Secret Site Agent Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 As it says on the box, what should we aim for in the Championship? Should we look to avoid relegation, and consolidate for a push the next season? Should we aim for Mid -table and once again consolidate for a push the next season to the Prem? Or Should we aim for the Top Ten, with a chance of a play off place? Or Go for the play-offs? Automatic Promotion? Or win the Thing? Should we look to buy in a few players? Or lots? Or look to buy our way back to the Premiership? My own personal preference is to add in a few lacking areas, but build on the team we have a push for a play off place. I don't want lots of new faces, as we will go from a team, to eleven individuals. i would like our purchases to be specific but good quality and, if needed, quite expensive buys. A new striker is a must, as is a new CB to play next to Fonte, and maybe a pacey RB/WB. I think the Midfield is OK, with Adam and Spiderman remaining fit as I think them being out like they were this year would cause us problems. A new winger perhaps. And we should look to move a few on as well. Over to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveyR Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 Or Should we aim for the Top Ten, with a chance of a play off place? This ^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkie Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 I think in the same way Norwich appraoched this season - aim to go up automatically! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 I think in the same way Norwich appraoched this season - aim to go up automatically! well said Yorkie, I agree 100%. looking at the different clubs in the mix this season, I wonder how long their squads / good form will hold. With NA's " ..2 or 3 new players " QUOTE,...... I'd take us to go for it. Top six and an automatic place if all goes very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acersaint Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 Automatic Promotion. At the top from day one!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lambertsrightleg Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 aim to finish first. when that is no longer possible aim to finish second and if that isn't possible aim to win the play offs. no point in aiming for anything other than the sky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 We should AIM for automatic promotion, but we don't know what teams are going to come down from the Prem and how strong their squads will remain. We could get West Ham, Blackburn and Wolves down in the NPC next season for all we know - and all of those teams would have a good shot at automatic along with the likes of Leicester, Cardiff, Reading etc. Realistically I think a good season would have us finishing around 10pts behind 3rd place - in other words, upper-mid table. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithy Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 aim to finish first. when that is no longer possible aim to finish second and if that isn't possible aim to win the play offs. no point in aiming for anything other than the sky This Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 Next season will be a big test for NA who has less experience at the higher levels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWD Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 aim to finish first. when that is no longer possible aim to finish second and if that isn't possible aim to win the play offs. no point in aiming for anything other than the sky Well said sir. Aim to win every game. Simple as that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StVince1966 Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 we need two centre midfielders one centre half two forwards one goalie at the very least? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWD Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 we need two centre midfielders one centre half two forwards one goalie at the very least? Why do people keep banging on about needing a goalie? Most NPC clubs would kill to have KD and Bart to choose from! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 I reckon this is worth a poll. We should AIM to win every match, but personally I'd be happy if we made the playoffs next season (without ruling out the possibility of going up again). I'd actually be a bit scared if we went up again, assuming we hadn't signed a team of Prem players by then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kraken Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 aim to finish first. when that is no longer possible aim to finish second and if that isn't possible aim to win the play offs. no point in aiming for anything other than the sky Absolutely correct. There is of course a big difference between what we should aim for, and what we think can be realistically achieved. This summer's transfer activity and the makeup of the squad by the end of the summer transfer window will be a huge indicator in setting expectations for the season ahead. At present I think we have a squad that would finish anywhere between 8th and 16th in the Championship. But, as Nigel Adkins alluded to himself, we don't need wholesale changes to make the step up. Most of the current squad can make the step-up to Championship level. The difference will come in the signing of 3 or 4 players who will stand out at that level in the same way that the signings of Lambert, Fonte, Harding, Jaidi (and to a slightly lesser extent Hammond, Barnard, Chaplow and Guly) stood out at League 1 level. Add in the Lallana/AOC factor on the wings and it's certainly a time to feel optimistic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offix Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 Push for automatic promotion, but be happy with a play-off berth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St_Tel49 Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 I think that we should drive a bus through this division Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponto1963 Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 Push for automatic promotion, but be happy with a play-off berth this ^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan17 Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 aim to finish first. when that is no longer possible aim to finish second and if that isn't possible aim to win the play offs. no point in aiming for anything other than the sky Yes definately this. That said I personally feel we will be in the NPC for 2-3 seasons, I am amazed at how well Norwich did this season. Lets hope we can do what they have done though!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avenue Saint Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 Need to aim for autos but 3 or 4 QUALITY players invested in first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St_Tel49 Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 I think that we should drive a bus through this division More seriously most of our players are more than capable of holding their own in the Championship. With the addition of the two or three players that NA was alluding to I think that we should stop worrying about other teams and let them worry about us. I don't see why we shouldn't try to emulate Norwich (Well done to them by the way) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsacar saint Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 Now we are out of league 1,maybe NC will change from a 5 year to a 3 year plan to the premier league. Whatever the plan is,it is a great time to be a Saints fan again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted 6 May, 2011 Share Posted 6 May, 2011 Skybet make us second favourites for promotion behind Leicester. Says promoted teams usually invest early and make them frontrunners in the betting, we are 10/1, Leiceter 6/1 Brighton 14/1 and Poopey 33/1. Go for automatic, winning mentality to continue, keep chipping away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveyR Posted 7 May, 2011 Share Posted 7 May, 2011 Skybet make us second favourites for promotion behind Leicester. Says promoted teams usually invest early and make them frontrunners in the betting, we are 10/1, Leiceter 6/1 Brighton 14/1 and Poopey 33/1. Go for automatic, winning mentality to continue, keep chipping away. That is mental!! Maybe I'm a pessimistic Saints fan but I can't see us rolling over the Championship Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captainchris Posted 7 May, 2011 Share Posted 7 May, 2011 As it says on the box, what should we aim for in the Championship? Should we look to avoid relegation, and consolidate for a push the next season? Should we aim for Mid -table and once again consolidate for a push the next season to the Prem? Or Should we aim for the Top Ten, with a chance of a play off place? Or Go for the play-offs? Automatic Promotion? Or win the Thing? Should we look to buy in a few players? Or lots? Or look to buy our way back to the Premiership? My own personal preference is to add in a few lacking areas, but build on the team we have a push for a play off place. I don't want lots of new faces, as we will go from a team, to eleven individuals. i would like our purchases to be specific but good quality and, if needed, quite expensive buys. A new striker is a must, as is a new CB to play next to Fonte, and maybe a pacey RB/WB. I think the Midfield is OK, with Adam and Spiderman remaining fit as I think them being out like they were this year would cause us problems. A new winger perhaps. And we should look to move a few on as well. Over to you. Norwich end of............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 7 May, 2011 Share Posted 7 May, 2011 Next season will be a big test for NA who has less experience at the higher levels. Same with Paul Lambert. I am actually very excited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HK_Phoey Posted 7 May, 2011 Share Posted 7 May, 2011 I think we should be aiming as high as possible, that means starting the season with aim of promotion to the premier league. Having said that one of the things I noticed in the three or four games I attended recently, one of which was the MK Dons at home game, is the way the support continued to get behind the team even when things were not going so well, for me that has been the biggest turnaround since Nigel came into the building, the most important thing next season is not to lose that. So as I say aim for promotion but lets make sure we continue to get behind Nigel and the boys if it is not going so well. Every one keeps referring to Norwich and how well they have done and I wish to take nothing away from their performance this year as I think they have done extremely well, but I do think the championship was not as strong this year as it has been in previous years. This is evidenced by the fact that not one of the relegated premiership teams has seriously pushed for promotion this year (Last year Newcastle and West Brom, who took the automatic places and by some margin if I remember correctly had come down from the PL the year before) and all three of the promoted teams from League 1 have at least been in the play off mix until the last two or three weeks of the season. Of course you could argue that also indicates that League 1 is stronger and the premier league is a little weaker in the more recent years and it is a relative thing. Either way I think it bodes well for Saints to have a good year. NC and the board have stated from day one that it is a 5 year plan, we are two years into it and if I remeber rightly NC is quoted as saying that if we get promoted this year we are still on track. In summary our goal should be promotion, but I would be esctatic if we make the play offs or better but would be happy just to consolidate this year and go up as champions the following year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsbridge Saint Posted 7 May, 2011 Share Posted 7 May, 2011 Quality not quantity when it comes to new signings. Personally I would be happy to never see the bottom half of the table all season and be in with a shout of the play offs come April. Would be a realistic target for next season. Sure shoot for the stars, but don't beat yourself with a stick if you don't get there. Targets need to be realistic and achievable. And is it too much to ask for a decent start for a change? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AussieDog Posted 7 May, 2011 Share Posted 7 May, 2011 To win the league! - but that of course is without knowing how much our Nige has in his "war chest". With the right investment there is no reason why not. Ask me again a week before the season when we have more idea of what the team will be for the 1st game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tpbury Posted 7 May, 2011 Share Posted 7 May, 2011 When did we last have a good start. I remember us being 7th just before Christmas a couple of seasons before we got relegated out of the EPL (if people can say NPC, I can say EPL!). Other than that, can only remember struggling uphill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HK_Phoey Posted 7 May, 2011 Share Posted 7 May, 2011 When Strachan was manager werent we fourth at around Christmas time ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Professor Posted 7 May, 2011 Share Posted 7 May, 2011 Not sure how you 'aim for mid-table consolidation'. If the team has won too many games and is high in the table, do you start putting out a weaker side? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghq Posted 7 May, 2011 Share Posted 7 May, 2011 I think that we should drive a bus through this division I'd verymuch like to purchase a ticket for that bus! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulwantsapint Posted 7 May, 2011 Share Posted 7 May, 2011 aim to finish first. when that is no longer possible aim to finish second and if that isn't possible aim to win the play offs. no point in aiming for anything other than the sky my own idea in adkins style speak aim for 1st if you fail slightly still doing well, aim mid table slight fail becomes relegation battle npc is split in 3 teams who could play prem - got to be aim teams who could end up anywhere teams who just want to stay up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Posted 7 May, 2011 Share Posted 7 May, 2011 Skybet make us second favourites for promotion behind Leicester. Says promoted teams usually invest early and make them frontrunners in the betting, we are 10/1, Leiceter 6/1 Brighton 14/1 and Poopey 33/1. Go for automatic, winning mentality to continue, keep chipping away. They haven't yet quoted West Ham, Wigan, Wolves and Blackpool for the Championship next season. 10/1 does seem short enough. The target for next season is to win the league. Having said that, when we get to the end of July and haven't signed anyone I may adjust my expectations... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fan CaM Posted 7 May, 2011 Share Posted 7 May, 2011 aim to finish first. When that is no longer possible aim to finish second and if that isn't possible aim to win the play offs. No point in aiming for anything other than the sky this!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Secret Site Agent Posted 12 May, 2011 Author Share Posted 12 May, 2011 I think we should be aiming as high as possible, that means starting the season with aim of promotion to the premier league. Having said that one of the things I noticed in the three or four games I attended recently, one of which was the MK Dons at home game, is the way the support continued to get behind the team even when things were not going so well, for me that has been the biggest turnaround since Nigel came into the building, the most important thing next season is not to lose that. So as I say aim for promotion but lets make sure we continue to get behind Nigel and the boys if it is not going so well. Every one keeps referring to Norwich and how well they have done and I wish to take nothing away from their performance this year as I think they have done extremely well, but I do think the championship was not as strong this year as it has been in previous years. This is evidenced by the fact that not one of the relegated premiership teams has seriously pushed for promotion this year (Last year Newcastle and West Brom, who took the automatic places and by some margin if I remember correctly had come down from the PL the year before) and all three of the promoted teams from League 1 have at least been in the play off mix until the last two or three weeks of the season. Of course you could argue that also indicates that League 1 is stronger and the premier league is a little weaker in the more recent years and it is a relative thing. Either way I think it bodes well for Saints to have a good year. NC and the board have stated from day one that it is a 5 year plan, we are two years into it and if I remeber rightly NC is quoted as saying that if we get promoted this year we are still on track. In summary our goal should be promotion, but I would be esctatic if we make the play offs or better but would be happy just to consolidate this year and go up as champions the following year. I like where you are coming from. I also believe that we can do better than those coming down from the prem as we have a winning team, high on the chase and success that brought, so there is some humility there, where as down from the Prem are teams that have failed and don't wish to be in the Championship, as we have winessed in our decline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintandy666 Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 Top half would be good for this season. A bit of consolidation. However, I think a play-off place is well within our capacities. We have 3 years to do this under the 'five year plan'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dark Sotonic Mills Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 I think the ethos for every member of the team, whether existing or new additions, should be " Be the best that you can be" to paraphrase someone whose name I have forgotten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toofarnorth Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 One game at a time, just chipping away. Worked this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Under Weststand Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 There is no point going in half hearted, Aim high & look to automatic promotion, tempered with a little realism that come next April I'd be happy if we were in with a shout of the play-off's. Its going to be more difficult next season even without the likes of Wolves, West Ham Wigan. but who'd have thought Norwich would have gone straight through the league. We seem to have that never say die attitude, through what's been a pressure fuelled run in, and we need to keep that spirit & togetherness next season. So hopefully 4/5 quality players can be brought in, with the right attitude & suppliment the squad we have at the moment. I'm sure NC & NA will be aiming high also tempered with the same realism. All aboard for the Premier bound bus whether this season or next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djharvey Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 (edited) Our target must be promotion! Will be dreamland if we achieve it. Edited 12 May, 2011 by djharvey oops! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano6 Posted 13 May, 2011 Share Posted 13 May, 2011 We should aim to lose about 35% of our games, and buy players / deploy tactics accordingly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 13 May, 2011 Share Posted 13 May, 2011 Top half would be good for this season. A bit of consolidation. However, I think a play-off place is well within our capacities. We have 3 years to do this under the 'five year plan'. Does anyone remember what "end of year 5" looked like on the original 5 year plan? Was it: "year 5: promoted from the Championship - reached the premier league." Or was it: "year 5: reached Prem 1 or 2 years ago - finished in top 5 - Europe here we come" In other words, was the 'plan' to reach the Prem by year 5 or to have consolidated in the Prem by year 5? I think the answer to that will determine the level of extra investment the owner(s) will need to plough into the club next season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Secret Site Agent Posted 13 May, 2011 Author Share Posted 13 May, 2011 Does anyone remember what "end of year 5" looked like on the original 5 year plan? Was it: "year 5: promoted from the Championship - reached the premier league." Or was it: "year 5: reached Prem 1 or 2 years ago - finished in top 5 - Europe here we come" In other words, was the 'plan' to reach the Prem by year 5 or to have consolidated in the Prem by year 5? I think the answer to that will determine the level of extra investment the owner(s) will need to plough into the club next season. I think the plan was to reach the Championship in two years Consolidate in year three Promotion in year four Build in year five to avoid relegation and achieve a safe mid table position. Then the next five year plan. Which would involve Europe I think and a challenger to the top 4. Would take a LOT of investment in the next five years, but building us into a Globel brank wouldn't help. As I am sure there are plenty around the world who are ****ed off with the top four. And whilst we are on it, I had a dream about that secene at the beginning of 'The Damned United' where Cloughie meets Don Revie, but in this one it's Nigel and Alex Furgeson, and ALex refusing to shake Niges hand, and Nigel turns to him and says 'Just because we are a bigger club, don't be too jealous' and walks away. There was also a scene with a Ballet dancer and a man dressed as a bottle of Champagne, but that is a little hazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greedyfly Posted 13 May, 2011 Share Posted 13 May, 2011 We should AIM to win the thing. Absolutely no sodding point turning up otherwise. If any of the players, management staff or catering staff aren't aiming for absolute dominence why bother? What we'll get is another question, what our aim should be however is 38 wins out of 38. Simple as that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickG Posted 13 May, 2011 Share Posted 13 May, 2011 can you really imagine Adkins and Cortese not at least targeting top two? Feel we are better placed than Norwich this time last year. What they did is unusual and very impressive so not to be expected, however it has shown that we have a decent chance of doing it - so what possible reason / logic is there for aiming any lower? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prince Jazzbo Posted 13 May, 2011 Share Posted 13 May, 2011 When being asked in an interview after our top of the table clash in November with West Ham, whether we can catch West Ham, I’m hoping NA will be saying ‘Can they keep up?’ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martyg1950 Posted 13 May, 2011 Share Posted 13 May, 2011 That is mental!! Maybe I'm a pessimistic Saints fan but I can't see us rolling over the Championship Yeah but - thats old style Saints fan thinking For the 1st time We have a chairman with a 5 year plan, I would expect that within that plan, the play offs next year would be the fall back objective with automatic promotion the primary. As a fan, I could go with next year as a year of consolidation and adjustment with a top half finish as an ok result. I don't think that would be acceptable to NC though. All aboard for the bus and another white knuckle ride! We live in interesting times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 13 May, 2011 Share Posted 13 May, 2011 Our aim should be to win every game. If we happen to get promoted, then so be it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SO5 4BW Posted 13 May, 2011 Share Posted 13 May, 2011 I don't actually think there's a huge difference in the standard between League one & the Championship. We should use the momentum of the finish to this season to be challenging for promotion - our mind set shouldn't be just consolidation - and with Cortese and Adkins there I don't think it will be. Absolute bare mimimum however, is to finish above the skates and restore the natural order of things! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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