This pre season 'meltdown'...

[saint lard]

If we lose Morgan,Toby and Clyne would this constitute as more of a loss than Lallana, ,Lovren and Lambert.?

 

Are we just standing still or could we do better than last season?

The replacements thus far have been,let's say, reasonably untried and tested.

Long way to go in the transfer window,I know.

We over achieved last season.....can we maintain that?

I think we could.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Saint Charlie]

Always going to be tough. If we start this season with a team as good as ended the last then thats a good summer IMO.

 

Very hard to build from our position anyway due to what is above us, and made more difficult by losing some of the best players, especially this summer potentially in key positions like centre back or central midfield.

 

The Morgan and maybe Toby replacements will need to hit the ground running and maintain it.

[ErwinK1961]

If we lose Morgan,Toby and Clyne would this constitute as more of a loss than Lallana, ,Lovren and Lambert.?

 

Are we just standing still or could we do better than last season?

The replacements thus far have been,let's say, reasonably untried and tested.

Long way to go in the transfer window,I know.

We over achieved last season.....can we maintain that?

I think we could.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

That is a very interesting question... you could arguably say that it is. Our midfield heartbeat along with one of the best CB's I've seen us have will be very difficult to replace. We need to spend big on these two positions if they go/

 

Can't see how can possibly better last season to be honest in the league, I think our European commitments (if we make it!) will hinder our league form. Winning a cup would be magic!

 

Going to be a very interesting transfer window for us once MS & NC leave, will define our season.

[Pancake]

Losing 3 players, whilst a huge blow, isn't a meltdown.

 

Last year was closer as we had just lost the chairman, manager and his staff had gone and we lost 4 players. Still not a meltdown (despite people, me included, saying so at the time).

[S-Clarke]

Not sure what point you are trying to make really. Everyone knew that Morgan was going, they knew 10 months ago. It's just a formality and it always was. Same with Clyne really, he made it clear he didn't want to sign on here. So those 2 moves are kind of the worst kept secret really.

 

Toby isn't our player, so it's not in our hands what so ever. I think he wants to come here, but Madrid are playing games with him. I don't think he'll stay there at all, and if he were to come back to England I'd like to think we'd be his preferred choice. There are lots of agent games being played with Toby at the moment. He wants it sorted as much as we do, but you just feel it will drag.

 

Jaunmi isn't really a replacement for any of our players, is he? Just an additional option. Cedric will obviously come in and replace Clyne, I don't think it's fair to say he's untried, as he's a full international and has Champions League pedigree. Based on how we replaced Shaw, Lovren, Lallana last season, I have the up most confidence that these ''untried and untested'' players will come to the fore.

 

In terms of expectations, I think fans need to be careful what they wish for, in terms of expecting more and more and more. I think 8th/7th/6th at a push is our glass ceeling. We will need major investment to grow from that, and if we don't have the owners to provide that then so be it. It's about finding other ways to get there.

 

I've seen people state that when NC was here we didn't lose players - but think about that for a second. When NC was here we still had growth, we still had numerous places to rise whether that's leagues or PL places. As soon as we hit that glass ceeling he knew we needed to spend big, and he wanted to use someone else's money to do so. He ran as soon as he thought the going would become tough.

[sadoldgit]

Why is it when three or four players leave other clubs it isn't a meltdown? Players come and go all the time. Its just business.

[thefuriousb]

If we lose Morgan,Toby and Clyne would this constitute as more of a loss than Lallana, ,Lovren and Lambert.?

 

Are we just standing still or could we do better than last season?

The replacements thus far have been,let's say, reasonably untried and tested.

Long way to go in the transfer window,I know.

We over achieved last season.....can we maintain that?

I think we could.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

The players we have signed so far are no more untried at this level than those they are replacing when we signed them

 

Lovren, Lallana, Lambert, Shaw, Chambers all had no previous premier league experience - in the case of Lovren he was very much down the pecking order at Lyon hence his willingness to move to us.

 

Can we also stop talking of losing Toby. we had him on loan from another club for a specified period of time. That time has passed and he has returned to his parent club.

 

I agree we over-achieved last season, and I am not certain we will maintain that. If we do it is likely to be becuase we have improved rather over-achieved once more - so lets see who else we bring in over the summer. There are big shoes to fill, but lets just see.

 

As it stands, with the liklihood of losing Clyne & Morgan and perhaps not being able to agree a deal for Toby, I would think we will finish somwhere between 7-10th and you could probably throw a blanket over the sides finisihing as low as 13th. That is how tight (much of a muchness) the league is outside of the top 6 sides and is abut par for a club of our current size/stature.

 

In a way, a perceived weaker side may benefit us again like it did last year when teams felt they could open a game up agaist us before finding we gave them a bloody nose. The latter half of the season saw sides learn not to do this and our results were not as spectacular as a consequence. May bealso with more riding on each game I might "enjoy" the adrenalin of the closing matches of the season rather than not be unduly worried by 1 point from our last 7/8 away matches.

[thefuriousb]

Not sure what point you are trying to make really. Everyone knew that Morgan was going, they knew 10 months ago. It's just a formality and it always was. Same with Clyne really, he made it clear he didn't want to sign on here. So those 2 moves are kind of the worst kept secret really.

 

Toby isn't our player, so it's not in our hands what so ever. I think he wants to come here, but Madrid are playing games with him. I don't think he'll stay there at all, and if he were to come back to England I'd like to think we'd be his preferred choice. There are lots of agent games being played with Toby at the moment. He wants it sorted as much as we do, but you just feel it will drag.

 

Jaunmi isn't really a replacement for any of our players, is he? Just an additional option. Cedric will obviously come in and replace Clyne, I don't think it's fair to say he's untried, as he's a full international and has Champions League pedigree. Based on how we replaced Shaw, Lovren, Lallana last season, I have the up most confidence that these ''untried and untested'' players will come to the fore.

 

In terms of expectations, I think fans need to be careful what they wish for, in terms of expecting more and more and more. I think 8th/7th/6th at a push is our glass ceeling. We will need major investment to grow from that, and if we don't have the owners to provide that then so be it. It's about finding other ways to get there.

 

I've seen people state that when NC was here we didn't lose players - but think about that for a second. When NC was here we still had growth, we still had numerous places to rise whether that's leagues or PL places. As soon as we hit that glass ceeling he knew we needed to spend big, and he wanted to use someone else's money to do so. He ran as soon as he thought the going would become tough.

 

In the time it took me to type my response you appear to have said much the same. If I am "happy clappy" at least I am not alone

[doddisalegend]

If we lose Morgan,Toby and Clyne would this constitute as more of a loss than Lallana, ,Lovren and Lambert.?

 

Are we just standing still or could we do better than last season?

The replacements thus far have been,let's say, reasonably untried and tested.

Long way to go in the transfer window,I know.

We over achieved last season.....can we maintain that?

I think we could.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Yeah but PL experience can make average players more expensive. The club is always going to look outside the PL for potential that is affordable. It might not always work but I think I like it better than buying PL has beens and journeymen.

[Window Cleaner]

Not sure what point you are trying to make really. Everyone knew that Morgan was going, they knew 10 months ago. It's just a formality and it always was. Same with Clyne really, he made it clear he didn't want to sign on here. So those 2 moves are kind of the worst kept secret really.

 

Toby isn't our player, so it's not in our hands what so ever. I think he wants to come here, but Madrid are playing games with him. I don't think he'll stay there at all, and if he were to come back to England I'd like to think we'd be his preferred choice. There are lots of agent games being played with Toby at the moment. He wants it sorted as much as we do, but you just feel it will drag.

 

Jaunmi isn't really a replacement for any of our players, is he? Just an additional option. Cedric will obviously come in and replace Clyne, I don't think it's fair to say he's untried, as he's a full international and has Champions League pedigree. Based on how we replaced Shaw, Lovren, Lallana last season, I have the up most confidence that these ''untried and untested'' players will come to the fore.

 

In terms of expectations, I think fans need to be careful what they wish for, in terms of expecting more and more and more. I think 8th/7th/6th at a push is our glass ceeling. We will need major investment to grow from that, and if we don't have the owners to provide that then so be it. It's about finding other ways to get there.

 

I've seen people state that when NC was here we didn't lose players - but think about that for a second. When NC was here we still had growth, we still had numerous places to rise whether that's leagues or PL places. As soon as we hit that glass ceeling he knew we needed to spend big, and he wanted to use someone else's money to do so. He ran as soon as he thought the going would become tough.

 

Excellent summing up, anyway we're what ? 14 days away from our first pre-season game so we'll soon have some sort of idea as to where we are team wise just now.

[adrian lord]

There will be less hysteria over the summer but the footballing effect is likely to be more profound next season, ironically.

[Sour Mash]

Not sure what point you are trying to make really. Everyone knew that Morgan was going, they knew 10 months ago. It's just a formality and it always was. Same with Clyne really, he made it clear he didn't want to sign on here. So those 2 moves are kind of the worst kept secret really.

 

Toby isn't our player, so it's not in our hands what so ever. I think he wants to come here, but Madrid are playing games with him. I don't think he'll stay there at all, and if he were to come back to England I'd like to think we'd be his preferred choice. There are lots of agent games being played with Toby at the moment. He wants it sorted as much as we do, but you just feel it will drag.

 

Jaunmi isn't really a replacement for any of our players, is he? Just an additional option. Cedric will obviously come in and replace Clyne, I don't think it's fair to say he's untried, as he's a full international and has Champions League pedigree. Based on how we replaced Shaw, Lovren, Lallana last season, I have the up most confidence that these ''untried and untested'' players will come to the fore.

 

In terms of expectations, I think fans need to be careful what they wish for, in terms of expecting more and more and more. I think 8th/7th/6th at a push is our glass ceeling. We will need major investment to grow from that, and if we don't have the owners to provide that then so be it. It's about finding other ways to get there.

 

I've seen people state that when NC was here we didn't lose players - but think about that for a second. When NC was here we still had growth, we still had numerous places to rise whether that's leagues or PL places. As soon as we hit that glass ceeling he knew we needed to spend big, and he wanted to use someone else's money to do so. He ran as soon as he thought the going would become tough.

Based on Koeman and Reed's comments at the end of the season, it certainly didn't appear that Clyne was definitely leaving.

[Window Cleaner]

Based on Koeman and Reed's comments at the end of the season, it certainly didn't appear that Clyne was definitely leaving.

 

Well perhaps they didn't want to be harbingers of relatively bad news at that time, perhaps Clyne was leading them up the garden path as well. Then again it could be down to how one interpreted whatever it was that they were saying. Neither is particularly direct on most occasions...or so I find.

Edited 26 June, 2015 by Window Cleaner

[farawaysaint]

We have replaced Clyne already, we will replace Morgan and Toby. Maybe we won't get as many points but we will still do well and I trust the board.

[corky morris]

Morgan is such a top top quality player it's going to be very very difficult to replace him. Toby also, but kinda always knew it would be tough to keep him.

Money talks, simples!

[View From The Top]

Toby isn't our player so as far as I can tell we are only losing the two players we'd always expected to. Will we improve? Doubt it if I'm honest.

[Wes Tender]

Last summer there was hysteria whipped up by the media and many on here feared the worst and were accepting of the predictions that we would be relegation fodder.

 

As it turned out, the board played a blinder and made some great signings, not least of them the manager and we proved all the doubters wrong.

 

Whether the loss of Schneiderlin, Clyne and possibly Toby will be greater than that of Lambert, Lallana and Lovren (and Chambers) remains to be seen. But because we replaced them with players as good or better in most cases, that fills me with confidence that we can replicate the feat this summer. Schneiderlin is the most difficult to replace IMO, but when the likes of Arsenal, Spurs, Man United who have been after him baulk at the price, then there is a succession of alternative names that are listed who are deemed to be comparable at a lower price. No doubt those players and others we probably have not yet heard about will be produced by the black room, as have other players during the past few years. And then when they prove to be great signings, we will hopefully be musing about what all the fuss was about and laughing all the way to the bank.

 

Reasons to be cheerful? Koeman has a season of PL football under his belt and a good understanding of what the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition are. As one of the past top defenders in World football and a manager experienced in European football, he will be able to organise another strong defence, even if Toby and Clyne are both gone. Fonte and Bernard are a good foundation to add to and Wanyama is still a rock ahead of them. I reckon he will reignite Stekelenburg's career. If Rodriguez returns close to his previous best, we will have a very potent attack.

 

The time to judge how we will shape up is as last season, at the end of the transfer window.

[Andy Durman]

V

Not sure what point you are trying to make really. Everyone knew that Morgan was going, they knew 10 months ago. It's just a formality and it always was. Same with Clyne really, he made it clear he didn't want to sign on here. So those 2 moves are kind of the worst kept secret really.

 

Toby isn't our player, so it's not in our hands what so ever. I think he wants to come here, but Madrid are playing games with him. I don't think he'll stay there at all, and if he were to come back to England I'd like to think we'd be his preferred choice. There are lots of agent games being played with Toby at the moment. He wants it sorted as much as we do, but you just feel it will drag.

 

Jaunmi isn't really a replacement for any of our players, is he? Just an additional option. Cedric will obviously come in and replace Clyne, I don't think it's fair to say he's untried, as he's a full international and has Champions League pedigree. Based on how we replaced Shaw, Lovren, Lallana last season, I have the up most confidence that these ''untried and untested'' players will come to the fore.

 

In terms of expectations, I think fans need to be careful what they wish for, in terms of expecting more and more and more. I think 8th/7th/6th at a push is our glass ceeling. We will need major investment to grow from that, and if we don't have the owners to provide that then so be it. It's about finding other ways to get there.

 

I've seen people state that when NC was here we didn't lose players - but think about that for a second. When NC was here we still had growth, we still had numerous places to rise whether that's leagues or PL places. As soon as we hit that glass ceeling he knew we needed to spend big, and he wanted to use someone else's money to do so. He ran as soon as he thought the going would become tough.

 

I agree with most of that with exception to the final paragraph. Did he run or was he pushed? He only ever used somebody else's money?

 

Good post enjoyed reading it.

[eddie]

Last summer there was hysteria whipped up by the media and many on here feared the worst and were accepting of the predictions that we would be relegation fodder.

 

As it turned out, the board played a blinder and made some great signings, not least of them the manager and we proved all the doubters wrong.

 

Whether the loss of Schneiderlin, Clyne and possibly Toby will be greater than that of Lambert, Lallana and Lovren (and Chambers) remains to be seen. But because we replaced them with players as good or better in most cases, that fills me with confidence that we can replicate the feat this summer. Schneiderlin is the most difficult to replace IMO, but when the likes of Arsenal, Spurs, Man United who have been after him baulk at the price, then there is a succession of alternative names that are listed who are deemed to be comparable at a lower price. No doubt those players and others we probably have not yet heard about will be produced by the black room, as have other players during the past few years. And then when they prove to be great signings, we will hopefully be musing about what all the fuss was about and laughing all the way to the bank.

 

Reasons to be cheerful? Koeman has a season of PL football under his belt and a good understanding of what the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition are. As one of the past top defenders in World football and a manager experienced in European football, he will be able to organise another strong defence, even if Toby and Clyne are both gone. Fonte and Bernard are a good foundation to add to and Wanyama is still a rock ahead of them. I reckon he will reignite Stekelenburg's career. If Rodriguez returns close to his previous best, we will have a very potent attack.

 

The time to judge how we will shape up is as last season, at the end of the transfer window.

 

Not norwich though.....

 

BANANA SKIN ALERT

[Wes Tender]

Not norwich though.....

 

BANANA SKIN ALERT

 

No more so than Bournemouth and Watford, or Hull, Burnley and QPR before them.

[eddie]

No more so than Bournemouth and Watford, or Hull, Burnley and QPR before them.

 

i was, alas, not being serious

[Saint Billy]

Toby had a few injuries and we managed ok, Clyne had an indifferent second half of the season.

 

Morgan will be the big loss and it all depends on whom we replace him with.

 

Hope I am wrong but I have a gut feeling we will struggle this season mainly due to the loss of Morgan.

[Dynamo Naive]

Toby had a few injuries and we managed ok, Clyne had an indifferent second half of the season.

 

Morgan will be the big loss and it all depends on whom we replace him with.

 

Hope I am wrong but I have a gut feeling we will struggle this season mainly due to the loss of Morgan.

 

If we could sign Clasie it would soften the blow. Him and Wanyama would be a pretty serious midfield combination.

[sussexsaint]

Good 'ho. We always seem to do rather well after a meltdown. May stick a fiver on us winning it all

[warsash saint]

Morgan missed a fair few games last season ..... anyone provide the stats on the games he missed?

[sussexsaint]

He missed quite a few sitters in league one as well - that would make a great youtube compilation to put on RAWK

[FloridaMarlin]

One things f'sure, if we do lose Schneiderlin and we don't do as well as last season it gives the pundits a nice easy shot.

 

I can almost hear Gary Neville saying now: "Losing Schneiderlin was a big blow for Southampton and they've never really recovered from that."

 

Those words will then be picked up and recycled by Lawro/Lily Savage/Jamie 'I never finish a sentence' Carragher/Ian 'no matter what game I am commentating on, I always manage to shoehorn in a mention of my beloved p****y' Darke/Danny 'I once played for Liverpool, you know' Murphy and the others who love an easy truism.

[Batman]

One things f'sure, if we do lose Schneiderlin and we don't do as well as last season it gives the pundits a nice easy shot.

 

I can almost hear Gary Neville saying now: "Losing Schneiderlin was a big blow for Southampton and they've never really recovered from that."

 

Those words will then be picked up and recycled by Lawro/Lily Savage/Jamie 'I never finish a sentence' Carragher/Ian 'no matter what game I am commentating on, I always manage to shoehorn in a mention of my beloved p****y' Darke/Danny 'I once played for Liverpool, you know' Murphy and the others who love an easy truism.

thing is, we keep selling our best players at the rate of a few a season. it will hurt us sooner or later

[scorchio21]

Losing these three players can't be seen as anything like the 'meltdown' we experienced this time last year for two main reasons:

 

1) We've still got our manager. Having our manager taken from us last season gave a sense of having to start everything again from scratch, whereas even with different personnel in the team, by keeping the same manager for a second season we will still be trying to build on what we achieved last season.

 

2) This time we've already bought some decent-looking replacements before anyone's actually left. So there won't be any repeat of Koeman's infamous "all ready to start training" empty pitch photo this time around.

[the mick channon windmill]

If we lose Morgan,Toby and Clyne would this constitute as more of a loss than Lallana, ,Lovren and Lambert.?

 

Are we just standing still or could we do better than last season?

The replacements thus far have been,let's say, reasonably untried and tested.

Long way to go in the transfer window,I know.

We over achieved last season.....can we maintain that?

I think we could.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Losing Morgan, Toby and Clyne would be more of a loss than Lallana, Lovren and Lambert and will not be as easy to replace but remember we also lost Shaw and Chambers last summer as well.

 

I do think if we are willing to sell Clyne and Morgan then we should do absolutely everything to get Toby and that includes smashing our transfer record if needed.

 

I don't think your point about us over achieving last season is right. I think with the players we had available and Koeman as manager we did not overachieve if anything the way the season fell apart after February we underachieved and should have finished with more points on the board and progressed further in both cups.

[Lord Duckhunter]

Last year was completely different because we had just lost Nicola a few months earlier & had lost the manager as well. The club captain and talisman both left along with 2 great prospects and what most fans considered our best centre half. It was pretty much the spine of the side, and don't forget Jose did not sign a new contract early in the summer. I know the press get some clog on here, but what happened was pretty unusual.Turns out the board & Kat managed the situation brilliantly , and Ron turned out to be a brilliant appointment.

 

It was pretty obvious that Morgan would leave and although losing NC is a blow, this is the only time we'll get decent money for him because of his contract situation. Toby was never our player and if he performed well will attract interest from others wanting to get him in. Unfortunately money talks and others pay more.

 

Personally I hope we have meltdown every summer, that next year Ron is linked with moves along with victor, Jose & Mane . It'll mean we've had another cracking season.

[Toomer]

Cedric in for Clyne and I am sure they have got their eye on a replacement for Morgan and another for Toby in that all goes Pete Tong. We have brought in Juanmi and Jay Rod will be like having a new signing providing he can hit the level he did 13/14 season and we have also brought in Steg on loan to cover for FF so on the face of it, it don't look that bad.

[shurlock]

Last summer was far more turbulent, though I wouldn't underestimate the challenge of replacing three players that were absolutely critical to our outstanding defense and our identity as a side.

[CB Fry]

thing is, we keep selling our best players at the rate of a few a season. it will hurt us sooner or later

It's a funny one. If we have three players to sell to top 6/CL clubs for £10-30m every season for a decade then that virtually guarantees us as a top half club for that time. If that makes sense.

[Saint Fan CaM]

I don't think we should underestimate the effect Morgan and a top CB next Jose has had on our journey to date. There are many games that saw us no or low score but our defensive strength delivered points. Those three will definately be harder to replace effectively than last years departures...the club need to work very hard to retain Toby IMO to dramatically reduce the effect and also boost morale across the squad.

[doddisalegend]

thing is, we keep selling our best players at the rate of a few a season. it will hurt us sooner or later

 

Not much the club can do about though. Can't really stop these players from going if they want to go. OK the club might put it's foot down once in a while (like Morgan last summer) but in the end unless we become a top four side this will happen every summer until all our players are **** like Sunderland.

[doddisalegend]

I don't think we should underestimate the effect Morgan and a top CB next Jose has had on our journey to date. There are many games that saw us no or low score but our defensive strength delivered points. Those three will definately be harder to replace effectively than last years departures...the club need to work very hard to retain Toby IMO to dramatically reduce the effect and also boost morale across the squad.

 

I don't think anyone is doing that.

[Mr Biscuits]

Can we avoid the term 'meltdown?'

 

All it does is give the press an excuse to fixate on what happened last summer.

Nobody has left that we didn't know was going.

[for_heaven's_Saint]

I'd far rather we become a self-sustaining regular 6th, 7th or 8th place team, with the occasional domestic and Europa cup run than push higher spending beyond our means. If that means losing our best players every summer then so be it.

[Batman]

I'd far rather we become a self-sustaining regular 6th' date=' 7th or 8th place team, with the occasional domestic and Europa cup run than push higher spending beyond our means. If that means losing our best players every summer then so be it.[/quote']

 

if we keep losing our best players. we will drop down the table a bit more. you make it sound as if we will always be 6th 7th or 8th. (despite never being higher in the last 30 years)

[Saint Billy]

I don't view it as a meltdown, I view it as a annual event that won't change.

 

It is whether it not we can sustain getting adequate replacements every year. I guess most clubs out of the top 6 go through the same scenario apart from the fact that we somehow keep bringing on players a bit special. We won't get bored hat's for sure.

Edited 26 June, 2015 by Saint Billy

[Dalek2003]

There will be less hysteria over the summer but the footballing effect is likely to be more profound next season, ironically.

 

and being in Europe will make things much harder. Should have finished 8th.

[The Cat]

if we keep losing our best players. we will drop down the table a bit more. you make it sound as if we will always be 6th 7th or 8th. (despite never being higher in the last 30 years)

 

But only if the teams below us don't sell their best players. The only club with the sort of clout to do that is Everton, I don't see any of the other teams between 8th-10th holding on to anyone the top clubs want.

[Batman]

But only if the teams below us don't sell their best players. The only club with the sort of clout to do that is Everton, I don't see any of the other teams between 8th-10th holding on to anyone the top clubs want.

 

so, no matter what...we will always finish at worst, 8th?

most other clubs dont sell 2 or 3 of their best players in one go

[thefuriousb]

thing is, we keep selling our best players at the rate of a few a season. it will hurt us sooner or later

 

what do you propose we do to stop them being lured to the top 4 clubs in the country for decent transfer fees?

[sadoldgit]

We sold Shaw and brought in Bertrand who was as good, if not better. If we bring in players who as good if not better and players who don't want to be here move on, that has to be good surely?

[Batman]

what do you propose we do to stop them being lured to the top 4 clubs in the country for decent transfer fees?

there is nothing we can do. Just saying it will actually do some harm soon.

[sadoldgit]

If that was the case wouldn't players leaving the top 4 cause them to weaken too?

[The Cat]

so, no matter what...we will always finish at worst, 8th?

most other clubs dont sell 2 or 3 of their best players in one go

 

No because there are other variables such as owners, manager, injuries etc. But what we have currently in terms of structure and set up should keep us up and around those places for a while to come.

Other teams don't have as many good players as us, if they did the top clubs would be buying them. There were people here lauding Swansea for keeping Bony, didn't last long.

[Batman]

No because there are other variables such as owners, manager, injuries etc. But what we have currently in terms of structure and set up should keep us up and around those places for a while to come.

Other teams don't have as many good players as us, if they did the top clubs would be buying them. There were people here lauding Swansea for keeping Bony, didn't last long.

I think we will be incredibly brilliant if we finish top 8 if we get through to the group phase of the Europa League

hope so