It's strange how just last decade is "ages ago", but this age we're in now is going to continue for the foreseeable future.
Actually, why are you posting on here. Shouldn't you be outside St Mary's, singing your heart out, backing the window cleaners at St Mary's and demanding the club keeps its best players & manager? Why aren't you there? WHY?!??!?! Tell you what, if we don't win the league next season, it will all be because of YOU not showing enough ambition.
You want me to provide evidence from the future? I'm good, but not that good. We might improve next season, we very well might. We might finish 7th.
Joe, last season Man Utd were awarded less money for winning the PL than Cardiff this season for getting relegated. It does change very quickly.
We may also finish 10th, 11th or 12th and if that happens all hell will let loose amongst the fan base who have unrealistic expectations.
I can't recall ever "putting up" with... anything. I support the club no matter where it is in the league ladder. I've been through some brilliant saints times (76, 79, 80-82, 84, 86, 88, 91, 03) and some **** saints times (we all know them) Did I love the club any different between the good and bad times? I don't think so. Think for all the "putting up" that I've endured supporting Saints, I've had a bloody good time doing it!
Yep, been through those times too. We've both had to put up with some mediocrity. Some of them were indeed great. Let's have some more great times, eh..?.
CBK is right. The only way we can compete with the top teams is pay similar wages and that means huge investment from Katharina or we are bought by someone who is prepared to. Time was once, a club could build a team to challenge the big sides (Forest, Derby under Clough). But now (as we may be about to find out) the promising players are picked off before they've hardly begun a challenge, so you have to start again. And so it goes on. The only way to keep them is give them the money and you might have a chance. That's not accepting mediocrity or unambitious, it's realism.
I believe that we could make the top four next season. I accept it would be a ridiculously difficult task, but it IS do-able with a LOT of luck. We would need to keep everyone, stay injury free and unearth some gems in the process, but I think we could do it. If that makes me stupid, naive etc. I don't really care. Everton almost did it this season, and we are as good as them minus one or two players. I don't think it's likely, but to rule it out completely is stupid. Nothing in sport is impossible, and that's what makes it brilliant. If Liverpool can challenge for the title, we can challenge for the top 4.
We've had most of these players for 5 years now... Its' all about how we do things. I would like to see us keep buying predominantly young players as well as bringing kids up through the ranks. My ambition is not top 4 next year: I'd rather see us continue to not compete regarding wages, whilst still competing on the pitch. That is what Saints are all about for me. So maybe we will not be in the top 4 next year, but the thing is this is a really exciting place right now. We've seen so many great talents go to big clubs over the last few years, but now we've managed to hold on to this bunch. Maybe that is all down to the Don, but the more we can keep hold of our talent, the more we have a chance of showing there is another way to challenge the top teams.
I'm suprised by CBK's negativity. We were top two for the first 6 weeks? Who says we can't win the League, you only need a decent team and a lot of luck, really. If decisions go your way as well as injuries, and we sign a 30 goal a season forward? Stranger things have happened.
It doesn't make you stupid. Nor does ruling it out make people stupid. It may make them a little more realistic that is all. There is a difference between thinking something is achievable, hoping something can be achieved and where your expectations are. You are right, anything is possible. What are your expectations for next season?
Annnyway. Found some figures for PL wages for 2012/13, from The Guardian's website. Sorry I can't copy and paste, bit beyond my capabilities (this may indicate a lack of ambition). I'll just write a few out in long hand; the numbers are of course in millions. Man City 233 Man Utd 181 Chelsea 179 Arsenal 154 Liverpool 132 Spurs 96 Everton 63 Saints 47 Oh, and I had to laugh at QPR with 78 mill, God bless em.
I suppose it was only a matter of time before someone came on and gave everyone a dose of reality, just happened to be in CBK's inimitable style. The thing is, its hard not to dream a little when you can see how close we are to bing a really excellent side, and it feels good. The fact weve had it so good the last few years lends itself to our perhaps distorted reality right now. But, I say this thinking that actually most of us know the reality, as CBK said, it is essentially all out of our control, which is precisley why we can dream about it and hope and speculate and hope some more and want some more. It's a bit of a fantasy really, just not for Atletico Madrid.
