Beauty as ever is in the eye of the beholder, but even the most optimistic Saints fan might admit that perhaps the Premier League's top four just have the edge on us right now?
Maybe I'm wrong and maybe Mark Wotte is right, we do have a world-class team after all.
Given we're comparing ourselves to the very best, how do our players stack up?
Kelvin Davis
Given his heroics this season, world-class is fine by me. Maybe the second coming of Gordon Banks if we have to try and compare him?
Lloyd James
Solid, dependable and puts in a mean cross, surely the new Gary Neville?
Jan-Paul Saeijs
With his reading of the game and ability to bring the ball out of defence, Rio Ferdinand must be thankful he's Dutch not English or he'd be a shoe-in to partner John Terry.
Chris Perry
Brave and a superb reader of the game, it's one of football's great mysteries as to why John Terry is keeping him out of the England side.
Rudi Skacel
A magical left foot with pinpoint accuracy, he destroys teams with his ability to get up and down the left flank and boast a mean-free kick to boot. Only Roberto Carlos draws comparisons to the left-sided dynamo.
Ryan Smith
Already world-class, but surely another Saints winger of yesteryear Theo Walcott must realise his time in the England team is over.
Paul Wotton
An impenetrable defensive shield who covers every blade of grass, Javier Mascherano will be feeling nervous when Rafa Benitez weighs up his moves in the transfer market in the summer.
David McGoldrick
The player who can do everything - dribble, score, tackle, pass - it's difficult to see Steven Gerrard getting back in the England side once the secret is out.
Andrew Surman
An eye for goal, skill on the ball and ability to pick out passes other players wouldn't even dream of, only another young prodigy Ryan Giggs bares comparison.
Jason Euell
Unplayable in the air, powerful on the ground, Didier Drogba's indifferent form for Chelsea will surely see the Saints attacker replace him in the summer.
Marek Saganowski
The goal-poacher supreme, able to score from any area of the pitch, David Villa's heroics in Euro 2008 are overshadowed by the Polish goal-machine's finishing.
Editor's note: it's early in the morning and having seen only one win in sixteen games all season, I'm having something of a sense of humour failure when it comes to Saints. Normal service will resume shortly.