Saint-Armstrong Posted 11 January, 2015 Share Posted 11 January, 2015 http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/southampton-champions-league-sceptics-laughed-4961395 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 I'm sure the Mirror have posted articles about how we wouldn't do it themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highfield Saint Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 They all laughed when I told them I wanted to be a comedian - well they're not laughing now! (Bob Monkhouse) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 I'm sure the Mirror have posted articles about how we wouldn't do it themselves. I'd have laughed. No-way did I thin we'd be in with such a chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marsdinho Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 Wasn't Cortese mocked for daring to dream this dream? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coxford_lou Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 Wasn't Cortese mocked for daring to dream this dream? There has never been a moment when I haven't believed it, from league one upwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Balls Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 Nobody really believed it was possible. Last season Durham on TalkSport did a "heads gone" feature on Cortese suggesting we're aiming for CL. Even just a few weeks again Jamie Carragher said "no chance". We'll continue to be patronised, but if we're still up there in April (big if) then they'll all pretend they never doubted it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verbal Kint Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 Well in the Summer they thought we'd go down, and we were only up there in October because we had had easy fixtures "they won't be up there at Christmas". Then after we lost those 3 games in a week "they'll be mid-table by the New Year. Now we're still there it will turn to "they won't cope with the pressure, they'll drop away by March". Until we've actually achieved it nobody in the game will think it possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 Personally I've been saying "we'll see, if we're in the top 6 in mid-January" and generally downplaying it. So I'm ready to go pop. It's not like we've got a ton of difficult matches - top 2 away, which we'd expect to lose anyway, but the rest of the top half who we still have to play will be at home (except Newcastle next week), and the whole of the bottom half to play. Plus there are very few weeks where we have multiple matches, so the problems of December shouldn't be revisited - unless we get another horrendous injury crisis. Even losing key players for key games is not really an issue now, only Spurs, West Ham and Liverpool home look like matches where a couple of injuries here and there might make the difference (Pelle and Forster aside). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearsy Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 woah are you calling it, The9? It sounds like you're calling it, and putting ur entire m-board reputation on the line! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 (edited) Even on here, mere mention of CL football has got you branded a grizzling, gullible fûcktård, a bedsit Neil Armstromg or Edmund Hillary. Edited 12 January, 2015 by shurlock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 A month/6 weeks ago I'd have said no chance, ahead of that fixture run (and during the run of defeats). I didn't see us with a strong enough squad with the injuries we had, to sustain ourselves over the Christmas period particularly. But amazingly, we did. We got a good result at Palace, did well against Everton, held Chelsea and beat Arsenal. That's a pretty epic Christmas by anyone's standards. So, of course we now have a chance. That horrible run of fixtures are done. We don't face anything like that again. We have a run of fixtures which are doable, not straight forward, but we can go on a run from here. So, 12th January 2015 - Southampton are on 39 points and 3rd in the PL, with the horrible run of fixtures out of the way. I honestly don't think we'll ever have a better chance of gatecrashing the party. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 A month/6 weeks ago I'd have said no chance, ahead of that fixture run (and during the run of defeats). I didn't see us with a strong enough squad with the injuries we had, to sustain ourselves over the Christmas period particularly. But amazingly, we did. We got a good result at Palace, did well against Everton, held Chelsea and beat Arsenal. That's a pretty epic Christmas by anyone's standards. So, of course we now have a chance. That horrible run of fixtures are done. We don't face anything like that again. We have a run of fixtures which are doable, not straight forward, but we can go on a run from here. So, 12th January 2015 - Southampton are on 39 points and 3rd in the PL, with the horrible run of fixtures out of the way. I honestly don't think we'll ever have a better chance of gatecrashing the party. so much for our foundation being built on 'paper cups' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 so much for our foundation being built on 'paper cups' To be fair, when players were leaving left right and centre, with reasoning along the lines that the ambition went with Cortese, then it's quite easy to come to that idea! But to be fair, this is a solid club. It doesn't seem to matter who manages us or who chairs us, we are strong and resilient throughout. One constant though, the Liebherr's. Forever in our debt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 To be fair, when players were leaving left right and centre, with reasoning along the lines that the ambition went with Cortese, then it's quite easy to come to that idea! But to be fair, this is a solid club. It doesn't seem to matter who manages us or who chairs us, we are strong and resilient throughout. One constant though, the Liebherr's. Forever in our debt. im guessing Cortese telling the players that we CAN be a champions league side was not so crazy after all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 Still can't quite force myself to believe it will happen. I never subscribed to the theory we were relegation fodder last summer but I never expected us to be anywhere near the top four either. Most of the so called big boys are stuttering this season and don't really look like kicking on. So if saints playing in the CL going to happen it's going to be this season that we get there. I expect to see overhauls in the big teams squads next summer to get the status quo back on track.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 im guessing Cortese telling the players that we CAN be a champions league side was not so crazy after all. we aren't there yet...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Diamond Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 we aren't there yet...... Exactly what I wanted to say. Not only are we not in the Champions League, we haven't qualified, and the season isn't over. In the words of Yogi Berra, it ain't over 'till it's over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Tender Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 Exactly what I wanted to say. Not only are we not in the Champions League, we haven't qualified, and the season isn't over. In the words of Yogi Berra, it ain't over 'till it's over. Agreed. The usual analogy that it's a marathon not a sprint hasn't changed. But we're at the halfway mark, just behind the two front runners and moving up the field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OttawaSaint Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 Long way to go yet, one game at a time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjwills Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 Still got to get to that magic 40 points yet ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonb Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 Lifted from RAWK (Liverpool forum) Quote from: Hellrazor on Today at 10:45:38 AM its not easy given we havent been great but Southampton looked just as good this time last season then the wheels came off they didn't as it goes they weren't this good I've been banging this drum relentlessly but they are the best coached/organised team in the league They're currently conceding 9.2 shots per game and 2.8 shots on target per game that's THE BEST since they started recording these stats They're just going to lose so few games against anyone - let alone anyone outside the top 3 or 4 teams Stats can prove/disprove any argument but it does highlight that unless our form falls off a cliff.. we are statistically going to be there or thereabouts. Falling off a cliff could include selling one or two key players in this window (unlikly but you never know) or injuries and fatigue doing for us in the next couple of months. I'm contemplating thinking about climbing on-board the "we have a chance" bus*. * I'm still on the main bus but thinking about getting onto the next one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_Tony Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 My mindset has changed completely. I believe we can do it, and in terms of the players, belief is key. Everyone around the club must now fancy our chances. I don't think anyone could have predicted we'd recover from our mini blip and pick up the results we have over the last five games. I think I have over-estimated the ability of the sides around us. Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool and even United are still not convincing, and all look like they will also lose a few games along the way. We have proved we have a top side, built around a strong defence. I don't think we need to fear anyone, and after 21 games looking at our remaining fixtures, we will lose a few but winning 10 or 11 games really is a possibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 A month/6 weeks ago I'd have said no chance, ahead of that fixture run (and during the run of defeats). I didn't see us with a strong enough squad with the injuries we had, to sustain ourselves over the Christmas period particularly. But amazingly, we did. We got a good result at Palace, did well against Everton, held Chelsea and beat Arsenal. That's a pretty epic Christmas by anyone's standards. So, of course we now have a chance. That horrible run of fixtures are done. We don't face anything like that again. We have a run of fixtures which are doable, not straight forward, but we can go on a run from here. So, 12th January 2015 - Southampton are on 39 points and 3rd in the PL, with the horrible run of fixtures out of the way. I honestly don't think we'll ever have a better chance of gatecrashing the party. This. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 I keep pinching myself but the goals against column and the goal difference tells me we're there on merit, no one has thrashed, only City have scored more than 2 against us, I just can't see us imploding for the remaining games. Wherever we do end up I can't see it being outside the top 6 but enjoying a fantastic season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highfield Saint Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 do chickens count before they are hatched? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_Tony Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 We are well into the season now, I was beginning to think we had just been a bit lucky, but we're 21 games in off the back of 2 wins against Arsenal and Man Utd. All the pundits will still be expecting the wheels to fall off, but I'm struggling to see how things could take such a massive downturn now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 We are well into the season now, I was beginning to think we had just been a bit lucky, but we're 21 games in off the back of 2 wins against Arsenal and Man Utd. All the pundits will still be expecting the wheels to fall off, but I'm struggling to see how things could take such a massive downturn now. That's the thing. It wouldn't just take a dip in form, it would take an absolutely cataclysmic downturn in form. It's completely in our hands. I believe in our manager and our team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 That's the thing. It wouldn't just take a dip in form, it would take an absolutely cataclysmic downturn in form. It's completely in our hands. I believe in our manager and our team. It would take an "absolutely cataclysmic downturn in form" for what to happen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 It would take an "absolutely cataclysmic downturn in form" for what to happen? Finishing in some sort of European place, I think. We've got somewhat of a cushion at the moment, and all we really need to do is maintain what we've done all season. We'll have a blip, but the beauty is that we've given ourselves a little margin for error in terms of a Europa league place. But for a CL spot, we simply have no margin for error really. We need to be amazing for the rest of the season, can't really afford a blip at all (i'm saying a 5 defeats on the bounce kind of blip). Given our remaining fixtures, it's possible as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 I think a lot of neutrals are praising Saints - if for no other reason than it would break the mould of the dominant BIG SIX, and at present..... we are above 4 of them, at least. As a 50 year fan, I'm more than pleased to see yesterday's win , which has barely come once a generation. Even United's notorious " Fergie time " - 6 extra minutes yesterday, couldn't help them. It's a long season and our biggest danger is not a occasional lapse in form (the blip), but the inexperience on our bench. RK knows this, and so the one game at a time is the safest response to such comments. If we really want to be taken seriously, then we'll need to look closely at those forthcoming fixtures at Chelsea and Man City. Points from those games would really make everyone lookup and take notice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 Finishing in some sort of European place, I think. We've got somewhat of a cushion at the moment, and all we really need to do is maintain what we've done all season. We'll have a blip, but the beauty is that we've given ourselves a little margin for error in terms of a Europa league place. But for a CL spot, we simply have no margin for error really. We need to be amazing for the rest of the season, can't really afford a blip at all (i'm saying a 5 defeats on the bounce kind of blip). Given our remaining fixtures, it's possible as well. 5th place side are currently 3 points (and goal difference) behind us, 6th place are 5 points (and goal difference behind us. That doesn't require a catastrophic drop in form over 17 games to change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SO16_Saint Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 whats the saying? "you dont win anything at Southampton" - that's as maybe, but I reckon you may just get a Champions League spot come May. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 Still a long way to go but the only teams I have seen this season who I would say are better than us are Chelsea and Manchester City. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_Tony Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 (edited) 5th place side are currently 3 points (and goal difference) behind us, 6th place are 5 points (and goal difference behind us. That doesn't require a catastrophic drop in form over 17 games to change. If we were to average a point a game from now on, which is relegation form,that would put us on our total for last year of 56. Any sort of reasonable level of form should keep us in the top 6 Edited 12 January, 2015 by Saint_Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Convict Colony Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 I am giving the mirror ZERO respect for that article given they spent most of Jun/July posting tweets about how we had no players and the last one left at St Marys turn out the lights. They are massive ****wit ****s like 99% of the media. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamesaint Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 I want the Champions League ... but I think we should be aiming to go straight in at the Group stages. Lets concentrate on finishing in the top 2 this season to miss out on the CL qualifying rounds next year. I don't expect this to happen but we should set our sights high. Chelsea have shown they can be vulnerable (conceding 5 at Spurs !!! ) and although Man City looked so good against us they do have their frequent wobbles - recent draws against Burnley and Everton for example. Realistic? Who knows .... but we need to aim high and see what happens. What would be certain is that there would be a whole new load of "experts" and "pundits" as so many of the old ones would die of shock!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearsy Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 bollocks to that tamesaint, if we're gonna finish 2nd we may as well win the thing pls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lets B Avenue Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 I want the Champions League ... but I think we should be aiming to go straight in at the Group stages. Lets concentrate on finishing in the top 2 this season to miss out on the CL qualifying rounds next year. Top 3 qualify direct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 It's been the perfect storm for us. Everyone outside of the top two under performing, us performing better than anyone dared hoped. The door is open and I for one am happy to admit that I never thought it would be possible for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 It's been the perfect storm for us. Everyone outside of the top two under performing, us performing better than anyone dared hoped. The door is open and I for one am happy to admit that I never thought it would be possible for us. we are climbing everest, ffs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cellone Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 I think we should ease up. Think about the amount of injuries that will be caused if we smash through the glass ceiling. It would be carnage below. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Convict Colony Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 we are climbing everest, ffs Without oxygen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairWeather Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 I find it all too easy to imagine finishing 4th, then losing the qualifying round to an East European minnow I haven't even heard of yet. That would be The Saints Way :-/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 Without oxygen No that's landing on the moon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamesaint Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 Top 3 qualify direct. Brilliant. But lets follow the bear and aim to win the thing. Title decider ?? Last match of the season at the Etihad ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cellone Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 Brilliant. But lets follow the bear and aim to win the thing. Title decider ?? Last match of the season at the Etihad ??? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewell Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 Still a long way to go but the only teams I have seen this season who I would say are better than us are Chelsea and Manchester City. I agree with this but a loss of confidence and form and things could change very quickly, after all who expected us to lose at Burnley and Sheffield United in the space of a few days? The injury to Toby Alderweireld could also be costly, if long term a loan may be needed. I also feel we need to get another striker to take the burden off Pelle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 It's always been possible for us to it in one dream season - Everton under Moyes being the template for that - and this is probably our best ever shot. Still think we will fall a bit short, and personally I'd rather win the FA Cup. But think we are nailed on for top six now and one of the traditional big boys are going to have to suck it up because they can't all catch us. And it's looking like either Liverpool or Spurs which makes it all the more enjoyable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redslo Posted 12 January, 2015 Share Posted 12 January, 2015 I find it all too easy to imagine finishing 4th, then losing the qualifying round to an East European minnow I haven't even heard of yet. That would be The Saints Way :-/ That seems like a peculiar remark. Southampton has absolutely no history of doing that. Also, I would be more afraid of the fourth place German and Spanish teams and the third place Italian and Portuguese teams who will have a better coefficient than we do. I want the Champions League ... but I think we should be aiming to go straight in at the Group stages. Lets concentrate on finishing in the top 2 this season to miss out on the CL qualifying rounds next year. I don't expect this to happen but we should set our sights high. Chelsea have shown they can be vulnerable (conceding 5 at Spurs !!! ) and although Man City looked so good against us they do have their frequent wobbles - recent draws against Burnley and Everton for example. Realistic? Who knows .... but we need to aim high and see what happens. What would be certain is that there would be a whole new load of "experts" and "pundits" as so many of the old ones would die of shock!! Third place goes straight into the group stages too. If we were to average a point a game from now on, which is relegation form,that would put us on our total for last year of 56. Any sort of reasonable level of form should keep us in the top 6 A point a game is above relegation form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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