Saint86

My point Turkish, is that saints have a large catchment area, and one in a wealthy area. (Although you have glossed over that point.) We are clearly going to disagree on this, but the simple fact is that outside of Birmingham there are a hell of a lot of other cities and clubs to support. And taking the greater urban area of Birmingham, with 900k split between 3 clubs, as opposed to southampton with 300k for one club, we have an equivalent initial catchment area. You then have the population bases I have listed which includes a further 900k to 1.3million, and again we are the only major club to take the lions share of that. In addition, as stated above, and by other posters, our demographic is significantly wealthier and are more likely to afford the games - please look up stats if you are going to continue attacking me for doing that myself as otherwise it is just your opinion you are spouting... salt, pinch of. You do talk sense on other topics but we are going to clearly disagree on the merits of our catchment area and I cba to argue with you about it. And the reason I include Portsmouth is not because their fans are going to spontaneously follow saints - I wouldn't do the reverse - but because there are, shock horror, saints in Portsmouth and havent etc. I also do not find it inconcievable that fans of other teams will come to SMS to watch their teams which has been dismissed by others in this thread. A prime example is Leeds, I know of 2 seperate groups with 5 and 7 people in who always go to sms (home) to follow leeds. Now in the lower leagues this is not relevant, but in the premier with wider fan bases it will contribute a reasonable following, guessing at maybe 500 for the larger teams but that really is a plucked out of thin air figure. The fact remains that attendance wise we will be the 10th largest club in the country, and as our reputation grows this will increase. In addition, we are 10th in the country because we are currently limited by capacity - THIS IS UNLIKE VILLA AND EVERTON, which as i said, are between 7-10k under their capacity. There is therefore room for improvement and with a local population that will exceed over 1.6million with only 1 club in the top two tiers to follow I do not think our catchment area should be dismissed.

Coming back to my point on another thread, cheapest season tickets at Bayern Munich was £104 - Thats a new ground not an expansion x

Based on those figures we are a similar sized club to both Aston Villa and Everton, it should be pointed out that those clubs are between 7-10k under their respective capacities. Saints will sell out 32k every week giving us the 10th or 11th largest attendance in the premier (dependant on West Ham). Clearly we have a decent fan base and catchment area. To argue otherwise (aka turkish) is a bit silly in the least. We have fans from Salisbury to Pool to Winchester. The combined population of these areas would easily equal a city the size of Bristol or even Birmingham. Now while we are not the only club, we are the biggest and we do not face the competition that exists in London or Birmingham, which has 1million people split between 3 very large, and very equal clubs. I am also not including Portsmouth in our "catchment area" although lets face it, we have fans their, and their numbers will increase. There are saints fans in Ringwood, I mean ffs, there are a couple of hundred in my home village and that only has a population of 3000, saints are essentially the only club that matters in the region. That is not to deduct from the cherries, but they can hold what, 10k? are a 30min train journey away, don't have the history, and their fans have been brought up on a staple diet of our future players. So to put population numbers to this - Southampton and Eastleigh - 304,400 Winchester - 41,000 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole - 383,000 Basingstoke - 90,000 Salisbury - 40,000 Romsey - 17,500 Portsmouth and surrounding area - 450,000 Population of New forest - 172,000 Isle of White - 140,000 I don't think it is unrealistic to assume we draw fans from these areas as an immediate catchment area. I mean come on Turkish - we had approximately the 20th largest attendance playing in the 3rd tier. These people don't just magically appear at a click of Nicola's fingers. Saints have a large catchment area, the proof is in our attendances relative to the existing attendance averages for premier teams. Birmingham has a population of 950k spread over 3 major clubs. We are the only premier league team in this catchment area and there are NO SECOND TIER TEAMS. Total population of this area is some 1.64million, or 1.2 million if you excluded (wrongly) Portsmouth. Add to this the fact that their isn't really an alternative competitive sport in the area - i.e. rugby for Bristol and I believe I feel happy to say that our catchment area is pretty damn large. Especially as I have not considered all the smaller towns and villages, or the fact that we have fans who are further afield such as reading, Guildford or even Bristol.)

I expect saints to come between 10-15th. I think we have a pretty decent first team although the depth is lacking which is a worry. The fact is there is very little difference between the bottom 6-7 Premier teams and the top championship clubs, and we kicked the championships ass!!! (Chin Up) You can expect Lambert to score 15-20goals next year with no injury (Based in Holt who he has outscored in every division). Sharp, Jayrod and Lee will get some as well due to our all round attacking being so strong. And we haven't even mentioned Lallana - When Oxlade was here we still said Adam was better - well Oxlade has gone to the Euros and played in the Champions League..... I think Adam can hack the premier to be honest. I also rate Jos and Fonte, the latter less than the former. But I think they are a solid, although not top class pairing that reminds me of Claus and M Svensson. Needless to say that they were one of the best CB pairings in the league at one time. People also seem to be forgetting Cork and Morgan who are our stand out CM players. They are good lads who will more than hold their own and who will improve. I mean ffs, look at Charlie Adam and dobbie - if they can step up then so can our current midfield. We also have chappers who is so athletic I can't wait to seem him chase down the pretty boys of the top flight (although slightly less shirt pulling will be in order!) and Hammond is worth a game for the gritty matches - stoke etc. Fox is a sound Left Back with all things considered and we won't be going all-out attack in every game next year so he should have more cover. Frankly, Kelvin is still a sound keeper for 1 maybe 2 years. He won't be the worst in the league, and he won't be the best. And Guly still remains, although whether he will shine or disappear will be one of the exciting questions to be answered - thats right, exiciting! to See how we hack it at this level, not moaning before the season begins! Maybe I am optimistic to expect us to be better than some of the dross in that league, but if we do bad I won't get on Nigel's back, even if we get relegated I wont! This is a long term project, the guy is new to this level as our some of the players. Maybe his is gifted, something fresh, maybe the whole team are. Alternatively maybe they need time to learn and adapt. I think Nigel has won the right to that time and therefore I think the original post is a bit of a disgrace. I want this club to be the new Arsenal - but will also win things! And I think we can achieve this given time. We have the money, and we have the atmosphere, confidence, spirit and talent to achieve it. With the youth academy that we have and what is currently in existence/being improved, there are few teams that should feel as optimistic as saints for their future improvement in the league standings. And that is the simple truth. Look at villa - dropped like a rock, Newcastle can't go much higher, Liverpool - where are they now compared to where they used to be. Then look at clubs like Stoke, West Brom and Fulham - we have the potential to eclipse those last 3 teams, and you can be damn sure that that is on Nicola's minimum five year plan! COYR!!!

Can't resist this, but with the "most of his experience at league 1, and the fact that he was a starting CB in the early championship games until some little ****er kicked his head in, I would say that you must also have doubts about Lambert? no?

We will be fine mate, have faith, I said from the second we got promoted from Npower 1 that we would go up last year. We have, nto I am telling you we will be around 10th this season! Those first games are not an issue. Even if we lose 5-0 to city it is a game that we are not going to be expected to get a result out of. We have a damn good team with a couple of additions. And we have lambert, I mean holt got 17 goals last season..... Lambert will be 25 JayRod is going to be a beast and we have big old jos, morgan, corky and lallana!! Its a solid young team, even de rids will get some good game time next year. We will need his pace for crosses. Have faith, and enjoy, we have been looking for this since we got relegated, don't blink and wish for millwall when you see the first fixtures. Bloody pathetic. If that is our attitude then we don't deserve to be premier league as fans!

Guys get some perspective.... We can decide the title in the first 4 weeks On a serious note, I would rather play city away first game than after we have played 6-7games and we have had a wake up call. Right now we are on the back of back to back promotions, we are not expected to win and this is a cup tie for us. Its followed up by Wigan at home, and if we can't win that we will be in the relegation zone regardless. Loosen up. We may well get 4 points from these first 2 games and then we can enjoy Manure at home. I really don't think this is that bad. It is a tough league next season, but we have great team mentality and I think we will surprise a few people. Also lambert, lallana and cork and morgan will be a bit of an unknown for the first few games and that is a decent premier league core. Ultimately the boys have nothing to lose and everything to play for. And they will be full of confidence. Have some faith! What we have achieved so far has been spectacular but the best is still to come. And this team, with the right additions can be a 10th placed team this season. Its a tough start, but imagine how easy it will be to play the other teams after those first 4 games ^_^ Ducks head in anticipation of impending barrage!!! Then for good measure, adds "champions league, here we come" Lots of Love, Saint86 x

I would disagree, I think Gary Neville is a moron, and a biased one at that. I also prefer every pundit on MOTD. Coverage wise the beeb has better pundits and take the time to research the teams in question. When saints were on sky last year they had Oakley (vs Leicester) who openly admitted he had not been following saints and who knew sod all about our current team. The pundits were the same and the commentary was just dross. almost as bad as ITV (yes i did just say that!!)

Some interesting transfer news - West Ham have failed in a £4m bid for Jarvis: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11688/7811019/Wolves-reject-Jarvis-bid Which I personally think is a laughable amount, I would think it would be nearer £6m - £7m for him! Although there fans seem to think they should be getting £10m. Consequently the west ham fans reckon that Vaz Te, noble, et all are worth £15-20million ^_^ - please explain why the gods allowed them to get promotion?!?!?!?! most annoying bunch of twazzocks I can think off now that Pompey are gone. Also in the news, apparently andrew johnson is going to QPR. With him and green I think they are going to be tough nut to crack next year, can see them doing rather well and top 10finish under hughes.

Yes it is next year. But don't let it spoil their fun

They have detailed us having new away and home strips - doesn't rule out the 3rd strip being last years away does it?

Yes I noticed that, they seem to carry it over from the year before and I guess/hope they haven't updated that change this year. But they have had our badge wrong for the last 2 seasons! Also, there was no new knews to accompny our promotion to the permier league, just surprise at how far to the left our badge was compared to the last few seasons!

Sky sports have finnaly upgraded us to where we belong! If you select the championship tag of the sky sports website you will see the lowly likes of Wolves and Sheffield Wednesday! When you visit the premier league tab you will see the mighty..... (guess!)

Guys would someone who is ITK send me a pic or link for the new kit? The suspense is killing me!!!! Also, is anyone going to go to the Bristol City friendly on 7th August. Reckon I may pop on down since I am in bristol!

Hi guys, could someone PM me the link for this kite design and/or model

Always those with abusive language attack him! Did you not see him track back against Coventry at the final game, even when the game was won he was chasing and keeping up the pressure. One of our best players that day. And he was playing half the season in right midfield which is not his position, i feel he did well most of the time. I mean for gods sake, people are yelling at a striker for not being a heroic central defender in one game against a team that got what was coming to them anyway. We didn't draw with skates in 2 games because of just one player did we, its ridiculous! He's been with us for the whole journey, scored some crucial goals, and some crackers, and he netted double figures last season. When you look at some of the **** we have had its mental that people attack him all the time. Good lord, maybe you would like stern john or bradley wright philips back?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18246845

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18246845 Burnley have accepted a £7m bid for Jay Rod

Careful, you will have Turkish on your back making sarcastic comments about our "catchment" area and the 5 year plan for champions league football very soon! I happen to disagree with him on both issues ';.;'

Don't know who your source is, but platini said this, after watching the Germans loose to the english in Munich. 4 years ago he was praising them, then the english win.... now he hates them! What a bender, and get your facts straight!

Cheers Ping, that is what I wanted to hear

I have a question, my studentship expires soon after the ticket release. If I turn up with my council tax exemption letter and proof of enrolment can I purchase my ticket at concession rate, even if I am no longer a student in during the course of the season? Any ideas? Is it what I am at the time of buying?

Jason Steele?

Jason f'ING STEELE!!!! Young, English, and a beast to boot! Dominates with control of the area and is a great shot stopper. Why ahve we not been linked to him? Because I'm damn sure we will be looking at him this summer!

Sorry Sour mash, but I am going to go with the business dudes from Bayern, the fact that it was talked about seriously for about 30min on drive as a business strategy to be adopted in england and the fact that its on their website, all of these are evidence that it is true. Against this, I have you saying its wrong because you can't believe it and hadn't bothered to look in to it. I know that it is staggering, but it is true. And all those fans go out and buy shirts which contributes to their massive merchandising turnover. Example - against Chelsea it was a literal sea of red in every stand. In contrast the chelsea fans were not all decked out in their clubs kit. Says it all really. Another example would be shalke, fan owned as its the community club, fantastic gates and making strides into europe. The germans have got the right idea, and they are right to be bashing on about chelsea and man city, who ultimately ruin it for the english fans bey making forcing clubs to spend fortunes on players. A fact that gets pushed onto the fans. You are correct however about them being the highest merchandising turnover in the world. This was also confirmed on Drive