MarkSFC

Hopefully Wes Newton from Forest.

Exactly. There really are some idiots in this world. Pathetic OP.

I dont think that we must have a 40k stadium but I do think that the potential is there. I do think though that the Leibherrs WILL either build a new stadium OR expand St Marys because at some point (according to many on here, they surely must cash in) a new or bigger improved stadium will definitely help. In 10 years time St Marys will look very average.

In the top flight when our capacity was 23-24k after benches etc....we filled the Dell. Wen this was further reduced to just over 15k we filled it. When St Marys was built we filled it. It a very fair point though that when Saints are not in the top flight we are not brilliantly supported, well not as good as some. But, there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that "in the top flight" we culd not achieve at least 38-40 k attendances. We all know we have over 50,000 keen supporters when the game is right, so why ever not should we not get around 40K when in the top flight and dooing ok? Those who doubt this are entitled to their opinion of course but they are short sighted. Over the vast majority of the last 50 years we have been a top flight club. The times outside of the top flight hit us hard and for whatever reason we do not support in the same numbers. The solution.....stay in top flight FFS!!!!

for once I totally agree with you. Luckily the person in charge of our club has real vision. 40-45k stadium is probably realistic for us and in 10 years should have us in ir around the top 10 stadiums. If Chelsea had been outside of London I gaurantee that Roman would not have touched them and they may well have gone other.

If that really is the case I'd be far more concerned about the person employing him.....(and I doubt it was NC-not exactly high enough!)

Reckon Phillips will end up down the road.

Its obviously disappointing if true but unlike with previous chairmen/boards I have no doubt that a)we will get a very good fee, b)most of it will be up front, c) there will be a sell-on clause and add-ons and perhaps most importantly d)it will all go back into team strengthening.

Craig Makail-Smith, Pilkington, Cork, Craig Dawson, and a decent keeper who commands his area, can kick rolling balls, and can distribute quickly (to a speedy little winger for example) would be my wish list. Others who would be good include Wes Newton, maybe Matthew Mills, Danny Graham. The best bit about being in The Championship now is that it opens up many more options especially in terms of Premier loans of which I'm sure we will have one or two.

Actually you're wrong. One side of Old Trafford is too near the railway line and can't be extended/developed.

My brothers "Liverpool supporting" mate was at the game Saturday and remarked afterwards that the atmoshere was awesome and far better than "any of the amazing European nights at Anfield" he had attended. As for moving the awayt fans perhaps we should expand the stadium first and put them on the second tier somewhere.

I'm hoping for 4 quality "first XI" players and one or two "up and coming" youngsters. I would expect a few sales/releases, Mills, Puncheon, Holmes, Forecast and Davis OR Bart. INS GK: Either someone very experienced like shay Given for a couple of years or a Joe Lewis type. CB: Someone in the mould of RJ, someone like Newton of Forest perhaps. CM: This is possibly the most important signing. I think we need a real ball winner who can dictate the game. Many have mentioned Jack Cork and he would be great. Mind you the way Morgan played for about 40 mins on Sat - after the first 15-20 - we may already have him. Even so we need someone better than we have. CF: Its vital that we get someone in better than we have. I don't think we lack a Ricky back-up as I think both Forte and Guly could "do a job" if needed. I would love is to sign CMS or Danny Graham. It would also be good to sign Dale Jennings as someone who is still developing and has huge potential and would be good back-up for Lallana. Its going to be an exciting summer!

I think we should sign a new "spine" to the team. Keeper: Shay Given would be great for two years but unlikely. A highly rated mid twenties like w******d or Lewis may be ideal. Center-Back: a younger jaidi, strong and powerful in the air but with more pace. Wes Newton may fit the bill. C-mid: jack cork would get my vote or even Guthrie. Definitely someone who has been playing regularly for a couple of years at least and some Prem experience. Striker: someone better than we have, Danny Graham or CMS wotld be my choice.

I will admit that he's not been a favourite of mine and I still doubt that over a season he will be "as good as or better than we could hope for" in The Championship....but on Monday he was very good, the best I've seen of him!

When we go up will we need a striker better than we have? Yes Is BT better than we have? On current form, No. On his best form, without doubt. Will he get back to his best form? Who can tell Are there better short and long term options available that we can afford? Definitely If we were to sign him I would be happy with that but we had really be going for someone in or just about to be in their prime who can get is to the prem and keep us their. CMS, Danny Graham, Ebanks-Blake possibly, Basically there are better options!

69 million over 3 years means 23 million per year divided by 72 clubs equates to just over 300k per season per club. I doubt that its actually split equally but could effect Div 2 clubs enough to hinder them. Maybe this is the start of the meltdown of the structure we have. North and South sections won't be far away at least below Div 1

We should hope for players in these positions that are better than we have; GK Left Back Center Back Center Mid Striker

Its tantalising! Our max is 95 points which obviously would mean a run of 10 wins, but its possible! To guarantee top spot BHA need 12 points from 7 games. Take our game out and possibly Huddersfield, they have to win 4 out of 5! We just need to keep winning....but for BWPs late goal wed be on a run of 6 already so there is no doubt we are playing well at the right time!

Having looked at all fixtures I would be amazed if 18 more points wasn't enough for us and I actually thing 16 will be. Having said that Peterboro shouldn't be totally discounted as they have a run in that looks the best, but due to their far worse defending I doubt they can win 6 or even all 7 but its still on!

So many to choose, but I'd have to say these standout most; Saints 4-1 Liverpool 1989 sat on the west benches in front of 2 scousers who just couldn't believe what was happening but were very gracious afterwards. Chelsea 2-4 Saints NYD 2002, after celebrating the night before in London town and only getting two hours sleep the game was great. At half time we were 2-1 down but my mate was telling us it would ok cos we will win 4-2!! Wolves 0-6 Saints. Amazing atmosphere, Saga had his only great game and we drank the night away in Birmingham! Saints 3-1 Newcastle not sure of year but the one thatnwasny a great game but possibly the greatest finish seeing as we were 1 nil down with 90 minutes played! Gotta love Pavel Srnecek or however you spell it! Saints 3-2 arsenal the last "real" game at the Dell. A special atmoshere all day, a great game and a very special moment at the end particularly if you had bet on Matty scoring last and us winning 3-2 at 175-1! A good night ensued!

perfect...

one of your posts i like!!

What a very very sad little man this Meldrum bloke is. Weak, simple, selective, antogonistic and basically lazy journalism written by someone who is clearly a bitter individual. However anyone wants to attempt to partray it Southampton FC is a "relatively" big club in this country. Based on ground capacity which is the most usual indicator of size, we are ranked 17th in all divisions and 2nd in League 1 behind Sheffield Wednesday. Its a total other disussion but because we have only had that size stadium for 10 years I wonder how different our past would have been on hte field if indeed during the 70's, 80,s, and 90's we had been able to attract 30k+ week in week out?! Anyway, the similar little club down the road has a capacity of just under 10K and cant fill that every week when they are having a great season. And here-in lies the vast difference between the clubs. We, once everyone has played the same number of games are quite likely to be 2nd in the division ahead of Bournemouth, but because they have played more games they currently sit there. Sure they are having a good season but because of our history we do have very much higher exectations and quite rightly so. We also have the fanbase the stadium and we have the money. Those three things are the main ingredieents for success in football.get over it Bournemouth. This Cup Final tomorrow is not one for any normal level headed Saints fan. Its merely a game against a team who just happen to be above us at the moment. Its important because they currently have more points despite the games played, and whoever we were playing in the same situation, it would matter that we win. Bournemouth are not our football rivals on a daily, yearly, lifetime basis....Portsmouth are, and that will never change. We are Bournemouths closest Football League team so they obviously feel like we should be. WE ARE NOT!!! Journalists like Meldrum are a disgrace to their profession.If he really does class hmself as a Saints fan then he should really hang his head in shame. Anyway it will probably be a draw tomorrow...!!

At The Dell you couldn't buy alcohol inside the ground. If you wanted a hot drink or a pie you had the kiosks, and if you wanted anything else you had cinema stylee sellers walking round. And before all seats you had to get in the ground early to get "your spot". In modern grounds you have your reserved seat and you have sufficient food and drink choice. The trouble is that if you want any of these items the queue is always too long so you either have to miss a few minutes of the duesyngalf or the start of th second. There are of course TVs on the concourse which helps. Me and my mates normally take it in turn to get the beers at half time and never leave before 40 mins (unless its that bad!). As for what's important mostly the football the result, or the matchday experience they go hand in hand. If we lose everything else helps to ease the pain. If we win everything else is a bonus.

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