angelman

Spurs Xi - fees paid is only half of it. You have to take the whole package into account these days: fee paid (if there is one), wages and maybe even agents' fees these days. But sure, there was always a team that dominated. In the 70s & 80s it was Liverpool. In the 90s & 00s it was Man Utd. In the 10s it is a little more balanced out. But expanding things from the top 4 that I did, to looking at top 6 for this decade so far. Man City, Arsenal and Spurs have finished top 6 all 8 seasons so far. Man U and Chelsea have finished top 6 on 7 occasions and Liverpool have 5 times. Everton twice, and NUFC,LCFC and us once apiece. So those 5 slots not filled by the Big 6, 3 were at Liverpool's expense. I don't think that anyone could say that things aren't now different. As for being the Champion, of the non Big 6 you have Leicester 2015/16, Leeds 1991/92, Everton 1986/87 & 1984/85, Villa 1980/81, Forest 1977/78, Derby 1974/75, Leeds 1973/74, Derby 1971/72, Everton 1969/70, Leeds 1968/69. So in the past 50 years, you have 11 non Big 6 winning it, although it has to be said that in the mid 80s you would consider Everton to be one of the bigs, and maybe so with the others in their respective decades. But the point is, since the PL started, it is only Leicester.

Too few journalists mention it. Fatty Samuel does once in a while. He actually rails against it, but here with the Indy article, it is all let down with the final bit.... In general, though, the gap has grown and the unpredictability has lessened. And it means the stakes around the big games, like City’s trip to Wembley, will only increase. So basically, the games between the Big 6 are even better and more thrilling as there is even more at stake, seeing as they don't lose against the 14! Great what about all those other games vs the 14? Why is there no solution offered for this "concerning trend" where the Big 6 don't lose against the rest, save for an off day? Seems that the concern isn't really there at all and journos can rub their pudgy little mitts in anticipation at the Big 6 playing each other, even if the author of the Indy piece says Spurs vs City this w/end isn't hugely exciting as "it doesn’t just stand out because it is one of the season’s 30 games between the ‘big six’". Whenever the topic gets briefly touched upon, I feel that usually the journo is being disingenuous with their concern. They like the Big 6 and CL, and couldn't give a toss about the 14 (let alone 86). From the Indy - Miguel Delaney is The Independent’s award-winning Chief Football Writer. He has written for the publication since 2011 and focuses mainly on the Premier League and Champions League. Great. PL and CL. As mentioned earlier, only LCFC have been in CL from outside the Big 6 this decade (to go with Everton and Newcastle this century). It is an irrelevance to all outside of the Big 6. I wonder if Miguel (more about him here - https://thesetpieces.com/interviews/vox-box-miguel-delaney/ ) might see the flaw in the CL, in that it adds to the financial imbalance between the 6 he so likes, and the 14? Nah. These sort of people far prefer being sycophantic to the Big 6 so that they can get all their freebies, access etc etc.

But but but....the PL is the best league in the world, don't you know?

Read in the paper today that Fifa are ramping things up, to a level that I thought was much more likely to happen. Backed by Saudi/UAE money, Fifa are supposedly going to discuss a 24 team Club World Cup. Discussions supposed to be raised during their scheduled meeting on Thurs/Fri in Kigali (Rwanda). It would be in place of the Confederations Cup and start in 2021 and happen every 4 years. 12 European teams, inc 2 English ones Man U and Liverpool, which will please the likes the other Big 6, with the winners supposedly pocketing more than £100m. Supposed to run in December. Fifa also want to expand Uefa's Nations League (again backed with Arab money). I always thought that the Confederations Cup was there to help the host of the World Cup that took place the year after. Help give them meaningful games, given that they do not have to go through qualification, as well as test the preparedness of things. But maybe this Club World Cup is a good thing as it will really stir things up and annoy a lot of clubs and maybe the PL as well. Money, money, money.

When does Obafemi get given the chance?

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1034038/Southampton-next-manager-Mark-Hughes-Leonardo-Jardim

Don't be silly. Kat said things would be done in the best interests of the clube. We had statements such as..... - We are looking to the future with a determination to create a culture based on open communication - I will ensure that all decisions made about the future of the club will be in the best interests of its staff, players, management and fans and will be taken with the prime objective of honouring and maintaining the club's heritage and tradition in the Southampton way. - Please understand that I can only make limited comments regarding this process but I can assure you that any steps we do take will be in the best interests of the club.

larry, that's all wonderful but you have forgotten 2 things. One is the loan fee that we get and secondly, the clubs that they go to pay part/all of the wages.

Agree with your sentiments about international football. But if we played all the time like we did in the first half, then I imagine that I and many others might think differently. One swallow doesn't make a summer, so until we play like the first half all the time, rather than the boring dross like Coratia, I'll just consider this a one off. As for you saying to SKD that he doesn't get much from supporting Saints, what do you currently get from it?

Doing our best to throw it away. Not sure what all the hype is about Pickford. Is he really that good?

Who would have thought 3-0 in 38 minutes?? England stealing 1-0 wins or 0-0 draws has been more the norm against decent sides and diabolically boring (bit like Saints)

Not sure what is going on, but we are winning, playing well and it is quite (!) entertaining.

The one thing that I would disagree with here, is the legacy bit. I know that you stated footballing legacy, but the legacy that Marcus left was always to his daughter, not to Southampton FC and its supporters. He bought us for a song, treated us well, had fun doing it. His daughter was clever enough to nurture the investment and got about as much as she was ever going to out of us.

I was haviong a quick skim through the online sports sections and came across this - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6275259/It-31-years-England-player-scored-Spain.html Only realised that we were playing tonight (vs Spain) because of this article. Maybe those with Sky knew about it, but it really must be the most poorly introduced, conceived and contrived international competition that has ever been introduced.

I guess there are two ways of looking at things.... 1) A league which has the best players and (some) teams play scintilating football that others cannot match. 2) A league that doesn't have the best players, not least concentrated in 6 or 7 teams. A lower standard of player, but where the competition between clubs is much more even. Something like the Championship, or maybe Solihull/Ebsfleet, whichever league they are in! So if we were supporters of the Big 6, then (1) is absolutely fine and to hell with everyone else - they should be grateful hanging on to the shirt tales of the big boys and picking up the TV money. As we at Saints aren't Big 6, while some like (1) [at the Chelsea game, and old ST holder came back for about the 2 time in 2 years. It was to watch the likes of Hazard, even though he is a Saints supporter - he wanted to watch the quality], many/most would prefer (2). Or maybe it is just me that wants (2). I want Saints to be able to compete. Of course the ideal scenario is that we compete with those at the top with a full, rocking SMS, but that's a little fanciful. So the choices are.... (1) Change alleigance and support a successful team! (Never going to happen!!!) (2) Accept that we are never going to be anything than making up the numbers, and carry on going, questioning why and what's the point. (3) Give up going to the football. As mentioned earlier, I am more than happy to admit to being a little whimsical. If I was entertained, maybe I could accept being their to make up the numbers. I hugely enjoyed a lot of the 2 years that Koeman was with us, and am thankful that I did.

Can't remember who said it, but..... The Premier League is not English football, it is football played in England.

Is being in a competition where 6 can win it, or at the least fill the 4 CL money making spots, while the remaining 14 seemingly are content to just want to survive and carry on picking up the TV cheque, really a competition that is sustainable? People call it the best league in the world, but that seems to be down to 6 teams at the top compared to the more usual 2 or 3 and rather ignores the same flaws the PL has to all other leagues.

Ta. So what's the point of these nations league games, that is apart from making money for UEFA?

Didn't actually know we were playing tonight and had to look up who the opponents were. Is this going to be a monthly exercise and does it replace the asinine qualification for Euro/WC?

I thought about the first bit, about the 70s and 80s, and by decade I looked at the top 4 to see what sort of variation there was and how often each team appeared. 1970s: 9 - Liverpool; 5 - Ipswich; 4 - Leeds, Derby; 3 - Arsenal, Man C, Everton; 2 - Man U, Forest; 1 - Spurs, Wolves, QPR, Villa, WBA 1980s: 9 - Liverpool; 6 - Man U; 5 - Spurs; 4 - Arsenal, Everton; 3 - Forest; 2 - Ipswich, Villa; 1 - WBA, Watford, Saints, West Ham, Norwich 1990s: 9 - Man U; 7 - Arsenal; 6 - Liverpool; 4 - Leeds; 3 - Blackburn, Newcastle; 2 - Villa, Chelsea; 1 - Forest, Norwich, Palace, Wednesday 2000s: 10 - Man U, Arsenal; 8 - Chelsea; 7 - Liverpool; 2 - Newcastle; 1 - Leeds, Spurs, Everton 2010s: 8 - Man C; 6 - Arsenal; 5 - Chelsea, Man U; 4 - Spurs; 3 - Liverpool; 1 - Leicester I find it all rather depressing.

And Batman, you ask who cares? Not me particualrly, its just a bit of fun to lift the dross that we are served up with. Unlike Saint86, I do not think that Sturridge's goal was the best amongst those shortlisted.

Actually, while the bloke next to me absolutely hated Brighton, I quite liked it. But then with Chelsea, I thought it pathetic. Need it to be dark to work. A little surprised though that we don't have cheer leaders with pom poms forming a guard of "honor" for the players to run out on to the pitch.

Sue, I've always been supportive of the club, but really I think that I have got to my whits end. This seems to be the 3rd season on the trot where we are devoid of much entertainment. So of course opinions are going to be somewhat negative. I see very little at the club at the moment to be positive about. Of course, this is somewhat fickle, as if we suddenly somehow manage to turn things around and get lots of good results, then the entertainment will come with it. I'd really love that to happen, but I am not sure that you will find many people who objectively can see that happening. I'm not so new to football that I believe Saints should naturally be the "best of the rest", but the Koeman days showed that we could be there or there abouts. It still doesn't address the big flaw in modern football, in that clubs like ours will never fight fill the top spots, will never qualify for the CL. So the rich just keep on getting richer. The gap between them and us getting ever bigger. Sure, Leicester. Brilliant it was.

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/16976508.southampton-could-offer-a-new-type-of-season-ticket/ See the Echo has got onto the ridiculous Season Ticket Plus. business.

I agree, but their argument is that we have 6 clubs fighting for it, when many other leagues have 1 or 2. They generally totally ignore the 6 vs 14. Having said that, Fatty Samuel does actually sometimes write about it. I guess that he has actually thought about things and realised for the long term viability/interest, 6 vs the rest is problematic. For example - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6177861/MARTIN-SAMUEL-Small-clubs-Premier-League-ask-Burnley.html