The Kraken

Yep, going to be extremely tough. The argument for keeping Shaw was that he may not get game time at a big club. He'd clearly walk into any side in the top 4 now, he's come on an absolutely huge amount this season. And Lallana is just genuinely top quality. Keeping either of them will be a massive statement.

Clyne got MOTM yesterday, so perfectly feasible for a full back.

Here we go. Quite clearly, detrimental to the team had he left. As for the rest. Well, I'm wasting my time looking at it, it's probably best you point out the bits you think you got right.

Which OP? Your classic one, or this one? If it's your one, can you save me the time and highlight the points that were valid? Actually, no bother, I'll do you a favour and do the same. This should be fun.

You bet. Would you not? Why am I asking, you wanted shot of Jack Cork. And instead of admitting you got that wrong, you only want to point in other directions instead.

Only if you're as much of a bellend as Olallana.

As ever Diggers, you have proved your intelligence. Forum friends = good. Diggers = top 5. Always.

Flanagan? My word, you are indeed stupid and the true king of the Straw Man. Plank.

They would, as ever, be wrong.

Sure. I think my point is (or was) that we're 1,500 below our previous PL best. That happened after our last 8th placed finish (and cup final appearance). We'll see what happens next year, I guess. All I know is blind allegiance to the cause and utter ignorance/stupidity (i.e. by MLG) answers nothing and is actually just a poor defence mechanism.

My point is: compared to last year? 500-600 because of price since last year? And I apologise for being terse.

Try reading the OP. Corporate and various other factors. We've had 32K+ in the PL. That's the point WG.

I admit, I did find that funny. "Sir, we need to charge 4 times more than those northerers because southerners have much less disposable income!"

I imagine it was very random that all these people didn't turn up in their seats that they had bought and paid for. 31,313 is significantly down on our possible maximum Only a complete ignoramus as yourself would try to argue against that.

I think you missed my point, mate. I'm not saying those aren't factors. Far from it. They obviously are. And the point you initially mentioned about over 12s, it's one I wasn't aware of but I'm sure you're right, that could well be a factor. I was more responding to Duncan's post that the reason we'd dipped 500-600 in average attendance just since last year was only due to streaming and ticket prices. Only those 2 factors, which I would disagree with. I know "ticket prices" falls into that, but it's a bit ovague which thankfully you've clarified. I actually think adult prices are about right, given our stadium size. If I'm honest, and it's a grandiose hope, it would be that through this thread and various other initiatives the club could be convinced to take on some more fan friendly pricing structures and get St. Mary's full to brimming much more often. Maybe a bit too much hope for an M-board, but one can hope. If anything, it allows you and others a platform to vent what is IMO a very valid point again about childrens' pricing.

Yes. But don't mention it, or you'll get called negative and a bedwetter. D'oh.

When did he do that, Digachoi?!

All true Baz. A lot of our fans have previously wanted us to do a Sunderland, build a massive stadium, and very rarely fill it. We're 2K short of our capacity right now, not there yet. Some day hopefully, though. Cortese's suggestions of a 50K stadium got a few of them agitated, we're doing alright as it is IMO.

Both of those have been similar since last season. Can you attribute an average loss of 500-600 just because of those factors?

Who actually did say it, Andy? Genuine question.

And poor old battered Olallana still clings on to thinking he was in any way right with this thread.

JWP is not a patch on Cork. Not even close. Not even the same type of player. Neither is Harry Reed.

It has to be Gerrard. Anyone who suggests otherwise doesn't know much about football. Even Jordan Henderson has been fairly adventurous for a defensive midfielder this season, so it's not as if he's had a Makalele figure there to bail him out.

Simple formula. Existing stadium + normal prices + 90 - 95% full = good revenue, and better than spending £20M+ that we don't have on a vanity exercise to get a stadium we won't come close to filling except for 3 or 4 games a season. Simples.