MarkSFC

You move the goalposts to suit your arguement....advertising is different to marketing. Marketing is installment options, selling window etc. I havent carried out any detailed research and nor shall I. Its obvious to most people. However I will concede that certain people (like yourself) need to feel wanted by their club and if SFC haven't made you feel wanted then it must be their loss. I do agree about the length of the window actually..it probably should have been a bit longer amybe til the end of August. But it is what it is...make a decision. Of course Im speaking on behalf of myself....they are my opinions bsed on my experiences and my knowledge of whatever the subject is. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The issue with some is how they put it across. You on the other hand DO speak for others in your posts. Im not sure what you mean by "their way of following SFC" and how I have pidgeon-holed it.......please elaborate. If winning and entertainment are not any of your reasons for going to watch Saints what is? I feel sorry for people like you because clearly all you want to do is voice your opinion and moan at every opportunity about the decisions of one man who clearly is far more qualified than a salesman to run our club. I imagine you feel like youve been let down and not given the opportunity to shine and so voicing opinion in the manner you do helps you fell better. Good luck to you...if nothing else, Saints gives you that.

This forum is probably the perfect example of why Southampton and most clubs wont spend much time or money on "advertising" season tickets. the huge majority of people who go to watch football do so because they are "emotionally attached" to "their team". There is no choice on who their team is. It is this emotional attachment that seperates football form "other liesure activities" (as stated by DBP). The quality of the product (i.e. the first team) is what pre-determines attendance levels and season ticket numbers first and foremost. Last year I believe we had about 12000 full season ticket holders and about 1500 half season. Those half season ticket holders only bought because the team was doing well.....not because it was cheaper than Arsenal, or the Skates...."their team" was doing ok. The pricing of a Season Ticket is not comparable to any other "leisure activity", it is simply a matter for "the fan" to decide if that represents "good value for money" for what he wants to get out of going to watch Saints. Everyones list will be different but the main two will be entertainment and winning. I could go to watch Chelsea or Arsenal for entertainment and winning and so they are competitors in the eye of DBP BUT I do not have the emotional attachment to those teams because that is what football is all about. The "advertising" that Saints should do is with the schools.....market the club and the players even more than they do know. Grab the hearts of the kids and sign them up for a life of supporting Saints. Its at primary and middle school that "the selling" of the club should happen.

I said in an earlier post...I am a retard. Well, I must be because Stu/Dave said I am. Isnt that howit goes. You say something, he doesnt agree so calls you a retard and thats that. Youre a retard for life. or maybe Ive missed something...I dont know, Im a retard...oh Im getting confussed...doctor, I need my pills.....

...equates to "there isn't a saints fan in the world who doesn't know the product (season ticket) exists. and the reason Coca-cola and Pepsi spend so much on their advertising is because of each other. Customers have the option of choosing the other product as their cola drink so until (and this is the key) the customer has decided on a preference...taste mainly in the case of a drink....advertising is geared to leading to one or the other initially. The difference in the case of Southampton FC and every other football club is that emotions are the key driver in determining brand loyalty. Lowe played on this for years. If it was a simple case that "I" wanted to buy a football season ticket" but didnt know which one to get, then yes I would rely on marketing and advertising to choose. If each season I "chose" which clubs season ticket to buy then price, quality of product, location, etc, etc would come in to force. But the "choice" of which clubs season ticket has already been made by me and will always be a Southampton FC one.....emotional purchasing. The club spending thousands on advertising a product will not make any difference to the huge majority of "Saints Fans". Our only choice each season is whether or not we get one. I wont be buying one for Bournemouth because its cheaper or nearer my home or because I saw their advert. In any case, the club has "advertised" season tickets...on the website. Fans only need to know when they are on sale.

I have suffered for twenty years with lower back problems. In my experience chiropractors are brilliant in the here and now when the pain is excrutiating but the effects of the treatment only last for a day or so. over time (unless operable) I reckon the best options are walking, core stability excercises and ice. In the long term I think a chiropractor is ripping you off,but the yhave their place when you cant walk of stand!!! Good luck

Beattie would be a bad idea.....at the end of his career, wont have any real incentive, probably only looking for a decent few paydays now.

Not got a clue about what? Please explain s-l-o-w-l-y as I am a retard.

always far too much importance placed on pre-season friendlies, especially the early ones.... we've won them all in pre-season and had a bad start/bad season and we've lost them all in pre-season and had a good start (well thats rare actually ) or rather a good season!! Roll on august 6th ....

Based on last seasons average of just under 21,000 attendances, I would guess that this years ST holders will be in that figure. These people will not need a reminder to buy a season ticket if they need one. If they do they probably shouldnt really get one! The only people who need a reminder that they can now buy thier season ticket are listed below:

By the way if you put £100 on the double (7's and 5's) the return is actually £4,800. You add a point when accumalating odds. Ie £100 on 7-1 pays 800. £800 on 5-1 returns £4,800.

Good!

All seems very logical and practical. Innovation is great to see when it's backed up with real substance. 4-6 years time it will be producing 3-4 players a year I suspect and when we are in the Prem. What I dint understand is how we could possibly have made this appointment when NC is on holiday?!!!!

According to that reliable source wikipedia, Carlos Edwards is a right winger who is very adept as a right back also. Would be a good fit then.

"nothing conctrete" can describe every stage up until contracts are actually signed so means nothing!

very much text book answer/quote by Lines! If I were a Rovers fans I would prefer to hear "I staying 100%" or words to that effect. Everything else suggests he's covering all options and that a move away is definitely in his head!

Newcastle are a good example but in the future massive debt will not be permitted therefore income based progression will determine player purchases. The "pecking order" will generally remain the same based on size of fanbase but success will be more relevant to the quality of people in the business. I know it is now but limitless funds - man city eg, and chelsea mean that you can take more risks! I remember derby about 20 years ago suddenly had loads of money but messed it up through poor recruitment!

Moving off my OP slightly the "potential" of a club in the future is going to be largely linked to turnover and profit. Being bank-rolled for the purchase of players will become less and less. Investment from owners for infrastructure like the stadium and training facilities will be the limit. I believe the new rules will limit debt as well. So to me this all puts us in a great position. We have no debt and are developing the training facilities already. Ground development or new build will be the next stage I believe which will be the main key to high level success. The gap will shrink between us and the Man Us of the world but unless we get 75000 a game we will never get to the very top! I think we know Utd are too much of a brand for us to compete but I see no financidl restrictions to being on of the best teams in the Premier League in 4-8 years time and with a sustained level of success following. Until Roman in particular (and Matthew Harding to a lesser degree before him) Chelsea were not a "top 4 club". I believe thru were an hour away from bankruptcy and only his investment has propelled them upwards. If they relied purely on their attendances and other sales ( which they were before him) they would be a mediocre team. Their attendances I think are in the high 30s. We averaged 31/32k in the prem and I am sure 40 is possible if when we get back. Sure sensible pricing required before someone says!! The ONLY way Saints can be a sustainable force is to have a stadium capable of attracting much more than 32k. 45-48 would be sensible with major hospitality options. As the finance of the football world alters over the next decade we will become a real force. I'm sure the team development we see over the next 2-3 years will reflect that ambition.

I think he is competant at best at this level. Think the fact that last years champions let him go mid season and the fact that we (similar ambitions) have let him go sums it up really. Having said that, he's never really had a run in a team and maybe one of those players who needs to have his confidence built.

I assume that was taken today?! If you took it, was Pardew with the players or is he flying out later after finalising a couple more signings?!

Upwards of £50 mill I would guess. The squads Market value is probably at least 10-12 mill. SMS 20-25 mill, Staplewood 5? And Jacksons Farm who can really price until it's available for development?! I hope we don't see a "For Sale" sign at SMS for many years - unless it's cos we've got a new stadium!

That's about my thinking which is why I posed the question. If Pardew is building now to challenge in the Championship there could be 2 or 3 exciting signings! Otherwise next summer will be more costly!

we were starting the season in the NPC.....how do you think our best starting eleven looks against the rest? Ignoring the need to build a squad how good is the "team"??

Matt LeTizz

They are proper annoyed!! Sounds like another great signing from AP.....he's getting good at this management malarchy!!

You really are a pair of complete idiots. I'm glad you won't be going to many games if your attitude continues to be so whinging. If £69 (although it can very easily be a maximum £3!) is the difference between you going to many more than 6 games - over several months- then maybe your finances suggest you shouldn't go at all. We all get how you feel......now STFU!!!