The win over Aston Villa saw Saints hit the first target of the season and that was a top ten finish for the third consecutive year, now we need to strive for the next target.

For some Saints fans this season has been a bit flat, it has been one of ups and downs and ultimately might end with a feeling of "What If" but the reality is that it has been another successful one that has seen us establish ourselves as perhaps the leading club outside of the so called big six in terms of consistency.

Those who feel this season has been a bit of a let down should consider that in this third consecutive season of top ten finishes, it is only the second time in the club's 131 year history that this has been achieved and that we have only managed two consecutive years on one other occasion and that both of those periods came over 30 years ago,

So what we are achieving now as a club is as good a time as it has ever been in the club's history and hopefully it hasn't ended yet.

Perhaps the success of Leicester City has soured it for some, there is a feeling that we should have been in Leicester's position and that we ruined our chance because we sold key players last summer and failed to replace them.

That few is incorrect, firstly we strengthened the squad overall, secondly since New Year only Spurs and Leicester have gained more points, the issue was not one of losing key players, but of not having a truly top class keeper, since Fraser Forster returned we have been a different team.

Secondly Leicester have actually proved that you do not need to spend big nor have a team of superstars, their success should give Saints fans hope that we are doing things the right way and can keep on moving forward.

So having achieved this not inconsiderable target we now move on to the next one and that is to overhaul either Liverpool or West Ham to increase our chances of Europe.

Our current 8th position could get us into the Europa League if Manchester United and liverpool win the FA Cup and Europa League respectively, but we cannot rely on that.

The reality is that to overhaul them it will be hard, Liverpool have to play Swansea (a) Watford (h) Chelsea (h) & West Bro (a), this is an easier run in than Saints we are going to need another freak result or two as Newcastle showed on Saturday.

West Ham play West Brom (a) Swansea (H) Man Utd (h) & Stoke (A) again not the hardest of tasks.

The key will be Swansea and West Brom for both teams, we need them to get at least a point in those games, if they do then we can overhaul them.

The side most likely to blow up will be Liverpool, they have their injury and suspension problems and as shown against Newcastle, Sunderland and indeed us they have the ability to give a two goal lead away on more than one occasion, defensively they are suspect.

If Liverpool throw everything into the Europa League as I suspect they will then they can drop a point or two they shouldn't.

Whatever happens at the end of the season this is a great time to support Saints, statistically it has never been better, the problem for some is that they have become used to things going right, two seasons ago we were just glad to be challenging for the top ten, last season we enjoyed the dizzy heights and now this seems unexciting in comparison.

But we can finish in the top ten next year and we are geared up to finally challenge for a trophy.

Football is sometimes about luck, this season we have not has a lot of it, whereas Leicester have (this is to take nothing away from them, but all teams need luck and they have not had the suspension and injuries that could have cost them) Next season if we get the breaks then it could just be the most exciting in the clubs history.

But before that there is the final three games of the season and there is still much to play for.

Photo: Action Images

schatfield added 10:11 - Apr 25 I think 8th will be our final spot in 3 games time. We have a very hard run in with City next and then Tottenham away. Only Palace last game is the easier of the games left.
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mgprobert added 10:15 - Apr 25 good points, as usual. Its good to try and see the big picture - the long term perspective. And if we feel a bit like "what might have been" we must remember those League 1 days of not so long ago - we're still marching on!
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SaintNick added 11:36 - Apr 25 City may have one eye on Champions league semis Tomorrow and then only three days after our game, they will put out a weakened team, Palace will be looking at Wembley. When we get to Spurs hopefully title race will be over an they will be deflated
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helpineedsomebody added 11:38 - Apr 25 mr koeman & his coaching staff in the last 2 seasons have done a fantastic job keeping the team in the epl . by the time this season is over i would think that the owner has been paid back all the loans + interest she has put in to the club . with agood new contractin his pocket & a lot of money to invest in the team for next season i see no reason why we cant have a realistic chance of getting a top 4 position. the number of points we have thrown away this season must be 15/20 points we should have been in the top 6 by now & not have anybody to go above us. thats the next target

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SanMarco added 11:47 - Apr 25 The Leicester phenomenon shouldn't affect our evaluation of the season - it is a bolt out of the blue that can't be bottled and reproduced. I agree on the 'bigger picture' arguments except for the fact that the summer departures over the last two seasons have had more of an impact than is admitted here. We started slowly this season and got only 3 pts from home Everton and away Newcastle, Watford, WBA. Those games would have brought a lot more with a settled team. Those dropped 5, 6, 7 or even 9 pts are as vital as any other slumps during the season and they are directly related to summer disruption. To rise higher we need to start well AND have a stronger squad to avoid the too long slumps. We are getting there but more, against the will of the club, sales in the summer will not help this at all.

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halftimeorange added 11:56 - Apr 25 Everton put out a "weakened" team against us and we failed to take our opportunities. I think the same will happen if Man City do the same. There is no doubt that we are a workmanlike side but what we still miss is finesse. We don't have a someone who can carve a defence apart with a killer pass. That's what Saints should be seeking. If Gardos comes back fit covered in most, if not all, other positions - subject to any close season departures.

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SaintNick added 12:14 - Apr 25 Of course losing Clyne and schneiderlin had a negative impact, but it also had a positive one in that if we had kept them we would not have been able to strengthen the squad to such a degree, I think the points we might have dropped because we didnt have them were more than covered by the squad strength that saw s win points we would not have done last year when we had to play kids at places like Burnley

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IWOZTHERE added 14:38 - Apr 25 We needed more squad depth but the first priority is your first eleven. We are considerably weaker at rightback and right hand side of midfield. We had the money last year, and without being rash, could have been a bit more ambitious. We might now be looking at a serious chance of both CL qualification and not have to keep talking about players wanting to leave.
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saintsnutcase added 16:25 - Apr 25 Nick makes good points - we should be very happy with this season. But it could so easily have been better. We went into the season with two weak spots. Neither of our right backs is a Premiership standard defender. And our backup goalkeeper is way below Prem standard. Both these points were obvious to most fans before the transfer window closed, and the failure to deal with them has been very costly. We also do not have a third option at centre back, and that has also cost points. We are strong in all other departments in my view, especially with Austin and JRod in the squad.

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Bettwsresident added 17:41 - Apr 25 I am not optomistic.. we have the toughest run in and need 7pts minimum. I can 3 against palace with them safe and thinking about the cup final, but Man C and Totteham are both in rude form and ripping it up. Re the points about out rt side, I think Soares has got better all season and will be an important player next year. VVD has been awesome and fully replaced Aulderwield...but had we kept Aulderwield and never had to play Yosh...or used him to strengthen the midfield. That is the difference between progressing and standing still in the league. Also whats happening with Seagar? Manure at home still hurts! As does the draw with Villa and Norwich away. Arsenal away was 1pt gained thanks to FF's heroics, but overall looking back we threw away more points than gained.

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SaintBrock added 09:22 - Apr 26 On reflection this will be seen as a season of missed opportunities, over-hyped expectations and erratic performances and will pass into history as not remotely memorable. Nick, you are plain wrong, the loss of Schneiderlin, Clyne and Alderweireld in the summer window crippled the best defence in the league and we have struggled all season to rebuild it with only limited success; it is still a work very much in progress. Every one of our strikers has at best enjoyed an indifferent in-and-out season and collectively have failed to deliver except in rare circumstances. Overall there is far more to do to improve this team than a few tweaks and wishful thinking.

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IWOZTHERE added 16:08 - Apr 26 I can only make assumptions about finances but the accounts suggest we are running at a profit. If that's the case, the board should show their 'true colours' this summer. There will be no excuse for not adding to the quality of the first team and we will see whether the sceptics are right or wrong. Totally different picture though, if RK doesn't commit.
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