Saints travel to Swansea City with absolutely nothing to play for in terms of League Position presenting Mauricio Pochettino with a rare opportunity to experiment.

The Premier League delivers countless millions in terms of rewards for league position, so that even when teams have nothing to play for with regard to European Qualification or relegation, there could still be several million to play for even on the last game of the season, with two points to go Saints have the luxury of knowing that barring a 25 goal turn around Newcastle cant catch them and that above them Manchester United are unreachable.

Swansea however do not have that luxury, they could finish as low as 16th or as high as 10th the difference between prize money could be as somewhere around £7 million pounds, they still have a big pot to play for.

This gives Mauricio Pochettino an opportunity to try something different, an opportunity to blood a few youngsters, yes there are injury problems in the squad, but I for one would be extremely disapointed if the likes of Guly was to start when we could play Harrison Reed or Matt Targett.

The planning for next season should be starting now, we want to get off to a flying start again, we need to find out who amongst the youngsters is ready to make the step up and whom are either not ready yet or perhaps never will be, with absolutely nothing to play for what is the point of playing or putting those on the bench like Guly or Hooiveld who with due respect to them should find their days numbered at the club, I thank them for their contribution but we have to move on as a club and indeed they do as players to stop their careers stagnating.

So for Saints this should be the first pre season friendly almost, as Swansea themselves are not involved in the relegation battle Saints are not jeapordising the Premier league place of another club by doing so, therefore we need to think of ourselves and about next year.

Of course there are a few statistics to play for like beating our record Premier League Total points both over a 38 and 42 game season, equaling our away wins record and lowest goals conceded, but these are only statistics Im more concerned about building for next season, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels, Norwich were comfortably mid table last year, the made some astute signings in the summer yet they are still now one of the favourites for the drop, nothing is guaranteed in this league, in many respects the difference between a relegation battle and mid table safety is nothing more than luck in both when you play certain sides and in keeping free of injury.

I hope Saints win at Swansea Im confident we can do it, but we talk of our great youngsters coming through, we need to start giving them a bit more experience so that next season more of the squad can make valid contributions.

Photo: Action Images

NorwegianSaint added 17:15 - May 2 I like what you say BUT.... You did say "the difference between a relegation battle and mid table safety is nothing more than luck"... I say the difference between us getting a top four and mid table was bad luck! Decisions against us have become laughable... in fact if an opposition player hacked down Lambert in the area, head butted Lallana, spat at Cork and picked up the ball in both hands we would get a penalty... On another note... (Apart from the pathetic refs) it's been a great season!!!

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tiptop added 22:08 - May 2 Agreed. We have an opportunity to experiment. Not sure we have too much to deploy up front apart from Sam Gallagher and Guly to be fair though. Who is it you think MoPo is going to be experimented up front? Looking at the development squad from an outsiders point of view the most exciting attacking prospect has to be Omar Rowe. Im pretty sure he wont get a look in as he's been no where near (judging by club training pics) the 1st team training - let alone subs bench. Harrison read, ANOTHER combative midfielder? Hopefully he has more similarities with scholes than just tenacious mistimed tackles. Or maybe try Matt Target, hopefully a new Luke Shaw in the making. I've seen him in Dev games and he has quality. We need attacking options and with a derth of midfielders experiments in that area will decide who is leaving

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schatfield added 00:43 - May 3 i would love to see matt target play, heard some really good things about the lad and potentially the next big thing! Harrison too... Agree on your review, dont want to see hooiveld, guly et al, as good as they have been in the past, its time to see some for the future
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