Southampton

Ray Hunt
Fan writer

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Loaded questions that would be open to a multitude of answers for many Saints fans. The easy answer is everyone/everything needs to change. This goes from players, to management and right up to the ownership group.

There is a small group of players who have, and will continue to give their all for the rest of this miserable season. I think we should all assume that Kyle Walker-Peters, Aaron Ramsdale and Tyler Dibling will get their desire to stay in the Premier League next season. And they will all have deserved their moves away.

There are also players who will need to push to put themselves in the shop window.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Armel Bella-Kotchap will certainly feel they deserve a move, so they will need improvements. Then again, so does the whole defensive core.

The key player that stands out for me is Flynn Downes. He was a staple for Russell Martin's promotion-winning side, which led to turning his loan into a buy in the summer.

However, he has had his struggles adjusting to life in the Premier League this season and, as a result, his transfer fee came under scrutiny. There was a failed attempt at a January move that has not earned him any favours with the locals and he has since slipped out of Ivan Juric's squad.

He has had limited minutes of late, missing the Anfield trip, but did feature for the final 10 against Wolves most recently. If he has any intention of remaining a Premier League player then he will need to force his way back into Juric's plans.

For the sake of Southampton's bid to catch those 11 points, we deserve and expect Downes to be at his very best again.

Find more from Ray Hunt at the In that Number podcast, external

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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England Under-21 skipper Taylor Harwood-Bellis has returned to Southampton for a scan on a thigh injury.

The centre-back was forced off in Friday's 5-3 friendly defeat in France and left St George's Park over the weekend before Monday's game with Portugal.

Southampton, bottom of the Premier League, do not play again until 2 April when they host Crystal Palace.

Boss Lee Carsley said: "Taylor's been sent back to the club, he'll get a scan on his thigh. It seemed OK but we've said in the past we'll never take any chances with the players. As soon as there's an issue they go back to the club."

Harwood-Bellis - who scored on his senior debut against Ireland under Carsley in November - was replaced by Charlie Cresswell after 62 minutes of the defeat in Lorient.

The Young Lions - who won the tournament in 2023 under Carsley - are preparing for Euro 2025 this summer where they will face the Czech Republic, Germany and Slovenia in Slovakia.

Tottenham have begun exploring a deal for Southampton's 19-year-old midfielder Tyler Dibling. (Givemesport, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

It's international break. It's quiet. There's not much to talk about. But we know you'll have plenty on your minds when it comes to Southampton.

So we've lined up BBC Radio Solent sports editor Adam Blackmore to answer your Saints questions

It could be the relegation battle, tactics, recruitment, summer plans, the club's hierarchy - or something totally different.

Send them in and he will tackle a selection.

Submit your questions here

Come back next week to read his replies

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We asked you to tell us one thing - good or bad - that nobody is talking about at Southampton.

Here are some of your replies:

Corey: People always say Russell Martin was the problem - he wasn't. Juric has managed fewer games and Martin managed more games, but we did get more points under Martin. We should have kept him on until the end of the season, and then fixed the team and staff. Sport Republic needs to sort out its manager recruitment.

William: Sport Republic's ineptitude eclipses everything else and it is still managing to fly under the radar.

Jack: Sport Republic is very quickly losing the fans' support. I will start by saying it has done a great job of increasing the atmosphere pre-game, but it doesn't treat Saints like a football club. There is no communication with the fans and do I even need to explain recruitment? Some of the decisions have been indefensible and I'm concerned about the direction the club is heading. We used to have a 10-year plan under previous ownership, but right now I see a rotting club. The problem is bigger than the managers and players.

Dave: When is Ross Stewart going to be fit? We bought him as an injured player and he has only come on the pitch twice!

Geoff: With so many players arriving and leaving in short order, they have no time to develop any loyalty or affection for the club. The Lallana, Shaw and Chambers generation has never been recreated, and every smaller club is now doing what Saints did so successfully 15 years ago or more. When diehards, such as James Ward-Prowse, choose more ambitious and better-run clubs, something major has gone wrong.

Noah: Nobody seems to be talking about the positives. There have been a few good matches this season and we have quite a bit of talent behind our players.

Southampton are doomed to relegation, with the immediate target simply being to surpass Derby County's record lowest points total in a Premier League season.

The Saints have won only one match since Ivan Juric succeeded Russell Martin in December.

But is there something else that is slipping under the radar? What is the one thing - good or bad - nobody is talking about in relation to Southampton?

Let us know here

Ray Hunt
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Saints once again failed to stop the rot and slumped to their fifth straight Premier League defeat and ninth consecutive at St. Mary's.

In doing so, they become only the fourth team in top-flight history with that embarrassing record.

After a bold performance at Anfield playing four at the back, Ivan Juric, again tinkered with squad selection and reverted to a back five which included three full-backs, no recognised striker and Albert Gronbaek, once again, keeping warm on the bench.

All the positives from the previous fixture were seemingly ignored, at home to Wolves, who themselves aren't yet secure, and without top marksman Matheus Cunha. It feels like a huge chance has gone by.

Bizarre team selections are the norm these days. For a team who only have 21 goals to their credit, to leave focal points like Paul Onuachu and Cameron Archer on the bench to deploy five at the back is ludicrous. The team are beat before a ball has been kicked.

In-game tactics also proved peculiar. Onuachu came on at the break for Mateus Fernandes to a chorus of boos around St. Mary's. We also saw centre-half Jack Stephens try his hand upfront in the final stages. It's hard to know what Juric will do next.

The team, as a whole, didn't play too badly in parts. We've seen far worse recently. Chances were being created and Onuachu gave us hope, fifteen minutes from time when he halved the deficit. However, the fault lies with Juric for his team selection and bad tactics.

Is there any hope of going down with dignity?

We remain 18 points from safety with only nine games to play. The only solace right now is we have a fortnight off from this mess.

Find more from Ray Hunt at the In that Number podcast, external

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Southampton and Wolves.

Here are some of your comments:

Southampton news

Martin: A broken manager inherited a broken club with broken-spirited players, then starts a winnable game with three full-backs and no strikers, then takes off the most creative player on the pitch at half time. How was it going to end any differently?

Ryan: Far too easy to play through. Wolves didn't really have to turn up to walk away with the three points and that's what hurts the most. Really hard to see where the next points will come from.

Mike: Started well but conceded two soft goals. No presence in the box and sloppy defending again. 'Not fit to wear the shirt' was the home fans' chant and how many of this lot will still be at St Mary's in the Championship?

Glenn: Absolutely horrible. This was our last chance to get over 11 points. We need to clear the squad and spend two seasons in the Championship rebuilding confidence, team spirit and relationship between the club and supporters.

Wolves fans

George: Wolves played a good game up to their second goal. They then became wasteful in attack and somewhat jittery in defence. From the moment the Saints scored their goal, victory was precarious.

Nathan: Southampton played better but couldn't win. Wolves played poorly and did win! An ugly win but it's all about points and staying up so a good day. One step closer to Premier League survival!

Nick: Great result from the lads but we made it hard for ourselves in the end. That nine point gap is massive. Cunha back in soon so surely we will stay up now.

Ken: Salvaged the season with this win, and did it without Cunha. Safe now but how about some more ambition for the future with some money to spend without selling our best players for a change.

Chris Wise
Final Score reporter at St Mary's Stadium

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It is such a sorry state of affairs at Southampton.

In many ways, this impending relegation is going to be far worse than when they exited the Premier League two seasons ago.

And it is not just because there is that growing prospect of Saints ending with a record low points tally.

The squad had the likes of James Ward-Prowse in it two years ago. Someone who had a long-lasting affiliation with the team and was a natural leader. This current team appears to be lacking the same sort of characters.

There are some that should be exempt from criticism. Matheus Fernandes has been one of the standout performers. Ivan Juric took him off at half-time against Wolves, and the negative response from the Southampton fans was audible. It summed up the situation.

There is a growing disconnect between the supporters and the club, and that's something Saints need to address this summer. But clearly, it is one of many problems.

The latest episode of BBC Radio Solent's Goin' Home With Adam And Jo podcast is available.

Adam Blackmore and former Saints midfielder Jo Tessem discuss the future of Ivan Juric after a ninth consecutive home defeat against Wolves.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Ipswich 2-4 Nottingham Forest

• Bournemouth 1-2 Brentford

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Southampton manager Ivan Juric, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I think we did really well in the first 20 minutes. The first time Wolves got too close to our area, we conceded.

"Today was another game that suggests we are not ready to take points. [The second goal] was an easy situation to read. There's always something missing.

"The will to play well and to attack is there. The lads want to win the game and do their best. There are moments when we're not good enough, and that's it.

"We will go down, but [we want to go down] with more fight, more dignity and more everything."

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

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Southampton started well and finished well against Wolves - but there was precious little for Saints fans to shout about during the rest of the game as the hosts became only the fourth side in English top-flight history to lose nine consecutive home games in the same season.

Aaron Ramsdale was beaten far too easily for Wolves opener, letting Jorgen Strand Larsen's header bounce into the net despite appearing to have enough time to get at least one hand to the ball.

The second goal was worse from a Saints perspective as Strand Larsen took advantage of the hosts' retreating defence to steer a low shot into the bottom corner - via a deflection off Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

Strand Larsen's second goal prompted many Southampton fans to make for the exits, but the home side rallied and Paul Onuachu's goal offered Ivan Juric's team a glimmer of hope with a quarter of an hour remaining.

But they failed to complete the comeback and the full-time whistle was met by loud boos from the home supporters, who will surely be watching their team in the Championship next season.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Southampton's performance

What did you make of Wolves' display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Five matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Everton v West Ham

• Southampton v Wolves

• Ipswich Town v Nottingham Forest - full commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Man City v Brighton

• Bournemouth v Brentford (17:30) - full commentary starts on BBC Radio 5 Live Extra

All kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Southampton surprised me last week against Liverpool - they lost but they played well and they showed they have got a goal in them, and a bit of fight.

So, this is not a gimme for Wolves - but even with Matheus Cunha suspended, they will see this game as an opportunity to put more space between them and the bottom three.

Vitor Pereira's side are already six points clear of Ipswich and Leicester and, if they can win at St Mary's and those two teams both lose this weekend, you would start to think that the bottom three is done and dusted.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Tyrese King
BBC Sport journalist

Southampton boss Ivan Juric has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Wolves at St Mary's (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On Jan Bednarek after the defender was forced off in the defeat at Liverpool following a clash of heads: "He hasn't recovered as quickly as I hoped because you have to follow protocol. He still felt pain on Tuesday. In England, it's a lot more strict."

• Juric revealed Saints will also be without midfielder Will Smallbone, who has a groin injury.

• On goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale: "He's a great goalkeeper and he's really positive in the bad moments. I like him as a goalkeeper and as a person."

• Juric said he and Southampton are in a "really tough moment", the like of which he has not experienced during his career before, but he added: "What is important is to work with the guys to improve and get better."

• On the importance of fan support: "Like I always say, they are the best fans in the world. They are incredible. They are the best part of the club because they are always there supporting us, even in Liverpool before and after the game. For me, they are really special."

• On Wolves: "They have a lot of good players who play at a high level. They have done well these past couple of months, and I know that it will be tough because they are good in attack, fast in defence and technical in the middle. We are preparing well and we want a good game."

• On whether Wolves are safe from relegation: "No, I don't think so. I think there are six points between Wolves, Ipswich and Leicester so they're not still safe. And I think they will be a little bit more unsafe after this match."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Wolves have won each of their past six Premier League games against Southampton. It is their longest winning run against an opponent in the competition and their longest in top-flight games overall since between 1974 and 2018 against Burnley (seven).

Southampton have lost each of their past eight home games in the Premier League by an aggregate score of 29-5. In English top-flight history, only three sides have ever lost nine or more in a row at home within a single season: Birmingham in 1985-86 (10), Wolves in 2011-12 (nine) and Watford in 2021-22 (11).

The latest episode of BBC Radio Solent's Saints and Sinners podcast has landed.

Host Tom Deacon is joined by former Saints goalkeeper Paul Jones, comedian Paul McCaffrey and reporter Adam Blackmore to comb over all the news at Southampton.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds