Saint_Tony Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 Not getting carried away but looking at recent results and watching the two derby games today, are the top 6 that far ahead of us? For me, Chelsea will walk the league with Man City in 2nd. But are the likes of Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal that much better than us? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avenue Saint Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 Arsenal, yes. The rest up for debate. Utd will buy defender(s) in january, but before then if we can build up a head of steam, then who knows! Its a game of small margins, and our real worry is Forster. If he gets injured, that could spell trouble! Up tge Saints Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 I don't think we're that far away from Everton if I'm honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JxgrSaint Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 With a bit of luck we could be 6th or 7th realistically, especially if J Rod comes back strong in the New Year. But that depends how we handle the run of really tough games coming up, if we beat United twice as we play them before they can spunk another couple of hundred million on the defenders they should've bought in the first place then we've got a good chance of finishing above them at least... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farawaysaint Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 Liverpool probably, Spurs have more depth but we have a relatively similar first 11 I feel and Arsenal yes, just yes. Sanchez, Ozil and Ramsey own our midfield in an attacking sense (though Morgs and Wanyama trump whatever meagre offerings Arsenal have in the DM position). Welbeck looks quite dangerous up front and then they have Giroud and Podolski (who is a very clinical finisher despite his failings) who trump Jay, Pelle and Long. Defensively, our keepers are pretty comparable I think but our back four are probably better than Arsenal's especially the wing-backs (although I'm sure I'm going to get stomped on for saying that). Our rivals are Swansea, Hull, Villa and perhaps Everton for the best of the rest accolade again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Le God Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 Of the 7 teams that finished above us last season, I think we have a reasonable chance of finishing above Everton and Spurs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simo Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 We have no rivals or peers we will defeat all before us we are Saints kings of England! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norwaysaint Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 Difficult to say how it'll go. Everybody agreed that last season United were rubbish, utterly hopeless, laughably bad and unusually so. They still finished ahead of us in a season where we were amazing, surprisingly strong and skillful. Top teams doing badly still stand a good chance of getting above us while we're doing well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_emu Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 First XI on paper - 6th (Behind Chelski, Citeh, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs) First XI based on the collective and current form - 4th (Behind Chelski, Citeh and Arsenal) Overall squad depth - somewhat difficult and irrelevant to gauge as our competitors need the greater depth for the demands of Europe but a lot of them are already struggling and getting exposed with injuries. Next week will be the real acid test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
broken spoke Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 opps wrong thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Professor Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 Until we play the rest of the games against last season's top 6, having only played the away game to Liverpool so far, it really is premature to start thinking of a top six finish. If anything, the QPR game showed how close to us the clubs are that we would regard as destined for the bottom half of the table. Our rivals are good and we can only keep winning if we not only continue to make the chances, but take them as well. This is a very hard league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivangolac Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 About 8th or 9th in Div 4 ....... they're pretty **** really Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncanRG Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 Liverpool and Arsenal are much better than us. We don't really know who our rivals are yet but at the moment it's looking like Swansea, Everton and Spurs could be the main ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Charlie Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 One injury to either Forster or Pelle and things would look quite different for us. That, in a nutshell is the main difference between us and some of the teams like Spurs or Everton. First XI there is little difference but our squad is not as deep in some key positions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simo Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 Liverpool and Arsenal are much better than us. We don't really know who our rivals are yet but at the moment it's looking like Swansea, Everton and Spurs could be the main ones. Yet we have played them both and looked the better team!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simo Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 One injury to either Forster or Pelle and things would look quite different for us. That, in a nutshell is the main difference between us and some of the teams like Spurs or Everton. First XI there is little difference but our squad is not as deep in some key positions. Spuds and Everton have better back up than us? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Chalet Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 One injury to either Forster or Pelle and things would look quite different for us. That, in a nutshell is the main difference between us and some of the teams like Spurs or Everton. First XI there is little difference but our squad is not as deep in some key positions. Goalkeeper fair enough. City and Chelsea would look very different without Aguero or Costa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 Goalkeeper fair enough. City and Chelsea would look very different without Aguero or Costa. Exactly. Every club has key players who they'd be a lot weaker without, whoever they are. Look how vulnerable city looked at times when Kompany has been out injured in the past. When Rodriguez is back our front 3 will have Pelle, Rodriguez, Long, Maine, Tadic competing for places, that's a very strong 5 to chose from. We've got 4 decent centre halves and 5 decent central midfielders playing for 3 places not to mention the youngsters through. The only position we lack depth now is goalkeeper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Charlie Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 Goalkeeper fair enough. City and Chelsea would look very different without Aguero or Costa. Bringing in Drogba or Dzeko/Jovetic a little better than Long or Mayuka. City almost won the league last season with Aguero missing loads of games. Just saying that we don't have squads nearly as strong as any of those teams, or the likes of Spurs or Everton. The respective benches from today show that quite clearly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Charlie Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 Spuds and Everton have better back up than us? Yes in most areas. See respective benches today. Our first XI is pretty equal to both of theirs though IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Appy Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 Bringing in Drogba or Dzeko/Jovetic a little better than Long or Mayuka. City almost won the league last season with Aguero missing loads of games. Just saying that we don't have squads nearly as strong as any of those teams, or the likes of Spurs or Everton. The respective benches from today show that quite clearly. City did win the league last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Charlie Posted 27 September, 2014 Share Posted 27 September, 2014 City did win the league last year. LOL. Good point and makes mine more valid. Those sides will always miss the real top players, but have quality replacements in all positions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plastic Posted 1 October, 2014 Share Posted 1 October, 2014 (edited) Just saw this quote from Phil Neville: "People are saying 'where is Falcao going to fit in?' Well, who cares, just fit him in and let him score goals." I draw 2 conclusions from this statement. Firstly that Phil Neville is an idiot (but we knew that already), and secondly that the mentality he displays in this article is both arrogant and misguided, but I think it's one that Man Utd as an institution share. The main point being made is that Man Utd should only sign proven 'big name' players, and that there is no place for good scouting and youth. He even goes on to say that they couldn't find any decent central defenders, and that there was no value in the market. Interesting to note that between then and now we have found a couple. The whole article just sums up utd's problem for me. Not a team, just a collection of marquee signings. http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29018901 They are even now talking about mid week international friendlies to replace their champions league football. It's ludicrous, I'm sure they would be very happy not bothering with league or cup competitions, just packing out stadiums with their 'galacticos' show. They are looking to become the football equivalent of the Harlem Globetrotters. http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29423048 Edited 1 October, 2014 by Plastic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redslo Posted 1 October, 2014 Share Posted 1 October, 2014 They are even now talking about mid week international friendlies to replace their champions league football. It's ludicrous, I'm sure they would be very happy not bothering with league or cup competitions, just packing out stadiums with their 'galacticos' show. They are looking to become the football equivalent of the Harlem Globetrotters. Given Financial Fair Play and the BPL salary cap combined with their insane transfer spending this summer, they might very well need the money. http://www.financialfairplay.co.uk/latest-news/manchester-united-unable-to-spend-their-way-out-of-trouble Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 1 October, 2014 Share Posted 1 October, 2014 First XI on paper - 6th (Behind Chelski, Citeh, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs) First XI based on the collective and current form - 4th (Behind Chelski, Citeh and Arsenal) Overall squad depth - somewhat difficult and irrelevant to gauge as our competitors need the greater depth for the demands of Europe but a lot of them are already struggling and getting exposed with injuries. Next week will be the real acid test. Manyoo will come good, eventually. But I think we can stay ahead of Spurs, Everton, Stoke and Villa. So I reckon we are the 6th team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
September Saint Posted 1 October, 2014 Share Posted 1 October, 2014 Exactly. Every club has key players who they'd be a lot weaker without, whoever they are. Look how vulnerable city looked at times when Kompany has been out injured in the past. When Rodriguez is back our front 3 will have Pelle, Rodriguez, Long, Maine, Tadic competing for places, that's a very strong 5 to chose from. We've got 4 decent centre halves and 5 decent central midfielders playing for 3 places not to mention the youngsters through. The only position we lack depth now is goalkeeper. What are the terms of Boruc's loan if we need him back? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Wayman Posted 1 October, 2014 Share Posted 1 October, 2014 When we climbed to the top of the Championship within weeks of all the 'pundits' on here saying we would go straight back down few thought it would last because they had under-estimated Saints and over-estimated the quality of the opposition teams especially those that had just missed promotion to the PL. Many said the quality gap was too big and our League 1 team would not be able to hack it once we were up against the 'big teams' of the Championship and when the heavy pitches and bad weather arrived.... Does any of this sound familiar? Just keep believing folks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearsy Posted 1 October, 2014 Share Posted 1 October, 2014 Bearsy's Bold Statements #69: i reckon we'll still be top 4 come christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 1 October, 2014 Share Posted 1 October, 2014 (edited) Of the 7 teams that finished above us last season, I think we have a reasonable chance of finishing above Everton and Spurs. and maybe Liverpool too. Swansea could break through into the top 8 as well. Edited 1 October, 2014 by buctootim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CylonKing Posted 1 October, 2014 Share Posted 1 October, 2014 Bearsy's Bold Statements #69: i reckon we'll still be top 4 come christmas. I second that statement. Why not hope and believe? That is what football is all about. Would Sutton Utd have beaten Coventry all those years ago without the belief and hope in what they were doing? I for one am just enjoying what is going on with our great team and truly believe that we will finish this season within the top 4. I also believe that we have a chance of winning something this year, including the premier league title. If we didn't have that belief, why bother supporting Saints at all or following football at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CylonKing Posted 1 October, 2014 Share Posted 1 October, 2014 And yes, I know it is silly, but every year I always feel that this is the season that we are going to win something. That expectation is what drives us as supporters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNSUN Posted 1 October, 2014 Share Posted 1 October, 2014 Everton's defence is poor this year. While I do think their squad is better than ours, I still don't think they're quite at the level they were last season. Which opens the door for us. As for Utd, they're still an unbalanced mish mash of assorted transfers and inexperienced youth. Their right side is prime for attacking, I'd love to see Mané have at it. Peculiarly though, I do think they're stronger offensively than last year, and will finish above us. As will Chelsea, City, Arsenal, Spurs and I hate to say it, Liverpool. 7th to 10th is achievable though, unless a side above us implode. (Liverpool, I'm looking at you.) Still a long way to go though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSAINT Posted 1 October, 2014 Share Posted 1 October, 2014 7th to 10th is achievable though, unless a side above us implode. (Liverpool, I'm looking at you.) Still a long way to go though. I'd be happy with 7th-10th. I think Liverpool's form will be dependent on Sturridge staying fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Le God Posted 1 October, 2014 Share Posted 1 October, 2014 7th to 10th is achievable though. I'd be happy with 7th-10th. I think it would be disappointing to finish 9th or 10th, as that would mean teams that finished below Saints last season have overtaken us. Which team that finished below us last season looks capable of doing that? Swansea perhaps, but who else? Even with Swansea I think if they finished above us it would be dissapointing. 8th is the minimum Saints should be looking at and I think we have a reasonable chance of catching one or two of those teams above us last season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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