Prediction League: WBA home

Wednesday night's match against Spurs wasn't ideal but there were positives to take from it.

As I walked back to my car following the game I was proud that we could outclass a Tottenham side so completely for half of a half. Proud that we could go toe to toe with a quality side that has been stealing resources from us ever since we showed the world the Southampton way.

We're eighth in the league, well placed to take seventh(the highest place possible for a team that doesn't have to worry about FFP restrictions). And if we play the same way against any non-top 6 side we will take three points.

But as I approached my car a random bloke said to me

"we need a whole new team"

I replied

"We were unlucky"

He then said

"We're sitting on £30 million quid"

I didn't really know what to say to that given that it might not be true and it definitely wouldn't be enough to buy a whole new team. So I meekly repeated:

"We were unlucky"

When people look at a match they analyse the performance through the prism of the result. They don't judge the process or the lucky deflections, the inconsistent refereeing.

Another performance like that against WBA today and everyone will be raving about Puel again.

Prediction Time

Lawro: 1-2

Van Dijk is a very good defender, yes, but we don't know yet how he will do at a top club. The way things are at the moment, with him being expected to play very well every week, we will start to see how he copes with that.

(what the fuck are you on about Lawrenson!?)

Merse: 1-1

West Brom are decent, they've had some strong games so I'm going to go for a draw.

I've asked the guys to give me a double prediction. Saints are playing a scarcely believable 2 games in 3 days and I'm not convinced there will be a prediction article before the first game of 2017.

George: 1-1

An insipid 1-1 draw against WBA, and an even more insipid 1-0 defeat against Everton.

Jake: 1-1

I'm with George on this. I think WBA at home will be a dull, uninspired 1-1 draw. We never win away at Everton either, so I am, unfortunately, predicting a 2-0 loss at Goodison.

Dan V: 0-1

Think we'll lose 1-0 to West Brom and win 2-0 away to Everton. We're just all over the place at the moment.

Will: 2-0

Despite the saints being all over the place I've somehow managed to get the correct result in the last 6 games. So I'm going win and win in the hope this continues. Today we'll have to play some kids and youthful exuberance will defeat Pulis' pragmatism.

Allen: 1-0

Think we'll squeak a 1-0 win against WBA but lose 2-1 to Everton. Like those above have said, we're difficult to predict at the moment.