The Cat Posted 26 June, 2015 Share Posted 26 June, 2015 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 That will be a true test of not only the players but also the backroom staff from the medical department to the scouts and the coaches. There's a lot of planning involved in football and the extra matchload will stretch everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 26 June, 2015 Share Posted 26 June, 2015 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. We seem to suffer worse don't see the likes of Stoke or Sunderland having their teams regularly plundered in the summer. I guess if we keep being the best of the rest it will keep happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 26 June, 2015 Share Posted 26 June, 2015 We seem to suffer worse don't see the likes of Stoke or Sunderland having their teams regularly plundered in the summer. I guess if we keep being the best of the rest it will keep happening. we have only been best of the rest for 1 season though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 26 June, 2015 Share Posted 26 June, 2015 we have only been best of the rest for 1 season though We had a crop of exceptional players who Pochettino made the most of with his style of play. Soon they'll be all gone and we'll revert to the unleaded as far as summer window exoduses go. Not that we won't still be a decent side but it won't be full of players who can still step up a notch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verbal Kint Posted 26 June, 2015 Share Posted 26 June, 2015 We seem to suffer worse don't see the likes of Stoke or Sunderland having their teams regularly plundered in the summer Can you name me one player either of those teams have that the top 6 would be interested in signing other than Begovic who will leave this summer and N'Zonzi who is kicking up a fuss so he can get a move to Seville? The reason Sunderland don't get plundered is because their team is full of **** players Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 26 June, 2015 Share Posted 26 June, 2015 Can you name me one player either of those teams have that the top 6 would be interested in signing other than Begovic who will leave this summer and N'Zonzi who is kicking up a fuss so he can get a move to Seville? The reason Sunderland don't get plundered is because their team is full of **** players Exactly the point I was trying to make. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 26 June, 2015 Share Posted 26 June, 2015 We seem to suffer worse don't see the likes of Stoke or Sunderland having their teams regularly plundered in the summer. I guess if we keep being the best of the rest it will keep happening. Okaaaaaaay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint michael Posted 26 June, 2015 Share Posted 26 June, 2015 the risks are not being able to replace with the same quality and at what point does the spirit of the side get affected by change policy of losing two or three key players each year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Billy Posted 26 June, 2015 Share Posted 26 June, 2015 the risks are not being able to replace with the same quality and at what point does the spirit of the side get affected by change policy of losing two or three key players each year. We cannot keep our best players and we cannot afford to buy in the best players, that's how it is and how it will always be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 26 June, 2015 Share Posted 26 June, 2015 Exactly the point I was trying to make. Okaaaaaaay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Appy Posted 26 June, 2015 Share Posted 26 June, 2015 we have only been best of the rest for 1 season though Who were in 13/14 then? United? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fan CaM Posted 27 June, 2015 Share Posted 27 June, 2015 I don't think anyone is doing that. Au contraire Rodney. There are clearly some who are relaxed about the prospect of losing two of our best players..."we knew about these leavers so whats the problem?" seems to feature a fair bit. The key issue though is how the club respond - keeping Toby would be a massive step forward, but finding a Morgan replacement will be high on the agenda but a difficult task when considering the time he has spent here and what that brings to the morale of the team. To put it another way, how many youngsters are in the 1st team squad? 50%? Is our team becoming less cohesive because its full of 'strangers'? Important questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 27 June, 2015 Share Posted 27 June, 2015 I remember the good old day on this forum when we had dreams and ambition. when rather than discussing which players were going to be leaving we would discuss how this was never going to happen because the lads all here playing for saints would never want to leave. The days when the likes of Wes Ender and Franks cousin would type and type and type and type and type that saints player would all turn down big clubs and bigger salaries to stay as saints, to be part of something special and to fulfil they boyhood dreams of playing champions league football for saints in our 50,000 stadium play with their mates from the youth teams packed to the rafters with fans all paying a tenner each to see it. Anyone that pointed out that this was unlikely to happen was met with a barrage of keyboard thumping and accusations of trolling from the self titled intelligent and enlighten posters. We seem to be accepting that players are going to leave, when for years we had paragraph after paragraph, capital letter and exclamation mark as to why this was never going to happen and why we shouldn't accept it, because it's not acceptable. There seems to be an air of resignation, even amongst the self titled enlightened/intelligent posters that players will be leaving, but we shouldn't be accepting it, so why are we? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 27 June, 2015 Share Posted 27 June, 2015 I remember the good old day on this forum when we had dreams and ambition. when rather than discussing which players were going to be leaving we would discuss how this was never going to happen because the lads all here playing for saints would never want to leave. The days when the likes of Wes Ender and Franks cousin would type and type and type and type and type that saints player would all turn down big clubs and bigger salaries to stay as saints, to be part of something special and to fulfil they boyhood dreams of playing champions league football for saints in our 50,000 stadium play with their mates from the youth teams packed to the rafters with fans all paying a tenner each to see it. Anyone that pointed out that this was unlikely to happen was met with a barrage of keyboard thumping and accusations of trolling from the self titled intelligent and enlighten posters. We seem to be accepting that players are going to leave, when for years we had paragraph after paragraph, capital letter and exclamation mark as to why this was never going to happen and why we shouldn't accept it, because it's not acceptable. There seems to be an air of resignation, even amongst the self titled enlightened/intelligent posters that players will be leaving, but we shouldn't be accepting it, so why are we? In fairness Bournemouth getting promoted has decimated our catchment area. Whole swathes of Devon are turning cherry and black as we speak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 27 June, 2015 Share Posted 27 June, 2015 I remember the good old day on this forum when we had dreams and ambition. when rather than discussing which players were going to be leaving we would discuss how this was never going to happen because the lads all here playing for saints would never want to leave. The days when the likes of Wes Ender and Franks cousin would type and type and type and type and type that saints player would all turn down big clubs and bigger salaries to stay as saints, to be part of something special and to fulfil they boyhood dreams of playing champions league football for saints in our 50,000 stadium play with their mates from the youth teams packed to the rafters with fans all paying a tenner each to see it. Anyone that pointed out that this was unlikely to happen was met with a barrage of keyboard thumping and accusations of trolling from the self titled intelligent and enlighten posters. We seem to be accepting that players are going to leave, when for years we had paragraph after paragraph, capital letter and exclamation mark as to why this was never going to happen and why we shouldn't accept it, because it's not acceptable. There seems to be an air of resignation, even amongst the self titled enlightened/intelligent posters that players will be leaving, but we shouldn't be accepting it, so why are we? Plus, never mention the 'R' word. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SherborneSaint Posted 27 June, 2015 Share Posted 27 June, 2015 I think that one of the most important aspects to consider is the management of the club. Despite having lost (and likely to lose some more) a number of key players over the last couple of seasons, it appears that the club have got a plan that everyone is buying in to. At this stage, we are not able to compete financially (or in terms of achievement/reputation) with the top clubs, and are therefore likely to struggle to keep all of our better players. However, we are building momentum, and are generating a reputation (of not only playing good football, but also being a club that recognises talent rather than names and giving youngsters the best resources and a chance to play). This means that each year we will be in a better position to compete. We are already a club that most players/managers want to join, and are moving towards being a club that all players/managers want to play for. Trying to replace and improve the players that are currently leaving is going to be a difficult process, but we need to trust the skills/judgement of the experts we have put in place, and recognise that the club have gone above and beyond (the black box) to recruit the right players at the right price. I am optimistic for the future, but know there are likely to be some challenges to overcome as part of the journey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint michael Posted 27 June, 2015 Share Posted 27 June, 2015 We cannot keep our best players and we cannot afford to buy in the best players, that's how it is and how it will always be. I agree but I'm saying sooner or later this tactic is likely to catch up with us. Forming a strong team and strong team culture is not easy to maintain when you change as often as we are. Last year was exceptional but we still retained a lot of the group that had got us into the prem. This core group is now getting less. We should not expect to be able to do this every year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Le God Posted 27 June, 2015 Share Posted 27 June, 2015 I agree but I'm saying sooner or later this tactic is likely to catch up with us. Forming a strong team and strong team culture is not easy to maintain when you change as often as we are. Last year was exceptional but we still retained a lot of the group that had got us into the prem. This core group is now getting less. We should not expect to be able to do this every year The core group you describe as getting us to the Premier League has decreased significantly in number, but that has been with another large group of better players who got us to 8th and 7th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 27 June, 2015 Share Posted 27 June, 2015 I agree but I'm saying sooner or later this tactic is likely to catch up with us. Forming a strong team and strong team culture is not easy to maintain when you change as often as we are. Last year was exceptional but we still retained a lot of the group that had got us into the prem. This core group is now getting less. We should not expect to be able to do this every year A lot? Basically, Fonte and Morgan. Plus the rarely involved Cork and Kelvin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewell Posted 27 June, 2015 Share Posted 27 June, 2015 Off for 2 weeks to prop up the Greek economy this weekend and I have say I wont miss the lunatic fringe on this forum. Whatever happens we will be OK, we will always lose players and personally it rankles more when they are 'one of your own'. Those mooted to be off are all replaceable and personally I trust Les and the management team to replace those sold on. Change can be healthy and often its good to organically grow. COYR I cannot wait for the European Tour. Adios suckers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint michael Posted 27 June, 2015 Share Posted 27 June, 2015 The core group you describe as getting us to the Premier League has decreased significantly in number, but that has been with another large group of better players who got us to 8th and 7th. Well let's see. Hope you are right. There are not many managers I can think of that can keep improving performance when selling the core of a team repeatedly. The players that came in had a great first season they are now the foundation of the experience for this season. I am not saying by the way that the guys we have brought in are not good buys. I am talking about team construction and structure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WealdSaint Posted 27 June, 2015 Share Posted 27 June, 2015 At the end of the day, we have little choice but to sell NC & MS. Generally, we have not thought that we have sold any players too cheaply recently. We have a world class manager & a good set up, which should attract good new blood at a reasonable price Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint michael Posted 23 December, 2015 Share Posted 23 December, 2015 The core group you describe as getting us to the Premier League has decreased significantly in number, but that has been with another large group of better players who got us to 8th and 7th. What were you saying? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 23 December, 2015 Share Posted 23 December, 2015 What were you saying? Top 8 indeed ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nordic Saint Posted 23 December, 2015 Share Posted 23 December, 2015 Some Saints fans seem to be of the opinion that when we finish 7th or 8th, we're overachieving. If we are, it's not by much. However you measure the numbers, attendances or size of fan base on social media sites, SFC is about the 12th biggest club in the country. It would probably be a lot bigger if we won a trophy or two, as that's what really attracts large numbers of fans. There is an element among our fans who like to style us as a little club, but that's not what the numbers say. A mid-table position with an occasional top 6 finish and a cup win every now and then is what you'd expect from a club this size. It's certainly far from overachieving. We've got so used to underachieving that we've come to accept it as the norm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 24 December, 2015 Share Posted 24 December, 2015 Some Saints fans seem to be of the opinion that when we finish 7th or 8th, we're overachieving. If we are, it's not by much. However you measure the numbers, attendances or size of fan base on social media sites, SFC is about the 12th biggest club in the country. It would probably be a lot bigger if we won a trophy or two, as that's what really attracts large numbers of fans. There is an element among our fans who like to style us as a little club, but that's not what the numbers say. A mid-table position with an occasional top 6 finish and a cup win every now and then is what you'd expect from a club this size. It's certainly far from overachieving. We've got so used to underachieving that we've come to accept it as the norm. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3011776/Are-Manchester-United-Liverpool-Arsenal-Chelsea-biggest-club-Sportsmail-s-study-finally-settles-football-s-great-debate.html Fifteenth on this article, with our global fanbase and wealth nicely inflated by happening to be in the Premier League right now. Fanbase lower due to the Dell. We are what we are. Above 6th would be a standout/perfect season, 6th/7th an excellent season, 8-14th good, 15th - 17th disappointing, 18th and below underperforming but not impossible, more likely than finishing 4th anyway. Championship, disappointing but typical of loads of similar clubs to us. The longer we stay in the Prem the richer and stronger we get but Villa, Sunderland and Newcastle are rich and strong too. Doesn't actually stop them being dog poo, does it? We will forever be perfectly capable of being relegated in any given season, just like the current flavours of the month Palace and Leicester. Both them, and us, are only a season away from a relegation fight. There are plenty of clubs that could easily claim they are in the top 12 in the country and half of them are in the Championship, Forest, Leeds, Derby, Wednesday all easily comparable to us. We're in the top tier of that tier right now, and even if we finish, say, 12th this year that is perfectly commensurate with our "size". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldNick Posted 24 December, 2015 Share Posted 24 December, 2015 I remember the good old day on this forum when we had dreams and ambition. when rather than discussing which players were going to be leaving we would discuss how this was never going to happen because the lads all here playing for saints would never want to leave. The days when the likes of Wes Ender and Franks cousin would type and type and type and type and type that saints player would all turn down big clubs and bigger salaries to stay as saints, to be part of something special and to fulfil they boyhood dreams of playing champions league football for saints in our 50,000 stadium play with their mates from the youth teams packed to the rafters with fans all paying a tenner each to see it. Anyone that pointed out that this was unlikely to happen was met with a barrage of keyboard thumping and accusations of trolling from the self titled intelligent and enlighten posters. We seem to be accepting that players are going to leave, when for years we had paragraph after paragraph, capital letter and exclamation mark as to why this was never going to happen and why we shouldn't accept it, because it's not acceptable. There seems to be an air of resignation, even amongst the self titled enlightened/intelligent posters that players will be leaving, but we shouldn't be accepting it, so why are we? Luke Shaw THeo and Chamberlain left the club but still have great affection for us. Any of these young players leave because not only other clubs pay more but they will win things. If I was at our club I would feel the vibes that we don't really want to build a trophy winning team, but keep reaping the money from player sales. The only trophy the club wants to win is to stay in the cash rich PL. 'In Les YOU trust' I have lost my trust, and many fans I talk to are doing the same. Bringing young players through who will have a true feel/love of the club is a good concept, letting them believe staying and building a trophy winning team MIGHT get them to stay a bit longer. I do accept the pressures of agerts and the the lure of CL football high wages is a massive draw, but if they thought they could have glory at saints they might stay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 24 December, 2015 Share Posted 24 December, 2015 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3011776/Are-Manchester-United-Liverpool-Arsenal-Chelsea-biggest-club-Sportsmail-s-study-finally-settles-football-s-great-debate.html Fifteenth on this article, with our global fanbase and wealth nicely inflated by happening to be in the Premier League right now. Fanbase lower due to the Dell. We are what we are. Above 6th would be a standout/perfect season, 6th/7th an excellent season, 8-14th good, 15th - 17th disappointing, 18th and below underperforming but not impossible, more likely than finishing 4th anyway. Championship, disappointing but typical of loads of similar clubs to us. The longer we stay in the Prem the richer and stronger we get but Villa, Sunderland and Newcastle are rich and strong too. Doesn't actually stop them being dog poo, does it? We will forever be perfectly capable of being relegated in any given season, just like the current flavours of the month Palace and Leicester. Both them, and us, are only a season away from a relegation fight. There are plenty of clubs that could easily claim they are in the top 12 in the country and half of them are in the Championship, Forest, Leeds, Derby, Wednesday all easily comparable to us. We're in the top tier of that tier right now, and even if we finish, say, 12th this year that is perfectly commensurate with our "size". Superb post. 15th - 17th not really disappointing, but in the context you write would be 'satisfactory'. I agree that we are only a season away from relegation, yet some people take our premier league status for granted. As I siad before the start of the season, we will have to fight to stay up this and 15th to 17th would be satisfactory as we rebuild the squad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lallana's Left Peg Posted 24 December, 2015 Share Posted 24 December, 2015 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3011776/Are-Manchester-United-Liverpool-Arsenal-Chelsea-biggest-club-Sportsmail-s-study-finally-settles-football-s-great-debate.html Fifteenth on this article, with our global fanbase and wealth nicely inflated by happening to be in the Premier League right now. Fanbase lower due to the Dell. We are what we are. Above 6th would be a standout/perfect season, 6th/7th an excellent season, 8-14th good, 15th - 17th disappointing, 18th and below underperforming but not impossible, more likely than finishing 4th anyway. Championship, disappointing but typical of loads of similar clubs to us. The longer we stay in the Prem the richer and stronger we get but Villa, Sunderland and Newcastle are rich and strong too. Doesn't actually stop them being dog poo, does it? We will forever be perfectly capable of being relegated in any given season, just like the current flavours of the month Palace and Leicester. Both them, and us, are only a season away from a relegation fight. There are plenty of clubs that could easily claim they are in the top 12 in the country and half of them are in the Championship, Forest, Leeds, Derby, Wednesday all easily comparable to us. We're in the top tier of that tier right now, and even if we finish, say, 12th this year that is perfectly commensurate with our "size". With you most of the way here other than 11th - 14th being considered anything like good for a club who have spent the money we have and one who finished 8th and 7th in previous seasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW5 SAINT Posted 24 December, 2015 Share Posted 24 December, 2015 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3011776/Are-Manchester-United-Liverpool-Arsenal-Chelsea-biggest-club-Sportsmail-s-study-finally-settles-football-s-great-debate.html There are plenty of clubs that could easily claim they are in the top 12 in the country and half of them are in the Championship, Forest, Leeds, Derby, Wednesday all easily comparable to us. We're in the top tier of that tier right now, and even if we finish, say, 12th this year that is perfectly commensurate with our "size". Don't forget Pompey, they claim they should be top 4.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 24 December, 2015 Share Posted 24 December, 2015 With you most of the way here other than 11th - 14th being considered anything like good for a club who have spent the money we have and one who finished 8th and 7th in previous seasons. It's not just 7th or 8th as if points are distributed continuously down the table. It's that while we were looking from the outside at the top 6, we put quite a gap between ourselves and teams in midtable. Kind of what Everton has done for the most part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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