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.

Photo: Action Images

luffy22 added 15:21 - May 20 In 50 years time this may be looked back on as the 4th most successful, but that depends on how you measure success, thats if a cup final and top half of the table is success. Because what will have been forgotten as you say is the dreadful style of football, the only reason we got into a cup final was the we missed the first round and then played teams who were not bothered to progress in that cup. The Europa league was embarrassing, we beat inter yes, but we didn't look like scoring from open play, it was a penalty and an own goal. The rest of the games were embarrassing to be a saints fan, putting out weakened teams. Well the FA cup, king shocking 5-0home defeat. even my dad left early and that is the first time in 60 years of watching them. So if poor football, weakened teams, cup exits (also remember we didn't actually win the cup!!!) creating record for the longest period of not scoring a goal at home is your measure of success, then I'll never be giving you a job as your measure of success is just not good enough

6

the_saint added 16:30 - May 20 You said it all great season for accomplishment but awful one for quality of football. The question is would saints fans like a similar season next year awful football but another cup final.
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highfield49 added 18:31 - May 20 Given the spending clout and pre-existing quality of the teams above us I'd have to say that I'd settle now for winning a trophy and being in the mix for European football next season. At present we're not even close to European qualifying despite the potential top eight finish and the points difference and not the league position is the key factor. Despite Puel's arguable achievement this season in giving developing players opportunities I haven't seen enough to suggest that he can improve our prospects next year. Despite being cautious about the prospect of managerial change and the risk it involves I don't see Puel as having much rapport with the players and his assistant looks positively bored by his job. Nope, overall my view is that we can't get better with this management team in place but I'd be happy to be proven wrong.

6

petedoors1 added 20:13 - May 20 Like I have said before 0-0 looks the best bet. Puel Out for me he has had a season to prove himself and failed miserably.
4

Number_58 added 09:36 - May 21 One final sly dig at Jack Stephens. Consistent to the very end.
0

halftimeorange added 09:55 - May 21 The only guarantees about today's games is that none of the other nine outfield players will detect Manolo's runs; Boufal will be booed if he comes on as a sub; Redmond will blame every teammate for his continual practice of giving the ball away and, should Saints not score, or not win, the stadium will empty like water out of a bath and the players will jog round to take the applause from largely unoccupied terraces. I really hope I'm wrong and Saints score a hatful but, if they don't, it will be nothing short of embarrassing at the end and could determine Claude's future - if it hasn't been decided already.

3

aceofthebase added 10:47 - May 21 Hate filled comments leave me cold
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aceofthebase added 10:47 - May 21 Hate filled comments leave me cold
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Consigliere added 12:59 - May 21 As I understand it, the difference between finishing 8th and 10th is over £9m so why wouldn't they go for it? I'm crossing my fingers for a hatful this afternoon!
1

petedoors1 added 17:12 - May 21 After that total crap today it must be PUEL OUT. He is clueless. Just dosent know how to motivate the team or change to a different system. Just does like for like substitutions.
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the_saint added 18:38 - May 21 In all my years I have never seen a stadium nearly empty for the lap of honour and the divide n the team half the team were on the half way line kingsland when the others came our. Did. It see Forster come out and Bertie and cedric and tadic looked like they are off in the summer
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