All this "let's reach for the stars" stuff is great and I'm feeling very buoyed up as I wake up in Eastleigh this morning looking forward to tomorrows game. BUT, does anyone share with me the hope that a piece of silverware is sought next year rather than simply qualifying for something? I will be very disappointed, and it would a sign of lack of progress, of we don't take the two domestic competitions seriously. I know there's no great money in picking up the FA Cup, but if you want to announce that Southampton are to be taken seriously there are few better sights than that of your captain holding aloft the old pot. Thoughts?
I think that a good side like Saints should do well in cups, but fear that Mauricio will see them as an opportunity to give players/youngsters match practice (at least until we fluke our way through to the latter stages). In theory, replacing a few players shouldn't have that much of an effect, but bigger clubs than us have come unstuck when playing theoretically weaker sides who really want it. Why would a foreign manager take the FA Cup seriously when even British managers no longer do so? It's all about league position these days, but wouldn't it be great to get a cup.
Hi Channon! Totally agree. Would love a good cup run next season. I still get a buzz when it's FA cup draw time.
Winning a cup has a lot to do with luck whereas doing well in the league is about consistency and ability. I would love us to win the FA Cup again. We used always to do well in that competition and I can recall attending 4 FA Cup semi finals. So yes I agree we should take the cups seriously but must guard against the Swansea Syndrome of falling away when you win the League Cup.
Well, don't the two statements go together. Going for Europe by being in the top 4 or getting one of the cups is that not also a way into Europe? Is Either one not shooting for the stars?
I'd be very happy with winning a major trophy next season ... a good cup run is always nice for the fans
Poor Mauricio...he may not have only his own words come back to bite him, but has to live down comments and asides made by his interpreter. Can see it now: Mauricio (in Spanish): We hope to do well. Senor Interpreter: We will win the league, both cups, and qualify for the Champions League.
I'd love us to win the FA Cup. The only real problem with winning a cup is getting into the Europa League as a result. Realistically we'd be unlikely to win the Europa League and it could play havoc with our league form, stretch the squad and isn't anywhere near as financially lucrative as the Champions League.
We need to bulk our squad up with quality. We don't have enough depth at the moment. We're a couple of injuries away from Dan Seaborne playing, for instance.
I could never quite pin down Nigel's approach to this. Early on he went with a mix of first team and fringe, with some young players on the bench, which seemed like the right approach to me. At Leeds he dropped everyone from the game before (including the subs) and played a squad that were never going to compete. Then against Chelsea it was an unchanged first team. Is the FA Cup the source of all glory and the League Cup a waste of time(ok, it is)? As our squad develops and we replace some of the Championship fringe (nothing personal) with good quality I hope we can take on a few more games. But a good run kind of depends on not getting drawn at Old Trafford in the third round, unless you get a late penalty with Rio Ferdinand in goal that is.
I think Jack Stephens would be in front of Seaborne but it's a valid point. We need better cover at the back.
How much cover do we need? We have the cover for sure (don't need more than 4 senior CBs), but whether or not we have the quality long-term is another matter.
This (not the seaborn bit). I can't see poch prioritising the cup until we have real "strength in depth", and rightly so really. Think of the nightmare of an injury to, say, schneiderlin Lambert or boruc due to scrapping it out with a NPC team?! When we have a second string that can comfortably compete with champ and lower PL teams then I think we Will do well. I would love to see us lift the Marks Leibehr Memorial cup though! Out of interest many people thinking of going this year? Oh and here's a teaser- name your cup team for early stages you would put out, best team possible but minimise risk to 1st XI players! Well not really a teaser. No new signings but imagine we recalled all loans.
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