Southampton

[Dkc]

People say that 'our fate was in our own hands - we only had to avoid defeat at Chelsea.'

But if the other games were played in accordance with the rules we could have lost at Chelsea and stayed up.

If we had Liverpool away on the final day, and we could have lost and stayed up if Everton failed to win, would we be saying relegation was 'our own fault' knowing that Everton deliberately threw their game?

 

[sheff_blade90]

we currently more points, wins & goals 12 months ago than southampton & a similar goal difference

 

[ancientblade]

People say that 'our fate was in our own hands - we only had to avoid defeat at Chelsea.'

But if the other games were played in accordance with the rules we could have lost at Chelsea and stayed up.

If we had Liverpool away on the final day, and we could have lost and stayed up if Everton failed to win, would we be saying relegation was 'our own fault' knowing that Everton deliberately threw their game?

yeah thats the way i see it if west ham hadnt cheated with tevez in 2007 we would have stayed up even losing to wigan mind that nob ferguson wasnt totally innocent practically fielding a reserve side in last game against hammers

 

[Sithblade]

yeah thats the way i see it if west ham hadnt cheated with tevez in 2007 we would have stayed up even losing to wigan mind that nob ferguson wasnt totally innocent practically fielding a reserve side in last game against hammers

It was hardly a reserve side, they brought Ronaldo, Scholes and Giggs on for the last 30 minutes.

 

[100% part time blade]

we currently more points, wins & goals 12 months ago than southampton & a similar goal difference

View attachment 201039

No-one else gets on there twice. Come on!

 

[Pollingtonblade]

we currently more points, wins & goals 12 months ago than southampton & a similar goal difference

View attachment 201039

The fact we are in that list twice is an embarrassment to be quite frank.

 

[McGrath]

The fact we are in that list twice is an embarrassment to be quite frank.

Beats getting beat 3 nil at home to Southend in League One though. Which seemed to be out perpetual destiny not so long ago

 

[KenT]

Beats getting beat 3 nil at home to Southend in League One though. Which seemed to be out perpetual destiny not so long ago

Best season ever that

 

[Ned the Donkey]

An alternative take is if you've designed a "competition" that looks like this, then it's a fucking shit "competition".

Southampton's crime, and maybe our crime last time out, is trying to be sane in an insane League.

 

[Groucho Blade]

An alternative take is if you've designed a "competition" that looks like this, then it's a fucking shit "competition".

Southampton's crime, and maybe our crime last time out, is trying to be sane in an insane League.

View attachment 201048

There was only one catch and that was Catch 22 which specified that you need to spend £200m to have a chance of staying up.
But If you do spend £200m you get a points deduction for not meeting FFP/PSR targets.

 

[Rodders]

 

[CarlMcBlade]

I think 2 entries on the worst list is more embarrassing than anything really.

 

[Flippity Gibbert]

I think 2 entries on the worst list is more embarrassing than anything really.

Actually I don’t give a toss.

Better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved for 25 years (and counting).

 

[fifty shades of blade]

I think 2 entries on the worst list is more embarrassing than anything really.

So it's more embarrassing than being the worst? OK then...For all I care we could be on that list 5 out of the 6 entries and so long as we are not the worst, I don't give a toss. Even then it's a push to say it bothers me. Stats like that are just used by plastic fans to fluff up their sense of superiority.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

The thing is, Southampton were a fairly competent, young and athletic championship side last season. They simply highlight how hard the step up has become.

 

[McGrath]

The thing is, Southampton were a fairly competent, young and athletic championship side last season. They simply highlight how hard the step up has become.

In light of that.... It still amazes me that we finished 9th with a squad of lower league journeymen, on a limited budget, 5 years ago and we were in a European place when lockdown happened.

People don't recognise enough how incredible that achievement was.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

In light of that.... It still amazes me that we finished 9th with a squad of lower league journeymen, on a limited budget, 5 years ago and we were in a European place when lockdown happened.

People don't recognise enough how incredible that achievement was.

I think the step up in quality has happened in the couple of years after that season though, it's like things rapidly ramped up several gears.

 

[Mag-83]

The step up to the premier league is now colossal. Far greater than it was in our 2019-2020 season. Back then we had some good results against the likes of Brighton and Palace as two examples. Middling / lower top half teams with mid level decent premier league players. These days even mid table sides have at least one £50m star. Last season Palace had the likes of Olise and Eze in their ranks that blew us away when we played them.

 

[SE1Blade]

It was hardly a reserve side, they brought Ronaldo, Scholes and Giggs on for the last 30 minutes.
View attachment 201042

Exactly. It’s a weakened team!

Normally they’d all be starting and playing 90 mins instead of 30!

 

[McGrath]

I think the step up in quality has happened in the couple of years after that season though, it's like things rapidly ramped up several gears.

Don't diminish what they did.

 

[JohnDenver]

The thing is, Southampton were a fairly competent, young and athletic championship side last season. They simply highlight how hard the step up has become.

Their manager has let them down this season. I think a pragmatist avoids their current embarrassment, if not the inevitable relegation.

 

[Isar]

The fact we are in that list twice is an embarrassment to be quite frank.

We have had more embarrassing seasons. As bad as it is, the last two seasons in the Premier League has helped us financially.
Hopefully next time we will get the budget needed.

 

[Bath Blade]

No-one else gets on there twice. Come on!

We could make it three times next season!

 

[McGrath]

The thing I hate most about the Premier League is these shitty little southern clubs like Brentford and Bournemouth who are only there because some rich blokes want a toy.

Going down to Bournemouth and losing in a soulless stadium smaller than Rotherhams, in a southern middle class town that's never cared less about our game, kills me.

 

[jt64]

The step up to the premier league is now colossal. Far greater than it was in our 2019-2020 season.

What you're saying isn't false, but it is not helped by many clubs not actually running themselves to try to bridge that gap. There's generally two trains of thought - construct a team that is optimal to win promotion, or construct a squad that is optimal to give you a chance to stay in the PL, even if that denies you chances to actually get promoted in the present season. We appear to be doing the former. Sunderland appear to be doing the latter. I hate to say it, but barring the new owners pumping in more money, if both ourselves and Sunderland go up this season I'd fancy them to have better chances of making it stick. This is especially true if clubs taking the "promote first ask questions later" approach also cannot handle variance and sell anyone that is actually PL quality, or has the potential to be PL quality, for fear of missing out on cash out value.

 

[SE1Blade]

In light of that.... It still amazes me that we finished 9th with a squad of lower league journeymen, on a limited budget, 5 years ago and we were in a European place when lockdown happened.

People don't recognise enough how incredible that achievement was.

Unbelievable.
2 points off the champions league spots with nearly three quarters of the season gone when Covid hit.

We were on a roll and I’m convinced we’d have finished in European spots.

 

[Tickhill Blade]

The thing I hate most about the Premier League is these shitty little southern clubs like Brentford and Bournemouth who are only there because some rich blokes want a toy.

Going down to Bournemouth and losing in a soulless stadium smaller than Rotherhams, in a southern middle class town that's never cared less about our game, kills me.

Fulham as well. Even Fulham fans don't give a shit about Fulham

 

[Yogi]

For a while it looked like Derby’s record wouldn’t be beaten and it was some what of an event when a club came close now it’s every season or every other season one of the promoted sides is pushing it due to the increasing inequality in the prem won’t be long until it’s beaten.

 

[Argentinemanager]

To me the only way to level up is not the financial road to ruin way but allow the promoted teams to play at least 7 loans the first year then 5 the year after and allow them to play against parent clubs and have as many loans as they want

 

[Everblade]

Actually I don’t give a toss.

Better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved for 25 years (and counting).

Would that be a pork flavoured comment by chance?