The good, the bad, which is ugly?

[Pilchards]

In my opinion, there are two ways to achieve promotion to the next division. One is through hard work with what we have, and the other way is too buy it.

 

I often believe that when Manchester City win the Premiership it will be looked upon as not a great achievement because of the pathetic spending they did.

 

I want Saints to get there but not with a silly spending spree of 5 million this January to capture some great players, please just get what cover we need and let the current squad take us up.

I don't want supporters around the country to think we are the Manchester of the south.

 

 

Good luck today Saints and I hope the players arrived safetly today as the flight was cancelled twice yesterday.

drive carefully everyone as we are so proud of all of you that are going today.

Edited 19 December, 2009 by Pilchards

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

In my option, there are two ways to achieve promotion to the next division. One is through hard work with what we have, and the other way is too buy it.

 

I often believe that when Manchester City win the Premiership it will be looked upon as not a great achievement because of the pathetic spending they did.

 

I want Saints to get there but not with a silly spending spree of 5 million this January to capture some great players, please just get what cover we need and let the current squad take us up.

I don't want supporters around the country to think we are the Manchester of the south.

 

 

Good luck today Saints and I hope the players arrived safetly today as the flight was cancelled twice yesterday.

drive carefully everyone as we are so proud of all of you that are going today.

 

I agree, and I don't think that will happen. I want us to be sustainable, with the odd 'gifts' from Markus.

 

I agree with your sentiments for the drive North, be careful all of you.

[Legod Third Coming]

In my option, there are two ways to achieve promotion to the next division. One is through hard work with what we have, and the other way is too buy it.

 

I often believe that when Manchester City win the Premiership it will be looked upon as not a great achievement because of the pathetic spending they did.

 

I want Saints to get there but not with a silly spending spree of 5 million this January to capture some great players, please just get what cover we need and let the current squad take us up.

I don't want supporters around the country to think we are the Manchester of the south.

 

 

Good luck today Saints and I hope the players arrived safetly today as the flight was cancelled twice yesterday.

drive carefully everyone as we are so proud of all of you that are going today.

 

I don't think Manchester City will ever win the Premiership - well not in the next decade anyway. There's something about their approach that is too Galactico - not enough substance if that makes sense.

 

Conversely, do people begrudge Chelsea their success? Because it was delivered by the 'Special One' I don't - but maybe I'm alone in that?

 

When you look at what we have done, to me it's more Chelsea than Citeh. But ultimately, let's not forget it is the money behind Manchester United and Arsenal and Liverpool that delivered their success too... it just didn't arrive overnight!

[Thedelldays]

In my option, there are two ways to achieve promotion to the next division. One is through hard work with what we have, and the other way is too buy it.

 

I often believe that when Manchester City win the Premiership it will be looked upon as not a great achievement because of the pathetic spending they did.

 

I want Saints to get there but not with a silly spending spree of 5 million this January to capture some great players, please just get what cover we need and let the current squad take us up.

I don't want supporters around the country to think we are the Manchester of the south.

 

 

Good luck today Saints and I hope the players arrived safetly today as the flight was cancelled twice yesterday.

drive carefully everyone as we are so proud of all of you that are going today.

 

 

too late...with the massive spending for league 1 already done with more to come...we are already there...also, add the FACT that markus is paying for the upgrade to the (already good) training ground from his own pocket..

 

I would be amazed if any club in league 1 and the CCC will be going down the route we are at the mo...even QPR seem to be a tad prudent

[Gis]

+ 1

 

It's great to have enough money to tell the premiership to f*** off when they come sniffing around Lallana and Morgan at the end of the season, and pay them a decent wage to stay with us, if they want to. And it's great to be able to invest sensibly in players, like we have this year.

 

But to just buy, buy, buy like Chelsea, City, Real Madrid, etc. would make any later success meaningless to me.

 

I like things just the way they are now, sensible investment, growth based on good foundations, and a real sense of achievement as we get success.

[Legod Third Coming]

too late...with the massive spending for league 1 already done with more to come...we are already there...also, add the FACT that markus is paying for the upgrade to the (already good) training ground from his own pocket..

 

I would be amazed if any club in league 1 and the CCC will be going down the route we are at the mo...even QPR seem to be a tad prudent

 

Nine managers in three years? Sounds like their football advisor is a certain R Lowe and Co.

[jam]

I don't think Manchester City will ever win the Premiership - well not in the next decade anyway. There's something about their approach that is too Galactico - not enough substance if that makes sense.

 

Conversely, do people begrudge Chelsea their success? Because it was delivered by the 'Special One' I don't - but maybe I'm alone in that?

 

When you look at what we have done, to me it's more Chelsea than Citeh. But ultimately, let's not forget it is the money behind Manchester United and Arsenal and Liverpool that delivered their success too... it just didn't arrive overnight!

 

Chelsea's success wasn't delivered by the 'Special One', it was Abramovich. His spending started while Ranieri was still there and I think Terry and Cudicini were the only first team regulars that were at the club before the Russian took over.

 

TDD, if I remember correctly QPR spent about 10 million under either Dowie or Di Canio in a single January window.

Edited 19 December, 2009 by jam
saw the typo when LeGod quoted my post below...

[NickG]

I would like us to get the best possible team we can.

 

If the club want to, and can afford to, if this means spending a fortune then I would be happy.

 

We will not win this league with 11 homegrown apprentices.

 

We are enjoying Lambert and if you are saying you would not enjoy half a dozen big name signings, who perform as well and take us to promotion and JPT winners think you are kidding yourself.

 

Man City buying title? Rather than Man U who don't?

Evra £5m

Hargreaves £17m

Ferdinand £29m

Rooney £20m

Carrick £14m

Nani £17m

Berbatov £30m and rising

Vidic £7m

Valencia £17m

[NickG]

+ 1

 

It's great to have enough money to tell the premiership to f*** off when they come sniffing around Lallana and Morgan at the end of the season, and pay them a decent wage to stay with us, if they want to. And it's great to be able to invest sensibly in players, like we have this year.

 

But to just buy, buy, buy like Chelsea, City, Real Madrid, etc. would make any later success meaningless to me. I like things just the way they are now, sensible investment, growth based on good foundations, and a real sense of achievement as we get success.

 

so you wouldn't swap places with Chelsea?

 

you would rather Patterson (home grown and typically affordable for league 1) rather than Lambert who came to us because although the highest paid player in the history of a club above us in the division we tripled his wages (sounds bit Man City like!).

[mucky.fingers]

17m for Nani?! Ouch

[Thedelldays]

so you wouldn't swap places with Chelsea?

 

you would rather Patterson (home grown and typically affordable for league 1) rather than Lambert who came to us because although the highest paid player in the history of a club above us in the division we tripled his wages (sounds bit Man City like!).

agree 100%

 

some just dont want to admit it after all the moaning how money makes it unfair

[doggface]

I do not think we have any need to worry regarding "buying" success. We all have heard the history of the Liebherr family and the fact they do not do things on the never never.

The fact is the squad that got us relegated was utter ****e and an overhaul was absolutely necessary which costs a few quid. NC has said the ultimate aim is to make the club ultimately self sufficient - however I believe they are planning to operate at a small loss which will be subsidised by Markus until they get the club established in the Premier League (which I firmly believe will happen in time).

I listen very closely to what Cortese says because facts are our owner is around the 4th richest owner in English football, and I am fascinated about our future strategy.

No one within the club wants to be in League One and after the good job Pards has done so far, I fully expect us to sign some quality additions at this level in January.

NC talks of operating within a transfer budget which will make us "competitive" at every level we compete at. L1 £4ml? Championship £10ml? Premiership £20-30ml? That is what it will cost at least I would suggest.

Are we the Man City/Man Utd/Chelsea of League One?? I can see where some are coming from with this in respect of player recruitment at the level we compete, however this is where the comparison ends. I also find this sort of comment crass and arrogant. The facts are all these clubs are naturally bigger than us so heads out of the clouds please also they either service obscene debt or operate with huge losses or both - we will never go down this route with ML so forget about it.

Cortese keeps his card close to his chest generally which I like with a promise less and deliver more attitude – No one is perfect but I think we are in the best hands we could have dreamt of under ML & NC.

[Pilchards]

so you wouldn't swap places with Chelsea?

 

you would rather Patterson (home grown and typically affordable for league 1) rather than Lambert who came to us because although the highest paid player in the history of a club above us in the division we tripled his wages (sounds bit Man City like!).

 

It's okay what we have spent so far as we lost virtually 3 squads in 3 years.

to get us back moving in the right direction we had to reform from scratch.

I love the Reading, Hull and Wigan's way which is a good honest squad that worked for each other to the top league.

With some promising youngsters that we have I would love them to have a chance to play a role too, don't kill the youth policy for silly spending please!

Once you reachtrue premiership then it's a different matter because you need to spend some and mix it with youth to survive.

Manchester United's way.

[VectisSaint]

I don't think Manchester City will ever win the Premiership - well not in the next decade anyway. There's something about their approach that is too Galactico - not enough substance if that makes sense.

 

Conversely, do people begrudge Chelsea their success? Because it was delivered by the 'Special One' I don't - but maybe I'm alone in that?

 

When you look at what we have done, to me it's more Chelsea than Citeh. But ultimately, let's not forget it is the money behind Manchester United and Arsenal and Liverpool that delivered their success too... it just didn't arrive overnight!

Rather see Man City win the Prem than Chelski any day. Chelski was the start of all that is bad in football these days, and I begrudge them everything. The Special One, **** me do people really believe that bloke's self hype. Chelski won the league because of a Russian billionaire, not some poncy Portuguese fella. Please don't ever compare us with Chelski, like many others I think they are the most loathed team in the country these days (apart from Leeds), and I always detested them even back in the 60s/70s. At least Man City play attractive football, Chelski's style of play is awful, simply awful, no creativity and a bunch of aging has-beens.

 

The purpose of spending some money in January is not so we **** all over everyone else, but that we make a decent attempt at promotion this season and then have a squad capable of top half of Championship next, thats all. Its still going to be a matter of some luck getting up, because realistically it is only going to be via the play-offs, and we all know that there is a large element of luck involved with that system.

[NickG]

so in summary - spend and give me some great players to watch!

[Thedelldays]

It's okay what we have spent so far as we lost virtually 3 squads in 3 years.

to get us back moving in the right direction we had to reform from scratch.

I love the Reading, Hull and Wigan's way which is a good honest squad that worked for each other to the top league.

With some promising youngsters that we have I would love them to have a chance to play a role too, don't kill the youth policy for silly spending please!

Once you reachtrue premiership then it's a different matter because you need to spend some and mix it with youth to survive.

Manchester United's way.

you do realise Wigan were bank rolled to the prem

 

it matters not who we lose...it happens every year to clubs down here...it matter how much (new money) we spend..which in league 1, has been an utter fortune

[derry]

The tortoise and the hare comes to mind, I would like to go up this year and build as we go. It wouldn't be the end of the world if we don't. If we don't we could end up with a superb strengthened team, easily the best in this division giving us super entertainment and pleasure.

[NickG]

good thing is, we are not using loans or finance to fund our club.

[NickG]

The tortoise and the hare comes to mind, I would like to go up this year and build as we go. It wouldn't be the end of the world if we don't. If we don't we could end up with a superb strengthened team, easily the best in this division giving us super entertainment and pleasure.

 

know what you mean, but in some ways think it would be easier to build in CCC - we have manager, history, stadium, finances etc to attract and retain players - the thing we are lacking is the level we are playing at.

[BadgerBadger]

Don't many many many other clubs have extremely wealthy backers.

 

Spending money to buy players better than you're surrounding teams to gain an advantage - unfair?? I'd say we're being very consisdered on this as a club, ok we've raided the piggy bank to get us back on track and money will inevitable speed up the process of moving up the leagues but we're not buying players for ridiculuos amounts of money and certainly not in a PR way, 'look at me we've bid 100 million for Kaka'.

 

We're quietly going about our business with what seems to be in it's first instance an element of philanthropy from a decent fellow who loves his history and our connection to the church. ML is getting on a bit has plenty of cash and fair play to him wanting to make SFC a better place.

 

We may be splashing the cash but at the moment it seems to be considered, under the radar with no sensationalism and trying to undo years of bad. Plus we know money dosen't buy you guaranteed success, it's the whole package that's important

 

I'm sure when/if we hit the promised land the books won't be too far out of balance - any busines needs investment to move on.

 

I'm no fan of spending our way to the top but I like what we're doing and some people seem to have problems enjoying where we're at and suffering some sort of guilt -it's alright you're alowed to enjoy our current form of upbeat success. Every time there is a positive along come the but this but that - I'm all up for debate but really times are good, roll with it.

[jam]

you do realise Wigan were bank rolled to the prem

 

it matters not who we lose...it happens every year to clubs down here...it matter how much (new money) we spend..which in league 1, has been an utter fortune

 

I have so little time for Wigan. They seem to be there purely on the basis of having one very wealthy fan and still can't attract a sizable fanbase.

[Thedelldays]

one good thing about our spending...bringing new money into league 1...well, £1-2m so far....

 

if we buy any other lower league players then more money to the financially fukked clubs

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

[Gis]

so you wouldn't swap places with Chelsea?

 

you would rather Patterson (home grown and typically affordable for league 1) rather than Lambert who came to us because although the highest paid player in the history of a club above us in the division we tripled his wages (sounds bit Man City like!).

 

No. I honestly wouldn't want to swap with Chelsea.

 

There are lots of Chelsea lads who have given up with the club that they were fanatical about in the 70s, 80s and 90s because it has grown away from them. I don't want this to happen to me with Saints. Maybe it is a bit deluded but I still feel, (or rather feel again after the lowe years), that this is my club.

 

re. patterson v lambert. I watched Patterson enough in the U18s to know that he can be a really good player, I know he's been pretty rubbish for the first team so far, but give him time and he should come good.

 

£1m for Lambert was a great investment. Young proven player, value more likely to go up further, triple BRovers wages still sounds a reasonable amount as we are debt free and have much higher gates an income than them. Two other reasons to pay over the odds, we needed a good striker to get rid of our minus 10 and pull us up the league otherwise the spiral of defeat and disallusion could well have have continued to League 2, and we needed to sign a high profile player to attract others to stay and yet more to come in.

 

So I'm not against spending money, I just don't believe any club should simply buy success that is unsustainable without a sugar daddy.

[Legod Third Coming]

Chelsea's success wasn't deivered by the 'Special One', it was Abramovich. His spending started while Ranieri was still there and I think Terry and Cudicini were the only first team regulars that were at the club before the Russian took over.

 

TDD, if I remember correctly QPR spent about 10 million under either Dowie or Di Canio in a single January window.

 

I appreciate Roman's money helps - but Ranieri didn't win the league and nor have they since the Special One.

 

So if it is only about money why have United won the last three titles??

[jam]

I appreciate Roman's money helps - but Ranieri didn't win the league and nor have they since the Special One.

 

So if it is only about money why have United won the last three titles??

 

I didn't say it was only about the money, you seemed imply that Chelsea's success was all down to the Special One. Even under Grant they were a kick away from winning the Champions League.

 

United have had aguably the best manager around, sure. They have also had consistency / stability on the playing side of the club for years and, as per NickG's post above, they have chucked huge amounts of cash at the team.

 

The teams that have gone chucked loads of money at success and then fallen on their arses were almost certainly lacking in the stability / good management that United have.

Edited 19 December, 2009 by jam
Forgot something.

[NickG]

No. I honestly wouldn't want to swap with Chelsea.

 

There are lots of Chelsea lads who have given up with the club that they were fanatical about in the 70s, S and 90s because it has grown away from them. I don't want this to happen to me with Saints. Maybe it is a bit deluded but I still feel, (or rather feel again after the lowe years), that this is my club.

 

re. patterson v lambert. I watched Patterson enough in the U18s to know that he can be a really good player, I know he's been pretty rubbish for the first team so far, but give him time and he should come good.

 

£1m for Lambert was a great investment. Young proven player, value more likely to go up further, triple BRovers wages still sounds a reasonable amount as we are debt free and have much higher gates an income than them. Two other reasons to pay over the odds, we needed a good striker to get rid of our minus 10 and pull us up the league otherwise the spiral of defeat and disallusion could well have have continued to League 2, and we needed to sign a high profile player to attract others to stay and yet more to come in.

 

So I'm not against spending money, I just don't believe any club should simply buy success that is unsustainable without a sugar daddy.

 

so you want us to ignore any offers of money from Markus and just buy what any other league 1 side can?

Too late, doubt any other side would have been able to afford

Pardew

Jaidi

Lambert

Connolly

Papa

etc

etc

 

Its the real world - you can't go back to some romantic amateur game.

 

We would not have got Pardew and Lambert without Markus's money - if you are enjoying it so far accept your principals have gone the same way as most of us!

[verlaine1979]

I doubt anyone will be regarding us as the Man City or Chelsea of anywhere while we are trying to get promotion out of League 1 - this level of the game just doesn't get the attention for comparisons like that to have legs.

[Gis]

so you want us to ignore any offers of money from Markus and just buy what any other league 1 side can?

Too late, doubt any other side would have been able to afford

Pardew

Jaidi

Lambert

Connolly

Papa

etc

etc

 

Its the real world - you can't go back to some romantic amateur game.

 

We would not have got Pardew and Lambert without Markus's money - if you are enjoying it so far accept your principals have gone the same way as most of us!

 

Markus bought us as a Premiership club sitting in League One so it is sensible that he will invest (but not throw money away) to get us back to that level.

 

I like the Cortese comments about ensuring that we were competitive in whatever league we were in.

 

The route I don't want Saints to follow is where normal sense is lost in a bid to win at any cost. I'll never understand how there is so much cash slushing around the game at the moment and yet the only people doing well are the agents and players.

 

I guess I just can't reconcile that many of the most successful clubs including Manure, Chelsea, and Liverpool are so at risk financially, and the memories of our own administration days still pain me. I never want that again.

[Legod Third Coming]

That is why Citeh will never win the league. Roberto Mancini should have stuck to the Pink Panther.

[RonManager]

 

oowee oowee ooo

 

wah

 

wah

 

wah

[Gis]

Markus bought us as a Premiership club sitting in League One so it is sensible that he will invest (but not throw money away) to get us back to that level.

 

I like the Cortese comments about ensuring that we were competitive in whatever league we were in.

 

The route I don't want Saints to follow is where normal sense is lost in a bid to win at any cost. I'll never understand how there is so much cash slushing around the game at the moment and yet the only people doing well are the agents and players.

 

I guess I just can't reconcile that many of the most successful clubs including Manure, Chelsea, and Liverpool are so at risk financially, and the memories of our own administration days still pain me. I never want that again.

 

On reflection; todays signing of Fonte, plus the prospect of Danns and others has cheered me up enormously.....roll on Millwall next Saturday