Roger Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 With Clyne, Morgan, Vic and j rod seemingly not commited to us too much and Toby probably going too? Such a shame. It's exactly what happened last season really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 No bodge. The season's been stalling since the swansea, liverpool and wba defeats. Psychologically, seeing the bigger clubs finally pass us must have also taken a toll. Most important, the players you mention are defenders or defensively-minded players -all of whom continue to contribute to the best record in the league and keep us in games (Jrod doesn't count as he hasn't played). Rather, our problem is creating and scoring goals: 10 goals (excluding the OG v. Burnley) in 14 games since the turn of the year is dreadful, however you cut it. Over a season, it would put us bottom of the league in terms of goals scored. Without the defense bailing the team out, we'd be closer to relegation candidates than a top 8 side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 Lets face it, we were never going to maintain our challenge for the top 4 with the squad we have. That is why the top teams pay big wages and big bucks for players and are the top teams. They buy quality, depth and resilience. To be where we were for so long was awesome and speaks volumes about the management and the squad. Defensively we are still ok but as we all know teams sussed us out and we haven't had the firepower up front to continue our position. We have done better than last year and are progressing. I for one and more than happy with that. Enjoy the season for what it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint IQ Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 I don't think it's stalled, I just think it's naturally evened it's self out. The bigger squads, the most expensive teams with the bigger players eventually rise to the top, even if they have inconsistent seasons. The problem is for us to maintain the level we were on, we needed all of our key men to play at 100% every week - that's physically impossible, and when you don't have a big squad to freshen it up, you will start to fade as your key players wilt a little and pickup knocks/suspensions etc. But that's the life of being a club like Southampton, our only real chance to break the top 4 is to hope a Man Utd/Liverpool/Arsenal/City completely and utterly implode - and we'd probably need at least 2 of them to do that. As good a team as we are, the season will always eventually take it's toll both physically and mentally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 This is really the best we could hope for. More so after the summer we had. We really are "best of the rest" That said, the last few months have been hit and miss. Apparently, since Leicester sacked and re-hired Pearson, they have gained more points than us. One way to get the new manager bounce lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max_saints Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 http://www.espnfc.com/blog/espn-fc-united/68/post/2410525/memphis-depay-psv-exit-sad-football-reality-rory-smith read and weep guys, lets just accept our place in the hierarchy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 With Clyne, Morgan, Vic and j rod seemingly not commited to us too much and Toby probably going too? Such a shame. It's exactly what happened last season really. Regardless of what the other guys have been thinking, said, playing etc, how does it make any difference whatsoever to our current season whether or not J-Rod is committed to us? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 If Pelle had maintained his excellent first half of the season form we'd of made champions league IMO. His lack of goals and no decent alternative (tried or not tried) have made all the difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 Regardless of what the other guys have been thinking, said, playing etc, how does it make any difference whatsoever to our current season whether or not J-Rod is committed to us? In fact JRod can only have had a negative influence on us this season, a year's salary for absolutely ferk all return, tough titty of course but it has had an effect to be sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No 2 to Maybush Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 In fact JRod can only have had a negative influence on us this season, a year's salary for absolutely ferk all return, tough titty of course but it has had an effect to be sure. That's why clubs have insurance DUH! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 (edited) That's why clubs have insurance DUH! It's sometimes too expensive to insure players against long term injury, many clubs don't do it any more, don't know whether we do or don't, we didn't at one time at the end of the Lowe era. I think career ending insurance is fairly widespread but incapacity through injury is not really standard. There have been many cases of players getting injured in international tournaments leaving their clubs to pick up the wage bill for months afterward, clubs have tackled UEFA over this and obtained some measure of compensation from the national associations, wouldn't get that if they had insurance for every player anyway. If we insure all of our players against temporary incapacity it would show up in the accounts, for a 30 player squad it would probably run into millions of £s, anyone seen that in the accounts? Edited 23 April, 2015 by Window Cleaner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChudSaint Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 Season ended when we got knocked out of the FA Cup and the chance of winning a trophy disappeared... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint86 Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 With Clyne, Morgan, Vic and j rod seemingly not commited to us too much and Toby probably going too? Such a shame. It's exactly what happened last season really. There are no direct quotes from Jayrod or Vic regarding transfers and Big Vic has publicly come out and refuted what was in today's sun. As for Jayrod, I can't see that anyone is going to buy him this summer? It would be a huge risk and pure Mentalness... this may be a disaster for us mind as if we can't get him to sign we can't sell him for much either. As for Morgan, he's wanted a move since last summer and remained committed and one of our best players in our best ever prem season.... I'd therefore suggest our form hasn't stalled because he wants a move... Clyne i don't know, sometimes he amazing, sometimes less so... just like last season (but improved) when Chambers kept him out for long periods. But one right back doesn't control how well the team does to be fair. In short, please don't blame our best ever prem season on 4 players that are all desperate to leave based on what you've read in the paper. You are disappointed that we didn't make champions league, just let that sink in for a bit... it is some achievement and we were only ever going to be long shots for the reasons we have fallen out of it... limited squad and options with which to replace players who are injured or on poor form... We have still had a great season and there are probably 13 teams below us who would happily switch places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 It's sometimes too expensive to insure players against long term injury, many clubs don't do it any more, don't know whether we do or don't, we didn't at one time at the end of the Lowe era. I think career ending insurance is fairly widespread but incapacity through injury is not really standard. You mean when we were completely skint with a squad full of kids, the corners of the ground closed, and scraping to save money anywhere possible? Hardly a comparable situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 This is really the best we could hope for. More so after the summer we had. We really are "best of the rest" Either that or we're the worst of the top 7 elite. The gap in points suggests that's more accurate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 Either that or we're the worst of the top 7 elite. The gap in points suggests that's more accurate. Agree. Probably the main difference between this season and last season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintroyt Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 It's the way of the world can't blame players wanting to double or triple their wages who wouldn't although it pains me we are just not big enough in revenue turns with ffp rules Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nta786 Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 With Clyne, Morgan, Vic and j rod seemingly not commited to us too much and Toby probably going too? Such a shame. It's exactly what happened last season really. Well to be fair, we had nothing to play for last season and still got 2 wins and 1 draw in our last three games. At least this season we're still in it regarding 5th-7th places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 With Clyne, Morgan, Vic and j rod seemingly not commited to us too much and Toby probably going too? Such a shame. It's exactly what happened last season really. I think it's more to do with squad depth our squad just can't cope with the inevitable injuries, suspensions and loss of form that the big teams can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 No bodge. The season's been stalling since the swansea, liverpool and wba defeats. Psychologically, seeing the bigger clubs finally pass us must have also taken a toll. Most important, the players you mention are defenders or defensively-minded players -all of whom continue to contribute to the best record in the league and keep us in games (Jrod doesn't count as he hasn't played). Rather, our problem is creating and scoring goals: 10 goals (excluding the OG v. Burnley) in 14 games since the turn of the year is dreadful, however you cut it. Over a season, it would put us bottom of the league in terms of goals scored. Without the defense bailing the team out, we'd be closer to relegation candidates than a top 8 side. I am afraid that we are facing a relegation battle next season. Let's hope we can stay out of Europe by finishing 7th and Villa winning the Cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadhall Saint Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 I think it's more to do with squad depth our squad just can't cope with the inevitable injuries, suspensions and loss of form that the big teams can. There's also the adjustment factor. Pelle, tadic etc would normally have a winter break but not here - probably the most strenuous time to be a PL player. Not there fault but it won't have helped. Next season will be better for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cascadia Saint Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 I am afraid that we are facing a relegation battle next season. Let's hope we can stay out of Europe by finishing 7th and Villa winning the Cup. Nice try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 Nice try. Say what you like, as said, if our recent from continues we are in trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 No bodge. The season's been stalling since the swansea, liverpool and wba defeats. Psychologically, seeing the bigger clubs finally pass us must have also taken a toll. Most important, the players you mention are defenders or defensively-minded players -all of whom continue to contribute to the best record in the league and keep us in games (Jrod doesn't count as he hasn't played). Rather, our problem is creating and scoring goals: 10 goals (excluding the OG v. Burnley) in 14 games since the turn of the year is dreadful, however you cut it. Over a season, it would put us bottom of the league in terms of goals scored. Without the defense bailing the team out, we'd be closer to relegation candidates than a top 8 side. I mean what was said here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Who? Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 Say what you like, as said, if our recent from continues we are in trouble. You carry on being consistent and one day you will be right. That day you can say, I told you so! Ha ha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 I am afraid that we are facing a relegation battle next season. Let's hope we can stay out of Europe by finishing 7th and Villa winning the Cup. Oh you had me going for a minute there, honestly you did. Comedy gold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 Oh you had me going for a minute there, honestly you did. Comedy gold. Yes !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redslo Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 http://www.espnfc.com/blog/espn-fc-united/68/post/2410525/memphis-depay-psv-exit-sad-football-reality-rory-smith read and weep guys, lets just accept our place in the hierarchy Agree and disagree. The goal is to improve our place in the hierarchy over time. That we seem to be doing. The new TV contract will help as there will soon be only a handful of non-English clubs that can out big us. But regular European Football with a outside shot at the Champions League from time to time will be necessary to move forward any further. Either that or we're the worst of the top 7 elite. The gap in points suggests that's more accurate. And, in a nutshell, that is the progress we have made this year. Now, it is time to sustain and build on it. I am afraid that we are facing a relegation battle next season. Let's hope we can stay out of Europe by finishing 7th and Villa winning the Cup. And what would be the point of everything then? Are we striving to be Newcastle now? Even the fans of Newcastle want more than that. Oh you had me going for a minute there, honestly you did. Comedy gold. Sometimes humor is so hard to detect here. It really confuses me when Bearsy makes a serious comment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallagroth Posted 23 April, 2015 Share Posted 23 April, 2015 At the end of last season breaking the premier leagues top 6 and getting into Europe outside a cup was an impossibility for a club like us, and we would likely be relegated with all the players out. The year before top 10 was a pipe dream, we would be fighting relegation the experts said. The year before staying in the premiership was a near impossible feat, we would be relegated for sure, with much less to offer than other promoted teams. The year before we were never going to stay in the championship or be consigned to endless years fighting it out in the bottom half. The year before we didn't have the squad experience to get promoted out of league one, but despite the managerial turmoil, playoffs were an outside shot. The year before we had new money but not enough passion to fight for a league one promotion, we would get nowhere near overcoming the point deficit to mount a challenge. ------- This year: Champions league is impossible for a team like Southampton, we are going to lose our best players again and be in a relegation scrap... I think the amount of times I've heard the word impossible used by the media and even our own fans in relation to our club and its unambitious attitude over the last 5 years has started to make me feel a bit jaded to the meaning of the word. Don't know about anyone else but I'm really ****ing looking forward to next year now and still hoping we can do the 'impossible', yet again this season. Then again maybe its like an 'in-joke', you had to be there to see the funny bits? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andoru Posted 24 April, 2015 Share Posted 24 April, 2015 http://www.espnfc.com/blog/espn-fc-united/68/post/2410525/memphis-depay-psv-exit-sad-football-reality-rory-smith read and weep guys, lets just accept our place in the hierarchy It's a little different when players leave a club in a weaker league for another league entirely. Clubs like Celtic, for example, don't really need the likes of Wanyama to compete for the SPL title. They can still win it with a less talented squad, because the overall league quality is lower, and the competing teams are more evenly matched. There's no point Celtic or PSV paying for the best when above average is good enough in Scotland and Holland. Selling their better players also brings in money, which they have less off because the league is not as wealthy. Nobody is really left disappointed. The player gets his move, the club gets money, and the team's competitiveness is not actually affected that much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 24 April, 2015 Share Posted 24 April, 2015 (edited) Sometimes humor is so hard to detect here. It really confuses me when Bearsy makes a serious comment. You should be able to spot it from Dalek by now. Same "joke" for a long time now. Get this - he pretends he thinks were going to get relegated whatever the situation. Oh it's so funny. Once we get into the summer and starts saying our aim need only to to finish 17th the tears will be running down your face. And if we're 5th in December he'll make loads of comments about how we're not safe yet. Honestly he's up there with Bill Hicks. Edited 24 April, 2015 by CB Fry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Billy Posted 24 April, 2015 Share Posted 24 April, 2015 I tend to agree with the op that the persistent and it seems annual rumours of players wanting to leave for bigger and better things can't help the momentum. Saints really need to find a way of stopping this exodus every season or there is no way on earth we can sustain rebuilding every summer and it will end in eventual relegation. For me it is getting tiresome and taking the joy out of following saints and football in general. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 24 April, 2015 Share Posted 24 April, 2015 You should be able to spot it from Dalek by now. Same "joke" for a long time now. Get this - he pretends he thinks were going to get relegated whatever the situation. Oh it's so funny. Once we get into the summer and starts saying our aim need only to to finish 17th the tears will be running down your face. And if we're 5th in December he'll make loads of comments about how we're not safe yet. Honestly he's up there with Bill Hicks. You are such a Drama Queen. I love the way you track my posts, I take it as a compliment Sir ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 24 April, 2015 Share Posted 24 April, 2015 I tend to agree with the op that the persistent and it seems annual rumours of players wanting to leave for bigger and better things can't help the momentum. Saints really need to find a way of stopping this exodus every season or there is no way on earth we can sustain rebuilding every summer and it will end in eventual relegation. For me it is getting tiresome and taking the joy out of following saints and football in general. It has only happened once so far. Ok, we may lose more players this summer but it isn't going to happen every year to the same extent. Players leave and join clubs all the time. The reason some are leaving us is they are quality and can play at a higher level. I would much rather that happened that we stopped attracting or bringing through quality players. If the whole squad kept leaving I'd agree with you but it doesn't. Even with the leavers last season we still had the basis of a decent squad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redslo Posted 24 April, 2015 Share Posted 24 April, 2015 You should be able to spot it from Dalek by now. Same "joke" for a long time now. Get this - he pretends he thinks were going to get relegated whatever the situation. Oh it's so funny. Once we get into the summer and starts saying our aim need only to to finish 17th the tears will be running down your face. And if we're 5th in December he'll make loads of comments about how we're not safe yet. Honestly he's up there with Bill Hicks. sorry. I am still missing the humor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 24 April, 2015 Share Posted 24 April, 2015 sorry. I am still missing the humor. That's because it isn't funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 24 April, 2015 Share Posted 24 April, 2015 That's because it isn't funny. Nor witty, clever or incisive for that matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pangy Posted 24 April, 2015 Share Posted 24 April, 2015 Not going for it and signing a striker in January for me is the reason we have stalled,Pelle is good but not always the best option,him and Tadic started the season I a blaze of glory but it was obvious the standard/pace/physicality of the prem soon caught up with them,Tadic has shown a bit more promise lately but at times Pelle looks broken. We have a paper thin squad and have missed key players at important times,I think this is the best we could of hoped for I hope we qualify for Europe but unless we invest in a fair few players next season I reckon we could really struggle with games Thursday/ Saturday or Sunday But as proven in the past,the board know what they are doing so I imagine they have it all in hand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_Tony Posted 24 April, 2015 Share Posted 24 April, 2015 It's more a case of us overperforming in the first 10-15 games, we were playing to our maximum potential and everything just went right. We're not at the level of the top 4 clubs though, and couldn't have expected to beat all the teams we did second time around. The season's not stalled, it's just come back to reality Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
del boy Posted 25 April, 2015 Share Posted 25 April, 2015 With Clyne, Morgan, Vic and j rod seemingly not commited to us too much and Toby probably going too? Such a shame. It's exactly what happened last season really. 100% At the start of the season there is a great unity in the team, everyone is in it together taking on the big guys ...and everyone else. By the time we get to Christmas things start to unravel. A mixture of ambition, agents and media whip up thoughts of "bigger" clubs for some of our boys and then the team unity, everyone fighting together, is not so strong (I'll be gone anyway) despite the PC comments they make when they remember to...just think how this must have affected Lovren, Adam and even Morgan last year and then Morgan, Clyney, and Wanyama this season. Throw in a bit of physical / mental fatigue (Tadic/Pelle), injuries (JRod, Toby), and suspensions (Wanyama) its not surprising that we've fallen off the pace a bit. Its only being in the top 6-8 consistently that can build up revenues and a top finish ("team?") mentality. This can hopefully be secured by Koeman staying at the helm (now looks likely), substantial investment in building up squad quality and quantity (probable) and ongoing success, maybe including the odd cup win (who knows!). Also - everyone should remember how far we've come in the last 4 years when being disappointed at not finishing in a champions league place! COYS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hughieslastminutegoal Posted 25 April, 2015 Share Posted 25 April, 2015 It's more a case of us overperforming in the first 10-15 games, we were playing to our maximum potential and everything just went right. We're not at the level of the top 4 clubs though, and couldn't have expected to beat all the teams we did second time around. The season's not stalled, it's just come back to reality Careful, CBF will accuse you of joking, and then say it isn't funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 25 April, 2015 Share Posted 25 April, 2015 Careful, CBF will accuse you of joking, and then say it isn't funny. What a strange comment. More likely, I'd say I completely agree with him, because I do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 25 April, 2015 Share Posted 25 April, 2015 It's more a case of us overperforming in the first 10-15 games, we were playing to our maximum potential and everything just went right. We're not at the level of the top 4 clubs though, and couldn't have expected to beat all the teams we did second time around. The season's not stalled, it's just come back to reality Yes, there's a bit of regression to the mean in there but having got into a great position I can't help but feel that we've let something special slip away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_Tony Posted 25 April, 2015 Share Posted 25 April, 2015 Yes, there's a bit of regression to the mean in there but having got into a great position I can't help but feel that we've let something special slip away. Yes, but I think our good start raised expectations a bit too much. Teams like Man City and Arsenal and their fans should expect to beat the like of West Brom and Stoke home and away. We're not so much better than any other team that we should expect the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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