Saturday 28 April 2012

Southampton On The Rack

In the Merchant of Venice, when within touching distance of untold wealth by picking the right casket, Bassanio pleads, "Let me choose for as I am, I live upon the rack" and Portia replies, "Upon the rack, Bassanio! Then confess what treason there is mingled with your love."

Southampton go in to today's game professing cocky confidence. And why shouldn't they? They've swept just about all before them at St Mary's and Coventry aren't exactly Bayern Munich or Chelsea. Early goal and it's game over. Southampton are up and the party can start.

But my last post on the possibility of things going wrong provoked a furious response from the South Coast, betraying a certain treason to their professed confidence. Instead of scoffs and laughter, I was subjected to bile.

So before Southampton fans vent again, I want to point out that I congratulated the club on promotion after our draw at Bristol City; and my comments were genuine. The Saints have hugely impressed me this season, playing the best football in the division by a mile.

However, in the real crunch games, Southampton have faltered. At home to Reading they were superb, but still lost. At Upton Park they had a man advantage for most of the game but couldn't win, and away to Boro last week, they contrived to lose despite going ahead in the first minute of the game. The pressure is on and the pressure may yet tell.

Of course Southampton remain overwhelming favourites. But as I said on Tuesday night, Barcelona were overwhelming favourites when two goals up with Chelsea down to ten men, and as good as Southampton are by Championship standards, they do not have the same experience of coping with pressure as Barca and nor do they have the same quality of players. For West Ham, hope is burning like a single candle in Saint Paul's Cathedral but for as long as long as that candle flickers, Southampton may yet burn their arses.

Come On You Praying Irons!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

good luck today from a saints fan should be you and us goin up not us and reading any way good luck in the lottery play offs

Anonymous said...

So you lived your life like a candle in the wind !!! I still think that you Hammers show disrespect to Hull City. Mind it doesn't come back to bite/burn your bum !
Good luck in the Play Offs. Saintjeff

Anonymous said...

Come on and be honest. The pressure is just as much on you as it is on us. You have to win against Hull, whereas a draw would probably be good enough for us. Of course though, we will be going flat out for the win so that whatever you do, it will be a total irrelevance.

And stop going on about comparisons between our game and that between Barcelona and Chelsea; it is ridiculous. For a start, Chelsea had everything to gain by a victory, whereas Coventry have nothing to play for but pride. Comparisons between the two Champions league clubs are difficult as they are in two different countries and leagues. There is almost certainly a much greater gap between us and Coventry, who are relegated, in a poor way financially and with massive dissent from the fanbase towards their owners.

And when your fans get to hear that we are ahead in our match, let's see which club's fans are the nervous ones.

Anonymous said...

You lot playing today then? I thought you had a game left to play.

Anonymous said...

There are far too many voices from West Ham hoping that they do not have to go through the play offs. Fans, players and management have this over hyped aversion to the play offs that the psychological effect of having to then go through the play offs, could be significant. I don't believe Southampton would get through the play offs and I don't believe West Ham have done themselves any favours if they have to take that route.

Poor man and team management in my book, although you should never stop trying for that 2nd spot. If there's pressure on Southampton against Coventry, just imagine the pressure on West Ham come the play offs?

Hammersfan said...

I agree 10.42. But if it is the playoffs, Southampton or West Ham should engage with total confidence. Player for player, both teams are stronger than any of the other teams involved. The danger is that Allardyce will preach so much defensive caution that we will come a Roy.

Portia said...

"How far that little candle throws it's beams and so shines a good deed on a naughty World"

It's pouring with rain so that candle won't burn today. A win needed to keep the momentum going and then hopefully sunshine for the play offs.

Anonymous said...

Just watching the game and good to see a more attacking line up. So, knowing that we need to win and win big, BS has decided that a 4-4-2 is the best way to do so. Does that mean that he has just been looking for / happy with 1-0 victories at home up until now?

An approach that has spectacularly backfired as far as I can see. And completely vindicates those fans who have been consistently questioning his tactics up until now.

Hammersfan said...

Southampton two up. Has the candle just blown out? I can smaell rotten eggs!

Anonymous said...

That's 4 you bubble blowing wankers enjoy the play offs blackpool are going up

Anonymous said...

Haha your not going up, serves you right for all the crap you right on here. Muppet

Anonymous said...

wet spam saints were just better than you league table dont lie get over it we have enjoy the lottery play offs but cardiff will do you over

Anonymous said...

as a fellow pervert - can you recommend the website where you get all these delicious pictures? - your friend Ben

Hammersfan said...

LOL I snapped that one on a tour of David Sullivan's penthouse!