Top 4 or FA Cup?

Assumed that this would be a no-brainer and that everyone would want 4th place but opinion on Saintsweb seems to be divided so thought it might be interesting to have a discussion here.

Reasons why it's a no brainer for me:

1) Champions League would mean unbelievable excitement, never experienced before by Saints fans past or present.
2) We would be able to attract big name players.
3) We would have more of a case for keeping our current players and manager.
4) We would increase revenues hugely, allowing us more Financial Fair Play leeway.
5) FA cup is a poisoned chalice! Look at Wigan and Pompey in recent years.

So what is it for you and why? Am I being disrespectful to the heritage of the FA cup by suggesting it's a no-brainer?

 

Top 4 for sure for all the reasons you mentioned.

We need to remember that along with our great form this season a few of the big boys haven't been performing to potential which is a big part of our current place. Last season (13/14) our 39 pts would've put us in 7th place, and in the seasons before that (11/12 and 12/13) in 5th. A lot of clubs have struggled or still are struggling which has given us a rare opportunity, so lets take it.

Edit: http://www.statbunker.com/competitions/LeagueTable?comp_id=373 if you want to look up past seasons.

 

Top 4 but lets do both

 

1 to 4 are obviously worth more for next season than a cup run, but don't agree with 5.
May have been a poisoned chalice to relegation contenders but not to top 4. You can't compare us this year with those two lost causes.
ManU and Chelsea can win the League and Cup so no reason why we can't win the cup and get top 4.

And as regards no-brainer, the cup is about the heart, not the brain. I would never want to lose an FA Cup game and nor would Ronald.

 

Top 4 for definite.

I would happily take a loss against Ipswich tonight if it meant we went into the last game of the season with a top 4 finish in our hands.

 

4th place for me. The FA cup is of course a great trophy to win and I hope to see us lift it in my lifetime, but the excitement of 4th place is enough for me. Never experienced it before, can attract the best places, put us on the world map for good. Real madrid and Barca fans wouldn't go bat an eyelid should they see us win the fa cup. However, to see us in a champions league group alongside them and they would notice us. Plus agree with points already made that this season big teams have underachieved, who knows how long it would be to actually have another crack if we failed this season.

 

Difference being the squad depth and the quality of backup players available to those sides.

 

We have to go for both or we could end up with neither. We can't pick and choose. That is why I disagree with people who say we should play a weakened side...we could miss out on top 4 and then regret going out in the FA Cup. Winning is a habit...we should go for everything.

FA Cup or Top 4 if it was a real choice? Historically, the Cup every time...you can't eradicate that from your history. Every time we appeared in the Cup, we would be described as 2 times winner. Financially, top 4...this chance may not come along very often and would give us clout in the transfer market. At this moment, I would say top 4 because I want Saints to be seen as real contenders, but you have to play every game as if you are going for both.

 

Obviously would be very nice to win it, and i'd celebrate like a loon. But that thought if possible CL football..

 

Agree with Fran, we have to go for both, but if I had to choose one, it would be winning the FA Cup without doubt. It's a more likely achievement for a start, and for me a lot more prestigious. Also a lot of people seem to be making the assumption that were we to finish 4th that we would get past the qualifier into the group stage. That's a pretty big assumption to make considering we wouldn't be seeded for the draw so would like come up against a team that 1) Would likely be better than us and 2) have a lot more european nous than us (though I think our style is suited to european football). That would be one hell of an anti climax and we'd be in the Europa, which winning the FA Cup gives you anyway

 

But we are only aiming for top 4 not to be Champions.
ManUs backup players not looking so good this season are they?
We may worry about our central defensive options but they've got Smalling, Jones and Evans, nuff said?

 

Just qualifying for the Champions' League gives us kudos, but we need the luck of the draw to progress. It would still be nicer to start there, even if we end up in the Europa eventually. It would give us clout.

 

Not if we didn't make the group stages it wouldn't be nice. Infact it'd be a big come down from the buzz of before! Plus it's the group stages where the money is at!

 

This is a great team, we are lucky to have them this season! Which will likely be dismantled by the richer clubs at the end of season.

An FA cup win would immortalise this team for forever.

That's the power of the FA cup

Ps I really want to go to Wembley

 

This is like choosing which games you would like to lose. There is no way on earth that Saints will not go 100% for both competitions, that is the no-brainer. Yes, there will be an element of squad rotation for the cup games (hopefully more than one!) but that is also true of the league games. Ronald's philosophy is that footballers want to play football, every 3 days if possible, so there is no way he will want Cup Saturdays to be days off. Ronald also knows that the FA Cup has a unique place in football. Those of us who remember 1976 will want a repeat of that fantastic achievement, but qualifying (and I mean top 3) for the Champions League as well. This is possible. Don't believe it isn't!

 

I think even qualifying for the CL would mean we would be seen in a different light by sponsors and players. Remember this wouldn't be qualifying from one of the small leagues, but qualifying from one of the top leagues in Europe.

 

ChilcoSaint: so there is no way he will want Cup Saturdays to be days off.

Whilst I agree, Ron and Sammy would leave skidmarks as they shot off to Holland, leaving poor Sammy Lee at home alone

 

FA Cup.

That is actual silverware, actual history. Our biggest "I was there" moment. And, in my opinion, coupled with top 6, it would be a big motivator in convincing players to stay.

4th place, we would still need to qualify for CL proper, no easy feat.

 

Even if we lose the Champions League qualifier, we still get a Europa League berth.

Europe would mean more for the club in the long run in terms of convincing players to stay, enticing new players and sponsors alike.

Besides, finish top 4 and I think we would keep hold of Morgan and that is reason enough for me

 

Top4. Won't be too fussed if we lose tonight. Will be very fussed if we lose a couple of games in the league.