a1ex2001

Neimi Dodd Svensson Richards Bridge Fernandes Le Tissier Oakley Bale Beattie Pahars Odd that that was practically our starting line up for a while, certainly the best side in recent times.

Our team in both seasons was good enough for promotion, we just made some terrible cockups, we ditched Redknapp and replaced him with Burley a decision that took us from just outside the play offs to the brink of a relegation fight and then in the following season Burley effectively dropped the leagues leading goal scorer from the side in January in all my time as a saints fan I've never been so baffled as I was by the sight of Rasiac warming the bench for half a season. Following that the wheels came off financially so we were basically screwed.

Would love to see him get a full season under his belt to finally show the club what he's capable of, he looked so gutted when he broke down again this season. Sadly I just can't see it happening I think his body is shot.

If thats not a very very happy boss then I don't know what is, if he looked slightly ****ed at the prospect of a pitch invasion it was probably only becuase he knows how much it costs to maintain probably the best pitch outside the top flight.

The Chamionship is full of big lumps playing upfront, just about every side has one be it Hiedur Helgusson or Jay Bothroyd last time we were in the champ the most common complaint on here was that we didn't have a massive out house of a centre back capable of dealing with all the big lumps we cam up against. I think Rickie will be pretty effective in the Championship especially against some of the lower ability teams.

Playing at his full potential Howard was one of the best players the NPC has seen in recent years if Adkins reckons he can get him playing close to that level again I'd be happy for us to take a punt on him. Plenty of experience, plenty of quality and believes he has something to prove to saints still.

Strange how his amazing throws didn't seem to be so effective last time he was here?

Everyone is just warming up for next season when the stripes return, if we hadn't sung it for a season most fans would have forgotten the words or doubled the pace or something.

I'd be very tempted!

Would certainly swap them for 3 points not sure about two, all I know is that there is still along way to go and while things are looking good this morning I expect there to be days ahead when they don't look so good as that is the roller coaster ride that is football. Still think we will finish second and go up which will be job done for the season.

He wouldn't have been the player and captain he was without those traits, I don't think you could have one without the other. Never liked the bloke but have total respect for him, incredible batsman brilliant captain and lucky enough to be around at the same time as a tryuly golden generation. Hope he carries on long enough to go out on a high with the bat, he shouldn't be remembered for his recent failures.

I think you'll find he already has, long term he is going to have serious issues come back or not. Total respect for him, he was a rock for us and clearly loves the game so much he doesn't know what else to do. Always gave 100% for the club even when he wasn't fit if the same could be said of every player we'd still be in the prem, Good luck to him.

So finally you admit that you missed the point of the thread completely? The subject is how many points will we NEED for promotion not home many points will GUARANTEE promotion. So now we've cleared that up, how many points do you actually think will be enough as you can't be serious saying that 27-28 will be required?

He's not being pedantic though is he, surely he's just being realistic like all those that think a low to mid 20's total will be enough? All that he's doing is pointing out that a total of 27 points would pretty much guarentee us promotion but the chances of us actually need that are slim to none, Do you honestly think Posh, Huddersfiled or Saints will win every game they have left this season? All three sides have demonstrated consistently this season that they will not go on runs like that and with the pressure really cranking up there will be twists and turns, I can say confidently (Not certainly) that based on form over the whole season and historic tables that the team that finishes second will have less than 90 points. If you so certain that a 90 point plus total will be required get down the bookies you'll get brilliant odds on posh winning every game left in the regular season so then when saints miss out a least you'll be rich.

Heres one for the stato's amongst us, how many pleayers have we had on loan since relegation from the prem?

Yesterday you said we should give up on automatic promotion and accept the play offs maybe the club has taken your advice and decided to go with what we have and accept the lottery!

yes 28 points would pretty much guarentee us promotion but for it to be needed your assuming Posh and Huddersfield will not loose another game this season which is totally unrealistic given that both of them average about 1.76 points per game and not the three they would average if they were invincible as you claim. We avergae about 1.8 points per game this season so basically if all three sides maintain preious form to the end of the season it will be stupidly tight with us finishing second with 82 points and a better goal difference. To say that we cannot afford to loose a single game bettween now and the end of the season if we want to go up automatically is simply not realistic if you look at the form of the teams around us, we will all drop points and the stats say we will drop less and thus be promoted. STOP BEING A NEGATIVE DRAMA QUEEN sit back look at the FACTS and come to an EDUCATED SENSIBLE OPINION!

We are two points off the play offs with two games in hand and a significantly superior goal difference, so if we win one of those games or draw both and then match Peterborough for the rest of the season we will almost certainly be promoted. Now is certainly not the time to be setting our sights lower as we and countless othr sides have seen quality is no guarentee in the play offs lottery. So in simple answer to you question no we shouldn't settle for the play offs under any circumstances, I would gamble a crocked Lallana and Chambo in the las game of the season if we are in with a sniff of automatic, as you've said yourself with the games in hand there is no guarentee you win them just becuase your the better team and the same certainly applies to the play offs!

Looks like a much better deal for the lad than going to crappy Stockport, Oxford are a half decent side who play reasonable football hopefully Ryan will now be able to show what he is capable of in a competetive side.

Not too bothered about tonights result to be honest, I think it's important we keep scoring and ideally we don't loose but we have plenty of games to over come any blip. Would however be nice as you say to go second with games in hand and really apply some pressure to the teams around us Huddersfield I think are ripe to crack and Peterborough have a dodgy run in them just waiting to come out!

Never thought for a minute we were going to loose, enjoyed both goals in the pub full of Wednesday fans, Didn't think they were half as bad as there fans did but they were seriously lacking in the final third tonight. Solid performances through out the team Harding again looked quality him and Butters must be pretty much our best free signings. Quality told in the end, thought Barnards work rate was incredible and he took a hell of a beating from the wednesday back four! More of the same on Tuesday, hoping franchise FC can manage a bore draw with Posh but either way it is in our hands and I'm feeling more confident by the game!

I really do hate the phrase must win game but I do think this is as close as it gets especially if Huddersfield and Peterborough win their games before we kick off! Fingers crossed both the above will loose and then with the pressure off we will stuff Wednesday who I've still not forgiven for that Mark Crossley goal a couple of seasons back!

Would love to see Howard sign, if he can experience a return to form like Chaplow has since his arrival then he would be easily one of the best players in this league. It wasn't al that long ago that he was regarded as probably the best player in the Championship and had prem teams sniffing around him, always believed he has unfinished business here since we booted him out of the youth team and he landed up on trial at Chelsea! The fact it has been so heavily rummoured on here sadly means it is almost certainly not true. the Arsenal kid looks a good bet as well, Wenger seems to rate him, provided he is a get stuck in to it type.

I'm glad we appear to have cemented a play off spot, assuming we don't have a last minute melt down! However it is certainly not an over achievment, the play offs were the minimum I expected this season given how close we were last season even with the -10 and a terrible start. I really hoped that we would do what Brighton have done and steam roller the league we have the quality and depth and I'm still a little disapointed that the fight for second is going to be so tight. Start of the season I would have skipped the lot in exchange for second place but I wouldn't have torn your arm off for a play off spot as I think we are better than that!

Sickening injury hate to see that happen to anyone. Will undoubtably help the teams pushing for promotion same way it would if we lost Lallana, teams at this level just simply can't replace that level of quality when it's lost look how rubish we were when Adam was out earlier in the season. Hope he makes a full and speedy recovery he definately has a future at a higher level and it would be a terrible shame for this to be career ending/altering.