About this stage in the proceedings last season I posted a thread about all the club records(In the PL era) the team were hoping to break We were marooned in 8th and these little records were being pushed by the club as a target. As we all know last season was a successful one and the vast majority of those records were broken, but with 8 games left to play and the champions league places still in touching distance it seems the achievements of last season will be the equivalent of an X Factor winners pop career Current Standing Position..Team.......P.....W.....D...L....F.....A..GD...PTS 6 - Southampton - 30 - 16 - 5 - 9 -42 - 21 - 21 - 53 Last Season Position..Team.......P.....W.....D...L....F.....A..GD...PTS 8 - Southampton - 38 - 15 - 11-12 -54 - 46 - 8 - 56 Team Stats Highest Position - 8th - 02/03 & 13/14 Most Points - 56 - 13/14 previous best 52 - 00/01 & 02/03 Most Wins - 16 - 14/15 Most Goals - 54 - 13/14 previous best 50 - 96/97 & 97/98 Fewest Goals against - 45 - 03/04 Most Clean Sheets - 15 - 13/14* previous best 14 - 00/01 Goal Difference - +8 - 13/14 previous best -1 - 03/04 Most Away Wins - 7 - 13/14 & 14/15 *We currently have 14 clean sheets Of all the records above only goals against was not bettered or equalled by Pochettino's boys 2014/15 Progress... So far Koeman has cut out the draws and has already scooped the most wins with 8 games remaining. The team is on equal standing for away wins with a respectable 7 on the board(5 away games to go) One more clean sheet required to equal last season. The team would have to concede an average of three goals a game to fail to better the goals against record. Goals for might prove the trickiest with 13 required. Only three points away from last seasons tally So with the stats on the table what is it about this seasons team which makes it better than last seasons?
Still got 8 games to go, so we will surely beat points compared with last season. Our GD is higher at the moment than those quoted for 2013/14 and will probably increase. Our success under Koeman is based on a solid defence (best in league), hence our stat of winning 14/15 games where we go ahead (dropping 2 points to Chelsea the only exception). Each season is different....the only stat that really matters at the end of the season is league position.
It's the *team* element that works better this season I think. Plus the lack of mid season distractions.
Last season we had a manager who never spoke to us...this season, we have a manager who tweets us pictures.
another record mentioned on MOTD...we have the most OG in our favour (5). Think this reflects how hard to handle our players can be.
Lovely finish for todays goal. Just shows if you put pressure in the right areas then it can lead to mistakes
And because they like to take away our goals and call them own goals. We seem luckier that way. See Manes first goal for the club against Sunderland. Not that I'm cynical or anything. Another stat. Poor old Pelle has hit the woodwork 7 times so far this season, more than any other player,
I'm not sure I understand the post. Is the OP suggesting that this season is not really better than last season. Forgive my ignorance or misunderstanding .. Blame Leffe. I read this as this seasons stats being better or on a par than last year in all but goals scored with 8 games left. Clearly seems this season is better?? What did I miss?
I believe he is saying that, if last season was "record breaking", this season is even better. It is surely a positive thread.
I thought that was where it was headed, but the bit about pochettino's boys being equal or better to the stats, made me wonder. As I said. Leffe.
I thought the OP was suggesting the stats were similar and he wanted to start a discussion about why it feels so much better.
Maybe and as you said, with 8 games left, this is going to turn out much better with the possible exception of goals scored. I just wasn't clear on the reasoning, not criticising him. One obvious reason was the expectation level at the start of the season.
The stat that I find most odd is that we've only won half of our games. Everything feels so much better than that doesn't it?
The same as United and only three less than Chelsea, but I know what you mean. I think I must be erasing them from the ol' memory banks. Koeman always looks so calm and happy that I put every game down as a win
Sorry for the confusing lay out My point was that last seasons team were the best in the premier league era in all measurements except goals against. The current side is very likely to better all those records. The question was what makes this team better than last seasons team? Individuals? Tactics? Squad Depth? Weaker opposition? Luck?
The layout is less confusing if you turn your phone 90 degrees! The one figure for me is gd, we've smashed our previous best. Plucky over achievers do not have a GD of 21.
Defence. The stats are obvious in that regard but I havent felt like we are a force going forward since well before xmas. Thats not to be negative for the sake of it but looking back on the season we just haven't had a great attacking threat this time. We've made it through on one goal so many times is how it feels. The only reason we can do that is that the defence has been incredible. I'm including Schneiderlin and Wanyama in there, the middle of the field has been impenetrable this season. Despite not being goal machines, I have had a great season watching the team play. The style, control and elegance with which we play has been a pleasure.
Koeman has a wonderful presence. He is clearly genuinely enjoying being Southampton manager Didn't we lose the most points from winning positions last season too? That could effect the mood. We're holding those winning situations this term (converting draws into wins, or keeping them as wins)
I'd also imagine that Ronald is very easy to understand in his communication. Everything he says seems to be simple, honest, to the point and easy to get what he means. This must also be important to the players.
