Lighthouse

What have I made up? If we had beaten Sunderland would people care about this game? It has no bearing on the FA Cup afterall, we could lose 50-0 and still beat Brighton in the QF, so surely it would still be a pointless game in the eyes of many? Putting aside the FA Cup for a minute, nobody is disputing all the fans want to win that: Is this the future of Southampton in the Premier League? We get to 40 points in February, then play the last 10-15 games of the season behind closed doors at SMS (but for maybe 1000 away fans) because our season is over and nobody cares about 9th or 7th?

I know, I'm being facetious but I can't help but wonder what people are expecting from the future. Next season will either be a) Battling out for the league title and the Champions League b) Like this. Upper mid-table. c) Bottom half, flirting with relegation d) Hopeless and relegated. So what are people hoping for. How about you Mash? I'm not being rude here I am genuinely curious what people expect and hope for. a) Wont be happening, sorry folks. b) Is apparently boring and pointless c) is the same but with worse football d) means watching another dire season like 04/05 Is it literally all about the cups? If so, save yourselves £600 on a season ticket, enjoy the games at Bristol City and Northampton and pray that we don't draw a trip to the Etihad next January.

I went paintballing yesterday. I wont be telling my grand children about that either but I found it quite exciting. It's really quite saddening seeing some of them comments on here recently. I remember being on the pitch after we beat Walsall on the last day of League 1 and the delight shared by the whole stadium at being back in the Championship, so we would have a shot at getting back into the big time. Now we're here and suddenly the place is full of brats saying the last 12 games of the season are pointless because we don't have a cup final to tell our grandkids about. I fully understand the frustration, if I went to Sunderland on Saturday I would be livid and demanding my money back. However there are still 12 games left to play in the best League in the world, playing excellent football with no pressure or threat of relegation. Last year we would have killed to be in this position. Clearly I am in a minority in my opinion, I'll leave it on this note; be careful what you wish for. Maybe in the summer we can sell, Lallana, Shaw, Morgan and JRod and go back to fighting relegation. We will have to go back to the 6-1 spankings and losing at home to Sunderland, QPR, Wigan and West Brom like we did last season but maybe the excitement of the League table will keep a few more people happy.

Online stream. HTH

I'm one of these weirdos who watches football because they like watching football. I get a lot of funny looks when I tell people this at St Mary's. The up side though is that I am looking forward to this games as much as any other this season. Getting one over on West Ham after our dreadful performance at UP last year will do me quite nicely. As far as the League goes, a win puts us 3 points behind Everton and Utd (assuming they lose at Chelsea and beat Palace respectively). Both have to come and play at St Mary's too. Having our best ever Premier League season and finishing 6th above Man Utd is pretty exciting for me, even if there are no trophies on offer.

Here Why is there 'shame' in playing someone who wasn't actually responsible for the defeat? I wasn't ashamed of Jos today, just the dismal display of apathy by the manager and team in general.

He did alright at Arsenal, Newcastle (despite the error) and in a large number of very good performance last season. He's not perfect but we aren't going to find much better players to be 4th choice at Southampton. Supposing we signed a player like Astori and sold Jos. Yoshi would be 4th choice and I'd bet my arse he would want to leave.

In what way was Jos to blame for today's result?

Players who are up to it, IMO: Boruc Clyne, Chambers, Shaw Lovren, Fonte, Yoshi, Hooiveld (he is good enough to be 4th choice) Morgan, Cork, Wanyama JRod, JWP, Lallana, Davis Lambert Leaves us needing a GK, LB, AM and ST in the summer. Gives us a healthy squad of 20, plus a few young players like Gallagher, Gazza and Reed.

It's not an opinion, its an explanation. We didn't sign any players because the ones we wanted weren't available at a price we were willing to pay. If we had signed a player we don't need or paid more than he is worth, that is panic buying. It's astonishingly simple.

Currently 6 points behind Everton and we still have to play them at home. 3 behind Man Utd who have just failed to beat Fulham. I'm not saying we will beat these teams but we're not all that far off. Yes, beating Man Utd would be 'just a day' but it would be an excellent day. Not a cup final but I would enjoy it, regardless of it's effect on the League table. The difference being I wont be judging the validity of our entire season by that one game, which is what some people seem to be implying about our cup run. My point is that I'm happy watching us win as many games as possible, playing excellent football with some very talented players. I would absolutely love to win the FA Cup but I wont consider this season a waste just because there isn't a big shiny thing locked in a room somewhere at the end of it. That's my point.

That bit has been explained to you on numerous occasions by several posters yet you chose to ignore it.

We get to sit through about 10 more performances like Arsenal and Hull at home, and 10 fewer performances like today and Norwich away.

Genuinely think the club should refund the fans tickets AND travel expenses. The money is bad enough but for the fans that wasted 2 days of their life (I'm not one of them) traveling to that game and back... well you are quite right to be outraged. Lambert's miss summed it up. Whilst that can happen to the very best of players, it is indicative of a lack of effort, concentration, preparation and belief. If they had been playing for a place in a World Cup final, I'd wager Rickie would have taken the net off with that.

That's what I find interesting, what it is people value in watching football. Personally I can happily go for decades without winning trophies, if we're watching good football in the best League in Europe. Yes it would be nice to win something but I wouldn't put Saints on par with The RE and Luton because of our trophy cabinet.

A lot of people seem to hold the opinion that if we're not in danger of relegation, the League isn't all that relevant. I've seen people say that this season will be remembered for nothing because we don't have a cup final. Now 8th in the Premier League may not sound exciting but for me it's all about how we get to 8th. If we go and beat Liverpool and Man Utd and finish the season snapping at the heels of the top 5 or 6, to me that's quite exciting. I know there is little left of interest in the League table but I'd like to think there is a lot of entertaining football to see between now and May. If we score a 90th minute thunderbolt to beat Man Utd on the last day, will you just sit there with a face like a slapped arse because it's not relevant in the League table? Contrast this too Sunderland, who some people seem envious of because they have a cup final. I'm sure it will be a great day out but that's it really. Just one day, one game, 90 minutes to look forward to. They've spent this season watching some pretty awful football. They lost 7 of their first 8 games (snatching a draw at our place, despite being battered for 87 minutes). They've lost home and away to Hull and been battered by teams like West Brom, Swansea and Palace. Would you be happy walking away from dross like that every week if you were going to Wembley?

Wow, you've really got it in for Jos. How about favourite Clyne, Wanyama or Shaw howler? They've had just as many, without the misfortune of being 6 yards in front of goal.

Oh God Rickie.

Worse Saints teams than that have beaten much better teams than Sunderland.

So woeful he made one mistake and we drew 1-1 away to (what was) a very good Newcastle side. He did very little else wrong that game, he wasn't woeful. Spurs at home; I told you, Hooiveld AND Fox (and Gazza FWIW)

Hooiveld isn't the liability many on here make him out to be. Hooiveld and Fox is the problem, Fox is gone. He played in last season's wins against Man City and Chelsea amongst others. We've put in a few decent defensive displays with him in the team.

Roses are red Violets are blue I've got a gun Get in the f**king van!

We borrowed a plane from Estonian airways for January's trip up to the SOL. Seems a bit random, wonder if we'll do it again.

I am pretty sure he will only make one England debut. Fantastic news if this is true. I only hope that if he has a decent game, Roy is brave enough to leave Cole at home on Chelsea's bench, where he has spent most of the season.

Currently 38,000 feet above the North Sea and the onboard wifi is keeping me amused.