Its been over 30 years since Blackpool have visited Southampton how things have changed.

Blackpool last arrived in Southampton back in November 1978 when both sides were candidates for Promotion, a two nil win saw Saints press on and go up into the top flight were they spent the next 27 years whilst the seasiders unexpectedly plummetted and were relegated.

Now both sides are back together in the same division after a lot of water has flowed under both bridges.

For saints on Saturay its a vital game, to put it bluntly they have to pick up all three points and start to look to find some consistency, the Daily Echo were right in what they said, the manager and players have to get on with their job in hand and put boardroom battles to one side, to use it as an excuse is both wrong and a sad state of affairs, to emphasise my point Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea have all suffered boardroom upheaval in the past few years to varying extents yet they have all finished in the top four plus cleaned up on the trophy front, not once did any of their players claim that off field activity was affecting them.

So on Saturday George Burley has to lead by example he has to tell his team and the World that all that matters is results and he wont give his players ready made excuses nor accept them, if he feels that he is unable to do this then he has to do the honourable thing and resign, if your manager is not totally committed to the cause then how can players be expected to be.

Saints do have the squad to pull through the crisis but leadership comes from the front and Saints fans want to see some.

Surprisingly early ticket sales look reasonable, so the fans havent deserted the team yet and once again it is one of those times when as a Saints supporter you have to ask yourself a few searching questions and the answer should be that you get behind the team at a difficult time.

George Burley's team selection will be anyones guess although it looks like the only option we will have in the centre is to play Dailly alongside Davies, this should hopefully see the return of Ifel at right back and he should keep faith with Skacel although I just have that nagging feeling that he might select Jermaine Wright here just to spite the fans.

In midfield hopefully he will remember the formation that got us results, put the strength of Viafara in the middle alongside Saffri with Dyer wide on one flank and possibly Surman or Euell on the other.

Up front its anyone's guess, Stern John seems to be the managers favourite although he has tailed off in recent games and it could be anyone of the other three. 

There isnt a lot more to be said apart from its time for the manager and the players to stand up and be counted, and whilst im on that the fans have to play there part, both in turning up and getting behind the team.

Dont forget to do the prediction league

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