With fourteen games remaining, we're sitting in 9th on 35 points, with a +7 goal differential. The club's high-water mark since the advent of the Premier League for points in the 38-game era is 52; overall, it's 54. The best mark for goal differential came in '03/'04, at a sparkling -1, and the best finish was 8th the season previous. Can this current group match or exceed all of those marks? We're on pace to finish with 55 points and a +10 GD, though besting eighth might be a tad tricky.
I think it will. In 2003 I thought we were about where we should be or maybe as bit overachieving. This year we could actually be underachieving if you look at how we play....
This is the best football a Saints side has played in the Premier League but to say its the best side then I think we have to improve on 8th and a cup final. Getting 7th is going to be tough but not impossible and there is always the possibility of going one better than 2003 in the cup.
Have never loved being a Saints fan so much. We have had good seasons and staying in the top flight for so long initially was an achievement (even if Nicola didn't think so), but never have Saints fans had so many reasons to feel smug. We play exciting football, have our own style which is much admired, and are producing decent and talented young players. Perhaps we may even get into Europe next season without spending a fraction of the money that Chelsea, City etc spend. Possibly even this season via the FA Cup.
I think that we can equal it, but I doubt that we finish 7th or higher, thanks to the massive pile of mediocrity that is the bottom half and its inflationary effect on the points total of the top ten...even Man U needs to win just five more times in fourteen games to reach that mark.
Regardless of our final league position, this current team is in my opinion playing by far the best football ever witnessed by us long suffering supporters. Even prior to our premier league days the team, including Channon and Keegan that finished 2nd in the old League 1, would not live with this current team. Added to that the clubs production line of nippers coming through is remarkable. I would far prefer to see the youngsters force there way through than see Bertie Big Bollock signings that show no great allegiance to the club and move when the going gets a little tough. Great, great time to be a supporter, enjoy the ride?
Finishing 8th is a lot tougher than it was back then, because the top 7 is now a league of its own so 8th is basically like the very highest the rest can get. I think it's probable that this Saints team would beat the Saints team of '03, but improbable that it'll match the success. We'd need an FA Cup final to do that.
The way Man U and Newcastle are dropping points (and we play them both at home yet) then 7th isn't that far fetched.
Well quite. I think we're very well poised to get there, but we have to finally figure out how to beat bloody Sunderland first.
I was away at uni for the great 'strachan season' so only went to a handfull of games, long time ago so can't remember the style that well. Last season on our losing streak i thought the bubble might have burst, the reality kicking in. Now this season that feeling of winning and dominating teams is back, bar the poor form which was largely due to injuries. Its showed that our best 18 can match anyone in the league, but our squad is thin. If we have a bit of (transfer) activity this summer with players to compete then we may establish ourselves.
I believe that even the top sides are wary of playing us now. They probably went through the motions of pretending respect in the past (whilst secretly reckoning they would beat us), but now the respect is real.
To a certain extent the bigger teams played into our hands, by underestimating us they were pretty confident in dwelling on the ball and playing it out from the back. With the way we press from the front, it suited us and caught them off guard. The goal at Liverpool is a good example. They kept on trying to play it out and we just pressed and caused them to make mistakes. Chelsea seem to be the ones that have worked us out, after the first half at Stamford Bridge they comfortably beat us in both games.
There is an interesting question in there Bing. Would they beat the 03 team? They'd batter them possession wise, but would have to create something special to get passed Killer, Claus and Nieme!
Our present team are stronger than the individuals. I think overall we would have outplayed and exhausted the 2003 team, but our defence then was awesome. Be an interesting match up.
To be fair apart from a Beattie-Pahars inspired exception we didn't get much from them 10 years ago either!
