Glasgow_Saint Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 From SRL "We aimed for fourth this season and people laughed at us, but they didn't laugh at us straight away when we were second, they waited until we dropped off a bit," he told http://www.saintsfc.co.uk. "Our desire is to get into the top four and that's the way the club has been run in the past four years and that's the vision the players have and it's the one the club has, so for me it's what the players still want going forward and it's what we're expecting to be honest. http://sport.bt.com/sportfootball/football/lambert-saints-targeting-top-four-S11363888011224? http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2014/03/26/4711064/-? http://www.itv.com/sport/football/article/2014-03-26/rickie-lambert-expects-southampton-to-be-in-the-premier-leagues-top-four-soon/? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kraken Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 A bit of a pie in the sky aim. But if it keeps some/all of our players here then delude me up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lallana's Left Peg Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 Don't mind a bit of ambition but with the public comments the club does set itself up for a fall. Also could be a bit awkward with the summer transfer window coming up... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasgow_Saint Posted 26 March, 2014 Author Share Posted 26 March, 2014 Agreed. Cant knock the ambition, but............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 The cult of cortese abides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank's cousin Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 A bit of a pie in the sky aim. But if it keeps some/all of our players here then delude me up. Delusion implies those who strive for such lofty heights have lost all sense of the extreme difficulty of achieving it.... That's where you, GS and Turks, hypo etc, seem to miss the point... No one is under any delusion. It's why Cortese asked How? Because we can't do it by spending our way there.... Is there another way? Some believe there is, even if the odds are stacked against it... All good players that you would need to buy begin careers some where... So I guess the club believe they just need to get a few decent crop over successive years and KEEP that talent together. That is is the biggest challenge... And quite rightly we would be extremely lucky of we don't lose more than 1or 2 after this season.... So very slim chance of ever being able to keep the best for long enough to see what could happen... I'll say it again - my biggest diss ointment about NC leaving, is that I believe our chances of keeping the talent for a little bit longer were higher under him... I just hope I am proven wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shirleysfc Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 Agreed. Cant knock the ambition, but............. But what? The other day you were banging on about how ambitious you are - what's your problem now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 Says to me the ambition is still there, good sign IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank's cousin Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 But what? The other day you were banging on about how ambitious you are - what's your problem now? GS gets all worked up if your stated ambition appears to be what the 'establishment' considers to be lacking in realism.... He worries himself that some might be laughing at us, as his ego is so fragile.... What he fails to understand is really a very simple concept. The club has shown that over the last 4 years, there was an aspiration to challenge the expectations - and to me - having that attitude is never a bad thing no matter how 'realistic' or otherwise it may be... GS et al, seem unable to appreciate that as a positive concept or attitude, or that it contributes to the positive feeling within the club.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_Tony Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 Never accept 2nd best, isn't that right Glasgow? Aiming for 4th shows a real lack of ambition, especially for a side with a lot of players linked to the top sides Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasgow_Saint Posted 26 March, 2014 Author Share Posted 26 March, 2014 It's why Cortese asked How? Because we can't do it by spending our way there.... Is there another way? Some believe there is when did Nicola ever ask how? The guy thought he knew it all.... Doubt he's ever asked how on anything!! You make us sound like a club trying to do things the organic way, trying to find the magical short cut to success 'against all the odds' sorry to break the dream but the reality is weve spent loads and if we ever have a chance of top 4 well need to spend a shed load more. The secret to success is £££££, theres no magic beans and Nicola was never looking to do things different or ask "how" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 (edited) Poor old deluded, arrogant, naive, moronic, lol Rickie Lambert. Take your pick from the choice adjectives used here to describe talk of CL football. Edited 26 March, 2014 by shurlock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Man Do Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 Glasgow if you know all the answers why bother asking the questions? You sneer at every suggestion of aiming above our "natural"level yet surely that's part of being a professional sports team? If we didn't aim to be top of every league we were in whats the point of taking part?! Let's hope we do seriously try and make the top four and if it does happen by being an organically grown team all the better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank's cousin Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 when did Nicola ever ask how? The guy thought he knew it all.... Doubt he's ever asked how on anything!! You make us sound like a club trying to do things the organic way, trying to find the magical short cut to success 'against all the odds' sorry to break the dream but the reality is weve spent loads and if we ever have a chance of top 4 well need to spend a shed load more. The secret to success is £££££, theres no magic beans and Nicola was never looking to do things different or ask "how" you really a brain short to **** with me matey boy... LOL . It's like whoosh over your head - you seem to be getting all wound up which is funny.... The comedy laughing icons simply don't mask the stupidity of your response - 'trying to find a magical short cut to success' - do you really think folk can't se you making up total ****** to try and make a point? Do I really need to point out that never has anyone every suggested short cuts, easy routes, or your fantasy magic.... It really is quite simple- we wanted to have a side with 50% home grown. If you get lucky, coach well and have drops of talent that stays, who knows what can happen.... That was the 'how'. You seem to think anyone gives a sh it about you opinion on how realistic or otherwise that may be... Trust me we know your 'opinion' and no one does . This is about positive attitudes to challenging expectation... It's called aspiration. You should try and add some to your life. Might get you to put on some trousers and get out from that computer and enjoy life a bit... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Saint Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 Glasgow if you know all the answers why bother asking the questions? You sneer at every suggestion of aiming above our "natural"level yet surely that's part of being a professional sports team? If we didn't aim to be top of every league we were in whats the point of taking part?! Let's hope we do seriously try and make the top four and if it does happen by being an organically grown team all the better! To be fair to GS, he has stated recently that he does not settle for second best. Hence why he highlights the mopo myth and the top ten win ratio and the last eighteen games Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St_Tel49 Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 when did Nicola ever ask how? The guy thought he knew it all.... Doubt he's ever asked how on anything!! You make us sound like a club trying to do things the organic way, trying to find the magical short cut to success 'against all the odds' sorry to break the dream but the reality is weve spent loads and if we ever have a chance of top 4 well need to spend a shed load more. The secret to success is £££££, theres no magic beans and Nicola was never looking to do things different or ask "how" There's no doubt that money helps but it is not a guarantee either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Sanchez Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 Sorry Rickie I did, it was bull****, I aimed for the stars but ended up in the local........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Sanchez Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 There's no doubt that money helps but it is not a guarantee either. How has money not helped City and Chelsea? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Sanchez Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 (edited) you really a brain short to **** with me matey boy... LOL . It's like whoosh over your head - you seem to be getting all wound up which is funny.... The comedy laughing icons simply don't mask the stupidity of your response - 'trying to find a magical short cut to success' - do you really think folk can't se you making up total ****** to try and make a point? Do I really need to point out that never has anyone every suggested short cuts' date=' easy routes, or your fantasy magic.... It really is quite simple- we wanted to have a side with 50% home grown. If you get lucky, coach well and have drops of talent that stays, who knows what can happen.... That was the 'how'. You seem to think anyone gives a sh it about you opinion on how realistic or otherwise that may be... Trust me we know your 'opinion' and no one does . This is about positive attitudes to challenging expectation... It's called aspiration. You should try and add some to your life. Might get you to put on some trousers and get out from that computer and enjoy life a bit...[/quote'] Money takes luck out of success my boy. Edited 26 March, 2014 by Barry Sanchez Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 Chomp. Chomp. Chomp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Sanchez Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 Glasgow if you know all the answers why bother asking the questions? You sneer at every suggestion of aiming above our "natural"level yet surely that's part of being a professional sports team? If we didn't aim to be top of every league we were in whats the point of taking part?! Let's hope we do seriously try and make the top four and if it does happen by being an organically grown team all the better! How do we realistically achieve it? Thats all the realists ask and it has never in over 17 months of me being on here been answered, load of cobblers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint si Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 when did Nicola ever ask how? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2515877/Southampton-masterplan-win-Premier-League.html A video presentation, not surprisingly titled The Southampton Way... ... At the end of the film, a message runs across the foot of the screen asking not ‘if’ Southampton can win the Premier League, but ‘how’. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 Money takes luck out of success my boy. Except the cup... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonist Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 Someone should probably tell Montpellier they didn't win the Ligue 1 a couple of seasons ago because no money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickG Posted 26 March, 2014 Share Posted 26 March, 2014 How do we realistically achieve it? Thats all the realists ask and it has never in over 17 months of me being on here been answered, load of cobblers. If you were told a few years ago that in October 2013 we would (for short while!) Sit 2nd - you would have said that was totally unrealistic. Its hard to imagine breaking into top 4 but its not impossible. You ask how, sounds glib but answer is by winning more games. What I mean is this bizarre subjective view of big clubs, turnover, history, crowd size etc are not directly relevant its getting team that wins. A good manager, keeping our young stars, a few additions could get us closer. We have done well but haven't made top 4 as our team are young / inexperienced, we are still new and haven't spent money to catch up with other teams. Current cost of squads in millions Man C, Man U and Chelsea all over £300. Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool all around £200. Everton, Newcastle, Villa all around £90. Sunderland £80. Saints & Stoke £70 Think agents fees quite telling as many signings Bosman or undisclosed. Even with our 'bid' signings we are 4th lowest. All goes to show we are already doing well and punching above our weight. Are Wanyama, Morgan, Jayrod, Shaw, Chambers all worth £20m? We can get expensive players the cheap way! Top 4 unlikely but possible. Think we maybe pleasantly surprised in the summer! Annual improvement in points total will be good then see where we end up? Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 If you were told a few years ago that in October 2013 we would (for short while!) Sit 2nd - you would have said that was totally unrealistic. Its hard to imagine breaking into top 4 but its not impossible. You ask how, sounds glib but answer is by winning more games. What I mean is this bizarre subjective view of big clubs, turnover, history, crowd size etc are not directly relevant its getting team that wins. A good manager, keeping our young stars, a few additions could get us closer. We have done well but haven't made top 4 as our team are young / inexperienced, we are still new and haven't spent money to catch up with other teams. Current cost of squads in millions Man C, Man U and Chelsea all over £300. Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool all around £200. Everton, Newcastle, Villa all around £90. Sunderland £80. Saints & Stoke £70 Think agents fees quite telling as many signings Bosman or undisclosed. Even with our 'bid' signings we are 4th lowest. All goes to show we are already doing well and punching above our weight. Are Wanyama, Morgan, Jayrod, Shaw, Chambers all worth £20m? We can get expensive players the cheap way! Top 4 unlikely but possible. Think we maybe pleasantly surprised in the summer! Annual improvement in points total will be good then see where we end up? Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk Yes, it is possible, it will be possible for any team playing in the Premier League next season, but it is very, very unlikely and will hold little relevance to our season, unless we spend vast sums of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 If you were told a few years ago that in October 2013 we would (for short while!) Sit 2nd - you would have said that was totally unrealistic. Its hard to imagine breaking into top 4 but its not impossible. You ask how, sounds glib but answer is by winning more games. What I mean is this bizarre subjective view of big clubs, turnover, history, crowd size etc are not directly relevant its getting team that wins. A good manager, keeping our young stars, a few additions could get us closer. We have done well but haven't made top 4 as our team are young / inexperienced, we are still new and haven't spent money to catch up with other teams. Current cost of squads in millions Man C, Man U and Chelsea all over £300. Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool all around £200. Everton, Newcastle, Villa all around £90. Sunderland £80. Saints & Stoke £70 Think agents fees quite telling as many signings Bosman or undisclosed. Even with our 'bid' signings we are 4th lowest. All goes to show we are already doing well and punching above our weight. Are Wanyama, Morgan, Jayrod, Shaw, Chambers all worth £20m? We can get expensive players the cheap way! Top 4 unlikely but possible. Think we maybe pleasantly surprised in the summer! Annual improvement in points total will be good then see where we end up? Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk Anyone thinks it is "totally unrealistic" for Saints (or any prem club) to be second in October is an idiot. We were fourth at Christmas on the Lowe plan. Any Prem team with a fair wind could do that, last year WBA were up there. Next season it could be Newcastle again, or Villa might click or Burnley could do little surprise package routine. But October flurries are pretty meaningless: we aren't second now. Rickie can say what he likes. We aren't going into the CL and that's fine with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farawaysaint Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 Half our team is linked to top 4 sides, maybe that means half our team is top 4 standard? Just a thought? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodles34 Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 How do we realistically achieve it? Thats all the realists ask and it has never in over 17 months of me being on here been answered, load of cobblers. By winning own six more games than what we have done so already. Not that far away but I still wouldn't want to swim it. The real acid test is next season, will we push on and consolidate a top ten finish, or will we do a WBA/Swansea and see a decent season followed by a relegation battle? That's when we know how far we have really come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearsy Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 By winning own six more games than what we have done so already. i dunno if anyone has ever mentioned it but we've only won ONE game against top ten sides this season, if we had won six or whatever like we did last season, we'd be almost there yo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasgow_Saint Posted 27 March, 2014 Author Share Posted 27 March, 2014 Half our team is linked to top 4 sides, maybe that means half our team is top 4 standard? Just a thought? Collectively not quite, but we should have given Everton better competition for 6th..... Thats is for sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewy Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 So losing to spurs and being 9th is unacceptable, but top 4 is a ridiculous pipe dream? We are therefore only ever allowed to finish 5th - 8th, is that it? Oh, and win a cup, obviously. So long as I know what the expectations are ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 Munch. Munch. Munch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dronskisaint Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 But what? The other day you were banging on about how ambitious you are - what's your problem now? Dissociative identity disorder (DID), previously known as multiple personality disorder (MPD),[1] is a mental disorder on the dissociative spectrum characterized by at least two distinct and relatively enduring identities or dissociated personality states that alternately control a person's behavior, and is accompanied by memory impairment for important information not explained by ordinary forgetfulness.....etc etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danner Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 Need to spend best part of 100m to get anywhere near top 4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_Tony Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 Sadly in this day and age it does simply just come down to money. Ok, Rickie saying top 4 as an aim is a bit stupid, but then so is trying to claim we will make a world beating side from a team full of academy products. I think a figure of £100 million would only be enough to make us top 6 candidates. £200 million and only then would we be buying players good enough to challenge at the top. That's just the way it is. I think it's fair to say we're all in the dark over the owner and Chairman's plans for the summer, it is difficult to tell whether or not we will be splashing the cash. Add in the uncertainty of several of our best players staying or leaving, and things really could go either way. We might push on, but more likely go the same way that Swansea have this season. I'd be disappointed if we don't invest heavily though, we should get around £25-£30 million to Shaw who I think is a certainty to leave, plus £10 million for Osvaldo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom28 Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 Agreed. Cant knock the ambition, but............. I have finished your sentence for you... "Can't knock the ambition, but....I do so anyway, on a regular basis". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Wayman Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 Half our team is linked to top 4 sides, maybe that means half our team is top 4 standard? Just a thought? Not a very deep thought 'though. We have five players who might be good enough for top 4 status whereas the top 4 clubs have 25 each. It's the lack of quality in depth that has shifted us this season and will continue to do so even if none of our kids leave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerx16 Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 Munch. Munch. Munch The amount of munching you are doing on here recently, I hope you've upped your exercise regime to compensate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verbal Kint Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 I don't see the obsession with putting a set figure of money on it. We could spend 200 million badly this summer and go backwards, we could spend 10 million and improve. To finish in the top 4 we probably need 4 or 5 new players and not to lose anybody. How much those 4 or 5 players would cost will depend on how shrewd we are and how good our scouting system is. Everton are right in the mix for 4th spot now. How much better is their squad than ours in all honesty? We spent 15 million on Osvaldo and he was absolutely hopeless. We spent 12.5 million on Wanyama which looks like it was too much at the moment (he's still young i know). Swansea got Michu for 2 million. We need to start spending money more productively, not just blindly spend more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 The amount of munching you are doing on here recently, I hope you've upped your exercise regime to compensate. Its not me doing the munching and chomping per se. Glasgow has employed me as sound effects man for his threads. Nibble. Nibble. Nibble Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasgow_Saint Posted 27 March, 2014 Author Share Posted 27 March, 2014 Its not me doing the munching and chomping per se. Glasgow has employed me as sound effects man for his threads. Nibble. Nibble. Nibble You should try contributing to a thread now and again........ We dont tend to hear much about your opinion on anything? 35,000 posts and you've never really said much Its ok to have an opinion T-dawg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 #textbook Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avenue Saint Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 Not beyond realms of possibility. Cinsidering how we have performed before injuries 4 key additions, 1 final aignificant outlay and I think we could seriously consider it! Now of course we would have to invest. In my book, we need: 1) gk 2) cb 3) att wide mid 4) Cf Go for schmeichal: £10m? Shawcross: £10m? Dyer: £8m? Lukaku: £17m? Claim £15/16m from hooiveld (£1m) and lukaku and net spend considering improved tv money at £30m (like last summer) and I genuinely belueve we will have a squad competing for honours let alone top 4! Its a big if but imagine the potential squad: Schmeichel Boruc Gazza Clyne Chambers Lovren Shawcross Fonte Yoshida Shaw Targett Schneiderlin Wanyama Cork Reed Lallana Rodriguez Dyer Jwp Ramirez Davis Lukaku Lambert Gallagher Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Sanchez Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 Not beyond realms of possibility. Cinsidering how we have performed before injuries 4 key additions, 1 final aignificant outlay and I think we could seriously consider it! Now of course we would have to invest. In my book, we need: 1) gk 2) cb 3) att wide mid 4) Cf Go for schmeichal: £10m? Shawcross: £10m? Dyer: £8m? Lukaku: £17m? Claim £15/16m from hooiveld (£1m) and lukaku and net spend considering improved tv money at £30m (like last summer) and I genuinely belueve we will have a squad competing for honours let alone top 4! Its a big if but imagine the potential squad: Schmeichel Boruc Gazza Clyne Chambers Lovren Shawcross Fonte Yoshida Shaw Targett Schneiderlin Wanyama Cork Reed Lallana Rodriguez Dyer Jwp Ramirez Davis Lukaku Lambert Gallagher Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk Thats lovely but do you think we will spend that amount? I dont for a second. Why would Schmeichel come here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedArmy Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 Maybe he should've shown the same ambition towards the fa cup and he might not have missed from a yard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALWAYS_SFC Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 Not a very deep thought 'though. We have five players who might be good enough for top 4 status whereas the top 4 clubs have 25 each. It's the lack of quality in depth that has shifted us this season and will continue to do so even if none of our kids leave. Really??...You will be pushing it Please list them here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unbelievable Jeff Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 Another comedy thread from GS, in his usual contradictory style! Glasgow_Saint - The gift that keeps giving. :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintadjg Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 I'd rather our players ,manager & CEO were talking of reaching the CL than aiming for mid table mediocrity.Aim high even if we don't achieve it still set your sights for the top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildsaint Posted 27 March, 2014 Share Posted 27 March, 2014 We are 18 points from a CL place. so the how is " How do we convert 10 defeats or 9 Draws into 18 points (additional 48 available)?" If we kept all of our players in the close season and added some of the realistic options above could we start reducing this number of points required? Unlikely but not impossible maybe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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