When Shearer said Little Southampton on MOTD3 I twitched almost as much as 'Arry [sorry HR, I said I'd never joke about that again]: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29983057 MOTD3 was on Monday morning. Later in the evening I missed The Monday Night Club on Radio 5. Listening to it on iPlayer Radio 5 later still, at 40 odd minutes in, they were discussing Saints ability to stay in the top 4. And who mentioned that Saints weren't small anymore..? Steve Claridge..! He mentioned that Saints have splashed the cash in a very big way for the last few seasons, and they certainly aren't Little Southampton any more. So thank you Steve. I know you've done your research. You don't say empty throw away lines. You don't phone-in your comments. You do look past the top 4 and consider your comments seriously. You were the first pundit to break from the herd and say, they've got a real chance. You speak up and make proper appraisals of the rest of the clubs, throughout the leagues. Pundits like ex-Saint Alan Shearer could really take a leaf out of your book. And by the way, SC said we had an excellent chance of staying in the top 4. In fact the only one who was doubting was Motty and he said top 5. Tbf, Shearer and Keown said we might, as well. But they're just following the general line now. Even Savage was way earlier than AS. You'd think he'd keep a closer eye on us.
Keown has been singing our praises for quite a while now, but Steve Claridge is my favourite pundit. He's been praising Saints since we were in the Championship. The Monday Night Club was a really good listen. I'm just waiting for the moment when all the pundits, media etc genuinely believe we will finish in the top 4.
You're right, he has. My real niggle was with Shearer. Don't put you old club down AS. Even Matty can't say absolutely anything he likes and you're nowhere near his legendary status. Claridge has actually been making fair comments about Saints since we were in League One..!
And Savage has said "If Southampton finish in the top 4 it will be the greatest feat in Premier League history". My favourite pundit comment.
Yep, I heard that too. He's right as well. It would probably better Everton's effort. Wouldn't it be great if we weren't 4th, but higher still..?
Well I've believed ever since they made the announcement to strive for it over three or four years ago. It's why I keep banging on about people needing to stop doubting and stop being the fans of the club as it was pre-2009. We are new. There is no old unambitious Saints baggage.
3rd would do - straight into the group stages. I must admit, I've started to dream about the players walking out to the Champions league anthem.
Maybe I'm giving him too much credit, but when he said that I took it to mean the general perception of our club than the reality. If we're being honest, most football fans of other clubs still think of us as "little Southampton" or a "family club" if they feel like being nice (which we are, but not in the patronising way it's usually said). So when he said it I took it that he meant it with a hint of sarcasm that was aimed at fans of "big clubs" (i.e. How does it feel that "little Southampton" are above you) rather than a slight against us. After all, he's usually very complimentary about us when he's on MOTD etc. so it would go against his usual narrative. But yes, bravo Steve Claridge for being probably the only pundit who does any research on teams outside the traditional "big clubs". That's probably why he fronts the Football league show - none of the others would know any of the teams, let alone the player's names...
I've pictured Adam and Dejan in a hotel room in deepest, darkest Russia - watching Saints walk out to the Champions League anthem as we prepare to face Real Madrid at St. Mary's on a Wednesday night - as they prepare for their Europa League game on the Thursday.
This is the season we have proven once and for all that we aren't a small club anymore. Shearer needs to wake up.
Yep. Achieve that, and also get someone else to front the Champions League coverage apart from ITV and we're there.
I can just imagine if we did manage to qualify for the UCL, following a brief period of celebration from the media the muttering will start that "Well of course, we don't expect they'll get out of the Group stage, but...". Of course they would be forgetting that in recent years none of the teams from the Premier League have covered themselves in glory apart from Chelsea, who were the only British club to get past the Round of 16 in the last two seasons and went on to win the Final in 2012.
I don't personally think that we'll finish top 4, but if we were to somehow manage it, I hope it is 3rd as we would get an extremely tough draw in a qualifier and imagine losing that after all the previous seasons work...
Yeah! Oh and also, I'd love to get top 4 to prove Carragher wrong who said we have no chance of top 4 and a 50% chance of top 6!
To be fair to the others, it is actually his job to watch Football League clubs, and we were continuously one of the top clubs at that point, so - much as I like him - don't think Claridge is particularly going the extra mile on this one. If you want to revel in weekly Saints praise, the Guardian Football Weekly podcast is fertile ground. Philippe Auclair (also a regular CL highlights studio guest) in particular heaps it on us.
