A CL team may get an extra day if they are due to play a Europa team on the Sunday. On a side issue....won't there be Friday EPL games next season? I vaguely remember something about that.
Premier League Thread
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No Brendy you're mistaken, we were and are much more likely to catch City than United...
I have to say on that subject, I'm actually finding myself starting to wrestle with a bit of disappointment and frustration that we really have finally and fairly definitively fallen away from the big dogs. I've never given us much of a chance of finishing top four or even really five, and I was totally fine with that, 6th or 7th is a really remarkable and wonderful accomplishment for us, but it turns out we really could have, and it wasn't the footballing glass ceiling or wage disparity or anything that stopped us it was just cheap and avoidable dropped points. I'm sure it'll wear off soon and I can go back to enjoying our success.
No Brendy you're mistaken, we were and are much more likely to catch City than United...
I have to say on that subject, I'm actually finding myself starting to wrestle with a bit of disappointment and frustration that we really have finally and fairly definitively fallen away from the big dogs. I've never given us much of a chance of finishing top four or even really five, and I was totally fine with that, 6th or 7th is a really remarkable and wonderful accomplishment for us, but it turns out we really could have, and it wasn't the footballing glass ceiling or wage disparity or anything that stopped us it was just cheap and avoidable dropped points. I'm sure it'll wear off soon and I can go back to enjoying our success.
I agree Mikey, but isn't the cheaply dropped points smartly down to squad size/quality which then relates to wages too and how much we have as a wage budget?
No Brendy you're mistaken, we were and are much more likely to catch City than United...
I have to say on that subject, I'm actually finding myself starting to wrestle with a bit of disappointment and frustration that we really have finally and fairly definitively fallen away from the big dogs. I've never given us much of a chance of finishing top four or even really five, and I was totally fine with that, 6th or 7th is a really remarkable and wonderful accomplishment for us, but it turns out we really could have, and it wasn't the footballing glass ceiling or wage disparity or anything that stopped us it was just cheap and avoidable dropped points. I'm sure it'll wear off soon and I can go back to enjoying our success.
Amongst the undoubted success I hope that Southampton FC do feel a tinge of disappointment at the end of the season, whether or not they qualify for the EL. They have come very close indeed to breaking through the biggest barrier in one giant leap and it might be harder in subsequent seasons unless they are fully prepared. Having a thinnish squad of barely adequate players is not a recipe for lasting success. There have to be more young players of real quality added to the numbers, so that they grow with the club. Personally, I'm looking forward to players like Clasie and Vilhena coming in to give us more quality options. But we'll need more. we can't expect the Academy to do it all.
The owner/board are trying to set up the team in the right way....although difficult to achieve, I'm sure the long term plan is winning the title. Not saying that is feasible (without piling money on like City/Chelsea), but you have to set the target at the highest level. Our targets have been achieved ahead of schedule and I'm sure that our spell in the top 4 has wetted the appetite within the club. Fonte mentioned winning the title in his Telegraph interview (bless his little cotton socks). The long term plan is for Saints to be a successful club (on the field and financially), but there may be times when we finish lower than we'd like. We need to show some patience and not be like United etc who get hysterical if they don't win every game. Softly, softly, catchee monkey.
Some most certainly, definitely a few times where we did all we could and an extra or better striker/winger/no.10 etc. might have made the difference, but also plenty where we had all the resources we needed but just gave it away. Possibly a number now that at the very least would have had us still in the hunt or even in the driver's seat. Cant't have a perfect season and never drop points but just a bit of a shame to think we really could have done something truly miraculous and historic. Not bad to just settle for excellent though!
What I meant was that maybe those hiccups were because we should have freshened up or made some changes. Maybe tiring legs played a part. Maybe.
It is a shame as it would have been incredible. I am still amazed at what a fantastic season we are having though.
What we need is an agent to take on the management of all our young players in the academy and young signings, who has shall we say "an interest" in the club. A fan maybe. Someone who would say to those young players that do very well, "Oh don't read the Sun young man, Man United aren't really interested in you." Or "Oh you bumped into Luke Shaw at England training and he said Ryan Giggs is interested in signing you? I'd hold out until Madrid or Barcelona come in for you"
*sends CV to Les*
*sends CV to Les*
This has probably been commented on elsewhere already but would we be gutted if they got a place and we missed out?
From the Guardian
There was a moment midway through the second half at Loftus Road on Saturday when, as with each passing minute it became more obvious that the game was heading for a scoreless draw, the West Ham fans burst into song. “We’re on top of the league,” they chanted, tongues firmly placed in cheeks. That league is the fair play league. Each year, Uefa gives an additional Europa League place to the top three ranked member associations. England are in third and West Ham lead the Premier League table.
It may not be the desired route, especially considering they looked well placed before Christmas to push for a top-six finish, but should it be sneered at? The majority will look at it negatively but the club have not been in Europe since 2006-07, when they were hammered at the first hurdle by Palermo. That is a long wait and if the gap between mid-table and the top six continues to expand, then the only avenues in are a cup win or a good disciplinary record.
From the Guardian
There was a moment midway through the second half at Loftus Road on Saturday when, as with each passing minute it became more obvious that the game was heading for a scoreless draw, the West Ham fans burst into song. “We’re on top of the league,” they chanted, tongues firmly placed in cheeks. That league is the fair play league. Each year, Uefa gives an additional Europa League place to the top three ranked member associations. England are in third and West Ham lead the Premier League table.
It may not be the desired route, especially considering they looked well placed before Christmas to push for a top-six finish, but should it be sneered at? The majority will look at it negatively but the club have not been in Europe since 2006-07, when they were hammered at the first hurdle by Palermo. That is a long wait and if the gap between mid-table and the top six continues to expand, then the only avenues in are a cup win or a good disciplinary record.
I think they deserve it.... after all, I am amazed (and pleasantly surprised) that a Fat Sam team is in a "fair play' league, let alone top of it. Oh hang on a minute, Carroll and Nolan have been out loads.
It would be quite funny if they got in on the fair play ticket and then both Nolan and Carroll got sent off.
Brendan Rodgers says that Sturridge could be out for the rest of the season. This is a good thing for us and our top 6 ambitions:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32479958
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32479958
Sat 2nd May - 15:00 Sunderland v Southampton Referee:- Mike Jones : Assistants:- M Scholes I Hussin : 4th Official = R Madley
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