Koeman rules out UCL / Tells fans to be realistic, SFC "need" to make Europa League

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/fo...ague-Southampton-Champions-League-unrealistic


DTLW

 

I'm sure Ron was always realistic, but would never say so while we were 2nd and other teams were performing badly....got to keep team positivity. And the situation would have been different if we had managed to open the gap more over the last few games. No one says fans have to be realistic

 

Needed to be said. Back to bread n butter this weekend, win this and we can prepare for the cup game in good condition, lose & those lingering doubts will start speeding up.

 

Oh no, so we're not really a Champions League team?

#slitswrists

 

Don't worry, fats. We are definitely a Champions League team...they are just not using the right criteria

 

Well the way I see it. It depends on who we sign in January, if we want to challenge and break into the top 4 this season, we need sign 2 or 3 better players to strengthen the squad.

 

Good ploy to lower expectations and take some pressure off, maybe? If we string three wins together now before X Mas we will be back in the top four at the halfway point of the season. Aresenal have got into the CL for years whilst not being able to beat the top 3 teams, so it can be done by beating everyone else.

Its a big ask but not impossible and I don't think Koeman comes across as the sort of person that will only want to consolidate our current position. We were at our best when we were under the radar, I thinjk he wants to try and give us that edge again.

 

Agree Si. Beat Burnley Everton and Palace and evenn if we lose to Chelsea we will likely be top 4 at the end of the year.

 

To be a champions league side you need belief. To have belief you have to start talking about it some time and that's what we did when we lying in 2nd place. That quote (?) will more than likely motivate the players to prove him wrong but if it helps to contain expectations amongst the fans even better

 

That's right Ron down play this situation so we can catch them at the end

 

I think the vast majority of Saints fans knew it wasn't a realistic objective.

 

Why isn't it a realistic objective? We're only just outside the top 4 so it's still very possible. And you're talking as if it's over. We're 1 point outside the top 4!

 

You'd think so. But the evidence on this forum suggested otherwise.

Anyway, for me realistic ambitions would be winning a cup, taking aim at 5th or 6th, and most importantly of all, finishing above Spurs or Liverpool, perhaps both. Achieving any of those would be a fantastic season after the summer we had.

 

Think we need to aim for top four to get top six. Hard to hit objectives, due to the pressure that comes into play when you're close - aim top six and we'll get top eight.

 

Who needs realism? I know it isn't down to us....we also needed the cooperation of teams like United and Arsenal. Although losing the last 3 games doesn't mean we are on a total slide, winning would have suggested the possibility of a shock. We'd not only still be 2nd, we would have opened a gap. I honestly couldn't see us losing all 3 of those games, but we did. If we get back to our form against most sides, the top 6 is (and should be) achievable. That would be progress, although it would feel disappointing at the moment. A Cup win or top 6 finish + one of the top sides winning a cup and we will be in the Europa Cup next season.

 

Here's why;

http://www.tsmplug.com/football/premier-league-player-salaries-club-by-club/

 

So based on that, we will finish 17th in the table? Don't read anything into that at all.

 

I don't see us finishing above any of United/City/Chelsea/Arsenal.


"You'd think so. But the evidence on this forum suggested otherwise.

Anyway, for me realistic ambitions would be winning a cup, taking aim at 5th or 6th, and most importantly of all, finishing above Spurs or Liverpool, perhaps both. Achieving any of those would be a fantastic season after the summer we had."


We agree on many levels Archers!! Cups are the priority for me, that's a more realistic aim for me, what is it? Win 4 games now? And if we could finish above Spurs and Pool would be great!! Even better if we knock them both out on the way to cup glory!

 

OK, that's your opinion and that's fine. But you said finishing top 4 isn't realistic. For me it is. I agree we won't finish above City and Chelsea. We could finish above United and Arsenal though. Not saying we will but stranger things have happened. Never rule anything out in football.

 

Okay let me rephrase. I think it's unrealistic to think we can finish above any of those sides. You say never rule anything out in football and to an extent I agree, anything can happen in a one off game etc. But I think there's some things you can rule out. Tell me this, how many clubs of a similar size to us have broken the top teams in the PL area?