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Expectations for the season


Saint_lambden

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I have to completely disagree with this. It is so negative and unambitious I am amazed... Even Les Reed has said we are aiming at champions league in the near future this summer.

 

And Everton? Spend freely.... They've signed an aston villa reject on the cheap and free transfer stek... There "promised" millions are from the sale of stones and lukaku.

 

We came 6th last season which means by your logic of "money = positions" we would get 8th on your above summary stating that liverpool and chelsea will come above us. Now explain the net spends of Arsenal, tottenham and Leicester, and Saints in your theory of budget = league positions.... then explain Newcastle, man city, chelsea last season....

 

Your basis is senseless, the top spenders did not outperform the rest, it was largely the opposite of that in fact.

 

As for expectations. We were 6th last year and have been a top 8 side now for effectively 3 seasons. We have had record revenues throughout this period, massive tv monies, transfer profits... we have even had a stable summer by our standards... yet you think we should be aiming happily to drop 4 positions and come 8th.... as a target.... for our ambition. Good god man, if Forster hadn't been out for the first half of last season we'd have got top 4!!!.... If clattenburk hadn't robbed us away vs leicester we would be the form team of England in 2016... and you think we should aim for 10th.... As it is we are the second best team of 2016.

 

I flat out do not understand unambitious views like this other than I guess you are easily impressed and made happy when your expectations are exceeded. Fortunately for the club and most of our fans we are a lot more ambitious and the very least we will be aiming at is top 8.

 

I think you're forgetting that we have now lost two very good managers and their off the field teams.The ambitions of ' aiming at champions league' are ludicrous our signings so far and a new management team that has yet to be tested doesn't tell me we are aiming at champions league. I think we will be lucky to stay in the premiership, champions league! your having a laugh...

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I don't buy the 'we massively overachieved last season' argument.

 

We were dismal at the start, and awful for 10 games around Christmas.

 

We're comfortably a top 8 club, and we'll be in the top 8 this season.

 

Getting out of the Europa group would be awesome - and I think we will.

 

Quarter finals of one of the cups.

 

It's going to be great.

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Bit different isn't it. One is complete fantasy and one is to provide insight into the intentions of a company. It doesn't mean it will be next season or the one after that. It's the ambition of the club to do that. That is what they have been telling us. Is it our fault if we believe in what we are being told?

 

What else are they going to say? We are in the PL the next step up is Europe ideally CL so of course the club have it as a target doesn't mean they are going to get there but they can't really target finishing 10th can they. Nothing wrong with having lofty targets as long as everyone realises how hard it is to achieve and manages their expectations. Fans who say the club are targeting CL so that's what they expect are in for a lot of disappointment. It could happen (as Leicester proved) but its pretty unlikely.

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As per the title, what do you expect from the season and what would you deem an acceptable finish (if the two are different)?

 

Being realistic, we have overachieved the past 2 seasons and there's going to be a natural limit to how far we can keep progression in terms of league position - unless we pull off a Leicester style miracle.

 

I'd say top 10 with getting out the group in the EL and a decent run in the FA/League Cup would be a good season but each to their own...

 

Expectations? Top half and Last 16 of Europa League. Acceptable? Top half and Last 32 of Europa League. I'd take 13th and winning a Cup though (preferably not the kids winning the Checkatrade Trophy).

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Personally I think from the players' point of view they will be desperately disappointed to finish lower than 8th. I reckon Fonte will be looking for another record finish and trying to drive everyone to achieve it.

 

I honestly don't think we are at the end of a journey, but the beginning of one. And I think the players will give everything to try to top last season.

 

Footballers earn a lot of money and some lose their desire and their passion. Leicester showed last season how far you can get just with grit , determination and belief. As did Portugal in the Euro's after Fonte and Cedric came into the side. As have Atletico Madrid under Simeone. I think passion and drive is in our dna now as a squad no matter who comes and goes. The most important thing to keep this camaraderie in the club and the squad I think has to be Fonte. He's been there since the start

 

So I don't think anyone should underestimate the factor of Fonte alone as a leader and his drive to succeed and be a role model for younger players. This in turn is helping making all the players better, more confident and play for one another. The new players that come in are not only good signings, but are made to feel at home straight away. They feel happy and want to do well for the squad. Whereas at other teams new players could feel like they don't belong and don't feel like they want to give their all for the team. I think it's what's happened to Schneiderlin at Manchester Utd.

 

Fonte's been here through the whole journey and I believe he was the key player for Portugal. For Ronaldo and his career (apart from the World Cup) Fonte has been like the final piece in the puzzle for Ronaldo and Portugal. Ronaldo always wanted to win a tournament on the international stage and I think if he has to thank one person it ought to be Fonte. Fonte looked like a leader and a rock in the Euro's the moment he got game time, in a side that he hasn't played many games for. That says a lot for me.

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If Liverpool can get to the Europa cup final, we can win it! I'll be happy if we just get through the group stages though.

I'm making the same prediction for the prem as I have every year since we were promoted - 12th (it's served me well so far!).

FA cup & League cup we'll go straight out of (it's just what we do in those I'm afraid!).

I think we're in with a shout of winning the JPT!

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Expectations? Top half and Last 16 of Europa League. Acceptable? Top half and Last 32 of Europa League. I'd take 13th and winning a Cup though (preferably not the kids winning the Checkatrade Trophy).

is the correct answer.

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bout time we took the domestic cups seriously.

the last couple of seasons have been shyte to be honest.

 

come on, at get a wembley appearance...even if that is a semi final in the FA Cup

 

We have taken them seriously just haven't won them. Lots of clubs do want to win them believe it or not and it isn't just effort that gets you there.

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I am not convinced by our attempt to establish a diamond midfield. I've watched the last four matches and whilst the teams are mixed and only Van Dyjk was playing of what should be our first choice back four. I don't see Redmond as a clinical finisher Or Tadic as an effective 10. I prefer Tadic and Redmond wide and Long and Austin playing off each other. Those four would be useful in last years formation but they won't all play in the diamond. Long is our best front man but Austin is far and away our best finisher.

 

I fear this is a coach with a pre determined system rather than playing a system that the players suit. The players are being made to fit the system which often ends in failure. I just don't want us to have a bad start with a loss of confidence and be well down the league with a team management struggling to see where the next point is coming from. Looking at having to make a change to try and survive.

 

I want us to blast off and average a couple of points a game but I'm not at all sure we can adapt.

 

I agree, have 3 main concerns.

- the intention of Puel to fit players into his chosen system rather than play to the players strengths.

- our ability to score goals. I'm not convinced that Redmond is the striker that Puel says he is. Far more likely to provide assists than goals, he certainly won't score as many as Mane.

- our 'settled back 5' have yet to play together preseason and question marks over Bertrand's fitness, we could do with that unit of Forster, Cedric, VVD, Fonte and Bertrand being ready to go from day 1.

 

I think we've got the basis of a good squad, lots of new managers in the league so some are bound to struggle and I see us being about 10th - 12th in the league. Would be fantastic to have a good European run with some memorable nights under the lights at St Marys. Due to where I lived I went to Fulham's home games on their run to Europa league final (mainly thanks to really cheap tickets) and was very jealous of them then beating teams like Juventus 4-1 so let's take our chance now.

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I don't buy the 'we massively overachieved last season' argument.

 

We were dismal at the start, and awful for 10 games around Christmas.

 

We're comfortably a top 8 club, and we'll be in the top 8 this season.

 

Getting out of the Europa group would be awesome - and I think we will.

 

Quarter finals of one of the cups.

 

It's going to be great.

 

Couldn't agree more- spot on.

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Claude Puel is now asking for patience as we may not be ready for the start of the season as we are not yet fully into the new system. If we aren't ready it is self inflicted by introducing a new system into a successful team that would be ready playing it's usual system. I'm a believer in the old adage " If it isn't broke, don't fix it".

 

I can't see him getting much patience if it doesn't work.

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7th would be a major achievement. Chelsea and Liverpool are bound to get their sh*t together, though maybe Leicester fall by the wayside.

 

So 7th or better plus a domestic cup run and a good fist of the Europa League is the best we can expect and I would be satisfied with that.

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Claude Puel is now asking for patience as we may not be ready for the start of the season as we are not yet fully into the new system. If we aren't ready it is self inflicted by introducing a new system into a successful team that would be ready playing it's usual system. I'm a believer in the old adage " If it isn't broke, don't fix it".

 

I can't see him getting much patience if it doesn't work.

 

Yes, I've got a nagging feeling this is either going to end in tears for Puel or there will be some belated recognition that the squad has some major deficiencies in the attacking/creative areas. Adapting to Puel's new system is one thing but there are so many other weak spots with Watford only a week away. Foremost, Mane has not been replaced and his loss will hit us hard; not just the goals he scored but the other qualities he provided with direct running, link up play and assists. The optimism around J-Rod seems misplaced; Redmond is a promising wide player, but to think he can transform into a clinical striker is a stretch; Austin has always been most effective inside the area yet the new system has him covering areas outside the box. Tadic seems destined to start the season as our creative 10 but his best Football has been played from the flank. Once again we seem to be placing faith in JWP to crack it as the next big thing in midfield even though his 100 plus appearances have delivered little apart from honed corners and free kicks. I have some sympathy for the new Manager having only been here for a month or so but we are going to start the season with a squad which appears considerably weaker with a tough Prem season and Europa League beckoning.

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Yes, I've got a nagging feeling this is either going to end in tears for Puel or there will be some belated recognition that the squad has some major deficiencies in the attacking/creative areas. Adapting to Puel's new system is one thing but there are so many other weak spots with Watford only a week away. Foremost, Mane has not been replaced and his loss will hit us hard; not just the goals he scored but the other qualities he provided with direct running, link up play and assists. The optimism around J-Rod seems misplaced; Redmond is a promising wide player, but to think he can transform into a clinical striker is a stretch; Austin has always been most effective inside the area yet the new system has him covering areas outside the box. Tadic seems destined to start the season as our creative 10 but his best Football has been played from the flank. Once again we seem to be placing faith in JWP to crack it as the next big thing in midfield even though his 100 plus appearances have delivered little apart from honed corners and free kicks. I have some sympathy for the new Manager having only been here for a month or so but we are going to start the season with a squad which appears considerably weaker with a tough Prem season and Europa League beckoning.

 

When I saw the fixture list, I thought great, we've got Watford at home in our opening game. We could win that 4-0. This is our chance to go top of the Premier League for the first time in our history. It's a very small milestone I know but one I was looking forward to and it would give us some momentum. I'm still hoping we can pull it off. But, the loss of both Mane and Pelle and the lack of a replacement so far makes it look less likely. Even if we do bring a new striker in, it would probably be too late for him to play in our first game. We seem to have left our pre-season planning and transfer dealings a bit late this year.

 

When last season ended, I couldn't wait for this one to begin and my expectations were that we would finish 5th this season, do well in Europe and possibly even win a cup. I think most fans shared those expectations after the 4-1 win v Palace. Season ticket sales soared and those initial sales before the loss of Koeman, Wanyama, Mane and Pelle, mean that most games will sell out this season. But, after the losses of those key players, as well as the manager some of that optimism was lost. I think this summer could have been handled better by the club. But, I'm still hoping they've got it right and we can pick up this season where we left off in May.

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As it stands now, my expectations aren't that high. The squad looks light when it comes to attacking options and so far I can't say I'm impressed with the new manager.

 

Top 10, winning a a couple of matches in Europe and getting through a few rounds in the cups wouldn't be too bad.

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I am happy with the squad we have got, goals come from playing well and we have the personnel to play well and score. If we bring in a new striker, who moves aside? Long hit really good form at the end of last season and we were all really happy that he signed an extension, we have spent hundreds of thousands on getting J Rod back and he was the business just before his first injury, Austin is a newish addition who we were all happy to have signed and was brought in to replace Pelle.

 

Surely people were expecting the outgoings that left (apart from Koeman) and surely people understand that clubs never do all their business early, so why expect us to do it this year with a new manager. Finally with a new manager, euro disruption and a short closed season (is it or does it just seem like it is) it is easy to understand that we wont be flying on day 1, who will be.

 

Every summer dicks moan about us handling it badly, that's nothing new but I think I've heard it all now that someone is angry that we haven't thrown everything behind getting the top spot after game 1.

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Top 8/9 should be the minimum accepted league position for the fans to be honest, i hope the club can achieve it, but I am not fully confident that we can.

 

Sadly we are currently weaker as all our transfers in are poorer that the players in last years starting 11, we've also lost some key players. I also think we have not yet adapted to the new system and look pretty damn blunt up front.

 

Still, recent seasons are what the club should be judged against, there is no reason as to why we shouldn't come close to matching them, and therefore that is what the season should be judged against.

 

I also like Puel, but he does seem to have the charisma of a blunt wooden spoon in his interviews :?

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I am happy with the squad we have got, goals come from playing well and we have the personnel to play well and score. If we bring in a new striker, who moves aside? Long hit really good form at the end of last season and we were all really happy that he signed an extension, we have spent hundreds of thousands on getting J Rod back and he was the business just before his first injury, Austin is a newish addition who we were all happy to have signed and was brought in to replace Pelle.

 

Surely people were expecting the outgoings that left (apart from Koeman) and surely people understand that clubs never do all their business early, so why expect us to do it this year with a new manager. Finally with a new manager, euro disruption and a short closed season (is it or does it just seem like it is) it is easy to understand that we wont be flying on day 1, who will be.

 

Every summer dicks moan about us handling it badly, that's nothing new but I think I've heard it all now that someone is angry that we haven't thrown everything behind getting the top spot after game 1.

 

Good, then maybe you can finally stop posting pathetic insults at everyone who disagrees with you. I just clicked on your previous posts and they were all pretty much the same childish stuff. It's ironic that you posted this, isn't it?

 

by Fan The Flames

 

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I'm assuming from your user name and your mild aggression that you have a very small ****.

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I am happy with the squad we have got, goals come from playing well and we have the personnel to play well and score. If we bring in a new striker, who moves aside? Long hit really good form at the end of last season and we were all really happy that he signed an extension, we have spent hundreds of thousands on getting J Rod back and he was the business just before his first injury, Austin is a newish addition who we were all happy to have signed and was brought in to replace Pelle.

 

Surely people were expecting the outgoings that left (apart from Koeman) and surely people understand that clubs never do all their business early, so why expect us to do it this year with a new manager. Finally with a new manager, euro disruption and a short closed season (is it or does it just seem like it is) it is easy to understand that we wont be flying on day 1, who will be.

 

Every summer dicks moan about us handling it badly, that's nothing new but I think I've heard it all now that someone is angry that we haven't thrown everything behind getting the top spot after game 1.

 

:lol:

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When I saw the fixture list, I thought great, we've got Watford at home in our opening game. We could win that 4-0. This is our chance to go top of the Premier League for the first time in our history. It's a very small milestone I know but one I was looking forward to and it would give us some momentum. I'm still hoping we can pull it off. But, the loss of both Mane and Pelle and the lack of a replacement so far makes it look less likely. Even if we do bring a new striker in, it would probably be too late for him to play in our first game. We seem to have left our pre-season planning and transfer dealings a bit late this year.

 

When last season ended, I couldn't wait for this one to begin and my expectations were that we would finish 5th this season, do well in Europe and possibly even win a cup. I think most fans shared those expectations after the 4-1 win v Palace. Season ticket sales soared and those initial sales before the loss of Koeman, Wanyama, Mane and Pelle, mean that most games will sell out this season. But, after the losses of those key players, as well as the manager some of that optimism was lost. I think this summer could have been handled better by the club. But, I'm still hoping they've got it right and we can pick up this season where we left off in May.

 

Wow.

You'd genuinely be disappointed at your beloved club if they don't smash watford by such a margin that they go top of the league?

 

If your reasonable expectation is 5th you haven't got a clue about the state of the league and where Saints sit in that. If you think Leicester winning was a sign of the times changing you're mistaken. It was a reflection on the fact that some of the big clubs have rested on their laurels the last few years and this was a wake up call. Liverpool post-Suarez money and Man Utd post Fergie, as well as a city side with aging players and a Chelsea side with Mourinho in his classic third season syndrome. You could have seen it coming a mile off with hindsight.

I'm not saying let's not be ambitious. But how is it unambitious to replace primadonnas (Wanyama/Mane) who wanted to leave the club with younger, hungrier players and a bigger more stable squad, most of whom are now signed on till 2020? Koeman left for money or whatever else, we got two years out a manager who didn't fit our ethos of youth and who was hell bent on bringing the Dutch league/national side over to Saints, including Clasie who is at best, feisty and a luxury passer. He's improving, but he's not a success yet.

We have plenty of time to bring in a fowrward - Guan said it takes time to bring attacking talent and I take that as an indication that there's more to come. If he comes in for the Watford game or not is of no consequence to our finishing position. To click your fingers and expect transfers to be wrapped up early July is nonsense - it isn't Fifa. If I were a selling club there's not a chance I'd take the first offer that came my way - why? Leave it a few weeks see what else comes in. Maybe one of the clubs with a rich owner will come along.

 

Most fans shared the expectation because of a win against palace? Last home game was the sweet icing on a reasonable cake. We didn't have the best of times in the winter but we got through. Optimism is only lost if you are basing your idea of what Southampton FC is as a club on the last three or four seasons, or even two seasons for Pete's sake.

 

To say 'Got it right' is misleading. They're more likely to get it right than you, unless I'm mistaken and you are part of football management in real life.

 

In which case, ignore the above.

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Good, then maybe you can finally stop posting pathetic insults at everyone who disagrees with you. I just clicked on your previous posts and they were all pretty much the same childish stuff. It's ironic that you posted this, isn't it?

 

by Fan The Flames

 

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I'm assuming from your user name and your mild aggression that you have a very small ****.

 

I like many only respond when I don't agree with something, mush this message board is where people disagree, you shouldn't take it so badly.

 

You have flip flopped from thinking we will finish 5 and a cup final to everything's lost because we have sold three players that most thought we would lose. Then you are moaning like all the other moaners about our summer activities, despite having a good squad with european football to look forward too, the interest of a new boss and style of football, two good players coming back from injury. But you want a big signing so we can smash Watford and be top of the league for the momentum it will give us, and you call me childish, now that's ironic.

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No rational person could. It's all a bit like the Stepford Wives.

Fulham look like they could be going top of the league. Top of the league. TOP OF THE LEAGUE. Going to give them so much momentum. Top of the league.

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Hard to say what to expect this season as I don't know if Puel is a tactical genius and I don't know if there are reinforcements coming. After the loss of Mane, Pelle and Wanyama the current squad doesn't impress me much so hopefully Puel is able to let the team play in a system that will be difficult for any opponent to play against. It looks like all the creativity has to come from Tadic and that's really poor in my opinion. Hopefully he's able to deliver the quality needed and won't get injured too fast. It would be very wise to buy some more creative players who will give Puel more options when it comes to creating chances and also make the game more attractive to watch.

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Claude Puel is now asking for patience as we may not be ready for the start of the season as we are not yet fully into the new system. If we aren't ready it is self inflicted by introducing a new system into a successful team that would be ready playing it's usual system. I'm a believer in the old adage " If it isn't broke, don't fix it".

 

I can't see him getting much patience if it doesn't work.

 

When did Puel ask for patience ? I've not seen this. All the interviews I've seen with him he's been very positive about the club, the players and the new season. Not seen him trying to dampen down expectations at all.

 

Think some of the fans have said that we should have patience with him and see how it goes but that doesn't seem unreasonable given that he hasn't actually lost a game yet.

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