With the new season starting Saturday I thought I'd get a conversation going on what they're expectations are for this season. I thought of some questions I'd like to hear what you think; Where will Southampton finish this Season? Who will be our Top Goalscorer? Do you think we will have a good Cup run in either Competition? Who will be our Best Defender? Who will be our best Midfielder? Will Artur still be our 1st choice Goalkeeper by the end of the Season? Who, if any, do you think will breakthrough in to their Nation Team this Season? Do you think any of our Young Players be regular starters by the end of the season? In my opinion; 1. I think Southampton will consolidate a Mid table position this Season and 9th would be a very good finish. This would provide a good starting position for a European push next season and hopefully start to attract some even better players. 2. I think Jay Rod will give Rickie a run for his money, but sometimes his finishing can be a bit weak. 3. I think our young players might be utilized for the Capital One Cup and we could see a relatively early exit. I think we might have a good run in the FA Cup and the Quarter Finals would be a good run. 4. Hopefully Lovren will prove his worth and I'm sure Clyne and Shaw will continue to improve and fulfill their potential. But to be Honest I think Yoshida could be our standout defender as he becomes more accustomed to the pace and power of the EPL. 5. Despite Wanyama looking like a beast on Saturday, I think Schneiderlin will have another outstanding season. His tackling and interceptions are second to none and his passing and finishing constantly improve. I can see him scoring a few more this season. 6. After seeing Kelv on Saturday I don't think Artur is under any immediate threat and unless someone is brought in, Artur gets Injured or sold, or possibly Gazzaniga or Cropper make huge strides this Season. 7. Despite stiff competition I honestly believe Schneiderlin has the potential to debut for the French National Team this season. When you've made the impression he has last season in the EPL, where he was arguably one of the best Defensive Midfielders in the League, he is clearly capable of playing at the highest level. On the England front, it seems likely that Lambert will make the breakthrough this season, if only possibly as a substitute, the other player I believe has the chance is Nathaniel Clyne. I believe Nathaniel Clyne will make the England team this season because I believe he is as good as Glen Johnson if not better and will have to compete with Kyle Walker for the Right Back position. Shaw has the quality to play for England but with the deteriorating Ashley Cole and the excellent Leighton Baines ahead of him he will have to prove himself at England Under 21 position first before competing at senior level. 8. Shaw will undoubtedly be our first choice Left Back by the end of the season unless the worst happens. Although I think JWP is technically excellent I believe the competition for CM is just too strong to be a regular by the end of the season. Chambers will be competition for Clyne I believe and I thought he looked very about against Real Sociedad on Saturday and what I saw of him in Pre-Season. In Isgrove and Rowe I think we have 2 talented wingers but I think the best they could hope for at this stage is a few substitute appearances with Isgrove looking likely to be a possible regular on the bench. I don't believe Turnbull or Stephens will make the step up this season especially with the errors they made today (although it is forgivable as it is the first game of the season) in the U21 game against Liverpool and the fact they have been dropped back down to the U21's rather than being kept with the First Team, like Isgrove, is a sign MoPo and the coaching staff don't think they're ready to compete for First Team CB. Another player who it was hoped for would challenge this season is Matt Targett, although it could be a season too early as MoPo seems content with the woefully inept Danny Fox as backup for Luke Shaw.
1. Anywhere between 10th and 15th. 2. Rickie, unless we sign a forward like Osvaldo I expect him to comfortably lead again. 3. Yeah I think so, I'm not expecting finals but I could see us doing well. 4. Clyne or Shaw... If they can stay fit. 5. Morgan. I love Big Vic and expect him to settle in fine, but Morgan is Morgan. 6. Definitely, he's a long way ahead of the others. 7. Rickie may work his way into being a regular squad member but I doubt it. If Morgan repeats his performance from last year then he surely deserves to be in. 8. Barring injures, I doubt it. Nothing against them, but I'd really not expect Chambers to overtake Clyne this year, and despite the preseason hype I don't think Isgrove will be more than a decent squad member. The rest are probably too far off right now.
1. Between 7th and 14th 2. Lambert 3. FA Cup last 16 at least 4. Shaw 5. Schneiderlin 6. Yes 7. Schneiderlin 8. None who aren't already
1) As things stand I'd predict a solid 12th, with 1 or 2 new additions we could challenge for the top 10 2) Lambert is the obvious answer, unless we bring in another striker I'll stick with Rickie 3) We'll probably play a young team in the league cup, so shouldn't get too far, we'll probably take the fa cup more seriously, and aslong as we aren't looking over our shoulder at the relegation zone too much, I see us reaching the quarter final 4) Shaw most likely 5) This is a tough one, schneiderlin was magnificent last season, but I predict a strong debut campaign for Wanyama 6) Boruc will probably remain number 1 for a couple of years at least, barring any psychotic breakdowns 7) Obviously lambert has just received his first call up, but I think with a strong second season schneiderlin will finally get that call from Deschamps 8) Other than shaw no, prowse and chambers will be good back up options and get a few appearances, but I can't see either becoming first choice yet
1. 9th. 2. Rickie Lambert, just keeps on proving everyone wrong ! 3. I would like to see us progress well in both cups , with maybe more emphasis on the FA cup. 4. Shaw , really think he will have a great season. 5. Morgan Schneiderlin. Was great last season and I expect him to have an even better season this year. 6. Yes. 7. I think schneiderlin can break into the France team this year , he certainly has been putting the performances in that warrant a call up. England-wise I think that shaw might get one early next year if he has a good season. 8. Would like to see Omar Rowe or Ryan Seager given a chance but I don't think there will be an new inclusions.
Where will Southampton finish this Season? 11th/12th Who will be our Top Goalscorer? Lambert unless we bring someone else quality in. Jay will score more this season I'd say Do you think we will have a good Cup run in either Competition? LC 2nd round/ FA Quarters Who will be our Best Defender? Lovren Who will be our best Midfielder? Schneiderlin Will Artur still be our 1st choice Goalkeeper by the end of the Season?Yes Who, if any, do you think will breakthrough in to their Nation Team this Season? Schneiderlin will get his first callup very soon, Shaw may be involved in a squad or two if he stays fit. Think Lambert will only get one cap....Guly will make Brazils WC squad!Or maybe not Do you think any of our Young Players be regular starters by the end of the season? None. Hopefully JWP gets at least as many if not more games than last seasn but it is very doubtful
1. 13th (current squad) Very competitive this season is our area of the table, it's like another league outside the top 6. It'll be very different next season, I think 15-16th place will be a very big gap, and 13th place won't be survivors of a relegation battle, but narrowly missing out on the top half. 2. Rodriguez or mystery signing, I can see Rickie playing a more creative role this season and Jay thriving off it. 3. I would love to see us at a semi-final at least, haven't been there for a while. 4. Yoshida, gets better with every game. Followed closely by Shaw, who fingers crossed (not too hard, you might break them, Luke) will stay fit and continue to add a rare confidence and reliability to our defence, with his calm makes-it-look-easy style of defending. 6. Schneiderlin will continue to add himself to transfer wishlists of top sides, and I can also see Lallana start to destroy the self-asteem of many fullbacks, as we saw him do many a time in the lower leagues. 7. I don't think Artur Boruc will let anyone near his 'No.1' position in our squad 8. Schneiderlin could maybe make a few France appearances, but the only may he could cement his place in Les blues would be if they played a formation with 11 CMs. Maybe a few England call-ups if any of Cork, Clyne, Rodriguez, Lambert and Lallana have a spell of brilliant form. 9. Only if we have a few terrible injuries. I hope JWP gets more starts this season as he has a lot of potential, but he is unfortunate that we have the calibre in his position already.
1. 9th (optimistic mode) more likely 10-12th. 2. Got to be Lambert, especially as he takes free kicks and penalties. JRod to step up this season. 3. Would hope at least quarters in one. For the best chance at a trophy...throw a strong squad at the League Cup. 4. Best defender: Shaw 5. Best MF: Schneiderlin with Wanyama close second. 6. Boruc 7. Time for Shaw to step up from being unfit for the U21s to being unfit for the Senior squad. Morgan deserves a chance. 8. Chambers the most likely to be involved occasionally.
1.Where will Southampton finish this Season? Any where between 8th and 14th 2.Who will be our Top Goal scorer? Stupid question as there is only one answer. SRL. 3.Do you think we will have a good Cup run in either Competition? If we take both Cups seriously we could make a final but if we use cup games as a chance to give fringe players a run out then forget it. 4.Who will be our Best Defender? Another daft question. Shaw followed by Clyne yet to be convinced about Lovren. 5.Who will be our best Midfielder? How many more daft questions? The mighty Morgan of course. 6.Will Artur still be our 1st choice Goalkeeper by the end of the Season? Oh for goodness sake was this set of questions designed to get us thinking? Why ask a question to which there is only one answer FFS. 7.Who, if any, do you think will breakthrough in to their Nation Team this Season? Morgan will break into the French squad but whether he will make the team remains to be seen. 8.Do you think any of our Young Players be regular starters by the end of the season? No. But one or two may get the occasional game. Edited after Fran pointed out my memory was letting me down again.
Well I hit the Jackpot last year with 14th.......So I will go along with 10th. If we get another striker in Lamberts mould but with a bit of pace, then we could make 8th. Anything higher at this stage of our development would be an over achievement. I think we could have a good run in the cups. Not sure Pochettino is up for them though! JMO
Mauricio says he will take the cups seriously, but all managers do that, then panic and play youngsters. I really think we should take the League Cup seriously...a lot of teams don't at the beginning...a real chance of a cup and a Wembley beano.
Haha...this reminds me of my grandparents always getting names wrong. "...and as for that terrible Lionel Blair invading Iraq"
1. 11th - So hard to predict really 2. Lambert - Unless our hopes and dreams are fulfilled in the form of Osvaldo 3. No - Just cant see it, one cup will probably be youth and could see us going out of the Fa cup when we try and play our youth players against a championship team and get embarrassed 4. Shaw - If he stops breaking like cheap china 5. Morgan - Doesnt need any explanations! 6. Boruc - Likewise 7. Nobody - Morgan deserves a call up but cannot see it, Lambert, i fear, is just in the sqaud as emergency backup and will get dropped whatever. Then other players like Shaw and Clyne havent even done anything at under-21 yet so cant go into the full squad. 8. No - Honestly i hope no one does because it would probably only be due to a long list of injuries, but happy if one appears to be a Luke Shaw V2.1 with added anti injury components.
I'm not a big one for predictions but what the hell. Assuming no more signings: 1. I'd say 3rd quarter so 11th-15th. If I have to pick an exact position then I'll go 12th although I'm not convinced we've strengthened enough to improve very much and if Lambert's form dip from the end of last season continues or he gets injured then Rodriguez needs to up his game or we may struggle for goals and could even drop closer to the bottom three 2. Still Lambert I guess. I could see one of Schneiderlin or Wanyama scoring more than anyone expects 3. I suspect not in the League Cup. Too early to call the FA Cup because how seriously we take it will depend on our league position and form (plus the draw) 4. Clyne. I can see him having a very good year while I think Shaw may be in and out of the team again with niggles and knocks 5. I can actually see Wanyama edging out Schneiderlin here 6. Yes 7. Schneiderlin is most likely to do it if he continues his form from last year but almost all those who are likely to play much international football already do 8. Doubt it. Isgrove has perhaps the easiest path to the first team but I doubt he'll be a regular. I do think JWP and Chambers will make quite a few appearances but I don't expect them to be regulars either
1. 13th, 10th if we sign a stop striker. 2. Lambert or new striker. 3. League Cup will be short lived, but should do quite well in the FA Cup. 4. Shaw or Clyne, probably Shaw. 5. Schneiderlin. 6. Unless he has a major loss of form, yes. 7. Schneiderlin, if he's lucky and France's manager sees sense. 8. Excluding our regular young players who played last season, no.
Where will Southampton finish this Season? 9th-18th....13th Who will be our Top Goalscorer?Lambert Do you think we will have a good Cup run in either Competition? Yes, squad is more competitive, so have a good chance to negotiate early rounds Who will be our Best Defender? Clyne, like last year Who will be our best Midfielder? Lallana Will Artur still be our 1st choice Goalkeeper by the end of the Season? Er....yes Who, if any, do you think will breakthrough in to their Nation Team this Season? No one Do you think any of our Young Players be regular starters by the end of the season? No, Chambers will feature more & JWP will be in each match squad.
