Ralph Krueger - Chairman

[Wes Tender]

You don't see anyone agreeing with me?

 

Apart from Badger, Saint Richmond (about as far from one of my "yes men" as you can get) and, I think, Ottery too (difficult to tell with his posting style).

 

So two posters with the same theories as me posting within the last half hour or so.

 

But yeah, no one shares my view.

 

Grasp that stick, or have we all got "flawed judgement"?

 

There really are none so blind as those that will not see.

 

They weren't agreeing with you. They also expressed the view that I did, that Cortese left because he couldn't have total control over everything.

 

But carry on deluding yourself, that you have any support (apart from your two playground allies) for your weird theory that Cortese was a quitter because he was not capable of taking us further,

[Glasgow_Saint]

I think you need to check your facts. Norwich got there a year earlier than us, so are in their third year, with an additional year's income from Sky and the league over us. And comparisons between the players are also laughable too. Lallana is compared by pundits against Snodgrass and even Hoolahan, our kids Shaw and Chambers have only come to prominence this season and you mention Kelvin why? Isn't Ruddy the better keeper than him?

 

And your fellow WUM Barry thought that they had spent much more wisely than us last summer and they were going to set the league on fire with the likes of Wolf's Winkie. What became of him?

 

2009-10 Norwich win league 1

2010-11 Saints promoted from L1

 

2010-11 Norwich promoted to the prem

2011-12 Saints promoted to the prem

 

2011-12 norwich finish 12th in prem

2012-13 Saints finish 14th in the prem

 

2012-13 norwich finish 11th

2013-14 saints finish 9th

 

Nicola's MIRACLE look familiar?

 

Norwich transfer spend last 4 years (before finishing 11th) = 25m

Saints transfer spend last 4 years = £80m!!

 

Wages:

 

Lambert 40k per week, Ramirez 65k per week, osvaldo 65k per week. . . How many Norwich players get these wages?

Edited 15 March, 2014 by Glasgow_Saint

[CB Fry]

There really are none so blind as those that will not see.

 

They weren't agreeing with you. They also expressed the view that I did, that Cortese left because he couldn't have total control over everything.

 

But carry on deluding yourself, that you have any support (apart from your two playground allies) for your weird theory that Cortese was a quitter because he was not capable of taking us further,

 

What?

 

I am saying Cortese left because he couldn't have total control over everything.

 

That is a fundamental flaw because it stopped him taking us further. He's quit you know. Had you not noticed?

[Wes Tender]

2009-10 Norwich win league 1

2010-11 Saints promoted from L1

 

2010-11 Norwich promoted to the prem

2011-12 Saints promoted to the prem

 

2011-12 norwich finish 12th in prem

2012-13 Saints finish 14th in the prem

 

2012-13 norwich finish 11th

2013-14 saints finish 9th

 

Nicola's MIRACLE look familiar?

 

Norwich transfer spend last 4 years = 45m

Saints transfer spend last 4 years = 80m

 

Kind of you to admit that Norwich were promoted a year ahead of us, therefore had the extra revenue from Sky and televised matches and PL income. You had previously insinuated that we were promoted the same year.

 

It was a tremendous feat for both clubs to achieve successive promotions. regardless of two clubs managing it, it is still very rare in modern football. Norwich did well in their two first seasons, no doubt. But now they are flirting with relegation, whereas we are 9th and hoping to go still higher.

 

But still, we had Kelvin, so we obviously had an advantage.

[Wes Tender]

What?

 

I am saying Cortese left because he couldn't have total control over everything.

 

That is a fundamental flaw because it stopped him taking us further. He's quit you know. Had you not noticed?

 

No. You said that he quit because he was ...a quitter. And you inferred that he realised that he couldn't progress us any further.

 

And you haven't answered my question; has his height got anything to do with his capabilities?

 

Not only have I noticed that he has departed, but I also expressed an opinion on his successor. Or didn't you notice?

[shurlock]

The miracle that Nicola delivered is given immediate perspective with one word. . . NORWICH

 

Norwich went from bottom of league 1 to the prem in succesive seasons (sound familiar?) there 2nd season as we are now, they finished 11th. The parallels are frightening.... One MAIN difference, Norwich did it by spending alot LOT less than us

 

In addition Norwich didnt have the youth setup or star quality like Adam, Chambers, Shaw, Morgan, Kelvin etc already at the club

 

Some people think Nicola did the impossible and its a script straight from Disney You shouldnt "stamp on there dreams" and just let them keep the memories of the chosen one

 

Pal, you're an utter joke and seem to be going off the rails but for the record:

 

-Norwich have done an excellent job, though there are many more clubs that have tried and failed to get back up. Norwich are the exception not the rule. Part of your cherrypicker's charter.

 

-Norwich didnt face the same rebuild as us after being relegated to L1.

 

-When you net out Oxo, we actually spent very little on getting back to the Prem. Yes we were lucky to have assets like Oxo though they still needed to be stewarded and sold on. You make your own luck.

 

-Our real spending -and what sets us apart from Norwich- has come in the prem. Our champ promotion season was a textbook lesson in prudence and calculated risk.The higher you go, the harder it is eke out a marginal advantage unless you're willing to overspend like City or Chelsea. Let's not pretend that they haven't spent, something for which you already have egg on your face. The difference is that we're 13 points ahead of them (despite being a season behind), have a better squad in terms of youth and potential and have a distinct style which slso happens to be more attractive than Norwich's West Ham-lite, hand-to-mouth pragmatism.

 

-The contention is that Cortese was not a very good businessman. Even if we had all the advantages you say, nobody else took a punt. Indeed, the club is arguably worth more than £150m quoted given how notoriously difficult it is to value youth talent and the long-term contribution of the new academy which did more than anything to eat into KL's credit card. But even assuming Cortese spent £50m and KL sold the club for £150m tomorrow, that's a three-fold increase in capital value which you'll find difficult, if not impossible to realise elsewhere without loading up on risk and still falling short.

Edited 15 March, 2014 by shurlock

[CB Fry]

No. You said that he quit because he was ...a quitter. And you inferred that he realised that he couldn't progress us any further.

 

I called him a quitter because he quit. On my planet we call that a fact.

 

I inferred he didn't have skills to progress us further because he refused to accept a change in emphasis. Getting to the highest level involves facing onto adversity, change management and getting your head down and going again.

 

That's what top level sports and business people do.

 

That ain't what Cortese did. He was so driven to take Saints to the Champions league that he ran for the hills the minute he stopped getting his own way.

 

Or, if you will, he quit. He quit. He quitted. He quitified. He is a quitter.

[Glasgow_Saint]

Pal, you're an utter joke and seem to be going off the rails but for the record:

 

-Norwich have done an excellent job, though there are many more clubs that have tried and failed to get back up. Norwich are the exception not the rule. Part of your cherrypicker's charter.

 

-Norwich didnt face the same rebuild as us after being relegated to L1.

 

-When you net out Oxo, we actually spent very little on getting back to the Prem. Yes we were lucky to have assets like Oxo though they still needed to be stewarded and sold on. You make your own luck.

 

-Our real spending -and what sets us apart from Norwich- has come in the prem. Our champ promotion season was a textbook lesson in prudence and calculated risk.The higher you go, the harder it is eke out a marginal advantage unless you're willing to overspend like City or Chelsea. Let's not pretend that they haven't spent, something for which you already have egg on your face. The difference is that we're 13 points ahead of them (despite being a season behind), have a better squad in terms of youth and potential and have a distinct style which slso happens to be more attractive than Norwich's West Ham-lite, hand-to-mouth pragmatism.

 

-The contention is that Cortese was not a very good businessman. Even if we had all the advantages you say, nobody else took a punt. Indeed, the club is arguably worth more than £150m quoted given how notoriously difficult it is to value youth talent and the long-term contribution of the new academy which did more than anything to eat into KL's credit card. But even assuming Cortese spent £50m and KL sold the club for £150m tomorrow, that's a three-fold increase in value which you find, if not impossible to find elsewhere without loading up on risk and still falling short.

 

See post 408

[Chewy]

So, not one post on the match build up thread, but lots of petty point scoring posts about someone who left 2 months ago ... Gotta love this forum.

[shurlock]

See post 408

 

See my post -instead of sidestepping the argument.

 

Conveniently you work off gross rather than net spend - either you're entirely stupid or disingenuous (both possible).

 

That still means we've spent more than Norwich but that doesn't factor in appreciation and depreciation of players (if we sold Shaw tmrw for £30m, our spend would be more or less in line with theirs - forget the value of rest of the squad vis-a-vis theirs). Or that we are significantly outperforming them with greater potential to grow (and appreciate financially).

 

So congrats pal- you've basically taken a success story in Norwich to undermine your own point while helping me make my mine.

Edited 15 March, 2014 by shurlock

[Badger]

Ye olde boyz...so wise:D

 

You are very similar in many ways to my grandfather..

 

Off to the game in half an hour.......hoping for a 4-0 win pleeeese:)

 

OK then 5-0 Saints.....Some end product please.

 

COYS

 

Oi !!!

 

Not that bloody old, you cheeky "young" - probably about the same vintage as me though - bugger.

 

Anyway, hope you've finished your hoovering before leaving Devon.

 

Regards

[stu0x]

So, not one post on the match build up thread, but lots of petty point scoring posts about someone who left 2 months ago ... Gotta love this forum.

 

Quite. It's pretty sad really.

[Saint Charlie]

Quite clearly Cortese was an excellent Chairman, whose results (by which he should be judged) were excellent.

 

To suggest otherwise is baffling.

 

If Krueger does nearly as well then great. Good luck to him.

[Glasgow_Saint]

So, not one post on the match build up thread, but lots of petty point scoring posts about someone who left 2 months ago ... Gotta love this forum.

 

But the two are linked....

 

Because of our cup exit our season is over and nobody really cares that much about today's game

 

Nicola was part of that cup exit as he obviously agreed for mopo to skip press confernces and generally treat the cups with contempt

[Goatboy]

But the two are linked....

 

Because of our cup exit our season is over and nobody really cares that much about today's game

 

Nicola was part of that cup exit as he obviously agreed for mopo to skip press confernces and generally treat the cups with contempt

 

You may not care but don't presume to speak for me.

[CB Saint]

The miracle that Nicola delivered is given immediate perspective with one word. . . NORWICH

 

Norwich went from bottom of league 1 to the prem in succesive seasons (sound familiar?) there 2nd season as we are now, they finished 11th. The parallels are frightening.... One MAIN difference, Norwich did it by spending alot LOT less than us

 

In addition Norwich didnt have the youth setup or star quality like Adam, Chambers, Shaw, Morgan, Kelvin etc already at the club

 

Some people think Nicola did the impossible and its a script straight from Disney You shouldnt "stamp on there dreams" and just let them keep the memories of the chosen one

 

The lack of spending came home to roost today

[Toadhall Saint]

You may not care but don't presume to speak for me.

 

Why would he care eh? It's either in your blood or not.

[miserableoldgit]

But the two are linked....

 

Because of our cup exit our season is over and nobody really cares that much about today's game

 

Nicola was part of that cup exit as he obviously agreed for mopo to skip press confernces and generally treat the cups with contempt

 

Yeah, nearly 30,000 mugs there today who didn`t care. Can`t see anyone being there for the rest of the season.

[badgerx16]

Well he's 1 for 1 so far.

[The Kraken]

Yeah, nearly 30,000 mugs there today who didn`t care. Can`t see anyone being there for the rest of the season.

I must admit, I didn't really care all that much. Prefer we win, of course. But the intensity of early season has definitely gone.

[Toadhall Saint]

I must admit, I didn't really care all that much. Prefer we win, of course. But the intensity of early season has definitely gone.

 

Your getting to old ;-)

[The Kraken]

Your getting to old ;-)

I've been old for a while ;-)

[Toadhall Saint]

I've been old for a while ;-)

 

Ditto - nice though - none of that angst that appears on here.

[Monk]

He headed up the Sports division at Credit Suisse, and others, for 10 years before he came to Saints.

 

Thanks Hutch, interesting and never before seen this.

[Glasgow_Saint]

Yeah, nearly 30,000 mugs there today who didn`t care. Can`t see anyone being there for the rest of the season.

 

Mugs? No, not a word i would use to describe Saints fans.

 

I watched the game today, despite the result meaning very little.

 

I know a number of season ticket holders however who wouldnt have missed a game earlier this season... Now they are allowing other mates to use there ST in favour of a game of golf or weekend trip to europe.

 

We are fighting for mopos top 8 bonus now.... Sadly not much else

[Lallana's Left Peg]

We are fighting for mopos top 8 bonus now.... Sadly not much else

 

I know, what a bloody disgrace! Fighting to finish as high as we can in the Premier League, fighting for a record Premier League points haul in our history despite having one of the youngest teams, fighting to ensure we have a greater representation than we've ever had at a World Cup and that includes potentially 4+ players in the English squad. It's been awful and I regret every second of it - bring back last season when we were fighting relegation I say!

Edited 15 March, 2014 by Lallana's Left Peg

[The Kraken]

I know' date=' what a bloody disgrace! Fighting to finish as high as we can in the Premier League, fighting for a record Premier League points haul in our history despite having one of the youngest teams, fighting to ensure we have a greater representation than we've ever had at a World Club and that includes potentially 4+ players in the English squad. It's been awful and I regret every second of it - bring back last season when we were fighting relegation I say![/quote']

I know you're trying to prove a point against Glasgow. That's your lookout. But he's not wrong; all we have left to play for (realistically) is 8th or 9th.

 

No-one, apart from you, is saying that's a bad thing. In fact, it's a really brilliant thing. But, you know, some expectations change (well, they do unless you're so massively simple that you base each expectation level season by season).

So your last line, the "regret" thing, is a bit pathetic on your behalf. We've had a brilliant season, probably more than anyone could have predicted. As a club though, Glasgow'#s assessment was pretty spot on, IMO. Unless you could point out specifics where it wasn't?

[Goatboy]

I know' date=' what a bloody disgrace! Fighting to finish as high as we can in the Premier League, fighting for a record Premier League points haul in our history despite having one of the youngest teams, fighting to ensure we have a greater representation than we've ever had at a World Cup and that includes potentially 4+ players in the English squad. It's been awful and I regret every second of it - bring back last season when we were fighting relegation I say![/quote']

 

Yep. Season over. Can't be bothered. Don't really care. Mopo only in for his bonus. All leaving in the Summer blah blah cut myself die.

[badgerx16]

 

I watched the game today, despite the result meaning very little.

 

How many Newcastle fans will be at their next home game despite it 'meaning very little' ? Given how poorly, comparatively, their season has been, I surprised that ManUtd aren't playing at an empty OT. I'm a Saints SUPPORTER and every game matters - what about you ?

[Goatboy]

How many Newcastle fans will be at their next home game despite it 'meaning very little' ? Given how poorly, comparatively, their season has been, I surprised that ManUtd aren't playing at an empty OT. I'm a Saints SUPPORTER and every game matters - what about you ?

 

He is coming to the Everton game so he must be well into us really.

[Lallana's Left Peg]

I know you're trying to prove a point against Glasgow. That's your lookout. But he's not wrong; all we have left to play for (realistically) is 8th or 9th.

 

No-one, apart from you, is saying that's a bad thing. In fact, it's a really brilliant thing. But, you know, some expectations change (well, they do unless you're so massively simple that you base each expectation level season by season).

So your last line, the "regret" thing, is a bit pathetic on your behalf. We've had a brilliant season, probably more than anyone could have predicted. As a club though, Glasgow'#s assessment was pretty spot on, IMO. Unless you could point out specifics where it wasn't?

 

It's what is left to play for on the face of it but there is far more to it than that. As a club we're fighting for a record points haul - worth going for, no? As a club the players are fighting to go to the World Cup - more than worth their effort, no? But even then I don't have an issue with the principle that realistically 8th or 9th is where we'll finish when it is all said and done. I do have an issue with the notion of 'sadly' added to the end of it. Is it so sad? Is there a negative to be taken from it at all?

 

8th would be a fantastic season on the face of it, and if you also look under the covers to see the football we've played and the progress of the players I can't really find a negative in it that wouldn't be entirely understandable (e.g like squad depth being an issue - well we knew that at the start of the season so for me that is not an issue with this season).

[trousers]

Chomp. Chomp. Chomp

[Glasgow_Saint]

How many Newcastle fans will be at their next home game despite it 'meaning very little' ? Given how poorly, comparatively, their season has been, I surprised that ManUtd aren't playing at an empty OT. I'm a Saints SUPPORTER and every game matters - what about you ?

 

Which game were you more excited about? Todays game? Or Arsenal away when we could have gone top?

 

Thats my point....

[Turkish]

It's what is left to play for on the face of it but there is far more to it than that. As a club we're fighting for a record points haul - worth going for, no? As a club the players are fighting to go to the World Cup - more than worth their effort, no? But even then I don't have an issue with the principle that realistically 8th or 9th is where we'll finish when it is all said and done. I do have an issue with the notion of 'sadly' added to the end of it. Is it so sad? Is there a negative to be taken from it at all?

 

8th would be a fantastic season on the face of it, and if you also look under the covers to see the football we've played and the progress of the players I can't really find a negative in it that wouldn't be entirely understandable (e.g like squad depth being an issue - well we knew that at the start of the season so for me that is not an issue with this season).

 

Record points haul? We won't get 78 or more, which would beat our current top flight record of 77.

[Lallana's Left Peg]

Record points haul? We won't get 78, which is out current top flight record I believe.

 

I said Premier League in my original post

[Toadhall Saint]

Chomp. Chomp. Chomp

 

Makes me laugh every time

[Turkish]

I said Premier League in my original post

 

What happened to the 106 years of our history before that?

[Glasgow_Saint]

You know your arguement is weak when you start talking about being excited by potential record points totals

[sotonist]

On the comparison between our rise and that of norwich, Norwich got a remarkable manager, weren't hobbled by a points penalty in their first season, hoovered up most of the good talent around them on their way up and didn't have to find another manager until they got to the top division.

 

They haven't been quite so lucky with their latest choice. Cortese managed to keep momentum going despite having to change the manager a couple of times. Les Reed probably has something to do with it.

[The Kraken]

It's what is left to play for on the face of it but there is far more to it than that. As a club we're fighting for a record points haul - worth going for, no? As a club the players are fighting to go to the World Cup - more than worth their effort, no? But even then I don't have an issue with the principle that realistically 8th or 9th is where we'll finish when it is all said and done. I do have an issue with the notion of 'sadly' added to the end of it. Is it so sad? Is there a negative to be taken from it at all?

 

Depend on your point of view. I spent this afternoon watching the game with three pals who support other teams; they all expressed surprise that we'd rolled over against Sunderland. Entirely their own opinion. Others defend the club against it, I've got my own opinion, but that's just some other views.

 

8th would be a fantastic season on the face of it' date=' and if you also look under the covers to see the football we've played and the progress of the players I can't really find a negative in it that wouldn't be entirely understandable (e.g like squad depth being an issue - well we knew that at the start of the season so for me that is not an issue with this season).[/quote']

This season has surpassed my expectations by a long way. It's been brilliant. But those expectations were set at the start of the season, so you expectations move on. At least, mine do. Wherever we finish this year is going to be better than I thought at the start of the season ( I predicted 11th). That doesn't stop me thinking that, despite all that, we missed a trick and that "sadly all we've got is a fight for 8th" isn't an unreasonable statement.

[Lallana's Left Peg]

What happened to the 106 years of our history before that?

 

Absolutely nothing

 

You don't think trying to finish with a record points total in our history in the Premier League is worth going for? Same as league position?

[Frank's cousin]

We buy two seven or eight million pound rated players and neither of which will improve the first team?

 

Are you serious?

 

On planet earth, Nathaniel Clyne cost us £2m and improved the first team, Lovren cost us £8.5 - £500k over, granted - and he improved the first team. Boruc cost us significantly less than seven million. Seven million less in fact. And we all know how much the likes of Fonte and Lambert cost and they are established Prem players.

 

And you are now turning your nose up at 12-15th place finishes in the Premier League, like that is somehow beneath us? And sneering at us spending paltry eight million pounds on players? What club do you think you support? Seriously - who do you think we are?

 

Difficult to come to any other conclusion other than you are mental.

 

It's all jolly sweet that you swallowed all the fairy tales our little sharp suited Italian Wizard of Oz spoonfed to his media chums in the Daily Mail and Sky Sports News. But we know now that was all just emotional blackmail to maintain control and get his hands on more of the dead guy's cash. You fell for it. More fool you. Your hero with all of his "vision" of the "possible" was to arrogant to have the "vision" that it was perfectly "possible" that his employers wouldn't let him just do what the hell he liked, with attendances, corporate income and sponsorships falling all around him. He did an exceptional job with managerial/coaching choices, player recruitment and the academy. But the rest left a lot to be desired.

 

Anyway, he's gone, gone, gone. You're going to have to support a different club to satisfy your desperate need for Champions League football and to rise above the pitiful situation of Saints scrimping to buy players for meagre amounts like eight million pounds. Oh, the shame of it.

 

I should behave and ignore, but no sweat, will indulge you... So let's take you comments in turn if only to demonstrate you failed to understand the points made....

 

1. Re. Improving the quality of the side with 2-7 mil players.... Of you can , if the players you are replacing are worse. We replaced Richardson, hooiveld, Davis etc. all the players you mention replaced non prem standard players who were all rated at less than 1mil... Please provide me with a name or two, were a 30mil+ rated player has been replaced by one rather under 10 mil who is better and has thus meant we don't miss the talent that has gone..sensible mind, not wher clubs have paid stupid money for rubbish or where they have just failed to settle...

 

2. Re. Turning my nose up at 12-15th in the prem. Yep got me on that one... Sorry but being in the prem without ever having a chance to be better than 12-15th is not appealing. Goes against the principles of sporting competition, if you simply accept this as the best you can hope for. If this is the sum if our ambition, seriously what is the point.... We don't know whether, Krugs ans KL want more than this, I hope they do, and you don't need to sling 100s of millions at it to achieve more. You just need to recognise when we are blessed with a number of big talented players coming through at the same time and fight tooth and nail to keep them... For a few seasons at least... Think Bayer Leverkusen... CL final when they at a 22k capacity, but kept a crop of talent together until it was 22-23, not sold at 17-18...

 

3. Re. Being 'mental' - well if wanting more than accepting that we can never compete is mental, then yes I am completely ****ing crazy. And glad I have higher standards of expectation and am not content to with also rans...

 

4. Re. Getting his hands on dead guys cash.... That is really low even by your standards... They were friends, close friends and Marcus trusted him. I suspect NC just wanted to deliver on Marcus's dream with funds Marcus probably intended to spend... How does spending on the the academy after Marcus's death, equate with your thinking? If it was ego and success by spending a 'dead guys cash' Why bother with 30 mil on the academy? Jus spend it on players and go for it surely.... Seriously, he 'spending a dead guys cash' says more about what a twisted fe key you are than any of your posts. Whatever you think of me, is irrelevant, but that is insulting to both NC, and Marcus, with the faith he had in him....

 

5. Re supporting someone else for CL football..... Perhaps the best illustration yet of how you just don't get it, or at best refuse to accept it, in an effort to WUM. It's not about only wanting to support is we get CL football. It's about wanting yo see the club have aspirations beyond the glass chilling so many seem happy to accept. It's about how hard someone tries, not a outs whether we achieve it or not... But the ambition needs to be backed with a genuine fight... If it is we can be proud of our clubs whatever our position or outcome. If you don't get that, you probably never will, as you seem to be unable to see past you dislike for me and actually comment on the points raised.

 

i genuinely hope Krugs and KL turn out to be the best we nve ever had... There is no love in for NC, don't know the bloke, so can't comment, and given his rep, I suspect, KL and Krugs would be more pleasant company for dinner or pint. But I don't need nice people running the club I support. I need bastards who get things done and deliver. Whilst he was her NC did. I hope Krugs has enough of the bastard in him to tell other clubs that Shaw and Lallana are going nowhere..... To me that is not too much to expect.

[Turkish]

Absolutely nothing

 

You don't think trying to finish with a record points total in our history in the Premier League is worth going for? Same as league position?

 

No, because football existed before 1992 so it isn't record points total.

 

8th place would be nice and an excellent achievement and we are bang on to finish where I predicted we would do at the star of the season and throughout it, even when some helmets were adamant we would finish in at least the top 6 and probably top 4.

[The Kraken]

...

[Glasgow_Saint]

Absolutely nothing

 

You don't think trying to finish with a record points total in our history in the Premier League is worth going for? Same as league position?

 

Our best season in the prem was under WGS. 8th place and a cup final on a shoestring budget.

 

Mopo isnt going to beat that this season and points tally means very little when you just finish 8th or 9th

 

Nobody is going to talk about the miracle if 2013-14 when we got x points against all the odds

[Lallana's Left Peg]

Depend on your point of view. I spent this afternoon watching the game with three pals who support other teams; they all expressed surprise that we'd rolled over against Sunderland. Entirely their own opinion. Others defend the club against it, I've got my own opinion, but that's just some other views.

 

 

This season has surpassed my expectations by a long way. It's been brilliant. But those expectations were set at the start of the season, so you expectations move on. At least, mine do. Wherever we finish this year is going to be better than I thought at the start of the season ( I predicted 11th). That doesn't stop me thinking that, despite all that, we missed a trick and that "sadly all we've got is a fight for 8th" isn't an unreasonable statement.

 

I understand your perspective about expectations changing and I definitely thought the club was acting a little bit silly when it was talking about Champions League but given our relatively easy start to the season and the fixtures to come in the winter I think we all knew that come January that is probably a fair representation of where we'd be, and I think that has proven to be true. I don't think the start we made to the season can be held against the club at all as a 'this is the standard that we must assume is the norm' way.

 

There is no big prize for us to fight for, there is nothing tangible left to achieve this season, but I still think there are small things that the club will want to achieve which means on the pitch we'll get nothing but 100% effort. Maybe it isn't as exciting for the fans, but when the season goes in the record books it would be nice to have a few footnotes of what has been achieved this season - be it equalling (or bettering) our best ever Premier League finish and / or points total, or sending a record number of players to the World Cup etc. But I'll stand by my point that there is nothing sad about this season.

[sotonist]

1. Re. Improving the quality of the side with 2-7 mil players.... Of you can ' date=' if the players you are replacing are worse. We replaced Richardson, hooiveld, Davis etc. all the players you mention replaced non prem standard players who were all rated at less than 1mil... Please provide me with a name or two, were a 30mil+ rated player has been replaced by one rather under 10 mil who is better and has thus meant we don't miss the talent that has gone..sensible mind, not wher clubs have paid stupid money for rubbish or where they have just failed to settle...[/quote']

if Shaw were Clyne's age we wouldn't be talking about £30m. We can replace current ability with players with less potential for significantly less money, while hopefully bringing the next shaw through the academy in time for us to have developed a squad capable of challenging for european football.

[Lallana's Left Peg]

Our best season in the prem was under WGS. 8th place and a cup final on a shoestring budget.

 

Mopo isnt going to beat that this season and points tally means very little when you just finish 8th or 9th

 

Nobody is going to talk about the miracle if 2013-14 when we got x points against all the odds

 

As a fan yes, but the club I think still has plenty to fight for - and I think we'll see that reflected in the last set of games. Most of all with the players we have fighting for World Cup spots it bodes well for effort and potential for good results.

[badgerx16]

Which game were you more excited about? Todays game? Or Arsenal away when we could have gone top?

 

Thats my point....

Well it's a weak point - there is probably more excitment at the prospect of testing ourselves against the 'big boys', and possibly a degree of complacency in the build up to matches like today's, but to think that such a game doesn't matter is bull - why was I on the edge of my seat when it had gone to 3-2, Lovren had hobbled off to leave us a man short, and they got their long throw opportunity with 1 minute of added time to go ?

[The Kraken]

I understand your perspective about expectations changing and I definitely thought the club was acting a little bit silly when it was talking about Champions League but given our relatively easy start to the season and the fixtures to come in the winter I think we all knew that come January that is probably a fair representation of where we'd be, and I think that has proven to be true. I don't think the start we made to the season can be held against the club at all as a 'this is the standard that we must assume is the norm' way.

 

There is no big prize for us to fight for, there is nothing tangible left to achieve this season, but I still think there are small things that the club will want to achieve which means on the pitch we'll get nothing but 100% effort. Maybe it isn't as exciting for the fans, but when the season goes in the record books it would be nice to have a few footnotes of what has been achieved this season - be it equalling (or bettering) our best ever Premier League finish and / or points total, or sending a record number of players to the World Cup etc. But I'll stand by my point that there is nothing sad about this season.

Indeed, and I'll stand by the opinion that anyone who says there is something "sad" about our season needs their head examined. I don't want to be an apologist for our Glasgow based chum, but I didn't read his comment as that. I read is as similar to mine; we've over-achieved to expectations in the league and achieved a great season in that regard. But we had a huge chance to do something more and downgraded it. So, sadly, we do "just" have the league placing to go for.

 

"Sad"? No, of course not. But, relative to what we might have done, then yes, "sadly" it was an opportunity that got past us. IMO, of course.

 

BTW: It's good to discuss a difference of opinion with someone who respects the other point of view without resorting to terms such as "troll". I enjoy discussion with people who are intelligent but share other points of view. i.e. you, a rarer breed on here.