Red

Let's get some perspective here guys – yes both would be class players in our current side, however if we had a total budget of £26M to improve the squad for our new challenge in then PL (leaving aside wages etc.), which is probably more than we will have BTW, would you honestly invest it in these two? Yes, I know they are on a free etc. etc. however that was their value when acquired so that is how we should “measure their worth” as it were! Kalou IMHO has massively underachieved for CFC – would you swap him for RL (at 10 times the wages??). How many goals has he scored on average per season? Bosingwa – I like him but not best defensively, and again is he worth 5 to 10 times FR’s wages? Even though we are in the top division, we are not in the same league (if you pardon the pun) – we need to invest wisely. Certainly not in these two – I bet MC/MU will not be lining up to sign them even on a free, which might just suggest something?

Agreed, however RDM seems to favour the Italian way - defensive and cautious tactics, which is totally against what ML and NC have always stated - that they wanted exciting football?? Think we shoud stick with NA - he could be our greatest manager in time (if he has said time!)

May just be something in this. If you improve the playing squad for a higher challenge, why not the management? Would love NA to stay and be given a chance to prove himself personally, but then I am not in charge or gambling my investment! After 30 years of following football (and Saints), the sad truth of the modern game is that it is a business and not a passionate hobby as it once was, and NC is a very successful businessman. Hope we are happy with the eventual outcome?

But he quoted in bold text, so it must be true!! Maybe NC could blow the whole ML estate to get another 3K seats coz we is Saints ni-it :-)

Don't know but I was on one for 5 years! Fact!! Disappointingly when we moved, there nothing from the club to say I could now get one :-( Different times and management I know, but in general the marketing, PR etc. around football is extremely poor compared to other sports, and particularly to concerts etc. We could do so so much better. Just one example - I have both at the Dell and St. Marys managed to organise a few corporate events - not a full season but odd events throughout the season, and not once have I had any communication from the club asking me if the day was fine; would I like to attend another one; here's a slight incentive for booking more events or whole season etc. etc.

Agree. I would also add that IF there is a proven need for more seats, then there also needs to be a return on investment (ROI) - so if we could sell 5K more average per game (we will not sell out all games at the increased capacity), and the cost to extend stadium shows a return of longer than 5 to 7 years, it is unlikely we will extend. Instead we will increase the price of tickets and corporate hospitality (for the big games) by a level that will get us maximum revenue (not necessarily physical attendance), or adopt some other financial mechanism to leverage maximum return – don’t forget NC is a financial whiz kid and will be an expert at this (not wishing to imply he will screw the fans – just that he will get the best and I believe fairest return for the club). As a side point, there have been many games I could not get a ticket. Living abroad it is more tricky, but I am family and friends in Southampton who sometimes go beyond the extra mile to get one (as per Coventry), but you do not want to abuse the goodwill, and I would bring along a few non-Saints fans for company. So I think we could easily sell more tickets – how many more, I cannot say? I am sure NC will improve the marketing side of the club, including tickets.

Interesting debate, but in reality no one really knows – remember Roy Keane and his prawn sandwich rant? I know many business types that will take advantage of corporate hospitality etc. Remember, it’s not necessarily Saints fans that will drive this – when we were last in the Prem I got my company to pay £200 a pop for 10 tickets to the game against the Arse as the MD of our main customer was a mad Arsenal fan and on other occasions could not get enough tickets. When we were at the Dell and I could finally afford it, I was on the ST waiting list for 5 years (yep 5 years) – during which time the club never once contacted me, but I still managed to get to most games prior to moving abroad. The sad thing is, I am still on the waiting list (on my mother’s address) and I am yet to receive a request to apply?? How many others in my position? I now live in Ireland and still get to about half a dozen games a year, and am willing to blow the finances for a season ticket, but simply cannot afford the airfare and other expenses for all home games. However I am still seriously thinking of getting a season ticket (if I can) just for the 6 top games to ensure a ticket when we spank MU, MC, Arse, “Not the England manager” team, Pool, and the final home game (which sees us finishing in the top 10 – just !!). Only thing is it will cost me 3 to 4 times the cost of a season ticket to only see around six games, and as Ireland is broke the misses will kill me! I am sure NC will get better marketing and ticketing arrangements in place, and if we are entertaining and reasonably successful, I may yet be on the waiting list for a few more years 

+1. Only person that deserved to be sued was the lying cheat who made up the allegations – were they ever charged by the old bill for time wasting? Also IMHO if the allegation was not made, DJ would have been sacked anyway. I did and still do like him as a person however and wish him well.

This from the same source that stated we were very close to being sold in March for £25M (before £15M invetsment in youth development was made public)!! Let's move on - nothing to see here :-)

Why?? Given what he would cost (wages, sign etc.) and compared to his goals per game with Chelsea - where he arguably had much better service due to the rest of the team, is he suddenly going to score more goal at Saints (would not even get close to Gully!). BTW if in the bizzare case we do buy him and keep Gully I will glady offer a massive bet to back this up!

Simple - play with the skill and fluency of Barca, and the resolve of Chelsea!! ...... and before anyone asks, yes of course we are better than both of them put together - we are the mighty Saints :-)

You are the true retart if you don't know! How about loss of £100M as a result of not getting in to the PL due a professional's neglate of rightful duty? People have been sued for less. And in case you hadn't noticed this is a forum for opions and views - no need to be such a "See You Next Tuesday" - HTH :-)

If in the nightmare situation we did not go up, could we sue him? Would make future refs buck up their game!!

Not trying to be funny, but do you really know anything about professional football? We got off to to a great start, maybe too good as we got nervy after I felt and were lucky to be level at half time. With Nige's great half time prep talk we came out flying and would/shoud have crushed them, and then we get the wnak decision. If it was a foul, which the ref gave then it was a booking (maybe not red, but certainly second yellow). Ref bottled it simple as that! To make matters worse, the player that should have been send off made two goal scoring clearences. Add insult to injury Font’s tackle was not a foul, never mind a yellow, and they score from it! Yes we should have won, but Boro really raised their game, we were nervy, and ****wit ref decisions do not help confidence – which is the main difference between winners and losers – BTW how’s your confidence??????

What? ..... that you are a "See you next Tuesday!"?

Very credible indeed - you have also been saying we will finish 17th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't you mean 17th???? This was Karma for the Leeds result! We will prevail - keep the faith!!

Agreed - except technically it was saved and not "missed" - i.e. was on target and keeper saved, better than being off target IMO. BS will come good and we need to stick with him. Would you call for RL to be dropped if he missed the next one?? **** happens to the best (at times).

Thanks for those that managed to get it done! Actually it is a Portuguese survey, but someone doing a masters degree part time while working for a US multinational telecoms company. Just trying to help a friend. What is interesting is the great technology that is available these days to make the match day experience so much better. It’s used at Yankee and 49ers stadiums. Wembley will have a smaller version soon. Be great if ST. Mary’s had it too! But agree, could have been better set out and shorter – sorry!

http://goo.gl/i5xGf Please partcipate and get Saints awareness up! For a masters degree project. Thanks.

LMFAO at this quick repost :-)

what's not going to happen? Us getting 14 more points, or WH / Reading winning all their games (not both obviously)?

This - anyone that "fixes" a result is a cheat - simples!!!

And that is assuming both win all but one of their remaining games, and all of them if there is a result in Reading vs West Ham - which I just can't see (quite apart from playing each other!!). Got everything crossed!!!!!!!

Yes remember that - great news! However, the only worrying bit is " ..... is staying at St. Mary's until June 2015," seems to imply he is off after that??? What the hell, let's just enjoy the ride, and we will be European Champions by then anyway and can have our pick of any manager :-)