Lighthouse

Last season I remember some people saying they would rather be in Sunderland's position. Safe in about 16th place and in a cup final, rather than Saints position securely in 8th with an outside shot at the Europa League. It almost seems like League position is just a random number, handed out at the end of the season. Almost as if there is no difference between 5th and 16th. I would rather finish 4th because 1 - I would love to see Saints in the Champions League. More so than a 1 off cup final. 2 - we would almost certainly be able to keep our best players. 3 - we would have the cash and appeal to bring in more top players 4 - you don't finish 4th without playing some seriously good football, consistently all season.

Nothing, short of actually winning the Premier League. My point is that winning the LC isn't some massive achievement and that you can't really blame people who prioritise the League, especially so early in the season. Yes, I can see the appeal in winning it but I can fully understand people who would rather rest key players for League games.

I honestly have no idea what point you're trying to make. Winning the League Cup would be fun and everyone would love to do it, nobody is arguing otherwise. It wont mean a lot in the grand scheme of things though, cup wins don't bring in big money or attract star players. Winning it wont convince the likes of Morgan, J Rod and Clyne to stay if we end up 7th or 8th in the League. FWIW my priorities would be top 4, then FA Cup win, then LC win, then Europa League place.

Personally I couldn't give less off a hoot. I'm just pointing out that a LC win, whilst fun, would hardly send shockwaves through the world of football.

Which part of, "I'd love to win the LC," leads you to think I wouldn't enjoy winning the LC? Nope. Nobody will be comparing us to those teams if we win the LC, they will be comparing us to other such mid table teams who have won it.

Exactly. I'd love to win the LC but it would only put us up there with Blackburn, Middlesbrough and Birmingham in recent history.

This thread is almost as exciting as Phil Neville cleaning the grouting in his bathroom. Almost.

I can't believe I flew all the way out to Dubai to meet you. It's the last time I agree to meet up with a 'girl' I meet on the internet.

Except back then the chairman really did lack ambition. When your manager is Steve Wigley and you are signing players like Aledine Yahia and Mikael Nilsson then you have every right to be concerned.

I wouldn't say Stoke were all that much better second half we were just worse. We gave the ball away needlessly on several occasions and Pelle missed two decent headed chances which were both easier than the one Diouf missed at the far post.

Yep. Supposing our next game was someone like Chelsea away and we lost. We'd still be averaging 1.9 points per game, which would have put us 5th last year. More to the point it would still leave us 2nd or 3rd in this years table depending on what City get up to.

Don't see any reason why we can't beat Spuds and both Merseyside clubs. I think Arsenal and Man Utd will get us eventually but we can run the latter close for 4th place. Who would rather have Balotelli than Pelle? Johnson than Clyne? Gerrard than Morgan? Lallana than Tadic? Henderson than Wanyama?

How are Leicester doing these days Brett? Still putting our start 2 years ago to shame?

We're next. Liverpool are last.

That's one West Ham who for some reason is posting on a Stoke message board after beating Man City. Not that bothered about West Ham personally, unless we're playing them. A lot of water under the bridge since the days of Billy Sharp and Matty Taylor.

Just watching MOTD and oh dear Sunderland...

The goal posts seem to have moved a bit here, as if a win on Wednesday would give us a Wembley Cup final. I'd take that over win today of course but even if we win the cup game we will have to get past a couple of decent aides to get to the final. On a side note, Birmingham won the LC fairly recently. I wonder what their grandchildren are talking about tonight.

Liverpool away on the first day, with a new team, was always going to be a tough ask. We made a decent enough fist of it and deserved a point. Spurs we were poor but again there was only one goal in it and on another day Mane scores and we get a decent point away from home. We may have had easy fixtures but but we've been winning them. Grinding out results against teams like Swansea and QPR and spanking West Ham, Newcastle and Sunderland. Meanwhile Man Utd have shipped 5 goals at Leicester and couldn't beat Burnley. Liverpool needed an injury time og. to beat QPR and Arsenal likewise to get a draw at home to Hull. So now it's the race for 8th? 3rd in the League and we've already given up all hope of beating teams like Everton, Liverpool and Spurs. I don't remember too many apologists from last season either TBH. Almost everyone on here was p*ssed off at that Sunderland game and Poch's apparent apathy towards the competition.

Who has suddenly decided 7th is the best we can hope for. Liverpool without Suarez look a lot more like the 6th/7th placed also rans they were before last season. Man Utd look decided dodgy at the moment and Arsenal needed a last minute equaliser at home to Hull. Everton under Martinez don't look as solid as they did under Moyes. Spurs and Poch... who knows. I'm not saying we're going to finish top 4 but Everton weren't saying that in 2004 either, when they were a midtable team and had just sold Rooney.

Pelle's first goal has also been given as an own goal. The initial rebound off the defender's arse was clearly going in, without the minor deflections off Steven Davis and Pelle.

What if they haven't 'clicked' yet and this is us playing sh*t

Not in his opinion. He is playing for the team he supported as a boy, even if he isn't playing all that regularly. I doubt he would change anything given choice.

P*ss off Mauricio.

Mathematically yes but realistically we aren't competing with the likes of Man City, Chelsea, Burnley or QPR so I'm quite happy to see them win a few games.