Saints go to Crystal Palace looking for a win that will equal the points total they had after 14 games last season.

It is perhaps one of the most hectic periods I have known as a Saints supporter, never have we fought a season on so many fronts for so long and yet Claude Puel has overcome early difficulties to surpass what Ronald Koeman managed a year ago with a more settled squad.

Back then Saints were already out of Europe and the League Cup and sat 10th in the League with 20 points from 14 games, now Puel's side are going into a game that could see them in the last 32 of the Europa League to add to a semi final appearance in the League Cup.

That leaves just the league to look at and that has often seemed a let down compared with our cup exploits, but the fact is that we are not in too much a different position than we were 12 months ago and that has been brushed under the carpet a little.

A year ago we lost 1-0 at Palace now we need to go a little bit better and win, they are in awful form themselves and if they lose could drop into the relegation zone and with that it could spell the end of ex Saints manager Alan Pardew at the club.

They snatched defeat from the jaws of victory at Swansea last weekend and that was their sixth straight loss in the Premier League.

The fact that they are only six points behind us though suggests that they are no pushovers when on form, but at the moment they are in freefall and we need to make sure that continues.

The win over Everton will have given those in the usual first choice Premier league side a confidence boost and that is a double whammy with those on the fringes boosted by beating Arsenal.

That means we have a squad full of players who are fired up and trying to achieve, all of the squad feel involved and not isolated and Puel is not afraid to change personel, of course that doesn't always work and I feel that there are one or two who are not up to the task, but in general when you add the players who are breaking through like Sims, Hesketh, McQueen etc we are in a stronger position squad wise than we were a year ago.

Some will say we are weaker up front, I would not agree, yes there are ssues but those issues are being sorted by the week, Austin looks likely to outscore Pelle's total last term and Redmond has four months to get a fourth goal in the League if he is to emulate the scoring pattern of Mane.

I hink with an addition in January we will be well set to fight on more than one front in 2017.

But every game as it comes as they say, I don't think there will be many surprises in the team to face the Eagles.

In goal Forster will have our strongest back four in front of him, Soares, Fonte, VVW & Bertrand, I don't think there are many who would argue with that.

In midfield it is a little more difficult, the only two who I think will definitely play are Davis and Romeu, then it is a question of who partners them in the centre, will it be the workmanlike Clasie on the back of perhaps his best game for the club, or will he opt for JWP to use his passing ability.

Austin will surely be up front and then it gets difficult, Redmond is a little out of form, but I dont think warrants being dropped, then you have McQueen in a more forward role, Josh Sims and Shane Long all vying for that third attacking position and I havent mentioned Sofiane Boufal who I don't think they will start for a second straight game but hold back on the bench.

Whoever he goes for it will leave a plethora of riches in reserve and I think that is where our strength lies, we have a bench that is not just making up the numbers but is match fit and raring to go due to the squad rotation.

I think we can win this and win it well, but the key will be in getting on top of the game and I would like to see us finish off the opposition and make the game safe early on for one in the league.

AS we did against Everton, too often we do not finish a game off when we have the chance, we need to get more ruthless, this will come with confidence, I have always maintained we have plenty of firepower in the team and that when it hits form we might just put our foot on the gas as we did in the second half of last season.

Photo: Action Images

Butty101 added 14:49 - Dec 2 We are very much weaker up front and as a team in general when it comes to scoring, last season we had scored 21 league goals by the palace game. Pelle, Mane, Tadic and Long where all scoring and backed up by the occasional goal from midfield and defense. This season in the league if Austin dosent then we generally dont. I know you like to put a posative spin on things but there is no getting away from the fact we struggle to score.

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JDawg added 15:02 - Dec 2 It doesn't matter whether or not we are stronger up front this year than last year, the bottom line is we are not scoring goals. Until that problem is solved there will be more Hull incidents and no game can be predicted as an easy win. Having said that I do think we'll win by the odd goal tomorrow
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arthurfane added 15:06 - Dec 2 Any Saints pre-match pubs?
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carolinasaint added 16:07 - Dec 2 My thoughts regarding team selection: given the importance of the HBS match Thursday, does Claude select for that match first and then work backwards for Palace? Not if the other EL fixtures are anything to go by, but of course this one is make-or-break. If he does, perhaps he sits Bertrand, Davis and Boufal since that would be 3 matches in 8 days for them (FF and VVD too, but CP has shown he'll play those two to death).

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SaintJez added 17:20 - Dec 2 I expect, and hope, we will play a full first team against Palace and then have a think about what's best for the HBS game in midweek with a view to an important game against Boro the weekend after. I would think we will still change a few for HBS no matter how big a game we feel it is. To succeed this season, we have to trust the squad.
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leighsaint added 17:27 - Dec 2 FF & Bertrand did nothing in international break so they haven't been overworked likewise CA SL JROD HR and 2 or 3 others
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bstokesaint added 19:59 - Dec 2 As a Saints' fan I do like to see positive comments where possible, and although I'm happy to admit we're not far off the pace points-wise I think up top we are not just worse than last season, but we are currently weak. Austin is no Pelle and Redmond is no Mane. To be fair both comparisons aren't fair on the current players either as Austin is a box player and not a hold-up man and Redmond is not a striker at all really. And we're still waiting on Jay Rod and Long to find some form. Having said that I think we'll have enough to beat Palace by a goal.

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mikesaint added 20:22 - Dec 3 Palace 3 saints 0, Another abysmal performance. Cant wait to the January transfer window so we can buy our way out of trouble.
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