I think us and Besiktas will likely both go through regardless of the matches between the 2. I'd expect us to beat Tripolis and Belgrade at home and not lose away to Belgrade. That should be enough. Our squad is so big we _should_ be able to put out a competitive team vs Besiktas and still change them all for Saints. If you win it you get in the CL now though. Arguably this is our best chance of qualifying now.
Think that last point is the clincher for your Board. Not guaranteed to finish top 4 so you have to go all out for the Europa.
Yeah, Swansea and Wigan have shown recently (domestically) that all you need is a short burst of form and/or a bit of luck to win a cup. I think its reasonable to expect us to make the quarters of the EL, then its just 5 games and you could win it without winning any of them. I think winning the EL is harder than the League cup and about on a par with the FA cup, all of which are easier than 4th in the prem. I think the EL groups are enough of a joke (2 qualify from group of 4, unless they changed it again, i can't keep up most years) that we shouldn't be worrying about it too much at this stage. The only season we didn't get out the groups was when Harry literally played our youth team (if i recall). I think a lot of our problem with the EL hangover as was pointed out by someone on our board is the atmosphere at the Lane on a sunday is not as great as on a saturday. Plus over the last couple of seasons there seems to be a growing pressure that emanates from the crowd when things are less than majestic, all conquering football.
I've noticed that at Spurs a few times. Crowd goes quiet very early if things arent going well. Should be a decent crowd Sunday though as its not on TV.
5 live coverage is a bit annoying when they break off to other random sports. It will Solent I suppose.
the totty have been fortunate the last few times we have played them. i think this will be a close game but a Saints win 0-2
Mauricio Pochettino is no longer missed by Southampton’s players as they prepare to face his Tottenham team on Sunday. Pochettino was hired by Tottenham during the summer, despite Saints’ desperate efforts to keep him. The Argentine was given a five-year contract at White Hart Lane after 17 impressive months at St Mary’s. Southampton players were initially down in the dumps about Pochettino’s departure but such has been the impact of Ronald Koeman, who has led the club to second in the Premier League after six games, that the memory of Pochettino is already fading. “With the new manager, training is more about short, sharp work, which I think the players prefer,” said Saints midfielder James Ward-Prowse. “I think you can see the differences in our performance. “Pochettino likes to press a lot more and we did a lot more extra running sessions late into the afternoon during his time at the club.” It is believed that the Spurs squad have had a positive early impression of Pochettino, even though results have been mixed. The players have admired his thorough nature and use of video technology to illustrate tactical points. Yet the fact remains that Pochettino’s former club are already five points better off than his new one.
Let MPs team play his usual pretty little triangles in the middle of the park and then let them beat 11 men because they have taken so long to get thier break moving. He can keep his 56%pos, as his teams are so pedictable (us last year). Now we can score after 40 passes or hit them on the break. 2 1 win to us.
The two songs I'm looking forward to the Saints end singing are:- (1) Their usual "ding dong" song: "Same old [insert name of player], Always cheating!" [repeat ad nauseum] (2) That song slagging off the Skates. I think it's a far simpler way of life down South than it is in the Smoke.
