SEASON'S END AT HOME TO STOKE

Can Saints finish the season with an overdue win and boost funds with prize money from a high position in the League?

It seems Stoke are expecting their highest number of travelling fans this season.....
http://www.stokecityfc.com/news/article/southampton-tickets-latest-822925.aspx?

Do you think there's a chance Tino may let St Mary's see Forren for at least part of the match?

well I am going with a 3 - 1 win finish, should have had money on the Sunderland result.

Think Forren might have got some game time but problem is Stoke so will be high ball stuff so not really the game for Yoshida or Forren, as you will know from other posts not a Hoovield fan but suspect he will start especially if Crouch plays.

All depends on whether the Saints team play like they did against Liverpool and Man City or like they did against Swansea and West Brom.

Looks like no Lambert or Shaw, but at least Fox is suspended. Forren is also injured so looks like still wont get to see.

if no Lambert then guess J Rod leads the line possibly with Mayuka or maybe Lallana behind JRod with Puncheon out wide.

At around 2:00pm Luke Shaw tweeted that he is looking forward to tomorrow's game, hopefully this means he will be fit.

hope he is fit as makes such a difference to the side, think was a virus or something so may be able to play some of the game

Hoping Lallana finds some form, and that the team remember how to score.......and maybe we can make it SAINTS 3 STOKE 2

SAINTS: K Davis, Clyne, Fonte, Hooiveld, Shaw, Schneiderlin, Cork, S Davis, Rodriguez, Lallana, Lambert.

Subs: Gazzaniga, Yoshida, Ward-Prowse, Chambers, Isgrove, Puncheon, Mayuka.

Good to see that most of the doubtful starters are fit........but didnt know Boruc was hurt!

So, 1-1 it is and we stay 14th. Although we do need defenders it would be great to see a striker who could be assertive and find the net regularly.

Well not a great game to end on but cannot complain about 14th position, everyone would have settled on that at start of the season. Also knew playing Stoke would not be a classic and they certainly didn't disappoint in that sense. All brawn and little skill but a good goalie. Can see why fans from other premiership clubs were hoping they would be relegated as they really are poor.

Got off to a promising start when some Stoke moron let off a smoke grenade which was drifting across the goal and Rodrigues shot across the goal but goalie just got a hand on it and while Rickie blasted in apparently was off side, were passing the ball around nicely. Rodrigues went on a run past a couple and then cynically taken out by a stoke defender, otherwise known as a thug! Lambert had a shot that went well wide and high but at least willing to shoot. Were buzzing and Stoke actually made a substitution after 20 minutes as were unable to cope. Stoke nearly had a chance when Hoovield lost the ball but Schneiderlin got back to win the ball though Walters fell like a swan to try and con a penalty, should have been booked.

Schneiderlin was the next to get the "stoke" treatment as he broke from midfield only to be again cynically tripped. If the ref hadn't played advantage so much sure more Stoke players would have been booked , poor ref as never went back after play to book them. Chances became fewer for saints as half wore on but Stoke threats were purely from corners and throw ins, Delap has gone but not the tactic! Each corner took forever while they sorted out the pulling of shirts/players.

The saints did what they always do and start slowly. part of the problem was kelvin and his kicking, ball had been passed between Kelvin, Hoovield and fonte with no one wanting then Kelvin booted down field but to left side but didn't have distance. Shaw made a mistake and was left beaten and a decent cross saw Crouch easily beat Fonte to head in, was probably Stoke's first chance. While it was nice see kelvin in goal one more time reminded me that his kicking is a bit of a liability and always seemed to be under pressure whereas Boruc just eludes calm.

Saints had a chance when Davis had a great sight of goal but shot was to close to goalie and he tried to pass in as opposed putting his foot through. Then Lambert nearly scored when his shot hit Bergovic but finally got the deserved equaliser when again Bergovic blocked another shot but Rickie blasted in the loose ball.

Saints continued to dominate and Pulis showed his colours by bringing on Jerome with Owen still on the bench, think his first contribution was a foul! Puncheon and Rodrigues both had shots but were comfortable for Bergovic who I am sure will move in the summer to a decent club. Game petered out towards the end, Mayuka cam on for last 10 minutes, personally would rather Isgrove had come on.

So disappointing no win but that will hopefully keep the feet on the ground for those talking about Champions league. Two or three good signings should see us challenge the likes of Swansea/WBA/Everton for a top 10 slot next season.

Davis 6 no chance with goal but his kicking puts the team under pressure.
Shaw 7 did make a couple of mistakes in the game one helped towards the goal so not the finished article yet so hope he stays to learn
Font 6 struggled with crouch but then again did get a few elbows and knees in his ribs
Hoovield 6 would have made more sense if he would have taken on Crouch.
Cline 7 made some good runs often without support until Puncheon came on.
Cork 7 lots of running
Schneiderlin 7 controlled the midfield
Lallana 6 decent first half but hasn't really been a goal threat last half of season
Davis 6 solid performance probably should have done better with his chance but at least in position and shot.
Rodrigues 6 couple of good runs and a couple of shots without looking a real threat
Lambert 7 glad he got a goal from open play
Subs
Puncheon 6 did well when he came on and had a couple of shots
Ward Prowse 6 energetic
Mayuka 5 only on for 10 minutes so bit unfair but didn't really look like he is striker.

Thanks Matty, for this report and the whole season.

Now for the Ashes (oh shit, we're gonna lose I feel).

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While the season ended with a bit of a whimper, no wins in six, for us, I can't complain about 14th at all and it's better than I expected. It's a highly creditable finishing position, one I think that accurately reflects the teams's abilities now and lays a foundation for the club to go on and improve.
We need four or five quality players and more depth in the squad to be able to finish higher next season because the playing staff we have now, apart from a few of the first team (Boruc, Clyne, Yoshida, Schneiderlin, Cork, Shaw, Lambert and Ramirez if he starts showing his true quality more consistently), are not quite there and there's no 'strength in depth'.

Was Boruc out because of injury? I had a thought that they might have decided to give Kelvin one last appearance before the fans if it is unlikely he will get a look in next season. But on second thoughts, that wouldn't be it as there appears to be little room for sentiment in the current set-up.

I think it was to give Kelvin his last game but Boruc may well have had a niggling injury as well so combined the two.

Think NC has a soft spot for Kelvin as was one of the first to commit to saints after club was bought when he had better options and has been a true pro all the time, also think that explains why they gave him a 2 year extension, no need to have done that with his age.