Well f Saints win on Sunday finishing on 63 and in 8th, just look at the almighty gap to the next placed team!! It will be 12 points if the next placed team wins their match. It is also conceivable that the 9th placed team will not even get to 50 points as things stand.
Exactly what was being said on Radio 5 the other night. Top 8 teams are pulling up the drawbridge, and the gap is being perceived as one of quality, great management, good infrastructure, and overall plan.
Let's not forget that there is one team in that next section who are there in a "blip" rather than not part of the group "pulling up the draw bridge"... Chelsea are apart of that group, if not their results this season.
Yes. Tbf, they did say a top half on the programme, so that would include Chelsea. But they mentioned Southampton by name as part of that elite group who are firmly established in the top half and pulling away for the reasons I highlighted.
So what they were talking about was clubs from London, Manchester, Liverpool and Southampton dominating the Premier League [stick with me]. Teams which are holding the middle ground and hoping to join the elite are the likes of Stoke, Everton and Swansea. Teams which want to establish themselves in the middle ground are WBA, Watford and Crystal Palace. Lastly you have teams who, at the present time, for various reasons, are just happy to remain in the PL, which would include Bournemouth and any other who can remain, like Sunderland. Interestingly, they [Monday Night Club on R5] briefly compared the likes of Southampton to so-called bigger teams like Everton, with bigger grounds and more illustrious history and considered the old advantages as irrelevant [yes, that actual word]. It's what we've been saying on here for some time, that the new TV money is redrawing the football map. Clubs that are properly managed and have a real plan for going forward are the ones who are going to succeed alongside the already established big clubs from London, Manchester, etc.. So, for example, would Koeman leave Southampton to go to Everton.? The opinion was no. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b079mvkp Start about 26 minutes in for the overall point being made. You'll have to keep listening for the rest of the programme to catch the rest. Of course, you could start from the beginning. It was a very interesting edition.
Let's not forget that AC Milan were an elite club many years ago but look where they are now. In amongst the also-rans of La Liga so if Saints endure any changes in personnel then their replacements need to be as good as or better than the outgoing ones. I believe the club has invested wisely in the main on returning to the PL. If for example, there is little investment in improving the playing side of things, it is amazing how quickly a side can regress. One just has to look at the decline of Villa over several seasons and the more rapid descent of Newcastle.
I don't think I can remember a season, when 7 of the top 8, still have something to play for, on the final day. Every team, from Spurs to Liverpool need points to either hold on to their current position, or to potentially move upwards. On top of that, there is still, potentially, a relegation battle to unfold, depending on Sunderland's result tonight. Should make for an exciting day, so long as all other teams (Palace excluded), show up and make an effort. Could we have an MOTD mix and match programme, showing goals and table changes, as they occur? Could get confusing if they do.
I would absolutely agree with that. Saints have done amazingly well in recruitment, management and their overall vision. On the whole the players they have purchased have been good to excellent buys. The staff in place are amongst the best in their field. The plan is middle to long term. In contrast, the likes of Aston Villa, Newcastle. Sunderland, etc... have been thinking short term for years or have simply been badly managed overall. I would perhaps make a separate case for Norwich City.
Agreed, but several of the headline pundits on TV, who start and carry rumours along, have made the suggestion, which has given rise to the conversation. Personally, I don't believe for a split-second that Koeman would even consider it. It was nice to hear that the thinking radio pundits agreed with us.
I can see that Koeman might have chosen Everton over us before he came to the EPL, but, once in England, he would look for a real step up here or in Europe before considering leaving Saints.
Every season is different but each one has a smaller tier of clubs, the size of which can vary, within the overall structure. I suppose we are in the third as I can see six different tiers this season with Saints being in the third chasing one of the EL spots.
I can see us stepping up next season...our present form is CL qualifying form. We need a couple of new players, a good pre-season and to start at a run next season.
Yes, every season is different [thank goodness] but consider this. With the exception of a wonderful fantasy season from Leicester City, replacing a poor season from Chelsea, and a dramatically better season from WHU, the same clubs have emerged at the top, albeit in slightly different positions. Given that every club now has sufficient, and will have even more money, to be competitive, those clubs which have taken an early lead have an advantage over the others. Those clubs tend to be the 'brands' of the PL, ie ManU, Arsenal, Liverpool, and arguably Chelsea and Man City, along with the others who have a long term plan for success. It's also no accident that a club like Stoke City is just hovering underneath. For me, they will be there again next season. I'll stick my neck out and say Everton will still be lower mid-table, unless they get their house in order from top to bottom. Their new ownership will be timely, but I don't think it's going to change things overnight. I see what you mean with your tier system, though I'm not quite sure I can see 6 layers. Perhaps you'll explain that one for me. Presumably, you are talking about a 1st tier of Premier League and Champions League contenders. Then a 2nd tier of Europa League contenders. At present, using your system, I would put Southampton into that second tier. On the subject of WHU, the Olympic Stadium gift from the taxpayer may catapult them into being a brand club that previous seasons suggest they don't deserve. This season's performance has softened the stark contrast.
For me, next season's achievement depends on a few things. 1] Koeman extends his contract, or Saints announce a manager who can also take them to the next step. For me that isn't an Eddie Howe or a Nigel Pearson or Gary Rowett, excellent managers though they are. If you want to make the next step to Champions League contenders, and safe Europa League if you don't make it, then you have to have someone with experience in that area. I also think that manager will need Premier League experience, and that narrows down the field. If Newcastle go down, then Benitez springs to mind. Other than him, I can't quite think of anyone so, for me, Koeman needs to extend that contract. No doubt someone else could come up with a few names. 2] Saints should keep all, or as many players as they can, so that the Black Box doesn't have to perform its miracles again. Where it can be brilliant is in unearthing one or two key players who can change a game, and one or two to back up or replace in key positions too. And btw, I'm definitely not talking about a new CB.
Don't know if you saw it on the highlights but one of their fans looked like he celebrated a bit early and couldn't be woken up during the game. What a triumph; drinking so heavily you miss the event you're there to celebrate. Vin
