John B

We will go down because collectively the Management and Team will not be good enough Whether that happens only time will tell but not sure myself three teams apart from Reading who will be worse than us.

I see that you are not interested in discussing SFC I am and have done so for over fifty years. I have never believed the ideaa that we would be playing in a larger stadium regularly without a massive investment of hundreds of millions. However I was expecting the club to sign some decent PL type players but this does not seem to have happened and although I expected us to lose against Man U Man C and Arsenal I think we will struggle against most of the rest. The PL is a much stronger league than when we were there last and the current squad is not as strong or experienced. Although it was fantastic moving from League 1 to the PL in two years there are consequences in that most of the squad would need replacing starting with the GK and the Defence which has not fully happened

Because we have a team with mostly Championship players

TheSquad is just not PL standard I am afraid

I agree with you this team is a lot inferior to the one relegated in 2005 I doubt many of today's squad would have got into that one

None of these fixtures seem to be that easy to me

Why not just get a decent manager in the first place

I think this sums it up for me http://backpagefootball.com/southampton-may-appeal-to-the-neutral-but-must-adapt-to-survive/48361/ It can be a brutal game football. For 88 minutes on a Sunday afternoon, Southampton, promoted twice in as many seasons, managed by a former physiotherapist at S****horpe, were doing far more than holding their own against the global behemoth that is Manchester United. The south coast side had been tenacious and eager in their defensive duties, creative and diligent in possession, particularly the 17-year-old midfielder James Ward-Prowse, and were fully deserving of their 2-1 lead, given to them by a pair of headers from messrs Lambert and Schneiderlin. However, just as their supporters dared to dream of a first three points in the Premier League since their relegation back in 2005, a United side who had been under-par and flat all afternoon, brought about echoes of that famous night at Camp Nou, with two late goals from their £24m summer signing, Robin van Persie. His 92nd minute winner, the dagger in the side for the Saints, who having performed admirably in matches against both of last seasons top two, have nothing to show from their first three matches back in the big time. Three games played, zero points on the board. Whilst there are many admirable qualities about the way Southampton boss Nigel Adkins has his side going about their business – the style of play, the inventive interchanging of positions, the dexterity of the likes of Jason Puncheon and Adam Lallana to move into space between the lines (something which should be further enhanced by the arrival of Uruguayan Gaston Ramirez from Bologna) – the lack of defensive nous, and the inability to even make an effort of shutting the game down was nothing short of startling; to call it schoolboy would be an understatement. It is often said that the sign of a good side is that they are capable of picking up points when they play poorly. On the flip side, perhaps it is also true that the sign of a bad side is that they play well but are left with nothing. It would seem Southampton fit perfectly into the latter. With five minutes remaining, with a 2-1 lead and having seen their opponents squander an awful attempt at a ‘Panenka’ penalty, the Saints supporters were cheering every touch from each member of their side, who had unquestionably put in a magnificent collective performance to that point. However, what should have been a massive worry – especially against a side with a reputation for scoring late goals as often as United - is that Adkins side were every bit as open as they had been all afternoon, and likewise in their previous two Premier League matches. The swashbuckling full-backs Nathaniel Clyne and Danny Fox were still stationed high on their respective touchlines, the centre-backs, Jos Hooiveld and Jose Fonte, continued to split to take the ball from their goalkeeper. Additionally, throw-ins were quickly returned into play and they continued to attempt to attack their more heralded opponents, seemingly looking for a killer third goal, rather than the alternative; to shut up shop, to waste time, to run the clock down, to make niggling fouls to stop counter attacks and to hold on to victory. It seems to have become a dirty term in recent times to call a side professional, to say that they have seen a game out. But it is something that all sides who strive for success – whatever that means to them – know how to do. Jose Mourinho sides have long been masters at it, whilst Spain over the past four years have turned it into an art-form. Being able to manage games effectively during the final stages, helps a side to pick up wins and, crucially, points. Nonetheless, as at the Etihad Stadium a fortnight ago, it is an area in which, once again, Southampton have been found lacking. Should the Saints prove unable to learn how to see games out, then they will struggle to retain their Premier League status come the end of the season, regardless of how eye-catching and pleasing their actual performances are. Neutrals may really enjoy watching them play, and may well root for their gung-ho approach. But making friends is one thing. Survival, the clubs sole aim this season, is another. And in the battle-hardened playground that is the Premier League, come the end of the season, there aren’t any extra points handed out for aesthetics.

I think Oct/Nov are the key months now we need to get a fair number of points by the end of Nov Southampton V Fulham Sun 7 Oct West Ham V Southampton Sat 20 Oct Southampton V Tottenham Sun 28 Oct West Brom V Southampton Mon 5 Nov Southampton V Swansea Sat 10 Nov QPR V Southampton Sat 17 Nov Southampton V Newcastle Sat 24 Nov Southampton V Norwich Wed 28 Nov

The thing that really concerns me is that against City and United we were not expected to win so we were relaxed and gave it a go but against Wigan where we had a chance to win we appeared to freeze. These games against the bottom teams as people are the important ones so lets hope the team performs well against the lower teams in the forthcoming weeks but we dont seeem to have experienced players to close down the game if required as most of the squad is relatively young and inexperienced So lets hope for the best

Not a bad performance

I thought we needed a completely new defence this season

Owen is a free agent does not have to sign in the window

I think dempsey is going there

Well we needed lots of players otherwise we would have really struggled in the PL so I am not surprised that we got in so many They are going to take time to get to terms with the PL so lets hope we start getting some points I feel that until October we have some hard games but after that things should improve. I still think we need a quality GK and a strong experienced CB but lets see this team develop and look to the future with a lot more confidence than we had earlier this week

Did you not read it A loan

Are you sure http://sportsvibe.co.uk/news/football/liverpool-back-in-the-hunt-for-uruguayan-winger-19411

Only time will tell may take time to settle into the PL Would be a very good signing if we already had two PL CBs

Well said Hypo plus a GK

What happens if we dont sell him on

Did not see him yesterday but he was only OK v Man City was hoping for better

This is supposed to be a Football Forum not a Forum to be rude to other members These sort of Posts ruin other members who are interested in the Ramieriz saga of which I am one. I think he is going to join us and if he does I think it will be one of the most signifiant signings in the last thirty years

In 2005 we went down and probably none of the current squad would have got in that team so I think it is going to be very hard to stay up

Well I doubt you will be on this site very often this season