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MOTD Extra speak Saints - Mark Chapman, Robbie Savage, Paddy Barclay and Ben Smith


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I thought that was a good segment on us - Although personally, I don't want to be "talked about as finishing in the top 4" - I just want to enjoy it while it lasts. I think most of us would still think that top 4 is just not something we can do.

 

Plus also it shows there is more focus on finishing in the top 4 instead of winning a cup? Winning a cup would be more realistic, or at the very least a cup final appearance.

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I thought that was a good segment on us - Although personally, I don't want to be "talked about as finishing in the top 4" - I just want to enjoy it while it lasts. I think most of us would still think that top 4 is just not something we can do.

 

Plus also it shows there is more focus on finishing in the top 4 instead of winning a cup? Winning a cup would be more realistic, or at the very least a cup final appearance.

 

Personally rather win a cup than finish top 4 anyway.

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I thought that was a good segment on us - Although personally, I don't want to be "talked about as finishing in the top 4" - I just want to enjoy it while it lasts. I think most of us would still think that top 4 is just not something we can do.

 

Plus also it shows there is more focus on finishing in the top 4 instead of winning a cup? Winning a cup would be more realistic, or at the very least a cup final appearance.

 

If you take Suarez out of last years Liverpool they would have been down around 7th or 8th with us and Man Utd. That would have elevated Everton to 4th in last years table. Not flawless logic but they would seem the most probable team.

 

Does this Saints team really look worse than last years Everton? Not to me. If we can catch a couple of teams like Arsenal and Man Utd with their pants down at St Mary's I don't see why 4th is implausible.

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please stop talking about CL everyone.

I remember some similar talk when WGS took us up in the top 4.

Just enjoy everything as it is for the moment. We've got a seriously intensive dec & jan coming up. Throw in some injuries and then see if were still CL contenders.

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Let's enjoy the ride whilst it lasts.

There is no reason that given our terrific start, the confidence and team spirit that is obviously there that we cannot be top 6 contenders. Top 4 would be an awesome achievement but is it realistic? Probably not as we will suffer a dip in form at some stage and suffer injuries and suspensions to key players. Would love to be still in the top 4 come the end of the year

 

Next 9 games 15 points out of 27

 

Leicester (H) 3pts

Villa (A) 3pts

City (H) 0 or maybe 1pt

Arsenal (A) 0pts

Manure (H) 1 pt

Burnley (A) 3pts

Everton (H) 1pt

Palace (A) 3pts

Chelsea (H) 0pts

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Given the Summer that would be an astonishing but realistic hope.

 

I genuinely think the obstacle to an incredible placing plus silverware is injury or suspension to our key players - certainly Pelle and Tadic

 

Early days yet, I think Id rather wait and see how we are after the Dec run. And that will be a big test.

 

Can we finish top four ? Unlikely IMO but there is a genuine realistic hope, essentially there are a few teams stuttering this year, apart from Chelsea of course.

 

If we hit that run with confidence high and a lack of injuries then we could be in with a shout, but winning enough games in that run to maintain a top four finish ? Probably unlikely, as much as I am hopeful

 

Genuinely think we can reach the final of the league cup though, and hopefully top 6

 

I can dream about top four though, its possible, but like I said, unlikely

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Let's enjoy the ride whilst it lasts.

There is no reason that given our terrific start, the confidence and team spirit that is obviously there that we cannot be top 6 contenders. Top 4 would be an awesome achievement but is it realistic? Probably not as we will suffer a dip in form at some stage and suffer injuries and suspensions to key players. Would love to be still in the top 4 come the end of the year

 

Next 9 games 15 points out of 27

 

Leicester (H) 3pts

Villa (A) 3pts

City (H) 0 or maybe 1pt

Arsenal (A) 0pts

Manure (H) 1 pt

Burnley (A) 3pts

Everton (H) 1pt

Palace (A) 3pts

Chelsea (H) 0pts

 

Top 6 would be an awesome achievement, we'd have to finish above one of Spurs, Everton, Man United and Liverpool, all top 7 staples, far bigger clubs than us with far greater incomes. In fact two finishes in the top 8 would be given the upheval in the summer. People need to rein it in a bit, for us to finish above one of those clubs would be fantastic, to finish above 3 or 4 of them to finish top4 would be something of a miracle.

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Personally rather win a cup than finish top 4 anyway.

 

You're probably going to slaughter me for this, but personally, I wouldn't.

 

I know, there's no open top bus tour etc etc for finishing 4th. But I'd love to see us in the CL. Even if we were to get spanked by a Real or someone of that ilk - still think it would be a once in a lifetime type thing.

 

That said - cup over 5th/6th any day.

 

Basically I'd love to see us in Europe. If it was CL and all that brings (even if just for one year) that would be grand, Europa would be just dandy too. We're getting closer to having a squad that can handle it, though obviously not quite there yet. I don't think there's a particularly good chance of us finishing Top 4, but like last season I'm going to enjoy us being up near the top of the table whilst it lasts. I certainly didn't think we'd be doing this well in the summer.

 

Decent cup run and a finish above 8th - which seems possible, albeit far from easy and I'd be made up.

 

Yes, I'm an idiot and all that is wrong with football I'm sure.

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Taking each game as it comes and enjoying then run while it lasts. Have no idea where will finish but anything above 8th would be fine and dandy and is well within our reach. Not worried about any of the top 4 at home. We are capable of beating all of them but I would expect a draw again Chelsea at best. I think we can take City.

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Realistically guys, even if the club finished top 4 (and no English team wins Europa therefore taking our spot anyway), it is not something that we can sustain year on year.

 

We just don't have the finances to assemble that kind of squad depth. It will happen once, if at all! And I for one would love to see it. Imagine real madrid at home for example. Would be fantastic to be mixing it with that level of company.

 

If we're not getting a CL space at the end of the season, then we really need to win something with this team or what is it all for? Will it be like last season's 8th place trophy and a team that abandon us? Because that is utterly pointless and empty... We need to win something with this team or it will all be for nothing.

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You're probably going to slaughter me for this, but personally, I wouldn't.

 

I know, there's no open top bus tour etc etc for finishing 4th. But I'd love to see us in the CL. Even if we were to get spanked by a Real or someone of that ilk - still think it would be a once in a lifetime type thing.

 

That said - cup over 5th/6th any day.

 

Basically I'd love to see us in Europe. If it was CL and all that brings (even if just for one year) that would be grand, Europa would be just dandy too. We're getting closer to having a squad that can handle it, though obviously not quite there yet. I don't think there's a particularly good chance of us finishing Top 4, but like last season I'm going to enjoy us being up near the top of the table whilst it lasts. I certainly didn't think we'd be doing this well in the summer.

 

Decent cup run and a finish above 8th - which seems possible, albeit far from easy and I'd be made up.

 

Yes, I'm an idiot and all that is wrong with football I'm sure.

 

I'd prefer a cup myself but to finish in the CL places would be a bigger achievement and would really shake up the EPL. Paddy Barclay would be happy too.

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please stop talking about CL everyone.

I remember some similar talk when WGS took us up in the top 4.

Just enjoy everything as it is for the moment. We've got a seriously intensive dec & jan coming up. Throw in some injuries and then see if were still CL contenders.

 

We could have done if our form after Christmas hadn't been awful. I think we went on a run of one win in 13 or something like that.

 

Anyway, that was a different team in a different era. It bares no relevance to what we can achieve this year.

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Let's enjoy the ride whilst it lasts.

There is no reason that given our terrific start, the confidence and team spirit that is obviously there that we cannot be top 6 contenders. Top 4 would be an awesome achievement but is it realistic? Probably not as we will suffer a dip in form at some stage and suffer injuries and suspensions to key players. Would love to be still in the top 4 come the end of the year

 

Next 9 games 15 points out of 27

 

Leicester (H) 3pts

Villa (A) 3pts

City (H) 0 or maybe 1pt

Arsenal (A) 0pts

Manure (H) 1 pt

Burnley (A) 3pts

Everton (H) 1pt

Palace (A) 3pts

Chelsea (H) 0pts

 

Exactly and I keep saying the same! I felt weird, but had fun yesterday wishing for a Man Utd equaliser so we'd stay ahead of Man City, it's fun at the moment - so yes, very much enjoying it!

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I'd prefer a cup myself but to finish in the CL places would be a bigger achievement and would really shake up the EPL. Paddy Barclay would be happy too.

 

I'd just really love to see someone other than Utd, City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool up there to be honest.

 

Not Spurs, coz well F**k Spurs. Heck, I'd cheer on West Ham if they were still challenging for it.

 

I get that no-one is going to remember Saints finishing 4th in a few years, and yeah there's no day at Wembley and open top bus tour - but as you say it's a bigger achievement. I think that really would be a once in a lifetime type thing. I don't think it's likely to happen though, so let's have it in the cups. Pleased Mr Koeman seems to be giving them a good go.

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I'm not expecting us to finish top four as that would mean we would have to beat too many of the established top sides over the course of the season. I think we've got the squad to give everyone apart from perhaps City and Chelsea a real scare so I'm hoping for 6th place. that wold mean finishing above two of the teams who finished in the top seven last year. Based on current form none of Everton, Liverpool and Spurs look as strong as they were last season and United still look to be in transition from when SAF retired.

 

If we can maintain the form we showed last season against the mid and lower table teams (including improving against the likes of Stoke and Sunderland) and pick up 8 - 10 more points in the 8 games against Utd, Spurs, Liverpool and Everton than last year, then we are in with a chance of moving up a couple of places. That could mean Europa League if the big clubs win the cups and we don't.

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Early days yet, I think Id rather wait and see how we are after the Dec run. And that will be a big test.

 

Can we finish top four ? Unlikely IMO but there is a genuine realistic hope, essentially there are a few teams stuttering this year, apart from Chelsea of course.

 

If we hit that run with confidence high and a lack of injuries then we could be in with a shout, but winning enough games in that run to maintain a top four finish ? Probably unlikely, as much as I am hopeful

 

Genuinely think we can reach the final of the league cup though, and hopefully top 6

 

I can dream about top four though, its possible, but like I said, unlikely

 

Just for clarity I would consider top 6 an incredible placing wasn't suggesting top 4 mate

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We are currently experiencing a major Injury "Crisis" We have an England Striker out, we have his Young U-21 back up out. We have our World Class England Midfield prospect out. But we are 2nd.

 

In the position we sit currently, the ONLY way we will NOT qualify for the CL is if the players stop believing that THEY can do it. We have Gallagher, JWP & JRod to come back from Injury. We can strengthen the squad for a final push in around 8 games time.

 

Our confident composed football can take points off Uts Arsenal City and maybe even Chelsea. Then it is about Belief and our system when we play the other teams.

 

We CAN do this, and the PLAYERS will take one game at a time and fight tooth and nail for 3 points EVERY game.

 

They CAN do it. Worryingly this means that I have to believe they can do it.

 

 

 

 

 

(It's just being a Saints fan I completely cannot understand how the fark this is actually happening, and like everyone else down deep inside it hurts not having to sulk and find excuses each weekend. We don't do this, this is not our DNA we're supposed to be the butt of footballing jokes not Scousehampton & Manure. But hey, the players believe they can so fark it - and anyways, we'd be so unseeded we'd be almost guaranteed a group with Bayern or Real or Barca...)

 

Just have to ensure we don't need to go through qualifying so let's wait for Chelski to have their wobble and win the bloody League instead of a Cup

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All we have to do is keep picking up more points that anybody else, simples... Why Not? Let's have no more defeatist talk around here pleas!

 

I'm not being defeatist at all, I'm very much an optimist in life. Just that we're Saints, we lose 7-1 at Everton once a season ... seriously, it's fantastic at the moment and we're all enjoying it, but assuming Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea finish above us (in that reverse order), then if we finish 4th, we're ahead of Man Utd and Liverpool.

 

Not saying we can't, but it would be incredible.

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You're probably going to slaughter me for this, but personally, I wouldn't.

 

I know, there's no open top bus tour etc etc for finishing 4th. But I'd love to see us in the CL. Even if we were to get spanked by a Real or someone of that ilk - still think it would be a once in a lifetime type thing.

 

Yes, I'm an idiot and all that is wrong with football I'm sure.

 

You probably don't realise but fourth place doesn't get you into the CL. It only gets you a play-off with another European club, likely to be a difficult game if UEFA use their coefficient system to determine the draw.

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You probably don't realise but fourth place doesn't get you into the CL. It only gets you a play-off with another European club, likely to be a difficult game if UEFA use their coefficient system to determine the draw.

 

Oh no really?! This is totally new information to me, in that case scrap everything I just said.

 

I had no idea about this play-off - I've never seen it or watched Arsenal scrape through against some Turkish side.

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Let's enjoy the ride whilst it lasts.

There is no reason that given our terrific start, the confidence and team spirit that is obviously there that we cannot be top 6 contenders. Top 4 would be an awesome achievement but is it realistic? Probably not as we will suffer a dip in form at some stage and suffer injuries and suspensions to key players. Would love to be still in the top 4 come the end of the year

 

Next 9 games 15 points out of 27

 

Leicester (H) 3pts

Villa (A) 3pts

City (H) 0 or maybe 1pt

Arsenal (A) 0pts

Manure (H) 1 pt

Burnley (A) 3pts

Everton (H) 1pt

Palace (A) 3pts

Chelsea (H) 0pts

Wow safe before January

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It's the hope that kills you.

 

As much as I keep saying "Nahh, we'll fall away" I can't help thinking "what if we don't...?" And it's that thought that will cause the pain of finishing 7th!!!

 

We would need a hell of a lot of luck to get us to 4th in 28 games time. No injuries, JRod coming back and regaining great form, no suspensions, teams around us dropping points to Burnley. The lot.

 

Like everyone, we have to wait to see where we after that run of tough games at Xmas/new year. If we're still top 4 after that, I might start to really believe. Which is dangerous as that's probably when it will fall apart!

 

Don't forget we'll probably be taking the FA Cup very seriously too. Even more games.

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It's the hope that kills you.

 

As much as I keep saying "Nahh, we'll fall away" I can't help thinking "what if we don't...?" And it's that thought that will cause the pain of finishing 7th!!!

 

We would need a hell of a lot of luck to get us to 4th in 28 games time. No injuries, JRod coming back and regaining great form, no suspensions, teams around us dropping points to Burnley. The lot.

 

Like everyone, we have to wait to see where we after that run of tough games at Xmas/new year. If we're still top 4 after that, I might start to really believe. Which is dangerous as that's probably when it will fall apart!

 

Don't forget we'll probably be taking the FA Cup very seriously too. Even more games.

 

I agree.

 

I know it's daft, and I know deep down we won't do it. But surely part of being a fan of a team like Saints is that hope. Just imagine if we did? It would be flipping amazing.

 

It would take all sorts of freak occurrences and a whole load of things falling exactly into place for us, but I can't help but hope.

 

I don't expect it to happen (this year or any year soon really), and I won't be down if it doesn't happen but as you say, that hope does kill you. I'd still be happy with 7th - anything above what we achieved last season - shut up those that left and their 'lack of ambition' nonsense. I'd understand their leaving really, just be honest about it and don't make crap up.

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Let's enjoy the ride whilst it lasts.

There is no reason that given our terrific start, the confidence and team spirit that is obviously there that we cannot be top 6 contenders. Top 4 would be an awesome achievement but is it realistic? Probably not as we will suffer a dip in form at some stage and suffer injuries and suspensions to key players. Would love to be still in the top 4 come the end of the year

 

Next 9 games 15 points out of 27

 

Leicester (H) 3pts

Villa (A) 3pts

City (H) 0 or maybe 1pt

Arsenal (A) 0pts

Manure (H) 1 pt

Burnley (A) 3pts

Everton (H) 1pt

Palace (A) 3pts

Chelsea (H) 0pts

Is it optimistic to think we maybe still ahead of Spurs, Liverpool and Man u on January 1st?

 

Your 15 points would take us to 37.

 

Spurs?

Stoke h, 3

Hull a, 1

Everton h, 1

Chelsea a, 0

Palace h, 3

Swansea a, 1

Burnley h, 3

Leicester a, 3

Man u, h 1

Total 16, giving 30 points January 1st.

 

Man U

Palace h 3

Arsenal a 0

Hull h 3

Stoke h 3

Saints a 1

Liverpool h 3

Villa a 1

Newcastle h 3

Spurs a 1

18, total of 31

 

Liverpool

Chelsea 0

Palace a 3

Stoke h 3

Leicester a 3

Sunderland h 3

Man u a 0

Arsenal h 0

Burnley a 3

Swansea h 1

Total 16, giving 30

 

If we lose to man c, Chelsea, arsenal, draw with villa, palace, man u and Everton we will be on 32 points plus best goal difference.

 

I don't think those predictions are likely to be much lower, if at all, for Liverpool, man u and spurs. Good chance they will do worse. Think press make too much of the harder fixtures coming up, would be surprised if we are out of top 6 by then and if we are more likely due to teams like west ham or swansea

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Oh no really?! This is totally new information to me, in that case scrap everything I just said.

 

I had no idea about this play-off - I've never seen it or watched Arsenal scrape through against some Turkish side.

 

 

Why do think Arsenal were drawn against some Turkish side. Everton against a harder team and didn't make the CL.

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I don't really believe we can finish top 4 but then again I wouldn't have believed that we'd be 2nd in the table after 10 games at the start of the season. That prediction would have seemed just as fanciful as us finishing top 4 does now.

I'm just enjoying the ride and making the most of it. I look at the league table at least twice a day!!

What I find highly amusing is that most of those people who took the **** out of me before the season started because of selling players are now telling me how they hope we keep this run up and break up the domination of the top 4/5.

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I don´t necessarily agree that the upcoming games against the other top 4 are the key. These teams seem to be dropping points against the lower teams where we are not.

 

If we can put away teams like Leicester and Villa consistently over the season, and scrape the odd draw against the top teams then we should be very close come the end of the season. It is a big if though, we have ridden our luck so far in a few games.

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Early days yet, I think Id rather wait and see how we are after the Dec run. And that will be a big test.

 

Can we finish top four ? Unlikely IMO but there is a genuine realistic hope, essentially there are a few teams stuttering this year, apart from Chelsea of course.

 

If we hit that run with confidence high and a lack of injuries then we could be in with a shout, but winning enough games in that run to maintain a top four finish ? Probably unlikely, as much as I am hopeful

 

Genuinely think we can reach the final of the league cup though, and hopefully top 6

 

I can dream about top four though, its possible, but like I said, unlikely

 

I think that sums it up nicely for me head tells me it won't last heart dreams of a top 4 finish. I reckon we could finish higher than last this season which given how we all felt during the summer would actually be pretty amazing though right now 7th would probably feel like failure.

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The assumption by Saint Lindford, that we will lose to Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea would be shared by a lot of people but lets look at how these three teams have done so far.

Arsenal have only lost once, to Chelsea, but they have drawn 5 games - with Hull, Man City, Spurs, Everton and even Leicester. They also lost to us in the League Cup. So no certainty Saints should lose that one.

Man City have drawn 2 and lost 2. Their defeats were to Stoke at home and West Ham away. So again, not a cert loss for Saints.

Chelsea haven't lost to anyone, and only the two Manchester clu8bs have managed to get a draw. So the toughest game but we do have home advantage so at least a draw is not impossible.

Three points out of those three games would be quite an achievement, whether by winning one or drawing all three, but if so, the table will look very encouraging. As long as we do beat the lower clubs that mustn't be taken for granted.

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The big teams must be worried, they have tough games coming up, they all have to face Southampton...

 

...seriously though, one game at a time, enjoy it, dream a little, but just enjoy it...

 

In all reality, the big teams will be taking us very, very seriously. We will be viewed as their banana skin. :)

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