Badger

I remember both Channon & MLT being given the captaincy, failed miserably for both. Both great players, but not captains. AL is not a captain in my view as not in a position to influence others or the game.

More reliable than Hooiveld & Fox perhaps, but that's as far as it goes. Are we not allowed, or capable of changing our tactics as well then ? Especially as we had 85 minutes at home to overturn that early setback.

Not having a go, but are you serious ?

It might also be worth questioning why people believe MP will have any more chance of selecting the players he wants than NA, or if they will be assembled for him ?

I too was surprised by their numbers, given an end of season game, with nothing to play for, and yes, they gave good vocal support. Much of it was about Wolves going down, but we can't criticise on that score obviously. Just a shame the fat rubber faced reptile, Adrian Chiles might get some joy out of the result.

No elbow raised, Ramirez was trying to throw him off after the **** had been pulling at him for twenty yards or so. You could see the WBA player waiting for an arm to be raised before going down clutching his face. C^nt. If that had been a Spaniard or South American going down in such fashion there would be an outcry. No trainer needed at the time, and he didn't look bruised on MOTD as might have been expected if Ramirez made contact. If Madley had witnessed the original foul against Ramirez then the game would have been halted before the 'incident'. Their bloke too, no 'slap' or assault. All handbags.

Brings it back to the discussion, who scouted him and was insistent on signing him ? I think he might come good next season, but still not sure he was what we needed this.

Isn't he a mate of 'arry's ?

Don't worry mate, we signed Vergard Forren in the January window instead, and we've still got Guly on the bench.

Voice of reason. We were the team "on the beach" today. Survival, yes, I'd have accepted that and on the morning on January 19th 2013 thought we had a manager capable of that, and seeing through steady progression for a few years to come. As for Europe, only Cortese and our most one eyed supporter see that as imminently likely. As for Mayuka/Ramirez, and I know this is a different debate, I really wonder who scouted, insisted on their signings, and drove the deals through. I like Ramirez, and hope he stays, he has great potential, and another season will see him excel, but I certainly feel that £12/14m sum might have been more sensibly been invested for our first season back in the top flight.

Okay, so things should improve. But I don't go along with the MP being the new 'Pep' or 'Jose' that many want to believe.

So, Ladies & Gentlemen, are we still looking forward to next season after today's shambles ?

Perhaps one good thing to come out of today. But tell that to the deluded hordes on here...

Flatters to deceive. Lots of 'fancy dan' nifty footwork' , 'soft shoe shuffle' , call it what you will, but all too often no end product, often petering out as he tries a trick too far. Most certainly not a captain or leader on the pitch.

I fully support your view here Alehouse. DM was treated scandalously. His appointment followed a real fiasco in allowing Alan Ball to leave and he was thrust into the job. The club even timed to announcement of his departure for the Friday afternoon prior to the England v Scotland match in Euro '96 , in order to minimise national publicity, and cloaked it on grounds of 'compassionate' reasons if I remember correctly. My biggest regret with DM was that he was not given the top job in about 1990, when his generation of young players, the Wallaces, Shearer ,Maddison, Dodd and MLT, were breaking through.

Well enjoy the moment whilst it lasts. Don't get ahead of yourself. I think I've been following Saints long enough (since the 60's) to have seen plenty of times where we have seen two steps forward only to have our dreams fall apart with an unexpected turmoil. At the moment I'm hoping for stability, and keeping the existing structure, owners, manager, key players in place, with some building on that. However, I'm also asking what 'bombshell' can we expect ? Key player throwing in a transfer request, publicised sulk, or possibly MP saying he's not coming back from Spain in July. Hope this is wrong, but the last 40+ years have had frequent disappointments with managers,players, leaving when least expected. What was it NA used to say, "expect the unexpected - Sun Szu ".

Which is why he is easily our most dependable GK in years,and no one has come near him since in my book. Yes, unlucky not to have played for Scotland, and unlucky to play behind an often porous defence. Eric was an Alehouse legend. Bit unfair, Burridge was pretty reliable.I remember seeing him play against us for either Blackpool or Villa, and we threw the proverbial kitchen sink at him,and he was pretty spectacular. I don't recall too many 'balls ups' in his time with us.

Morgan should be team captain in my view, right age, experience and in a position on the field to influence the play and those around him.

Not sure. He looked promising last season for Blackpool, although towards the end of the year was in the shadow of Ince. This season, I get the impression he started it in a massive sulk because he was not allowed to talk to Saints over a move.

Skids - Saints are coming

I think that is only a side attraction, if at all. The sell out is due to: a good run playing attractive football celebrate staying up party atmosphere for the last match of the season (four years in a row now) & "on the pitch"

Now says 2500 !!!

Half an hour of grief and anxiety on the phone. Totally knobbed off with the phone lines, Warsash's no constantly engaged, the official one coming back with "Thank you for calling Southampton Football Club Ticketline, please wait whist we disconnect you...". The online service returns, telling me I'm position 566. (Twenty minutes later though , I still am at 566 ?). At this point, about to give up. Try 01271 once more...Christ on a bike..I don't recognise that... its a ringing tone.Must have dialled wrong number ? No, GOT THROUGH !!! Three tickets now sorted. Thanks for the number Warsash, I'll buy you a virtual/cyber pint in return!

No real surprises in that list.

Q1. What are your opinions on Southampton's season so far - has it gone how you expected? Probably followed a predictable script, of early struggle (with difficult fixtures),period of stabilisation, then gradual movement up the table. Q2. What are your opinion on WBA's season so far? - Have we exceeded your expectations? Surprised by your success, especially as you started with a relatively untried manager who has an impressive CV as an assistant, but moving up to take full control in the Premiership is a different prospect. Q3. You made a controversial change not so long ago. What are your thoughts on MP and what difference has he made to your side? Appalled by the sacking of Adkins, as we had turned the corner under him, and I felt he could be a long term manager after a cruel baptism of early fixtures in the Prem. MP appears to want the play at a higher tempo. He has also brought more out of certain players, Rodriguez and Davis, probably by playing them in positions they are more suited to. Q4. What are your opinions on West Bromwich Albion Football Club and its supporters? Traditionally (and I'm going back to the 1960's) like us, a steady mid-table club at best, although a yo-yo club in recent years. Supporters, no real view, other than they must be following their local club (good on them for that), rather than being glory seekers following a glamour club. My first league game at The Dell was v WBA in 1969 ; it p!ssed with rain all day, and you won 2-0 Colin Suggett scored twice. Not enough to put me off and I still returned to The Dell for more. Best recollection, the 4-0 win the FA Cup replay,1976. Q5. Peter Odemwingie became a laughing stock during the transfer window. What did you make of his antics and how our club dealt with it? Odenwingie made himself look an utter tool , motivated by greed, although I suspect he was encouraged into pulling the stunt by others, only to be left out to dry when it all went tits up. Next day 'arry faces his media chums with "oh, he's been a silly boy..." , don't suppose he was anyway involved in the saga WBA right not to let him force the move. Q6. The game at The Hawthorns finished 2-0. What were your opinions on this game? Lowest ebb. Might have been different had Lambert not hit the bar. Thought NA might have been on his way after that,if at all this season. Q7. Which players should we be wary of in your side and who do you fear in our side? Lambert, Rodriguez for us. Lokaku (sp) for you. Q8. What side is MP most likely to choose for Saturday's encounter? Probably Shaw at left back. He may rest Rickie. Q9. And finally, score predictions. Saints 2-1, although as both have reached safety, I'm not expecting a classic, it will probably fizzle out as an end of season going through the motions effort.