I would prefer to go straight to the Champions League, yes. I accept that there is an outside chance that we won't win the first time but that is our progression. Aim to win it the second or third time!! We would strengthen to ensure that we do well enough to qualify each year and then trust that that eventually shows itself in the way we play in Europe.
The chances are pretty high that even if we did qualify for the Champions League we would end up dropping down to the Europa League anyway, at least the first couple of times!
Ideally I'd like to avoid it altogether, but realistically we're not going to skip the EL and go straight into the CL, so it's either a case of not finishing above 8th or winning a cup for the sake of avoiding a frustrating competition. It is the natural next step in the progression for us and I think it's a bit snobby to turn our nose up at it, considering we're a team that has been in Europe a handful of times in our history and were recently in League One. After all it would just be more games available for the youngsters providing we didn't play the first team, I mean we'd all like to see JWP, Reed, Gallagher, Chambers/Clyne (whichever doesn't win) get more games to progress themselves as players.
Because them playing the kids would be more embarrassing than for us. I mean we'd have to throw in some senior players to stay competitive but we actually have excellent young players that we can't even get game time, despite how much our philosophy is to do so.
Would be good opportunity and experience for the kids. Would also allow us to have a bigger squad with more options and cover, whilst still being able to keep everyone happy with game time.
Really? If you're lucky maybe, I remember our last European outing, two games and one goal. If we got drawn against Ajax for example, what is it like getting tickets for an away match? I'm assuming they go to season ticket holders first, is there any left after that?
Not next season. We're very much still on an upward path. That wouldn't suddenly stop by failing to get into next season's Europa League. As Beefy and others have said, we would simply need to de too much squad strengthening over the summer. Or else risk turning into the next Newcastle or Swansea. And any way, Swansea are showing this season that even when you do add numbers to your squad, you can still tumble down the table. I also totally disagree with anyone who suggests playing the kids. Cannot see that working, nor happening. No doubt they have a structured progression regime in place. Getting them to go all over Europe would completely disrupt this. It could also lead to some embarrassing results, which I don't think we would want. And any way, if we were to get in there, then I'd actually slightly expect us to give it a go. Much more so than the League Cup for example. To continue our progression, we will have to play in it at some point. Teams don't just jump straight into the Champions league. Just please not next season. Not yet.
6th for one season and then bottom half/avoiding relegation the next (ala Swansea this season, Newcastle last), is not being a concrete top eight team. I'd rather finish 8th for two/three seasons, and then push on from there. Also, as much as I'd like to agree with your sentiment about trying to win every game, it simply isn't reality. Otherwise why does almost every club these days field weakened teams in the early rounds of cup competitions? A third cup competition is just simply more games in which we would need to field a weakened team. Furthermore, a lot of people raise the issue that the Champions League would also stretch the squad. Of course this is the case, however, the CL is the ultimate club competition, ergo well worth 'stretching' your resources for. Additionally, being in the CL would allow us to buy players who are the next step up from those we currently go after. The Europa would not allow us to do this.
If we finish 8th for the next two seasons and this season also, then our better players could progress themselves... at another club. reality will also say that teams don't 'stand still' (which finishing 8th three times would be), they go backwards.
An 8th or 9th placed finish this season would be progression from last season. Some summer strengthening, an all assault on a top seven finish, and a Cup win, would be progression next season. Now I know that that could yet happen this season, but it doesn't necessarily need to, there is every chance that it won't, and I don't think it would reflect badly on us if it ultimately didn't. And I certainly wouldn't disappointed. If you offered me an 8th placed finish now, I would be very happy and consider this season a success. Then go into the Europa League the following season, when we're in a position to be able to call Everton and Spurs our equals. Whilst we can be excellent on our day, over the course of a full season both of them are still a step ahead of us. Maybe even two steps.
To continue our progression in the premier league we need four top quality additions to the squad (circa £35m) but if we are to make any sort of progress in the Europa then we would need to double that. Bearing in mind there is little or no real money to be gained this additional expenditure would have to be covered by KL which I don't see happening. If we didn't make this expenditure then we have seen what happens to clubs trying to cover this competition
Not many babies get born into stable family conditions and perfect economic situations, but the joy overwhelms any concerns and you deal with everything the best way you can. If we're to keep squad situations like Chambers v Clyne & Cork v Wanyama then we need to keep a winning formula and provide games to help keep these players happy. Currently i'd say our best two XLs Boruc, Clyne, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw, Cork, Schneiderlin, Davis, Rodriguez, Lallana, Lambert Davis, Chambers, Hooiveld, Yoshida, Targett, JWP, Wanyama, Reed, Guly, Ramirez, Gallagher Obviously this doesn't allow for suspension or injury but if we get 3 or 4 players for decent money(which was what was required anyway) and then look to the loan market to bolster the squad then I think we would cope ok and i'd be a lot more confident of players staying put.
Indeed if we add another keeper, CB, wide player and striker so we could replace Davis, Jos, Guly and Gallagher in the second XI, I'd be pretty happy with that on paper. Of course 'on paper' so rarely works out, but still. If you take Swansea's group as an example, I'd happily play that side against the likes of Kuban and St. Gallen, whilst possibly throwing in a couple of Lallana, Schneiderlin, Lovren etc. for a Valencia. Unless we got an easy group I'm not sure we'd get through with that line-up but I don't think we'd embarrass ourselves, it would be a good experience to be back in Europe and we'd get a few key squad/youth players more game time then they'd otherwise be getting.
I'd like us to get in, but I'm okay if we don't. I don't see how the extra games can be a bad thing as long as we use them properly. Like others have said, it's an opportunity to play some of the younger players who are on the fringes. We need to deepen the squad regardless. And realistically, we are probably not going to be able to sign players like Lukaku. This give us a chance to buy younger players with some risk attached to them cheap and not have to loan them or have them rot on the bench. Between Europa and other Cup matches they know they'll get some experience and improve as well as a decent chance to show themselves as good enough for the first team for us or another club. At worst, we send a terrible team and get knocked out right away. It's not like the big clubs send their first teams to Europa either, so I doubt we will be embarrassed.
This is out of date info on the money front [there's much more now], being last season, but it was one of the top answers from Google, and features Saints, and the headline also features one of the thoughts I've seen expressed from a few Southampton Not606 members [mistakenly, IMO]: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2314578/Why-mid-table-sides-play-Premier-League-prize-money-2013.html Of course, there is masses to play for still, leaving aside the FA Cup. If Cortese were still here do you think he'd take the attitude that there was nothing to play for..? I don't think so, and it is an attitude that should never creep into a football club or its supporters.
Yes - it`s a no-brainer for me. It reminds me of a conversation I had with two fans at the last Pompey game as SMS who didn`t want promotion, because we would be getting beaten all the time if we went up. You never know where the adventure will lead. With Aberdeen doing well, it could be Aberdeen-Saints next season !
