Dibden Purlieu Saint

Yes you are, you're calling me a troll. That's an insult. Surely you can see that. The issue does affect me obviously as I am one of the fans who went in League 1 but don't go anymore, hence I'm not loyal. I am saying those fans that think the issues that have come up over the last couple of seasons are bigger than them supporting the club every week are not loyal as the issues are small.

But that's not trolling? It's just an adverse opinion to yours. It interests me because it's a thread on the forum of a club I support, and one that I take exception to that loyal fans will stop going. I don't believe loyal fans would. I believe previously loyal fans have become disenchanted and decided not to support the club as much, whether that be financially or through going to games, but I would say that when this happens they are no longer in the loyal fans bracket, because their support has waned. As said, it is all my opinon. You obviously disagree and due to that you are accusing me of trolling and attention seeking. I would just ask you to grow up a bit and accept that people can disagree with you.

Ok, cool. In my book I believe it is to a large degree. I'm not saying 100% of the time, there are other, bigger mitigating circumstances that obviously make a difference. I would just say that I cannot personally see that being a Saints fan has become so bad that I would think about not going due to the 'issues' that have arisen over the past few seasons which is what people are alluding to.

Perhaps that's it. I just don't see that all the added 'issues' with the club makes you a blind follower and willing to take anything and everything the club throws at you. Is being a Saints fan at the moment really that bad? I would say not myself.

I assumed if you were taking the nipper you'd be in the family area, it was just an assumption. Choose a different area to compare. Changing age groups obviously does make a difference, but that isn't due to the clubs pricing policy, but just an unfortunate coincidence that the nipper has become older at that time. The 3 hours from Southampton makes no difference as you had to do that last season I presume? Don't see why you have to throw insults around and circumvent the swear filter, this is just a discussion.

I also don't understand why you are bringing trolling into this. All we're doing is having a discussion yet because I have a different opinion to you I am labelled a troll. Perhaps you should just discuss before throwing out insults for no reason.

Of course there is and I'm not denying it. But if the fans are willing to let these issues get in the way of them supporting the club through thick and thin I would say these people are less loyal than those fans who don't (and been there through thick and thin as well).

Yeah, nice one. Explain why that is trolling? I would say that someone who went to every game in the League 1, the Championship and now the Premiership is more loyal to Saints than someone who went in League 1 and the Championship. How that is seen as trolling I don't know.

Why? Explain.

Where did I say you weren't a good fan? There is a difference between a good fan and a loyal fan. So how much extra per game does it cost you than last season for a Category A game in the Family Stand?

When I could afford to go and went then! I really am not saying the Premier League fans are loyal. I am saying that loyal fans would stick with the club through thick and thin (and I believe this is the 'thin' era for your friends) and would not let a £100 ticket increase for going to watch in the Premier League a barrier to that loyalty.

But if they drift away they are not loyal. They are fans sure, but they're not loyal. They won't stiock with the club through thick and thin. Definition of loyal: Giving or showing firm and constant support or allegiance to a person or institution: "he remained loyal to the government". The key word is 'Constant'.

I'm not commenting on match going fans. I am saying that if these match going fans decide not to go anymore then they are not loyal. Which you are alluding to in this post?

But I'm not, I'm commenting on the loyalty of those who don't. This is where the confusion is I think.

I love the fact that people think we're like ****ing North Korea. The hyperbole on this site really is amusing some times.

Just to put my cards on the table, I can't afford to get to many games this season, not due to the ticket prices but due to the extra travel it costs me from where I am. However, I also wouldn't say I am a 'loyal' fan. I wouldn't have the temerity to do that as there are far more people who spend their hard earned money going to games. I am a loyal fan in that I will always support Southampton, but not on the same scale as others that go to all games, home and away. It seems that the fans alluded to in this aren't that loyal, and are really rather looking for an excuse not to go. All imho of course.

I wasn't saying on a per game basis due to the fact that being a fan of the club is not about the number of games surely, it's about the club?

That's not what I'm saying, not at all. Those that have a genuine reason for not being able to afford to go then I agree with, maybe they have a low income of whatever, my issue is those that think the ticket prices from this season are driving loyal fans away which I can't believe they are. No-one I know has stopped going because Saints ticket prices are extortionate where there is only an increase of about £100 a season (which they will probably save in the beers/travel for the 4 games less they're travelling to.

I don't know what the cut off is. What are the reasons your mates have stopped going?

Maybe I don't. Or maybe I don't put as much stock in parking charges and additional ticket taxes as these 'loyal' fans do.

Who said that?

Why do you need 30 seats? Last season tickets in the Centre (just as an example) went up from £515 to £625, an increase of 21%.

I don't agree with that though. However, I don't think Saints ticket prices are THAT bad. We have always been towards the higher end because we are from a more affluent area. We have never been Wigan/Blackburn prices. If the ticket prices got really bad then yeah, people should have a go. I'm not saying that.

But you're missing the point. If they are loyal they wouldn't turn their back. They are only loyal up to a point, and as soon as that point is reached they are no longer loyal fans. They are non loyal fans that have let other factors wane their loyalty. Loyal fans won't disappear, they will (mad ticket prices permitting) continue to support the club and the team.

But that's not Saints setting those prices?? That's United and Chelsea.