1976_Child Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 I'm the first to acknowledge that SMS is a bloody nice stadium but with hindsight we should not have moved out of the Dell. Club finances would be in much better shape. No debt. Fortress Dell - teams used to hate coming to play us at the Dell. I am pining for the Dell. Bring back the Dell. Bring back the 80s. the fag-end of the 00s is crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 We should have moved, we shouldnt have become a plc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1976_Child Posted 8 January, 2009 Author Share Posted 8 January, 2009 We should have moved, we shouldnt have become a plc. as I understood it we had to become a plc in order to get the dosh/loan to build the stadium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 (edited) We should have moved, we shouldnt have become a plc. I disagree We should have become a PLC how did we know the PLC would be run so badly by so many apparent successful people. Also it is possible to get rid of unpopular or unsuccessful Chairman Edited 8 January, 2009 by John B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scudamore Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 Woolworths are a fine example of how standing still is the perfect way to garner success... You're quite right... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Bald_Si Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 I'm the first to acknowledge that SMS is a bloody nice stadium but with hindsight we should not have moved out of the Dell. Club finances would be in much better shape. No debt. Fortress Dell - teams used to hate coming to play us at the Dell. I am pining for the Dell. Bring back the Dell. Bring back the 80s. the fag-end of the 00s is crap. Hindsight's a wonderful thing, strangely. Much like two nights ago, when i was chopping chillis then decided to give the crown jewels a bit of a scratch. Won't be doing that again any time soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1976_Child Posted 8 January, 2009 Author Share Posted 8 January, 2009 Woolworths are a fine example of how standing still is the perfect way to garner success... You're quite right... eh? Woolworths was a company who's one and only purpose was to make profit. Hence the reason why they should have adapted. Football clubs, as I said in an earlier post, are not about making money. Staying at the Dell would not have hindered our ability to win football games one jot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yate Saint Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 If we were still at the Dell than I wouldn't have a very good chance to see them play and poopey would have a bigger stadium. So I believe we were right to move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scudamore Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 I'm not going to bother arguing this daft sentiment i'm afraid. The move was a necessary one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 eh? Woolworths was a company who's one and only purpose was to make profit. Hence the reason why they should have adapted. Football clubs, as I said in an earlier post, are not about making money. Staying at the Dell would not have hindered our ability to win football games one jot. In what Division? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1976_Child Posted 8 January, 2009 Author Share Posted 8 January, 2009 Hindsight's a wonderful thing, strangely. Much like two nights ago, when i was chopping chillis then decided to give the crown jewels a bit of a scratch. Won't be doing that again any time soon! Nice. Just one thing though. Why were you cooking naked? Still, chilli on your balls would not be pleasant. I remember aged about 9 or 10, an older boy sprayed Deep Heat on my pre-pubescent nuts. **** me it hurt. That wasn't the half of it. The PE teacher walked into the changing room at the exact moment that I started to kick the crap out of him. I ended up getting six strokes of the cane as well. Sore balls and a sore arse. Those were the days! Kids these days don't know what they're missing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1976_Child Posted 8 January, 2009 Author Share Posted 8 January, 2009 In what Division? yeah, i get your point. Because now we are in a nice shiny new stadium we are at the top of the premiership and have been playing in Europe as well. New Stadium does not equal success. As the fact that we are shortly to be in the third division of english footy with the likes of Brighton who don't even have a stadium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint1977 Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 Look at Luton who are stuck with a really antiquated old hole of a ground with no way of generating any income bar ticket sales. We've messed up on football, the SMS mortgage should have been doable but various boards since 2004 have made stinking football decisions. That's not SMS's fault and I'm not sure that the Dell would have held it's intimidation factor much longer anyway. The Skates have a similar type of ground and their record at Fratton Rust Bowl over the last 2 seasons hasn't been that clever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa Shango Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 Complete and utter ********. I bet you weren't saying that when we were selling out most weeks in the Prem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1976_Child Posted 8 January, 2009 Author Share Posted 8 January, 2009 Complete and utter ********. I bet you weren't saying that when we were selling out most weeks in the Prem. you're right. I wasn't. Its just that there is a recession on, nay a depression, the Russians are starting to throw their weight around again and everything about life is sh!t at the moment. I'm just sentimental for the Dell and the memories that's all. SMS is nice enough. Just got limited good memories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Bald_Si Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 Nice. Just one thing though. Why were you cooking naked? Still, chilli on your balls would not be pleasant. I remember aged about 9 or 10, an older boy sprayed Deep Heat on my pre-pubescent nuts. **** me it hurt. That wasn't the half of it. The PE teacher walked into the changing room at the exact moment that I started to kick the crap out of him. I ended up getting six strokes of the cane as well. Sore balls and a sore arse. Those were the days! Kids these days don't know what they're missing. Ah, I wasn't naked my friend. I'd gone into the trousers, but above the boxer shorts, but the potency of the chilis still made it through. Never bought another pair of M&S boxers following that. Come on you reds! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 yeah, i get your point. Because now we are in a nice shiny new stadium we are at the top of the premiership and have been playing in Europe as well. New Stadium does not equal success. As the fact that we are shortly to be in the third division of english footy with the likes of Brighton who don't even have a stadium. We needed a new stadium it had been talked about for years it is just a shame we could not find a popular and successful person to run the PLCl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
londonsaint1604 Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 We should have moved, we shouldn't have got relegated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1976_Child Posted 8 January, 2009 Author Share Posted 8 January, 2009 We should have moved, we shouldn't have got relegated. fair point. tragic timing. red k nap. aaaaagggghhhhhh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 We should have moved, we shouldn't have got relegated. Unfortunately the team was a mess really not much quality with ageing players in the defence Strachan from XMAS Sturrock Wigley and Redknapp could do little either Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordswoodsaints Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 I'm the first to acknowledge that SMS is a bloody nice stadium but with hindsight we should not have moved out of the Dell. Club finances would be in much better shape. No debt. Fortress Dell - teams used to hate coming to play us at the Dell. I am pining for the Dell. Bring back the Dell. Bring back the 80s. the fag-end of the 00s is crap. i do miss the old place,i just dont ever feel comfortable at sms.i wish that in some way we could have developed the dell but it wasnt to be............but im right behind bringing back the 80's,when can we do it? :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctoroncall Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 Should have moved earlier than we did but we know who messed that up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 nothing wrong with being a PLC , PROBLEM was our one was controlled by 6 men for their own benefit , so basically we were a private company still . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 nothing wrong with being a PLC ' date=' PROBLEM was our one was controlled by 6 men for their own benefit , so basically we were a private company still .[/quote'] Yes I agree if it was run sensibly But I think it is better than having one owner. Who has his own agenda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 Yes I agree if it was run sensibly But I think it is better than having one owner. Who has his own agenda BUT THAT WAS the problem with SLH , WE effectively had one owner who was never really accountable to the other shareholders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 BUT THAT WAS the problem with SLH ' date=' WE effectively had one owner who was never really accountable to the other shareholders.[/quote'] But it does work s because Lowe was chucked out so was Leon but not with our Shareholder personalities Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Marco Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 I disagree We should have become a PLC how did we know the PLC would be run so badly by so many apparent successful people. Also it is possible to get rid of unpopular or unsuccessful Chairman Have to agree with John. Majority of the stadiums life it has been full. It is only in the past 2 or 3 seasons it has not been nearly full. The club had to move and would of happened whoever was in charge. The reason we are in such dire financial **** is down to the people running it. After having 20+ years in the top flight with all the money that comes with that, all the players that have been sold to get to 2006 and have next to no cash is nothing short of a scandal. Where did all that money go? That is the question that never gets answered from our board. The reality is football has become too expensive. Not many people will pay next to £30 a game to watch their team be beat at home and away so often. Even premiership clubs are seeing this happen. Right now we have a difference of opinion on how much games should cost. The fans don't want to pay best part of £30 and the board do. Next season if we survive the club needs to get real. £15 a ticket is more like what the cost should be. But this is Lowe in charge, it will be a price increase and were have a nice article on the OS entitled "Lowe beats the recession! or something like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legod Third Coming Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 We should have signed Drogba and Malbranque. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan The Flames Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 We should have been invited into the football league earlier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 We should have been invited into the football league earlier. more like tyro league Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offix Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 I'm the first to acknowledge that SMS is a bloody nice stadium but with hindsight we should not have moved out of the Dell. Club finances would be in much better shape. No debt. Fortress Dell - teams used to hate coming to play us at the Dell. I am pining for the Dell. Bring back the Dell. Bring back the 80s. the fag-end of the 00s is crap. I quite agree with the sentiment, but there is no turning back unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saints-cris Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 If we were still at the Dell, and got relegated, we'd probably be in league 2 by now and struggling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasgow_Saint Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 I remember predicting (day we left the dell) that by 2010 we would be in div 2 and people laughed............................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IN MY DAY Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 As much as i loved the old place the move was necessary, but unfortunately with the move we raised our expectations as a club and fanbase to a level which is beyond us. We suddenly thought we could be a big club and the joy of turning over and humbling the big teams in our shed of a ground soon became our minimum expectation when we moved to SMS. We are not a big club and never will be, but we snatched a piece of the dream and thought it would last forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknrollman no2 Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 As much as i loved the old place the move was necessary, but unfortunately with the move we raised our expectations as a club and fanbase to a level which is beyond us. We suddenly thought we could be a big club and the joy of turning over and humbling the big teams in our shed of a ground soon became our minimum expectation when we moved to SMS. We are not a big club and never will be, but we snatched a piece of the dream and thought it would last forever. Good post and i would add that we did indeed have to move from the Dell to be able to cater for our growing fanbase(does anyone remember having to queue up at all hours of the night to get tickets for popular games?). The only problem was once we moved,those who were in charge made a total mess of running the club,putting themselfs before the club and not only did they let us fans down,they let the whole of Southampton down as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IN MY DAY Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 Good post and i would add that we did indeed have to move from the Dell to be able to cater for our growing fanbase(does anyone remember having to queue up at all hours of the night to get tickets for popular games?). The only problem was once we moved,those who were in charge made a total mess of running the club,putting themselfs before the club and not only did they let us fans down,they let the whole of Southampton down as well. Dont laugh, i've queued for 45minutes to get into a half empty SMS!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan The Flames Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 As much as i loved the old place the move was necessary, but unfortunately with the move we raised our expectations as a club and fanbase to a level which is beyond us. We suddenly thought we could be a big club and the joy of turning over and humbling the big teams in our shed of a ground soon became our minimum expectation when we moved to SMS. We are not a big club and never will be, but we snatched a piece of the dream and thought it would last forever. I don't agree at all we were the same Southampton in a bigger better ground that would better support a prem club. How did this supposed 'rise in expectation' manifest itself, because it past me by. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknrollman no2 Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 Dont laugh, i've queued for 45minutes to get into a half empty SMS!! HA! Its a lot quicker when you are trying to get out of the ground! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archstanton Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 We all got caught up in the hysteria for a new better ground/stadium looking back on it we should have never traded in our Dolomite Sprint for a Ford Probe! The Dell was the heart & soul of SFC . God I miss her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iowsaintsfan Posted 8 January, 2009 Share Posted 8 January, 2009 I would have rather we had built the stadium so it was on top of the players and mimicked The Dell but in a larger capacity instead of the stadium in a box design we have Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVEADAMS Posted 9 January, 2009 Share Posted 9 January, 2009 We should have moved and it should have been to the Eastleigh site with endless ways of producing income i.e close to airport, hotel, commercial, leisure and sports etc. Ultimately i believe the council HCC let us down refusing to sell the playing fields or sell with many clauses but then as i recall putting them on the market shortly after we pulled out. We needed St Marys desperately it was our only option at the time for a new stadium and our income doubled when we moved, what we didn't need was the bad management on the footballing side (stating the obvious). The SMS site/area needs more than just a stadium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toussaint Posted 9 January, 2009 Share Posted 9 January, 2009 I quite agree with the sentiment, but there is no turning back unfortunately. If what you say is true you have ruined everything! I was looking forwad to going back to the 80's, had it all worked out, 3 stone lighter, full head of hair, worked harder at school, not getting married and having a ****tastic time, probbaly be the head of some global giant by now! Thanks a lot offix!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torrent Of Abuse Posted 9 January, 2009 Share Posted 9 January, 2009 If we didn't move, we would still have gone down as we were dealing year after year with the most meagre budgets in the division while we were at the Dell. We got relegated through one season where poor player signings, poor performances and poor managerial appointments collided. Those disasters had nothing to do with St. Mary's and could have easily happened at the Dell. Life wouldn't be any easier here with a small stadium, even taking into account our stadium debt. If anything, the air of gloom would have have been exacerbated by seeing us in a stadium which better fits our new status as Championship strugglers. Where we went wrong was in repeatedly choosing to risk money on a couple of moderately talented players instead of buying one talented player. Where we went wrong was in constantly changing direction at the top so we're withholding the cash one year and then blowing it all on anyone with a pulse the next. Don't lay the blame at St. Mary's door. It belongs in the board room and there alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offix Posted 9 January, 2009 Share Posted 9 January, 2009 if what you say is true you have ruined everything! I was looking forwad to going back to the 80's, had it all worked out, 3 stone lighter, full head of hair, worked harder at school, not getting married and having a ****tastic time, probbaly be the head of some global giant by now! Thanks a lot offix!! lol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 9 January, 2009 Share Posted 9 January, 2009 I disagree We should have become a PLC how did we know the PLC would be run so badly by so many apparent successful people. Also it is possible to get rid of unpopular or unsuccessful Chairman I think there's alot of truth in that statement. Although, paying dividends to shareholders and expenses to non-Saints fan boardmembers etc etc is a drain on resources that could be put into a club. It has also proved near impossible to remove Lowe. Did it once - JUST after a long battle and unless he's preparing to run away (which may be the case now) he'll hang on again. I agree though - this plc has been a failure due to personalities. It became a business as it was run by businessmen and forgot it was a football club almost the moment it was formed. Sheffield Utd just delisted, no doubt to provide more funds for players. But it sounds as if their own plc was quite amicable - the shareholders had the club in mind before business. So, I suppose it can work - but even where it has it seems to have served its purpose. I'd love one owner who had the Club at heart, a CEO to run it and a MANAGER. All this European set up is totally daft in a CCC club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scummer Posted 9 January, 2009 Share Posted 9 January, 2009 I agree though - this plc has been a failure due to personalities. It became a business as it was run by businessmen and forgot it was a football club almost the moment it was formed. Sheffield Utd just delisted, no doubt to provide more funds for players. But it sounds as if their own plc was quite amicable - the shareholders had the club in mind before business. You're right that they've delisted, but they are still a p.l.c as far as I'm aware. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint1977 Posted 9 January, 2009 Share Posted 9 January, 2009 If we didn't move, we would still have gone down as we were dealing year after year with the most meagre budgets in the division while we were at the Dell. We got relegated through one season where poor player signings, poor performances and poor managerial appointments collided. Those disasters had nothing to do with St. Mary's and could have easily happened at the Dell. Life wouldn't be any easier here with a small stadium, even taking into account our stadium debt. If anything, the air of gloom would have have been exacerbated by seeing us in a stadium which better fits our new status as Championship strugglers. Where we went wrong was in repeatedly choosing to risk money on a couple of moderately talented players instead of buying one talented player. Where we went wrong was in constantly changing direction at the top so we're withholding the cash one year and then blowing it all on anyone with a pulse the next. Don't lay the blame at St. Mary's door. It belongs in the board room and there alone. Excellent post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint1977 Posted 9 January, 2009 Share Posted 9 January, 2009 Teams hated coming to SMS in 2003 too. It's about teams, management and the impression you give other teams, not stadia. Who knows how long we'd have survived at the dell anyway. Might have been down without a cup final, europe or decent league finishes. Totally right and even in 2004/5 we still didn't lose that many games at home (5 I seem to recall) although we draw too many to fellow strugglers and mid-table teams under Wigley. Our inability to even get draws away from home (and one solitary away win at Boro) cost us. Without SMS, we wouldn't have been able to build the excellent 2002/3 and what wonderful memories they gave us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliemiller Posted 9 January, 2009 Share Posted 9 January, 2009 I'm the first to acknowledge that SMS is a bloody nice stadium but with hindsight we should not have moved out of the Dell. Club finances would be in much better shape. No debt. Fortress Dell - teams used to hate coming to play us at the Dell. I am pining for the Dell. Bring back the Dell. Bring back the 80s. the fag-end of the 00s is crap. What we yearn for is the emotion and spirit of the Dell , walking to the Dell from Bedford place after having a fews knowing that our team was going to compete with whoever we were playing , it didnt matter if it was the Mancs , scousers or Arsenal we stood a chance of pulling of a win . We were hard to beat at the Dell and teams hated coming there , you would go to the match with excitement in you belly rather than trepidation. I dont miss the urine running out of the toilets or the crazy queues for a pie at half time , StMarys is now our home and like it or not we must turn it into the same fortress the Dell was . Lowe ,crouch and the PLC structure all have to go before we can move forward , I just hope that the spirit of the club is still there somewhere and can be re-ignited. I am not sure it is sadly ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissyboy31 Posted 9 January, 2009 Share Posted 9 January, 2009 What we yearn for is the emotion and spirit of the Dell , walking to the Dell from Bedford place after having a fews knowing that our team was going to compete with whoever we were playing , it didnt matter if it was the Mancs , scousers or Arsenal we stood a chance of pulling of a win . We were hard to beat at the Dell and teams hated coming there , you would go to the match with excitement in you belly rather than trepidation. I dont miss the urine running out of the toilets or the crazy queues for a pie at half time , StMarys is now our home and like it or not we must turn it into the same fortress the Dell was . Lowe ,crouch and the PLC structure all have to go before we can move forward , I just hope that the spirit of the club is still there somewhere and can be re-ignited. I am not sure it is sadly ! I agree with all that bar the last line. That spirit has taken an awful battering over the last 5 years but you've only got to look at this site, UI, 606, the Echo and others to see how much passion Saints fans have for their club. What we need to see is a bottoming out of the downward spiral and a team (and club) that starts to show some progress. I fear this will not happen under the current board or PLC structure but when it does, the spirit will return. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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