x

Saints V Stoke City The Preview

Saints take on the Potters looking to claim three points, score a goal at home and finish eighth in the table to cap a great season in terms of accomplishment, but an awful one for quality of football.

Claude Puel will select his final team of the season on Sunday and the watching crowd will be wondering whether it will be the final one of what has been a mixed season but on paper arguably the 4th most successful in the club's history.

There has been no consistency in the manager's selection policy and that has meant no consistency on the field.

The only thing with anything near certainty tomorrow will be Saints will struggle to score goals and the crowd will be praying that we don't get a penalty.

With three missed in the last recent games that has only served to highlight that Saints these days are just not clinical enough, not just in front of goal but defensively as well.

Indeed if we had scored just one of those penalties in the home games we would already be guaranteed 8th place and not hanging on.

Puel has injury issues and with Soares and Bertrand doubtful that means a totally reserve defence, to be blunt if we start next season with a back four of Pied, Yoshida, Stephens and Targett we will be struggling and the natives will be a lot more restless than they are now.

The reality is that we won't but it highlights the problem with Puel's management style, he tries to be too clever and not concentrate on winning the game in hand instead he gs,b'es on rotation etc.

This means that we end up with games like this having to play for something that we should have wrapped up weeks ago.

Puel's season has to be judged on two levels, firstly what he will have achieved and that on paper looks impressive, but it doesn't tell the full story of a team and manager who have underachieved and should have achieved much more.

The crowd are still split on Puel and what his future should be, around half seem to want him to go now whilst about a third are worried that change might be worse, he can do himself a favour by winning on Sunday and ending the season on a high, however if the rumours of dressing room discontent are true then I fear that the situation is already too far gone to retrieve.


What to read next:

Saints V Stoke City A Look Back In Pictures 2
In the second part of our pictorial look back at some of our games against Stoke City from the past, here we look back at more recent games, so most of you would have been at them.
Saints V Stoke City A Look Back In Pictures
We have looked through our photo archives for a look back as some games against Stoke City over the years, what are your memories of these games ?
Southampton V Stoke City The Preview
Saints go into the last two games of the season with their hopes of automatic promotion ended, even the hope of finishing 3rd is only a point away from being ended, but they do have something to play for and that is getting back the togetherness, character & fight Russell Martin has recently be moaned.
No Togetherness No Character No Fight
Not my words, but those of Southampton manager Russell Martin, who should ask himself the question why two months ago we had all those attributes and now we don't !
Southampton At Leicester The Debacle
The big question is how can a side that was so tight at the back, so clinical up front and who could pass the ball around almost with their eyes closed, become the disorganised rabble that they were at the Leicester City this evening.
Southampton Side Announced For Leicester Game
Russell Martin has revealed his side for the game against Leicester City, find out what surprises he has for Saints supporters this time out.
Southampton At Leicester City The Preview
Saints travel up to Leicester knowing that it is almost certain that they will just be in the play offs come the end of the season, however there is still the feint hope of 3rd place to play for, however the Foxes are playing for a bigger prize.
A Rough Guide To Leicester City FC
Saints head up to Leicester City this evening with their automatic promotion hopes just about over, so for the 3,000 fans who bought their tickets when there was hope here are the details.
Southampton At Cardiff City The Verdict
There can be no excuses for this defeat, a loss that effectively means that it will be a play off spot and not an automatic promotion place for Southampton, so where did it all go wrong.
Cardiff City 2 - 1 Southampton - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.