Just read a half decent little article as a warm up to the match this weekend. In it, Rickie says one or two things that I firmly believe myself, so it's nice to read that the attitude of himself and the club are what I've been waiting for. I've needed this reassurance: http://sport.bt.com/sportfootball/football/lambert-saints-targeting-top-four-S11363888011224 Rickie Lambert expects Southampton to be a top-four side sooner rather than later. The Saints' blend of home-grown talent, long-serving players and big-money additions has seen them enjoy a fine second season back in the Barclays Premier League. Their players publicly spoke of their European ambitions earlier in the season - talk which gained credence when they moved within a victory of topping the table in November. Mauricio Pochettino's side have tailed off since then but are looking to end the season strongly and can move back into eighth with victory against Newcastle on Saturday - a minimum requirement for frontman Lambert. "We aimed for fourth this season and people laughed at us, but they didn't laugh at us straight away when we were second, they waited until we dropped off a bit," he told www.saintsfc.co.uk. "Our desire is to get into the top four and that's the way the club has been run in the past four years and that's the vision the players have and it's the one the club has, so for me it's what the players still want going forward and it's what we're expecting to be honest. We definitely believe that we can finish above teams like Newcastle. I think we adapted to the Premier League last year so we stopped thinking about things in terms of what clubs are bigger than us. We're Southampton, we get on with our own stuff, and really you're only as big a club as you want to be in your own head, so if you want to think you won't be bigger than Newcastle then you never will be, but it's up to us to push on". This is the attitude I'm talking about. As I've said many a time, to the point of boring myself [let alone others, no doubt] that Saints have to aim really, really high and prepare for success. There should be no thought of who are big clubs and small, who should be at the top and who shouldn't. And frankly, it's about bloody time some supporters realised this. No more you'll never beat the glamour clubs attitude. Only by daring to achieve does one have any chance. I'm really pleased Rickie has come out and said this. It reaffirms my belief.
for 2/3rds of the season we have been top 4 quality, with the opening 10 games and the last 10 games although the middle third was abit kack. We do not have the squad for a prolonged run to stay in the top 4 but we do have the quality to flirt with the top 6
The key to success is the strength in depth of the squad. This can only improve as more youngsters come through, more end-of-contract players are moved on, and just a few quality additions are purchased. All this will happen in the summer, and will continue to happen until Rickie's dream is realised. And if it was just Rickie's dream, it would still be worth pursuing.
Indeed. As it stands, the squad obviously has the quality to be right there, they have demonstrated that already. The trick is to maintain it through a long season, involving injuries, individuals loss of form, fatigue, and such. The squad is way too thin for that, so it would help if there were a few high quality additions to help us along, and the academy players will have more experience under their belts. Top 4 is not an impossible dream. The future is bright.
Reality alert; to challenge the top 4, we'd have to spend like the top four. And risk imploding like Leeds under Peter Ridsdale. It's good to dream, it's good to aim high, but it also helps to keep your feet on the ground.
Keep the youngsters together & keep them coming through, I'd take that as my target. The rest will fall into place.
Er... no, you are wrong. If Everton win their game in hand, then they are only three points off a Champions League spot, and with Arsenal all set to implode, I would definitely not bet against the Toffees making it. Have they spent big? Not at all. They've spent less than us. I think we are two top players, and one more season's experience away from getting into the top 4. We can definitely do it.
I think we need to spend a bit, but I disagree that you need to spend like the top four to get there. Some clubs seem to buy in a scattergun way, then either never play some players or loan them out...that is money wasted. They also buy the tip top players that can cost a ridiculous amount of money. There is room for a club like Southampton to grow most of their own team and buy good players that fit into our system. That was what Nicola sold to Markus. Not denying we need more depth...but dispute the size of investment needed.
Everton appear to be the exception. Their 2012/13 wage bill was actually less than Villa's. But then, they haven't broken through to the top 4 yet despite knocking on the door for years. Arsenal's 2012/13 wage bill was not much more than half that of Chelsea and Man City btw - puts Wenger's acheivements in perspective. Still twice that of Everton though.
Everton have used the loan market very well, but its kinda a false position, because without those three they would be miles of the Champions league places.
But Everton, like us, do have some SERIOUS home grown talent (Baines, Coleman, Barkley) that has reduced their need to spend big on big players. And Everton's success have allowed them to successfully get players like Lukaku on loan. Man City spend their way to the title. Chelsea appear to be spending their way into future success by buying every hot young talent in Europe and loaning them back out to where they bought them from. Man Utd have no strategy, Arsenal have the "only buy fancy midfielders and nothing else" approach. I think we have the capacity to be, like Everton, up there and competing with the big clubs. We might not ever quite get big enough to consistently be in the top 4, but there is a realistic hope that with a good flow of youngsters and a good manager (we're already there) we may not have to spend too much to at lest be challenging for top 4 every year. Also, the prem positions between 4th and 9th these days are so hotly contested by teams with massive budgets that I think we are doing fantastically well this season. Bring on next year!
Only long term worry for Everton is the Lukaku effect. If they finish fourth I guess they'll sign him unless Jose magically changed his mind. If not we'll sign him...ok maybe not. But I think they will stay in that 5th place limbo position, as long as they spend some money. Newcastle and Tottenham are realistic targets, neither of them have settled long term managers, we can overtake them. Who knows what Man U will do. Basically, we're aiming for 6th.
Just goes to show what a clever manager they have. Once they break into the top 4 they will be able to pay for these players outright. I'd be happy to be in a "false" position if it meant Champions League footie at St.Mary's. With Champs League appeal, they will be able to sign strikers equal or better than Lukaku.
I think it is possible to break into the top four but it's going to take time. Maybe it's our new 5 year once we got back into the premier league. Which in theory means we have another 3 years to achieve our target.
Well if you're right and Shaw goes, it won't be for less than £30 million, so we should be able to get someone decent in for that.
For this to work, I think keeping hold of young talent is key. If we don't lose Shaw, Lallana, Schneiderlin and the rest in the close season, we send a clear message that we are no longer selling our youth. We have a thin squad (especially if we start to play in Europe) - a few injuries could really hurt us next season. I think we could probably do with another centre back (unless we decide to train Chambers up for that position), a striker, and maybe another goalie. I'd also like to see us develop a plan B for when our pressing game isn't working. It looks like we get tired about 70 mins through the game and then the mistakes creep in at the back, and we give away soft goals.
Good to hear this positivity from the players about the ambition of the club, which has not been publicly stated since the January upheaval. Many sides of Southamptons stature have reached our position firmly in the top 10 and have failed to back it up. We've had plenty of false dawns over the last 25 years too, but often the rails would come off after a managerial or player departure. I get the sense that the club is built on better foundations and we will be able to withstand the inevitable comings and goings. Here is hoping we can build into a club like Everton over the next few seasons and become top 10 stalwarts
Reality alert: The top4 don't bring their own youngsters through so they have to spend more. Even Arsenal buy their 'youngsters' for hefty sums from other clubs. I think people underestimate just how much is saved in transfer fees and wages when you can bring just 1 or 2 youngsters through each season, even if some seasons they are only squad level players they still save a lot of money.
