SFC_1992 Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 Crashing out of both domestic cups at the hands of Sunderland has proved very difficult for many fans to come to terms with myself included. However one viewpoint I do not share is that this season now a write off. This season has been anything but dull. Drama off the pitch has perhaps overshadowed what are undisputable achievements on the field. Southampton made their best ever start to a top flight league campaign and until the turn of the year had the best defensive record in the league and among the best in Europe. At one stage the Saints’ defensive record was second only to Roma. This season has also seen Jay Rodriguez, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert all make their senior debuts for the England side and Southampton are almost guaranteed to have a strong representing in this summer’s world cup. Southampton are well represented right through the England age groups with the latest England under 19’s squad including four academy graduates. The progression is also clear to see it seems only a matter of time before under 19’s captain Callum Chambers steps up to under 21 level where James Ward-Prowse and Luke Shaw have established themselves, with the latter being right in contention to make future senior squads after Ashley Cole has been frozen out of the Chelsea team. While the result at the weekend was an extremely disappointing one- A 3-1 away defeat to West Ham. It showed how far as a squad Southampton have come over the past 18 months. With both summer signings (Victor Wanayama and Dejan Lovren) not considered fit this left the saints with a team they could have fielded last season. Southampton were certainly not out played and arguably deserved at least a draw after enjoying almost 70% of possession and over 20 shots on goal. The possession and pressing game is something Mauricio Pochettino has drilled into his players, when Southampton don’t have the ball they are always working hard in packs to get the ball back. Whatever Pochettino’s staff is teaching on the training ground is certainly working and many players have at times looked like new signings since Mauricio’s appointment. The main benefactors being Jose Fonte, Jay Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse who have all come on leaps and bounds after a first preseason with the new gaffer. The work being done behind the scenes at Southampton is also another reason for saint’s fans to be optimistic. This season has already seen the emergence of Callum Chambers, Harrison Reed, Sam Gallagher with it looking likely that others may make debuts including Matt Targett and Cody Cropper. As well as Luke Shaw cementing his place at left back, James Ward-Prowse remains ever present in the match day squads. Furthermore, Big and potentially disruptive personalities have left the club including the Nicola Cortese and Dani Osvaldo. Kathrina Liebherr has also made the exciting appointment of Ralp Krueger- who is certainly no stranger to sporting success. Krueger has lead Canada to back-to-back ice hockey golds. Krueger worked as a consultant to the Canadian ice hockey team, specialising in scouting European opposition and advising on the differences between international ice hockey and that played in the National Hockey League (NHL) in North America. Krueger is expected to work on aspects of performance and training, as well as team-spirit and motivation. But the majority of his work is going to be on the commercial side. It certainly looks as though Liebherr is setting Southampton up for the future and to keep growing in the way her late father intended. The final piece in the jigsaw could well be tying down Mauricio Pochettino whose stock has grown significantly since his arrival on the south coast. The foundations are definitely set at Southampton and the future holds much in store for the saints, another solid preseason and continued stubbornness to let go of our prized assets could well lead to a very memorable 2014-15 season. The key for all Southampton fans is to be patient now and enjoy watching our youth blossom. The remaining games are great opportunities to give the youth premier league experience. We aren’t going to win a trophy this season or qualify for Europe but we will continue to develop our future stars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Timmier Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 Well everyone, you heard it here first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holepuncture Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 Is this what KL was writing for 90 minutes at the WHU game? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Tender Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 Well everyone, you heard it here first :lol: There is so much unique content here, bringing such a varied perspective, that it couldn't possibly have been added to any of the other threads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 Get behind the lads FFS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFC_1992 Posted 26 February, 2014 Author Share Posted 26 February, 2014 Just a reminder, some fans seem to have forgotten what we have achieved this season. Some saying "the season is over" would they prfer to be in a relegation battle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 Interesting first post on the forum. Hope you've got a strong tin hat posting such positivity on here.... p.s. welcome to the forum Ralph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 Interesting first post on the forum. Hope you've got a strong tin hat posting such positivity on here.... p.s. welcome to the forum Ralph No tin hat, probably still got his old Ice Hockey helmet though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFC_1992 Posted 26 February, 2014 Author Share Posted 26 February, 2014 Interesting first post on the forum. Hope you've got a strong tin hat posting such positivity on here.... p.s. welcome to the forum Ralph Hahaha rummbled already! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 Anyway needs to be made a sticky and then attached to the match reaction thread in the unlikely event of us taking a drubbing from Liverpool next Saturday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearsy Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 i dunno bout you guise but while i like SFC_1992 and his optimism, i cannot condone referring to southampton in the third person when posting on southampton forum. I want to read "we is good team" not "southampton is good team"! Prob this basic error is why SFC_1992 is suspected PR plant or hans gruber in disguise. Learn from this SFC_1992... if that is ur real name! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 If the aim is to progress year on year, then the team is doing alright. Last year, I said staying well clear of the relegation spots was going to be our "success", and crucial for attracting the sort of player we'd need to progress. Maybe Lovren and Wanyama would have come whatever position we were in (Wanyama: I came to the club that wanted me most), but it was important not to be perceived as relegation fodder. This year, we're top half of the table, and by no means the finished article - but look like a team that could break into Europe with a couple of shrewd additions. Believe it or not, that is progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fan CaM Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 Kathrina Liebherr has also made the exciting appointment of Ralp Krueger- who is certainly no stranger to sporting success. Krueger has lead Canada to back-to-back ice hockey golds. Krueger worked as a consultant to the Canadian ice hockey team, specialising in scouting European opposition and advising on the differences between international ice hockey and that played in the National Hockey League (NHL) in North America. Krueger is expected to work on aspects of performance and training, as well as team-spirit and motivation. But the majority of his work is going to be on the commercial side. It certainly looks as though Liebherr is setting Southampton up for the future and to keep growing in the way her late father intended. You see this is the stuff I don't get. I'm not excited by Krueger at all. What exactly is he - a first team guru mentor or a commercial wiz-kid? I just cannot imagine him making a significant positive difference to team-spirit and motivation - our team-spirit has been one of the positives all the while Cortese was at the helm...can it get better - I can't see it myself? And lastly, my understanding from the outset was that Marcus appointed Cortese because he trusted his old friend to grow the club - that has changed now because KL wanted her own man involved. Perhaps people should be asking why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 If the aim is to progress year on year, then the team is doing alright. Last year, I said staying well clear of the relegation spots was going to be our "success", and crucial for attracting the sort of player we'd need to progress. Maybe Lovren and Wanyama would have come whatever position we were in (Wanyama: I came to the club that wanted me most), but it was important not to be perceived as relegation fodder. This year, we're top half of the table, and by no means the finished article - but look like a team that could break into Europe with a couple of shrewd additions. Believe it or not, that is progress. Except that we have at least err well let us say a certain number of players who want to move forward faster than the club will now do because they're coming to the zenith of their careers. So not only will we need the couple of shrewd additions we'll need more additions to replace those who will definitely leave this summer, at least 2, perhaps more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 Except that we have at least err well let us say a certain number of players who want to move forward faster than the club will now do because they're coming to the zenith of their careers. So not only will we need the couple of shrewd additions we'll need more additions to replace those who will definitely leave this summer, at least 2, perhaps more. At which point you can legitimately say we've regressed and shout "we're sh!t. we always were!" from the rooftops. Right now, we've progressed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nta786 Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 The thing I like most is that we can actually go into nearly every game expecting a result, home or away! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 You see this is the stuff I don't get. I'm not excited by Krueger at all. What exactly is he - a first team guru mentor or a commercial wiz-kid? I just cannot imagine him making a significant positive difference to team-spirit and motivation - our team-spirit has been one of the positives all the while Cortese was at the helm...can it get better - I can't see it myself? And lastly, my understanding from the outset was that Marcus appointed Cortese because he trusted his old friend to grow the club - that has changed now because KL wanted her own man involved. Perhaps people should be asking why? Perhaps the accounts are disastrous who knows, doubt it. If we knew why Gareth Rogers was leaving before he got moved upwards suddenly we might even know a weeny bit more. Obviously there are people who know these things, whether they choose to share them with us is up to them but if they can't then they should say nothing whatsoever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KelvinsRightGlove Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 i dunno bout you guise but while i like SFC_1992 and his optimism, i cannot condone referring to southampton in the third person when posting on southampton forum. I want to read "we is good team" not "southampton is good team"! Prob this basic error is why SFC_1992 is suspected PR plant or hans gruber in disguise. Learn from this SFC_1992... if that is ur real name! Maybe this place has instilled some weird sort of paranoia into me, but first thing I thought when I read this was that it is the work of an alleged serial username collector... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fan CaM Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 The thing I like most is that we can actually go into nearly every game expecting a result, home or away! Yep, I always expect a result. A win, draw or loss...and I'm never disappointed. There's positivity for you. (; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearsy Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 The thing I like most is that we can actually go into nearly every game expecting a result, home or away! i hate games where there is no result makes me so mad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 The thing I like most is that we can actually go into nearly every game expecting a result, home or away! Difference between Poch and Adkins in the Prem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 i hate games where there is no result makes me so mad! [video=youtube_share;a06SzIfbcXw] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 Difference between Poch and Adkins in the Prem. In what way? Adkins last game was a draw away to Chelsea, MP's record against them hasn't exactly been great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 26 February, 2014 Share Posted 26 February, 2014 In what way? Adkins last game was a draw away to Chelsea, MP's record against them hasn't exactly been great. Expected to lose or draw most of the time during Adkins' time in the Prem. Expect to win or draw under Poch. tbf to Nige, felt that about him in the lower leagues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simo Posted 27 February, 2014 Share Posted 27 February, 2014 Cool story bro! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 27 February, 2014 Share Posted 27 February, 2014 Cool story bro! Ryan Scott strikes again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint86 Posted 27 February, 2014 Share Posted 27 February, 2014 Just a reminder, some fans seem to have forgotten what we have achieved this season. Some saying "the season is over" would they prfer to be in a relegation battle? Disagree completely tbh, although I can see what you are saying. For me, you don't go from 3rd to 9th place and call that acceptable. Where is the ambition there? "Sorry guys we tried, couldn't hack it, so we're going to settle for 9th!" What it is, is a sign of what can be achieved and what we should strive for. Getting massively down in the dumps definitely not required, but the team have set the level they should strive for themselves, and we should support them to achieve it. Not clap them on the back for coming in nomandsland and being out of both cups without so much as a whimper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearsy Posted 27 February, 2014 Share Posted 27 February, 2014 For me, you don't go from 3rd to 9th place and call that acceptable. it would have been much better season if we started shit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 27 February, 2014 Share Posted 27 February, 2014 Disagree completely tbh, although I can see what you are saying. For me, you don't go from 3rd to 9th place and call that acceptable. Where is the ambition there? "Sorry guys we tried, couldn't hack it, so we're going to settle for 9th!" What it is, is a sign of what can be achieved and what we should strive for. Getting massively down in the dumps definitely not required, but the team have set the level they should strive for themselves, and we should support them to achieve it. Not clap them on the back for coming in nomandsland and being out of both cups without so much as a whimper. http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?46203-Have-you-ever-been-this-excited-about-a-season-kick-off&p=1760022#post1760022 i think we hae a good team, and should aim to finish between 10th and 7th Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFC_1992 Posted 27 February, 2014 Author Share Posted 27 February, 2014 i dunno bout you guise but while i like SFC_1992 and his optimism, i cannot condone referring to southampton in the third person when posting on southampton forum. I want to read "we is good team" not "southampton is good team"! Prob this basic error is why SFC_1992 is suspected PR plant or hans gruber in disguise. Learn from this SFC_1992... if that is ur real name! The reason I refered to us in the 3rd person is because I have an interest in sports journalism so this was kind of a practice piece I wrote. But yeah I get your point forum is an "us and we" place. Noted for next time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 27 February, 2014 Share Posted 27 February, 2014 Disagree completely tbh, although I can see what you are saying. For me, you don't go from 3rd to 9th place and call that acceptable. Where is the ambition there? "Sorry guys we tried, couldn't hack it, so we're going to settle for 9th!" What it is, is a sign of what can be achieved and what we should strive for. Getting massively down in the dumps definitely not required, but the team have set the level they should strive for themselves, and we should support them to achieve it. Not clap them on the back for coming in nomandsland and being out of both cups without so much as a whimper. Arf. We did the time-honoured trick of roaring up the table, only to settle down into our natural position. Loads of unfancied teams do it. You make it sound like 3rd was something we were going to be able to hang onto. As many said at the start of the season, injuries would be a problem, and so it proved. The better way of looking at it is 14th to 9th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 27 February, 2014 Share Posted 27 February, 2014 Arf. We did the time-honoured trick of roaring up the table, only to settle down into our natural position. Loads of unfancied teams do it. You make it sound like 3rd was something we were going to be able to hang onto. As many said at the start of the season, injuries would be a problem, and so it proved. The better way of looking at it is 14th to 9th. Tis right, but better for the nerves doing it this way round. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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