um pahars

All rather reasonable to me and have to say your reply regarding the sell outs in those first seasons at St Mary's spot on. We did sell out for many games, but very often as you say we only just about sold out (certainly not weeks in advance). As you say, apart from a few high profile games, it was always possible to get a ticket, you just had to plan ahead and there were no massive lock outs or long lists of those dying to get season tickets. I'm sure for some games we could get a gate of 40,000 and perhaps with hindsight a 36,000 stadium might have been better (that said I only thought we'd average 26,000ish at SMS & thought Stoneham would have been a good size!!!!). But I do think regular gates of 40,000 are beyond us and additionally given that SMS is perhaps only a few thousand shy of what we could pull in on a regular basis, then finances will preculde any minor uplift in capcity.

Was just throwing it in as a possible motive. Wouldn't have thought the cost would be that high, but perhaps they also thought the demand (and income) wouldn't be that high either. What sort of numbers do you think we would sell??? So maybe a reason to get ahead of the General Sale and get a membership, but that's probably the only one (unless we have a really successful season) as I don't really see a problem getting tickets for other away games (Brighton???) and certainly not home games.

It's the BUR derby!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is it worth the hassle and cost??? Perhaps they just don't think the take up would be that great as most people will be able to get a home ticket (think season ticket take up will be fairly low and we won't be selling out) and the really decent away tickets (Portsmuff) will all be snapped up by season ticket holders.

Not sure what part Torquay played in the fixing/agreeing of those prices, but a tad on the steep side!!!! Am I right in thinking they will be £17 when you add on the booking fee????

Totally agree. Not sure how people can say he wasn't that bad and almost saved us when he was up to his neck with a few others who were responsible of putting us in such a dreadful position.

The issue with me wasn't stepping in and replacing Poortvliet (as you say I don't think anyone would have said no - apart from Wigley who said no, then yes), but instead how Poortvliet described how Wotte acted in the early days and how he felt it undermined him.

Within reason, would be my reply to that. I certainly agree that for the majority of players, managers should use their skills to cajole, convince or kick the best out of them, but I do think there will always be a small minority who are just best given the cold shoulder as no amount of man management skills will win them round.

At first I felt a bit sorry for him as the whole Poortvliet/Wotte/Lowe set up was quite clearly wrong from the very start. However, reading Poortvliet's comments on how he felt stabbed in the back and betrayed/undermined meant that the little sympathy I had for him quickly vanished as he came out of that looking very poor indeed.

And back to the flags, have to say I'm not keen on the "cartoon" style ones and although Gecko has produced some quality stuff in the past (and is a top bloke), I personally don't like his or Scudamore's styles. Think I'd go with the same style as the opnes they have on the Kop (whatever font/style that is called).

Me too. I remember a 20 minute conversation with Exit2 on the Sunday?? and we never managed more than one or two words as we just constantly laughing about it. Someone find that thread, black humour at its best.

A very interesting comparison. Many have attacked the "profligate" Public Sector and held up cases of waste in order to lambast them and I'm sure you could go digging for the many cost overruns on a number of defense projects and hold them up in a comparable fashion. But the undelrying tenet is as you and others have said, you can't expect the same for less (although I accept any waste needs to be eradicated) and eventually there will have to be a substantive change in the service on offer. In this instance we simply cannot afford to be flexing our muscle in support of NATO/UN/USA. Defence spending needs to be trimmed, but at the same time we have to accept that the role we play and our capabilities will have to be trimmed as well.

From my recollection I reckon the current prices would be a bit cheaper, BUT I'm not sure of the relevance as I thought that when we got relegated we actually kept our Premiership Prices (which was met with much outcry), with Lowe saying we were getting four matches extra (he didn't really seem to understand that quality not quantity was the issue). For our first year in the Championship our prices were way OTT!!!! Our current prices would certainly be in excess of our second year in the Championship.

Simply, wear black brogues/slip ons honour Ndrangheta

No F***ing way. Having been to many dinlo grounds where they have had drums or whatever, I can safely say this is one thing that could make me rethink the season ticket.

I'm sure it won't be as bad as Sunday, but if our lot move to the Chapel then a few of us are decidedly undecided with regards moving to The Chapel, as being surrounded by so many screaming kids might be a tad too much for an old bore like me!!!!! Half of us want to stay in the Kingsland corner with a decent atmosphere and with a wider group of friends, whilst those who have been hammered with a big increase (those lads with kids) are saying they have no choice but either move or chuck their tickets in (they also feel guilty about asking us to move with them). It's not just as easy as saying move to The Chapel.

Whenever I go to watch any of the Youth teams I always accept that too often too many players try to do too much as if they are out to impress someone (which I suppose they are). That said, as you say with many of those on show today being at premiership clubs I was disappointed with a lot of the play today. There was some good technical skill, the odd moment where players shone, but too often it was quite bitty and at times sloppy. Maybe the fact it was a friendly had something to do with it, but with the real mccoy starting on Sunday I would have expected us to look a lot sharper.

I'm not sure what you're replying to or trying to get at. I merely pointed out that Rory's claim wasn't true.

Football's all about opinions (but Chaplow has played in the top flight for West Brom)

I thought U21 starlet Jay Rodrigues won their POTS???? I'm certainly not saying that I think he's a poor player, just that maybe he's not the one for us. I just think we need an older head (and a bit of a snarler) in the middle of the park and Cork just seemed a bit nice out there today (although of course it was a friendly). Burnley obviously rate him, but then again perhaps I'm being a bit ahead of myself when I think we should be leaving Burnley behind!!!!!!

Have to agree Ron, although in fairness to Cork he might prefer to be playing in the middle of the park. Didn't look at all comfortable today, but as I say maybe right back isn't his forte. Kept a particular eye on him, due to being linked and not convinced he's what we need (is he too lightweight??). Can remember in parts from "that season", but don't think it would be fair to judge anyone on their performances during that debacle. (Wasn't that impressed by much of the play today to be honest).

It is only after reading some posts that I realise some people are coming at this from a totally different perspective from how I see things. I'm not saying they're wrong, just that I see it differently sometimes. When I read: "If you can't afford it, then don't go", or "It's just a leisure pursuit", or "what's better for the Club" or "Well you will just have to move seats", "It's the price of success" then I start asking; "why should it be so expensive", "for many it's much more than leisure pursuit (and has been for years, if not generations)", "what's better for the fans", "why should people have to move seats", "the price of everything and the value of nothing". Football prices across the board are way too expensive nowadays (with Saints being one of many who have increased prices way above RPI, CPI or earnings over the years) and the game is in danger of overpricing itself. There are some good initatives out there, e.g. our U-11's going free is an honourable effort in pulling in youngsters and cushioning the cost, but otherwise I look at some of the prices and think we have pitched it a bit too high (although what is high to one person is reasonable to another and it is always impossible to judge other peoples positions and motivation). I think the prices we have set, (particularly new season ticket prices), along with a few anomalies and a five week window will see attendances lower than I would have expected, but as others have pointed out, the income generated probably won't be much different. I hope the team gets off to a flyer and stays in the hunt, otherwise I can see some disappointing attendances for what I had hoped to be an uplifting year (and of course I would so love to be wrong). I had braced myself for some large price increases (although that doesn't mean I agree with my personal 42% hike, but I'll probably lump it) and resigned myself to the Club only having a short selling window, so I just hope that this doesn't result in attendances being too depressed. Have no idea of the cost to the Club (or the value to the supporters), but would be delighted if the Club could honour the existing concessions for our 61-64 age bracket.

I would suggest that for some (and particularly those who have probably followed the Club for 50 odd years), it's somewhat more than just a leisure pursuit.

Don't ask me how I know but it's over 60 down at Portsmuff!!!!!!

You're talking about a "leisure purchase" and whilst that is totally within your perogative to think of a season ticket that way, perhaps you should accept that for others they may see their season ticket somewhat differently (however irrational that may seem to you).