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Matt Le Tiss Bronze?


SaintRobbie

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It suddenly struck me that with Matt now off the radar after his genuine attempts to rescue the club before ML (god rest him) came in, it may be time to give the club an opportunity to constructively remember a true - contemporary - great.

 

I have often said that a bronze bust of MLT at the Player's Entrance at the front of SMS (although it could have a similar effect at the front of the training ground I guess, but fewer of us would see it!) with perhaps 'LOYALTY' or words to that effect beneath it would be a great incentive for our younger players to realise that aiming to stay with a Club for your whole career - instead of racing off to Arsenal to become a smaller fish for an agents pay day - should be a principle worth re-stating these days. It could provide something for them to aspire toward, although I am not naive enough to realise it will be their be all and end all, hard cash will always win sadly!!

 

Perhaps the time is coming where we may have the right moment for something like this to be put in train, after all it would take a year or so to prepare it and who knows where we'll be - in the Premiership or certainly competing strongly for next seasons promotion hopefuls? The Club, fans, players and MLT need to move forward together, could this help? Away fans would also respect it, how many friends who support other clubs do we have who say MLT was the best player never to continually play for England, or other such complements? He is still our greatest TV ambassador IMHO, one to nurture not to be kept at arms length by NC.

 

There will be some who will call for others before MLT - and frankly you could take your pick from those on the banner above (although Ted is already in pride of place at SMS!) But, MLT is a figure young players can relate and aspire to emulate. He is someone who we all love, local(-ish!), and a true Saint.

 

Anyway, it is an idea only… and makes a good thread for discussion as optimism continues in abundance…!

 

Thoughts?

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Never really felt it appropriate to have a statue of someone who is still alive. Not even sure why we have to be so obsessed with naming roads, buildings, stadium and suites after people either. Its all a bit cringeworthy really.

 

The man is a legend. Always will be. When I want to remember him I just put on the DVD. Still got Javi's MLT tribute CD which is totally awesome.

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Never really felt it appropriate to have a statue of someone who is still alive. Not even sure why we have to be so obsessed with naming roads, buildings, stadium and suites after people either. Its all a bit cringeworthy really.

 

The man is a legend. Always will be. When I want to remember him I just put on the DVD. Still got Javi's MLT tribute CD which is totally awesome.

This. Statues are for those who have passed on. I hope not to see a bust of MLT outside SMS in my lifetime - think about it, I am 20 years older than him. Besides, Paine, Davies and Channon are equally deserving, at least in my opinion, and I hope never to see statues of them either even thought they are all older than me.

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With all due respect, I don't think a bronze bust of any player with the slogan "loyalty" will persuade anyone to stay.

 

Whatever happens though, just don't let any of the fans get involved with another statue. We would probably end up with Cyril Sneer in an oversized Saints kit.

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to be fair there may have been equally good players over the years but the orignial post was about LOYALTY. He had the chane to go but didnt. that is what the point is about maybe it would make young players remember. personally i think it would be great as i grew up on le tiss from the age of 7 and was really sad when he retired but can't see it happening

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to be fair there may have been equally good players over the years but the orignial post was about LOYALTY. He had the chane to go but didnt. that is what the point is about maybe it would make young players remember. personally i think it would be great as i grew up on le tiss from the age of 7 and was really sad when he retired but can't see it happening

 

And Le Tiss isn't the only one who displayed loyalty to some degree or other, but if you "grew up on le tiss from the age of 7" you're likely to be a bit less conscious of the contributions they made.

 

I just don't like seeing them forgotten when it comes to things like this.

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It suddenly struck me that with Matt now off the radar after his genuine attempts to rescue the club before ML (god rest him) came in, it may be time to give the club an opportunity to constructively remember a true - contemporary - great.

 

I have often said that a bronze bust of MLT at the Player's Entrance at the front of SMS (although it could have a similar effect at the front of the training ground I guess, but fewer of us would see it!) with perhaps 'LOYALTY' or words to that effect beneath it would be a great incentive for our younger players to realise that aiming to stay with a Club for your whole career - instead of racing off to Arsenal to become a smaller fish for an agents pay day - should be a principle worth re-stating these days. It could provide something for them to aspire toward, although I am not naive enough to realise it will be their be all and end all, hard cash will always win sadly!!

 

Perhaps the time is coming where we may have the right moment for something like this to be put in train, after all it would take a year or so to prepare it and who knows where we'll be - in the Premiership or certainly competing strongly for next seasons promotion hopefuls? The Club, fans, players and MLT need to move forward together, could this help? Away fans would also respect it, how many friends who support other clubs do we have who say MLT was the best player never to continually play for England, or other such complements? He is still our greatest TV ambassador IMHO, one to nurture not to be kept at arms length by NC.

 

There will be some who will call for others before MLT - and frankly you could take your pick from those on the banner above (although Ted is already in pride of place at SMS!) But, MLT is a figure young players can relate and aspire to emulate. He is someone who we all love, local(-ish!), and a true Saint.

 

Anyway, it is an idea only… and makes a good thread for discussion as optimism continues in abundance…!

 

Thoughts?

 

No way! Why Le Tissier? If the club took your suggestion seriously we'd have bronzes of every 'worthy' lining Britannia Road from one end of the street to t'other!

 

Daft idea IMO.

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Sadly, his loyalty doesn't extend to the present regime which is really disappointing for such a magnificent and unique player who gave such pleasure and saved us so many times; now we have new saviours and he needs to recognise that and rejoice in their success instead of carping from the sidelines because its not his scheme that did it

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No way! Why Le Tissier? If the club took your suggestion seriously we'd have bronzes of every 'worthy' lining Britannia Road from one end of the street to t'other!

 

Daft idea IMO.

 

I wonder !!!!! The player that gave me the best years of being a Saints fan I cant think why, as well as being loyal and always speaking up for Saints what an unworthy player. So he cocked up abit so what he always has Saints best interests at heart.

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No way! Why Le Tissier? If the club took your suggestion seriously we'd have bronzes of every 'worthy' lining Britannia Road from one end of the street to t'other!

 

Daft idea IMO.

 

Not getting in to an argument, just interested who else you could/would deem as worthy to put along Brittania Road???

 

Channon (top scorer, 600+ appearances, but left for a couple of years and also played elsewhere)

Paine (800+ appearances, almost 200 goals, but played elsewhere - mind you we released him)

Davies (250+ appearances, 150 goals, great player but only here 6 years)

Sydenham (400+ appearances, only played for us and Aldershot in the League)

Benali (350 apps, one team man, but not the most talented)

Holmes (500+ apps, one club man, solid but not spectacular)

Rodrigues (Cup winning skipper, but only here a couple of years)

Stokes (Cup Final goalscorer, 200+ appps)

 

All worthy of "legend" status in their own way (and I'm sure there are many others), but not sure any of them match Matty when you take in apps, goals, contribution, one team man etc. Some get very close (Channon & Paine), but think Matty edges it.

 

Personally would love to see him honoured and don't think we have to wait 40 years+ until he finally gets a transfer and leaves us!!

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Not getting in to an argument, just interested who else you could/would deem as worthy to put along Brittania Road???

 

Channon (top scorer, 600+ appearances, but left for a couple of years and also played elsewhere)

Paine (800+ appearances, almost 200 goals, but played elsewhere - mind you we released him)

Davies (250+ appearances, 150 goals, great player but only here 6 years)

Sydenham (400+ appearances, only played for us and Aldershot in the League)

Benali (350 apps, one team man, but not the most talented)

Holmes (500+ apps, one club man, solid but not spectacular)

Rodrigues (Cup winning skipper, but only here a couple of years)

Stokes (Cup Final goalscorer, 200+ appps)

 

All worthy of "legend" status in their own way (and I'm sure there are many others), but not sure any of them match Matty when you take in apps, goals, contribution, one team man etc. Some get very close (Channon & Paine), but think Matty edges it.

 

Personally would love to see him honoured and don't think we have to wait 40 years+ until he finally gets a transfer and leaves us!!

 

Didnt Benali go and play for Forest on loan or did I dream that? Age!

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I am sorry, but no one comes close to Matty for me, fantastic player and loves the club through and through, and is not afraid to show it now. hame that NC and him do not see eye to eye, but still hope that NC stays with us for as many years and takes us to heights that we have never seen before. Still would like him and Matty to sort out their differences, as they both have Southampton in there hearts.

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Sadly, his loyalty doesn't extend to the present regime which is really disappointing for such a magnificent and unique player who gave such pleasure and saved us so many times; now we have new saviours and he needs to recognise that and rejoice in their success instead of carping from the sidelines because its not his scheme that did it

 

You are wrong. Going and talk to the man yourself instead of throwing incorrect assumptions around the place.

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No way! Why Le Tissier? If the club took your suggestion seriously we'd have bronzes of every 'worthy' lining Britannia Road from one end of the street to t'other!

 

Daft idea IMO.

 

I think you may have inadvertently hit on a great new way of celebrating Saints legends....

 

Suggestion: around the outer perimeter of SMS, at intervals of say, 30-40 metres, erect a bronze statue/plaque to a Saints hall of famer- need not be massively expensive........................maybe it could be a rule that ony one player can be enrolled in any one year and even then it must have a significant, independently verifiable support - say via some kind of match-day polling exercise to see who real match day attending fans think qualifies as a h-o-f player. Allow postal votes for non residents, far aways, the sick and the economically challenged supporters too.

 

In year one it may well be MLT ~ but he can only get in once so in time all the players considered worthy will be celebrated, eventually. The voting eligibility rules are important and it could be a rule that you only get in if you receive more that...say 10% of the average home gate in votes - about 2500-3000 - the voting rules will avoid Ali Dia getting enrolled with 238 skate votes because nobody else bothers to vote ...keeps the quality high..the perimeter hall of fame could help make prematch SMS and Herbies tours even more of a destination for adults bringing kids to the club to see and explain who these people are/were to there kids...

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