positivepete Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 Good first season back, 55+ points and top 8 finish next season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 Delighted to finish in 14th. There is a lot to do now though IMO to move up to the next level, we can't simply assume we're going to improve on 14th next year. This. If someone had offered us 14th in Pctober we'd have snapped their hand off. However the fact that we could still have finished 10th or 17th today show how little there is between lower midtable side. We need to add pace in attack,depth in midfield and quality at the back to push into the top half. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 Glad we're over the line and its all done. Has been an exhausting season. We have a decent shape and are looking very solid. We're able to adapt to different styles and shown we can beat most teams. AVB got it spot on when he said we have an 'identity'. We just need to populate the system with more quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 Odd season. Poor start (NA) and poor finish (MP) with a very good middle under both. Overall though very pleased with the position and progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fanimal Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 we dropped more points from a winning position than any other team -29 points - if we had those would have finished 6th, that is the measure of my slight chagrin at what might have been. To a certain extent after winning cups and promotions in the previous 3 years we have been spoilt rotten, but that is what makes a winning team mentality, success breed success, want to see more ruthless habits next season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncanRG Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 I wouldn't take how close the bottom half was this year as a rule to take forward. It'd be interesting to see the table as it would be if every team held onto their lead. We didn't get the points we deserved at times but every club's fans will be saying that...except QPR's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 I think we've done alright in the end, had a feeling that we'd finish 15th/14th or thereabouts, which is probably a pretty fair reflection of us overall this year. We're definitely a competitive premier league side now and after the first 2 months of the season, I didn't think I'd ever be saying that. I think the basis of this squad is great, we've got some fantastic young players to build around and the finance to do that. I think now that we've stayed up this year, it's only going to get better for us in the long-run. We've now secured that enormous new TV deal, we've cleared any uncertainty in the backroom - and clearly have some finance here. Our young players/better players are all committing and signing up for the future and I believe Shaw will be the next in a couple of weeks time. All in all it's been a good season, which has built on the momentum we gained in previous years and has allowed us to put a pretty solid foundation down, with regards to PL football. Expectations are going to be pretty high next year, I'm sure, but I believe this club will deliver again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 Odd season. Poor start (NA) and poor finish (MP) with a very good middle under both. Overall though very pleased with the position and progress. Wouldn't call it poor. Lacklustre and slightly predictable perhaps but not poor. With the exception of WBA, we've been extremely solid. In particular, our away performances have taken a step forwards - the Spurs game probably ranks as one of our best away performances, if not best performances full-stop, this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 Wouldn't call it poor. Lacklustre and slightly predictable perhaps but not poor. With the exception of WBA, we've been extremely solid. In particular, our away performances have taken a step forwards - the Spurs game probably ranks as one of our best away performances, if not best performances full-stop, this season. I'd have to say Man Utd away was our best display. The way we penned them back for an entire half was incredible, they just couldn't get out at stages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 I'd have to say Man Utd away was our best display. The way we penned them back for an entire half was incredible, they just couldn't get out at stages. Definitely - United away was out best away performance. Just pointing out that among our supposed 'poor' stretch of form, there have been performances we can take real heart from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 Definitely - United away was out best away performance. Just pointing out that among our supposed 'poor' stretch of form, there have been performances we can take real heart from. Ah ok, fair enough. Yep, Spurs was very good. Agree with what you say on the whole, we're now a pretty solid and sound side. Attacking wise we may have been a little off color in recent weeks, but defensively we're light years ahead of what we were in August. There's a real strong foundation to build upon for next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 (edited) Wouldn't call it poor. Lacklustre and slightly predictable perhaps but not poor. With the exception of WBA, we've been extremely solid. In particular, our away performances have taken a step forwards - the Spurs game probably ranks as one of our best away performances, if not best performances full-stop, this season. Sure, it was a bit a bit of generalisation - both the start and end had some fantastic performances. I suppose what i meant was that at the staert of the season we were free flowing and scoring at will in patches but leaking goals and only performing for part of the game. At the end much more solid in the back and middle but lacking a cutting edge. The middle of the season was where we had the sweet spot for a while. Edited 19 May, 2013 by buctootim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Professor Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 14th - Midtable (just) excellent season, regardless of our start And our finish which was just as bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 And our finish which was just as bad. It wasn't even close to being as bad as our start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 And our finish which was just as bad. it really wasnt, was it take last 10 games compared to first 10 games Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ottery st mary Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 Well done to the mighty Saints... Onwards and upwards:) The boyz done well....more to come.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 Interesting ''team of the season'' from our old favorite, garth crooks. What do we all think? http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22574993 fair enough that we haven't got any players in there, but surprised he didn't include a Shaw, Clyne or Morgan in his honorable mentions list. Also, no Michu, which is a bit surprising. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 The way Michu has been overlooked by most this season with these end of season things, is utterly staggering Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncanRG Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 (edited) No Baines or Suarez is an absolute travesty Edited 19 May, 2013 by DuncanRG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadaSaint Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 Considering that Pochettino imposed his style - and created a new identity for the team - without having even one player that he brought to the club, I'd say that 14th is highly satisfactory. If anything shows him to be a solid tactician and a top-notch man manager, that's it. The test for him comes now, because he will start next season with some players that he did bring to the club. I'm optimistic that they will fit his style better than some of our current starters, which augurs well for the fans but not so well for some of our current squad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Marco Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 What a great season. Beat the champions of England and Europe. If you said that would happen a few years ago I think most would of thought you should be locked up! We have proved a lot of people wrong this year and Lambo has proved chumps like Merson and Lawro who said he would struggle really do have no clue. The only dark spot on it for me was the way Adkins was removed. I doubt he could of taken us to the next level and am sure having MP in charge will turn out for the best. But still makes me angry the way he has been treated. Next season I still think aiming for Europe is a bit crazy but with some decent additions and a lot of players leaving who knows. My target would be to aim for around mid-table and be safe from the drop way before the last few fixtures. Best season for a long time. The Saints are back and anyone who wants to be negative really does need a reality check. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manji Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 14th first season back is incredible. Yes we could have done better but mission accomplished.We have money to spend (apparently we have a couple of players in the bag already)whats thier to complain about ? OK we havnt a fanontheboard but otherwise.............................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amesbury Saint Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 Excellent season Lots of positives - Shaw, Cork, SRL, Clyne etc We stayed up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAY-Z Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 Obviously would have taken 14th at the start of the season but do feel a but empty now considering how we finished Some great signs during the year under both managers and some scary signs under both managers Our inability to kill off games needs improvement and I just hope we can start to win games under MP against sides around us as we can't rely on wins against city, chelsea and Liverpool every year Hopefully a couple of quality recruits get brought in soon and the core player group stay together Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheaf Saint Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 Finished above 3 of our ex-managers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch01 Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 Quite some season. In some ways just as good as the last two. Hoping for more next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offix Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 Would have snapped your hand off for 14th at the start of the season. And to think, because of how tight the midtable was this year, one more win would have put us up to 11th. I do think the squad needs some major changes before next season though. The nucleus is there, but for all our pretty possession football this year we have really struggled to penetrate at times. We never seem to break quickly or play a quick ball forward to a runner, and that is something that you need in your arsenal in the PL. Defences are too good at this level meaning we will always struggle with our seemingly favoured approach of slow, patient build up. This Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingwing Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 Very happy with 14th, 3 places above the dream place really and have plenty of potential to get better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 A good season. Final league position is fair enough; we could have easily finished higher, but then I look at the nervy three points we picked up at Villa Park, and recognise we could have been deeper in the sh!t at the business end of the season. The big event of the season was obviously the NA sacking. At the end of the season, with ambitious financial plans announced, I think it's easier to understand the decision. Much to the chagrin of some of my honourable colleagues on here, who prefer the conservative approach of treading water in the Premier League (while dishing out the occasional bloody nose, ofc), it really does appear as if the club is aiming high, and that the talk of Champions League qualification is something that is being planned for. Whether that is achievable or not is another story, but it was clear that NC didn't think NA up to the next stage of the project. I'm generally positive about the playing squad, bordering on ecstatic in some areas. The emergence of players like Shaw and Ward-Prowse, along with SRL's continuing insistence that he'll score goals in whatever league he damn pleases, is almost Roy of the Rovers stuff, as is seeing all our League One survivors successfully ply their trade in the top flight. I was excited about Gaston, and still am. I felt at the time that his transfer was an important symbolic one; we'd beaten off Liverpool and other teams to sign him. During the protracted negotiations, every man and his dog would tell you that he was going to Spurs, or would end up at Liverpool, because we were Saints and that was that. He ended up signing for us, and although it was a surprise, I wonder whether it should have been. Fonte dropped down to League One, Cork came to the Championship from the Prem. We've been pulling this stuff for years, and I look forward to doing it again in the summer. Looking forward, we've now got a squad who have that coveted top-flight experience - only a year mind, but these boys have earned their stripes and their right to be here. I don't think we'll be plagued by the errors or lack of confidence that derailed the early part of the 2012-13 season. I also think we'll at least match our transfer business of last summer, and as shurlock says, start populating the system with personnel that fit it. I also agree with Bexy about the lack of cutting edge up front. While it's encouraging to see us get in the final third so much, we've been profligate at times. I didn't want us ending the season looking like lucky relegation chancers, or starting next season billed as relegation candidates. I listen to quite a few football podcasts; we're a well-regarded team recognised for playing good football - and that is after the NA sacking (most pundits ate their words over their NA-inspired outbursts). We've got respected Premier League managers saying nice things about us, plenty of column inches devoted to our exploits, and a potentially large investment in the playing squad to come. Some key additions to fit the system and we could be rather frightening next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 I've just done the predictor, I've got us coming 14th on 41 points. Ridiculous, somehow Wigan went down too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 Weirdly, in Pochettino's entire time with Saints, we moved up precisely one place, overtaking Sunderland. Everyone who was below us when Adkins was sacked ended below us, everyone else who was above us stayed above us. http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2012-2013/table/2013-01-16 We were also the only team in the Prem except QPR not to win any of our last 6 games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lighthouse Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 Good season, nobody can doubt that IMO. Yes we tailed off at the end but don't forget we have a relatively thin squad. Sure it is big but there are barely 15 players in it good enough to play in the Premier League. Just look at today's bench. Puncheon, Yoshi and JWP are the only 2 I'd want to see in 18 come next season's curtain raiser. That's a lot of effort and we have relied heavily on important goals from JRod and Lambert. The former playing his first season in the Prem with a new team and the latter not as young as he used to be, also making his top division debut. Vaguely remember predicting 14th at the start of the season, so happy with that after a poor start. A few quality additions and we can be challenging the likes of Liverpool and Everton for Europe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 Weirdly, in Pochettino's entire time with Saints, we moved up precisely one place, overtaking Sunderland. Everyone who was below us when Adkins was sacked ended below us, everyone else who was above us stayed above us. http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2012-2013/table/2013-01-16 We were also the only team in the Prem except QPR not to win any of our last 6 games. Interesting stats. Plenty of fairly lacklustre performances in the last 4 months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 14th first season back is incredible. No it's not. West Ham finished 4 places above us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 No it's not. West Ham finished 4 places above us. Yeah, but as was pointed out VERY early in the season, they had more than half a team of players with Prem experience only 18 months previously, whilst we only had a few. They hit the ground running and we didn't. After 11 matches they were 6th and we were bottom but one, 13 points behind them. http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2012-2013/table/2012-11-11 It took us time to get used to the Prem - though 4 draws and 2 defeats from the last 6 games wasn't exactly sparkling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNSUN Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 No it's not. West Ham finished 4 places above us. They also had the basis of a Premier League team already. We had a mixture of League One and Championship players with very little Premier League experience amongst them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 They also had the basis of a Premier League team already. We had a mixture of League One and Championship players with very little Premier League experience amongst them. How come we were above them all of last season then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 19 May, 2013 Share Posted 19 May, 2013 Yeah, but as was pointed out VERY early in the season, they had more than half a team of players with Prem experience only 18 months previously, whilst we only had a few. They hit the ground running and we didn't. After 11 matches they were 6th and we were bottom but one, 13 points behind them. http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2012-2013/table/2012-11-11 It took us time to get used to the Prem - though 4 draws and 2 defeats from the last 6 games wasn't exactly sparkling. So you think our season has been incredible? Fair enough, we all have our own take on things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNSUN Posted 20 May, 2013 Share Posted 20 May, 2013 How come we were above them all of last season then? We weren't - they spent their time above us in the Championship - we were just more consistant over the course of the season. I'd rate our season independently of West Ham - perhaps if we should compare our season with any, it should be Norwich's last season, as they had just been promoted twice too. They finished 12th on 47 points, so they did marginally better than we have this season, but not by too much. Overall I think it's been a good season. Strange, and with many ups and downs, but good. Now we can really build on this for next season. Exciting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintBobby Posted 20 May, 2013 Share Posted 20 May, 2013 This. If someone had offered us 14th in Pctober we'd have snapped their hand off. However the fact that we could still have finished 10th or 17th today show how little there is between lower midtable side. We need to add pace in attack,depth in midfield and quality at the back to push into the top half. This too. Offer me 14th right now for next season and I'm saying yes. I think we could do quite a bit better, but I'd take 14th now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 20 May, 2013 Share Posted 20 May, 2013 How come we were above them all of last season then? Because there's a certain way of being successful in the Prem, and it's not the same way as in the Championship. It took time for their players to adjust to the division, more lenient refs, the harder schedule, and more importantly, Allardyce taking over in June 2011 and changing their system entirely. Hoofball isn't generally as successful in the Champ because defenders expect a certain amount of agricultural passing and are geared up to deal with it - the likes of Pearce and Gorkss at Reading "just heading it away" will do fine for you in the Championship and can win you matches, but not as much in the Prem. Also, they didn't have Carroll last season, he's ideally suited to their long ball game, and he took the Championship to pieces with Newcastle when he was down there. Finally, MLG point, we were behind them in the Championship for at least a month in Jan/Feb 2012. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 20 May, 2013 Share Posted 20 May, 2013 So you think our season has been incredible? Fair enough, we all have our own take on things. Not at all. I think we've done well, but am slightly concerned at our form tailing off and think we need to spend extremely big to have a hope in hell of troubling anything above 8th next season - when I keep hearing 6th is the target in a couple of seasons. We were more than 7 wins off 6th this season. I was confident we'd stay up from the 4-1 win against Villa and we did with room to spare, but injuries and lack of depth could have been a problem and still would be up front and at the back for the current squad. Not incredible, but there were some incredible moments in patches, now it's about producing them consistently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintBobby Posted 20 May, 2013 Share Posted 20 May, 2013 Not at all. I think we've done well, but am slightly concerned at our form tailing off and think we need to spend extremely big to have a hope in hell of troubling anything above 8th next season - when I keep hearing 6th is the target in a couple of seasons. We were more than 7 wins off 6th this season. I was confident we'd stay up from the 4-1 win against Villa and we did with room to spare, but injuries and lack of depth could have been a problem and still would be up front and at the back for the current squad. Not incredible, but there were some incredible moments in patches, now it's about producing them consistently. Agreed. All on 2 words. Squad depth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fan CaM Posted 20 May, 2013 Share Posted 20 May, 2013 Great season of ups and downs really. Although very saddened to see Adkins go, I was equally delighted with the Pochettino effect and what it has done to improve JRod. Very excited about the summer and next season now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsbridge Saint Posted 20 May, 2013 Share Posted 20 May, 2013 Very happy with the final position and some brilliant performances along the way, utterly destroying some top sides. We have to stop the stupid results though - losing at home to QPR was unforgiveable and the West Brom home defeat was totally unnecessary and led to an entirely avoidable tense run in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDG Posted 20 May, 2013 Share Posted 20 May, 2013 Like many above, I would have taken 14th at the beginning of the season - but I also feel a little disappointed. We had some great results - Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City - but there were games at home which we would have made a big difference to our final position - the home games against Sunderland, QPR and Wigan - if we had won just two of those games - we would have finished 9th. I think that this will be our challenge for next year - stopping the slip ups against the teams in the lower part of the league. Still - having said that, very happy with where we finished. Happy that we can start to build. Onwards and upwards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 20 May, 2013 Share Posted 20 May, 2013 Not at all. I think we've done well, but am slightly concerned at our form tailing off and think we need to spend extremely big to have a hope in hell of troubling anything above 8th next season - when I keep hearing 6th is the target in a couple of seasons. We were more than 7 wins off 6th this season. I was confident we'd stay up from the 4-1 win against Villa and we did with room to spare, but injuries and lack of depth could have been a problem and still would be up front and at the back for the current squad. Not incredible, but there were some incredible moments in patches, now it's about producing them consistently. I'd agree with all of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cabrone Posted 20 May, 2013 Share Posted 20 May, 2013 This season has its ups and downs but overall it was good. My expectations which were 17th place and 40 points were exceeded. Biggest high was beating Man City, biggest sigh of relief was when Boruc finally got into goal, biggest downer was Nige getting sacked, biggest pleasure was the football under Pochitteno. IMO we need one more quality CH, a quality midfield general linking defence\attack and taking the captain's armband and a pacy, goal scoring centre forward to start to take over from Ricky alongside JRod. My guess is that NC will be targeting around 55 points next season and a good cup run. With some quality reinforcements I think it's doable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lallana's Left Peg Posted 20 May, 2013 Share Posted 20 May, 2013 This. If someone had offered us 14th in Pctober we'd have snapped their hand off. However the fact that we could still have finished 10th or 17th today show how little there is between lower midtable side. We need to add pace in attack,depth in midfield and quality at the back to push into the top half. Agree completely with this. Considering where we were at the start of November, we've done very well considering it has been the same group of players who have done it all as well. There will be every reason to be optimistic for a half decent finish next season, and the players will now have to deal with increased expectation, new standards - and genuine competition in every position. Looking forward to it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toomer Posted 20 May, 2013 Share Posted 20 May, 2013 Considering the start we had that was not a bad result in the end, home wins against City, Chelsea and Liverpool were my stand outs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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