 3 points at home against Norwich. 11th is most likely with a win, a draw would probably see us finish 12th, and even a loss could see us stay in 14th-15th. Thanks to Puncheon, I no longer fear the 17th spot.

We are Premier League say we are Premier League!!! Love you Puncheon - safe at last. Precious goal, great for us, not so good for Sunderland who could still go down. Now look at the fixtures on the last day - look at the table, and suddenly 11th place looks very doable! We can beat Stoke!

The Club - with the apology, the retaining of him over the summer, and with the contract. We fans didn't though, that's for sure.

The live table looked bad at 1-0 down though. Come on Saints, let's get that precious second and leapfrog a shed load of teams in the table. Our last game is a lot easier than Norwich's, Newcastle's, Sunderland's, Villa's and possibly even Fulham's as you look at it. 3 points today would give us a great chance of a mid-table finish that we didn't think was possible before Puncheon's goal just went in! Still need that second though.

Let's get a winner! (Sorry for my absence from earlier in the thread, the Norwich supporting wife realises that at 3-0 up she doesn't need the computer anymore.

Puncheon!!!

Charlie Adam is the oldest looking 27 year old I've ever seen. I'm 32 and babyfaced compared to him. Even Chaplow with all his baldness looks younger than Adam.

Well done Watford - I must admit I thought Leicester would win that. Charlie Adam sent off for Stoke! BYE!

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.