I could be glib and just leave this Verdict as a one line sentence that reads " Thank God this awful season is over" that would be a clear and concise and accurate view of most people's thoughts on the game, but most left the stadium with at least some hope that next season will be better.

This was a performance that ensconced the whole season in one game, we battled hard and almost got something out of the game, but let in a late goal that ruined all that had gone on before.

Simon Rusk has had a thankless task as caretaker manager, taking over a side that was already relegated, he didn't try to impose his own tactics and try to push his case for getting the job on a permanent basis, he steadied the ship and meant that in the main we didn't see the shocking performances that had been the norm before he took the job.

Rusk stuck to the core of a team, didn't bring in any players from the cold or change tactics, just got the team organised and got us over the line so that we were not the worst ever Premier League team ever.

For this he must be thanked, whatever he did was not going to be enough is some people's eyes, but he held the ship steady and we at least went down with some pride regained.

Having said this in his final game he had a few shocks in store, a start for Charlie Taylor who had not played any part since 4th January and who had not even been on the bench for previous games.

Taylor came in and put in a performance that makes you wonder why he has been so ignored, he had the experience in the back line that we lacked, I would hope that he will be here next year and won't be overlooked by Will Still.

Another surprise was Jay Robinson, the 18 year old would have been well known to Rusk when he worked with the Academy sides and after 3 sub appearances the youngster was given his full debut and he had a reasonable game.

Less of a surprise was Ross Stewart and the centre forward had a decent game culminating in a headed equaliser and again he is one who could play a big part next season, he has slowly built up his fitness and worked hard both on and off the ball to show that at Championship level he can be a force to be reckoned with.

The after match walk to applaud the fans was obviously one that for some it was farewell and others just a brief goodbye for a couple of months, but as a whole this performance showed that although we will lose a few players, that we will still have the foundations next season for a side that can get promotion.

The key will perhaps be those that were not in this squad, the likes of Shea Charles, Ronnie Edwards, Gavin Bazunu, Adam Armstrong and Sam Edozie all out on loan, those largely overlooked this seasons such as Taylor, Ryan Fraser & Cameron Archer.

The youngsters such as Jay Robinson & Joachim Sanda who both played parts yesterday & one man who most forget is Juan Larios who has now been fit and playing for the academy team for the last few months.

Then those that played this season and will be here next, Flynn Downes, Ryan Manning, Welington, Nathan Wood, Will Smallbone, Sugawara perhaps even one or two from Joe Aribo, Taylor Harwood Bellis, Jan Bednarek, perhaps not quite cutting it at Premier League level, but good proven Championship players.

Finally using the money that comes in from the sale of major assets wisely as well as utilising the loan system.

A month ago perhaps we had little hope for next season, although I have always believed that as poor as we have been this season, Russell Martin & Ivan Juric have a lot to answer for in the way they have set their teams up and the tactics used.

In the last few months things have changed behind the scenes at St Mary's, Johannes Spors a new director of football has brought back direction and he has built his team behind him.

Then there will be yet another new manager, we know little about Will Still, most Saints fans will not have heard his name up till the past few weeks, yet here he is as our new manager.

He is an unknown and some will say a gamble, but every manager is a gamble and over the last 70 years, virtually every one of our managerial appointments has been up and coming coaches rather than the so called proven top flight managers, when we have appointed that type of manager, the journeyman such as Graeme Souness, Mark Hughes & Harry Redknapp it has not been a success, Souness & Hughes had last day escapes from Relegation, Redknapp got us relegated.

So I have hope for Still, and I have hope that the fans will get behind him.

So not the happiest of final days of the season, but we can take hope going forward and that wasn't something that we could say a few months ago.

Sport Republic have made mistakes, but they have now rectified those mistakes, things have changed.

We can hopefully now all enjoy the summer without the stress of losing games of football and hopefully refreshed next season things will be a lot better, there was enough in this game against Arsenal to suggest that it might be.

All Photos Via Reuters

Block47M added 11:35 - May 26 Thank you Nick, a good summary and totally agree about Charlie Taylor. Thought young Jay Robinson’s surging run into the penalty box showed great promise (as well as leading to the corner from which Ross Stewart scored his first goal for us). Thought it was some of the best football we have played this season and only four at the box certainly helped. Again there appeared to be some very favourable refereeing in Arsenal’s favour. Lastly, disappointed in one tall player who left ignoring all the young fans who were desperate to get autographs etc, must have been late for a flight to Turkey to catch? Hope that we only have players next season who are keen and willing to play their hearts out for us as it won’t be easy getting out of the Championship.

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IanRC added 11:39 - May 26 We will see if things have changed, there is still the recruitment and sale of players to be sorted for next season. I am however faintly optimistic that there will be things to look forward to next season. I wonder if Will Still had any input into the team selection. I wish him well particularly after all his girlfriends medical hardships that they have endured over the last few years. Shame you couldn’t give Ugochukwu and Sulemana a shout out our two best players on the day..

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IanRC added 11:43 - May 26 Yes Block47M the referee and var were far from impartial. Sugawara conceded two penalties in the games against Liverpool that were a lot less obvious hand balls than the one Arsenal should have been punished for yesterday.
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AmericanSaint added 14:57 - May 26 Yes, I think that was pretty fair assessment of the game yesterday Nick. Maybe there is some hope for next year. I think the biggest issue we will have to do is figuring out which players to get get rid of as we are a bloated squared with some average players at best. I think Aribo, Smallbone, Bednerack, and Onoachu need to go for sure. I think we need to figure out our GK situation and either get rid of them all or keep Bazuno and find someone who can contend for the #1, Finally, our striker position is something that has to be our top priority. If we can't score like this year then all of it will be worthless. One one positive note, that we figured out the manager position very quickly will allow for no excuses and enable us to do deals quickly unlike the Ramsdale debacle. On to next season. COYR

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Farlow added 15:09 - May 26 Such bad management not to use Taylor,obvious Premiership experience but we give Manning preference who,s defensively inept.Hopefully we can utilise both Taylor and Wellington next year. All the chat about Dibling but Jay looks just as good.Its a big if but a fit Stewart will be an asset In the championship.Looking forward to seeing Charles and Edward’s back in Saints colours next Year.

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davidargyll added 15:36 - May 26 Whether or not Will can (still?) make it in the Championship only time will tell. I am optimistic. (Although I have to admit that I have been ludicrously over-optimistic about most of our recent appointments - Russell Martin aside - until I wasn’t! So I cannot say I am any great predictor on that score). What I can say with certainty - and this was absolutely evidenced when the second goal went in yesterday - is that, however much confidence the team has got left after this last ten months, it is brittle at best. They seem to have been able to get themselves up for most of the recent games but when a goal goes in against them, it has always been Night Night. So WS has a massive initial task on his hands to get the team’s confidence back up, which will not be helped by the fact that their skills level is not the highest. And it seems to me that at least part of this is to get the team SUPER FIT from when the moment the very first ball is kicked. Because even if the players will doubtless continue to fluff their lines, at least if they are fast moving they will inevitably get themselves into decent - both offensive and defensive - positions on at least some from which they should be able to capitalise.

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underweststand added 15:51 - May 26 right until the end we saw yet another ALMOST game, but went away empty-handed. How many games have we lost in the final five, or in added time this season? ...maybe not enough to have survived, but we might not have finished last had we held out and got a point .or even three in so many games. Playing against yet another side that qualified for CL we looked better than v. Man. City, especially considering we fielded half-a-side who were only "occasionals", and Jay Robinson, who may become " the new Dibling" should TD leave during the inevitable summer exodus. Why did Russell Martin ignore Charlie Taylor in favour of Ryan Manning for so long?, and though he struggled at times, Welington brings more to the team than Manning ever did. Ross Stewart finally got a start, and a well-deserved goal from a tall CF who can score with his head (!), and put out himself about. Hopefully he will have a good season as a reward for those " two lost years" in rehab. Arteta will be glad that Arsenal didn't drop two points to a bottom side, but at least Simon Rusk may feel proud of the first 85 minutes. As for the match itself, yet another example of some dubious refereeing by ignoring bad fouls, yellow cards and the like for England players and club favourites...after all, Saints were already down so THEY didn't need the points - did they ? Back to the Championship...and a life without VAR .

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halftimeorange added 17:26 - May 26 I think yesterday saw some distinct promise with the prospective pairing of Stewart and Robinson. In the Championship they could score goals but, only if we create chances for them. How many times did Sulemana snatch the ball off Arsenal, pelt down to the edge of their penalty area and then seemingly become confused as to what happens next but, at least he tried to put himself in the shop window for a stint in a less competitive European league. Our passing, in general this season, has been inaccurate and abysmal when attacking, and that's not just down to Kamaldeen. We need a midfield general and the need to iron out defensive errors. The prospect of Wood and Wellington progressing, more of Sanda and Edwards, and the resurrection of Charlie Taylor spells hope, especially if Harwood-Belliss improves and we add a decent goalkeeper, assuming Ramsdale is gone, gives me hope. After all, how many teams in the Championship should we really fear? Ipswich, Leicester, Sheff Utd and money-laden Birmingham but, that's about it. I look forward to the challenge under a bright new manager.

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Bowlercow added 17:29 - May 26 Sorry Undertheweststand VAR is coming to the Championship next season I agree with all that's been written above I am excited by Will Still coming and if Spors can do player trading at that level we will be a major contender next season
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Block8 added 17:33 - May 26 Interesting line up a change of tactics which seemed to help us offensively. Downes playing CB but moving into midfield help to stop us being overwhelmed. Stewart occupying the CB's at the other end & Sulemana running his socks off both up front and in defence. Unfortunately he was too fast for support most of the time so had to look backwards. I'd like to think Will Still can get a bit more out of him in terms of finding an end result. Taylor impressed, as did Robinson and I think we have some good youngsters in the U21's & loan players coming back. Fernandes for his skill, enthusiasm and energy just inspires & lifts all who watch him, he is destined for the top, hopefully with us! Some of the so called big players that want away were definitely not missed. The only other downside, apart from the score, was how weak we were off the bench and with such a bloated squad it's a major disappointment and should be Will's first priority to sort out! Looking forward to next season COYR!

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SanMarco added 10:24 - May 27 Thanks for all your verdicts Nick - a totally thankless task but you kept at it until the end. Stewart's ongoing fitness is my one big question. Is he now fit for a whole season in the second division? I can see us making the mistake of counting him as one of our main scorers and then disaster striking just after the window shuts. There is no answer to the Taylor question. This idea that he didn't fit RM's style is surely absurd because he came in as an RM signing. Why bring him in if you don't intend to play him??

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onetowatch added 12:25 - May 27 All comments above sum up the season and the game on Sunday. I will though just repeat one point- that I know would never change the outcome of the season, but how can 3 managers this season virtually ignore Charlie Taylor???? His tackles, interceptions, blocks and general positioning and organisation on Sunday just screamed out, why wasn't he used? Let's hope WS has more sense.....

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