Will saints finisher above the gunners

[killer fan]

I reckon we will finisher above Everton and arsenal coys

[Smirking_Saint]

Everton yes, Arsenal no.

 

Wenger will sort things out I expect, if he doesnt he is gone

[Barry Sanchez]

If Everton sell Baines and Fellani then yes if not no, and no to Arsenal, you will get a few biting on this one, well done.

[UpweySaint]

Maybe. That simple. Everton dont have enough squad depth to finish top eight imo and I believe we do.

 

Arsenal too soon to say. If they spend well next week and avoid more injuries they still have enough quality to finish top six or better. If they dont sign quality and pick up any more serious injuries I can see the Wenger out chants becoming deafening...

[The Kraken]

Wenger will get the chequebook out; he's under far too much pressure not to. They'll still do alright; I originally thought they'd get top 4 and while I'm slightly less certain having seen them against Villa, I think top 6 is an absolute and they'll still be in the box seat for the CL spots.

[DuncanRG]

Hahahahahahaha

 

No

 

We might finish above Everton if they have a poor season and/or we have a really good one.

[Batman]

No chance

[Glasgow_Saint]

yes

[The9]

No chance

 

yes

 

It's the reasoned debate on here I love.

 

When Bazza's "if Everton sell..." is the most reasonable thing posted in a thread, you have to worry.

[Glasgow_Saint]

It's the reasoned debate on here I love.

 

When Bazza's "if Everton sell..." is the most reasonable thing posted in a thread, you have to worry.

 

You do not get to 37,000 posts (35k as Delldays + 2k as Batman) by posting long waffling posts.

[Naboo_thats_who]

No to arsenal and maybe Everton. However I can think of 5 or 6 sfc players who would strengthen gunners starting lineup

 

Dani

Lovren

Morgan

Wanyama

Shaw

Rickie?

Clyne?

Boruc?

 

That said, I'm not getting carried away and would see top ten as a positive season

[The9]

You do not get to 37,000 posts (35k as Delldays + 2k as Batman) by posting long waffling posts.

 

No, just by saying "who cares" 35,000 times.

[Cabrone]

It would be very tough to finish above either of these two, even if Arse don't sign anyone and even more so if Everton manage to keep their players.

 

They are still two top teams who will be there or thereabouts next May.

 

Was a bit concerned that Arse might have put a 12th hour bid in for Ossie TBH esp after Saturday's result. Glad they didn't.

 

As far as SFC is concerned I think the Don will have let MP know that he expects at least a good crack at europe, even if we don't get it.

 

I think that with his big ambition he's looking to overhaul these two teams.

[Lighthouse]

They all definitely would, but you can't quickly buy that winning mentality, management experience etc that has them win so many games. They still have some great players in Wilshere, Cazorla, Theo, AOC, Podolski. Shame none are defenders.

 

Worst Arsenal squad for a long time that's for sure.

 

Add to that we probably wont see AOC until after Christmas.

 

I don't think Saints will finish above Arsenal but I think we will be a lot closer to them than last year. I don't think Arsenal will make it into the top 4 this season and I think Liverpool will probably edge them too.

[Golden Balls]

No to both. Maybe if Everton sell players but I'm not sure they will.

[hutch]

According to that sportsclubstats website our most likely finishing position is 1st (9% chance). We have a 31.7% chance of qualifying for the CL, and we are 6.4% likely to be relegated.

 

Arsenal's most likely finishing position is 19th or 20th (=8%)

 

I think that might change as the season progresses.

[Golden Balls]

I also look forward to this thread being referenced by the usual gang when we lose a game or two. It will be mentioned as if every fan was convinced it would happen.

[skintsaint]

We have a 31.7% chance of qualifying for the CL

 

I'll take that!

[The9]

I also look forward to this thread being referenced by the usual gang when we lose a game or two. It will be mentioned as if every fan was convinced it would happen.

 

Yup. FWIW, I can also see us finishing above Everton but almost certainly not Arsenal.

[SNSUN]

No, we will not finish above Arsenal.

 

Yes, we could finish above Everton, especially if they sell Baines and Fellaini

 

It's finishing above WBA, Norwich, West Ham and Swansea that would give us an exceptional finish this season. 7-10 would be a brilliant finish, and with the new signings and perhaps 1 or 2 more additions (in this window and next), then we could well do it.

[The9]

I'll take that!

 

I think the 31.7% chance of CL qualification is based on World War breaking out this week. Those statistical websites are great for probability, but the sample size is one match so far, which somewhat reduces the accuracy. Now the same site based on 30+ results ? Solid statistical evidence.

[Golac's Iron Gonads]

I've been thinking about it since we signed Osvaldo, and mentioned to a bloke at work today that I really don't think we are far off Arsenal with their current squad.

 

Their squad is wafer thin and heavy on creative players. I really don't rate Wilshere, I've never seen him have a great game (though I missed the Barca game everyone seems to talk about).

 

Don't think we will finish above them, but as someone posted above there are plenty in our first team that would get in theirs, and you couldn't have said that too often in the last 25 years.

 

Who of their last starting line up would you want in our team to face Sunderland?

Szczesny

 

Sagna Mertesacker Koscielny Gibbs

 

Walcott Ramsey Rosicky Wilshere Oxlade-chamberlain

 

Giroud

 

I wasn't impressed with Arsenal at ours last year and think we were unlucky not to turn them over. I think they are way behind Spurs now and will could possibly finish as low as 6th.

[SNSUN]

Bearing in mind we wear rose-tinted specs, a cross-breed Arseouthampton team would be:

 

Boruc/Szczesny (Undecided here)

 

Clyne Lovren Koscielny Shaw

 

Morgan Wanyama

 

Walcott Wilshere Ox-C

 

Osvaldo

 

So about half and half, but their squad is stronger than ours.

[jjsaint]

Who of their last starting line up would you want in our team to face Sunderland?

 

Walcott and a theoretically fit Ox. Giroud on the bench.

[Olallana]

I think the 31.7% chance of CL qualification is based on World War breaking out this week. Those statistical websites are great for probability, but the sample size is one match so far, which somewhat reduces the accuracy. Now the same site based on 30+ results ? Solid statistical evidence.

 

Yes, imagine the chance we will have if we win this weekend too

[Barry Sanchez]

Szczesny

Sagna

Mertesacker

Koscielny

Gibbs

Rosicky

Wilshere

Walcott

Oxlade-Chamberlain

Ramsay

Giroud

 

 

For arguments sake in my opinion our strongest side playing 4-4-1-1

 

Boruc

Clyne

Shaw

Yoshida

Lorven

Schneirderlin

Wanyama

Lallana

Rodriguez

Lambert

Osvaldo

 

1) Szczesny

2) Clyne

3) Shaw

4) Mertesacker

5) ?

6) Wilshere

7) Rosicky

8 ) Oxlade Chamberlain

9) Osvaldo

10) Lambert

11) Walcott

 

 

Lots of points here, you can not compere our midfield to theirs as they play a different style, I never have rated Walcott highly but his pace just does it over Rodriguez, this is no where near Arsenal's first team as they have a massive amount of injuries.

Edited 21 August, 2013 by Barry Sanchez

[The Kraken]

6 a side eh? Good move.

[Barry Sanchez]

6 a side eh? Good move.

 

What was that?

[The Kraken]

What was that?

 

10 a side now. Come on Baz, sort yourself out.

[Barry Sanchez]

Can you choose between Lovren and Koscienly? It would be a guess and not an opinion.

[Golac's Iron Gonads]

 

1) Szczesny

2) Clyne

3) Shaw

4) Mertesacker

5) ?

6) Wilshere

7) Rosicky

8 ) Oxlade Chamberlain

9) Osvaldo

10) Lambert

11) Walcott

 

Not many ball winners in that midfield.

[Matthew Le God]

The Polish manager disagrees with you over Szczęsny and Boruc.

 

Boruc >>> Szczęsny

[Barry Sanchez]

The Polish manager disagrees with you over Szczęsny and Boruc.

 

Boruc >>> Szczęsny

 

I disagree with the English manager on playing Walker but what does that mean?

[Toon Saint]

I reckon we will finisher above Everton and arsenal coys

 

Shouldn't that read finisher bove and not finisher above?

 

Thank you.

[Barry Sanchez]

Not many ball winners in that midfield.

 

I agree but we were talking player who would get into the Arsenal team, Wenger does not want ball winners in there obviously so you cant change that as thats not the point of the discussion is it?

 

You could argue there is a lack of creativity in ours as Ramirez if does not do it (he does not)then who will?

[Window Cleaner]

I agree but we were talking player who would get into the Arsenal team, Wenger does not want ball winners in there obviously so you cant change that as thats not the point of the discussion is it?

 

You could argue there is a lack of creativity in ours as Ramirez if does not do it (he does not)then who will?

 

Wenger does want ball winners, trouble is all the effective ones cost more than he has in his piggy bank. He wanted Morgan,Gonalons,Bernard,Illaramendi among others, now its Pogba but none of them can be had for his estimate of their value and he's desperate to keep 35 million in reserve for a striker (which he probably doesn't need anyway) . You can't buy a real ball winner

for much less that 18/20 mill nowadays and he's looking at the 10/12 million range.Serves him right for wasting all that money on AOC.

Edited 21 August, 2013 by Window Cleaner

[adrian lord]

Shouldn't that read finisher bove and not finisher above?

 

Thank you.

 

No - finish 'er, bruv!

[Lazlo78]

Fenerbache have been absolutely atrocious but still Arsenal has shown that you underestimate them at your own peril...

[St_Tel49]

Yes, the probability does not mean much without the confidence limits which are probably +-37%

[sammysaint]

Currently there only slightly better, however there get a decent GK LB and CF there be top 4 again this season and were looking at 8th-10th, however should they not get good replacements i think there finish 6th, Spurs City Utd Chelsea are the top 4 at the moment.

[Ziggy]

Not a cat in hell's chance of finishing above Arsenal.

[S-Clarke]

Currently there only slightly better, however there get a decent GK LB and CF there be top 4 again this season and were looking at 8th-10th, however should they not get good replacements i think there finish 6th, Spurs City Utd Chelsea are the top 4 at the moment.

 

They're still in a different league to us, wouldn't say they're only slightly better at all.

[Micky]

The only London club that we will finish above will be Palace.

 

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 4

[Griffo]

This is proof that 99% of our fans are absolute wronguns.

[jamesfp1]

finisher

[UpweySaint]

The only London club that we will finish above will be Palace.

 

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 4

 

Not even fulham at a push ..?

[kpturner]

Admirable optimism - serious delusion

[RonManager]

Admirable optimism - serious delusion

 

I'm a football/Saints fan.

 

I wouldn't have it any other way.

[AussieDog]

So many variables, but I do think we have the potential to finish above both Everton and Arsenal.

 

I feel the biggest difference between us and both of them is mentality. We have never seemed to have the mentality to go out and think we can win every game, or to give the opposition the correct amount of respect (too much for the likes of some of the top teams, not enough for some of the strugglers). On our day we are capable of beating anyone (but you could probably say that for at least half the teams in the league as well).

I think the players we are gradually introducing into the team do have the correct mentality, but I'm not sure some of the players who have been here a while, or our academy teams do. Hopefully the introduction of "winners" (for that read those who play for big international teams mainly) will allow that mentality to seep down through the club.

 

The game is all about "If's" and "but's", so on the assumption that we are lucky again with few serious injuries, and IF Arsenal don't strengthen in the next week and IF Everton's new Manager can't motivate his team to play out of their skin like Moyes did, then we will finish above them both BUT IF we start to get a few injuries in key areas (GK and LB to name a couple!) then we might struggle to even be top half.

[Jack]

We haven't got a strong enough squad, or the experience to finish in the top 6.

 

Chelsea, United, City plus one out of Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool for top 4, and that's your top 6.

 

I think top 8 is achievable. Everton are still a good and experienced side, and to finish above everyone else would be some achievement. I'm fairly confident we'll finish top half, but top 6 is probably out of reach this season.