Going up?

[conaero]

Ok, so say you could be given the option that we would go up via the playoffs or turn that down and go for winning the league, which one would you take?

 

For me I would prefer to take the risk to stay and fight, win the league and go up champions and carry that momentum on rather than the guarantee of going up third with the likelihood of coming straight back down again.

[Bartosz Bialkowski]

I want to stay in this league and not be promoted, being an also ran next year is going to be ****

[Colinjb]

Go for the title win, I want to see us win a league and i'm certain that would never happen in the premiership.

[Saint_Jonny]

Go for the title win, I want to see us win a league and i'm certain that would never happen in the premiership.

 

This.

 

We missed out last year, never thought we'd have a chance in the league above, but here we are, kicking ass. Besides, Norwich, Swansea and QPR don't appear to be having a 'rubbish' time.

[krissyboy31]

Go for the title win, I want to see us win a league and i'm certain that would never happen in the premiership.

Agree completely. Not seen us win a league title in the 40 years or so I've been supporting Southampton, would love this year to be the year.

[Window Cleaner]

Agree completely. Not seen us win a league title in the 40 years or so I've been supporting Southampton, would love this year to be the year.

 

Only those that were around in 60 can claim that distinction (doubt if there are many about from 1922).

I was 5 in 60 so I must be one of the few.Had only been to 1 first team match though.

[Guest Dark Sotonic Mills]

Promotion is a bit of a poisoned chalice I'm afraid. I'd rather see us playing decent football at the top rather than playing catch-up against rich men's toys like Man City and Chelsea.

[Window Cleaner]

Promotion is a bit of a poisoned chalice I'm afraid. I'd rather see us playing decent football at the top rather than playing catch-up against rich men's toys like Man City and Chelsea.

 

Then again we might lose all of our really decent players and become distinctly mediocre again.

Millwall were flying high last season for a while, now they're scraping the bottom,Cardiff once front runners and promotion favourites are now erratic. Go for it whilst we have the players that's what I say.It could well be that this year not one of the promoted sides from last season comes back down.

[Guest Dark Sotonic Mills]

Then again we might lose all of our really decent players and become distinctly mediocre again.

Millwall were flying high last season for a while, now they're scraping the bottom,Cardiff once front runners and promotion favourites are now erratic. Go for it whilst we have the players that's what I say.It could well be that this year not one of the promoted sides from last season comes back down.

 

That's all part of the dichotomy though. As the antipodeans would say 'It's a bugger'.

[yorkiesaint]

Its going to be tight. West Ham, Birmingham, Hull and Middlesborough are all firing and have good managers. Leicester and Cardiff have it in them to make a charge, although I expect derby and palace to wane as injuries and suspensions take their toll. We can clearly do it, but a few injuries could spell problems.

[Dimond Geezer]

I really want us to go up as champions & if we should achieve promotion I'll be going mental on the pitch along with everyone else , but conversely I don't want to be in the Prem. Since we've been away, I've become increasingly disillusioned with the prem, and don't miss it one bit, the money, the players, the arrogance, the cheating & now they are on about stopping relegation/promotion.

 

Also the cost of tickets will rocket, my kids are getting older, my youngest has just turned 11,so next season I'll have to pay for his season ticket. For myself & my eldest, this seasons tickets cost me £550, that's bound to increase if we were to go up, + paying the extra for my youngest. If we do get promoted this may be my last year as a STH.

[SO16_Saint]

I really want us to go up as champions & if we should achieve promotion I'll be going mental on the pitch along with everyone else , but conversely I don't want to be in the Prem. Since we've been away, I've become increasingly disillusioned with the prem, and don't miss it one bit, the money, the players, the arrogance, the cheating & now they are on about stopping relegation/promotion.

 

Also the cost of tickets will rocket, my kids are getting older, my youngest has just turned 11,so next season I'll have to pay for his season ticket. For myself & my eldest, this seasons tickets cost me £550, that's bound to increase if we were to go up, + paying the extra for my youngest. If we do get promoted this may be my last year as a STH.

 

I agree with most if not all of this, and particularly the bit highlighted.

 

I will watch MOTD, because it's football, but have no reall interest in the matches.

 

I think this is because Saints are not in the league - and we therefore have no interest in it whatsoever.

 

This is similar to The Championship (when we were in the Prem and League 1) and League 1 when we were in the Championship - I think the majority of us couldn't give two hoots who beats who in the Prem / League 1 today - but once we're IN the league, it becomes a lot more important to us

[Ivan Katalinic's 'tache]

Promotion is a bit of a poisoned chalice I'm afraid. I'd rather see us playing decent football at the top rather than playing catch-up against rich men's toys like Man City and Chelsea.

 

To a certain degree I'd agree but there is always the opportunity to give sides like that a bloody nose now and again (as we used to against Liverpool & Man U.), which would be pleasurable.

[doddisalegend]

I really want us to go up as champions & if we should achieve promotion I'll be going mental on the pitch along with everyone else , but conversely I don't want to be in the Prem. Since we've been away, I've become increasingly disillusioned with the prem, and don't miss it one bit, the money, the players, the arrogance, the cheating & now they are on about stopping relegation/promotion.

 

Also the cost of tickets will rocket, my kids are getting older, my youngest has just turned 11,so next season I'll have to pay for his season ticket. For myself & my eldest, this seasons tickets cost me £550, that's bound to increase if we were to go up, + paying the extra for my youngest. If we do get promoted this may be my last year as a STH.

 

This ^^^

 

The club needs the PL I'm not sure as a supporter I do

[doddisalegend]

This always annoys me a little bit. The whole business plan is modelled around achieving premiership football.. Its the best league in the world. Forget the money. Look at how we currently do things???? That mentality isn't going to change. When we get there we are going to set an example of a very well run, debt free club producing entertaining football with a great youth set up. Its going to be fun. This was aimed at the i don't want to achieve promotion lot btw

 

Is there any actual eveidence for that other than PL telling us it is.

 

I hope you're right about the club carrying on the way it is becuase thats how I want the club to be.

[SNSUN]

We had this question last season!

 

Yes, winning the play-offs (and you are apparently guaranteeing that) gives you more money, and three extra games to enjoy, including one at Wembley, but I personally would take Champions every single time. The glory of winning the league (hopefully with six games to spare!) is far more enjoyable, a great summer celebrating and a title to boot.

 

Heck, I'd take second over winning the play-offs too.

[krissyboy31]

We had this question last season!

 

Yes, winning the play-offs (and you are apparently guaranteeing that) gives you more money, and three extra games to enjoy, including one at Wembley, but I personally would take Champions every single time. The glory of winning the league (hopefully with six games to spare!) is far more enjoyable, a great summer celebrating and a title to boot.

 

Heck, I'd take second over winning the play-offs too.

 

It also gives the club around 3 weeks extra preparation for the Premier League (or more if there are games to spare).

[Mowgli]

Oh come on. Are you guys real? Of course I want to go up as Champions. Of course I want to be in the Premiership. Apart from those last few seasons we were rarely out of class in our 27 years in the top flight. More importantly we saw some quality players on the opposition. None of this searching for a programme to see who No 9 is and say 'whoooo????' when the sub is announced.

 

I've supported Saints for 45 years and 'enjoyed' all the highs and lows. Never have I felt so confident about the future of the club. We are not going to the Premiership to be an also ran. We will be challenging in that league too. We will be going on European trips in a few years. Sure, there is something very magical about the Championship but there's no point being there if you are going to win the league every year. You want to stretch yourself as far as you can. Don't you??

[Supersubpuckett]

To those that want to stay in the champ because being in the prem as a mediocre team - well, that doesn't really work does it! Being a mid table prem team would mean positions 15-10, roughly, and to stay in the champ we would need to finish 7th or worse - not much difference. Except of course you can have Millwall or Bristol City as visitors to SMS or the likes of Man U etc, I know which I'd prefer.

 

Go up as champions (why one earth anyone would aspire to finish 3rd I don't know), strengthen the squad and continue our success in the top flight for all to see.

[ltSaint91]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_coefficient

 

Scroll down to the league section. It is officially the best league in the world by quite some distance.

 

I really can't tell if you lot are serious with all this "I don't want promotion" lark. Personally I think the aim of any club should be to climb as high as possible. Yes, the money in the Premier League is out of control. Yes, there's a lot of cheating and diving. But I'd happily take that if it means seeing some of the best players and biggest clubs in the world play at St Mary's week in week out.

[Dellman]

Go for the title while we can, the chance may never recur and as for the prem next season, why the pessimism? the top few are a problem but we would compete well with the rest as Norwich Swansea and QPR are doing. If we get faint-hearted we'll get nowhere

[ericb]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_coefficient

 

Scroll down to the league section. It is officially the best league in the world by quite some distance.

 

I really can't tell if you lot are serious with all this "I don't want promotion" lark. Personally I think the aim of any club should be to climb as high as possible. Yes, the money in the Premier League is out of control. Yes, there's a lot of cheating and diving. But I'd happily take that if it means seeing some of the best players and biggest clubs in the world play at St Mary's week in week out.

 

I'm in that camp that dreads the premiership (as much as i want to see us win the league). The reason is as much about the way fans are treated and the soulless sanitised nature of it as anything.

 

I live in London, not far from Highbury, and when Arsenal play at home i see as many tourists on the trains - if not more - than normal Gooners. No wonder their ground is so ****ing quiet, it's football tourism for the rich.

 

And it's not just Arsenal either, watch the prem on the tv and listen to how quiet it is.

 

Or google ticket prices and see how expensive it is.

 

Or look at the league and see how uncompetitive it is.

 

I have LOVED the lower leagues, the banter at games is much better, our away attendances are brilliant, we're louder and most away fans are more knowledgeable or actually give a **** about their team.

 

Not to mention there's a lot of well supported proper football clubs in this league who travel in numbers and make a game of it. It does my head in having to listen to the football statto's/geeks who only every "support" their teams from the tv. **** em in the lower leagues they don't know about us and we don't care about them. It reminds me of how football used to be and i for one like that.

 

So yeah i'm in the poisoned chalice group and i'm totally serious too.

[hypochondriac]

I don't even want to think about promotion until at least January.

[Ewell]

I cannot believe anyone would choose going up as play off winners over CHAMPIONS! You may have a point if talking about 2nd place but how many teams every get to say they won the league title of the division they are in? A no brainer surely!