stev2001 Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 Is this game bigger than the 76 or 03 fa cup finals or the last games of the season to stay up while in the prem? Certainly the biggest at SMS. I think with the money involved now it has got to be up there. Last game of the season and only a win guarantees promotion with all the riches. I think the only way it could be bigger is if we were playing West ham with a winner takes all contest. In 78 we got promoted on the last game but I believe unless there was a freak result with GD this was nailed on anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
This Charming Man Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 I wouldn't say it's bigger than the FA Cup finals. At the end of the day, there was a trophy at stake there and for a club with embarrassingly little success on that front, they were truly massive games for us. Yes the financial reward is massive these days for promotion but from a fan point of view, I'd rather a trophy in the cabinet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 I wouldn't say it's bigger than the FA Cup finals. At the end of the day, there was a trophy at stake there and for a club with embarrassingly little success on that front, they were truly massive games for us. Yes the financial reward is massive these days for promotion but from a fan point of view, I'd rather a trophy in the cabinet. We do still get a trophy for 2nd tbf, albeit a little thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 We do still get a trophy for 2nd tbf, albeit a little thing. Indeed. It's strange to think that if we go up, whether it be 2nd or in the play-offs, we'll have won 3 pieces of silverware in the last 3 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spudders Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 I wouldn't say it's bigger than the FA Cup finals. At the end of the day, there was a trophy at stake there and for a club with embarrassingly little success on that front, they were truly massive games for us. Yes the financial reward is massive these days for promotion but from a fan point of view, I'd rather a trophy in the cabinet. Of course there is still a trophy at stake. We can't win the champions league unless we get to the premiership first! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 Indeed. It's strange to think that if we go up, whether it be 2nd or in the play-offs, we'll have won 3 pieces of silverware in the last 3 years. What was the first thing NC said when he took us over? I remember Adam Blackmore (I think? or another BBC reporter) going around St Mary's with him and he said ''That trophy cabinet is rather bare, we need to sort that out" Well in 3 years we've added 3 to it.....amazing 3 years to be a saints fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stev2001 Posted 24 April, 2012 Author Share Posted 24 April, 2012 I agree the FA cup finals are bigger but in a way this feels bigger with everything we have gone through in the last few years. This really would be the icing on the cake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
This Charming Man Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 What was the first thing NC said when he took us over? I remember Adam Blackmore (I think? or another BBC reporter) going around St Mary's with him and he said ''That trophy cabinet is rather bare, we need to sort that out" Well in 3 years we've added 3 to it.....amazing 3 years to be a saints fan. Not exactly anything to brag about if you look at it from an objective point of view. JPT Trophy - Come on, we used to mock it when we were in the Prem. L1 Runners Up - Runners up after all the money we spent in that league... NPC Runners Up... TBC but still, we were top for virtually the entire season but couldn't quite hang in there. I'm not having a dig, the last few years following Saints have been the most fun I've had in the 20 years I've been following them, but the silverware isn't exactly something to brag about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 Not exactly anything to brag about if you look at it from an objective point of view. JPT Trophy - Come on, we used to mock it when we were in the Prem. L1 Runners Up - Runners up after all the money we spent in that league... NPC Runners Up... TBC but still, we were top for virtually the entire season but couldn't quite hang in there. I'm not having a dig, the last few years following Saints have been the most fun I've had in the 20 years I've been following them, but the silverware isn't exactly something to brag about. No-ones bragging, but at least we're filling the cabinet up with success stories rather than the samurai sword that we got given for finishing second in some tournament years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank's cousin Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 Cant say one is more important than teh other - they are different - Cup finals are all about occasion and tophies - promotion is all about progress and development - yes the money makes it such a huge game, but only if you intend to sit on it and are happy to get relegated - otherwise the money is merely relative to the expenditure needed to compete - it really only becomes an issue if relagted with loads of ong term expensive contracts on your books. So me nothing can replace the cup finals, but promotion demonstrated the development and given how hard it is to get out of the NPC, its vital that we do it now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
This Charming Man Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 (edited) No-ones bragging, but at least we're filling the cabinet up with success stories rather than the samurai sword that we got given for finishing second in some tournament years ago. Quality, not quantity. Also, don't forget the picture of the steam train that Doncaster gave us. Edited 24 April, 2012 by This Charming Man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 No-ones bragging, but at least we're filling the cabinet up with success stories rather than the samurai sword that we got given for finishing second in some tournament years ago. Exactly, that's what we're all getting at. Not big trophies, no, but notable trophies which show our rise through the leagues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suomi Saint Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 Are you kidding? It could never get any bigger than 1976. The FA Cup in those days was bigger than the League title....in both the eyes of the players and the fans. To put it into context, Saints chances of winning the FA Cup back then was as likely as winning the Champions League today. Seriously. Just because the FA Cup has been devalued by idiotic club owners today, doesn't devalue the massive achievement back in 1976. 100,000 at Wembley against Man U......versus 32,000 at St. Mary's against the might of Coventry. Get real. This game is on par with Orient in '78.....it's massive but not the biggest in 50 years, for sure. I, for one, can say that day at Wembley was the best day in my life and I will never forget it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilchards Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 This game is on a par with the semi final of the paint trophy. That night the stadium was rocking, we will be lucky to get close to it on Saturday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 This game is on a par with the semi final of the paint trophy. That night the stadium was rocking, we will be lucky to get close to it on Saturday. It's about a million times bigger than that game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 This game is on a par with the semi final of the paint trophy. . do you actually believe that..? this is a £60-80m game..? this means more money for the club, the player could dream of, the fans joy, adkins rep...everything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 This is a good question. Winning the JPT and the FAC are great memories, but there is no lasting effect from them. Until this weekends game, the biggest game of my living memory (less than 50 years) was the Manyoo game in 2005. At the moment the impact of that single game is still being felt 7 years later, and if we dont go up it will be at least 8 years later. Since there is so much more money in the game now, I cannot believe our other promotion & relegation battles of the last 50 yrs had so much riding on them. So, I would argue the Cov game is on a par with the 2005 Manyoo game. If we go up by beating Cov, we will not know until 7 years later if the legacy of that game is greater than the Manyoo game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypochondriac Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 Would rather win the FA cup than win promotion to the premiership. It's still important though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 It's a £90m game ( or whatever the figure that SKY pluck from the air when they cover the play off final each year) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocco boxo Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 This game is ****ing massive, we may never get this chance again or for many years. Win Six games you win the FA Cup , we are in this position because we have won 25 games. This game if we win could add thousands to our fan base. This game if we can win could see major financial investment in our club. The only games that really count are the games you play now and in the future, the past games like 76 FA Cup Final were massive but are in the past. I want Southampton FC back in the Premiership and we can do that by winning saturday = ****ING MASSIVE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
This Charming Man Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 This game is on a par with the semi final of the paint trophy. That night the stadium was rocking, we will be lucky to get close to it on Saturday. Obviously a wind-up as no sane person could possibly think that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 As I am convinced we are going up and have done so for sometime I dont think it is particularly a big match Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SO5 4BW Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 The great escape games in the 1990s were possibly bigger, just because if we'd gone down in 94, 96 or 99 then SMS might not have been built and we'd still be at the Dell - and therefore not a viable club for the premier league. I think the cup finals were bigger - because the point must be winning trophies - and possibly also the 84 semi for the same reason, as we'd have beaten Watford. But these apart, Saturday is the biggest for a long while. Remember though that even if the wheels do come off, then we still have another chance, unlike in 1976, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2003 & 2005! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stev2001 Posted 24 April, 2012 Author Share Posted 24 April, 2012 do you actually believe that..? this is a £60-80m game..? this means more money for the club, the player could dream of, the fans joy, adkins rep...everything and to have a season where pompey get relegated from the same division makes it even sweeter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stev2001 Posted 24 April, 2012 Author Share Posted 24 April, 2012 As I am convinced we are going up and have done so for sometime I dont think it is particularly a big match True if we win easily after scoring 2 in the first 5. However if we are 1 down with 5 to play and west ham are only 1 up I'm sure you'd be thinking differently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stev2001 Posted 24 April, 2012 Author Share Posted 24 April, 2012 I agree though that this game is not as big due to the fact we do have other chances if we fail to win....west ham need to win......or the playoffs...or drawing and westham only winning by 1 or 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 78 game at Orient gave us 27 years in top flight, but really promotion is about whole season. but Saturday is whole season in 1 game bl*ody stupid kick off time though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
This Charming Man Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 78 game at Orient gave us 27 years in top flight, but really promotion is about whole season. but Saturday is whole season in 1 game bl*ody stupid kick off time though Earlier the better! Kick off at 5am I say. It's killing me waiting as it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulsfc Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 As I wasn't born until 1980 I can't comment on 76 or 78, though 76 has been the clubs shining moment of glory so far which makes it's the clubs biggest achievement but for me as a post 76'er this is at least on par with the 03 cup final. There is potentially more at stake in terms of the future of the club on this game than on a cup final. Having said that if we lose and West Ham go up then the play off semi final first leg will be more important. As for whether the last few years trophies aren't important - for crying out loud we're hardly Barcelona, we can't sniff at any silverware that comes our way! History suggests that we probably won't win a lot else so lets just enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stepgar Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 For me this is bigger than ANY game that I can remember for so many different reasons. In theory anyone can win the fa and coke cup or wha ever it is now. But this game is far bigger for the rewards that it brings. The prestige, financial gains, exposure and truthly, if we don't go up this season what is to say that we will be anyway nearer next season? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintBobby Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 Pretty similar in terms of impact of result to the various great escape seasons - the ones I can remember are Everton and Wimbledon at the Dell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edprice1984 Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 This is the biggest game I can ever remember, bigger than 2003 because defeat although painful didn't affect the club in the way that 2005 v Man Utd did. This is what being a supporters of a club outside of the big 5/6 is all about. Dreams coming true! I have never experienced depression as I did in 2005, nothing has ever come close, definately the worst sporting moment of my life - a win on Saturday would be the best sporting moment of my life! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 This means more then any other game in my lifetime. It's league status, it's about our club's future stability, it's about our current ambition, it's about my own personal pride and it's about confirming a job well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint86 Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 For me this is bigger than ANY game that I can remember for so many different reasons. In theory anyone can win the fa and coke cup or wha ever it is now. But this game is far bigger for the rewards that it brings. The prestige, financial gains, exposure and truthly, if we don't go up this season what is to say that we will be anyway nearer next season? You are of course aware that 24 teams have a chance for promotion and 20 teams are in the premier league and must have got there somehow!! ~_~ In comparison, how many teams actually play in all rounds of the FA Cup? 200+ I would guess but can't be arsed to work it out. For me this is obviously a big game! But lets be honest. All of the games we spent battling against relegation were bigger, as were both the FA cup finals. In this league, you win and you gain some money and play less games for more pounds per seat (I want us back there but lets be real). In the premier, all those games under the pressure of falling out of it (look what happens when you fall). Its a case of something to gain, or everything to loose.... which is the bigger game? Also, as stated above, clearly 100,000 fans turning up to beat the beast at Wembley for a lower league club is by far the bigger game, another option that not many have discussed are games in the 83/84 season when we were so close to toppling liverpool and actually winning what is now regarded as THE TROPHY in england. A final point, since we should have won this league/been promoted weeks ago with chances lost against reading, skate **** holes and blackpool (to name the most recent) and the point that it would take a miracle for us to balls this up (yes I know we are saints and that doesn't apply). But since we really should go up all barring a major catasrophe, this is not a big game. We are 2 points clear, better goal difference and are playing a relegated team with a bunch of youngsters and their one trully good player is out injured.... COMON! we are going up, easy. Now stop fussing, this is an anti-climax, we should be winning the league this weekend. Not settling for second best, and you can be damn sure the players both know it, and will regret it for a few years, once they get over promotion! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brittanysaint Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 I think the FA cup 76 was the biggest because we'd not won anything before that....but now of course we have, and time moves on so yes i'd now say this is the biggest ever....and i'm ****ed off coz i can't get a ticket but i was there in 78 when the wall came down!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 Been playing with this for a while; some of it works better than others. Its my idea of what NA should say to the team. I left the most serious bit from the original out completely because I didnt want to trivillaise killing : We go to SMS to liberate from the lower divisions not to choke. We will fly our flags in our stadium. We are entering SMS to free a people from crap football and the only flag which will be flown in that hallowed stadium is our own. Show respect for the fans. There are some who play NPC football at this moment who will not be playing it shortly. Those who do not wish to go on that journey, we will not send. Others may not be playing football anymore soon. Those we will have a good laugh at. As for those that challenge our journey in the other direction I expect you to rock their world. Wipe them out if that is what they choose. But if you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous in victory. Southampton is steeped in history. It is the site of the Mayflower departure, of the Spitfire development and the birthplace of Alpine_Saint. Tread lightly there. You will see things that no man could pay to see and you will have to go a long way to find a more decent, generous and upright people than Sotonians and SFC fans. You will be embarrassed by their chicken balti pies. Don't treat them as nutjobs for they are in their own city and stadium. Their children may be Manyoo fans, in years to come they will know that the light of liberation in their lives was brought by you. If there are casualties of play then remember that when they woke up and got dressed in the morning they did not plan to get injured this day. Allow them dignity in substitution. Give them a high five and applaud their departure. It is my foremost intention to bring every single one of you into the Premier League but there may be people among us who will not see the start of that campaign. We will send them on their way and wish them well. There will be no time for sorrow. Coventry City and West Ham United should be in no doubt that we are their nemesis and that we are bringing about their rightful destruction. There are many knobhead fans amongst them who would applaud our demise. Their forces will be destroyed by this team for standing in our way. As their teams are relegated or enter the playoffs they will know their teams deeds have brought them to this place. Show them no pity. As for ourselves, let's bring everyone up to the Premier League and leave the NPC a better place for us having been there. Our business now is upwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 Taken for Col, Tim Collins I see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rshephard3 Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 Promotion to the PL is the biggest single financial reward in football globally. Given the crucial role of finances in 21st century football this is surely the biggest game in a hell of a long time. It's bigger than an FA cup final, a competition that has lost respect gradually over the past 15 years or so. The FA cup is an ever diminishing reward in terms of prestige. Promotion to PL is huge in comparison. IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stev2001 Posted 24 April, 2012 Author Share Posted 24 April, 2012 Personally I'm much more nervous/excited about this game than the cup final in 2003. Winning in 2003 was a dream as Arsenal were always favourites to do so. Losing that day was bad but in someways there was also a sense of achievement and pride just getting there. This game is different, there is also a huge prize at stake and one that can take the club forward, the FA cup argubly doesn't only in the respect of club history. In this game we have been in the top two all season and at the top for most of it so to fail on the last day to a team like Coventry would be truely devastating. So this game is bigger in the respect of how I will feel on the day but not bigger than 2003 in the sense of club history. I can't really comment on 1976 as I was just a baby but i would say that game is only bigger as we know who won it. Would it have felt such a big game if we lost?????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Duckhunter Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 This is a massive game because of the fall out if we lose it. The '76 final although our greatest moment, did not carry the same consequences if we lost. If we dont go up, we could be kissing goodbye to RL & AL and what will the impact be on Marcus' family? There were a few sides like Leicester that have underperformed this season and we have (fingers crossed) taken advantage. My opinion is that the West Ham game of Alan Ball's era was the biggest I can remember, had we gone down, there would have been no SMS, Le Tiss would have gone, and we would still be grubbing around looking for a new ground............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micky Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 Taken for Col, Tim Collins I see Personally, I quite liked the US speach - short, but to the point....! The British speech : (Lt.Col Tim Collins) "If you are ferocious in battle, remember to be magnanimous in victory, We go to liberate, not to conquer. We are entering Iraq to free a people, and the only flag that will be flown in that ancient land is their own. Don't treat them as refugees, for they are in their own country. If there are casualties of war, then remember, when they woke up and got dressed in the morning they did not plan to die this day. Allow them dignity in death. Bury them properly and mark their graves. You will be shunned unless your conduct is of the highest, for your deeds will follow you down history. Iraq is steeped in history. It is the site of the Garden of Eden, of the Great Flood and the birth of Abraham. Tread lightly there." speech : Vice Admiral Timothy Keating "When the president says 'Go', look out - it's hammer time" (Followed by We Will Rock You played at high volume) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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