Saint86

Ending the season with Arsenal (h), Man City (h), and Everton (a) means we essentially need to be safe by the end of April or we're relegated. Grim. In fact, if you look at our last batch of fixtures its a load of bogey games or title chasing sides... We don't traditionally get man points at Spurs, Everton, or west ham. Leicester away is also a pretty shit game for us broadly (albeit this year i think they're a cert for relegation). And then City and Arsenal, whilst at home, will be fighting for the title/CL. God knows what Villa will be like by April, but probably out of europe and having a late season charge to catch up points on the European spots. Its a very very tough run into May and April. August and September aren't bad, but when do saints ever start a season well? Could be the case that we drop points in our most critical games before we ever get going - clearly a good start will be required. Because Forest, Ipswich and Leicester at home in 3 of our first 4 home matches is our main relegation rivals out the way by November. 3 must win games. Everton as well on the 2nd November. The Christmas break looks kind, not an awful lot of travelling, and broadly speaking some easier games during the peak congestion period.

Duplicate post.

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/lallana-returns-as-first-summer-signing Tell you what, in the video on the club website he looks bloody ancient. He's certainly not the fresh faced Nivea boy he once was... Are we sure he's only 36? 😨

He's back then.... How this all plays out with the fans should be interesting 😂

Some of the gobshite fans that continue to slag him off are either stupid or incredibly immature imo. The reasons for his move are obvious, and by all accounts it was a very tough choice for him. All in all, he chose to let go of saints (which he very clearly cares deeply about) in a gamble to play for england in a major tournament. He backed himself, but he didn't wager on southgate continuing to shaft him - particularly with his frankly crazy early form at west ham and still getting overlooked for england. Its worth noting as well, that anything he says about saints and his move at the current time has to be tempered by the fact that he is a west ham player and has to not upset their fans either - but you can bet that what he really thinks is he wishes he'd never left to chase a call up from the fraud southgate and had instead led us to promotion. I'd have him back if the right deal could be struck - and it strikes me we could well get one of downes or JWP this summer (stranger things have happened). But i don't think it would necessarily be the swansong some imagine. The reality is that he did leave the dressing room in the championship to go play prem football and chase england, they managed to get up without him, and it will not be the same for him coming back now - things have moved on. Similarly his bond with the fans will be weakened, and he'll obviously attract more flack if we go through periods of poor form etc. now. Its a shame its all played out the way it has. But wish him well regardless, hope he gets a good reception when we play them, and hopefully we do get to see him again in a saints shirt (whilst he's still a good player).

Maybe, but at least with this post you can pull "a Turkish" and reference getting 26laughing emojis on the forum!

From an FFP perspective, we spend the money without restriction, and within a couple of years it starts to deliver more "income" to use against wages/transfer costs etc.

What has Strachen got to do with Redknapp and Portsmouth?

This is the kit i reckon.

Technically Matt Le Tissier for football betting - he just escaped prosecution

Guly Du prado - drink driving

Yes, he had a pretty rough 2023 with hamstring troubles and surgery. Not sure if he was rushed back, but recurred again in Jan/Feb. Managed to play 1 game this season just gone for spurs. Was a player with huge potential once upon a time.

Ryan Sessegnon just been released by Tottenham - can play LB, LW, LWB...

I don't want to burst your bubble, but saying its "unfounded" seems to be jumping the gun? What's been said is that its based on lower bound cost estimates of Labour's polices. What was very telling, is that Starmer was unable to fully deny it, and spent a very long time to even try denying it, he just floundered - and that tells me all i need to know about what they're really intending to do with taxes down the line when they get in. You'd be a fool to think otherwise i think. The only thing that would satisfy me is Labour actually demonstrating how they'll afford these policies - All we've had till now, is very careful wordings about which taxes they won't rise - but they've been very coy on many others. And frankly, even things like increased VAT/corporation tax, tax band freezes, pushing for net zero by 2030 etc. seem to be at odds with Labour also targeting a "policy" to have the uk as the fastest growing economy by 2030, i can't see how taking steps that will likely hamper the uk economy and limit consumer spending will help us - so again (and as many others have said), the question for Starmer is "how?" - and i am still none the wiser myself. Maybe another debate will give him the chance to answer. As for Labour's private school policy, honestly what a shitfest. I live in Bristol where there are already not enough state schools and too many private schools. It likely means my youngest will be at risk of not attending the same (state) school as his elder brother as a result of private school kids dropping back into the state school system. They aren't going to magically build more classrooms, or train/hire more teachers in the short term, and private school teachers aren't just going to magically walk away from the private sector to work in the state sector for less pay. Its an absolute car crash of an policy, based entirely on ideology for what i can see, with no real thought for how it will impact specific areas of the country, and one that will worsen the burden on the state and will just screw over working and middle class parents. It will also be the children of hard working aspiring parents that miss out lets be honest, the ones that already stretch themselves to help their kids - and we all know damn well that the rich elites (on both sides of the political divide) will still be able to afford private schooling - which will then widen the gap to the rest of us frankly. Nice one! 🤦‍♂️ As for Starmer saying he'll "smash the gangs" on illegal immigration. That isn't a policy, its just words. Both the British and French governments have been trying to do that for years. "How?". Tax, immigration, the NHS, Education. Its not good enough to be the opposition to this government and be able to offer so little substance on how they'll make it better or what they'll offer. Anyway, our vote is for the worst government in waiting i've ever seen (starmer's labour - who will get elected purely because they aren't the conservatives), or 5 more years of this conservative government. At least we can all get the popcorn out and laugh at America in November ey?

Agreed. Although Bellingham perhaps has some potential. Feels like a load of lazy rumours to me tbh. Silly season is upon us afterall

As depressing as it is to say it, I literally couldn't care less about England or the Euro's currently. Southgate is appalling - I think tactically the worst manager we've had in my football supporting lifetime - and he's being wasted on a side with some of the best players in world football. Its embarrassing. The writing was on the wall / should have been sacked after Croatia 2018, should certainly have gone after that Italy fiasco/surrender at Wembley, and then again after the nations league pre world cup. How he got another world cup and now euros is just mental. There are some absolute dinosaurs at the FA. He's not had one convincing knock out game whilst in charge ffs. The sole blessing perhaps, is that at least with Southgate in charge its almost certain we won't win 😂

I thought a fair few were singing "your defence is terrified"... i don't know if i've now screwed myself over thinking i hear that... but when i watch it back some of the videos, that's often what i can hear 🤣🤣.

I ordered mine on Monday and it arrived yesterday afternoon. You've still got a another 2days, will be fine i reckon!

Some of the comments are golden, had to crack a laugh by the time i got down to these, the guy was playing them like a fiddle. 😂😄

I was also thinking 2-0 to saints, possibly 2-1 i guess.

Cynically, i do think the prem next year will be a hard one to stand up in, whereas the year following that 3 strong sides will get relegated, and the 3 that go up will find it easier 😛. Looking for silver linings. We're beating Leeds on Sunday though so will be irrelevant.

Have I missed it, or are people keeping quiet re predictions for the final? I'm of the opinion that its madness we're being allowed to go into it as even slight underdogs as i'm comfortably off the opinion that we're better than Leeds and have the measure of them. We know their threats, we know how they're going to play, and we're frankly just a better coached and better managed team with a lot more to offer tactically. Yes its a cup final so anything can happen, and yes we're got injuries and will miss Che, but there is no way Leeds should be the standout favourites for this tie imo... Also seen a lot of posts from their fans dismissing our fans, and some even being shocked when they asked united fans about the cup final and finding out we were "quite loud"... I was at the league cup final, and if our fans give anything like that level of support we'll certainly do the side proud for our part. Leeds have chatted a lot of smack about saints this season. Going to be funny if we leave them behind in the Champ come Sunday.

He wants to buy into the club... So come July 5th...

The reality is that about 95% of this forum voted to sack him in one poll this season. Its as laughable now as it was back then! Hopefully, win or lose on the weekend, the playoffs and developing bond between the fans/players/manager etc. will carry us into next year with some momentum.

And this is why you use post shot expected goals minus goals conceded 😎