Match Day Thread Southampton vs Crystal Palace 21/09/2016 Kick Off 7:45 PM

Flt. Go and put the kettle on. You're obviously bored. Our friend Spaced is firmly onside now. Leave it. This is what comes of there being no match on a Saturday!

 

I'm chilled and was just making sure he didn't think I was thinking he was negative.

For time first time in months had a Saturday doing nothing. Dropped the at hockey as it was an afternoon inter club thing and no match, while the girls and I mooched around some shops and had a lovely lunch.

Life couldn't be more relaxed today.

 

Shops and lunch. In Northampton? Ye gods, all my preconceptions blown in two words!

Stay chilled. I'm off to do something useful (yet to be defined).

 

I wasn't referring to you, or anyone in particular. It just gets boring defending a point five times when I already retracted it!

 

I feel I must explain... Little country shopping village with some crafty and deli type shops, coupled with a little tea room that does light lunch.

We don't do that in Northampton! Heavens above

 

I was made to go to the shoe museum once.That's all I remember about Northampton

 

Is it back to normal for Pards are the winning 'blip' perhaps? Looks like it.....

 

Nope, the winning 'blip' continues.

 

Cobblers. I don't believe you

 

I'm not saying Austin is going to score 30 goals, but he has a pretty good history of being at least a competent finisher. If we can get him the ball in the right spots, he'll put them away. I'm gonna say 75% chance of big improvement.

Long on the other hand, has an equally long history of being a pretty poor finisher. So I wouldn't expect a massive turnaround from him. But we do at least know that he works his way into a lot of chances and converts enough to be... okay, I guess... given the positives he adds elsewhere. He is not good at finishing... but he's usually not this bad either. I'll say 75% chance of slight improvement.

I have been impressed by Rodriguez's technique a bunch of times in his fleeting comebacks. Either he improved, or I forgot how good he had gotten right before he got hurt. He does look sloppy at other times, but most of those times you can sort of tell is a result of him being tired and just not match-sharp which will fix itself. Not sure if he has the speed still, or can stay healthy. I'll say 20% chance he gets BETTER than he was. Maybe 20% he gets back to what he was. And 20% chance he never gets back, but can be a decent player off the bench. 20% bust.

Sofiane? Who knows. I'll just say 50/50.

So adding up all the percentages of success (or half-success), I'd say we are looking pretty good for 2 out of the 4.

 

Well, what were the chances of that...

 

Looks like only 2 Stands open for Sunderland fixture.

 

Football fever hits Southampton!