REVIEWING THE SITUATION

SaintMike wrote:http://westhamclaretinmyblood.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/congratulations-to-newly-promoted.html

It may look as if Fat Sam has blown it but I see what the writer's trying to do there. It isn't over until the fat lady sings. West Ham may have a bit of a mountain to climb regarding automatic promotion but they're not altogether out of it. We or Reading could still slip up.
And calling Saints 'media favourites' is bollocks, from where I'm sitting it's been WHU who are the meedja dahlings. And I don't like the allusion Saints are a one-man team because when Lambert was banned, as I recall we won two out of the three games he was suspended for.
I wish Reading hadn't gone on their run though, we'd be as good as Champions.

The comments are a bit priceless:

Thanks to the one Saint and two "Royals"(since when)fans for their additions to the debate - and their temporary swagger - if you make top two well done yes, but don't delude yourselves, you ain't that good. Without Lambert and and an endless stream of penalties top 6 would have been doubtful.

Yeah, have a pint of bitter, you cockney twat.

Well I certainly havent taken it for granted we will go up. Both WHam and Reading are capable of winning 5 or 6 on the bounce and we did have a blip after xmas so could happen again. The injury to Tadanari lee is a blow as he added something different to our line up, and Rickies injury is also a worry as means we could be reliant on connolly, gone injured again and hasnt done much this season, barnard who has been injured and hasntnt done anything, sharp still settling in and Guly who is not a natural striker. With goals perhaps more diffcult need the defence to be tight not like at Blackpool and hope Richardson is fit for final games, a class above Butterfield.

So I take every game as it comes and want us to get 3 wins as soon as we can as think that will be enough as WHam would have to win 5 of 6. Every game will be a battle now and just hope NA has the players totally focussed and understand for many this will be the best chance they will ever have of getting into the premiership so expect them to give it their all. Really hoping Lallana comes good in last few games and show his early season form

GET STUCK IN LEEDS AND BARNSLEY.......WE ARE YOUR FANS FOR THE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, Leeds managed to keep Reading out for 84 minutes before conceding two goals. Hopefully Barnsley can do better against West Ham. That's on the BBC a bit later.

SaintMike wrote:GET STUCK IN LEEDS AND BARNSLEY.......WE ARE YOUR FANS FOR THE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cancelling my fan club membership. Leeds lose 2-0 and Barnsley 2-0 down in less than half an hour. Reading now top.

Well, I wouldnt have called it a good Friday......

1 Reading 41 26 79
2 Southampton 40 34 78
3 West Ham 41 25 75
4 Birmingham 40 23 66
5 Blackpool 41 15 66
6 Brighton 41 7 63
7 Middlesbrough 40 3 63
8 Cardiff 40 7 61

Points Gap with West Ham
Feb 19 2
Feb 22 -1
Feb 26 1
Mar 3 4
Mar 4 1
Mar 6 2
Mar 7 1
Mar 10 3
Mar 17 5
Mar 20 7
Mar 24 9
Mar 27 6
Apr 6 3

Points Gap with Reading
Feb 19 5
Feb 26 5
Mar 3 5
Mar 6 3
Mar 13 2
Mar 20 5
Mar 31 2
Apr 6 -1

PLEASE SAINTS, NO SLIP-UPS TOMORROW!!

Not a 'good' Friday at all. All the more reason to beat the DFCSBs today, not just because it's them and we owe them but because we need the three points.

I think we're bottling it. We may be top, but we should have closed out the match against those bastards.

We have GOT to match Reading for the last five games and go one win better than Wet Spam. Title and promotion is ours then.

matty07uk wrote:

matty07uk wrote:well my predictions are

Saints 87 points
WHam 86 points
Reading 85 points

Have tried not to be overly optimistic for saints, 3 wins 3 draws and 2 defeats last 8 games.

Adjusted this based on last 2 actual results since I made predictiosn would see

Reading 88 points
Saints 87 points
WHam 83 points

Just need Rickie, Lee and Richardson for for final games!

well this makes more difficult now, 87 is I think minimum needed and now means we have to beat Palace and Reading in my view. My qorry is we are playing similar to our "blip" after Christmas where we struggled to win at home and dropped points. IF we can win next 2 games then back on track but if we dont then we will be in trouble, 4 points is the minimum but for me that includes beating Reading

Still have Reading on 88 us on 87 but Wham now on 86, far to close for comfort now

1 Southampton 41 34 79
2 Reading 41 26 79
3 West Ham 41 25 75
4 Birmingham 41 25 69
5 Blackpool 41 15 66
6 Cardiff 41 9 64
7 Brighton 41 7 63
8 Middlesbrough 41 1 63

Points Gap with West Ham
Feb 19 2
Feb 22 -1
Feb 26 1
Mar 3 4
Mar 4 1
Mar 6 2
Mar 7 1
Mar 10 3
Mar 17 5
Mar 20 7
Mar 24 9
Mar 27 6
Apr 6 3
Apr 7 4

Points Gap with Reading
Feb 19 5
Feb 26 5
Mar 3 5
Mar 6 3
Mar 13 2
Mar 20 5
Mar 31 2
Apr 6 -1
Apr 7 =

On 1st April I said...

"Wish I could feel as confident.......2 more televised games that could again be disasters. And Pompey are gonna fight for their lives.

I think our remaining games could easily end...

PORTSMOUTH (H) draw
CRYSTAL PAL (A) draw
READING (H) lose
PETERBOROUGH (A) draw
MIDDLESBROUGH (A) lose
COVENTRY (H) win

6 points from the last games would take us to 84 points. I reckon that would leave Reading as outright champions by maybe 6 points............and a scrap between us and West Ham for second place and that could go either way."

Unfortunately this could still happen.

My confidence is not shattered but evaporating. Anything less than a win at Palace tomorrow and our chances of winning the title, at least, are gone as will, most likely, be our promotion chances. Of all the times to have a blip, this is precisely the wrong one.

Yesterday I was in absolute depresseion, today I feel a bit more optimistic and I can feel a good win coming on Monday ..............................................................................please!!

The team have won more games than other team along with Reading so in this league have shown they are good enough they just need the belief and commitmnet to throw everything at the last few games. Niggles or not Adkins has to go with strongest team for every game and treat as if a final. Its not a mini league of 5 games but 5 cup finals each one has to be won. Hoping our run in last season with Huddersfield chasing all the time brings some good experience.

Some tough games around this week. Reading face Brighton before coming to St Marys, West Ham play Birmingham then Brighton.

I suppose it could be said that whoever tops the table at the weekend deserves to be there.......I just hope its still Saints.

Whatever happens, but especially if we find ourselves still in this division, keeping Lambert has to be a priority. He's scored his 29th goal today and he would be a massive loss if he went. I don't care, pay him more, he's too good to let go next season.

Fingers crossed we may not have to worry about third this evening. Wet Spam are 3-1 down at home to Brum at half time. I hope that does not change over the next 45-50 minutes...

Wet Spam battered Brum second half and drew 3-3, so we (only!) need 6 points from the remaining 4 games for automatic promotion. It's doable!

Listening to results on train coming back, disappointed Bham didnt win but reality is 2 wins from the 4 games should be enough, lets beat Reading then focus on the next "cup final" Lallana due a goal so he can hit the winning one Friday

Oh well, not a good Good Friday but a much better Easter Monday....

1 Southampton 42 36 82
2 Reading 41 26 79
3 West Ham 42 25 76
4 Birmingham 42 25 70
5 Blackpool 42 15 67
6 Cardiff 42 9 65
7 Brighton 41 7 63
8 Middlesbrough 42 0 63
9 Leicester 42 12 62
10 Hull 42 1 61

Points Gap with West Ham
Feb 19 2
Feb 22 -1
Feb 26 1
Mar 3 4
Mar 4 1
Mar 6 2
Mar 7 1
Mar 10 3
Mar 17 5
Mar 20 7
Mar 24 9
Mar 27 6
Apr 6 3
Apr 7 4
Apr 9 6

Points Gap with Reading
Feb 19 5
Feb 26 5
Mar 3 5
Mar 6 3
Mar 13 2
Mar 20 5
Mar 31 2
Apr 6 -1
Apr 7 =
Apr 9 3

Just a few little thoughts....

1. The only way Saints can now fail to finish in the top 3 would be by Birmingham sneaking past on goal difference and that seems somewhat unlikely.

2. The next fixture for both Reading and West Ham is against Brighton, it would be good if the Seagulls are up for both games in their bid to get a play-off spot.

3. If Saints can beat Reading, and West Ham lose to Brighton, then there will be a 9 point gap over West Ham, which means their only chance of overtaking us would be on goal difference.

4. By the way, what terrific entertainment the West Ham - Birmingham match was......

Some of my little thoughts.

Gus Poyet becomes a hero with Brighton beating Reading and taking a point from West Ham. Saints beat reading on Friday to open up a 4 point cushion to Reading

Nigel Pearson repays his allegiance to one of his former clubs by winning their home game against W Ham.

Chris Hughton inspires Birmingham to finish 3rd with another home win against Reading in last game of season with saints crowned champions at St Marys.

Play off final between Birmingham and West Ham, who wins gets £60m, who loses goes bust. Gold Sullivan and Brady booed by both sets of fans! And after last nights game the football should be quite entertaining as well!!!!

Should have realised Poyet would do us no favours, down to us now to beat Reading on friday night, Brighton had plenty of chances, hit the bar and missed a penalty so about time their luck runs out, Friday will be perfect timing.

bet old sam wont be to happy