I wonder how many up and coming starlets know all about Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City.... and now Spuds, Everton and heaven help us Birmingham and Wigan? Saints playing in Europe will raise our profile in Europe. It won't be long and we will be the new Atheltico Madrid; the team the neutrals want to do well against the big boys. We will get a bigger and better reputation and then agents, media and fans will understand when players want to join us.... it is all part of the climb to the top. You can have all sorts of goals and ambitions, but you don't get near them without taking a step forward.
For the Europa to be a drain on our resources, we would have to be doing well in it. I suppose our more negative supporters will be saying that they hope we fail miserably in order to sustain our league form. Nothing would surprise me.
As appealing as all of that sounds I don't know if Southampton will ever be able to make the climb to reach the level of a club like Atletico Madrid. Last year they did win a league that is atm probably better than the PL and got to the Champions League final in which they were unlucky not to win. I appreciate your ambition for Saints and maybe I am being too skeptical especially considering Saints seemingly endless upward trajectory. One thing is for sure that is going to one hell of a climb to reach this level and I would have laughed at anyone who said we would be at this level 5 years ago.
Does anyone know what the qulafiication rules are this year? The following article suggests that the FA cup runner up no longer qualifies if the winner is in the CL, but I can't find confirmation of this anywhere. http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/news/38095/
League Cup winner, FA Cup winner, 5th place. 6th place up for grabs with Chelsea winning League Cup, 7th up for grabs if Arsenal or Liverpool win the League Cup.
