um pahars

And that's exactly what I and many others thought when they contributed to quite a lengthy thread with hardly any b*tching, in that here is a thread we can happily add some great stories to and maybe get away from the drudgery of what we face today (be it football on the pitch, stuff off the pitch, fan attacking fan etc etc etc). Football is as much about the past as it is about the present and you only have to look at threads and posts which refer back to older days (good or bad) to see how much of an impact it has on supporters. Rather than post this thread, you would have been better to contribute a story where you my have encountered a Saints player in the past that made a positive impact on your life.

There was a thread on this the other day saying how he came in last after they went for a run on the beach when the ground was frozen. Bit worrying really and only hope he's a one off!!!!!

There is a salary cap in place in League Two (Div 4 to us oldies). It started in 2003/4 and is currently set at 60%. Not overly sure how it is enforced, but I also know that League 1 (Div 3) started with a cap at the same time, but dumped it a year later. A few other points regarding this thread. If you're suggesting more money should flow down into the lower leagues as a way of ensuring club's survival, then that is no sure way of ensuring clubs stay solvent, mainly because there is no way to stop the same stupid Chairman just going out and spending this new money on players and agents who are aware of this windfall in an attempt to win promotion from whatever league. The problem has been that the more money clubs receive, the more they just go and spend on players regardless of whether it is sustainable or not. Having spoken to many clubs who run themselves prudently and with one eye on the future, their biggest problem is wage inflation and wage demands caused by either, (a) other reckless clubs offering stupid sums and/or (b) clubs who are bankrolled by millionaire owners creating the same problems. Lastly, Charlton are an interesting case, not least because their directors and major shareholders pumped in 14million last year.

Absolute tosh. Are you seriously suugesting that a manager has no impact on the performance of is team? Whilst money and status may determine certain issues, for starters a manager can have a massive impact on what players he has and what the set up is. And then of course a manager will have a massive impact on how those resources perform (motivation, tactics, line uo, training regime, discipline, fitness, priorities, guile, acquisitions, etc etc etc). You will never be able to hold one manager up against another in the truest sense (as no two managers have exactly the same circumstances etc), but are you seriously saying there is nothing between say Bill Shankly and Steve Wigley???

I have to say that's a rather large, and IMHO, an incorrect assumption. The main reason why we finally secured the funding for a new stadium, along with a number of other clubs who weren't listed, was due to the inlfux of cash into the game, mainly from SKY (also, it cannot be denied that for a short period, football clubs achieved favoured status in the financial world!!!!). The rights issue itself contributed something like 8% of the total costs and was not pivotal in ensuring the project went ahead. What was pivotal was the ability to borrow money (up to 25million) from institutions, which also did not rest on the listed status of the Club, something confirmed to me recently by David Jones (FD). The main factor was the sharp increase of money brought into the game by television broadcasters and all the consequential effects such a sea change in broadcasting rights brought about.

Without getting caught up in the history of Stoneham (which is probably worth a book of it's own given the shennanigans involving three or four different councils, and three political parties and changes at our own SFC), I have to say I agree entirely with you. I much prefer a stadium close to the City Centre, loads of pubs, good public transport links and for nostalgia where the Club originated from (of course, the fact I can walk there in 10 mins sort of helps!!!). Stoneham would have been our version of Reading, which IMHO is soooo depressing.

Get "Full Time At The Dell", another one of those Hagiology publications that Sundance hates so much and you'll get all the details. Basically, just after we won the Cup there was a vision that somewhere down between West Quay and Western Esplanade there would be a 15 to 20 million pound development, including a hotel and a sport and leisure complex as well as a new ground. The project was to be produced by Lord Lucas of Chilworth and at the time the council were all for it (although they would not pur any money into the project). Basically it dragged on for about three years until Saints revealed that the cost involved to the Club would have crippled us (no SKY money back then!!!). West Quay/West Bay was considered as far back as 1948 when plans for a ground holding up to 70,000 were even being mooted!!!

Absolute gospel truth. it was a classic day and can remember it vividly, goals, hangover, cokcs and all! On the way up we had to stop at Rownhams Services because Mini Me, who sometimes posts on here, couldn't handle being in the boot all the way up to London, can't say I blame him really!!!!!!

I bet you had to refer to ITN for those stats!!!!!! That's "In That Number", a post war chronicle of Southampton FC written by Holley and Chalk. Just added that for Sundance in case he thinks you rang up that Gray's Inn Road news establishment:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

One of my funniest moments is with regards Mr Wallace Senior (i.e. the father of Danny, Rod and Ray) and looking back it's slightly cringeable. Charlton away at Selhurst park on new Years Day early 90's. Won 4-2 with Osman scoring 30 yard screamer and Rod Wallace bagging two. Topped up from the night before all the way there and was fairly steaming when we bumped into the Wallace clan who we had a bit of a chat with. Anyway at half time still stumbling around I was in the toilets when Mr Wallace senior rocks up next to me. Being rather merry, I pointed at his member and proudly stated "Your cokcc has given me so much pleasure over the years!!!!!!!". Luckily he saw the funny side and I'm sure I even offered to shake it for him

Most hated : Branfoot, a dark period at the end of a pretty bright era. Worst ; Wigley or Poortvliet for me. Wigley never had the character right from the off and should never have been given the job (particularly when 6 months earlier he said it wasn't for him). Poortvliet is being shown up to be naive, stubborn, inflexible and inexperienced. We're bumbling aling, learning on the job with the odd thing falling into place more by accident than design.

I'm no lover of the idea of bad luck, but I will accept that on the odd occasion you will have poor decisions go against you or your best player will turn his knee in the only rut on the pitch. BUT missing two penalties is not unlucky. That's just poor execution whatever way you look at it.

ITN:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: You can forget your tales about having lunch with Justin Fashanu last summer, this has to be the ultimate loss of face. BONG, BONG, BONG and now the News At Ten Presented by Trevor McHolley. (Mods, I take back my offer of paying this guys membership, as he's a fraud.) :smt044:smt044:smt044:smt044:smt044

Problem was that I couldn't see him getting any better and had him down as another Craig Maskell!!!!!!

I think the only bit you got wrong there was questioning Crouch's ability and maybe talking old Marcus up. Otherwise most of it still holds true.

Bridge debut 1998 Bale debut 2006 An 8 year gap is hardly quick succession. Our Academy had a good reputation and churned out some good players, but it was never the best in the country nor was it as good as all the hype would lead us to believe. There were 170 English players plying their trade in the Premiership last season, so our contribution of 3 (actually 2 as Bale is Welsh!!) isn't that great.

"Sorry, but I think Shearer misses too many one on one's. I don't rate him" By yours truly, under East Stand, circa 1988

You just can't help yourself can you:smt044:rolleyes::smt044:rolleyes: I'll repeat it one more time for the more senile of our fans, I don't care about other teams. You tell him Manhattan:p:p

As in although quite a few of his chances have been long range speculative efforts, that should not negate the fact that it is his inability to be clinical and finish the more simpler chances (e.g. the one on ones) that is his main problem. I just ran that by my nephew and he understood what I was getting at. Good work Manhattan

You don't know my brother (whose wife is called Palestina BTW)

I have always thought he certainly gets the chances, but when it comes to being clinicla he fluffs his shot, hits the keeper or shoots off target. There have been a number of matches I have seen where he has not been clinical. Additionally, I do think alot of his chances have been from long range, but his lack of finishing is the main reason why he hasn't converted those chances into goals.

I love your little noddy comparisons.:rolleyes: The ones that go: "Charlton are cra8p" - So that legitimaise our own dismal performances.:smt078 "Other managers are cra8p" - Therefore condoning our own managerial inadequacies:rolleyes: You sound like my nephew when he gets picked up by my brother for smashing things up - "Kylie's smashing it up as well". A classic case of blame deflection and as my brother would say to my nephew, "Manhattan, please accept responsibility for your own actions. We are discussing you here first and foremost. When we have solved you problems, we'll then try and solve the rest of the world's".:smt044

He has 9, if you include the 2 against Exeter & the one that really should be Lallana's & a penalty and that is in 31 games (so 5 from open play in 27 meaningful games) With 19 games to go and hitting the same strike rate he would be in line for something like 14 goals this season (not sure where your projection of 20 comes from). HTH

We all know that you need a strong spine, doesn't necessarily have to be old or experienced, but strong it must be. A couple of decent centre halfs (maybe even three due to suspensions and injuries) is a pre requisite for me and for me we didn't address that deficiency. Thomas was out long term, Svensson was a massive risk, as was relying on Lancashire. We didn't get Pearce in until about 4 months into the season and insisted in playing Cork our of position. That's just poor by anyones standards:rolleyes:

What about his comment that the older players aren't pleaying because they are not on the same wavelength as the youngsters?