Premier League Thread 2015-16

I absolutely 100% agree with that.

 

May I also add that if Koeman and/or his representatives are using the 'well you haven't got European football' argument in negotiations with the board of Southampton Football Club then I am more than happy for us to open the exit door and find a new manager.

(although I would still appreciate what Ronald did for us in his first season)

 

Yes indeed. I also appreciate what Ron has achieved in his second season, but we're about 6 points shy of where we ought to be, minimum.

 

Are we really a better team than any of the ones above us?

 

In short, no.

 

Hmm, well for what it's worth here is my take...

Leicester are having a freak season, it won't repeat next season. (you can bookmark that...!)

So of the six teams above us, I'd say we're on par with West Ham in terms of our squad. We should be battling with them for 6th based on this season. Of course you do have to factor in Chelsea, who are currently below us. However, we don't know if one or more of the clubs above us this season will fall away.

Anyway...

My point is, we're no worse than West Ham in terms of ability and potential. What they've got over us is consistency, and that ability to find the 'breakthrough goal', thanks to a special player in Dimitri Payet and also good 'Plan B' players like Andy Carroll.

The way this season has panned out (drawing with AVFC, losing to NCFC, drawing with SAFC, drawing with NUFC) we should have been neck and neck with the Hammers. But we've drifted off the pace.

I'm not angry or upset about that, but it's a little frustrating. I get that all teams lose some they shouldn't and win some they shouldn't (Arsenal, Chelsea, United etc.) but I feel like we've just come up short this season.

Factor in Fraser's absence, the fiddling around with right-backs, getting Clasie up to speed and Pellè/Mané's dry spells - you can see why it happened.

If we can keep the vast majority of this squad together, add some real quality this summer and find that consistency then we'll be in Europe again soon enough. We need to be ready to pounce when big clubs fall away (Chelsea, and Liverpool pre-Klopp). Of course if you have a Leicester-type emerge every season that becomes harder, but that should be the aim.

We need to be wary of standing still though, because it's very easy to start going backwards and finding it hard to put the brakes on when you do.

 

The problem with this is is that there are probably 5 or so other teams in a very similar situation, this summer is going to be massive for those "borderline" European teams like Saints, Everton, Stoke, West Ham and throw Leicester in aswell as with the extra TV money all are in risk of falling away if they get it wrong.

 

Absolutely. But that's got to be the aim for us, no doubt.

We should be hoping to cement ourselves a reputation as a top 10/8 club who qualify for Europe at times and push for the domestic cups.

Our performances in domestic cup competitions have been pretty disappointing since we came back up in 2012.

 

In one sense, yes, as we are, on our day, capable of beating any of them. Where we have suffered is our terrible inability to close out games we should win. Saturday's game against Everton encapsulated our whole season: good build up play marred by the lack of a final ball, or poor finishing, and at the other end, solid defence let down by lapses in concentration at key moments. If only we could add a player of the ability of Payet or Coutinho, plus a right back as good as Bertrand is on the other side, we would be as good as most of those above us.

 

Agree it has to be our aim.

Are we not behind those teams I've listed (bar Leicester) in terms of wages paid? That for me is the biggest thing that we need to re-vamp this summer with the extra TV deal money.

 

So no we aren't as good then because we don't have a Coutinho or a Payet and the teams above us do. Stoke/Everton/Chelsea who are all below us in the league are as good as most teams on their day aswell.

 

I thought we'd have a transitional season and end up about twelfth, so to be 8th is a decent season I believe.

 

Exactly what I was saying the other day.
Adding either or both wouldn't necessarily guarantee us a 1st, 2nd, 3rd 4th, 5th or 6th. But it would increase the chances of achieving those placings by a huge amount in my opinion. I'll stick my neck out and say we'd be a stone walled European side if we added a Payet and/or Coutinho. Possibly without even bothering to strengthen at RB [but it certainly wouldn't hurt to do so]. We are certainly a couple of additions of that quality away from taking the next step forward, and I think the Club know it..

 

Agreed. I don't think that we are among the most talented squads in what is a particularly difficult edition of the Premier League. We're very good defensively, and as a consequence we have a chance in every match. Our attacking talent is much more prosaic, IMO, and it shouldn't be shocking to see us fail to create goals when the couple of dynamic players we do have go off the boil. Had we finished in the mid-table position that many mooted for last year, eighth (and what might end up being our second-best ever PL points total, surpassed only by his first season), would be feted pretty richly.

If Koeman uses the lack of European qualification in negotiations, it really comes down to how he uses it. If it's that he views himself as a European manager and will settle for no less, sure, he has some responsibility there. If he's dubious that the new five-year plan gives us a reasonable likelihood of getting back there regularly, that's another.

However...if Koeman opts not to sign a new deal, should we really stick with him for a final season? Not because boo, hiss traitorous scum, but if this is to be year one of our new master plan to reach the upper echelons of the league, it makes very little sense to do it with a lame duck coach.

 

Spot on.


I am going to really dislike the next few months on here, I can tell. Nobody on this thread has started moaning yet, but I can feel the under current building.

As soon as I saw the first post about saying goodbye to 7th, I thought "uh oh, here it comes."

There are 20 teams trying to achieve something each season in the Premier League. Some just survival, some top half, some challenging for Europe, some challenging to win it and most to better themselves, DTLW listed some games we lost (sorry DTLW, not digging you, just using it as an example) but what's unwrapped to do was point out what other teams did against those clubs. We just can't say, oh we lost to Norwich, drew with Villa, etc. What about the fact we didn't beat 15th place Chelsea at home? This happens to several teams. It is what makes football the sport it is. This season more than ever. Yes there was an opportunity this season to step up, but it was there for several clubs.

It is about expectation every year. Too often people expect too much. We all want it and we all hope for it. I genuinely believe some people expect it.

It's been a very interesting season for us and presently has just exceeded whereby thought we'd be, however a tail off now will put us where I thought; like Laces, about 12th.

 

This is a great point and the most pressing issue for me today. I was considering this last night. Here are the scenarios as I see them:

1. Ron signs a new 3-5 year deal - Great he believes in the excellent 5 year plan that Les and Ralph have shown him. We march on.

2. He signs a 1 year extension - he likes then5 year plan but is not 100% convinced they mean what they say (budgets etc) however he believes it enough to tread forward gently. I'm ok with that.

3. He doesn't sign a new deal before the season starts - mmmm looks like he is off and wants to honour his contract. As Schad says - is this a lame duck? What players will sign for a coach who very likely will be off? Will players stay?

This last scenario could make for an uncomfortable summer.

 

I'm not sure I can.

 

After the manning comment as well, I'm not too sure I want to be a part of this forum anymore

 

Oops moaning .... I bet you can do that

 

Oh my. I need a drink

#fatfingers