ericb

To be honest i don't expect cheaper ticket prices or safe standing to happen anytime soon. But i do think we're about to hit a wall re:prices since they're beyond stupid now. When that happens and crowds start to contract significantly - using the theory that once people are lost to the pub to watch games they're unlikely to come back - then people will have to think differently. At that point i won't be surprised in the slightest to see clubs look into safe standing as a way of attracting those fans back at affordable prices. Desperation will mean it will be considered (and rightly or wrongly that's the only way i can see it doing so). As for the ticket database, i'm sure it is bigger than 36k, but i personally know quite a few united/chelsea/liverpool/arsenal etc "fans" on our database who got put there because they wanted to get tickets for one game alone. I'd say 10k, give or take a couple of thousand, is an honest and fair guess (and that's really all we have to go on) of those that "could" be converted more regularly if we maintain success.

Is the right answer but unfortunately won't happen in the near future due to the debate about safe standing. We have a hardcore of 26k as proven by our time outside the top flight. Beyond that depending on cost or team were playing we have a "floating" support of another 10k max. The problem is that the extra 10k don't just for nicely ontop of the hardcore, and as prices rise (a sad inevitability of the premier league) we will lose something close to what we add in terms of new/converted to regular fans. The only "plus" to this is that it's consistent across near enough every club in the premier league which makes me think the cost of football isn't maintainable across another generation.

Shawcroft, Ince, Ings. Get those three and we're doing ok.

Ah crap that's the one thing i really don't want. I like the fact that Saints represent my city and the people from it. The last thing i want is a hangers on with no link to my city being sold the club as a brand.

David alba isn't too far off his age and for me at least he's a better player at the moment

For once something i agree with, thing is though i'm not sure how much i want it. If closing the gap commercially means Southampton becoming a brand that tries to attract foreign fans in the droves and sells out it's core soul - a club that represents our city - then i'm not sure that a price i want to pay for success.

Said before and I'll say it again if we can sign Ings, shawcroft and a winger ill be very happy.

There's a few that are pushing into that category now, Spurs is very close to being the same and if West Ham continue at the same increase it won't be too long before i refuse to get a ticket to theirs too. My personal limit (outside of cup semi finals/finals) is around the £40 mark.

100% this.

Students panicking and trying to get other people to do their work for them.

The problem is that people seem to find a need to polarise everything. So the worst traits of both sides come to fore and the extremes are almost encouraged. Take for example rickie, there is no argument I think that he's clearly had a decline this season that's been noticeable and it my well be his last one as our main striker. Now for those that want to polarise the debate that means people are "attacking" him or they're "blinded by what he's done previous". Neither are really true except with an absolute minority of people, but the more that those two opposing camps are put across the less choices there become. With us or against us. I'm truth the person this does the most damage to is the one in the middle of the storm, as they get the extreme reactions. Now if we could instead be intelligent about it and not throw gross exaggerations or accusations at those who we disagree with it'd probably turn out there are no "boo boys" just varieties of opinions.

From where i was stood in the Northam i thought the better side won, but 3-0 was overly flattering (also didn't look like a pen in the ground, looked like Suarez swan dived but i've not seen the tv so could probably be wrong). Thought we should've made more of our strong end to the first half, but same as the last few games we look toothless up front. Personally i think the end of season mentality is showing and if i had my way i'd drop Lambert and bring Gallagher in from the start, may as well take a look at him seriously when we don't really have anything to lose. Lallana's pen shout was never a pen in a million years either, yes there was contact with the shoulder but it wasn't intended with malice and Lallana went down like he'd been taken out by a sniper which is never good to see. Reminded me a lot of the West Ham game to be honest, lots of bluster but we didn't really want it as much as the other side (and both of those got their tactics spot on against us). Big disappointment for me was the liverpool fans, mouthy little sh.its outside the ground (and a lot with southern accents too) and a sponsored silence inside the ground till they went two up. I've always held scousers in higher regard than Chelsea or Arsenal when it comes to their fan base but yesterday they seemed to have picked up Arsenal's football tourists and Chelsea's mouthy out of town *****s. Sad that really. Anyway season goes on but really can't see us winning many more now, and feel it'll peter out from here on in. God knows why i bought tickets to Palace this week, but at least London away days are a good day on the ****.

Was a millbrook lad that I know. Played Sundays with him before he got a lengthy ban for head butting someone infront of the ref. Was a pretty well known face at rhinos and at some of the clubs round Southampton at the time if that's the same as you're thinking?

Got a few of those myself as I used to know a lad that "facilitated" some of those nights out!

Got mine just after lunch today so that's lucky!

To be fair i think if i had the choice i'd take being at '76 over being at '66 personally.

In my opinion that's the best kit we've ever had, nothing else really even comes close. And like Turkish i might actually buy a kit for the first time since the 90s if it turns out to be that one.

Very much doubt it, much more likely that most casual fans see our season as over now and don't see the point in forking out £45 (or whatever it costs for a Cat A game) when they have other things to do.

Living in London I hear it called the Boleyn ground more than I do upton park to be honest

Really hope you're not right but I have a horrible feeling you are. I think that's probably why I'm still annoyed about it as I can't see a better opportunity coming in a while. Saying that come Saturday I'll be in the away end at west ham singing my lungs out, even though I know the seasons probably done. Shame really cause what's been a very good and largely very enjoyable season could've been a great one

Not including the lower leagues is the biggest gripe of mine. I did a hell of a lot of aways in the lower leagues but when it came to the premier league that was wiped out so JCLs could come in.

Sadly that's the truth. The bit about "risk" fans does my head. You show me anyone who's been going regularly home and away who hasn't drunk with "risk" fans. Doesn't mean we want to get into a row though.

This season has been a good season not a great one. That's why people are ****ed off about the cup. Because even reaching the semi's would've made this a great one. For me i'd say in my lifetime there's been very few great seasons, '84, 2003 and arguably the two promotion seasons were great seasons. The JPT season was verging on being one because we got our club back and won a trophy (even if it was tinpot). I'd also say the 89/90 was a good season much like this that could've been great very easily. Now that's fairly fuc.king meagre return in my best part of 30 years following saints. Still saying that i'll probably be going to more away games this season than i did last in the end and i'm sure i'll have a good few laughs on the way. It just annoys me that people think it has to be black or white, terrible or brilliant, when the reality is that it's more blurred. This season had all the possibilities of being a great one. In my opinion MP bottled that. Hopefully he and the club will learn from this and we won't lose to many in the summer so can have a proper shot next season.

Mp has made this a must win game for himself. Since if we don't there's even less of an excuse for Saturday.

He's a proper mental one isn't he? I keep expecting him to turn up on the Undateables. A late 20's guy, on the rotund side, bad hair and dressed in a full saints kit, with a saints duvet cover and quoting stats at everyone.