Kingsland Red Posted 4 December, 2011 Share Posted 4 December, 2011 Interesting NA has referred to being in the top ten by January in recent interviews -managing expectations? Are we the real deal as current league leaders, or punching above our weight on a wave of promotion success? This is no criticism of anyone at the club, but a reflection upon the massive raising of our expectations over such a short period of time. As a newly promoted side, our manager and most of our squad have maintained a position, for the whole season to date, which is higher than many of them as individuals have previously achieved. But we are currently travelling away as 'the league leaders coming to town', with the opposition raising their game accordingly. 2011 has been fantastic compared with the preceding few years but without a few better players supplementing our existing squad for the first time since NA arrived, we may need to be patient for a few matches before we move on after the January transfer window. This will be when we see at what pace NC wishes to progress the five year plan. Great times again, all football team related. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOTONS EAST SIDE Posted 4 December, 2011 Share Posted 4 December, 2011 Interesting NA has referred to being in the top ten by January in recent interviews -managing expectations? Are we the real deal as current league leaders, or punching above our weight on a wave of promotion success? This is no criticism of anyone at the club, but a reflection upon the massive raising of our expectations over such a short period of time. As a newly promoted side, our manager and most of our squad have maintained a position, for the whole season to date, which is higher than many of them as individuals have previously achieved. But we are currently travelling away as 'the league leaders coming to town', with the opposition raising their game accordingly. 2011 has been fantastic compared with the preceding few years but without a few better players supplementing our existing squad for the first time since NA arrived, we may need to be patient for a few matches before we move on after the January transfer window. This will be when we see at what pace NC wishes to progress the five year plan. Great times again, all football team related. I think how we react in the January transfer window, will define whether we are serious about going up first time and take advantage of our remarkable start. And has NA got the Gravitas to attrack the right/ high profile players! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectisSaint Posted 4 December, 2011 Share Posted 4 December, 2011 I think it is mathematically impossible for us not to be in the top 10 come January. It would need a fluke set of results for us not to be in the Top 6, and I suspect we will actually be in the Top 2 or even still top. NA is just repeating the goal that he was probably set at the start of the season. Get us in the Top 10 by January and we will see what we can do to push on for a top 6 or top 2 finish with some business in the transfer window. The fact that we have far exceeded this goal is testimony to the fact that we are top of the league, 7 points clear of 3rd due to a fantastic home record and a slightly better than average away record. We have hit a poor patch at the moment, but still picked up 6 points from last 4 games (we were poor against Brighton except for a few minutes after half time and until they decided to give up). We have a small number of key players injured or not totally fit (Chappers, Rickie & Lallana) and we have the January window opening after 4 (or practically speaking 5 as Brighton is on the 2nd) more games. We are where we are because we are the best team in the league so far, thats what the league table shows. We have played 20 out of the 23 other teams in the league, the facts are really not open for argument (the usual arguments will come out that we have strong teams away in the second half, while ignoring the facts that we also have weaker teams at home - Donny, Coventry & Skates for example). For someone who is usually glass half empty, I still remain confident that we will achieve automatic promotion with this squad plus a couple of additions. I expect 2 signings in January, a striker (one of the ones we targeted in the summer but didn't get) and a new CB (again as we targeted in the summer) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_lambden Posted 4 December, 2011 Share Posted 4 December, 2011 He's not fooling anyone with top 10 come January. What he must want deep down and I'm sure what we all want is to be top 2 by January. January's fixtures are very tough though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOTONS EAST SIDE Posted 4 December, 2011 Share Posted 4 December, 2011 For someone who is usually glass half empty, I still remain confident that we will achieve automatic promotion with this squad plus a couple of additions. I expect 2 signings in January, a striker (one of the ones we targeted in the summer but didn't get) and a new CB (again as we targeted in the summer)I think we also need a MF in the Chaplow vien as well!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 4 December, 2011 Share Posted 4 December, 2011 Top 10 in January, even 10th, would be a very good achievement for a newly promoted club. A comfortable mid table finish would be more than satisfactory based on our modest summer investment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicestersaint Posted 4 December, 2011 Share Posted 4 December, 2011 After witnessing yesterday's inept performance at Donny we will need to buck our ideas up - and we definitely need some more quality players - but I fully expect us to get promoted this year. If Norwich can do it so can we. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammysaint Posted 4 December, 2011 Share Posted 4 December, 2011 Yesterdays result proves we need a striker and if we can sign players of prem quality in other positions then do so, if not then sign a striker and 1/2 loans and were have enough then to make sure a top 6 finish and poss top 2 is on the cards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eurosaint Posted 4 December, 2011 Share Posted 4 December, 2011 In December we have 3 home games - Blackpool, Palace & Bristol City plus we have the Skates away ! If we get 7 or 8 points from this then I reckon that we could still be top ! You could argue that the home games are all bankers (not having lost for nearly a year!) and that the Skate match (because it's a derby!) is a lottery, so 9 points or even 10 or 12 is not out of the question !! Should we get to January and still be top of the league then a couple of 'quality' additions should pretty well gaurantee that we will be in the mix !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 4 December, 2011 Share Posted 4 December, 2011 I think our bubble has burst. I really hope i'm wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGTL Posted 4 December, 2011 Share Posted 4 December, 2011 I think our bubble has burst. I really hope i'm wrong. It's never been inflated away from home except for Ipswich, which was one of the best away performances I've ever seen from Saints. Our home form is something quite different though, and I just have a feeling we'll go the whole season there unbeaten, considering who we have played and who is to come. It would be odd to be top 6 with probably a lower table away record. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 4 December, 2011 Share Posted 4 December, 2011 It's never been inflated away from home except for Ipswich, which was one of the best away performances I've ever seen from Saints. Our home form is something quite different though, and I just have a feeling we'll go the whole season there unbeaten, considering who we have played and who is to come. It would be odd to be top 6 with probably a lower table away record. The ray of light is the transfer window. We need to bolster our chances by spending big on a quality centre forward or two. Someone who can hold the ball up unlike Guly. QPR were woeful away around this period away from home and turned it around. If we don't break the bank i'll be disapointed and imo it'll show a lack of ambition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cellone Posted 4 December, 2011 Share Posted 4 December, 2011 What would you call breaking the bank at this level? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 4 December, 2011 Share Posted 4 December, 2011 Interesting NA has referred to being in the top ten by January in recent interviews -managing expectations? Are we the real deal as current league leaders, or punching above our weight on a wave of promotion success? This is no criticism of anyone at the club, but a reflection upon the massive raising of our expectations over such a short period of time. As a newly promoted side, our manager and most of our squad have maintained a position, for the whole season to date, which is higher than many of them as individuals have previously achieved. But we are currently travelling away as 'the league leaders coming to town', with the opposition raising their game accordingly. 2011 has been fantastic compared with the preceding few years but without a few better players supplementing our existing squad for the first time since NA arrived, we may need to be patient for a few matches before we move on after the January transfer window. This will be when we see at what pace NC wishes to progress the five year plan. Great times again, all football team related. I've heard from a source very high up at the club that Cortese doesn't just expect us to be promoted this season, he expects us to go up as champions. So let's not pretend that expectations are being raised purely by our current performances or by the fan base. Its been raised from the top down. Probably doesn't really help Adkins but there we are. The expectation is to deliver promotion in first place this season. The manager, the players and the fans are just going to have to live with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cellone Posted 4 December, 2011 Share Posted 4 December, 2011 The expectation is to deliver promotion in first place this season. The manager, the players and the fans are just going to have to live with it. Swizzz. That means I'll have to put up with automatic promotion and there was me looking forward to just missing out on the play offs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 4 December, 2011 Share Posted 4 December, 2011 Swizzz. That means I'll have to put up with automatic promotion and there was me looking forward to just missing out on the play offs. I had my heart set on losing a penalty shoot-out in Leicester but there you go, you can't have everything. I can just about stomach a open top bus parade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conaero Posted 5 December, 2011 Share Posted 5 December, 2011 If we are top or second come January, surely that is in the top 10???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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