AussieDog Posted 10 November, 2013 Share Posted 10 November, 2013 I think its correct to say that NO team has had a start as good as this, and finished below 6th. There we go gentlemen... ...and last season NO team had as bad a start as we did and avoided relegation. Enjoy the ride, ladies & gentlemen. The next 6 games are going to test everyones belief. At the moment I can't see us getting more than 6 points, but then again I thought we'd beat Norwich and lose to Man Utd and Liverpool. I think our season will be defined by how we bounce back from 2 or 3 bad results (both the club and the supporters!). If we can keep the "one game at a time" mentality and avoid injuries & suspensions, we're going to have one hell of a season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 10 November, 2013 Share Posted 10 November, 2013 Last season we got 36 points from the 12th game onwards. Replicate that and we'd comfortably finish top 8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintBobby Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 We're not really in the title race. We're at 250/1 to win the league, which is probably about right - i.e. the same sort of chance that the Liberal Democrats have of winning the next general election outright. Am starting to think top six might be possible though. And I'd say we're heavily odds on to finish in the top half now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintadjg Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 Whether people want to believe it or not ,right now we are well and truly in the Title race,sat in 3rd place with a possibility of going top after our next match.Will we still be there come May well i guess time will tell.Personally i think we are better than we give ourselves credit for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cabrone Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 If we could get at least 2 points from the next 2 games then I might just entertain the thought that we have a slight chance of squeaking into the top 6. Top 4 is not going to happen with our current squad, it just isn't deep enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewy Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 The bookies seem to think we will finish eighth which is a realistic assessment IMO (I predicted 7th or 8th at the start of the season, between us and Everton). But, if we get points in the next two games I think we'd see those odds change. The other thing that seems to be going in our favour at the moment is the form of the so called big 6. Spurs haven't settled, city can't play away, utd still don't look all that (despite yesterday) and Chelsea aren't firing yet either. The longer any of these trends continue the better for our chances of improving on 8th. I was probably a happy clapper predicting top 8 at the start of the season, and am probably now a pessimist for thinking top 4 is still unachievable. I'd love to be proved wrong but we will drop from our lofty perch. That doesn't take anything away from the progress we've made as a club. Fwiw I think champions league ambition is achievable long term, but not this season, and it will probably be by quite a few points at the end of the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 F**king right we're in the title race.... Currently. I just hope the team are a bit more upbeat about staying there than some of the fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sussexsaint Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 I have been waiting 30 years to see a Saints team up there again , and its not due to luck or because we won the first game so 'quick take a photo of the league' but is due to merit over 11 games. If we were bottom after 11 games people would be throwing in the towel already. Europe? why the hell not ? COYS or England B as David Schneider said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solid Saint Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 F**king right we're in the title race.... Currently. I just hope the team are a bit more upbeat about staying there than some of the fans. How true. It seems some Saints fans are damaged goods after so many years of disappointment. They'll come round eventually, once they've finished calling everyone under the sun 'happy clappers' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winchester Red Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 We're in it until we're out of it There you go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Saint Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 How true. It seems some Saints fans are damaged goods after so many years of disappointment. They'll come round eventually, once they've finished calling everyone under the sun 'happy clappers' It is an absolute sod to shift the feeling that we will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory - It is like having a child who has gone off the rails who has promised you that they have changed their ways. You love them, you really want them to do well and succeed, however there is this nagging doubt in your mind that they will just revert to type. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 How true. It seems some Saints fans are damaged goods after so many years of disappointment. They'll come round eventually, once they've finished calling everyone under the sun 'happy clappers' I'm sure I wasn't alone in thinking 'Here we go again' when Sagbo scored on saturday, regardless of how well we had done up until that point! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 Title race ? maybe not but we are in the mix for a top 6 finish, much will depend on our next 2 games. If we get nothing from them we could be lower top half again, 2 draws could see us maintain a top 6 challenge. I thought Arsenal looked fragile yesterday and Ramsey seemed to have run out of oofle dust and was back to his old sh*t self. Still they had a hard game on Wednesday and that could explain it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr X Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 Its pretty embarrassing to see people thinking we are going to win the league, we are not even half way through the season we have proved nothing unless we can continue till the end of the season. Granted we are doing better than we could ever hope for at the moment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solid Saint Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 I'm sure I wasn't alone in thinking 'Here we go again' when Sagbo scored on saturday, regardless of how well we had done up until that point! Same as, all the old anxiety returned for me when they scored. However the more I see of this Saints team the more they do to dispel my worries! Long may it continue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 Well, lets add in the thoughts of Martin Keown and Alan Shearer on this subject: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24893777 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 Its pretty embarrassing to see people thinking we are going to win the league, we are not even half way through the season we have proved nothing unless we can continue till the end of the season. Granted we are doing better than we could ever hope for at the moment There's a big difference between 'could' and 'will'. We are where we are on merit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Sanchez Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 I'm far more reserved than to thnk anything other than we have played well and had a pretty good fixture list, lets see after 19 games and then 38, WBA were up there last season, Swansea the seaosn before and too many to mantion over the years who have faded away, lets enjoy it but keep our feet on the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solid Saint Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 Its pretty embarrassing to see people thinking we are going to win the league, we are not even half way through the season we have proved nothing unless we can continue till the end of the season. Granted we are doing better than we could ever hope for at the moment No one in their right mind would have said we would be in this position, at this point in the season either. I wouldn't put my neck on the block and say we can win it but I will say we've got a great chance of being top 6 and an outside chance of top 4. COYR! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasgow_Saint Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 I did a comprehensive score prediction/calculation at the start of the season and had us on 20 points at this stage. We are therefore only 2 points ahead of my expectation Factoring in injuries, suspensions, endurance ect ect I had us finishing the season on 49 points (best case 55) I said 8th at the start of the season and stand by that prediction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 Well, lets add in the thoughts of Martin Keown and Alan Shearer on this subject: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24893777 Shearer clearly still has a soft spot for us, he's always very quick to mention us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Wayman Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 Saints to win the league.... You heard it here first. In reality, I'd snap your hand off for a 6th place finish. Sorry mate but I've recorded that on this website every week since the first match of the season. You're miles behind! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 I did a comprehensive score prediction/calculation at the start of the season and had us on 20 points at this stage. We are therefore only 2 points ahead of my expectation Factoring in injuries, suspensions, endurance ect ect I had us finishing the season on 49 points (best case 55) I said 8th at the start of the season and stand by that prediction Where did you see us dropping those two points then? Away to Liverpool, getting a point instead? So you still thought we'd draw away to United, beat WBA, lose to Norwich? I smell bullsh*t. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 Last season we got 36 points from the 12th game onwards. Replicate that and we'd comfortably finish top 8. Unfortunately you can't spend all season playing the bottom half. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr X Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 No one in their right mind would have said we would be in this position, at this point in the season either. I wouldn't put my neck on the block and say we can win it but I will say we've got a great chance of being top 6 and an outside chance of top 4. COYR! Agreed thats much more realistic personally i would be ecstatic with with 6th place! and happy anywhere in the top ten. Possibly the season could now be seen as a failure if we don't finish in the top ten? not sure how cortese would react. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 Well, lets add in the thoughts of Martin Keown and Alan Shearer on this subject: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24893777 Heh, you can see the twinkle in Shearer's eye when he mentions us. Why not? Anyone else notice that Shearer looks like a young, beardless Heisenberg? JWP as Jesse? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 When Blackburn won the league in 95 had they not just been promoted about a year or two beforehand. Rich ambitious owners with a few big money signings,it's been done in the past so it can be done again,COYR. Back when you could buy an entire squad for half the amount we've just spent on Osvaldo, Lovren, Ramirez, Wanyama and Rodriguez, and when the Champions League had only just become a league competition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Mullet Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 I want to see some pretty nasty injuries inflicted on our opponents at the top. Suarez, Rooney/RVP, Giroud, Aguero (Silva already out for about a month), Hazard/Oscar, Vertongen and Dawson. Let's see how the other teams cope then. MOTD2 analysis last night suggested Loris may have done better for Remy's goal than Brad Fridel. United would look fairly ordinary without their first choice strikers and so on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KelvinsRightGlove Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 Back when you could buy an entire squad for half the amount we've just spent on Osvaldo, Lovren, Ramirez, Wanyama and Rodriguez, and when the Champions League had only just become a league competition. True, but TV money and season tickets were also a fraction of what they are now. Yes, transfer fees have gone up, but so has revenue of football clubs - massively. For the record, I am not saying this means we are likely to win, or even go that close to winning the title. Just that it isn't as impossible as the difference in fees from then to now would suggest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikee Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 this forum seems to be provide constant friction between the optimists and the pessimists! Going back the OP there can be no doubt that as it stands NOW we are definitely IN the title race with a chance to go top or at least 2nd next time out. What is up for debate is whether we can stay there. For many, part of the enjoyment of our current success is daring to dream - is this not the what keeps every football fan going to games - so lets not berate our own fans for doing just that. In reality no-one knows what will happen next but i am encouraged mostly by the fact that our league position is down to a clear strategy of how we play rather than a "peak" in form which at least gives us a chance of maintaining our position. Lets face it, none of us really thought CL was possible at the start of the season but now, who knows. What I do know is that I am incredibly proud to be a saints fan at the moment! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan83 Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 After how many games.... if we're still in the top 4.... would you then start considering us contenders to finish there? I think if we take 2 or 4 points from the next two games then I think optimism will start to grow of a top 4 finish. Even 1 point would mean we've gone to ANOTHER big team and gotten something. They've all got to come to St Mary's yet remember. As it stands, we're the most "under the radar while under everyone's noses" team ever to grace the Premier League. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Mullet Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 The BT Champions League money is going to make the top teams richer. There will be a massive squabble and massive pressure on the top 7/8 teams to achieve this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewy Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 Where did you see us dropping those two points then? Away to Liverpool, getting a point instead? So you still thought we'd draw away to United, beat WBA, lose to Norwich? I smell bullsh*t. Much as I'm not glasgows biggest fan, perhaps he expected more points at home to Sunderland and west ham (5) four less at United and Liverpool and three less at WBA making 20, which is pretty much what we'd all have predicted on paper. I actually agree with him, the fixture list was pretty kind and we will know a lot more come Christmas. What we do have in our favour is great spirit and confidence which might enable us to over perform in the next few games. If that happens I will start to get excited about possibly making the top 6, but 8th is probably about right. We have all of the big 6 to play at home which means 18 points we could feasibly drop just at home. Not saying we will, but it's too early to think we are title contenders IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 The BT Champions League money is going to make the top teams richer. There will be a massive squabble and massive pressure on the top 7/8 teams to achieve this. I'm not sure how this will effect the incoming TV money. Yes there will be an increase but shared amongst all clubs in the competition with greater emphasis on those who get to the later stages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolan Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 De ja vu. Fell like I'm reading the comments from the Championship Season... We were never gonna stay near the top a get promotion to the Premier League y'know. Sent from my Lumia 800 using Board Express Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Mullet Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 De ja vu. Fell like I'm reading the comments from the Championship Season... We were never gonna stay near the top a get promotion to the Premier League y'know. Sent from my Lumia 800 using Board Express That's exactly how I feel. If history is going to repeat itself you can expect us to strengthen in January. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 That's exactly how I feel. If history is going to repeat itself you can expect us to strengthen in January. Who did we sign january that season? Sharp (strong goalscorer from the same league)...who would that be then...Michu? Benteke? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spudders Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 (edited) this forum seems to be provide constant friction between the optimists and the pessimists! Going back the OP there can be no doubt that as it stands NOW we are definitely IN the title race with a chance to go top or at least 2nd next time out. What is up for debate is whether we can stay there. For many, part of the enjoyment of our current success is daring to dream - is this not the what keeps every football fan going to games - so lets not berate our own fans for doing just that. In reality no-one knows what will happen next but i am encouraged mostly by the fact that our league position is down to a clear strategy of how we play rather than a "peak" in form which at least gives us a chance of maintaining our position. Lets face it, none of us really thought CL was possible at the start of the season but now, who knows. What I do know is that I am incredibly proud to be a saints fan at the moment! This!! Great post. Just the fact we're even having these conversations and differences of opinion on how high we'll finish instead of how low we'll finish is amazing. Just the fact we're looking at January's transfer window with the potential of what players might improve our squad coming from big teams is fantastic compared to previous seasons. They may have had smiles on their faces when saying it, but to hear the likes of Shearer on MOTD 3 talking about the 'potential' of saints winning the title rather than the dangers of relegation is awsome. I don't think there are many on here saying saints WILL win the title or WILL finish top 4, but I'm happy to be amongst the many of us daring to dream and think 'what if' we carry on at this rate, 'what if' we beat Arsenal in our next game, what if..... There have been some depressing times supporting saints in recent years, so I'm happy to take the smooth with the rough and dream a little whilst I still can. Edited 11 November, 2013 by Spudders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 newcastle were up there 2 years ago And finished 5th. Not bad going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 True, but TV money and season tickets were also a fraction of what they are now. Yes, transfer fees have gone up, but so has revenue of football clubs - massively. For the record, I am not saying this means we are likely to win, or even go that close to winning the title. Just that it isn't as impossible as the difference in fees from then to now would suggest. Yes, the revenue of ALL clubs has gone up massively, which means signing players a class above all the others is much more difficult to do, because everyone can do it. You also need to spend a massive amount of cash just to stand still as a result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 Its pretty embarrassing to see people thinking we are going to win the league, we are not even half way through the season we have proved nothing unless we can continue till the end of the season. Granted we are doing better than we could ever hope for at the moment Maybe someone needs to send a strongly-worded email to the Premier League, insisting that we shouldn't really have all those points Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint86 Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 It ain't unprecedented for a smaller club to have a strong start and be in the mix, even maybe up to Christmas. I've seen it before & they always fall away. What's strange though, what I don't really remember seeing before, is we haven't been particularly flukey. In pretty much every game I've seen we've been markedly the better team, even the ones we didn't win. Kind of makes you think like something unusual is happening here. Maybe. Bearsy, since poch, the only team to outplay us on stats (possession, shots etc) was swansea at home this season. I'm fairly confident that we outplayed every other team. United away (twice) chelsea, city, liverpool (twice) etc etc... even west brom when they spanked us at home relied on fewer counter attacking chances and a striker they don't own. Our first 11 is quality. Top 4 quality when they play with this team spirit and these tactics. We are destroying some teams and we are doing it regularly, not through fluke. The test is now to come... personally, I think we will draw with Arsenal. Chelsea scare me because they are made for a solid and lethal counter attack.... Man City, at home, I have hopes for a win.... villa, most long balls in the prem this season - cant press a team that can't pass, so will be a challenge. But I hold a hope that we will still be top 4 and in reach of 1st after the next 4 games!!!! I may be a dreamer (and I've been slammed many times over the last 3 years for my predictions, but my season expectations have been dead on since we 2010/11, and I'm actually no longer know how good we actually could be! It is rather scary, I've fallen in to the mass on non-believers who are almost waiting for the bubble to burst! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 Maybe someone needs to send a strongly-worded email to the Premier League, insisting that we shouldn't really have all those points Maybe someone needs to control all of these Skate trolls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 Yes, the revenue of ALL clubs has gone up massively, which means signing players a class above all the others is much more difficult to do, because everyone can do it. You also need to spend a massive amount of cash just to stand still as a result. It's not just about the amount IMO, it's about getting the right player to fit the team, and making that team far greater than the sum of it's parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 Maybe someone needs to control all of these Skate trolls. Dunno if they're skate trolls. My best guess? Battered Saints FC fans who are rubbing their eyes in disbelief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giordano Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 We are in the top three on merit - but id say its higher than where we will finish, and it needs to be at this stage of the season.Here's why: . I'm sure Mopo can see that we have a great first 15 or so but then we tail off significantly compared to the top 5/6 squads in the EPL. We've been lucky with injuries so far to that first 15 and lucky with no suspensions. YET. As the season progresses it is statistically very likely that we WILL pick up injuries and suspensions, small injuries not given enough time due to pressure to play "our best team" will get worse and compound / contribute towards getting injuries elsewhere. The grounds will get harder, more bruising less healing time. In our favour is NO Carling Cup NO Europa League or CL, unlike the top four. Also in our favour is that its a far wider and more open EPL than i can recall - anyone can beat anyone it seems with no truly outstanding invincible teams. Against us is our relatively thin squad, International call ups for the first time for some of our best players will cause extra fatigue they are unused to and our hi tempo hi energy style of play. Yes we appear fitter at this stage of the season but can the same 15 players keep it up for 38+matches - i think unlikely and we will probably start to tail off but with the benefit of our fast start this might translate into a top 6/7 finish. So- my view is our best 15 is proven to be as good as anyone in the EPl over 11 matches. But the title is won after 38 so we would need to be very lucky avoiding injury and suspensions to keep this up in the absence of January reinforcements. If we do get someone In January I think that Mopo will have learned lessons from previous transfers. In order to hit the ground running the new guy(s) ideally need to be already familiar with his coaching and our hi pressing style of play so that they can fit in straight away. So we won't be buying another Mayuka for instance or Lee. Ever Banega though is much more like it and a Spanish/South American styled FB also. I would be surprised if we did not look at a at least one additional player - if only one then id say probably a positionally flexible, very fit, very skillful midfielder who never gives the ball away, tackles back but can also score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 If we're up there we are certainly in it. I think we have improved since the start of the season and our league position is certainly no fluke. We are not just beating teams at home, we are completely outclassing them. As we all know, the next few games will be the important pointers. If we're still up there after those then we are definitely in with a chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 De ja vu. Fell like I'm reading the comments from the Championship Season... We were never gonna stay near the top a get promotion to the Premier League y'know. Sent from my Lumia 800 using Board Express I remember a bit of that but comparing getting promotion from the NPC when we were runaway leaders from the get-go is not the same as winning the Premier League where we have been 6th - 3rd all season. People saying we won't win the league are not pessimists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank's cousin Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 I remember a bit of that but comparing getting promotion from the NPC when we were runaway leaders from the get-go is not the same as winning the Premier League where we have been 6th - 3rd all season. People saying we won't win the league are not pessimists. True, and the probability of winning or even a top 4 is low. However, I just think its great that the club and MP has the attitude that focuses on what is possible, not what is probable. Focussing only on what is probable will limit what you can achieve as it effects belief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 11 November, 2013 Share Posted 11 November, 2013 Perhaps, just as a VERY rough guide, we could add a poll to the thread just to gauge current opinion about where we'll finish the season? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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