Is Anyone Else Not Bothered If We Don't Go Up?

[View From The Top]

Yes, I know that the EPL is the promised land, that it's where we should aim to be, keep all out best players, more exposure etc but, perversely, I'm not bothered about being there.

 

A number of reasons, all selfish but I doubt unique to me.

 

1) Far too many home games that I can't make, due to non 3pm Saturday KO's, meaning that my season ticket goes.

 

2) Away games so expensive I can't do as many as I've done with my nipper over the last 4 years.

 

3) So many day tripper/fair weather plastic fans wanting to do Arsenal, OT etc that tickets become impossible to get for those who put in the hard miles during the dark years.

 

When we win on Saturday, which we will, I'll celebrate like a loon, most likely cry, being a bit soft like that, but will I be looking forward EPL? In a word, No.

 

Feel free to flame away.

[RobM]

Not bothered isn't the right word... I'll be very bothered, gutted in fact. I want to see the best possible players at Saints, playing at the highest level against the best opposition. I want to be in the Prem.

 

But if we don't make it I'll get over it quite quickly. This season has been the most enjoyable in a long, long time of supporting Saints. It's a competitive, honest league with good quality teams where anybody can beat anybody else on their day. It's affordable, it's fun and there is no shame in being in the NPC.

 

But we will make it to the Prem, we will beat Coventry and we will say goodbye to the NPC and for that, I'll be delighted.

[Draino76]

Not bothered.

[SO16_Saint]

I bloody well hope we go up, not just for saints, but also from a.work.perspective.

 

Being seen by 80M? People week in week out will be great for the company.

 

aap = All About Promotion

 

Coyr

[ThreeSixty]

**** off.

[SNSUN]

For people that would rather be in the Championship - you can have your wish August 2013 when we're £100 million richer from our season in the sun. Right now, I'd give anything for us to win on Saturday and go back up.

[Ashby Saint]

Want us to go up but won't be devastated if we don't.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Want us to go up but won't be devastated if we don't.

 

This.

[View From The Top]

Want us to go up but won't be devastated if we don't.

 

I reckon that just about sums up what I feel at the moment.

[Thedelldays]

I will be gutted if we don't go up...but I think I will soon get over it.

I really want us to go up so I can say "i was there" for two years running...plymouth and coventry...

 

even if we went up and back down...any promotions in the near future won't be as good as last year and (it will be) this year

 

 

also, if we go up...will we still have saints player..?

[doddisalegend]

Yes, I know that the EPL is the promised land, that it's where we should aim to be, keep all out best players, more exposure etc but, perversely, I'm not bothered about being there.

 

A number of reasons, all selfish but I doubt unique to me.

 

1) Far too many home games that I can't make, due to non 3pm Saturday KO's, meaning that my season ticket goes.

 

2) Away games so expensive I can't do as many as I've done with my nipper over the last 4 years.

 

3) So many day tripper/fair weather plastic fans wanting to do Arsenal, OT etc that tickets become impossible to get for those who put in the hard miles during the dark years.

 

When we win on Saturday, which we will, I'll celebrate like a loon, most likely cry, being a bit soft like that, but will I be looking forward EPL? In a word, No.

 

Feel free to flame away.

 

I've said before there's a lot about the PL that really doesn't turn me on. Like you there are quite a few downsides for me personally.........but the club needs the PL to have any chance of progressing

[SNSUN]

It's like the five stages of grief and we haven't even played the game yet...

 

Denial - We're not going to win on Saturday!

Anger - I can't believe we're not going to win on Saturday!

Bargaining - Please God let us win on Saturday!

Depression - Bloody hell, What am I going o do with my life if we lose on Saturday?!?

Acceptance - Oh well, there's always next season in the Championship, winning loads more games.

 

:-)

[Sour Mash]

Yes, I know that the EPL is the promised land, that it's where we should aim to be, keep all out best players, more exposure etc but, perversely, I'm not bothered about being there.

 

A number of reasons, all selfish but I doubt unique to me.

 

1) Far too many home games that I can't make, due to non 3pm Saturday KO's, meaning that my season ticket goes.

 

2) Away games so expensive I can't do as many as I've done with my nipper over the last 4 years.

 

3) So many day tripper/fair weather plastic fans wanting to do Arsenal, OT etc that tickets become impossible to get for those who put in the hard miles during the dark years.

 

When we win on Saturday, which we will, I'll celebrate like a loon, most likely cry, being a bit soft like that, but will I be looking forward EPL? In a word, No.

 

Feel free to flame away.

Not bothered or excited about being in the PRemier League at all, the Championship and League One are about the right level for me (appreciate that doesn't apply to a lot of others). However, now we've been in the top 2 all season, I really do want to go up.

 

Just taking your three points one by one;

 

1) Won't be any worse than this year. Take a look at Norwich or Swansea's home games this season, then compare that to our home games in terms of kick off times and dates and there won't be much in it.

 

2) Some will be an absolute rip off, which I'll refuse to do, but a lot won't be a massive amount more than what you'd pay for an away day this season, relative to the overall cost of the day out.

 

3) Completely agree on this and it's the thing that I'd look forward to least.

 

Positives going up - the potential thought of a bit of European football; the buzz it'd give the young lads following Saints that wouldn't have experienced Saints in the top flight before.

[dune]

I'm more bothered about the sh/t i'm gonna get if we don't go up than not playing in the Premier League.

[View From The Top]

It's like the five stages of grief and we haven't even played the game yet...

 

Denial - We're not going to win on Saturday!

Anger - I can't believe we're not going to win on Saturday!

Bargaining - Please God let us win on Saturday!

Depression - Bloody hell, What am I going o do with my life if we lose on Saturday?!?

Acceptance - Oh well, there's always next season in the Championship, winning loads more games.

 

:-)

 

Not really, I've been saying this for quite a while.

 

We will win and we will go up, I've not one doubt and I'll celebrate like mad BUT that doesn't alter the fact that it will cost me an awful lot more to see Saints an awful lot less next season in the EPL and put pay to me owning a season ticket.

[View From The Top]

 

Positives going up - the potential thought of a bit of European football; the buzz it'd give the young lads following Saints that wouldn't have experienced Saints in the top flight before.

 

My nipper is buzzing his tits off about going up and doing all the "big" grounds to add to the 27 he's done by the age on 10!

[Thedelldays]

My nipper is buzzing his tits off about going up and doing all the "big" grounds to add to the 27 he's done by the age on 10!

going to cost a fortune

but then...there are less away days in the prem

[beatlesaint]

I think its knowing that the PL isnt the be all and end all of football.

Having spent the 27 years unbroken in the top division I think we fell into the trap most supporters of the so called big teams do, and that is everything else is crap.

Well it aint. In the past three seasons we have had real football fans come to St Marys, we have played some "interesting" teams for various reasons and most of all we have seen our team win a hell of a lot of games.

 

I am desperate for us to win Saturday and go up. But I tell you what, if it only lasted for a season there would be no tears and feeling of doom and gloom from me like there was in 2005 cos there is no fear of life outside the plastic Premiership anymore.

 

COYS

[dune]

going to cost a fortune

but then...there are less away days in the prem

 

You don't have to go every week. With the costs involved now (travel and tickets) you'd have to be loaded or cut back in other areas to do so. Pick and choose and f/ck the idiots in block 42 waving their season tickets.

[Sour Mash]

going to cost a fortune

but then...there are less away days in the prem

Sort of the way my lot are trying to look at it - a few less away days, so take the cost of those (ticket, train, beer etc) and spread that over the number of aways that there'd be in the Prem = same overall expenditure.

 

However, it's not even a case of "Can I afford it?" for some of the most expensive ones, more a matter of principle, do I want to pay £45 towards Chelsea/Man U plc etc.....?

[doddisalegend]

I think its knowing that the PL isnt the be all and end all of football.

Having spent the 27 years unbroken in the top division I think we fell into the trap most supporters of the so called big teams do, and that is everything else is crap.

Well it aint. In the past three seasons we have had real football fans come to St Marys, we have played some "interesting" teams for various reasons and most of all we have seen our team win a hell of a lot of games.

 

I am desperate for us to win Saturday and go up. But I tell you what, if it only lasted for a season there would be no tears and feeling of doom and gloom from me like there was in 2005 cos there is no fear of life outside the plastic Premiership anymore.

 

COYS

 

That sums it up pretty well IMO

[View From The Top]

You don't have to go every week. With the costs involved now (travel and tickets) you'd have to be loaded or cut back in other areas to do so. Pick and choose and f/ck the idiots in block 42 waving their season tickets.

 

My season tickets will be going. We'll do all the Midlands/NW games, both the NE games if they are spread out, Swansea as it's a new ground for me and Arsenal for the same reason.

[scotty]

I'm more bothered about the sh/t i'm gonna get if we don't go up than not playing in the Premier League.

 

You dont sound quite as confident as you did a few weeks ago, tbh I smell the burning aroma of bets being hedged....

[dune]

more a matter of principle, do I want to pay £45 towards Chelsea/Man U plc etc.....?

 

I stopped going to home games because of the booking fee. It's only 3 quid but it annoyed me immensely and it was the straw that broke the camels back. Because of that insult ticket tax my attitude was that why should show loyalty when the club use sneaky practices.

[Mattio]

The only reason I'd not mind is because next season is the first I'm going to be able to afford a season ticket (finishing university and living back in Southampton) so I'd rather not look like a glory hunter.

[dune]

My season tickets will be going. We'll do all the Midlands/NW games, both the NE games if they are spread out, Swansea as it's a new ground for me and Arsenal for the same reason.

 

I fancy doing Swansea, not interested in Arsenal because we'll only get hammered.

[ThreeSixty]

Y

 

1) Far too many home games that I can't make, due to non 3pm Saturday KO's, meaning that my season ticket goes.

 

After a quick look.

 

3PM Saturday Home K/O's this season

 

Saints 9

 

Wigan 12 (With less games)

[Turkish]

Sort of the way my lot are trying to look at it - a few less away days, so take the cost of those (ticket, train, beer etc) and spread that over the number of aways that there'd be in the Prem = same overall expenditure.

 

However, it's not even a case of "Can I afford it?" for some of the most expensive ones, more a matter of principle, do I want to pay £45 towards Chelsea/Man U plc etc.....?

 

You know you'll end up going.....

[S-Clarke]

Not sure why you've made the point about game times.

 

I will bet my bottom dollar that we will have more 3pm KO's next year than we have had this year.

 

I also don't quite agree with the view ''I'd rather be winning each year in the championship!!!". If only it was that simple, eh? Our best players will go, we will not be able to progress the youth academy and eventually we'll just stagnate again and become an Ipswich, who let's not forget have invested significant sums in the last few years.

 

This year will be our best chance to get up for a long, long, long, long time. We need to take the chance now and grow us a club, because we won't be able to achieve the ambitions of our owners whilst staying at this level.

[Sour Mash]

You know you'll end up going.....

Honsetly don't think I'd bother with Chelsea, Man Utd etc, at £40+, done both plenty of times, s**t away ends, plenty of day trippers in attendance. Would rather put the money towards a decent Carling Cup 3rd game up north!

[View From The Top]

Not sure why you've made the point about game times.

 

I will bet my bottom dollar that we will have more 3pm KO's next year than we have had this year.

 

I also don't quite agree with the view ''I'd rather be winning each year in the championship!!!". If only it was that simple, eh? Our best players will go, we will not be able to progress the youth academy and eventually we'll just stagnate again and become an Ipswich, who let's not forget have invested significant sums in the last few years.

 

This year will be our best chance to get up for a long, long, long, long time. We need to take the chance now and grow us a club, because we won't be able to achieve the ambitions of our owners whilst staying at this level.

 

I've mention nothing about winning every year in the NPC.

 

I've done more aways than homes this season despite having season tickets due to changing KOs. Not feasible in the EPL allowing for price increases.

 

15 homes and 16 aways.

[rshephard3]

I think its knowing that the PL isnt the be all and end all of football.

Having spent the 27 years unbroken in the top division I think we fell into the trap most supporters of the so called big teams do, and that is everything else is crap.

Well it aint. In the past three seasons we have had real football fans come to St Marys, we have played some "interesting" teams for various reasons and most of all we have seen our team win a hell of a lot of games.

 

I am desperate for us to win Saturday and go up. But I tell you what, if it only lasted for a season there would be no tears and feeling of doom and gloom from me like there was in 2005 cos there is no fear of life outside the plastic Premiership anymore.

 

COYS

 

Exactly this. The desire to be there is strong but ultimately not so important as to cry myself to sleep if we don't go up. Lets face it, how well have Newcastle had to play this season? How many ground out wins/luck/goals at the right time hsve they had? All to probably finish 5th. Outside the champions league. The upper limit of 5th/6th in the prem is surely the main thing that turns people off. The skys the limit for SFC in the 2nd tier. It's different when playing with the big boys. Also the extra people turning up at SMS next August will annoy me. Petty? Yes it is. But where were they? If we were all like them, failing to attend through the bad times, ML would never have saved us. It wasn't them who attracted them, it was the proper supporters who attended to watch Saints, not Man Utd and Chelsea.

[Turkish]

Honsetly don't think I'd bother with Chelsea, Man Utd etc, at £40+, done both plenty of times, s**t away ends, plenty of day trippers in attendance. Would rather put the money towards a decent Carling Cup 3rd game up north!

 

You said that about Leeds this season!

[S-Clarke]

I've mention nothing about winning every year in the NPC.

 

I've done more aways than homes this season despite having season tickets due to changing KOs. Not feasible in the EPL allowing for price increases.

 

Nah, wasn't quoting you on that point - was just generally commenting on what people generally seem to be saying is an advantage to staying down.

[View From The Top]

Honsetly don't think I'd bother with Chelsea, Man Utd etc, at £40+, done both plenty of times, s**t away ends, plenty of day trippers in attendance. Would rather put the money towards a decent Carling Cup 3rd game up north!

 

Already told my nipper it's either Chelsea or Arsenal and Utd will be using Corky's posh corporates. Not doing any of the other London clubs and their prices.

[Sour Mash]

Not sure why you've made the point about game times.

 

I will bet my bottom dollar that we will have more 3pm KO's next year than we have had this year.

 

I also don't quite agree with the view ''I'd rather be winning each year in the championship!!!". If only it was that simple, eh? Our best players will go, we will not be able to progress the youth academy and eventually we'll just stagnate again and become an Ipswich, who let's not forget have invested significant sums in the last few years.

 

This year will be our best chance to get up for a long, long, long, long time. We need to take the chance now and grow us a club, because we won't be able to achieve the ambitions of our owners whilst staying at this level.

I agree with you re. kick off times, however I think you've missed the point of the rest of this thread.

[Thedelldays]

a good point...at least in this day and age...nearly all our games would be streamed online

[Suhari]

Mixed feelings.

 

Of course I want us to go up, because that means we've been one of the best teams: I want to watch us win, I want to expect we'l win.

 

Will we get that in the Prem, or will we be an Everton?

 

Is it better to be a tiger in the Championship or a pussy in the Prem?

[doddisalegend]

Not sure why you've made the point about game times.

 

I will bet my bottom dollar that we will have more 3pm KO's next year than we have had this year.

 

I also don't quite agree with the view ''I'd rather be winning each year in the championship!!!". If only it was that simple, eh? Our best players will go, we will not be able to progress the youth academy and eventually we'll just stagnate again and become an Ipswich, who let's not forget have invested significant sums in the last few years.

 

This year will be our best chance to get up for a long, long, long, long time. We need to take the chance now and grow us a club, because we won't be able to achieve the ambitions of our owners whilst staying at this level.

 

Or we could just stagnate in the PL. In all honesty we're never going to challenge for the title or a CL spot in the PL so that leaves us trying to become someone like Stoke a comfortable mid table side hoping for a cup run (providing it doesn't endanger our mid table league status).

[S-Clarke]

I agree with you re. kick off times, however I think you've missed the point of the rest of this thread.

 

I probably just pre-emptted the responses in the rest of my post, as I've seen people say this alot. ''Not bothered if we don't go up, we can stay down and win lots of games. I'd prefer that"

[dune]

50 quid at QPR. That was always a favourite away day for me, but i'll be f/cked if i'm paying that on principle.

[S-Clarke]

Or we could just stagnate in the PL. In all honesty we're never going to challenge for the title or a CL spot in the PL so that leaves us trying to become someone like Stoke a comfortable mid table side hoping for a cup run (providing it doesn't endanger our mid table league status).

 

Who knows what can happen in football? Who would have thought Newcastle would be on the cusp of Champions League football just 2 years ago?

 

It's not all about spending millions, it's about having a good structure right down the spine of the club and the right players mentally. You can win more with a team than you can with individual stars.

 

I'm not saying we'll compete for the champions league, that's a fairy tale, but I don't think you can just pass up the opportunity to progress the club. It could be the start of a real story.

[Turkish]

50 quid at QPR. That was always a favourite away day for me, but i'll be f/cked if i'm paying that on principle.

 

Same here, that along with Man U is One I definitely won't be doing.

[doddisalegend]

Mixed feelings.

 

Of course I want us to go up, because that means we've been one of the best teams: I want to watch us win, I want to expect we'l win.

 

Will we get that in the Prem, or will we be an Everton?

 

Is it better to be a tiger in the Championship or a pussy in the Prem?

 

I know a lot of people hated league 1 but I did enjoy being the big boys. The way we felt about visiting teams like Yeovil and Brentford that's the how most in teams in the PL will look at us....

[doddisalegend]

Who knows what can happen in football? Who would have thought Newcastle would be on the cusp of Champions League football just 2 years ago?

 

It's not all about spending millions, it's about having a good structure right down the spine of the club and the right players mentally. You can win more with a team than you can with individual stars.

 

I'm not saying we'll compete for the champions league, that's a fairy tale, but I don't think you can just pass up the opportunity to progress the club. It could be the start of a real story.

 

The thing about Newcastle, who have done amazingly (I always knew Pardew was a good manager....) is can they keep it up for a second season... chances are probably not. There's always one team that has a good one off season (us in 2003?) and sure that would be fun. It's just being in a league were you can automaticly discount finishing in the top 6 is less appealing than being in a league were you have a chance of winning it.

[Jonnyboy]

I think its knowing that the PL isnt the be all and end all of football.

Having spent the 27 years unbroken in the top division I think we fell into the trap most supporters of the so called big teams do, and that is everything else is crap.

Well it aint. In the past three seasons we have had real football fans come to St Marys, we have played some "interesting" teams for various reasons and most of all we have seen our team win a hell of a lot of games.

 

I am desperate for us to win Saturday and go up. But I tell you what, if it only lasted for a season there would be no tears and feeling of doom and gloom from me like there was in 2005 cos there is no fear of life outside the plastic Premiership anymore.

 

COYS

 

This.

I'll be gutted if we don't go up cos the pessimist in me says we might be stuck in the NPC for 5 more years.

Weirdly whilst wanting to go up I feel less inclined to go to the matches once we do.

[Saint_clark]

Trouble is, where do we stop "not being fussed" and start really wanting it? We all know the set up at Saints is aimed at challenging in the Prem. If we miss out on promotion and then don't go up next year, I can see Adkins getting sacked - do any of us really want that?

[Saint_Jonny]

Want us to go up but won't be devastated if we don't.

 

I thought there was something wrong with me for feeling like this. Obviously I'm not the only one!

[Sour Mash]

If we don't go up this year, let alone next, I guarantee some will turn on him. In fact if we mess up against Coventry, I bet there'll be a thread abusing Adkins within 24 hours.

If we go up and are losing every other week, he'll no doubt get some stick. Such is football in 2012.............

[The9]

Yes, I know that the EPL is the promised land, that it's where we should aim to be, keep all out best players, more exposure etc but, perversely, I'm not bothered about being there.

 

A number of reasons, all selfish but I doubt unique to me.

 

1) Far too many home games that I can't make, due to non 3pm Saturday KO's, meaning that my season ticket goes.

 

2) Away games so expensive I can't do as many as I've done with my nipper over the last 4 years.

 

3) So many day tripper/fair weather plastic fans wanting to do Arsenal, OT etc that tickets become impossible to get for those who put in the hard miles during the dark years.

 

When we win on Saturday, which we will, I'll celebrate like a loon, most likely cry, being a bit soft like that, but will I be looking forward EPL? In a word, No.

 

Feel free to flame away.

 

I kind of agree with you. I want us to win as much as possible but we've just exhausted places to do that and have it still be fun. Once we get to the Prem it's all plastics, stupid costs, bull and hype, and the same places I've been loads of times, and we'll start having games we KNOW we have no chance of winning, which I hate. I will like seeing us on the sports news much more often though.

 

Maybe we should do what parks teams do and fold, move all the players to a new club (I know it's banned by Hants FA!) and start over in the bottom league.

 

Is there a Sunday League for pro teams ?