spyinthesky

Fair assessment of Liverpool As I have said in other posts, the city is one of real contrasts Some really interesting old buildings and history and a vibrant city centre. Some real solid and humorous people These good points contrast significantly with third world style areas you wouldn't want to visit even in daylight with really dodgy characters Gun crime is rife in Liverpool due to the influence of the drug gangs.

Also bear in mind that the Mayor (ie Genial Joe Anderson) arranged for Liverpool Council to provide support to Everton to enable them to buy their Finch Farm Training Ground plus underwrite the funds (a few hundred million ££) to finance the proposed new Everton stadium at Bramley Moore Dock. On a different subject, Liverpool Council, who consistently complain about reduced funding from Central Govt to provide essential services, is also looking to spend £50m on a second Cruise Terminal (having spent £8m of council funds on the first one) I can imagine the adverse feedback from the majority of local rate payers down here if the same proposals had been made by our Labour controlled Council to assist these sorts of commercial activity

According to the Liverpool Echo, the Mayor of Liverpool is writing to the Premier League to complain about the way Everton have been shafted by Agents/The System/Other Nasty People regarding the transfer of Ross Barkley to Chelsea. Apparently he would feel the same way with other clubs badly treated in similar circumstances. Interesting that he kept his own counsel when Liverpool were treating us with contempt earlier this season

Despite my frustration on how disappointing it has been to watch recent performances I try to keep an open mind on club matters. There are many issues that need to be addressed but reflecting on the VVD situation, most of us fans didn't want him to leave and generally agreed that the strong stance on making him stay a Saints player was correct. The general consensus is that if the club had sold VVD in the summer or to another club, the likely fee would have been around £60m We appear to have received up to £75m for the player by hanging on until January. Of course there may be a detrimental affect on team morale but from a financial perspective the club seems to have made the right decision. What happens to the money is the unanswered question

Sort of agree with this but, in reality, if the introduction of these 3 Youth team players didn't improve things the young lads would be criticised in the same way as the current mob

Bummer!!! I thought it had been agreed that we would get £70m less 10% straightaway

Completely agree with this Add a bit of pace and we are sorted. However £40m minimum for these attributes?

I disagree, I think this is a decent resume Interested in your own perspective.

I have been a Saints fan for an embarrassingly long time When I was a lad watching Saints in the Third Division South we never expected much so the expectation/disappointment level was low. It has cranked up over the years, none more so since the Liebherr take over. Expectation levels have risen significantly in recent times and I can well understand the negative feelings of those younger fans who are more used to a decent level of performance of success. I will be at St Marys next season, possibly on my own, as I fear that 4 or possibly 5 of my group have had enough of the regular turgid home performances since Koeman left. Last night we had a well paid squad that cost well over £100m and I doubt, on recent performances, that they would be more than mid table in the Championship under our current manager. Sell off those who are of value, and too expensive to keep next year when we are relegated, and I can forsee a similar situation that last years relegated teams are currently experiencing. However the ritual is in my blood and I expect to be suffering in a half empty stadium next season. It will be interesting to see what the club decide on season ticket prices next year. Probably no change on the basis of 5 more home games!!

Tongue in cheek, and apologies for repeating myself, put the £70 odd million VVD transfer fee on Saints to be relegated (might get 4/1 if he's lucky) and he has his purchase price sorted and a bit of pocket money left over!!

Agree

That wouldn't surprise me I guess that only about 10 of the 47 boxes are pre sold this season due to the ridiculously high prices At least 2 of the boxes have become merged into one bigger box and the idea may be to extend this idea and also freshen up the corporate areas Certainly no chance of extending capacity with the dross being served up on the pitch

Benji Have to disagree Liverpool is a half and half city Some fantastic buildings in the centre both old and modern (although massive EU and UK grants have helped restore the formers and finance the latter) Outside the main city area it is not particularly pleasant - fairly run down. A goodly proportion of the people are great, helpful and funny. However there is serious gun and drugs related crime at the lower levels and areas you would not want to access even in broad day light. I like the place but with certain reservations

Duncan Wasn't Don Roper an inside right? First player I bought as a lapel badge

I was at that game too stood on the open terraces at the side of the Goldstone Lots of missiles thrown back and forth and a bit tasty after the game in the nearby park area

Mark, You were lucky then A real classy hotel at one time. Faded glory now in many ways

VVD is regretting his move already. Seems that Herr Klopp arranged for VVD to be put up in one of Liverpool's iconic hotels, the 'Adelphi' and VVD suffered a recurrence of his ankle injury after being trodden on by a group of irate Scottish Line Dancers. He wasn't that keen on the cold buffet either. So different to the tranquillity of Winchester!! Headline news in the Liverpool Echo!!!

Still think we need a target man and replacement for VVD

Spot on post. Arguably best central defender in Saints shirt I have seen during my many, many years as a Saints fan when on song Rather disappointing recently due to injury/attitude problem

Agree Good post I have been regularly cheesed off to lose loads of decent players (and the occasional Manager) over a lifetime of following the Saints I try to obtain solace by thinking what it would have been like if I supported a club who produced and bought in players that no one else coveted. Compare us to Pompey, for example. Who, of any value/talent left them for bigger clubs? Darren Anderton/Barry Horne?

Redmond has been poor this season (and to be fair so have a number of his team mates) Interesting that the guy who runs Crystal Palace reckoned that in a time of inflated transfer values, especially for English players, Redmond represented the best value last season. Is the fact he has underperformed big time this season down to the individual or the Manager/ System. In my view it is probably 75/25. I just wonder if Redmond would be better suited on the right than playing on the left where he continually has to check back to play a ball into the danger area. One thing for certain, Thierry Henry he is not. (Who suggested that, was it Sir Les?)

Like it!! Got to try to get some humour from somewhere even if it is misplaced!!!!

1. Sell VVD and Bertrand and net £50/£60m 2. Put all money on relegation at 7/1. 3. Keep Pellegrino to the end of the season to ensure relegation is certain 4. Sell remainder of players with any sort of value for £150m (may have to accept a write down on original book value as most of them have badly underperformed this year) 5. Pay 20% of the net return ( 20% of approx. £500m) ie £100m to Kat 6. Kat gets to control the club again with a decent return from her original 80% of the sale plus £100m plus access to the Parachute payments and she starts the process all over again. 7. Us tormented supporters get a new manager, new board, new players and hopefully see more entertaining football and a few wins to enjoy. 8. A number of Bookmakers get into financial difficulties and have to withdraw their sponsorship packages from rival clubs. Happy days!!!

I tip my hat to all those going to Old Trafford (understand we have sold out our allocation) to suffer what is likely to be another thrashing Reminds me of when I used to go to away games on a regular basis expecting to be hammered at the likes of Old Trafford, Anfield, Goodison Park, Highbury and White Hart Lane. Mind you worst was the 7-1 League Cup thrashing at Watford when we actually had a decent side and had won the first leg 4-0!!!!!!!!!!! The 6-2 defeat at Charlton, the year after we won the cup, was another demoralising result made worse by having to sit amongst Charlton fans in the little main stand they had at the time within an enormous bowl of a largely open terraced stadium.

Decent post For any club outside the top 6 the chance of 'failure' is ever present and next season we could be down in the Championship trying to do well against a number of well supported sides with better support than us. We have been on an upward curve since the Liebherr takeover but the constant loss of good players and managers (I don't necessarily blame the board for this btw) was always likely to come home to roost. As has been said elsewhere the general malaise has permeated down through the ranks to the much vaunted youth section. Like quite a few on here I was concerned that the less than inspiring performances at the tail end of last season was an indicator of challenges this season. That said I doubt that many of us (even a card carrying pessimist like me) would have forseen the disarray the club is in currently. The first team squad should be good for a mid table finish but I have to say the Manager and Coaching staff seem to have royally cocked up with team selection and playing systems. Team spirit is sorely lacking and injuries (which we have generally avoided up until recently) are beginning to kick in. I will renew my season ticket next year but can envisage lots of familiar faces around me departing and we will all have to put up with the re-emergence of lots of Premier shirt clad part time supporters in evidence around the city. As a long standing supporter I have been through it all before. I feel sorry for the younger breed who have been used to the club doing well and not having to go through the current struggle and pathetic performances. I also feel sorry for those having to endure the long trip to Old Trafford for yet another insipid performance