dronskisaint

Got to be someone from here with a name and subject matter like that

WTF??? Only? Why, any shred of evidence to go anywhere near supporting that statement?

Or the facts as they're otherwise known skatey

Blind as in having worked for the club since 2011 blind?!!

I think there's a conlfict of models going on that we don't actually fit in to - ours is pretty much unique in the PL although I'm open to other points of view. To expand on this...let's start with Saints fans expectations...my watching experience over 50 years has taken in the FA Cup win, the runners up in Division 1 plus all that's been in between high and low so what should my expectation be? I'm, number one, grateful to have a club...given how close we appeared to come and seeing the fish-fondlers down the road reinforces that so all up from that is a plus...my expectation then is for constant improvement based on what our management, budget and liquidity will allow...I'm also a realist who realises that there are only two domestic cups to win, one league title and 6 European places. So - to our model. I don't think anyone has ever set out from L1 to get in to the PL basing the progress on largely home grown and sustainable financing. You could argue that the £30million transfer of cash to shares made our purchase price 40-50 million but that bought a club that on the gates we get and our progression to the Premier pot is ultimately profitable..we generate our own stream of players coming through thus reaping the investment made way back whilst further investing in becoming and remaining the primary source for our own and England's young talent...has anyone else done this with a club of our size (gate, catchment area, history etc?) in the modern era? I think not but correct me by all means - so - five years down the line to be competing in GS' mini league with Everton, Spuds and Utd could be deemed to be punching well above our weight BUT - we still have to finish above them to have a chance to get in to Europe. Count the home-produced players in the 8 clubs above us...as well as the 83 below - our model cannot be compared with many. So, our model is different -to carry the experiment on the perfect scenario would be that we keep these players that have grown together within a playing system managed by a coach who is constantly motivating them to improve on the talent they posess and whilst you can draw comparisons with the Chelsea and Lowe era it isn't really a valid one...the coach who,can no longer drive, motivate or teach anything new to a team is, by definition, redundant and you look to the next level. I give you NA who I will have eternal gratitude to for the job he did being replaced by an inspired, in my opinion, choice of someone who has/is taken us up a level but can he be a Ferguson in terms of duration and success? Maybe but statistics render it unlikely. I hope he can deliver more improvement from existing and newly-introduced players be they bought of nurtured, I hope that if he can't that the Board will make as good a progression choice as did Cortese. Will we be Barcelona in model or Real...both involve spending but I know which one I'd most like to be compared with - and we start from a gate that is a third of either and a history much less illustrious - I hope we can be patient. Right now I feel that my patience, my faith, my belief and yes, my affliction in being a Saints fan (it's not a choice) is being richly rewarded. Thanks to all at St Mary's :-)

Wellbeck - really? He's looked out of his depth playing for England a lot of the times he's played - not saying that Jay is necessarily the answer but think he must have at least as good a shout as Welbeck if he carries on scoring.

:D:D Karma Poetry

+1...apart from large drunken yoof over-celebrating 4th goal at home to Hull landing on my foot....that's all part of the package though, not many bigger people around me but this one..... I loved the two Peterborough games on the real old style terracing but accept that if it is to return it has to be similar to the German model.

Redkrap then...!

About as much proof sourcing for both but you're talking a different level between rumours of a player coming/going and putting on a public forum (and this is the first time I've read this one on this forum) that the chairman was being less than candid/honest with the books? I expect any of the people whose money you double for them as your living can help you with that one

Suspect this could be deemed libellous.....going to put a source?

I agree, to a degree, with your first point - a diverse group will always be pretty lively and an array of opinions makes for interesting banter and debate but, and it's a big but - if a few of that group were constantly decrying, belittling, abusing the very reason that the group was gathered in the pub in the first place what do you think the outcome would be? 'IMHO'..those few would be seen for what they were and would be very quickly marginalised and ostracised. That's how society works particularly in a 'tribal' setting which is as close a description for a group of supporters as you're likely to find. These forums allow a degree of anonymity and protection that woud not be afforded in that group in a pub - it shouldn't come as a surprise that the animosity towards you (and that skate BS) is quite so vehement...you're standing in a group acting in a manner that is constantly at odds with their reason for gathering!! I do ignore a lot of what is posted...sadly there's enough of the tribal urge in me still to be irritated by some other...I acccept that Alpine is probably a depressive, I accept that Sanchez is a skate...do I accept you're just a WUM for fun? I repeat...I'm pretty sure I've outlined the real-life scenario...and in no way would I be your 'mate' in that group.

Certainly it's true that this place seems to be his entire life ...and it's all negative. Two possibles, I suppose...feel sympathy or cull the tw*t It is true that if he or his fish-fondling mate Sanchez spouted the views that they do on here in a Saints pub they'd be eating hospital food pretty sharp...make of this what you will?!

Erm....oh never mind

Yes...because the diving lessons went really well didn't they......:rolleyes:

I'll never tire of watching that...it also reminds me that it can happen again but I'm not going to go all depressed, skate or WUM if we don't! Thanks for posting

Never thought I'd agree with anything the OP posted but Tony Benn was a man of principle and conviction. It's easy to dismiss him as a champagne socialist but all that would prove is that you had not read or listened to what he wrote or said..as many closed their minds to him as they did to Powell as mentioned earlier. I can recommend his diaries whatever your political persuasion. The world is a less-wise place for his passing - he genuinely did care about his fellow humans...that is the big difference between him and Thatcher. RIP Tony Benn

I'd return like a shot...family and business keep me from doing so but the region as much as the city is home...been away for decades but it's still home and Saints is very much part of that. I've travelled nationally and internationally pretty extensively but never found somewhere that I want to live that beats it.

Applause!

:D:D The skates-eye view 'disguise' wearing very thin :-)

What did he answer? That he would have been their highest earner for ten years if he hadn't been black?

Thanks St Armstrong for taking that trouble - that's a powerful statement of policy. I love the single-mindedness of our intent, we do seem to have a management team that knows what is required from top to bottom. I like being the envy of lesser clubs! ;)

Errr....the blame culture lies with the serial depressives, the WUMS and the infiltrating skates. Choose your descriptions.............I made it easy:mcinnes:

I know your real age!

100% this!! I don't support Saints because they have a better percentage return on cups/titles per season - I support them because they're my team - in my blood, soul, heart or whatever - sure I love it when we play beautiful football (tick), get promoted (tick), win cups (tick) but I also supported them when they have been relegated (tick), knocked out of the cup (tick) and have played dire football (rarer tick)....the defining word is support! My timespan is much the same as the man from Ottery...I've experienced the ups and the downs Plenty of people local and less so are entitled to be critical...they're not Saints supporters - it beggars belief that on a Saints forum we should have to endure skate viewpoints - would they turn up at the Chapel Arms and spout what they do here? Not a flucking chance in hell - what does that tell you?