Southampton Banter Archive January 24 2015

 

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24 Jan 2015 20:42:36
just putting this out there and i'm sure its not escaped the boards attention. if pelle is injured we won't even finish top 8.

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25 Jan 2015 08:37:26
Agreed.

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24 Jan 2015 18:00:32
so happy we're out the FA Cup, no more needless injuries, the league is far more important, shame we couldn't realise that before we pretty much ended Shane Longs season.

Here's why the league and finishing in the top 4 (preferably 3rd) is more important;
As one of the ed's pointed out the finances for just qualifying for the champions league are huge. Add to that more TV money, the money we'll get for finishing higher in the PL and that we'll have higher ticket revenue (pretty sure we've got a better chance of selling out st mary's for a match vs Real/Barce/Bayern than we do vs a lower league english team)

Those finances will give us more clout in the FFP - more money, the ability to spend it and CL football = being able to sign better players for more money, being able to offer them higher wages, being able to challenge higher up the league every year and repeat (what's the good version of a 'vicious circle').

Alternatively, that money and the attractiveness of playing in the CL could be invested in the current squad we have - players like Morgan, Victor, Clyne, Toby, Bertrand will all be able to have higher wages and the opportunity to play CL, teams won't be able to poach our players so easily

alternatively to that, we could invest in the Stadium and training facilities - even more money from ticket sales (^ see above. ) and continue to bring through even better youth players for the club or even a combo of all 3

Now, I know I'll get 'it's not all about the money' and 'imagine the feeling of winning the FA Cup'

but for a club like us it is all about the money, the blue few have proven already that FA cup runs, wins and decent PL finishes can't keep you away from admin if you live beyond your means - I didn't like that feeling before and I'll like it even less if it happens again.

And I certainly remember the feeling of 2003, it felt great but none of that compares to the excitement I feel when I think of 'little old' Southampton, a team that 5 and a half seasons ago were almost out of business and on -10 in league one, finishing in the top 4

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Although sad out of cup, I do agree sainty. there will be those who disagree, but deep down I think they would also prefer CL spot. Still have to make it a reality tho. Long injury could be blessing in disguise as ron will need to get striker before end of next week. and at least we didn't lose to Bradford!

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24 Jan 2015 18:36:38
Don't mind that much that we were beaten by the better side today but it was how we lost. We are so much better than that and hopefully we will have at least one defensive midfielder back by next Sunday because we had nothing protecting the back four today, thought Elia did ok though but the others were just very poor. We definitely need some proper cover brought in as we were running on empty all over the field.

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I think ron purposely chose cork over reed knowing reed was the better option. pelle and seager for 5 weeks. we still need a striker! we needed another in the summer.

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I agree. Kind of. The majority of what you have said means that we will need to maintain our champions league status. Not just qualify this season. If we don't qualify regularly then we won't recruit that calibre of player long term, we won't fill the stadium every week and we won't be able to afford the wages/transfer fees. I'd love this to be true, I just don't want to get too carried away. And also, we are unlikely to get out of the group of we did qualify which will only guarantee ONE REALL massive fixture at St Mary's.

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24 Jan 2015 17:39:57
{Ed001's Note - We have posted a new article entitled, Magic of the Cup as Chelsea and Manchester City exit

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24 Jan 2015 17:14:30
Only three shots on target all game - it's becoming a common trend. I've been banging on about it for weeks, but we can't expect the defence to be perfect game after game. Saints need more from their attack otherwise they're a couple of errors at the back away from certain defeat every time.

It's good that Pelle's got his goal. But that's about the only positive thing you can say about the result.

Oh well, at least the equation is clear: 16 games to play, 16 games away from potentially the highest points total and highest final position Saints have achieved in the Premier League era. 16 games away from European football?

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{Ed001's Note - I bet there are a few articles tomorrow and next week about how the cracks are showing etc.}

24 Jan 2015 21:44:34
Totally agree Querty, in some ways we are lucky this was a cup game as in no points lost. We have been living on borrowed time with a non existent forward line for a while now and as poor as we were defensively today I don't think many people thought we could keep it up all season long, something had to give eventually. This will make Ronald think hard and he may be just about to ask the chairman for some money. We will have the spine of the team back soon but it may not be soon enough for the next 3 games. Every point is going to be precious over the next fortnight or so and let's hope the carpet ride we have been on is not just a memory come the end of the season.

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