SaintTex

All true. If you want to remain optimistic, and I do, this is where we need to focus. 12 matches left.. only 3 of those are Top 9 clubs (Chelsea, Tottenham and Man City) So, for the sake of argument, win the games you are supposed to win! ---- win 9 | lose 3 : 27 points + 46 points = 73 points at the end of season. with a healthy defense/midfield it is achievable. forces Tottenham to get 30 points out of as possible 36 points (they play 4 teams in the top 9, have Europa and a League Cup title match to play) forces Liverpool to get 29 points out of a possible 36 points (they play 5 teams in the top 9, have Europa and FA Cup matches to play) forces Manu to get 25 points out of a possible 36 points (they play 5 teams in the top 9, have FA Cup matches to play) It's a tall task, but that it what it is going to have to take. We have the easiest path compared to our competitors for the 4th spot. One game at a time - beat the team in front of you and the rest takes care of itself. -- yeah yeah, you all can have some of what I am smoking.

http://www.espnfc.us/barclays-premier-league/story/2312709/liverpools-rodgers-accuses-southampton-of-disrespecting-lallanalambert my hate for Liverpool and Rodgers grows and grows and grows. So condescending.

Sherwood pulled a Pochettino on Pochettino. Boom!

a bit snarky, but who could argue with the points made? http://www.espnfc.com/blog/espn-fc-united-blog/68/post/2305220/liverpools-trio-of-disappointing-former-southampton-stars-make-their-return-to-st-marys-stadium

threads like this are more likely when we have 11 days between matches.

Yep, while Yoshida has done all that he has been asked defensively on the left, we really miss the offensive threat and creativity that Bertrand can provides in the LB role. Don't take this as an insult to Yoshida. He has exceed my expectations this season and been an outstanding team player.

This. Often, the tiniest of deflections finds a not so good shot on goal in the back of the net. Take the shot; something good might happen.

yeah, we need to re-group, get healthy, and figure out who best needs to fit where. 10 days of light training will do us wonders. What is amazing is the defence is stout no matter what makeshift line-up we have back there. Also, a few thoughts on what we are missing. I know this sounds odd, but with Alderwiereld, Bertrand, Wanyama, and Schneiderlin not being on the pitch at the same time, we are limited to what we can do wide offensively. We really need our RB and LB up the field, we have been missing that, due to injury and suspension. at the same time, we really need to figure out what we need to do up front. There is talent there, but right now the players up front are just not working with each other - Pelle, Mane, Elia, Long, Tadic, JWP, Davis, Djuricic. We need to find a combination that works and soon.

they still have two more matches to foul up their confidence. We'll be resting.

I find it interesting that the two players who have played in all or nearly all minutes in league play for us are the ones that get the most criticism. You know there are reasons we currently stand in 3rd place. Those two have been on the pitch for all of it. Pelle is 17th in league in minutes played. Raheem Stirling, who famously needed a break from being overworked, is 43rd.

I got curious... so I looked it up Southampton scored 55 goals last season (2013-14) under Poch. Of those goals last season (2013-14), how many were by players that have played at least one match this season (2014-15)? 8 goals. a whopping 84% of our goals scored last year are by players now on other teams or are injured and have not played this year. That's incredible.

looking at the remaining matches..once we get past Liverpool, we have 12 matches left. top half teams to play: 4 bottom half teams to play: 8 be awesome to get at least 4 points from West Ham and Liverpool and still be sitting most likely in the Top 4 with that 12 match schedule left.

they were both playing so deep that our left back, who isn't a left back, was the one to deliver the pass that led to the winning shot. maybe it's partly by design, I don't know. It's hard to argue with our defensive success this season, a deep sitting midfield is definitely a component of that success. It must frustrate the hell out of Pelle though. At this point, his opportunities are going to mostly come on balls off the goalkeeper or the post and/or crosses deep from either side. (all around the 6 yard box). Anything in the middle beyond that, he is going to have to create all on his own. Plus, we all know a reliable second striker would be useful. Pelle has played A LOT of minutes. He has got to be knackered. I looked it up. Pelle is 10th amongst all players in minutes played in the League. In fact, of the Top 25 players with the most minutes, 23 are DBs or GKs. the other two non DBs or GKs in the Top 25? ... Pelle at 10th and Hazard at 12th. I don't think it should be much of a surprise that his goal scoring has dipped as his minutes have piled up. would a lineup like this be affective the Wednesday to give Pelle a rest? Or maybe for the second half? Bring Tadic on for Pelle. --------------Forster-------------- Clyne --Fonte-- Gardos-- Yoshida ----Schneiderlin-- Wanyama----- Tadic--------Davis------------ Elia --------------Mane----------------- Or is the 10 day rest after West Ham before Liverpool better served?

It doesn't matter tall he is.. the had the ball in his hands and the QPR player jumped into Forster's body and jarred it out. That is a foul every time. Forster would have dropped it had there been no contact? I don't think so.

we need a 88' goal, a la Tottenham.

Southampton had a ready-made team when Ronald Koeman took over, claims Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino: 'I had to start from zero at White Hart Lane' http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2940440/Southampton-ready-team-Ronald-Koeman-took-claims-Tottenham-boss-Mauricio-Pochettino.html oh brother.

2nd place - six times 3rd place - six times 4th place - five times 5th place - four times 13th place - one time 14th place - one time

Q: how many match days this season have we not gone into the match in at least 5th position or higher in the table? A: 2 that's pretty incredible.

A 4-2-3-1? Interesting. Davis might be the odd many out ---------------Forster----------------- Clyne--Fonte--Alderweireld--Targett ----Schneiderlin-----Wanyama------- Tadic-----------Mane--------------Elia -----------------Pelle------------------

True. I meant to clarify this was a problem with our central midfielders - never any pressure up the middle.

This. It was as if we invited Swansea to set up their defense before attacking. Swansea was like: thanks, very helpful. It's amazing how little penetration via dribbling occurs with the team in the final third (the whole half really). We don't have players that can beat their opponent one on one, which then immediately puts pressure on the remaining defence or the goalkeeper at/near goal.

What big striker do you suggest? Why hasn't Kate Upton slept with me yet?!! Probably my lack of ambition.

I think it is important not to over react to this loss. We had our chances.... 6 shots on target to Swansea's 1, just didn't go our way. we were playing with arguably our best three players out and the thought of a Mane/Elia pairing going forward is pretty exciting. next three games... Forster Clyne - Fonte - Alderweireld - Targett Davis - Wanyama - Schneiderlin Elia - Pelle - Mane is pretty salty. I know everyone wants to bring more players in.. but we just have to get healthy.

welcome to the starting 11 Targett.

Sheeessh. The anniversary of his injury is not that far away.