stev2001

I think you are failing to understand that towns that largely follow more than one sport generally do not have as large a fan base than towns that only have one promenant sport. I don't think I can make it any clearer.

Ummm that's my point? Plymouth has a rugby club with stadium! Not all fans would go to both football and rugby. How many would choose to watch Southampton rugby instead of saints.

Ok but other sports are more promenant than in southampton thus taking away support. Bristol is a huge city and I've aways thought of it as a rugby town. Southampton rugby club? Is there one? Plymouth would have rugby and cricket? Cricket in Southampton? Hampshire cricket serves millions in Hampshire not just Southampton.

Football is not the number one sport in those areas.

Any ideas for st Mary's?

Oh option 4 I'd not thought of.....Pompey goes bust, fans from the catchment areas of Pompey start coming to St Mary's giving us a much bigger fan base, stadium and merchandise goes up etc. again very unlikely and not a nice thought either having a load of ex skates supporting us.

Three chances of playing CL in five years IMO. 1. Someone (liebherrs or another billionaire who buys us) invests stupid amounts into the club. 2. We manage to find a Chinese and/or a Indian superstar to play for us, merchandise then goes through the roof and we use that money to invest further in the team. 3. We get very lucky and have some exceptional bargains in the transfer market, alot of lucky games throughout the season and maybe a few very good youngsters come good. All these options are very unlikely especially options 1 and 2. What is more likely is NC has a plan to make us better but within our financial means, so with a little bit of luck a top 10 finish and a decent cup run with the dream that if we had a perfect season a top 4 finish might happen (option3).

Not sure I agree. If they stayed on the diet, fitness training and coaching of their time then maybe but if they played today then they would step up with everyone else.

It'll be great if in 5 years teams like leicester are saying "well if we follow the southampton model there is no reason why we can't achieve what they have".

One team in Hampshire?

Not many transfer rumours today, must mean we are signing someone.

I don't think anyone in their right mind would think saints need a 60k seat stadium? Even if we get into the champions league we'd only fill that a few times a season. Expansion may happen but will be a gradual process if demand is there.

Or to put it another way saints are 10 points above Pompey

Y1 - survival Y2 - survival Y3 - survival but expect top 15. Start stadium expansion if needed. Y4 - aim top half of table and bring in more quality Y5 - be a well established prem club with a chance of a cup win or top 6 finish if luck goes our way.

To be fair I did say when faced with a similar type of club. Benfica or Bolton/Wigan not much of a choice.

Good post. I'd love to see us at the forefront of youth development with other teams trying to play catch up when they realise how successful that can be.

Man city are a massive loss making company and without oil millions would be very much worse off than Pompey. Success is great but I would almost prefer if we were just a very well run club taking a few risks but not totally over stretching.

You shouldn't have mentioned about expanding the stadium....a new stadium expansion thread anyone? I'd be happy to just still be in the prem in 2017, with a couple of our youth players in the first team.

No young and hungry or someone with a serious amount of experience and ability.

Mate I'd love it If I was wrong and he did come down here but if I was in his position at his age and had to go out on loan I'd choose somewhere close if two similar teams came in for me.

Why? I'd expect quite a few prem clubs to be after him. If you were him or fergie would you choose a newly promoted team 300 miles away from your twin and friends or a established prem club in the north? If we were buying him then it would be different as wages and contracts come more into play. Twins are normally very close!

Would be perfect, young, hungry and has serious potential. Can't see us getting him though, too far from his brother.

Plan c.....liquidation. Every day that passes without a dumb billionaire coming to their rescue the more likely this seems

Anyone know how much the naming rights would cost on FP. Maybe we could club together and make number 20 a reality

I'm pretty sure itll be between £10 and £10000.