Saint86

We could finish above Arsenal, Liverpool, United, Everton and Tottenham... Whether we do is another story. I certainly expect us to have a good bash at top 4 on current showing - we have a very solid and well balanced side with really scary attacking play. Only Chelsea look better than us at the moment, and city you have to assume will get it sorted. Arsenal are poor all over the shop compared to their usual standards, its not happening at Tottenham, and Liverpool will be lucky to get top 6 the way they are playing. They haven't come close to replacing Suarez and are struggling big time with European commitments. We have the best squad and team we have had in my living memory and a real golden opportunity to do something amazing this season. Whether we do is yet to be seen. But we are definitely in the mix for a place as high as 3rd, along with all of the above mentioned teams

Nigel Adkins, bottom of league 1 to premier league in back to back seasons with a net spend of £3m.... And someone above puts the lying weasel Poch above him and Ted Bates... We have some ungrateful fans it has to be said.

So, the day his beats the defending champions at home and secures 4th place, a west ham fan goes on a stoke city forum to post this about us.... Are the obsessed or something, I guess its kinda cute... Utter ********, but cute none the less. "Because you didn't go in to administration and get your debt cleared, whilst putting your local small suppliers out of business, and being fortunate enough to drop down a couple of divisions and being able to start again, whilst also fortuitously discovering a Welsh chimpanzee called Gareth from Swindon that was very good at football and be able to sell him for a nice fat profit, and in the meantime also finding a couple of English lads that the money-spunking muppets from Merseyside took a bit of a shine to." Also, stoke fans being fairly nice about us which is rather decent of them tbh. http://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/thread/236043/why-good-southampton

Comes down to one question.... Where do we think we are headed in the league? Top 6? In which case, we may qualify for europe directly... Do you want to risk that for a cup exit to chelsea etc before the final and give up 3 points in the league. Outside the top 6 - I'd take the cup win... Dare I mention the remote outside chance of top 4 (we'll know better in december ^_^), in which case I'd take the league all day bloody long!

His positioning for free-kick placement is poor. He invites them to shoot at the top corner and then has no chance of getting there when they do it... repeatedley. We commented on this against sunderland when sat directly behind the goal... and sure enough he did it. Aside from that, he is usually very good at getting shots away from his body. However, when it is close to him he seems to push it straight back out into play (maybe this is because of his size and a smaller GK would have been diving etc to push it away, where as for him he is often just right there behind it! Been impressed with him none the less, kicking was good when he started, been a bit dodge recently though. And he was poor at shot stopping and getting it clear vs tottenham. Good keeper, one for years to come, certainly can improve!

I honestly do think this smacks of a "lets beat on Southampton's parade, and keep them in their place" sort of attitude. It really makes you wonder at any rate.

Look at me look at me!!! Vindication!!! HaHa beatches!

He is on a hiding to nothing at Reading, no funds, chronic under investment, and having to play youth by the barrel load to compensate for injuries. He must be wishing he never took that job as the money never materialised and he is giving his all just to keep them going with no sign of gratitude as a result. People slating him are literally banging a drum thinking they can be proved right and point to his struggles at reading as a "i told you so". The simple truth is, his squad was near the bottom of league 1 when he took over, and that was under pardew, who took Newcastle into europe when he left us... yet people then say that Championship football is above his level. But in truth i would be a hypocrite to use that argument since I'm saying you can't base his ability on how he performs at another club. Instead, I will say this... He took over a team in the relegation places, and got us back to back promotions to the premier league with a net spend of £3m as manager. If he is so ****e and his squad were so amazing... why the hell were we in league 1 when we only needed £3m to get to the premier league... People just can't accept that he moulded that team and developed those players, nor that he was easily on course to keep us up.. They ignore the fact that poch's stats for the end of that season are no better than adkin's equivalent number of games. And that is despite the fact adkins was playing with a less experienced team with less experience of top level football as a manager. What is even more sickening, is that he got the boot, just so that treacherous argie could improve his CV, and leave us in the lurch after encouraging half the first team to leave... That would never have happened under Nigel Adkins, you can be damn sure. The people who want to be negative wind ups and hate can do what they want. Nigel Adkins is a Southampton legend, his name will forever be associated with guiding this club back to the big time and the squad that he and pardew built, and the squad that nigel moulded are the foundation for any success that follows.

I'm not sure how old you are, but presumable the summer of 1976 and the early 80's tick that box. Not within my lifetime though!

Whilst I agree Top Gun, I'm really happy with the media falling over themselves to undermine us. I don't need an overpaid moron TV pundit to tell me my team did well when we smashed someone 8-0 And if it helps keep our profile low to any degree then it benefits us. A lot of fans from other clubs are really starting to take notice, the snide remarks and sarcasm have stopped and fans think twice about ripping the **** knowing that we may be giving it back to them in a few days or weeks. Great time to be a saints fan. I found it slightly annoying how Lawrenson and Gary weren't on MOTD, but at the same time, there comments would have soured to occasion. As for BBC 5 live and Talk Sport, presenters defending Chambers and stones for england after the game, they are utter jokers. There is only 1 english right back that matters, and he plays for us! As does the english left back of choice!

Delighted for them both of course

Finally get to use my season ticket for the first time since opening day and this happens! It was bad enough that its Sunderland who always park the bus and we always struggle against. But now we get given these 2 gongs... May as well bet on a Sunderland 1-0 win now and be done with it.

Happy Birthday to Matty, safe to say he gave us all some very special memories! Not to mention being a great servant to the club!

I haven't watched the Norway, San Marino or Estonia games, forgot entirely about all 3 of them! I hate england and want them to fail whilst they insist on this ****.

Once again you prove how little you know Batman, when we bought Wanyama off we were all over them, their midfield was tired and we were in their box with chances. We gave up the midfield with the Wanyama substitution and were then under the cosh with Tottenham all over us directly as a result of that sub. Only chance we then generated was long hopeful balls in behind and Mane having one scuffed shot. Koeman gambled and lost with that sub. We had more chance of winning with the formation we had for most of the second half. Disappointed to lose that, we certainly had the better chances, but the poor substitution reduced our chances of getting back into it imho. Onwards and upwards, we did catch spuds on a good day and I still don't think there is anything whatsoever between the sides. Maybe we are destined to just lose to the Judas clubs.

Awful Awful change by Koeman, taking Wanyama off and ceding midfield to tottenham when we had them rocking. Total cock up!

Personally thought the ref has been fairly solid tbh. Consistent with Rose and Bertrand, advantage for Mane, no pen against us for possible handball. Think he has been decent. Sometimes favours the attacker who goes down to easily but is consistent in that and has overall had a decent game so far. Saints need to step it up second half and attack them. Showing too much fear atm. In koeman we trust though, and ultimatley even if we lose this game its not the biggest deal. We are very unlikey to come anywhere near the top 4 positions, so an away defeat against a top 6 side isn't exactly a disaster lets be honest. Expecting us to step it up second half however.

They played almost an entire second string tonight. Poch is taking the game on Sunday very seriously and is certainly going to go for it.

I'm less worried to be honest. We are second in the league, the players are loving it and its a great time at the club... Plus anyone who wants to see what its like at the big time clubs only has to speak to bertrand or see how well the judas players are doing to know the grass is not always greener on the other side. Final point, Clyne turned down united before joining us, and we gave him the right back squad and moved chambers on... expect him to show some loyalty after that tbh.

I'm here to help

United are after Matt Radcliffe with the Daily Mail stating that he is destined to sign for them following the Tottenham game... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2776856/Manchester-United-set-poach-Southampton-team-physio-Matt-Radcliffe-help-club-s-injury-crisis.html "Manchester United are attempting to solve their crippling injury list by poaching Southampton’s first-team physio Matt Radcliffe. Louis van Gaal has nine players out with injury ahead of this weekend’s Barclays Premier League fixture with Everton. Radcliffe is regarded as one for the best physios in football and his last game before he joins United will be Southampton's trip to White Hart Lane on Sunday. The experienced physio has been lured to United at a time when they are attempting to speed up the recovery rates of a number of their most influential players. Michael Carrick (ankle), Marouane Fellaini (ankle), Phil Jones (hamstring), Ashley Young (groin), Jonny Evans (ankle), Chris Smalling (hip) and Ander Herrera (ribs) are among nine players in the medical room at Carrington. Radcliffe, will be on the bench at Saints for this weekend’s reunion with former manager Mauricio Pochettino before he starts his new role at Old Trafford." Would have thought we can match whatever United would pay one of our physios to be frank.

Was a great goal, living in Bristol and their my dads second team as well. We were both there and I had an instantaneous sinking feeling the second he received the ball. Utterly buried it! The A36 was solid Bristol rovers traffic after that game as well. Hopefully they'll turn it around this season, will be going to watch the Eastleigh game at the Mem for sure.