offix Posted 27 December, 2009 Share Posted 27 December, 2009 Looking back overt this year, as we tend to do in December, it's quite incredible to me how my outlook on Saints has changed in this year. This time last year we rightly feared for the very existence of our beloved and revered club, as we were slowly but surely driven into oblivion by a few egocentric maniacs with a Napoleon syndrome. This time last year we expected defeat in every match and were pleasantly surprised on those very few occasions where we didn't lose. This time last year the fighting wasn't limited to the board room; on this board emotions ran high when discussing the manager's abilities (or lack thereof, depending on your side of the argument) or the good and bad of the chairmen and the other major players/shareholders. At some point in this year we were literally 24 hours away from Saints being nothing more than a memory. But then our luck turned; we are now debt free, we have an owner who is not only is willing to invest, he is also not the media-whore that we were used to. We have a business leader who is showing real promise and true commitment to the club and its fans, and we have a manager who is silencing most of his early critics, and who has shaped a team that has proven to be at a minimum competitive in this league. And the most amazing thing to me is this: Last year this time, when I was looking at the remaining fixtures and had a hard time figuring out where our next win would come from. Just now I looked at the remaining fixtures for this season, and while I certainly realize that we can't and won't win them all .... I am having a hard time figuring out where our next loss will be coming from! I know, rosy coloured glasses and all that, but be real; every match now we have a reasonable expectation of a win. I for one am extremely grateful for what has happened to our club. Those changes are the best present I could have wished for this Christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wightman35 Posted 27 December, 2009 Share Posted 27 December, 2009 Thank you, Offix. Your sentiments will be shared by many of us. This has to be the best Christmas for Saints fans for many a year. Onwards and upwards, yes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedAndWhite91 Posted 27 December, 2009 Share Posted 27 December, 2009 Spot on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eurosaint Posted 27 December, 2009 Share Posted 27 December, 2009 If only the Skates were not in such terrible trouble then everything would be dandy down here on the south coast, eh ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypochondriac Posted 27 December, 2009 Share Posted 27 December, 2009 I think we will lose to Norwich away Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skintsaint Posted 27 December, 2009 Share Posted 27 December, 2009 and colchester away unfortunately. hope im wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty Posted 27 December, 2009 Share Posted 27 December, 2009 agrees/w offix, well put. coyr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Tender Posted 27 December, 2009 Share Posted 27 December, 2009 God bless us one and all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wopper Posted 28 December, 2009 Share Posted 28 December, 2009 Lowe never had a clue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fromthedell Posted 28 December, 2009 Share Posted 28 December, 2009 Looking back overt this year, as we tend to do in December, it's quite incredible to me how my outlook on Saints has changed in this year. This time last year we rightly feared for the very existence of our beloved and revered club, as we were slowly but surely driven into oblivion by a few egocentric maniacs with a Napoleon syndrome. This time last year we expected defeat in every match and were pleasantly surprised on those very few occasions where we didn't lose. This time last year the fighting wasn't limited to the board room; on this board emotions ran high when discussing the manager's abilities (or lack thereof, depending on your side of the argument) or the good and bad of the chairmen and the other major players/shareholders. At some point in this year we were literally 24 hours away from Saints being nothing more than a memory. But then our luck turned; we are now debt free, we have an owner who is not only is willing to invest, he is also not the media-whore that we were used to. We have a business leader who is showing real promise and true commitment to the club and its fans, and we have a manager who is silencing most of his early critics, and who has shaped a team that has proven to be at a minimum competitive in this league. And the most amazing thing to me is this: Last year this time, when I was looking at the remaining fixtures and had a hard time figuring out where our next win would come from. Just now I looked at the remaining fixtures for this season, and while I certainly realize that we can't and won't win them all .... I am having a hard time figuring out where our next loss will be coming from! I know, rosy coloured glasses and all that, but be real; every match now we have a reasonable expectation of a win. I for one am extremely grateful for what has happened to our club. Those changes are the best present I could have wished for this Christmas. i think you should be crowned with the post of the year award absolutely spot on !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint lard Posted 28 December, 2009 Share Posted 28 December, 2009 Lowe never had a clue. Who? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arfurdent Posted 28 December, 2009 Share Posted 28 December, 2009 If only the Skates were not in such terrible trouble then everything would be dandy down here on the south coast, eh ?? now thatwould be the cherry on top Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Tender Posted 28 December, 2009 Share Posted 28 December, 2009 My mother, who lives in Southsea, phoned to tell us that she had got us tickets for the Pantomine. I protested that we were all Saints fans over here, so why would we want to go and watch the Skates? She put my mind at rest and told me that the tickets were for Aladin at the Kings Theatre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocco boxo Posted 28 December, 2009 Share Posted 28 December, 2009 I often wonder what RL makes of our rapid turnaround???? Surely some of his inner circle must comment on how we are doing or are they too scared or like him know nothing about football! Media whore he was and how good it is to see the new owners going about their ways so quietly!!! Has anyone noticed that Ken Bates does not say too much nowadays and Leeds seem to be doing better!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 28 December, 2009 Share Posted 28 December, 2009 I totally agree with the sentiments, but I'm not surprised by the current situation. The potential was always there once the internecine struggles were replaced by a benevolent 'dictatorship'. It's just unfortunate that we had to sink to the depths of administration before we could start our revival. Old ingrained perceptions are hard to shake off though. I still talk to people who think of us as 'struggling Soutampton' and are genuinely surprised when I tell them how we are winnning so many games. I can't quite believe it myself, to be honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weston Saint Posted 28 December, 2009 Share Posted 28 December, 2009 We started the year with a crowd of 31,901 in an FA Cup defeat (3-0) against Manchester United and finished with a win (3-1) against Exeter with 30,890 Only Perry and James remained from that January start on Saturday. We went into the New Year second from bottom having won 5 drew 8 and lost 13 with a goal difference of -18. Another 20 games in the division yielded another 5 wins 7 draws and 8 losses with a goal difference of another -5 but still second from bottom. Going into the New Year with a new Owner, a debt free club, a new Manager and virtually a new team from that 2009 start we can be encouraged by our progress. We may be in a different league but we have a team that knows how to win, a Manager that knows how to manage, an Owner that can back the club financially and the end of the politics in the board room. It is all about football now. OK a small spat with the local rag but a refreshing silence from the club on that matter. Onwards and Upwards. A long way to go but mostly positives so far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissyboy31 Posted 28 December, 2009 Share Posted 28 December, 2009 My mother, who lives in Southsea, phoned to tell us that she had got us tickets for the Pantomine. I protested that we were all Saints fans over here, so why would we want to go and watch the Skates? She put my mind at rest and told me that the tickets were for Aladin at the Kings Theatre. Is that the one were some Arab fella, gets possession of a piece of junk and all his dreams come true? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocco boxo Posted 28 December, 2009 Share Posted 28 December, 2009 Is that the one were some Arab fella, gets possession of a piece of junk and all his dreams come true? ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Tender Posted 28 December, 2009 Share Posted 28 December, 2009 Is that the one were some Arab fella, gets possession of a piece of junk and all his dreams come true? I think that it's the one where the Arab bought an old oil lamp in a junk shop in Albert Road, having been told by another Arab that it had magical powers. The trouble was, the three wishes had already been granted to the first Arab. Wish number one was to be granted the ability to take over this mighty team that had won the FA Cup. Having seen what a load of sh*te the club was in reality, he wished that he had not been so stupid, which was his second wish. The third wish was to find some other sucker who could be bamboozled into thinking that he could make money from that cowboy outfit. Enter the other Arab of meagre wealth but ample greed, only to find out himself that the lamp was once more so much junk, much in the same way as the football club is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suewhistle Posted 28 December, 2009 Share Posted 28 December, 2009 I think that it's the one where the Arab bought an old oil lamp in a junk shop in Albert Road, having been told by another Arab that it had magical powers. SNIP A Saints fan could write a great script for that King's Theatre Alladin, eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suewhistle Posted 28 December, 2009 Share Posted 28 December, 2009 I think we will lose to Norwich away Possibly, and that's the difference. Before it would have been "certainly".. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 29 December, 2009 Share Posted 29 December, 2009 Whilst things have improved enormously at SFC things are stil pretty much the same here. We win a number of games and all of a sudden were are certs for the plays offs. Lose a game and it is doom and gloom again from the Usual Suspects. Pradew had one a fantastic job so far but we still have a long way to go. A few months ago we were hoping to avoid another relegation scrap and now we are complaining because our push for the play offs have stalled slightly. I read that one long term supporter i not hapopy because we are not looking like workd beaters every time we play? Go figure. After what has happened to the club a mid table finish this season would be no mean achievement but you get the feeling if we don't make the play offs the knives will be out again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ottery st mary Posted 29 December, 2009 Share Posted 29 December, 2009 How quickly we as a team and a club, we approach World Class.....Almost there. COYRs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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