SNSUN

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.

I don't think many Saints fans thought that Lemina wasn't a talented player, just that he was inconsistent. On his day he was unstoppable (Palace) but oftentimes he didn't show up. He's older and wiser now so I guess he's knuckled down.

He's been injured before he even kicked a ball, twice I think - but apparently he's close to coming back. I actually think Chelsea could surprise a few people this season as they're slowly improving, Cole Palmer has been decent, Jackson has started finding the net, Sterling looks reinvigorated and they have Lavia, Nkunku and James coming back from their injuries. Pochettino is safe hands too.

http://westbrom.com/forum/index.php?topic=22734.100 When he was on loan at WBA in 2019 they liked him, thought he was committed and solid. I agree that it can't have been easy playing at Everton over the last few years (though under Dyche it looks like they're getting their shit together) but perhaps the Championship is his level. I do think that it's no coincidence though at how much better our CBs look when playing next to Harwood-Bellis. If he doesn't play for England in the next 3/4 years, when we have ageing CBs, then I'd be very surprised. I want promotion for us this season for so many reasons but one of the more important things is because I want us to sign him permanently.

This is key. If we don't get promoted we will lose them next season, and Charly, KWP and Sulemana amongst others. We will start a shell of a team and have to rely on a good transfer window again. Everything about us right now seems to point towards us having the makings of a very good Premier League side and failure to achieve promotion would unravel it all. Unfortunately there are 4 very good teams fighting for 2 places. IMO I'd like to see Leeds in particular pilfered a bit in the January window!

M-m-m-My Girona

Pleased for him after that tough start. That will be the monkey off his back now. With Jack still to come back, we're looking good at CB. I wanted another CB in January but with Charles as a fifth choice, perhaps that isn't needed now.

Fair play to the coaching team this season, with all these late goals we're showing excellent levels of fitness this season. With Ross now back from injury hopefully we can steer clear of any little niggles and have a really good Christmas period.

Saints go marching on. Top spot is still in sight.

I've been enjoying the football highlights this season, after largely avoiding MOTD for the last couple.