Brussels Saint

The PL as a business continues to generate huge interest and the number of fans continue to grow. This is the simple reason why the TV generates so much revenue. However I agree, the cost is impacting gates. I actually think we are in an interim period, where shortly the TV money will be so huge it will dwarf matchday revenue and clubs will then start to see the benefit of having full stadiums at much reduced pricing. 90% of tickets will be priced for the working man/woman with the remaining 10% for the TV fan who wants a premium matchday experience twice a year. Those pampered middle of the road fans will expect a full stadium full of rowdy tykes, singing aggressive songs or it wont be the real thing.

Front 4 of Lallana, Gaston, J-Rod & Ossie for me. SRL from the bench. Contentious I know, but I'm not convinced Rickie & Ossie work as a pair and Lambert I quite like as a player who can change a game when its needed.

I think both Lovren and Wanyama have contributed hugely to this improvement. My guess is that MP knew exactly what he was getting when he bought Wanyama. A defensive physical presence in front of the back four, who is perhaps technically more limited than our other players. Occasionally mis-controlling or playing a poor pass (potentially causing us trouble agreed), is a price worth paying for ensuring we are never bullied in midfield, and have a brick wall in front of the defence. It's a powerful base to work from and allows us now to just work on faster transitions, and our attacking 4 to find the right combinations of personnel and style.

Was not able to watch the game as usual this week, so first read the write up on the bbc. Gave a pretty positive view on the game from a Saints perspective as we dominate and West Ham are saved by a standout keeper performance. Expected therefore to come on here and read some disappointed but upbeat views about the game. What is the matter with you f-uckers?

Good thread btw.

Saganowski for me, but then I've always preferred the disinterested, occasional moments quality type players, than the give it 100% effort making the best use of their limited ability types like Telfer. I might have more respect for the Telfers, but I watch football for the joy of players like Ginola.

To make it work on the iPad I first set up the smart dns stuff then created myself a new account on the egypt itunes store. You need to put in a fake egypt address (i used a Cairo hotel) and choose no credit card billing. Download the app and it's done. I then changed my itunes store back to my original one. Once you have the app installed and are running smart dns, the whole thing works perfectly.

Using the OverPlay smart dns and iPad Apple TV Airplay setup and have to admit it's brilliant. For 12-15 quid a month to watch every Saints game live in nigh on perfect quality, is a bargain.

Thought JWP, Lovren and Wanyama were outstanding. Gaston also excellent when he came on. Osvaldo has lots of class, but does need to be careful. Loved however when he sprinted flat out about 65m to close their keeper down, so looks like he really wants to make a good impression. Not the best day for Lambert, Jay and Morgan , but it happens. 1-1 flattered them. Gaston to start next week please in place of Jay.

Fear not skinflints, I've seen the future! Having just signed up for Al Jazeera, "watch every game live" and realising that sooner or later no club is going to be able to prevent all games being available on TV/online, the only option to fill stadiums is going to be reduced pricing. Virtually all revenue will come from selling broadcast rights to every PL game available and higher quality TV experiences rather than relying on free dodgy streams. Fans will likely buy a broadcast season ticket for a club or maybe the entire EPL fixtures to pick and choose what they want to watch. This could easily be sold for 15-20 quid/month and represent around 80% of a clubs turnover. In order to generate atmosphere (rather than revenue) in the stadium, clubs will have to reduce the majority of tickets to around 10-15 quid, returning the game to the working man. Those huge majority with the TV packages will likely wish to visit a few times a season and can be sold higher end seating plans and experiences. Its a different model, but after experiencing the AJS service, I cannot see how clubs can maintain the stadium crowds without reducing the cost impact.

I know lots have been promoting Lambert as dropping back and being able to play attacking mid, but has he ever actually done this? As far as I'm aware he has pretty much only ever played as a lead the line CF. Might be wrong though.

One thing I guess he brings defensively over Clyne is height at set pieces. No doubt so far Clyne is much better going forward, but against physical, tall teams maybe Poch sees him as a viable option even if both are fit.

OK so you used the Smart DNS option from OverPlay not the full VPN? I used a VPN from a different provider and maybe its just that which caused the problems.

Did anyone get it working from an ipad with the app from the egypt itunes store? Mine worked, but the stream was very bad and dropped off to audio only. Seemed to work for other sports e.g. Ping pong but as soon as the epl games came up, quality really dropped off.

Ok so signed up via Astrill for the VPN instead of overlay. Downloaded the iPad app from the egyptian itunes store and it works! Only think I cant get working yet is Airplay, so will try with an HDMI cable. Quality so far is average I would say. Better than a stream, but not TV quality. Will give it a month or so and see how it goes.

Thanks again Pat, found the answers I needed. Excellent link btw ;-)

Thanks Pat. Have an Apple TV so can use Airplay directly without an HDMI cable, it was just whether the Al Jazeera app on iPad blocked you from doing this like the Sky Go one does.

Am thinking about trying this. Anyone know if the Al Jazeera iPad app supports HDMI out, so I can route it directly to the TV via AirPlay. The SkyGo app does not support this, which means I'm stuck only being able to watch on the iPad screen rather than on the TV. Would like to check with the Al Jazeera app before taking the plunge.

Also not sure why it was locked. Copied my post below: Bony for me so far. My Dutch league contacts say he will tear up the division. However the last player they felt would do a good job was Steve De Ridder, so Ajax season tickets or no, I'll bide my judgement. Of the others, the best deals were for Migniolet and Coutinho (last window) the rest I'm fairly un excited by (of realistic targets) I also think that Downing at West Ham will do very well, just not for Saints (maybe its just the Stuart Ripley shiver I get). Some players just fit certain clubs.

Bony for me so far. My Dutch league contacts say he will tear up the division. However the last player they felt would do a good job was Steve De Ridder, so Ajax season tickets or no, I'll bide my judgement. Of the others, the best deals were for Migniolet and Coutinho (last window) the rest I'm fairly un excited by (of realistic targets) I also think that Downing at West Ham will do very well, just not for Saints (maybe its just the Stuart Ripley shiver I get). Some players just fit certain clubs.

Also genuinely don't see any point in changing a clubs name and I'm one of the supporters who's been around a long time and actually prefers modern football. There would seem very little point to it from any business, branding or rationale standpoint. Change is constant and I have no issue with it, but something like that, whats the point?

For me GS, better than Guly, but undecided about Mayuka. He is a different kind of player to both and probably does not fit the system we want to play. I doubt MP is an idiot, but like all managers they like certain players and not others, Billy Sharp is hardly a controversial player to be frozen out.

Maybe MP just does not rate him Alps..........my guess is he believes he is simply not at all good enough. As such in some ways its being a lot more straight with him than giving him hope etc. Better to say, I dont think you are good enough, you are free to find another club than keep him hanging on. Seems a lot more decent this way, for a player who has given good service to the club, than pretending otherwise.

Did I not read somewhere that Wenger said Gervinho is close to a switch to Roma. If that happens Osvaldo would seem a more likely choice.

If I remember correctly, about this time last year there were some praising the work Reading had done, adding to their squad early. People cite Norwich as an example and no doubt they have done some good business, but not exceptional. Both Swansea & Man C, so far for me have had the best of the window, but I dont consider us to be a million miles behind. 20m on 2 high class players and not losing any of our best players is a good window, even with nothing else! Do you guys not remember what being a Saints fan is like? I never imagined we could be in a situation that what we have currently done is not good enough. Some perspective no?