The importance of this game cannot be underestimated, defeat although not yet being terminal is unthinkable, this calls for one of those special days at St Mary's where the players respond to the call and the fans raise the roof.

Saints take on Palace for the 3rd time this season having lost 1-0 at Selhurst Park in the League, but gone back in the FA Cup in January and staged a comeback from 1-0 down to win 2-1.

These two games showed that there is little between the two sides, but the League clash showed that fatal flaw that Saints have had this season, on too many occasions we have conceded soft goals and missed our own chances to lose by a single goal, usually 1-0.

When Ruben Selles took over from Nathan Jones there was a bounce within the squad, but of late that bounce hasn't been there and it seems that Selles is suffering from having too many players in the squad after a spending spree under Jones in January that in hindsight seemed panic buying.

All this seems to have done is divided a bloated squad into two, those who are in Selles plans and those who due to the sheer weight of numbers find themselves not even able to get on to the bench at times let alone the pitch.

But I still maintain that this is a squad better than it's league position, yes it has fatal flaws, but it has enough about it to be able to get away with things in games and get something out of it.

But the time is running out and we need to start getting back to winning ways, only 4 weeks ago that looked to be the case after beating Leicester and following it up with a good point at Manchester United, but that game was the first of 5 games that yielded only 2 points.

In some respects that could be seen as not being a bad haul, after all three of those games were against Spurs, Manchester City and in form Brentford, but the truth is that once again when faced with a rival down the bottom we failed to perform, a draw against Tottenham showed promise, but better to have lost that one than than yet another 1-0 defeat at West Ham.

So Ruben Selles has to find that bounce back in his squad, he has to get some confidence that we can win again and then again and again.

At the back I think our best line up is Maitland-Niles, Bednarek, Bella Kotchap & Walker Peters, the right balance of experience, pace and youth.

In midfield it starts to get more difficult, Ward Prowse & Lavia are musts, but what does he do for the remaining 4 places.

Goalscoring is a problem and the hope is that Che Adams is fit enough to play at least some part in this game, if not there are few players who have put in good displays on a consistent basis.

Sulemana, Djenepo, Stuart Armstrong, Adam Armstrong, Charly Alcatraz, Sam Edozie, Sekou Mara, Joe Aribo, Moi Elyounoussi & Theo Walcott have all had their moments, but none have put in a consistent run of games that has forced their inclusion in the side, every Saints fan will have their opinion, but the truth is there are 10 players who have at some time done something that puts them in the picture for one of the 4 remaining spots, but none is a nailed on choice for Saturday and that is Ruben Selles problem.

This number is not even counting the two players signed in January who have yet to show anything much that demands their inclusion in the starting line up, Tall Paul Onauchu & Mislav Orsic.

Out of these 12 players perhaps the only thing 95% of Saints fans would agree on would be that they can't fathom why Selles places such faith in Elyounoussi.

I think that although they have a point, Elyounoussi has been no worse than anyone else in that dozen and indeed seems to able to hold his position a little better than most, but again he doesn't demand selection from his performances.

I have to be honest I could spend an hour going through various permutations of choosing 4 for the starting line up from that 12, but nothing screams out pick me.

But the time has now come that we just have to see some of these players step up to the plate, they are all talented, they just now need to show it.

We need to play without fear and so far that has been the problem, we know our weaknesses in defence, we know that aside from the inability to mark up at set pieces that if we push forward too far we get caught on the break.

That has been showed on too many occasions this season and must play on our minds when attacking, we are too scared to commit too many players in case we get caught.

That is why I think KWP & AMN are the men to play as full back, they both have pace and can cover.

So we have to play without fear, go out there and outscore the Eagles, be confident that we can do. This is a game that we have to fight for right up to the final whistle, we have shown this season we can come back from going behind and we can do so late on as we did against Spurs, this is not a time for fire drills if we concede a goal, it is a time to get behind the team and rally them as we did against Spurs to mount a comeback.

The time for booing may well come, but it should be at the final whistle, not during the game.

By 5 pm on Saturday evening we will know a lot more about our chances of avoiding relegation, but at 3pm the hope is still there, at this point negativity should not be an option, the only attitude is positive, the players have to answer some big questions, the main one being do they have the stomach for a fight in the final 8 games, that is the question we the supporters have to ask ourselves and respond to at kick off tomorrow.

Photo: Action Images

felly1 added 09:16 - Apr 14 It's Moussa time. Yes he'll beat 3 men then tackle himself but tomorrow if Selles is brave he'll pick him and captain chaos will run at the Palace defence, create openings for others and most importantly lift the St Mary's crowd to get behind the boys and spur us to victory.
3

highfield49 added 10:13 - Apr 14 Elyounoussi and Stuart Armstrong typify the problem with the team, neither is able to raise their game when the chips are down. Both are hard working but too frequently play the wrong ball or run into cul-de-sacs. The erratic and manic Djenepo is much needed in the team against Palace, he can do more to inspire in minutes than others can do in hours of repetitive training ground moves. My heart will sink if Moi is in the starting line up again. Personally I'd go with KWP and Perraud starting with AMN available to switch tactics if needed. Up front Adams and Mara look like the most hopeful partnership, when they've played together this season we've actually looked more of a threat in attack. Although Mara's goal against City was not difficult to finish I can name several players who would have dragged the shot wide, hit it at the keeper or blasted it into Row Z. Quite simply we have to win this one, despite the number of games left to play. The most motivational coach in the world won't be able to lift the players if this one slips away.

3

JoeEgg added 10:13 - Apr 14 Yet another 'special day' at St Marys. This season's home record is absolutely appalling and with the best will in the world I cant see us beating anybody at the moment least of all Palace who need points as much as we do. If by some miracle we can unveil a player or two who can actually score us a goal or two there may be the faintest of hopes that we can at least give ourselves a chance of putting in a fight to avoid the drop. However this has been the same hope for game after game now and the penny still hasn't dropped and I fear Selles will persevere with his safety first tactics that will suit only our relegation rivals. I cant believe that Graham Potter will follow us to the Championship. If that is indeed where we end up it will be no more than we deserved and a sad end to a remarkable and enjoyable era.

1

saintmark1976 added 10:45 - Apr 14 Teams that can’t score goals get relegated. We currently can’t score goals with the likes of Walcott and Elyounoussi up front . The only chance of staying up now is if Selles throws caution to the wind and plays Tall Paul from the start.Will Selles do that? I doubt it, and that’s why I fully expect to be watching Championship football at St Mary’s next season.

3

DorsetIan added 10:56 - Apr 14 Saintmark1976 is spot on. It's time to gamble PL. survival on Tall Pall. We've tried everything else. Plan A: Get the ball onto his head. Plan B: Try to win free kicks on the edge of the area. Plan C: See Plans A or B
2

StillaSaint added 11:13 - Apr 14 Moussa time , i couldn't agree more . This guy is a handful , he has been unfairly treated for years . For me he has flair and skills , He scores goals . I don't understand why he doesn't get match time every week . Look at the goal he scored against City . Then dropped again . Now he beats 3 or 4 player lays it on a plate for Mari but bet he is dropped again . Give he a run in the side . Earlier in the season hr was playing left back , he grew into the position , did really well then got dropped Again when we got players back from injury's . Poor lad

5

Bowlercow added 11:37 - Apr 14 I would give Moussa free reign against Palace Tell him to go where he wants to cause chaos in their defence and score Don't bother him with defensive duties
3

zonehead added 13:25 - Apr 14 Time to be pragmatic, go 4-4-2 tall Paul and Adams up front and JWP wing back instructed to pump crosses into the box at every opportunity, when you have the best crosser and a 7 foot CF it’s a no brainier! I am applying for the Saints job next season.
0

DellBoyWally added 13:28 - Apr 14 Yeah, give Moussa free rein to go at the defence. But we still have class and real potential that never/rarely get played:- Orsic; Tall Paul; Alcaraz; and the like. As with everyone else, I agree that the plan over the last few games hasn't worked. Why keep trying it?? CHANGE! GO FOR IT. Not the spineless whimper heading to the Championship. Ironically, under Ralph this season we averaged 0.85 points. Since, we have averaged 0.68. And we have better players now!!!

1

WoolstonSaint2 added 13:30 - Apr 14 The squad is better than it’s league position? Seriously, we are utterly rubbish. Bottom of the league because we have one of the weakest, most inept and toothless squads to represent our great city. We have lost to most of our nearest rivals, lost to Grimsby, barely beat Blackpool, Lincoln, and Sheff Weds, conceded loads of goals, struggle to score, look bereft of creativity, regularly leave opponents unmarked in our own 6 yard box, have a ‘Captain’ that loves playing sideways and backwards, and no matter what XI starts, we look like a League One team. We have no heroes- not a single, reasonably consistent, exciting player you’d pay to watch. We deserve to be relegated after flirting with it for years and not improving the squad.

1

SaintPaulVW added 13:36 - Apr 14 Agree, this is a must win. To stay within touching distance if survival seems like a must. We have the attacking talent, let them play rather than high workrate players with no final ball. Sh1t or bust time. COYR
2

halftimeorange added 14:03 - Apr 14 I'll be surprised if the starting line-up isn't the same as against City. Selles has shown nothing to convince me he's got any answers. Maybe having no goalscorer, no creator, no positivity in midfield and a dire central defence would be problems to defeat any new head coach but, for heaven's sake, please try something different! Yes to Moussa and Tall Paul. Alcaraz still shows promise and why not try KWP in front of AMN? That's probably too confusing for our already baffled squad!

1

halftimeorange added 14:03 - Apr 14 I'll be surprised if the starting line-up isn't the same as against City. Selles has shown nothing to convince me he's got any answers. Maybe having no goalscorer, no creator, no positivity in midfield and a dire central defence would be problems to defeat any new head coach but, for heaven's sake, please try something different! Yes to Moussa and Tall Paul. Alcaraz still shows promise and why not try KWP in front of AMN? That's probably too confusing for our already baffled squad!

2

Fordy added 14:45 - Apr 14 Strange that after one dribble where he almost fell over himself Moussa is now our saviour! Having said that, he had a fairly solid start to the season and then disappeared. I'm not sure Tall Paul will start, which only really leaves Mara. He needs service because the rest of his game is not up to much but if you give him a chance he might deliver. The only players seemingly capable of providing any kind of delivery are Charley, Moussa and Theo, so I would start these three behind Mara.

0

bryanK added 17:30 - Apr 14 I will always be a Saints supporter for the rest of my days but I have lost the passion this season and I’m sure many of you feel the same. The influx of new players has not worked and we are now saddled with a manager that wants to shut up shop and pray to God we sneak a goal. Is this the Southampton way I think not. I have missed 3 out of the last 4 games thinking that I am a bad omen which I now know is not correct. Team selection is very worrying and cannot feel confident that we can match a rejuvenated Palace under their new 75 year old manager. Perhaps we could ask Laurie Mac to do a stint as I cannot think of anything else this disappointing club has shown me in recent times

2

Block8 added 18:20 - Apr 14 We all know it will be defensive & and slow. Perhaps the fact that the majority of the team seems to be constant is one of the problems & has led to complacency and lethargy. Hoping that Selles will let the players that can damage the opposition play and without restrictions. I would rather us go down showing some teeth than watch us whimper into the Championship like a dud firework!

1

Peterx added 08:57 - Apr 15 A different approach is needed, start Tall Paul please, would rather go down giving that a go in Che's absence than thinking what might have been.
1

Blogs 31 bloggers

York City Polls