The Kraken

I'm not saying new transfers wouldn't improve the team; of course they would. However the OP suggested that there were 3 or 4 gaps in the team to fill, which IMO is simply wrong. There is currently 1 "gap" to fill, and that is at RB. The rest is all about increasing and improving the squad size. As for wide players, we have Puncheon and Lallana, two of the top performing players from the division last year (1 got in the team of the year, one scored 20 goals). So no "gap". CM we are short in depth but in Hammond and Morgan have two first class starting CMs, again no gap. I agree with your points completely about an additional midfielder, and backup in the other areas of the pitch. In fact, I think pretty much everyone agrees that we need to strengthen the depth in these areas to give us a stronger squad than last season and put us in a better position to achieve automatic promotion. That said, I don't agree with the knee-jerk reactionary nonsense from the OP. This team, from October 1st onwards, had a points to game ratio that over the whole season would have given us the same tally as champions Norwich. And we will certainly add a number of players to the squad to improve it. Therefore the hysterical notion that we will be much weaker than last term unless we sign 3 or 4 players by yesterday is, IMO, very misguided.

Do I need to call the police and alert them of a stalker?! Me and 3 mates were actually just about to order a batch of more shirts, but if no-one seems to be getting them I think we'll hold off on it. Very disappointing really, as I've said before between us we've had around 20-30 off this crowd without one single problem; would be a shame if they've gone dodgy. All apologies to anyone if the shirts don't arrive, but I can assure you the link was given in true faith.

Have they? I ask as I'm completely unsure, but I thought when we had the membership scheme when we were in the Prem, tickets were issued to members, then ST holders to purchase an additional ticket, then general sale?? Either that or I'm remembering it completely wrongly...

Well I hope they turn up soon, and are acceptable quality, as I was the gimp that recommended this shower. *puts on hard hat and flak jacket*

A perfectly reasonable letter. I doubt you'll get the answers you're looking for though. I sent the club an email asking why, if the club were going to remove the instalment plan (as is their right), why did not give any notice of this until hours before season tickets went on sale. The response I got was... "Dear Dav, Thank you for your response. We are naturally sorry if you feel that we haven’t given enough notice. I do understand the point you are making Again, thank you for taking the time to contact us Kind regards David Luker The classic response that acknowledges the problem but offers no explanation.

First of all I never said you're not entitled to your views, and never would. I'm just entitled to not agree with them. Without getting in to the points above, how about this. Since October 1st last year, our points per game average over a whole season would have given us the same amount of points an Noriwch finished with (who went up as champions). AP has said that he intends on improving the side from last year, clearly we need a right back to plug that hole but any other signings will be improvements on what we already have. With that being the case, why do you think the team will perform worse than last year? Is it just potential injuries?

So hang on; you're assuming the rumours that Schneiderlin will be sold are true, yet the rumours that Lines/Stock etc have been identified to replace him are incorrect? Up front; do we not have Barnard? He seemed to score a few goals last season, I recall. CB; Seabourne played quite a few games last season in place of Jaidi; Aaron Martin also started the last 2 games with some very good reviews of his performances. So at the moment we need a right back. That's it. Then again, I do note that you like to create ill-informed threads full of reactionary assumptions. I remember too well your campaign throughout the start of last season to inform everyone that Schneiderlin and Lallana weren't up to the job and should be replaced; how did that one work out?

Wow, this thread has changed into Mong Wars. Dulldays and Stanley are seemingly on a mission to out-retard each other.

No. It deserves complaining about. If you've got a probelm with it, either communicate it with the club or don't pay it. Those are your options. Your constant spamming and general idiocy will get you nowhere.

And thank God he did. When I got my Cortese-signed Wembley ticket from him (just after he'd processed my debit card) it made it more worthwhile. It was the personal touch that made it for me.

7 pages of detail rolled up into two sentences.

I think they are, I got my renewal and credit forms this morning.

Power to the people, Chester.

It will. It's the nature of business: things change; people moan about the changes; people move on and get on with it. I don't like the imposed changes as much as anybody, and I think everyone is entitled to express their dissatisfaction with the club. But seriously, your vindictive campaign is now getting a little bit obsessed and a little bit sad.

To be fair, what other perks could there be for being a member?! It's not as if we sell out for games so the priority system hardly counts. Maybe for a JPT final ticket? They were allocated for attending the semi final and season ticket holders, so its feasible that members may get the next set, but then if you're a member its pretty likely that you'll have been to one semi-final leg anyway. I can only think/hope there will be a monetary saving per ticket to be had, which will really just negate the booking fee.

Despite this being another "look at me" thread, I'll respond to try and keep the topic on subject..... You seem to be choosing to ignore the real bone of contention with the majority of fans on here. The lack of payment instalment scheme and booking fee have all had a negative reception for sure, but by far and aware the worst thing is the manner in which the club have gone about it. No notice for the scrapping of the payment scheme until hours before the season tickets go on sale. If we had had this news 2 or 3 months ago then pretty much everyone who wanted to would have been able to save up and pay up front for a season ticket. Also, you would do well to read Steve Grant's fag packet maths example in this very thread of how, rather than running at a loss as you seem to believe, there are others who believe we are actually currently turning a profit. So the monetary argument you put forward may not be as substantial as you actually think it is. The abuse "Danny" seems to be getting is also unfair; it is the paper's job to reflect the views of the fans and they have done that. Rather than shoot the messenger, why not actually try to understand the message? Today's Echo headline is "Saints are one of only two League One clubs without a payment plan". The question, surely, has to be "WHY?". Why is our way of operating so much better than 22 of 24 other league clubs? Are all the other clubs in the division so lacking in business sense that they just happily continue with these silly schemes whereas we're the really clever ones? Or is it that they recognise, while it perhaps does incur a bit more effort on the club's behalf, that it is a way for the club to help out the most needing of fans and provide a way for as many fans to feel a part of the club as possible. The club is on a bit of a downward spiral as far as PR is concerned in thepast few days, and without actually coming out and clarifying their decisions it sadly gives the impression that they couldn't care less either.

Time will tell, but I disagree. Particularly if the team is doing well. I think season tickets will be down on last year because of this issue, no doubt, but not by more than 1 or 2 thousand. And if the team are performing well from the outset that's a much bigger incentive to get down for games, which will in turn boost attendances. Like it or not people will get used to the new charges, and will find ways to minimise the extra charges (buy 2 or 3 home tickets in one booking, buy multiple people's tickets in one booking etc). The odd 50p or quid here or there, while a bit frustrating now, won't put people off.

Perhaps you could provide the time machine to go back to April 1st, but this time with the knowledge that fans actually need to save (rather than continue to use the instalment scheme as detailed in the club's customer charter). All very good advice for next year, but too late to prepare for this year.

I don't think this will happen. As badly as the club have handled the PR of this whole exercise, the one thing Cortese does understand is the bottom line; profit. Most people who really want a season ticket will find a way to get one. Investment in the team will mean that individual match tickets will be in demand. A good start to the season and all of this will be largely forgotten by most. The club has handled this very poorly, but it has been taken as a business decision and I don't think it will affect the club in a major way.

No, you don't NEED to have a barcode/swipe system at all. Just start the installments in April and run them through to August, the cost is completely paid off before the start of the season. Or as I previously suggested, start the installments in May, qualify for the first half season ticket before the start of the season, receive the second half after the next 3 month's payments. No huge extra charge, and the club end up going through with what they said they would do in their customer charter. Most people seem to have grasped that this issue isn't just about taking away an interest free payment scheme; it's much more about giving no notice whatsoever that the scheme was being ditched and offering no other alternative for some than to pay up front a large sum of money in a short space of time, or get a credit card which a signifiant proportion of people may justifiably not want to do.

What sort of size, and for what purpose? Orange Rooms used to have the upstairs available for reserving for private parties; think Mono also used to do the same. If its bars you're looking for, that is....

This is the key part. I agree with the rest of your post, it was clearly a business decision and nothing else. However, the club have to understand that a football club is a little more than "just a business", its not as if we have the choice to use other local competitors. A little bit of communication and transparency would have gone very far with this decision.

And balance the costs by needing less staff to man the turnstiles. Failing that, barcode the tickets and have barcode readers at each turnstile. There's plenty of options, the club clearly just don't want to bother with it.

Thinking about it, there's such an easy way to make sure this didn't happen again. It just would have required the club to have released prices last month (say May 1st). Payment for season tickets can still be paid over 6 months; 3 payments must be received by the start of the season (May, June, July). Then a half-season book of tickets is sent out. Following the August, September and October payments the following half-season book is sent out. Therefore ALL games are paid for up front and there's no chance of those previous shenanigans. Too easy.