SNSUN

Terrible news

I'd be very surprised if we strung form together enough for us to hit the auto spots. Need to just concentrate on getting into the play offs comfortably.

That was coming.

I'm impressed with our recent form but for once it would be nice to really finish a team off earlier in the game so we can showboat. We'll never see a David Dunn style failed Rabona otherwise!

Lack of players I believe. I think they're knackered in an attacking sense from what I gathered on their forum the other day.

To be fair in 2003 we had a decent cup run, after smashing Spurs, against Championship opposition... until the final when we played the best team in Britain. But yeah it's not the same as going into the final as favourites which Pompey were because they had players they shouldn't have had.

No wonder Staples went out of business without 'Arry buying their brown envelopes

If we don't go up I can see someone like Palace maybe taking a punt on him if they could afford him - he's a similar player to Clyne who will be out of contract this summer.

It's been said before that many Saints youngsters have banged in goals at "lower levels" then never hit the heights in senior football. I hope Ballard isn't one of them. However if we go up this season I think he goes on loan for another year. Stay in the Championship and I would hope he would be one of our squad options next season alongside AA, Ross and A.N Other. The Reading loan will do him good IMO no matter how fruitcake they are right now.

What's the LOL for? Saints International players have had a good week largely. Charles performed well for NI last night, Stu scored a cracker for Scotland and Bazunu was effectively MOTM against The Netherlands and that's just 3. Bednarek and Aribo also started for Poland and Nigeria. Bednarek nearly took Soucek's head off! Agree - but he's still young. Personally I like what I've seen from him this season and I think he has a bright future. Up to Martin to manage him well.

Apparently Shea Charles was immense for Northern Ireland tonight as they beat Denmark. Good week for our International boys.

Mo Elyounoussi spoiling Stu's party

Baz and Manning playing for Ireland tonight. Only following on the Beeb website but sounds like Baz is having a decent game so far.

Yep. If we went up we'd probably only have him for season or two before he potentially fetches Van Dijk-esque sums of money so it would be gutting to not go up and miss out on him. Downes is a West Ham fan apparently so I think the chances of signing him are slim anyway - after a great season in the Championship he'll be chomping at the bit to become a regular there.

Leicester should go in all guns blazing for a pay out - they're going up this season anyway and a ton of money from Everton would help rebuild the squad they had to decimate because of their relegation. *EDIT - ...as they're the ones that suffered relegation instead of Everton.

If they don't get it overturned they'll still survive because they're a lucky bunch of lucky bastards. Goal difference - you heard it here first.

Ben Johnson can play both sides and fits that criteria. I wonder if we’re still interested.

Yeah this. Hard to better what we have in most positions unless someone who is definitely Premier League quality becomes available. Everyone forgetting my man Joe Aribo!

I'm glad we kept him and that he has knuckled down this season (Che I'm looking at you) but if there's one thing this season has shown it's that he still has a lot to learn. A full season at this level will do wonders for him going forwards. Personally I hope we keep him in January as I think his pace will be an asset against tired legs as the season goes on but I understand if Everton or someone wave enough money at us, we'd probably sell.

In the Prem? Any promoted team's first job is to stay up. But yes, I'd take a potential Prem relegation battle next season if it meant we got promoted this season. Otherwise what is the point of fighting for promotion in this league?

I think if we went up we'd have to spend quite big, but THB would become ours anyway so that would be huge for the defence. You'd think we'd be able to keep KWP too. Really as starting defenders go we'd need one starting CB and LB and we'd be ok. Even Bazunu would be a different beast next time around with a season of confidence behind him. Ultimately the important thing is just to get there. Us 3 relegated sides were always going to be competing for promotion this season, just a shame that Ipswich have been so good this season so far. Play offs would be a huge risk though. We need top 2 but it will be a tough ask.

I'll be wearing a new cologne on Saturday called 12 Hour Shift so I hope to follow it as much as I can at work.to continue the run would be lovely, what would be nice is to finally add a few more to the goal difference that we've been merely chipping away at. 1-3 Saints. Ross on the scoresheet late on.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-southampton/pokalhistorie/verein/180 Doesn’t look like it. We played Wrexham in the 70s but they were 4th tier.

Unbelievable how bad it's got there. I am old school friends with one of the former Reading owners (I'm Berkshire born and bred but thankfully made the Saints choice aged 8 ) who let things get a bit out of hand during his tenure but it was nothing like the current owner Yongge.

Borrowed time. They were 2-0 up and screwed it up. They'll be a League Two team if they don't do something quick. Still, good for Ballard to score again.