Capel Saint

Indeed. They have the bragging rights for winning the league and I take off my hat to them (if I was wearing one) for doing so convincingly. However, come August, it will not matter in the slightest as everyone starts on 0 points!

I agree. They are worthy champions but it is sad how a few hundred of their supporters and influential elements within the club have so much unashamed hate towards Saints, just because we happen to be a bigger club in size than they are. I think they are letting the green eyed monster get out of control. As I have said before, I like Brighton and am pleased another south coast club has gained promotion. I can even understand the anti-Adkins banner as you are always going to get fans of other teams goading what have might been said in the past, resentment of past managers etc. However, I have never seen a cover of a match day programme be so disrespectful to another club's manager despite what he might have said in the past. They (the Brighton Board) need to have a long hard look at themselves and grow up!

Thought the article trailed off a bit as I thought the journalist was going to explain a bit more why he thinks Southampton have a better chance than most of getting back to the Prem. Does he know the Liebherr Family are very kindly funding improved training ground facilities this summer? No mention at all so his research wasn't that great. Still it is nice to hear Cortese mention that the Liebherr Family are sticking with the club even after Saint Markus passed away last summer. God bless 'em and long may it continue!

Lallana for me as Oxo is still only 17 and is still developing. Mind you give it a couple more seasons and it may just be a different answer.........just maybe.

They do seem to read far too much into Adkins comments and can't accept the amount of times he congratulates Brighton for winning League 1, congratulating Poyet and the squad. Of course Adkins is not going to concede much else because his job is to motivate the Southampton team to finish second in the league. However, as one Brighton fan posted on here, it is only a few deluded Brighton fans who are fixated with hating Saints which I think is sad. I wonder if they hate Bournemouth just as much and will hate Poopy with equal measure.

Remember the 'Saints Marching Jazz Band' down at the Dell in the '80's. Always used to get the crowd going, despite the womble prancing around with the golf umbrella and top hat as the mascot of the band. Sigh!..., still it takes me back..............

Aye! At the moment it is in Saints hands and is an achievemnt in itself when weith three games in hande we had to get five points on Huddersfiled. We've done that and although we aren't playing the best footie at the moment, we are still getting points on the board. Yes we have injuries, but there is enough depth in the squad to cover those injuries. It is up to those individual players now to show their 'mettle' and get those three points each game until the end of the season. Also the fans have been great this season and need to stick vocally supporting the lads. COYR!

Have to agree that I don't think Brighton will let up and will want to beat Saints as a statement of intent that they fear no-one which is what Poyet has instilled into Brighton. I would love them to have got complacent especially now that they are confirmed Champions but alas we will be very lucky to get a draw.

Yep, congratulations to Brighton who are worthy champions. Poyet has instilled a real winning mentality at the club which will serve them very well in the championship. Look where Norwich, Leeds and Millwall are who have the same type of manager. Lets hope Saints can achieve second spot and join them next season.

Still in Saints hands now with two tough away fixtures out of the way, we have 5 winnable games and with Brighton already promoted they may relax a little a bit and perhaps nick a win or a draw. Stay upbeat people!

Hopefully the beeb can do a deal with Sky, much like they did with Match of the Day and so a highlights program can still be aired. With regards to clubs having less income, it is up to the Boards of the respective clubs to stand firm on players (via their agents) to pay wages within the clubs means. Trouble is, Boards tend to gamble on paying bigger wages to get the better players and hence take a big financial risk if they don't gain promotion etc, and the risks are bigger the lower down the leagues you go. Take a look at the Premier League, there aren't many clubs (if any) that are cash rich from the Sky TV money, gate revenue etc without a multi-millionaire or billionaire owner(s) putting in their own cash to pay the ridiculous wages of players. It has been a problem for years and Portsmouth are a classic example of what happens when the owner decides to step away and not fund the club anymore. Saints themselves were also guily of this when the Wilde bunch spent beyond the clubs means in a bid for promotion back to the Prem and we all know the nightmare that caused. Maybe less Sky money will get the Boards of clubs, especially in the Prem to start looking at reducing wages to a more realistic level. I guess time will tell...........

Have to agree with adrainsfc on this one. It annoys me too at the wave of negativity from some people who are all too ready to instantly spread doom and gloom at every opportunity. It was a great fightback today and some fans need to believe a little more in the Adkins and the team. It was a great fightback today when other Saints teams in the past would have folded. Long may this winning belief continue.

Chaplow on occasion seems to be a little lightweight in this league and gets muscled off the ball at times. Also his performances aren't that consistent and can see why he hasn't settles into a side long term. That said, when he does play well he is an asset to the team and is good going forward behind the strikers. Would like to see Stephens given a go as he could be a better option.

Interesting to read how two players felt on that great day for Saints!

The problem was that Lowe was told by Barclays that the overdraft limit was going to be reduced from £5m to £4m and didn't think that the bank were serious until it was too late. A PLC to me was a huge mistake as the only way to raise cash for the business is to issue more sales or for a loan. It also allowed the potential of others to take control as we saw when Wilde and Crouch fought for control once they had bought enough shares. He did also appoint some bad managers such as Wigley, Redcrapp and the Dutch Duds. Also to balance it a little he did appoint some good managers such as Hoddle and Strachan, sold players for top cash such as Richards (RIP) and Beattie and kept the club fairly in the black. He did also oversee moving the club to St Marys and the Academy. So my view is that he did good and bad and shouldn't take the whole blame for the demise of the club until we were saved. I much prefer to have the club in private hands which means a stable boardroom, no debt and owners that want to turn the club around, on and off the field.

Indeed. Although I hope he never gets near the Saints Boardroom again!

Listening to the commentry on a the last few games (being overseas) it does seem that Harding on occasion has the odd off game and Bournemouth seemed to be one of them. Davis is prone to the odd error but considering the number of times he has saved the Saints from conceding a goal you have to give him some slack. The OP has a good observation that Chaplow can go missing for large parts of the game at times. Fonte has been found out a few times but on the whole is very solid compared to most centre backs at this level. I would have added Jaidi to the list as his form and performance in recent matches has been erratic. Good at times and appalling at others. On the whole though, the team is good and I am optimistic that the team has enough to secure second place.

I can sympathise with the original post that things were different in the 80's as a young lad I would ensure gertting a good spot at Milton Road and paying £1.50 to get in and 40p for a programme. Thing is, times have changed and as another poster put, we now have much more modern grounds with all seater stadium. That and the fact I am considerably older and therefore enjoy meeting up with my mates, quaffing a couple of ales and a egg and chips at a local pub before the game which I didn't do as a young teenager. If people want to leave before the whistle blows then that is up to them, they have paid for their ticket like everyone else and so it is up to the individual at the end of the day.

I agree that Saints have slightly underperformed on some occasions but fans need to realise we won't win every game and there will be disappointing results. However, saying that I think the team is improving and Lambert is starting to hit top form again, with the squad settling down, now that the transfer window is shut for the season. Unless Saints suddenly start hitting a bad run of form I beleive Saints will finish second unless Brighton 'do a Leeds' and allow us to catch and pass them to win the league. As for the possibility that the Liebherr family is going to walk away from the club in the next 12 months is truely laughable! They have put a lot of money into the club and are currently revamping the training facilities. People seem to have forgotton this little fact. They may sell once we are back in the Prem as firstly they would no doubt make a profit from the money they have invested in the club and secondly they would have filled Markus Liebherr's original plan of getting the club back to the big time. Another positive thought I have (shock, horror!) to counter the negative posts, is maybe the family will or are enjoying owning a football club and continue to invest and grow the club over many years to come?

Quite agree. Makes a refreshing change to have some honest. fair-minded banter with other clubs fans. Lets hope Brighton and Saints (and Bournemouth throught the playoffs) get promoted as it can only be good for south coast football!

RIP Markus and thank you from the bottom of every Saints fans heart, for saving this family club.

Personally I think you are being a little harsh on Cortese as I don't feel he is treating the fans with contempt. I do agree that he has made some un popular decisions and the lack of communication to the reason why he has made these decisions has been rather poor which will not help the mood with some fans. However, I don't agree with this current mood of lunching Cortese over a few issues compared to the bigger picture of improving the club both with facilities and players. Yes I agree that they are similar in a number of ways because they are both businessmen who were/are running a football club. However, trying to compare the two is difficult as who to say what Lowe would have done with lots of funds and who knows what would have happened if Cortese had to run a plc. All too hyperthetical and not really relevant in my humble opinion.

Yep have to agree with the last two posters. Under Lowe we were going downwards as he had the club run as a plc and therefore starving the club of any real investment plus it created the Wilde, Corbett, Crouch, Lowe fiasco that brought the club to its knees. Cortese has come in, got a billionaire to invest, clearing the debt, make the club private ownership again and is turning the club around and making it go upwards. So a simple choice for me. So before all the Cortese critics start putting me into the Cortese lover category I acknowledge that, yes, he has made a few bad pr gaffs including pulling the installment plan and the communication has not been good. But I prefer Cortese, as I see a club on the rise, rather than a club always fighting the odds against relegation every season until our inevitable downfall from the Prem and then the Championship.

Quite agree. There is far too much 'one upmanship' on this Board which becomes extremely tiresome after a while. I for one believe that Saints are currently working on some deals which will be completed this month. As others have said, if there are no signings by 1st August, that is when fans should become concerned.

That's a bit of sweeping statement! I agree that if prices are increased that some fans will get priced out of going which is a shame but unfortunately it is the nature of football at the meoment. I have an Arsenal mate who spends well over £1000 on a season ticket each year.Maybe things will change. I believe Cortese is looking at the bigger picture in respect that if the team are successful then more people will come to watch the team. Look how many Saints fans suddenly popped up to Wembley for the JPT Final that wearn't there at the start of last season! I do take the point that Cortese and his team have made a couple of PR gaffs especially over the withdrawel of the installment plan for Season Tickets with virtually no notice. However it should also be balanced that he is backing Pardew in the transfer market to rebuild a competitve squad, is revamping the Scouting network, revamping the training facilities at Staplewood and hopefully improving the catering for fans at match days. He is not perfect by any means but we shouldn't lose sight of the good things he has brought to the club whilst in charge. As i said before, time will tell whether the price hikes and ticket charges will affect attendances next season.. Until then, it is idle speculation.