This is a game that needs every Saints supporter to rally round the team and create an atmosphere that is conducive to us winning football games.

The first thing that is needed tomorrow is for Saints fans to rally around the flag, normally this should be a happy period for football supporters of a club in a cup final, the flags should be out, the Wembley scarves and smiles on everyones faces.

Yet that is not the case, too many people have got something to moan about and whilst it is understandable why they are feeling a little peeved, the fact is that moaning is not going to change anything.

So we have to go with what we have got, we have won games of football in the Premier League in the last few years with worse defences than the one we are putting out now, so Armageddon is not in sight just yet.

Claude Puel though has to show the reasons why we employed him, there is no excuse now for rotation, we have only got 3 games to play in the next month, it is all about putting out our best side and getting it playing with momentum, with confidence and with a swagger.

If we can get the first two sorted then the third will follow.

Yes we are weak in the centre of defence but in all other positions we have options and quality.

So the job of Puel is to try and cut out the lapses in concentration that blighted us again at Swansea.

One of those options might be to play Ryan Bertrand in the centre of defence, I am sorry but for me the Yoshida and Stephens partnership is not good enough, the Japanese Internationals is a decent stop gap but isnot consistent enough to play too many games without an arror, he is also not a leader of men and needs someone alongside him to take charge and marshall him.

Jack Stephens needs someone to do just that himself and it is not Yoshida.

Therefore would like to see Bertrand add pace, experience and leadership in the centre of the defence, if we do that and have Yoshida alongside him with Soares and McQueen as full backs then that is not the worst side in the Premier League.

After all we kept Leicester quiet after van Dijk went off, so our defence is not all that bad, but some of our fans conveniently forget that.,

We then need to keep it solid in front of them Romeu, Clasie and Davis, then it is about attack.

We now have that forward that so many wanted, we have attacking options we now have to use them, Shane Long is on fire, use him and keep him scoring, start Redmond and Boufal on either side of him and suddenly we have a trio that can create and score goals.

I think that Gabbiadini should start on the bench and then come on in the second half with Dusan Tadic also offering options with Josh Sims.

No that is not a bad side it has quality all it needs is the true 12th man, the crowd to get behind them.

I don't care about what went on in the Europa League or the transfer window or whose fault it is, I just care about what comes next, it is always about what comes next, three straight wins now and things will change drastically.

So are you a supporter or merely a fan, look it up !!!!!!!!

Photo: Action Images

SanMarco added 14:01 - Feb 3 I thought ‘fan’ was short for fanatic so would think ‘mere fanatic’ was almost oxymoronic. I don’t think the crowd should be blamed in advance for whatever happens in this one – let’s see how we play and people’s annoyance at recent fiascos will not just go away, how could it. Carroll vs the centre of our defence is the key worry. Wet Spam will not be as supine as Leicester were but having seen them vs Man City I would say that if we keep Carroll quiet and don’t give silly free kicks away for Snodgrass we should be favourites.

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LordDZLucan added 14:10 - Feb 3 Most people on this site have been providing constructive criticism rather than moaning and have been going for the ball, which for most people has been the shambles of a transfer policy, rather than the man. You, Nick, in this article have gone for the man and have very unfairly called out Yoshi. To my mind he has had his best season in a Saints shirt ever and has at last cut out those howlers. He is good in the air and has pace. No way should he be dropped. I agree now is the time to support the team more than ever. That includes you, Nick, so please no more calling out one player.

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SaintNick added 14:19 - Feb 3 I think plenty of people are out for Puel, lord lucan, you sort of contradict your self in that if you believe that Yoshida should not be dropped and is worthy of a regular first team place then there is no shambles of a transfer policy only an injury crisis and normally you would not spent big to replace a player who is injured. Personally I do not believe that Yoshida is good enough for a regular place, nothing against the man I just dont think he is of the quality required, if he was then we would not be concerned about Fonte going, but few are saying this was an astute piece of business because Yoshida is better. But although I am calling him out, I am doing s constructively, tomorrow he will have my full support as he does everytime he wears the shirt, because i do not think he is good enough does not mean I hurl abuse at him. To the first poster again a contradiction, if you do not think the crowd should be blamed in advance then we should not blame anything else in advance yet a fair proportion of the crowd will be waiting to do so. The atmosphere at recent home games has been abysmal in that too many are waiting for the first mistake

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LordDZLucan added 14:36 - Feb 3 The atmosphere where I sit has been fine. I think the poor atmosphere is probably confined to pockets of the ground e.g. Itchen North. But back to the transfer policy. We have 3 fit centre backs, one of whom is just starting to play for the first team and another who is just returning from 2 years out injured; up until the beginning of this week we only had 2 fit strikers one of whom is clearly still finding his way again after 2 years out injured. Yes we have van Dijk and Austin injured but having a centre back and a striker injured at any one time is par for the course. This is more than an injury crisis. Our transfer policy has left us light on numbers. It has also left us light on stand out players. Some of the new signings may be stand out in a couple of years time but they are not stand out now because they've still got to learn the ropes.

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Whiteknight added 15:02 - Feb 3 I normally sit (stand) in the Northam. Last week I sat in Itchen North and could not believe how poor the support was, so have to agree with Lucan there. I also agree that now is not the time to single any players out - especially those that have upped their game, as Yoshida has done this season. Maybe he isn't the same quality as Fonte but he's still here and has, as far as I can see, always behaved in an exemplary fashion. Any frustration, which is understandable, should be directed towards the management team. At a time when we should have been pushing on they have dragged us into the mire of mediocrity. I'm not convinced we are not in a relegation fight. This is not where we should be. I'm not deluded enough to think top 4 (or even top 6) but top 10 definitely. Where I strongly agree with Nick is that the stadium needs to have a great atmosphere for every home game. I just don't understand why people go if they don't contribute to the atmosphere and support the vocally team. As I alluded to at the start of the rant(!), the supporters in Itchen North last week were an embarrassment.

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dixiefrog added 15:15 - Feb 3 I can't understand why a great many supporters have a down on Yoshi, I agree with some others in that he's having his best season with Saints and with this added responsibility, he's maturing into his role. For Saturday, I think to neutralise Carroll our midfield have to cut off his supply, therefore if Romeu, Clasie and Davis seize the moment and have a good game, then I can't see Wet Spam scoring. That added to goals from Shane and in the second half new man Gabbiadini, it can only mean a win for the mighty Saints.

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SaintBrock added 15:28 - Feb 3 "the Japanese Internationals is a decent stop gap but isnot consistent enough to play too many games without an arror, he is also not a leader of men and needs someone alongside him to take charge and marshall him". Nick, let it go please it's gotten to the stage beyond a joke that you can't help yourself. Cut the lad some slack. I am dreaming of a golden period of Saints attacking isitory in which Boufal, Tadic & Gabbiadini mesmerise the opposition through skill and cunning and step overs, flicking here, darting there and banging them in for fun and it all starts tomorrow at 3pm; Saints 7 West Ham 0

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SonicBoom added 15:28 - Feb 3 I am surprised that you Nick think that Bertrand, who isn't the tallest by the way, would make for a better centre half than anyone we have who usually plays in that position. I'd rather have him out wide preventing crosses than trying to out jump Carroll anyway. He would have no chance. We can either stop the crosses or be fiorst to the knock downs. Playing Bertrand in the middle seems pointless. He's not big enough and it also weakens us elsewhere.

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SaintBrock added 15:48 - Feb 3 To be perfectly honest if all the old fellas around me in the Itchen Centre started singing their hearts out for the team, we'd all be slightly embarrassed. None of us go there to sing heaven forbid, we just enjoy meeting up every other week exchange pleasantries and the odd Kit Kat and strap ourselves in for the white knuckle ride that is supporting Southampton Football Club. Our support is evident by just being there fair weather and foul, through the lean times and the occasional good times. heroes come and heroes go. Hope runs eternal and don't ever forget the silent, reflective old fellas have been there and done that in their time for a lot longer than most who would criticise them. They have indeed seen it all before and when all is said and done, we the fans will be the only ones left to switch out the lights.

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highfield49 added 16:43 - Feb 3 I don't think we should be too bothered about Carroll as long as one of our defenders. who should have no chance of getting the ball, takes a rash lunge at his ankle when he's running away from goal. It should put him out of contention for about two or three months and the referee wont be bothered about the foul. Oh, I forgot we don't have Vardy playing in our back four.

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aceofthebase added 16:46 - Feb 3 When those crosses come flying over from the right Carroll willbe saying to himself 'How can I get above Cedric! I don't suppose West Ham will have thought of that, it's not that obvious is it? When the crosses come over from the left Cedric will not have stopped them and will be running back for the 'kick off' with that sheepish look. If either play(hope not!) then Cedric or Classie are a little bit challenged to defend corners I would like to see one of them near the centre circle to tie up an opposition defender or two. We will be having a bit of a team and tactic change this weekend and it's going to be interesting, I hope it will work

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A1079 added 17:52 - Feb 3 This week Nick, I think most of the criticism has been constructive and on the whole fairly united - quite rare for this forum. In terms of that and supporting the team, you are absolutely right. Whatever the position and however, we doubt the rationale of some of the decisions or lack of them recently, we have to go with what we have and get behind it and do our best to encourage those out on the pitch. I am confident that the vast majority of fans/supporters do that and will do that. The problem will come if tactics are seen or perceived to have a negative impact to our game and provide initiative to the opposing team. Though WH got well beaten in the week, it will not be easy by any means and it will need complete concentration to the end. Hopefully a more attacking option on our part will both keep WH busy and give us the result we all hope for.

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rjh added 18:02 - Feb 3 Mick is right. MY and JS are not good enough. Poor finishing by Liverpool is the only reason we got through at Anfield. We will struggle from now on in if we play those two.
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rjh added 18:03 - Feb 3 Predictor- meant Nick!!!!
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TygerUppercut added 21:49 - Feb 3 Yet again Nik trys to deflect criticism from the board + transfer policy of sfc by instead blaming the fans - it has been the same all season - refusing to point out any failings of the board + instead taking a dig at saints fans at every given oppurtunity! Not onky.that but you a hypocrite Nik you state saints fans always have a scapegoat yet you yourself are on a witch hunt for yoshida. I am not his biggest fan but right now we need him mkre than ever when somehow the club has managed to engineer a ridiculous situation of having only 3fit cbs at the club + yoshida is currently the only one with substantial premiership experience!!

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ItchenNorth added 22:05 - Feb 3 I agree that the atmosphere in the Itchen North has been poor this season. Too many in there just sitting back, waiting to be entertained. It's probably a knock on effect following two or three great seasons, and suddenly they all want to attend more regularly ! They think it's like going to the theatre and want entertainment every week or they'll just sit there and moan ! Well; sometimes you just have to put that aside, get off your ass, stand up and back the team, however the game is going. We are supporters not customers, so support. Hoping for a good atmosphere vs West Ham. Come on Itchen North, passion please.

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helpineedsomebody added 01:37 - Feb 4 You have to ask yourself nick are you happy shelling out 60pounds to see players like Stephens reed etc play in the side . These young players are all in the squad because Mr dof told Marcus why only produce one player per season when if we can have a new training centre i will be able to get 5 6 young players per season . It took big mac 10 seasons to produce the likes of Alan matt Rodney etc and they trained on a mud heap Mr doff has been here 8 seasons look at the players there bringing through as rk said they are not good enough . Every saints supporter going to the game today needs one thing confidence All we have at the moment is hope This is the way sfc has been run since the beginning all ways under funded and plenty of excuses

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redandwhitedee added 09:50 - Feb 4 Of course Yoshida deserves his place in the team. He has never let us down and proven true loyalty even though as a guy with premier lge experience and 60+ caps he could have got a decent move elsewhere. Show me a CB who never makes a mistake ?? Point is, Yoshida does a superb job whenever called upon. I, for one, am very happy with him as Fonte replacement. Yes Fonte made a lot of great last ditch blocks...... After he was, as usual caught out of position. Fonte also however could not handle the rules about tugging shirts in the box. He is a liability and i am glad we cashed in on him now. Stephens showed his potential at anfield .. And also showed that he is a leader. He needs a run of games, like any other defender. get of Yoshida's back. He is a great southampton player, and a true professional.

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perazi added 10:22 - Feb 4 Nick - you should be criticising Reed and the Board for failing to replace Fonte and VVD after his injury. You have a peculiar fixed judgement about Yoshida being some sort of fragile, inadequate CB; he isn't, he's a very competent Prem standard defender - but he should never have been asked to carry the Saint's central defence for four months. That's a failure of the Club's administration - get off his back; you're wrong on that score.

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DPeps added 10:26 - Feb 4 It's all been said above. It's a weird way to be a 'fan' to needlessly have a go at one of our most important players. If we have a problem with the CB pairing then it's best to call out the management and board, who have let it get to a stage where we only have 3 CBS with any PL experience.
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pete_boggs added 12:43 - Feb 4 'the fact is that moaning is not going to change anything'. So the management not taking any notice of the fans legitimate collective criticisms is fine by you. Baa baa.
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