Mmm Donuts

Barcelona should go for Mane

Has his photo always been absent from the squad list? http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/team/

I too think we will end up with a Spurs player in a cash/player exchange.

I don't see the problem with this statement. Look, we're a 'provincial' club who was batting above its weight for 27 years in the top flight. Finishing 2nd once in an era where football was so different it was unreal; I mean, signing Keegan is like us signing Messi, Ronaldo or Bale now, right? It's mental!

 

We have never and will never have the fanbase of Man Utd, Liverpool or Arsenal. They are the 3 defacto top clubs by power of revenue alone. Chelsea and Man City have joined them by ridiculous injections of cash and in the case of Man City, have fallen foul of the FFP rules.

 

Even when we had the Dell with "unlimited" standing, 30,000 people was our max. Sure, for a big game we could pull 45/50000, but in these times of austerity, that would be once or twice a season. 30/35000 is about right for us and we're about the right size for a mid-table club who occasionally gets some amazing players (last season) that could propel us higher. Many would argue Pochettino should have done better with these players ......

 

But, why should we expect her to pump in her own cash? She has a self-sustaining, mid-table Prem side who make fluke the odd appearance in Europe and that keeps producing top class talent.

 

The trouble with a lot of Saints fans is Sky; the Sky generation.

Whilst I do agree with most of what you said, I'm not in 100% agreement. The Sky generation is the one that is pumping so much money into clubs. This increases additional income via advertising etc. I do not know the figures but does TV revenue outstrip match day money taken at the turnstiles? I'm not that sure that it is a case of you're either one or the other as I'm sure most of us that turn up also have sky. Where I live many of the kids wear Man Utd, Chelsea or Arsenal kits. I rarely see an MK Dons or Luton town strip in the younger generation though, so there is something to what you are saying. I will also mention both those teams for doing work with kids in schools and in the community, so there has to be more to football than just the end product, even if it is only trying to spot stars of the future (cynical I know, unfounded I'm sure). For KL, the supporters and the club in general I think it makes sense to make the club sustainable. It's just a bitter pill to swallow this summer hopefully. However, this is something we are used to, being a saints supporter is never without a spanner somewhere.

Just on Sky sports news that we have made some form of enquiry for Forster.

Not going to comment on them all, but fwiw I think Jay Rod is an excellent player. Compared to how much was spent on Ramirez, think he represents much better value at this stage.

Yes

I'll have finished my masters, so will be thinking about what to do next ......

Supposed to be studying but time wasting on the web instead, bah

I found this website. I'll wait until lunch to decide myself.

http://www.romanse.org.uk/

Was this solely Cortese's decision? He isn't the owner of the club and presumably had to consult the owners before this went ahead. Now I've calmed down, there must be some good reasons this happened, but we are not privy to them and perhaps never will be.

I think (perhaps) this reminds many of us the precarious nature of our own employment and how none of us are ever dispensible. Perhaps this is one reason we don't like it. I don't know enough about the new manager to decide whether or not it is a massive gamble to go with someone new to the English game. Time will tell.

However, for whatever reason the relationship between chairman and manager had broken down. That was not the recipe for long term success.

I'm truly gobsmacked by this. Whatever we as fans think, surely, there must be some reason other than Cortese's ego. Gutted and I think a poor day in our history.

Our best home team would have Ramirez, Lallana and Ricky start.

Like most I was surprised by the starting 11, great result and the tactic paid off. Well done

I put it down to the worry of being pulled off at half time

There's a thought, cheered me up no end

I'm not sure we have seen the best out of many of our players yet. If he is our 'best player' then find his best position and play him in it all the time. Let him develop, pull the strings whatever it takes really. For me though I like him. I don't like the square pegs in round holes approach though.

0-0

Yes Gemmel I am, but only because we don't know the state of the clubs finances. Most of us who visit this site I assume remember when football wasn't the big business it is now. My son, on the other hand, is not concerned about money. I think if the money is spent and we do stay up, then it would have been worthwhile spending it, would it not?

You'd hope that our best striker would get a couple of shots at goal.

I don't think Mayuka was as bad as some are posting on here. Three things for me (I am no expert tactician) first I don't think our players adjusted well to the conditions and too many times the ball was lost and/or not controlled. Second, shifting Ramirez seemed to disrupt the balance to the team too much. Third, Ricky drops back to win the ball but doesn't then have the pace to catch up when the ball moved up the pitch, but he remains our best goal scorer too many times he was nowhere near being in a position to score. Shaw and Fonte had good games, Cork a good first half.

Cork for me

Bedfordshire, always wake up early, so gives me chance to do a bit of work before I leave for the game.

No, think it'll all come good.

Just try and enjoy it as much as you can, it can be difficult and tiring but they soon grow up and get an attitude. I bought my eldest a beer at St. Mary's for the first time last season!

Alternate between hot and cold packs on your back. Try and avoid being still for too long. GP for pills and referrals, physio may be able to use TENS or acupuncture. In the longer term find a good yoga teacher.