BBC Radio Solent Saints fans forum 7th August 6pm

[Give it to Ron]

1 minute ago, Chez said:

You're concerned we might lose the guy that gave Stephens a two extension? Forgive me if I take a little time to digest the moves he makes in this window and beyond before worrying if he gets headhunted.

He also bought in Downs and Quarshie so a good start countered by that contract . My concern is that he seems to have total control of the football not just recruiting and a lot of power we got burnt by Wilcox will same happen again or are we prepared?

[AlexLaw76]

5 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

people going on about Stephens 3yr contract, do you really think he's on 30k a week for 3 years or more likely 30-20-10 (example) to reflect his reduced playing time and his mentor emergency player role.

No, that suggests his value to the club, what ever that is, is slashed every year, right?

[gio1saints]

I thought Spors gave a good answer to the Stephens question but why it needed be 3 not 2or 1 could not be asked as you only allowed one go.
 

Not being privy to what he is actually going to be paid I’m going to take a wild guess and suggest the three years was a quid pro quo for a lower weekly basic. Sound like something we might do? 
Spors  made the call. Parsons and the Board supported it. 
Funnily enough the absence of any comment on if Will Still wanted it may be telling. 

[AlexLaw76]

What are people suggesting that a professional footballer, who the club seem to value a great deal, has volunteered to take a £500k a year pay cut 2 years (or 3 years) on the bounce.

Are you mad? 

[egg]

Just now, gio1saints said:

I thought Spors gave a good answer to the Stephens question but why it needed be 3 not 2or 1 could not be asked as you only allowed one go.
 

Not being privy to what he is actually going to be paid I’m going to take a wild guess and suggest the three years was a quid pro quo for a lower weekly basic. Sound like something we might do? 
Spors  made the call. Parsons and the Board supported it. 
Funnily enough the absence of any comment on if Will Still wanted it may be telling. 

The 3 years could be anything. It may be tapered down each year, a flat amount, low basic plus bonuses, anything. 

Your last bit is interesting, but I didn't interpret what was said as "we love Stephens and Will has got to use him whether he likes it or not" or anything close. 

[Matthew Le God]

8 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

people going on about Stephens 3yr contract, do you really think he's on 30k a week for 3 years or more likely 30-20-10 (example) to reflect his reduced playing time and his mentor emergency player role.

He isn't going to be on that level of wage if we were a Premier League club again. Would be ridiculously low for a 1st team player.

[Chez]

1 minute ago, gio1saints said:

I thought Spors gave a good answer to the Stephens question but why it needed be 3 not 2or 1 could not be asked as you only allowed one go.

Funnily enough the absence of any comment on if Will Still wanted it may be telling. 

Just as well. He had 12 months left of his contract, so a new one year contract would have been pointless.

Is Will Still not gong to have any input on players coming in...and going out? Remind me, has he been employed as head coach rather than manager?

[gio1saints]

Just now, AlexLaw76 said:

What are people suggesting that a professional footballer, who the club seem to value a great deal, has volunteered to take a £500k a year pay cut 2 years (or 3 years) on the bounce.

Are you mad? 

Compared to most neurotypicals, probably, maybe I appear mad. 😇. 
 

As for did he take a pay cut- I’ve no idea I just threw out a wild guess as to how it might have happened. 

PS. My sister just sent me a vid of my questioning Spors and describing the team, the management and the management of the management as inadequate and incompetent. Oh dear I’m outed. People will now recognise me as the “ inadequate “ bloke from the telly. Might have to grow a beard or something. 🤣

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, gio1saints said:

Compared to most neurotypicals, probably, maybe I appear mad. 😇. 
 

As for did he take a pay cut- I’ve no idea I just threw out a wild guess as to how it might have happened. 

PS. My sister just sent me a vid of my questioning Spors and describing the team, the management and the management of the management as inadequate and incompetent. Oh dear I’m outed. People will now recognise me as the “ inadequate “ bloke from the telly. Might have to grow a beard or something. 🤣

To be fair, the point was made...ie, you lot have been shit 

[Golac's Cunning Stunts]

8 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

I thought Spors gave a good answer to the Stephens question but why it needed be 3 not 2or 1 could not be asked as you only allowed one go.
 

Not being privy to what he is actually going to be paid I’m going to take a wild guess and suggest the three years was a quid pro quo for a lower weekly basic. Sound like something we might do? 
Spors  made the call. Parsons and the Board supported it. 
Funnily enough the absence of any comment on if Will Still wanted it may be telling. 

Doesn't matter how you slice it, giving stephens a 3 yr deal is an abysmal decision. And following on from other comments made, they are looking to do this with some of our other losers. I'm thinking that will be Baz for one.

So the message is - perform poorly, be part of the worse prem saints team in history and we will reward you with a 3 yr contract! Just doesn't make any sense to me

[Fitzhugh Fella]

I think it about time fans stopped fixating on Jack Stephens 3 year extension FFS. Yes a bit OTT but I couldn't care less.

He has been a good servant so WTF.We have a lot bigger things to worry about.

I also laugh at the desire to get back to the corrupt PL which is geared to the wealthy and the elite. There is no point to promotion any more because, unless we get taken over by a bent billionaire, we can't compete, so would more than likely come straight back down and then go through the same crap. We are deluding ourselves or to put it more honestly football is taking the piss out of genuine fans, 

[Give it to Ron]

Just now, Fitzhugh Fella said:

I think it about time fans stopped fixating on Jack Stephens 3 year extension FFS. Yes a bit OTT but I couldn't care less.

He has been a good servant so WTF.We have a lot bigger things to worry about.

I also laugh at the desire to get back to the corrupt PL which is geared to the wealthy and the elite. There is no point to promotion any more because, unless we get taken over by a bent billionaire, we can't compete, so would more than likely come straight back down and then go through the same crap. We are deluding ourselves or to put it more honestly football is taking the piss out of genuine fans, 

So what are you suggesting not win games get half way through season and just stop winning?

[Golac's Cunning Stunts]

3 minutes ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

I think it about time fans stopped fixating on Jack Stephens 3 year extension FFS. Yes a bit OTT but I couldn't care less.

He has been a good servant so WTF.We have a lot bigger things to worry about.

I also laugh at the desire to get back to the corrupt PL which is geared to the wealthy and the elite. There is no point to promotion any more because, unless we get taken over by a bent billionaire, we can't compete, so would more than likely come straight back down and then go through the same crap. We are deluding ourselves or to put it more honestly football is taking the piss out of genuine fans, 

Brentford, Bournemouth, Fulham, Palace, Brighton, Forest all managed to go up and stay up

Edited 3 hours ago by Golac's Cunning Stunts

[Matthew Le God]

5 minutes ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

I also laugh at the desire to get back to the corrupt PL which is geared to the wealthy and the elite. There is no point to promotion any more because, unless we get taken over by a bent billionaire, we can't compete, so would more than likely come straight back down and then go through the same crap. We are deluding ourselves or to put it more honestly football is taking the piss out of genuine fans, 

Money isn't the issue. We spent £260m+ on transfers over the last two Premier League seasons with Sport Republic as owners. The issue is how the money was spent. Lots of recruitment mistakes. If the £260m+ was spent wisely we'd still be in the Premier League. 

Edited 3 hours ago by Matthew Le God

[AlexLaw76]

3 minutes ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

I think it about time fans stopped fixating on Jack Stephens 3 year extension FFS. Yes a bit OTT but I couldn't care less.

He has been a good servant so WTF.We have a lot bigger things to worry about.

I also laugh at the desire to get back to the corrupt PL which is geared to the wealthy and the elite. There is no point to promotion any more because, unless we get taken over by a bent billionaire, we can't compete, so would more than likely come straight back down and then go through the same crap. We are deluding ourselves or to put it more honestly football is taking the piss out of genuine fans, 

Fulham, Brentford, Brighton, Palace, Forest....doing alright 

We were above all of them, then blew it.

[Appy]

Just now, AlexLaw76 said:

Fulham, Brentford, Brighton, Palace, Forest....doing alright 

We were above all of them, then blew it.

Forest did cheat 

[Give it to Ron]

Parsons said we try to compete with City revenue £750m ours is 150m but I have always loved us bloodying the noses of big boys like 76

[hypochondriac]

4 minutes ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

I think it about time fans stopped fixating on Jack Stephens 3 year extension FFS. Yes a bit OTT but I couldn't care less.

He has been a good servant so WTF.We have a lot bigger things to worry about.

I also laugh at the desire to get back to the corrupt PL which is geared to the wealthy and the elite. There is no point to promotion any more because, unless we get taken over by a bent billionaire, we can't compete, so would more than likely come straight back down and then go through the same crap. We are deluding ourselves or to put it more honestly football is taking the piss out of genuine fans, 

I'm not sure that's true. You have to beat the odds and stay up once and then it gets easier. Yes it's very difficult but the likes of Brighton, Bournemouth and Brentford have managed it. 

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, Appy said:

Forest did cheat 

we were above all of them.....where we are is our own fault 

[Badger]

5 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Money isn't the issue. We spent £260m+ on transfers over the last two Premier League seasons with Sport Republic as owners. The issue is how the money was spent. Lots of recruitment mistakes. If the £260m+ was spent wisely we'd still be in the Premier League. 

Exactly. Recruitment has been the key issue (both managers and players) and reason for our fall. 

[egg]

4 minutes ago, Appy said:

Forest did cheat 

I think it was more a calculated risk that paid off.  Playing with a wonky bat can get the job done, sadly. 

[Chez]

23 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

He also bought in Downs and Quarshie so a good start 

I prefer to see how they go before patting anyone on the back. Quarshie has been very up and down in preseason games and Donws hasn't really played.

[AlexLaw76]

30 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

He also bought in Downs and Quarshie so a good start 

Is it?

[Smirking_Saint]

2 hours ago, Saint Scott said:

Thought it was interesting on two or three occasions that Parsons kept mentioning accountability in reference to Spors.

I may be reading into it too much, but it felt like there was some tension there. Maybe he and the board are frustrated we haven't recruited an AM yet, despite it being signed off without departures

I think you’re reading too much into it, he literally explained how squad planning takes you deep into the window

I imagine the tension is because previous DoFs here did a terrible job or just went AWOL

[Turkish]

18 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

Parsons said we try to compete with City revenue £750m ours is 150m but I have always loved us bloodying the noses of big boys like 76

We aren’t trying to compete with them. If this was the case we’d be challenging for the title every season. We’re trying to compete with the dozen or so others whose revenues aren’t dissimilar to our own when we’re in the premier league 

[pimpin4rizeal]

Trouble with this club is it seems the focus is more on devolopong youth and player trading. but all of this gets us pretty much nowhere in terms  of results we let all the decent players go get stuck with the average ones rinse repeat 

[Give it to Ron]

26 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Is it?

Potentially yes from what have seen and read we have bought 2 players that will grow here and help us on pitch and financially. If they were finished article we wouldn’t have been able to afford them. 
We don’t know yet if will be a success but look at BBD we thought he would be good , if Downs comes good great if doesn’t his outlay wasn’t massive but hopefully Trollope and Still can help improve both new recruits.

[Give it to Ron]

3 minutes ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

Trouble with this club is it seems the focus is more on devolopong youth and player trading. but all of this gets us pretty much nowhere in terms  of results we let all the decent players go get stuck with the average ones rinse repeat 

Without a mega rich owner what are our other options? We have to recruit cheap sell high or come through academy we just can’t compete. 

[pimpin4rizeal]

14 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

Without a mega rich owner what are our other options? We have to recruit cheap sell high or come through academy we just can’t compete. 

Think we need owners who actually prioritise results . Cortese was good like that . Atm this develop and sell the better players just doesn’t get us anywhere as like I said you just get stuck with the poor ones it just all seems a bit pointless atm even if we get a great kid we know he’s gonna be sold off streight away it’s not like when we used to get years out of them like le tissier 

im seriously getting a bit bored with football ffp has made it even worse as now even the dream of getting a rich owner gets crushed 

Edited 2 hours ago by pimpin4rizeal

[sockeye]

57 minutes ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

I also laugh at the desire to get back to the corrupt PL which is geared to the wealthy and the elite.

I understand, but I will always want Saints to compete at the absolute highest level possible. I also enjoy, as GITR put it so well, bloodying the noses of the entitled princes of the PL.

[BarberSaint]

9 hours ago, OldNick said:

The younger fans like the more American type of celebration that they can enjoy the moment, whilst the more miserable old fans would rather  silence and be able to throw the 'who are you' chants at the away fans. Personally id like a row of American cheerleaders with pom poms aka American basketball. I can the lose my eyesight and dont need to watch the crap we get served up week on week. There again seeing the young ladies I see wandering around town I think I might stick pins in my eyes to not have to watch them 😀 Only teasing before we get the precious yokers on to me

 

Hate to break it to you, but cheerleaders are shit. And so are American sports.

[HarvSFC]

Thought Blackmore was a lot better tonight than he has been in previous years. Although, repeatedly saying that we signed Rickie Lambert from Bristol City when introducing Trollope was a stain.

I thought Trollope came across well. He obviously wasn't the focus of the evening and couldn't tell us too much as a step in and assistant manager, but his responses were good. Still became available to us as he needed to leave France due to personal reasons, hopefully the reasons aren't too severe and don't impact anything going forward.

I thought Spors didn't give too much away. The Stephens response wasn't great. Said he had a good pre-season, when we've all seen with our own eyes the mistakes he's made. Also didn't like Blackmore's comments regarding the fans scapegoating him. If a player's good, they're good, they're applauded and they're well supported. If they consistently make mistakes, they get called out on it.

There weren't many questions or comments regarding individual players this evening. Two years ago there was the Bazunu and last year McCarthy comments. But, only discussed Dibling, Fernandes and Stephens.

Not too many promises made this year, and I think the panel were more tight lipped than they have been in previous years, but it wasn't ever going to be a night of revelations.

Parsons did say that the PSR rules are likely to change to "squad cost ratio", so wonder what impact that will have on us. Hopefully a more positive one.

[Matthew Le God]

11 minutes ago, HarvSFC said:

Parsons did say that the PSR rules are likely to change to "squad cost ratio", so wonder what impact that will have on us. Hopefully a more positive one.

If voted in, it is changing to only being able to spend up to a set % of your income on transfers and wages. This is why increasing revenue is so important and why the club is looking to expand the stadium and develop the area around it. Parsons touched on this and also stated they may start revealing plans in the next year.

Edited 1 hour ago by Matthew Le God