Cabrone

1 point more than I ever expected. Once again the meanest defence in the prem was immense. Aside from Chelsea no other team is within 4 goals of our tally conceded, remarkable achievement. Could we still pull this one around, regain our mojo and make a tilt at top 4?

Could possibly be a good time to play them if this is the start of a mini wobble for them, can't really see us getting anything there but if we do it's going to be an ultra defensive performance with a smash n grab at the other end. If we were to get something could act as a springboard for our own ambitions.

Arse and Pool looking odds on for champs league now. We just need to work out how to score, defence is as excellent as ever but those goals have seriously dried up. Whatever happens it's been a brilliant season though, to think that we were being talked as serious champs league contenders up to March is amzing. The players have done amazing IMO.

I think this game will either be a tense cagey affair where there are few chances or it will be hell for leather with both teams throwing everything at the other. Pool know that if they lose this match their champs league aspirations will be all but over. Arse would be 6 points ahead, we'd be 7 points ahead and Utd 5 ahead all with much superior goal differences and only 12 games to go. I don't see them overhauling Arse now that they seem to be getting up a head of steam and with an effective 8 point head start I wouldn't see them overhauling us too. Pool obviously know this and that makes them a dangerous opponent. We're going to have to be on our best form and our strikers are going to have to click. The prize is a big one - almost virtual disqualification of Pool from the top 4 IMO. We are at the business end of the season now, this is where we'll see just where we are at.

TBH we've been fortunate just to have had the services of such a quality player over a season, he was playing in the champs league final not too long ago so it was a real coup to land him. I'd love him to stay but reality means he'll go to one of the big boys.

If we win then we'd be 7 points ahead of Pool with 12 games left and with a +14 goal difference over them there's every chance they'd need to make up 8 points on us. Even if Saints had middling form till the end of the season that's a huge deficit for them to overhaul. However we badly need to get our shooting boots on and start peppering the oppositions goal, we've been a bit shy of late and the goals have dried up. Obviously want a win but I've got a bad feeling about this one.

No. **** or bust for me.

I had my questions about him when he started for us, you could see he had the physical attributes but his decision making and link up play was questionable. However he's rapidly become a top striker scoring pivotal goals for us and keeping the charge alive. Looking like a class act at the moment. What I love about this team is that it has no out and out stars, it is a collective unit and each week it seems a different player(s) steps up to the plate to get us over the line. Mane and Forster this week but the other players have had their days too. The whole team is 100% in the fight and that is what has got us to where we are.

Big 3 points (aren't they all at this stage of the season). Kept on going and finally got our rewards. 14 games to go, 10 wins needed - going to be a hell of a ride over the next 3 months.

With the amount of possession we had in the 1st half we should have been home after 45 mins. We need to shoot a lot more, make something happen in their box. After half a season to take a good look I still think Boruc is better than Forster.

Best of luck Jack, Swansea have bagged a bargain. Should have had far more prem appearances than you did, our loss is Swansea's gain.

Was gutted to miss this one, the build up was electric. I really started going on a regular basis just a month later. Went to Fratton instead in '87 in the 2-2 game, running battles all the way back to the train station and pretty sure a Saints fan got stabbed. The one in 84 would have been one to remember though.

I suppose Osvaldo's out of the question.......

Looking forward to this one, Palace are going to give us a game and it won't be easy. If we go at full strength and put in a decent shift we should win though. 2-0 or 2-1 to us.

I don't remember much hype about Tiss before he broke through the first team, everyone could see that he had talent but he was a sub for a long time. He actually got a 'supersub' tag as he'd often score when he was brought on. The first game I saw him in was at home to Spurs in 1986 I think. Shearer had a lot more 'hype' before his debut although it was nothing compared to what you see now. He'd been prolific infront of goal as a youth and there was a buzz of excitement around him although I don't think he ever really got into his stride till he went to Blackburn. I saw his debut hat-trick but he was still very raw and it took him a long time to consistently break through. What a player he became though.

Osvaldo could have been brilliant but he's a head case. I really wanted him to work out but it was not to be. I wonder when he hangs his boots up whether he'll look back and regret wasting the undoubted talent that he had. He's had a string of top flight clubs but won't be much remembered by the fans at any of them. If he hasn't seen the light by now then he's not going to.

Because growing up Saints was my local club. That's what you do isn't it.....

Those who are saying that there's no chance of finishing above Man City were probably saying there's no chance of being in the top 3 after 22 games and looking like real challengers for champs league. We play Swansea (h) next and they play Chelsea (a). We could be breathing down their necks with at least another 5 winnable fixtures to follow and hopefully more of our 1st team regulars coming back. This is an unusual and exciting season and it's going to be a dog fight to the end IMO, anything is possible.

You'd be disappointed if we didn't get champs league from that kind of position, infact 4th would be a bit of a let down. This winnable batch of 6 games could make a champs league place almost inevitable. A stunning achievement if it happens. Injuries are our Achilles heel though, we need a bit more luck than we're having at the moment because things are getting more and more stretched.

Amazing, we seem to have forgotten how to lose, this is unreal. We are currently on 42 points. Top 4 should be achieved by getting 33 points from our next 16 games. Home games: Swansea, West Ham, Liverpool, Palace, Burnley, Hull, Spurs, Villa Away games: QPR, West Brom, Chelsea, Everton, Stoke, Sunderland, Leicester, Citeh I can see 33 points from that lot. Bloody hell, champs league is really on.

Was like the first game but this time we got the right result. Saints put in just enough effort to get past Ipswich and no more. 2 dull games TBH. Palace next which will be tricky but we should have a great chance.

Both. They aren't mutually exclusive you know.

Of course we'll bother, Ipswich were no great shakes and we should have beaten them the first time. Palace are beatable too and then we'd be in the 5th, 4 games from winning it. Apart from Chelsea and City we are a match for anyone esp at home. All steam ahead for Champs league and the cup.

I can remember the turning point in our champ season came after the 1-0 at Leeds (a.k.a the siege of Elland Road). That was the moment I really began to think we could get out of that league. Whilst I don't feel we are quite at the same stage yet (too far to go yet and talking about champs league does seem bonkers) the players must surely have received a massive injection of confidence after the last 3 games and can see that they really can take on the 'big boys'. However I am starting to feel a 'now or never' moment is arriving. We are clear in 3rd after 22 games, we won't get relegated and the worst we'll be now is mid table, we have the best defensive record in the league and the only team that has really turned us over (1st game aside) has been City. We need to throw everything at this as we may never get the chance again. This season may be a one off.

Brilliant defensive performance, frustrated them and then ambushed them. I have to say we've made United look dire twice this season now, we are the better team IMO. When Van Persie and Luke Shaw were subbed I began to feel that we had a real chance, RvP always scores against us. Sweet, sweet payback for what happened at SMS.