They finished top half this season yes but only two seasons in PL after some time in the wilderness. They do have a rich history but that is all a long time ago now. In the grand scheme of things they are a small club, like us a predominantly selling club. They may be at the top end of "small clubs" and are certainly above us but they are a relatively small club none the less.

Why? Apart from a couple of months he's been solid/good throughout his career. Unless those couple of bad months define his entire career, like it does with every England player.

Exactly.

But history aside, the last 8-10 years they have been progressively getting bigger and more structured coinciding with their rise back up the leagues.

Yes they have predominantly been a selling club but this summer could define them. I think they may well lose Shaw & lallana but the money the re-coup from this, which will be substantial, may well see them strengthen once again and push on. I suppose it really depends on the board and owners but if they do, with the biggest stadium in the south they could well be pushing further up the table next season. They may not be a big club but as it stands I can't put them in the small category either.

"They got his own song 'He's just too good for you', it's quite unbelievable but when you see it and he's facing up someone - I actually feel sorry for them, 'Cos he actually is" - Ian Holloway

To elaborate on my earlier comment people on here are thinking with their heart rather than their head...ward has been great for us this season and I rate him as much as the next fan but let's look at this with a rational head.

Earlier on in the season dean moxey got attacked far, far more than ward as he was seen as the weak link by opposition to get the ball into the box...ward has mopped us so much very nicely but once again, isn't as good as clyne at all, and he deserves it more than ward.

Yes, granted we watch ward more than clyne nowadays but lets not kid ourselves on this.

Glen Johnson has 10 years top flight & massive England experience ( whoever I don't rate him defensively) and smallimg can also play RB, as can Phil jones, both have won PL titles btw...so where exactly would ward fit into your squads, and who would he replace?

We need to be realistic...just because we finished the season well and finished 11th doesn't mean our players should be getting England call-ups.

And those people comparing us to Southampton..,behave yourselves...they are a cut above us in all ways...infact they are the 1 PL team we should be aspiring to be like.

‘Football isn’t instant coffee. You have to work at it. You must grow the bean, grind it.’ Ian Holloway

Cast your mind back to the beginning of the season and many people on this forum were saying that we should try and model ourselves on Norwich