The Official Southampton FC Thread

The Official Southampton FC Thread

Author
Discussion

Kitchski

6,515 posts

231 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
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matt21 said:
130R said:
Still unlikely but I think we do have a realistic shot at top 4 now. Looking at our remaining fixtures they aren't that bad at all.
Apart from home / away it's every team left except Arsenal! Although fixtures do seem more winnable when you sit 4th in table and have just beaten Arsenal.

The average points haul to finish in 4th over the past 10 seasons has been 70pts, last season was 79pts, and we were 23pts behind.

Assuming hypothetically 70pts is the target again we would need 34pts from 18 games (1.9/game vs 1.8/game for the season so far). Normally the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool would win far more often than not in the second half, and for that reason I think it either needs continued self distruct by our competition or some money spending in January, with a heavy slice of luck. Think we will finish 6th or 7th, and with that I would be very pleased.
Agreed. 4th is the dream come true, but realistically a very successful campaign would still be 6th or 7th. As excited as I'd be to get into Europe, I worry what it'd do to us next season. I think I'd prefer a decent FA Cup to be honest, which is completely full-circle from my thoughts last year. Easy to get carried away these days though - I've never known anything like it! The reality is, all the while we're in the top half of the PL, we're operating better than pretty much any time I can remember, short of the 2003 season and the odd spell between now and 1990 or whenever it was I got into football.

Long may it continue, and if it doesn't, I'll just sit there smiling remembering the time it did! biggrin

SaintsPaul

679 posts

167 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
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Another quality team performance.
Forget how poor the Arse were, the Saints were superb.
I think I am right in saying we have the best defensive record in all 4 divisions biggrin
This could be the best Saints side ever. The team in '84 were very special but this lot could surpass that.
A top 4 finish is still a massive ask and if we achieved it would be one of the biggest shocks in the premier league era. But we are still in with a shout and have a team capable of beating anybody in this league.
Away to Man Ure is a very big game for both teams. Lets hope we can win up there for the 1st time in donkeys years biggrin

Legacywr

12,125 posts

188 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
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I'm thinking 6th place at the end of the season!

tobinen

9,224 posts

145 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
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An away win at Old Trafford would be superb! Whether they do it or not, they have a very good chance and that's not something that could've been said in quite a few years.

Could do with Pelle re-finding the back of the net

Edited by tobinen on Friday 2nd January 16:45

uk66fastback

16,536 posts

271 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
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How nice it would be to upset the odds and for you lot to get top four - esp at the expense of Arsenal or Utd. Wenger would have to go for sure if they didn't make it and even LvG might get asked some interesting questions.

Just don't go to OT looking for the draw ... you've got the players to take them on in an interesting game - a bit like the one down south was, but you didn't get the rub of the green in that one - they know how lucky they were.


tobinen

9,224 posts

145 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
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Mate just linked this mini-documentary: http://sportsworld.nbcsports.com/pl-download-the-s...

Nothing really new but I liked it - 41:23 long

Masters1968

3 posts

111 months

Saturday 3rd January 2015
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This has truly been a remarkable season for Southampton. I must confess I had them or Crystal Palace relegated at the start of the season with Leicester and Burnley when Lovren departed.

Keeping the centre midfielder Schneiderlin and Palace losing Pullis was the only reason my £2 bet went with Palace joining the other two!

Koeman has been very lucky though. Rarely do all the new signings hit the ground running especially when they come from overseas (and the full back Bertrand was terrible at Villa) but they have all performed from the off.

Long may it continue, Man Utd are rebuilding from the front backwards and Liverpool, Arsenal & Spurs don't deserve to be in the top 4 for a host of self inflicted reasons.

On another point, I think if Arsenal signed Tiote from Newcastle and any centre half who's played the game at centre back they would finish 3rd at a canter - but they won't of course!

130R

6,810 posts

206 months

Saturday 3rd January 2015
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Masters1968 said:
I think if Arsenal signed Tiote from Newcastle and any centre half who's played the game at centre back they would finish 3rd at a canter - but they won't of course!
Completely agree, they are apparently after Sissoko when if they are signing a player from Newcastle it should be Tiote

tobinen

9,224 posts

145 months

Sunday 4th January 2015
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A chilly Sunday and Saints could only manage a draw against some robust defending from the Town. Just could not find the net a second time, plenty of effort but no real end result. Pelle still can not buy a goal at the moment. Fortunately I had a few quid on the away win or draw.

I don't fancy their chances away for the replay TBH. Now a week to prepare for the Utd game.

Kitchski

6,515 posts

231 months

Monday 5th January 2015
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Awkward game to watch. Literally gave it everything in the second half, yet there was no end result, not more than one or two shots on goal. Everyone seemed afraid to try anything except Long, and for all his effort (he really does put in a shift) his end product wasn't there. I am a fan of his, but he needs to improve his first touch if he wants to going ducking and diving around other players. Wanyama with MoTM for me, solid as ever. Davis was also being typical Davis and Isgrove looked bright when he came on. We really missed Toby and Clyne though, and Mane with his current form. Would have been a different game with any one of those one IMO.

Impressed with Ipswich, I think they'll by fighting for top spot with B'mth right to the death.

tobinen

9,224 posts

145 months

Monday 5th January 2015
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Agreed on all points smile

The jiffle king

6,913 posts

258 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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Incredible result!!!!

Cannot believe that we have beaten Man Utd away!!

I am over the moon... now just need to find a way to watch MOTD tomorrow when I get to Argentina

Black can man

31,838 posts

168 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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clap

TTmonkey

20,911 posts

247 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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Well done Saints.

The jiffle king

6,913 posts

258 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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7 points from the last 3 games.... Chelsea at home, Arsenal at home and Man Utd away. Fantastic. Add in beating Palace and Everton and it's been a brilliant period since Mid December

Kitchski

6,515 posts

231 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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Just wait until we play the big teams!




Oh, wait......

Mini1275

11,098 posts

182 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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Great performance, again clap.

Legacywr

12,125 posts

188 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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United's starting line up was valued at £270m, and, they never had a shot on target!

COYR's!

Cheib

23,245 posts

175 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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Well played Saints.....looking very solid.

Wonder what the odds were for Top 4 at the beginning of the season?!?! If you don't have too many injuries looking like will be very hard to dislodge.

Wadeski

8,157 posts

213 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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My dad is going to have a heart attack if this keeps up. And there won't be any bubbly left in his local Sainsbury's.

Well done Saints, if you get a CL spot this is movie material.