The question of settling for 5th place now was raised on Saintsweb a few days ago, but thought worth asking as a way of assessing the real confidence of our fans. I'm not sure...I think the idea of finishing top 4 is slipping a bit for me...more because other teams are stepping up than because I feel we are dramatically falling away. What do you think?
No, i wouldn't. If we are to end out of top 4, it's of little matter to me whether it is 5th or 8th place. CL is the big prize.
Nope, but I will still be delighted if we finished 5th. But as we're in the top 4 at the moment, I wouldn't take it right now.
Why would anyone take 5th place when we have more than earned our right in the top 4, players coming back from injury will only help our cause to stay there. We deserve our chance,others haven't play to their potential we've upped our game,many thought we wouldn't be in the top 4 @ Xmas let alone Feb,so let's take the fight to the so called big boys and give them a run for their money ok we might come up a bit short.....we might not,but let's not look at ourselves as little old Saints we shouldn't be there.....onwards and very much upwards. Belief is a state of mind.
Right. I wouldn't take 5th either. And not because of confidence in the team (or lack thereof) but simply because of the risk/reward structure of the PL. I want the shot at top 4, and if we are out of the top 4, it doesn't matter. If the top 5 made it to CL, I'd settle for #5 right now.
You wouldn't see 5th place and euro qualification as good progress. We'll all be disappointed if we don't finish top 4 having spent so long there, but to dismiss 5th place as just the same as 8th is a little harsh. It would be our best Prem finish, best points finish and European football.
Accepting now, anything less than what is possible to achieve, to me would be a negative stance. Part of the fun surely, is trying to find out if we are both capable and worthy of a place in the higher echelons of the premier league. Isn't that what being a fan is?
We're nearly guaranteed top 7, and 7th could get us EL, which will make it harsher to get CL next year, so if we don't get top 4 this year, we won't get it until 16/17 at the earliest. Don't want to wait that long, so no! We've got the fewest fixtures of all the teams too.
Yes, I am with Beddy. Having spent most of my formative years worrying about whether we would finish out of the bottom three, I am looking forward to the ups and down of the run in this year. I wouldn't miss it for the world!
Obviously I'd prefer fifth over eight. I'm just saying I wouldn't be overly fussed by missing a Europa league spot. EL won't much improve our finances and ability to keep/buy world class players, and it would probably hinder our league form, which it does year over year for EPL clubs (Newcastle, Swansea, Everton). It would represent a small step in right direction for the club. While CL, on the other hand, would be a huge leap forward.
Can't believe three people have said they would, and I thought I lacked bottle when it came to Saints!
CL qualification, IMHO, will secure many of our top players staying and fund the additional players required to compete in another trophy. Europa League qualification will mean the lose of many of our top players to teams qualifying for the CL, and not provide enough additional funds to buy the additional players to compete. With Thursday night games, our form will probably suffer especially without the extra players we would need. I almost rather finish 7th and miss out on EL qualication if we can't get 4th place
