Tight battle for Top 4: Independent article

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...-champions-league-in-nine-years-10033997.html

Article from the Independent discussing how this year's battle for top 4 is the tightest since 2005/6 with only 8 points separating Saints and West Ham.

 

I've just looked at the stats. Since the 4th game of the season, we haven't been out of the top 5........

Now that is good

 

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/sa...in_the_top_four_is_good_for_everyone/?ref=mac
Echo article based on Koeman interviews over the weekend. Ron says that it would be good for the PL if Saints remained in the top 4. I think he's right...things need stirring up. Haven't done it yet of course, but we are showing that you can succeed with only decent money and a plan. The problem is of course that if we make it this year, teams like Arsenal and ManU (or whoever misses out) will just spend more next year.

 

Last season after 24 games we were 9th in the table with 35 points and a +7 GD.
As you all know we currently sit 3rd in the table with 45 points and a +21 GD.
That would have put us 5th in last seasons table, above Everton on GD. 4th place had 47 points, 3rd place had 53 points, as did 2nd place.

 

Wanna know another interesting stat..? Out of the teams involved in the race for top4, ie, Saints, Spurs, ManU, Arsenal, [and we might as well include ManC, although Chelsea are out there on their own], Saints have the equal best form [usual last 6 matches] with Spurs. If that continues, then Saints are home and dry in 3rd, possibly even 2nd. Now that's not being fanciful, that's what the form stats are saying.

Last 6 league games [latest last].

Chelsea: DLWWDW [11]
ManC: DWDLDD [7]
Saints: DWWWLW [13]
ManU: DDLWWD [9]
Spurs: DWLWWW [13]
Arsenal: WLWWWL [12]

Liverpool have 14 points but are a long way back, ie 3 points behind Arsenal, 6 points behind Saints. Very interesting match occurs on Tuesday [tomorrow] night, when Spurs go to Anfield. Hopefully a draw results. BTW, part of the reason why some of those other teams haven't done so well is because they have either lost or drawn with Saints. We're not going away.

 

Liverpool are only two games back; that's not a long way.

Interesting that this time last year, third place had 53 points. Shows the drop in level.

Great that we are still there and right in that mix, yet there's a long way to go still. Fingers crossed.

 

It is when you see their run-in: http://www.not606.com/threads/southampton-vs-west-ham-11-02-15.291539/page-4#post-7595157

 

Liverpool have the tougher run in

 

Yes indeed they do. Significantly, a lot of the rivals play each other too, diluting their overall ability to progress [ie strengthening one must weaken another or they draw which neither will want]. Apart from Chelsea and ManC, who some might say are gone [I don't of ManC], Saints play their rivals at St Marys.

Now, put that together with the form Saints have been showing [even though we're going through a tight scoring patch, relatively] and you can see good reason to be optimistic.

 

One could argue that it shows an increase in level and that it means the league is stronger in general.

 

Now that is an interesting discussion, I have thought all season that it's a weak league this year hence the lower points totals. Or is it due to the most recent tv deals that the lower clubs can pay more for wages etc. now and the gap isn't as big? Strange that there's only a few teams that are neither challenging for title/europe nor fighting relegation? Probably only Swansea, Stoke, Toon & Everton?

 

Arsenal have an easier run-in than most of the others and some weaker teams coming up now.

 

I've been having a reoccurring nightmare that involves Saints heading in to the final game of the season needing a win against Man City to secure top 4 ...

 

Our next two games are hugely important and the incentive is clear, win them both and we virtually knock West Ham and Liverpool out of the race for fourth and would make it a 3 from 5 club scenario.

 

It'll be like the QPR - Man City game, but replace "Aguero!!" with "Grazianoooo!!".

 

In the past couple of seasons we were also hard to beat, but we got too many draws. This season th

Last summer that would have been a wonderful dream.