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How far can Southampton go?


Tomo
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In the summer it was all doom and gloom at St Marys, manager departing, player's leaving in their droves and all in sundry predicting them to head back down the league's faster than they came up, the reality however has been the exact opposite.

Word is Koeman was more than happy to let those player's leave as he had cheaper upgrades in mind (he also apparently dug his heels in to prevent Schnedierlin leaving) and he was not wrong. Forster, Alderwield, Bertrand, Mane, Tadic and Pelle are comprehensively outperforming the players they came in to replace and 22 games in they sit above every single team they lost player's (and there manager) too last summer.

When The Saints made the fast start they did which saw them 2nd in November while people were impressed, they weren't convinced by their staying power, with the lines of "they haven't had many big teams yet" and "this has happened before and like the rest they will tail off" and as December drew in that was starting to look like reality.

The big test's came and with it defeats, both Manchester club's won at St Marys in a week with a defeat at The Emirates sandwiched in the middle, then followed losses away at Burnley and a shock at Brammall Lane, the bubble appeared to have well and truly burst.

But then came the resurgence, since that defeat in the cup they have won against Everton, Palace, Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle while drawing at home to Chelsea, that isn't just CL form that is title form.

So no longer can the claim be they are still to be tested as they have been the past month, if it was merely a spell of good form it would have tailed off by now, they have a solid foundation aswell as a proven manager in Koeman so it begs the question, are Southampton going to get top 4? And even build on that?

They have got quite a few of these "tests" were people thought the bubble would burst out of the way and still sit 3rd, with the exception of Chelsea and City away their remaining fixtures look very winnable indeed.

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It's simply incredible, isn't it?

We've seen teams like this, who start very well in the league but eventually squander off. Their best players get taken, they fail to cope with the pressures of consistency and even struggle away from home.

Southampaton had a great season under Pochettino. Then they lost him, Lallana, Shaw and Rodriguez to a long term injury.. As the saying goes, they have no right to be challenging how they are.

Smart recruitment and tactical astuteness from Koeman has seen them go on this incredible run and they deserve to finish 3rd. I hope they're able to continue this challenge in the 2015-16 season.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014%E2%80%9315_Southampton_F.C._season#Transfers

they sold 5 english players (and Lovren) and bought 1 english player (GK) and 5 foreign.

I hope they finish 3rd.

Blasphemy! They are buying the league. Get your torches out everybody!

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Northampton is that place where the London Midland train stops for about 15-minutes on the way back from Birmingham -_-

It is! and it is in those 15 minutes looking longingly out the window that you begin to question what the point of life is. Why delay the inevitable? Just kill yourself now.

Well, that's what I usually end up thinking at least

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It is! and it is in those 15 minutes looking longingly out the window that you begin to question what the point of life is. Why delay the inevitable? Just kill yourself now.

Well, that's what I usually end up thinking at least

Never have my thoughts been summarised by another so well..

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