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Next Two Games Crucial
Monday, 17th Mar 2014 08:15

Saints final position in the Premier League will rely heavily on what they do in the next two games.

This weekend was a good one for Saints both from the point of view of the teams behind them and those in front, looking over our shoulder, defeats for West Ham, Hull & Swansea, means that it could be a big ask for them to catch us and although Stoke & Villa creeped up a little, with every game that goes by the gap becomes harder for them to make up, Stoke are 11 points behind and for them to catch us would need a big swing in their results and ours, this means we are perhaps one win away from being sure of a top ten finish, although I do think we are virtually there on that one, we shouldnt underestimate Villa though, if they in their game in hand they will only be 8 points behind and we have to travel to Villa Park yet.

Looking ahead we leapfrogged Newcastle and with Manchester United losing we are now within 3 points of them, it will still be a tough ask but to b in with a shot of finishing above them at this stage of the season is truly a sign of how good a season we have had as well as a warning of how far we actually are off being able to compete with the big clubs for a Champions League place, for them this season is an absolute disaster yet they are still ahead.

So our next two fixtures are vitally important if we harbour hopes of not only staying ahead of Newcastle but of even overtaking United, the trip to Spurs next Sunday is one we need to get something from, one thing we do need to do is start to beat the teams above us, the fact that in the top 12 clubs in the Premier League we have only beaten one in sixteen attempts is a source of worry, if we are to finish the season on a high then we need to address this, winning at Spurs would be a great start.

Then its perhaps the most important home game of the season, the visit of Newcastle, truth is the Geordies are our biggest rivals this season, it is them we are vying with for 8th position and this has to be our first focus for the rest of the season, concentrate on keeping ahead of Alan Pardew's side and then we might just get higher, this should really be a game where we have a full house behind us and we have to win, if we do we will have dealt them a big blow with only six games remaining.

But remember, those last six games are tough, Man City away and Everton & Man Utd at home are never easy and we have to look at our record aganst the top six and that is why im still cautious about where we might finish, add a trip to Aston Villa in the last six mix as well and if we look at our form for the season it doesnt bode well for predicting the scores.

So we have to end this jinx the top dozen sides have on us and then we have to finish strongly, it was at that stage last year we started to falter not winning any of our last six, if we repeat that this time out then we will be open for a fast improving Aston Villa to overhaul us in the final weeks of the season, get a minimum of four points from the next two games and we will take a big step to go into the final run in full of confidence

Photo: Action Images



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SalisburySaint added 10:51 - Mar 17
Last season we had a great record against the top teams, beating Man CIty, Liverpool, Chelsea and draw against Arsenal at home and drawing away at Chelsea

people then were critical of us not getting enough points aghoinst eh bottom teams

This season we are doing the business against the bottom teams but have still drawn at home to Man City and Arsenal, Unnlucky not to win both and are the only team to have won at Anfield

We do need to do a little better against the top teams, but Rome wasn't built in a day and we are progressing well.

An 8th or 9th place finish is more than acceptable for a team in their second season back in the Premier

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SaintNick added 12:05 - Mar 17
I agree we are progressing well, but that doesnt mean that we shouldnt be striving to keep doing better, yes we might be the only team to win at anfield, but I would rather have won at newcastle of United more as that would have affected the league table more for us.

We have a tough end to the season if we finish 8th (or above) we will have overperformed, 9th will be steady progress, 10th will be par but a disapointment given the position we have occupied through the season

Below 10th questions would need to be asked given where we are now
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abingdonsaint added 18:11 - Mar 17
Still falling into that old results against performances trap Nick!

We have actually played pretty well against the top sides this season. In fact, the only team that has managed to outplay us consistently has been Chelsea. The games against Arsenal and Man City at home in particular we could easily have won on another day. The bottom line, as a couple of Norwich bloggers mentioned with regret at the weekend, is that we are now on a different level to the teams in the bottom half of the table, and that can certainly be called progress. The key to improving on that will be in retaining our best players, making a couple of quality additions in the summer, and of course retaining Poch!

Fingers crossed it's onwards and upwards!
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davepid added 21:30 - Mar 17
Ok some one convince me MP is the man to take us forward. We need some players- he has not bought we'll in his 2 opportunities so far.
We need a plan B when clubs sis us out - no indication at all that he has a plan B.
Players improving as the season goes on - shaw and lalanna apart I'm struggling to think of another player whose skills and approach to the game has improved. The possession/shots/ goals ratio hasn't changed much throughout the season.
No sense of 'MP adjusting his tactics to suit the opposition or the way the game is unfolding.
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SaintNick added 22:12 - Mar 17
Abingdon, yes we have played well in parts against the top sides, but we just dont have the concentration against them, most of those games featured individual errors that cost goals, we are on the way up but there is still a way to go yet
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abingdonsaint added 23:37 - Mar 17
Nick, I agree we are not the finished article, but when you consider where we were 3 or 4 years ago, our progress has been nothing short of phenomenal. All I am saying is that I am proud that we have a team capable of giving any opposition a stern test. There is still room for improvement.

Davepid's point of view is interesting! I am intrigued to know just how Poch could have done a lot better, and in what ways. I have been a Saints supporter since 1968, and whilst in that time we have had some very entertaining and competitive sides, particularly in the early 1980's, in my opinion, some of the football we have played this season has been as good as anything I have seen. Spider's goal on Saturday for instance was fantastic, fluid football. Now when you say Poch has no 'Plan B', he does make small adjustments on occasion (if you watch carefully!) but what he will NOT do is change the fundamental pressing and passing style. There is not supposed to be a 'Plan B', that's the point. Now some may call that inflexible, I prefer to call it uncompromising! For better or worse, he believes this is the way to win football matches, and it is being ingrained at all our youth levels so that any academy graduates coming in to the first team understand their role. Even when we lose, Poch will often comment that a positive was that we kept true to our style, our identity. We just need to do it better on occasions. So, if you expect us to go 'Route One' any time soon, afraid that ain't gonna happen. Personally, I like that. Seems to work for Barcelona and Bayern!

As regards individuals, I would say Chambers, Clyne and Ward-Prowse to name but 3 have all improved this season. You may have noticed that we also have an unprecedented 4 players in the senior England squad, and are 8th in the Premier League. So, apart from the league position, the (in my opinion!) fantastic football, and all the internationals, what has Poch ever done for us? (Feels like a Monty Python sketch) More importantly, who do you think could have done better, and in what way?

Opinions eh?
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cheltenhamsaint added 13:28 - Mar 18
Abingdonsaint - for what it is worth I am entirely with you on the points you have made. When I read certain posters I think I have slipped in a parallel universe or timed travelled back 12 months. The professional pundits/commentators and most supporters of other clubs think we have been a breath of fresh air for the league in general (MP being the example other clubs are trying to copy - WBA for example)l and have been the surprise package. To quote one BBC pundit not quick to praise the less fashionable clubs but whom shall remain nameless for the point of this post

"Some of the football Southampton play under Mauricio Pochettino is reminiscent of the days under Lawrie McMenemy with the likes of Alan Ball, Mick Channon and Kevin Keegan. It doesn't get better than that and Rodriguez is a key component"

Perhaps he doesn't see all our games in detail so is less qualified to comment than the regular supporter but pretty much the only critical analysis of our team, style of play, and manager comes from within the supporter base. Very strange in deed
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abingdonsaint added 18:10 - Mar 19
Thanks Cheltenham. Beginning to think I was losing my marbles when I kept driving home after really enjoying a game, only to read someone saying on Monday that we are one defeat away from a relegation battle!

Living outside the immediate Southampton area as I assume you do too, I often get comments from friends who support other clubs who have seen us on TV saying what a good side we are, but some of our supporters seem to have difficulty believing their own eyes!
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