re: How high can mid size EPL clubs really go?

Everton's success this year is buttressed on three loan signings. They have to replace those players. Southampton has a youth academy that is producing first team players some of whom will fetch a lot of money in the transfer market. Thus Southampton has more potential, though Everton might be the bigger club. That's why I think The Saints are better positioned for a top four run.

Salary Cap comes to mind...

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2 of which are supposed to be stars for their home club (or in lukaku's case, another major club after mo quits on him)

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Yeah you hardly get loan signings the quality of Lukaku, Barry, and Deuleofeu. Amazing work by Everton to get them but unless they get signings of the same quality then I can see them struggle just a bit next season.

I agree that Southampton is better poised to make a top four run. However, I'd also say that in the sense of 100:1 type odds. This season probably was much more open than most with new managers at City and Chelsea and ManU being down.
There's also good reason that they were able to get an Osvaldo type talent in the market. Roma would have moved him at almost any price, the 6 or so Juve are offering them seems about right for the huge risk / headache he is.
My point being it speaks less to their ability to bring in a top talent and more to the way they'll need to overpay for risky players.

Did Lallana, Lambert, Rodriguez and Shaw all come through Southampton's youth ranks?

i believe so.

that leeds team had great chemistry and the core of bowyer, radebe, martyn, kelly, harte, kewell, smith, matteo and batty had played together for severla years.

then they brought in guys like viduka, dacourt, robbie keane on loan, danny mills, eirik bakke and they took it to the next level. smith, kewell, paul robinson, woodgate all came from the acadamy.

the next crop was just as promising but unfortunately we didn't get to enjoy their development due to the subsequent downfall of the club. (milner, lennon, kilgallon, danny rose, delph, etc.) and the more recent group (howson, garbutt, bradley johnson)

hopefully we can keep hold of and develop sam byram, alex mowatt, lewis walters, ross killock and the next wave of talent.

southampton has a great academy. west ham's seems to have fallen off a tad. everton has done well with the rodwell and barkley most recently. i know there are a couple other youngsters they are high on. i guess we shouldnt count coleman since he had already played at the top level in ireland but they signed him at a relatively young age.

man united and arsenal have had some impressive youngsters that just flame out because they dont get a chance to really make a breakthrough and just wither away at smaller clubs. arturo lupoli FTW

I agree.

That's why I think it's extremely unlikely they could make a top 4 challenge without a truly massive spending spree.

The EPL has more competition between loaded sides for the CL spots but it's not that likely a Southampton is really going to attain a CL spot in any top 4 league.


Look at a Fiorentina, for example, who've done a great job in building a very good sides for two seasons and still haven't secured a CL spot. Injuries this year played a part but they were out of the top 3 even before those. They'll likely be passed by the Milans in coming seasons as well.

My point is that non-prestige or clubs without a sugar daddy owner don't stand much chance even if they do everything the right way in any of the top 4 leagues.