Sutton's predictions: Southampton v Arsenalpublished at 12:57 25 May
12:57 25 May
There will be Arsenal fans going to this game who are really jealous of Tottenham and what they have achieved this season, you can be sure of it.
Mikel Arteta's side have been miles better than Spurs, obviously, but they don't have a trophy to show for it, unlike their north London rivals, and trophies are what football is about.
It is absurd to suggest Arteta should be any under pressure though.
As for my prediction, well this one is pretty easy to call. Arsenal are without the injured William Saliba at the back, but they have got Declan Rice as their driving force and this should be a routine win for the Gunners.
Southampton held out for a draw against Manchester City in their previous home game but I expect they are still too worn out from celebrating that point to get anything here.
'Squad overhaul' and 'boosting morale' should be Still's first taskspublished at 16:57 24 May
16:57 24 May
We asked you what Will Still's immediate priorities should be once he is announced as Southampton's manager.
Here are some of your comments:
Simon: Stability for the whole club. Ensure the owners will not sell the key players like Mateus Fernandes. Bring in fresh faces who will make a difference and bring true identity back with a good style of football.
Shawn: I will reserve judgement on this appointment. I'm not sure he'll keep or attract the players that will challenge for promotion.
Adrian: He needs to get rid of the deadwood players and build a squad mixed with youth and experience to push for promotion. A tough ask, but I'm hopeful!
Ryan: Still is a progressive young manager with a lot of experience, albeit in France, with young, low-budget squads. He is known for his man management, and I think he's exactly the type of appointment to rejuvenate this squad fresh off the back of a dismal campaign. The players returning from loan and a bit of a squad overhaul needs to be his first priority so we can hit the ground running next season.
Jack: Morale is low and there appears - at times - to be a mentality issue among players at the club. What can the new manager do to address this? Or in other words, will Will Still instil a steel will?
Tom: The problem for any new incoming manager is that they're going to inherit a squad of players who may simply not even be good enough at Championship level. We are going to lose our best players in the summer and be left with the dregs. I'll happily give Still a chance, as I hope other Saints fans do. But with a lack of experience, he is a big risk.
Oliver: I feel the only way you can stay up nowadays is with a manager who can build a philosophy. Still seems to emulate that, but how will it translate if we get promoted and he becomes a small fish in a big pond?
Nick: Fernandes has been fantastic and will probably win all the awards, but I've plumped for Ramsdale because he is true Premier League class and, without him, we would have even fewer points than we've got now.
Julia: Fernandes. Think we made that point at Leicester away when he was substituted. What an absolute find. Shame about the rest of the team.
Mike: Fernandes has been one of the few Premier League standard players in our squad. At only 20 he has shown remarkable consistency in a poor team.
Rich: In a season when few players appeared to care, Fernandes, despite his young age, kept going, kept trying and quickly became a fan favourite and permanent fixture in the first team.
Matthew: Has to be Ramsdale. He's been superman between the sticks. Without him we'd have let in 100 goals and be endangering Sheffield United's record.
Corey: Ramsdale for me. Would have picked Fernandes but Ramsdale has been class. We wouldn't have conceded so many goals if we had a good backline but would have conceded more if we didn't have him.
Rob: I chose Fernandes as he has been the most consistent of our players, always putting a shift in, always trying when others around him don't seem to be.
James: Player of the year has to be Fernandes. With the ball he is always positive in his play looking to move forward. Without the ball he is also pretty good at defending and not afraid to make a tackle.
Southampton v Arsenal: Did you know?published at 11:13 24 May
11:13 24 May
Image source, Getty Images
All eight of Southampton's Premier League wins against Arsenal have come in home games - the most victories one team has against another without any coming away from home.
However, Arsenal have lost just two of their past 16 Premier League games against Southampton, in December 2018 and April 2022.
The Gunners have won their final Premier League game of the season 23 times, more than any other side, including 13 in a row.
'I'm a much better player now than before' - Fernandespublished at 20:05 23 May
20:05 23 May
Image source, Getty Images
Southampton midfielder Mateus Fernandes says he's a much better player now than he was before.
The 20-year-old has been named Fans' Player of the Season at the club.
He told BBC Radio Solent: "I'm very happy, it's a dream for me playing in England and I did well. It was a tough season for everybody. I am a much better player now than I was before.
"My personality outside of the pitch is completely different to inside it. I don't like to speak too much outside of the pitch but I have a passion to play football, run and try to be competitive with the other team and of course try to win.
"It means a lot for me [to have this accolade]. When I speak, I speak for the players and we play for the fans. The thing most important in football is the fans so they know they are very important for me."
Rusk on team news, resilience and fanspublished at 14:36 23 May
14:36 23 May
Holly Bacon BBC Sport journalist
Southampton interim boss Simon Rusk has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Arsenal at St Mary's (kick-off 16:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Rusk ruled out Taylor Harwood-Bellis and said Jan Bednarek is still struggling with his knee injury so is likely to miss out. He also said Albert Gronbaek has been struggling with his Achilles.
On whether the players will have built resilience this season: "Everyone this year at this football club, as difficult as it has been, when we reflect, will have new layers as a person, a footballer. Part of that is being robust and the more experience I think you have in life, the more robust you can be if you use it properly."
On this weekend: "Every game presents an opportunity. It's an opportunity for us to finish the season as well as we can. I spoke about playing with pride and passion - that'll be important on the day but also being diligent with our work."
Rusk praised Mateus Fernandes but said there's "another level to his game", adding: "That's natural for someone who is 20 years old playing in the Premier League in a team that has had a difficult year. Matty, as a lad and character, is right up there. I'm sure the other bits of development in his game will come in time."
He was asked whether Kyle Walker-Peters will start: "He has had a nasty illness and that has taken a bit of getting over. Naturally at this time we're looking at one or two of the younger ones around the group. We've spoken about momentum for next season, so there are one or two complexities with that. What I can tell you is Kyle has been great to work with, a great servant to the club and, whether he starts or not, he's someone we can fully appreciate."
Rusk praised the way the fans have stuck with them this season: "The one thing I know this football club will always have is great support. There's going to be years it's not so good and years it's really good and the people are there all the way through, generationally, are the supporters, the rest of us all come and go."
On his position as first-team coach at the club: "Whatever happens moving forward, I'm sure when the time is right the guys above me will let me know. But as it stands, preparing for this game on Sunday will remain my focus."
Pick your Southampton player of the seasonpublished at 16:25 21 May
16:25 21 May
Ray Hunt Fan writer
We asked our Southampton fan contributor for their four candidates for player of the season and you can now select your top one.
Aaron Ramsdale
The biggest shock of our season was the signing of Ramsdale. At £25m from Arsenal in August, it was very much against the grain under this current ownership group. Considering Saints have conceded 84 goals (and counting) he has managed to earn an England call-up. Even with a third relegation on his CV.
Mateus Fernandes
There are many misses in the market in recent years, but Fernandes isn't one of them. The 20 year-old has become an instant fan favourite with the locals for his eye-catching performances in the middle of the park. Unfortunately, following relegation consequences, he will be one of the casualties - apparently attracting interest from Juventus.
Paul Onuachu
Since arriving in February 2023, the 6ft7in Nigerian has had a handful of games and been sent out on loan for our whole Championship campaign last season. He was out of favour under Russell Martin, but started Ivan Juric's first game. Since January, when fit, he has been a solid edition to the squad and has become the club's top-scorer this season with four goals.
Tyler Dibling
Back in August, no-one envisaged the then 18-year old would have made an impact on this Premier League campaign. But that is what he has done. The most exciting player on the ball we have seen in some time. In a season full of despair, he continues to get bums off seats when driving forward. Attracting interest from all over the league, his future is bright. Unfortunately, not with Southampton.
'He could work well for Saints at this time' - fans on potential Still linkspublished at 15:48 21 May
15:48 21 May
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on whether Will Still would be a good appointment as the next Saints boss after the 32-year-old emerged as the favourite to take over at St Mary's.
Here are some of your comments:
Darren: I believe this will be a good appointment as long as he is allowed to clear out the deadwood the current squad is full of. He seems to be adaptable with his tactics and plays to the strengths of the players at his disposal. It would be nice to have a team with a plan B or C - something we have clearly lacked for a while now.
Mick: Still could work well for Saints at this time - we had Mauricio Pochettino for his first job in England and he did well with us and after he left. The Championship would be a good league for Still to try with our young squad.
Maximus: Will Still cannot be any worse than the previous two managers. That's not to do him any disservice, from what I've read he could be a very good appointment for Saints. My only fear is that, as with previous good managers, he uses Saints as a way to get noticed. If he performs well and gets Saints promoted, I fear larger clubs with more money may come knocking on the door. I hope he does well, and in doing so gets Saints promoted back to the Premier League and stops them being a yo-yo club.
William: Will Still is yet another risk which, if I'm honest and with Southampton FC's recent decision-making, I'm wanting to steer away from. Frank Lampard has proven himself in the Championship and, although not set the world alight in the Premier League, he's had important exposure to assist in the transition from Championship to top flight. Lampard would be my intelligent choice and a balanced decision.
Peter: We need someone to break the spiral of failure that this club has been on for far too long, so give him a try and see where it leads.
James: An exciting young manager. May be unproven but so was Pochettino when he came in. It's a step in the right direction for the club. He may have no experience in the Championship, but we need a manager who will come in and attack the league and get us back to the Premier League. I like him a lot - he's tactically very good and very well spoken.
Still 'one of the brightest young managers in Europe'published at 09:08 21 May
09:08 21 May
Image source, Getty Images
French football expert Julien Laurens believes Will Still could be great for Southampton because he can "lead a project like this".
Still, who is leaving French side Lens to move back to the UK, is the frontrunner for the Saints job.
"I think he feels ready for a challenge in the Championship for a good project or in the Premier League and it looks like Southampton could be the club. I think Southampton would be very lucky to have Will Still next season," Laurens told BBC Radio Solent.
"I think he's one of the brightest young managers in Europe - there's no doubt. His tactical ability, man-management skills he has, the way he conducts himself, the attitude and behaviour. He is a great guy to have and he's a bit stubborn - I think he would admit that himself!
"But I think you need to be strong-minded to succeed in this kind of environment. I think he would be great for Southampton because he can lead a project like this.
"He reminds me sometimes of a young Thomas Tuchel, simply in the sense that they have similar pathways a little bit and Tuchel was quite big on counter-pressing like Will is. Not too much possession like Russell Martin that's for sure, it's a bit more direct at times.
"He also adapts to his players well so it will depend a lot on the squad he inherits at Southampton and he will adapt to that. He has got clear instructions and style of what he wants to do, especially in terms of pressing and counter-pressing."
'If playing for pride has gone, then what is left?'published at 12:35 20 May
12:35 20 May
Ray Hunt Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
The 29th defeat of an awful season, and just one more game left to spare us any more misery. We were hardly likely to be party poopers were we?
A 2-0 loss to Everton in the final game at Goodison Park after 133 years went like a dream for the locals.
It was always going to be an emotional day, and going down inside six minutes was effectively curtains. The opening 45 minutes would only get worse. Iliman Ndiaye doubled his and the hosts' lead in first-half injury time.
Things did pick up slightly. Opting not to start with a natural striker, Simon Rusk made his changes with Ross Stewart and Cameron Archer entering the fray after 60 minutes, and both registered a shot each on target. The only two of the game. Stewart certainly has something to prove over the rest of the starters.
Rusk defended his decision not to start with a natural front man, stating: "It is easy in hindsight. It's the same team as we played against Man City in many respects."
It's yet another result that hits hard, as we've seen no improvement at a consistent level. The resilient defending against Manchester City deserted them early, and they were never able to recover. With the dreaded 11-point target reached, you felt as if the team would never have it in them to come from behind. Especially with a raucous Goodison atmosphere.
If playing for pride has gone, then what is left?
We are ahead of Derby's point total. We're ahead on goals scored, but are tied with 29 defeats. A final day loss would see another unwanted record. Another is goals conceded. We currently sit on 84 while Derby finished with 89 goals against. Yes, it's really come to this. Let's take all the positives we have left.
Everton 2-0 Southampton: the fans' verdictpublished at 10:51 19 May
10:51 19 May
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on Southampton's performance against Everton.
Here are some of your comments:
Russell: Until the subs came on that performance was shameful. I feel as bad as you could possibly feel about my football club at the moment. The whole club is so broken. No desire to get forward, no effort, no passion, just backwards and sideways passes - mostly all in our own half. The whole performance and this team is totally gutless. I'm ashamed of what my football club has become this season.
Aaron: Saints away at Goodison Park was going to be a foregone conclusion. As a Saint, I'm happy that Everton left on a high. As a Saint, we go on next year in the Championship. COYR.
Alex: Redefining "pathetic", week by week.
Emil: Go 1-0 down with no goalscorer in the XI. Takes Rusk nearly 60 minutes to react/change. The only positive to take is that like with the previous four incompetent managers, he will soon be gone!
Charles: I was very, very disappointed with Saints. No shape, no guts and did I notice for sale signs on the backs of Saints' players shirts? I doubt if they will get any offers. No get up and go, no interest. For the last game of the season, they should play the under-21 team and the directors should declare that the last game of the season be free of charge to all season ticket-holders.
Would Saints job be too big for Still?published at 08:42 19 May
08:42 19 May
Image source, Getty Images
English coach Will Still has left his role at French side RC Lens and is now linked to the vacant managerial job at Southampton.
BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore spoke to the Goin' Home with Adam and Jo podcast about his concerns with the 32 year-old, stating: "This is another risk. It might be a great young manager, he has done well for a young man, but the Championship is a beast.
"He has not managed there before and he did not play at a high level. He started on Football Manager, became an analyst and has done well from there, but I think it is easier to do it at a lower level in football or in different leagues.
"Still would be another young and progressive appointment - but what is he going to do when things are going wrong at Blackburn on a Tuesday night? How is he going to react when players don't agree with him? He hasn't played or managed at a level that tells us he can cope at a big club like Southampton in the pressures of the Championship.
"I don't think the club need to gamble on another 'trendy' appointment. If he does get appointed, I do believe he will adapt his game, but it is a risk."
🎧 Is Still the right man for the job?published at 18:29 18 May
18:29 18 May
The latest episode of the Goin' Home With Adam And Jo podcast has landed.
BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore is joined by former Saints player Jo Tessem to discuss Sunday's defeat against Everton and the emerging managerial links to Will Still.
