Despite the fine form in the Premier League Saints best chance of success and European qualification is still via the FA Cup.
One thing Saints are finding this season as we keep going in what has been a remarkable season is that if you want to be one of the big boys you have to fight on all fronts, it was hoped that the League cup might turn out to be a source of success but Saints suffered an element of bad luck when the tie was played in terms of injuries and suspensions and it would end in disaster.
But now we come to the FA Cup and although we are fourth in the League we cannot take our eye off the ball in this competition and we have to treat it seriously and try to win it.
That is because not only will it give us a chance to enjoy a trip to Wembley and ultimately some glory, but it well enable us to qualify for Europe.
Of course we would prefer to qualify for the Champions League but the Europa cup is seriously undervalued in this country by many clubs in the Premier League, the top five see it as derogatory to enter although that may change with a Champions League place up for grabs for the winners and the bottom half of the table are afraid it will affect their league form and lead to relegation.
But Saints are now in the positions occupied by the likes of Spurs, Liverpool & Everton for so long, that is always challenging but often having to settle for a position between 5 -7 in the league, now we all hope that this won't be the case for Saints and that we do achieve what the rest of the league deem impossible, but we also have to be realistic and look to cover ourselves in all areas. Ask any Spurs fan and they will tell you the Europa League is a minimum requirement and it helps them not only retain players but sign new ones of a certain quality.
So Saints need to take tis FA Cup seriously and look to it as potential way into European competition not to mention a trophy, Saints are building foundations that could see us grow as a club year in year out, football though is about winning things and competing with the best and that means fighting n all fronts.