Sky Sports News' Mark McAdam on Twitter: Met Jose Fonte at #saintsfc today. "If Ronaldo wants to win the Champions league he should come here..." Feature on SSN tomorrow from 6pm. DTLW
It does seem that all the players are absolutely focused on CL qualification, we, the supports need to believe they can do it as well. Not sure after how many games will it potentially sink it that this Saints squad is the real deal
I said we had a top 6 first 11 before the season and early doors too and was lampooned by the 'realists'. I still think that we have a top 6 first 11 with the caveat that I make that statement assuming no injuries and we are only talking using the basic 11 + Cork, JWP etc. I think top 4 is a big ask but I have no qualms about saying we can achieve top 6. Whether we actually do is another matter entirely but we definitely do have the squad, manager and tactics to achieve top 6.
I've said before that Newcastle got promoted, consolidated and then came fifth, so I think that should be our target. The league is the most open it's been in a while; Utd, Chelsea, City and Everton have all had changes of managers who will take time to adjust, and Tottenham have made a load of signings who, again, will take time to adjust. It's no coincidence that, for me, Arsenal and Liverpool have made the best starts as their managers know the team, as well as their strong finishes to last season. I'd say that we have a top 10 first 11 (not necessarily 10th best). Our squad isn't as strong as our 11 but fine in most areas. However, a long-term injury to Boruc, Shaw, Lallana or Lambert and I'd start to worry.
Same here I've now heard it enough times as to be convinced - I am now busy convincing others, anyone that will listen
I think our first 11 is close to top 6 (need quality attacking midfielder for me), whether that 11 can sustain the pressing game over a season remains to be seen. The squad is not top 6 though
I like the gap that has opened up between 7th and 8th. Man U will bridge it soon, we need to stay above it for as long as possible.
Who out of Arsenal, Man U, Man C, Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool do you think our best 11 is better than?
Manure, therefore 6th is a possibility.. On a par with Liverpool, so depending on injuries maybe 5th.. Only discussing first 11, not the squad.. Put our back 7 behind any of the above front 4 and it would win the league, plus on current form Lallana would find his way into the Liverpool and Manure first teams..
I have believed for a long time- it's just the pace of things with which I am having trouble keeping up.
Playing devils advocate here, but you are basically saying that we have the best back 7 in the league. Whilst the stats back it up, do you not think it is mainly down to the way that we play that is the reason we are so good defensively? Take our current back 7 and put them under a different manager and you wouldn't see the same results, and probably worse defensive records than those teams listed currently have
I certainly admire the enthusiasm of a few.......Not saying they are wrong to predict Saints being in the top 6-8.....but heck there is such a long way to go. At this stage of the season two bad results can easily slip you way down the league. Just ask a Man U fan!!! I am yet to be totally convinced we are up high in the league to stay...I'd like to think we are......but have been a Saints fan too long to just accept we are as good as is being suggested. I guess we will have to see how things pan out...still think we are a couple of players short of top six billing......nearly there, but not quite........
We should enjoy our current moment in the sun where all the pundits and media are having one crazy saints love in, but i don't think we have the fire power required for a top 4 finish. Our form has gone on for too long now to be dismissed, but to stay in upper echelons of the division requires a lot of wins and i think we'll end up with too many draws. I fancy saints to pick up points against anyone home or away but I never think of us going into a game as nailed on certainties. That could be driven by natural pessimism but its more to do with the fact we've not won games by large margins. If we stay in a good position come January then i'm sure we'll be in the market for that much sort quality attacking midfielder who could make the difference. I wouldn't want to guess where we may finish because it has as much to do with the form of the others and that's currently pretty inconsistent, but i'm confident enough at present to think we'll be closer to 6th place for points than 11th
I agree, next three games are massive though, all very winnable, take 9 points and we'll make that break away from the mid-pack of the league, and also setup an awesome 6 pointer at the top with Arsenal!
Someone mentioned above that we have a top 6 first 11, and I think that's true. But how far does that quality go..? Well, if Lovren is injured he can be replaced by Yoshida or Hooiveld. Probably Hooiveld, because it's the left side. Still top 6..? Yet, only yesterday there were posters on this forum who suggested another high quality CB was not required. That is completely wrong, in my opinion. This club keeps mentioning a competition called the Champions League and they want to play in it. Now hard work, and superb defensive systems will only get you so far. Quality gets you the rest of the way, and Saints don't want to take chances with personnel. So if we want to see Saints in the Champions League we have to realise that not only will we possibly need a replacement CB, we will possibly need a couple of better midfielders, a couple of better strikers. The list goes on and there may be several upgrades in quality. Get used to it.
