Echo Article - Lee Holmes

[dune]

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/9741566.Departing_winger_tips_Saints_for_European_glory/

 

[saintscottofthenortham]

Who would know better...? Us? Or a man who has been in there for the last few years?

[farawaysaint]

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/9741566.Departing_winger_tips_Saints_for_European_glory/

 

 

Departing winger and all round nice guy Holmes tips us to do well having had an inside look at developments at the club, don't really see the humour. All he says is that he expects us to compete for a European spot in five or 6 years which could mean finishing top 10 and 4 wins off a Europa spot. As for the CL comment all he says is that has to be the aim for all clubs eventually it's hardly a resounding commitment.

[miserableoldgit]

Who would know better...? Us? Or a man who has been in there for the last few years?

Dune, obviously.

[Crazy Diamond]

The Derbyshire Arjen Robben with words of wisdom there.

[dune]

So in 5 years we'll be up there with Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man Utd, Liverpool etc. Dream on everyone.

[saintscottofthenortham]

May aswell tell NC to give up now then. You do the honours...

[dune]

May aswell tell NC to give up now then. You do the honours...

 

Of course we'll be "doing it the Southampton way" which means not spending much money. Wakey wakey, it's all spin.

[James]

Obviously everyone on SWF is in a better position to know about the state of the club than someone who has seen first hand what goes on behind the scenes and spoken to those who have great ambition for the club.

 

He doesn't actually say it will definitely happen just that it is what we are striving for. If the article has said Holmes tips Saints for midtable obscurity then the usual suspects would be on here spitting blood.

 

But as usual certain posters on here feel the need to mock everything and try and make it into something negative because obviously they know better.

 

I for one find it encouraging he has said these things, whether I think it will happen in reality is another matter but got to aim high.

[Appy]

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/9741566.Departing_winger_tips_Saints_for_European_glory/

 

 

What's funny?

[NickG]

Of course we'll be "doing it the Southampton way" which means not spending much money. Wakey wakey, it's all spin.

 

I remember NC when he arrived when we were bottom of league 1, all big talk and spin.

 

Reality check time chaps he is full of it, what's he achieved in 3 seasons? (apart from winning a trophy at Wembley and two promotions)

[miserableoldgit]

I remember NC when he arrived when we were bottom of league 1, all big talk and spin.

 

Reality check time chaps he is full of it, what's he achieved in 3 seasons? (apart from winning a trophy at Wembley and two promotions)

Yep. I can just imagine Dune asking "What have the Romans ever done for us?"

[The Kraken]

F*cking hell, here we go again.

[patred44]

always thought Holmes was a headless chicken

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcaG718ZnQE

Edited 3 June, 2012 by patred44

[dune]

I remember NC when he arrived when we were bottom of league 1, all big talk and spin.

 

Reality check time chaps he is full of it, what's he achieved in 3 seasons? (apart from winning a trophy at Wembley and two promotions)

 

Where we are now is quite achievable. Staying in the Premier League is just as achievable. But being in the same bracket as the biggest clubs in the country is way out of our reach. We don't have the fanbase to provide the funds to do it.

[brightspark]

I hope people don't begin to expect this, or even be disappointed if we don't come close to this!

 

Realistically chasing for Europe is a pipe dream when we have just been promoted. Sure, Newcastle did it, but it will be unlikely they will also be chasing Top 4 next season. Plus Newcastle are quite clearly a bigger club than ourselves.

 

I will always remember what Charlton fans said upon Curbishley's departure. "Mid-Table Premier League, not going anywhere. Not good enough..."

 

3 years after a mid-table finish they were in League One.

 

So lets just hope that if Adkins gets the sack in 2015 when we're sitting a comfortable 11th that some of our fans don't list similar reasons for why he deserved it.

 

Lets build and build slowly. Survive, survive again, then build in a sustainable manner.

[Latheal]

He's making the point that a lot of people tried to make on that golden thread called New 5 Year Plan.

 

Which a lot of people got shouted down for to be honest. Personally, I'm on MLG's camp, think we'll expand the stadium in the next couple of years, will be looking for Europe in the next 5 and have a much bigger profile in the game. Even if we don't, I'm going to enjoy the ride. The last three years have been the most exciting since the time of 4-2-4 days of Nicholl in my own personal memory. When you take into account what little comments do come from the players, it's all the same story as what Holmes is saying here. I believe the spin when we've just had two promotions in a row, sell outs in League 1, Championship, kept hold of our better players for once and are bidding for Champions League team's best striker.

 

Nothing NC has done so far makes me question that we are striving to break into the upper levels of the game. As others have mentioned, whether we get there or not is another question, but I admire the ambition and am proud of it. Some people seem to think The top 7 is a closed shop and that clubs can't grow in size and stature. If that was the case, Newcastle would not have just finished 5th, Swansea wouldn't be Premier League and Cardiff would not have got to a major Cup Final. You get what you earn in football and at the moment, I'm loving this club. I can't wait to see what happens next, and if it all goes pear-shaped and we do go down, it will be in the knowledge that we hopefully tried doing something different and going for it, rather than accepting the status-quo and accepting our supposed place in the football hierarchy. If nothing else, league 1 should have shown some of most negative fans that we do have a rather sizeable core fan base. Be proud of what the club is trying, and in the way they are trying it.

 

Glad for Holmes, thought he was unlucky here, hope he does well at Swindon.

[James]

Which a lot of people got shouted down for to be honest. Personally, I'm on MLG's camp, think we'll expand the stadium in the next couple of years, will be looking for Europe in the next 5 and have a much bigger profile in the game. Even if we don't, I'm going to enjoy the ride. The last three years have been the most exciting since the time of 4-2-4 days of Nicholl in my own personal memory. When you take into account what little comments do come from the players, it's all the same story as what Holmes is saying here. I believe the spin when we've just had two promotions in a row, sell outs in League 1, Championship, kept hold of our better players for once and are bidding for Champions League team's best striker.

 

Nothing NC has done so far makes me question that we are striving to break into the upper levels of the game. As others have mentioned, whether we get there or not is another question, but I admire the ambition and am proud of it. Some people seem to think The top 7 is a closed shop and that clubs can't grow in size and stature. If that was the case, Newcastle would not have just finished 5th, Swansea wouldn't be Premier League and Cardiff would not have got to a major Cup Final. You get what you earn in football and at the moment, I'm loving this club. I can't wait to see what happens next, and if it all goes pear-shaped and we do go down, it will be in the knowledge that we hopefully tried doing something different and going for it, rather than accepting the status-quo and accepting our supposed place in the football hierarchy. If nothing else, league 1 should have shown some of most negative fans that we do have a rather sizeable core fan base. Be proud of what the club is trying, and in the way they are trying it.

 

Glad for Holmes, thought he was unlucky here, hope he does well at Swindon.

 

Well said.

[Latheal]

Where we are now is quite achievable. Staying in the Premier League is just as achievable. But being in the same bracket as the biggest clubs in the country is way out of our reach. We don't have the fanbase to provide the funds to do it.

 

Really interested in what people think about this, and without people resorting to the normal cat fight that happens when this forum has a debate, do you think it's impossible for a club to now grow? I can honestly see both sides, I think. Personally, I think it's not impossible. It's not a short term thing, and it would mean having a successful team for a period of time but when I was at school in the 80s, my friends were all Liverpool or Everton supporters. Move on to now, kids at school now probably support Utd, City or Chelsea. If anybody said to me 20 years ago that Chelsea would be the first London club to win the European Cup you would have laughed at them. Yes it's cost a ridiculous amount a money, but is that now the only way of doing it?

 

I'm not so sure anymore.

[lordswoodsaints]

Imo Newcastle (although a decent team) have over achieved in a very poor premier league season,some of the big boys were rubbish last term and allowed the lower status clubs to push on and gain ground.

I'd like to think that the premier league is becoming more of a level playing field since we last graced it but I think that is a few years off yet.

perhaps we can also take a few scalps and gain the confidence to push further than the the likes of Newcastle,stoke,Norwich etc,I can't imagine that NC hasn't already planned for it to happen....in fact I'd be very surprised if we don't finish top 10 this coming season.

[Turkish]

I hope people don't begin to expect this, or even be disappointed if we don't come close to this!

 

Realistically chasing for Europe is a pipe dream when we have just been promoted. Sure, Newcastle did it, but it will be unlikely they will also be chasing Top 4 next season. Plus Newcastle are quite clearly a bigger club than ourselves.

 

I will always remember what Charlton fans said upon Curbishley's departure. "Mid-Table Premier League, not going anywhere. Not good enough..."

 

3 years after a mid-table finish they were in League One.

 

So lets just hope that if Adkins gets the sack in 2015 when we're sitting a comfortable 11th that some of our fans don't list similar reasons for why he deserved it.

 

Lets build and build slowly. Survive, survive again, then build in a sustainable manner.

 

Whilst everything you say is entirely sensible and accurate you are missing a few crucial points which the self titled intelligent posters will slaughter you for, so i'm going to beat them to the punch. That is that when Charlton finished midtable they only averaged about 25k or something and we averaged more than that depsite being in the championship. Proof that we are a massive club. That we need a 45k stadium. Bigger than Everton and Aston Villa but not comparable to Leeds. Charlton dont have rich and ambitious owners who are billionaires we means we can outbid the entire combinded rest of the premier league outside of the top 4 for any player we want who are falling over each other to join us. We are marching towards the Champions league and its well within our grasp already, afterall Cortese has already achieved the near on impossible of taking us out of league one and winning the Paint Pot. Oh and did i mention we took 50k to Wembley that day? The same as Millwall and Luton have in recent season but forget that, it's more evidence that no club has a catchment area like ours does, which covers everything south of London, Birmigham up to Liverpool, that is all ours and everyone who just fancies watching a bit of football one day will travel from Ilfracombe and Truro and Yeovil and Shepton Mallet and Warwick to see the Mighty Southampton.

[Turkish]

Imo Newcastle (although a decent team) have over achieved in a very poor premier league season,some of the big boys were rubbish last term and allowed the lower status clubs to push on and gain ground.

I'd like to think that the premier league is becoming more of a level playing field since we last graced it but I think that is a few years off yet.

perhaps we can also take a few scalps and gain the confidence to push further than the the likes of Newcastle,stoke,Norwich etc,I can't imagine that NC hasn't already planned for it to happen....in fact I'd be very surprised if we don't finish top 10 this coming season.

 

I think you might be very surprised.

[dune]

Cortese has already achieved the near on impossible of taking us out of league one and winning the Paint Pot.

 

When you put it like that clearly we're on an unstoppable march towards the Champions League. And with Guly Do prado in the squad there's no reason why we can't win it.

[The Kraken]

Really interested in what people think about this, and without people resorting to the normal cat fight that happens when this forum has a debate, do you think it's impossible for a club to now grow? I can honestly see both sides, I think. Personally, I think it's not impossible. It's not a short term thing, and it would mean having a successful team for a period of time but when I was at school in the 80s, my friends were all Liverpool or Everton supporters. Move on to now, kids at school now probably support Utd, City or Chelsea. If anybody said to me 20 years ago that Chelsea would be the first London club to win the European Cup you would have laughed at them. Yes it's cost a ridiculous amount a money, but is that now the only way of doing it?

 

I'm not so sure anymore.

 

Why are you trying to polarise opinion?

 

I have hardly seen anyone say on here that we can't grow further. I've hardly seen anyone say that a bigger stadium is an unrealistic short to medium term ambition. And hardly anyone say that it is completely unreasonable to hope for us to be challenging the Europa Cup spots, or a cup victory, that would see us into Europe. Those are all fair and realistic hopes for the club, some perhaps even within the next 5 years.

 

Asking or expecting for much more than that, to dominate at the top both domestically and on a European level would require a completely unprecendented level of funding. And at least twice the level of support that we've ever seen in our lifetime, if (as our CEO has continually stated) we are to be run sustainably. Not impossible, but pretty close to it.

[patred44]

Imo Newcastle (although a decent team) have over achieved in a very poor premier league season,some of the big boys were rubbish last term and allowed the lower status clubs to push on and gain ground.

I'd like to think that the premier league is becoming more of a level playing field since we last graced it but I think that is a few years off yet.

perhaps we can also take a few scalps and gain the confidence to push further than the the likes of Newcastle,stoke,Norwich etc,I can't imagine that NC hasn't already planned for it to happen....in fact I'd be very surprised if we don't finish top 10 this coming season.

 

I think you might be very surprised.

 

 

O I SAY !!!!!

[Latheal]

Why are you trying to polarise opinion?

 

I have hardly seen anyone say on here that we can't grow further. I've hardly seen anyone say that a bigger stadium is an unrealistic short to medium term ambition. And hardly anyone say that it is completely unreasonable to hope for us to be challenging the Europa Cup spots, or a cup victory, that would see us into Europe. Those are all fair and realistic hopes for the club, some perhaps even within the next 5 years.

 

Asking or expecting for much more than that, to dominate at the top both domestically and on a European level would require a completely unprecendented level of funding. And at least twice the level of support that we've ever seen in our lifetime, if (as our CEO has continually stated) we are to be run sustainably. Not impossible, but pretty close to it.

 

Honestly interested, Kraken.

 

I don't post much, but read this forum almost everyday and have seen this kind of debate opened up before and it just seems that while some think we can grow and challenge, others don't. It plays into a wider argument about football as a whole. Is the top 4-7 places in England pretty much taken by City, Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool and then one of the Newcastle's, Aston Villas, Evertons of the world or can another club now break into it and sustain it for 10 years? I take your point its about sustainability and I agree that is where we might fall down as well.

 

There's been a few that don't even believe we need a bigger stadium and that's their opinion, I respect it, even if I don't agree with it. I just find it a really interesting subject and wandered what others seriously thought. Is it because of the heartache we have all felt whilst supporting Saints that we don't believe it would ever happen to our club or do people honestly believe we don't need a bigger stadium, we can't challenge those elite clubs?

 

Not trying to be a WUM, if that's what you are getting at.

[The Kraken]

Honestly interested, Kraken.

 

I don't post much, but read this forum almost everyday and have seen this kind of debate opened up before and it just seems that while some think we can grow and challenge, others don't. It plays into a wider argument about football as a whole. Is the top 4-7 places in England pretty much taken by City, Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool and then one of the Newcastle's, Aston Villas, Evertons of the world or can another club now break into it and sustain it for 10 years? I take your point its about sustainability and I agree that is where we might fall down as well.

 

There's been a few that don't even believe we need a bigger stadium and that's their opinion, I respect it, even if I don't agree with it. I just find it a really interesting subject and wandered what others seriously thought. Is it because of the heartache we have all felt whilst supporting Saints that we don't believe it would ever happen to our club or do people honestly believe we don't need a bigger stadium, we can't challenge those elite clubs?

 

Not trying to be a WUM, if that's what you are getting at.

 

I don't think you're a WUM; I was just surprised that you see it as an area of black and white.

 

As I say, I don't think you'll find too many people that will say "we should never think about expanding the stadium, we'll never need a bigger one". Most people accept that, if we see evidence of sell outs every week, and if we see a football team that are comfortably mid-table and upwards, then the owners will ave monitored that and will make a decision on how much bigger any stadium expansion should be. Any debate on here about how big we could potentially grow has typically been hijacked by the loony brigade who think the stadium should be being expanded right now and that we already have all the evidence we need to support this.

 

I've seen a few people suggest we could eventually need a 50K stadium and upwards. I've seen others say 35K or 36K would be enough. My personal opinion, I don't think it unreasonable to suggest we could/should be looking at expanding to 40K stadium within a few years, if we hit all the necessary benchmarks and that sort of capacity can be justified.

 

But there simply has to be a limit on how far the club can reasonably grow. At least in the next 10 or 20 years. I think its a great aim to view Everton and Aston Villa as the sort of size club we should aspire to be. Everton, consistently in the top ten despite dire financial problems. Villa, experiencing their lowest ever finish in the PL last season and considering themselves at their lowest ebb in a generation.

 

You'll get some suggesting "you never know what's around the corner" to justify the possibility we may get taken over by rich Arabs who want to do a Man City with us. As I said before, not impossible but pretty unlikely. I'm perfectly happy, knowing what we know now, to aim for being a club who comfortably finish top 10-12, often have dalliances with higher finishes in the table, and perhaps on the off chance maybe maybe maybe finish in 4th or 5th (that bit is a few years down the line IMO). Any more than that, I simply don't expect in any way, shape of form and i think it is a very unrealistic expectation to hope for it.

[aintforever]

Holmes obviously knows nothing compared to the f*ck-wits on here.

[Saint_Randell]

I don't think you're a WUM; I was just surprised that you see it as an area of black and white.

 

As I say, I don't think you'll find too many people that will say "we should never think about expanding the stadium, we'll never need a bigger one". Most people accept that, if we see evidence of sell outs every week, and if we see a football team that are comfortably mid-table and upwards, then the owners will ave monitored that and will make a decision on how much bigger any stadium expansion should be. Any debate on here about how big we could potentially grow has typically been hijacked by the loony brigade who think the stadium should be being expanded right now and that we already have all the evidence we need to support this.

 

I've seen a few people suggest we could eventually need a 50K stadium and upwards. I've seen others say 35K or 36K would be enough. My personal opinion, I don't think it unreasonable to suggest we could/should be looking at expanding to 40K stadium within a few years, if we hit all the necessary benchmarks and that sort of capacity can be justified.

 

But there simply has to be a limit on how far the club can reasonably grow. At least in the next 10 or 20 years. I think its a great aim to view Everton and Aston Villa as the sort of size club we should aspire to be. Everton, consistently in the top ten despite dire financial problems. Villa, experiencing their lowest ever finish in the PL last season and considering themselves at their lowest ebb in a generation.

 

You'll get some suggesting "you never know what's around the corner" to justify the possibility we may get taken over by rich Arabs who want to do a Man City with us. As I said before, not impossible but pretty unlikely. I'm perfectly happy, knowing what we know now, to aim for being a club who comfortably finish top 10-12, often have dalliances with higher finishes in the table, and perhaps on the off chance maybe maybe maybe finish in 4th or 5th (that bit is a few years down the line IMO). Any more than that, I simply don't expect in any way, shape of form and i think it is a very unrealistic expectation to hope for it.

 

 

Well put, however I think everyone is arguing the same point tbh. Who actually thinks we can get Champions League year in year out?

[Matthew Le God]

- 2006 Middlesbrough in a European final

- 2010 Fulham in a European final

 

Is it really beyond the realms of possibilities that Saints could make a European final?

[The Kraken]

Well put, however I think everyone is arguing the same point tbh. Who actually thinks we can get Champions League year in year out?

 

Well, Lee Holmes certainly hints at it when he says:

 

“There is going to be a time where Southampton will be a force to be reckoned with in English football. In the next five years, I expect them to be right up there with the best of them.”

[The Kraken]

- 2006 Middlesbrough in a European final

- 2010 Fulham in a European final

 

Is it really beyond the realms of possibilities that Saints could make a European final?

 

Where is this groundswell of opinion on here from those who have said that Europa Cup qualification and success is not an achievable ambition?

[CB Fry]

- 2006 Middlesbrough in a European final

- 2010 Fulham in a European final

 

Is it really beyond the realms of possibilities that Saints could make a European final?

 

No. Who is saying it is?

 

Funny how both clubs managed this feat without 50,000 gates.

 

Almost like it isn't that neccessary.

[Junction 9]

So in 5 years we'll be up there with Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man Utd, Liverpool etc. Dream on everyone.

 

He doesn't actually say that thought does he? Stoke,Fulham,Birmingham,Middlesborough to name but a few, have all competed in Europe in recent years. Easily achievable.

[dune]

He doesn't actually say that thought does he? Stoke,Fulham,Birmingham,Middlesborough to name but a few, have all competed in Europe in recent years. Easily achievable.

 

I sincerely hope we do push on and challenge on the periphery, but it's going to take some serious investment and that is the question mark.

[Glasgow_Saint]

Bitter ex player slagging off club...... NEXT!!

[sammysaint]

No. Who is saying it is?

 

Funny how both clubs managed this feat without 50,000 gates.

 

Almost like it isn't that neccessary.

 

Fulham are bank rolled, Boro over spent, but boro had average gates of 28/29k or more if they were doing well, we can achive this as we have the right people in place from chairman down to management, also keeping our best players or selling them for loads, look at boro they had a decent team back then downing was good then Viduka Hasslebank and Yakubu were there main forwards and that italian who was 4th choice kept scoring, also they had schwazer in goal and Southgate at CB Boating CM all proven international players who were in there late 20s or early 30s bar downing, it was a good mix of experience and youth, hate him after being there at wembley back in 07/08 but Mclown did a good job there, and Roy done a fantastic job with Fulham again have some top players dempsey and hangerland could play CL.

 

We can build teams like this over the next 3 years and become a midtable team who flirt with domestic and uefa cup success.

[Deano6]

Bitter ex player slagging off club...... NEXT!!

 

It's comments like this that occasionally make me wish we had the "LIKE" button.

[Turkish]

Fulham are bank rolled, Boro over spent, but boro had average gates of 28/29k or more if they were doing well, we can achive this as we have the right people in place from chairman down to management, also keeping our best players or selling them for loads, look at boro they had a decent team back then downing was good then Viduka Hasslebank and Yakubu were there main forwards and that italian who was 4th choice kept scoring, also they had schwazer in goal and Southgate at CB Boating CM all proven international players who were in there late 20s or early 30s bar downing, it was a good mix of experience and youth, hate him after being there at wembley back in 07/08 but Mclown did a good job there, and Roy done a fantastic job with Fulham again have some top players dempsey and hangerland could play CL.

 

We can build teams like this over the next 3 years and become a midtable team who flirt with domestic and uefa cup success.

 

Which is exacty what those of us who have been called negative and so in the past have been saying all along. It is entirely realistic and possible for us to aim and become a top half club who have good cup runs and challenge for the Europa league. Its quite something different from what the self titled intelligent posters are stamping their feet and claiming that we are definitely going to make the champions league, we definitely need a 50k stadium to house all the fans who are going to come here from Cornwall every week instead of going to Old Trafford and we can definitely do it without spending hundreds of millions. The reason it's definitely possible to achieve all this? Because they said once that man would never walk on the moon or something.

[sfc1976]

Not exactly a bold statement to suggest that a football club should always aim to achieve more. But the reality of the situation as it stands today is that we're 5/4 (a 44.44% chance) to get relegated next season! Clearly a difference of opinion somewhere!

[CB Fry]

 

We can build teams like this over the next 3 years and become a midtable team who flirt with domestic and uefa cup success.

 

Absolutely we can.

 

Brace yourself to being called negative and posessing a 'Dell-sized brain' and being stuck with an Askham mindset.

 

Unfortunately, that's the view of our self proclaimed "intelligent posters/voices of reason".

 

It's a funny old forum though.

[aintforever]

I actually think some posters on here need mental help.

[dune]

I actually think some posters on here need mental help.

 

Please leave Verbal out of this.

[Dalek2003]

Dune is such a negative poster. I am going to put him on my ignore list along with the other suspects !

[Cheam Saint]

Not exactly a bold statement to suggest that a football club should always aim to achieve more. But the reality of the situation as it stands today is that we're 5/4 (a 44.44% chance) to get relegated next season! Clearly a difference of opinion somewhere!

 

I wouldn't get too hung up on relegation odds. Living outside of Southampton, I talk to other football fans who simply assume we're going to struggle because most promoted teams do and about half go straight back down. Odds are based on statistics and current betting trends. What they don't appreciate is how ambitious Saints are and that crucially we have no debt.

[SaintRobbie]

I think we can do this.

 

I think it has always been the plan to turn Saints into the Barcelona of the South. Why not? If there is ambition and backing within the club there is certainly a youth set up, infrastructure and ambition in the boardroom to do it. What's more we certainly have the fan base.

 

Those on here who laugh off this sort of thing laughed off the prospect of back to back promotions.

 

Anything can happen in football…. admittedly, priority number one is staying in the Premier League, but I think we've got mid-table Premier League standing already; with a little reinforcement in the goalkeeping, defence and midfield departments this summer (which is coming).

 

We CAN be a force to be reasoned with in Europe. We have the fans, ambition, Boardroom, infrastructure and the skeleton of a great team. Bring it on! Bring on the belief!!

[david in sweden]

Quite understandably, many fans base opinions on recent form, past disappointments and the " supposed fear of big name Prem. clubs."

Looking back over several decades, it's easier to see the developing trend and generation shift that is taking place at Saints (and England, too).

Apart from the glorious memories that we harbour, of great players and great moments it's maybe good to see us ..as a new club founded 2009.

 

Since then.. one cup and two promotions. Not bad. Who's to say that we won't go on to bigger and better? Absolutely NOTHING surprises me in football.

I recall our last promotion to " the top division" in 1978....and who would have dreamed that Lawrie Mac would have signed KK... and half a dozen other England internationals. None of us dared to consider that 25 years ago... Who knows ..what NC /NA have up their sleeve ?

 

I don't expect many "big name signings " this summer, but if we have a better than average season and finish top half, then we'll begin to look like an exciting club to be a part of. I don't rule out a couple of "older heads " coming into the squad but a look back at the Pardew/Adkins squads since 2009 it's clear than keen, talented players in their early/mid twenties with 100+ games under their belt are the prime target group.

Talented enough to have made a good impression, but not too old to be coached to do even better.

 

This is where our Academy should begin to flourish. Surely, I'm not alone in thinking that had we not been relegated from the Prem the likes of Walcott, Bale and Alex O-C might still be regulars in SFC. The Lee Holmes article may sound like PR, but for a young-ish player whose been around a bit even before he joined us, and knows the club and the City, he may be speaking from another perspective, and it might not sound so crazy as some people seem to think.

 

I know that after 40+ years going to Dell games, walking into SMS still takes my breath away every time. It surely must make a impression on prospective players, too.

Edited 4 June, 2012 by david in sweden

[Turkish]

What I do find highly amusing is that people are prepared to take Lee Holmes "inside" knowledge a gospel yet dismiss Jason Puncheon as a tosser we should get shot of when he critisised te regime. Surely they'd both have as much inside knowledge as each other. Holmes is a nice chap who has been well looked after despite not playing regularly in his 4 year here. He is a practising Christian so he's going to say nice things!! Why is his inside knowledge yet more evidence of our ambition, drive, champions league match underway. Yet Puncheons critisicms the ramblings of a tosser with an attitude who need to get rid of?

[VectisSaint]

I think many people overlook where Man City were fairly recently. People would have laughed if you said they would win the PL in 2012 back in 1998. Chelsea have only become a major force since Abramovich took over, they were nearly always a mid-table side before that. Newcastle have had one good season (definitely no fluke), but it will be a real test of Pardew to repeat that next season when their squad is stretched due to the Europa Noddy League. Only Manure and Arse have been consistent top performers for the last 20 years. Spuds have hardly been top 6 until Redkrapp took over, if he goes (which is looking more likely) expect their fortunes to decline again (though it hurts me to say it). Things change. Look at Blackburn, even Forest and Derby, Villa are rubbish at the moment. It doesn't usually happen overnight, there is nothing wrong with ambition, I don't see us winning the PL in the foreseeable future, but nothing to say we could not sneak into the top 4 occassionally in a few years, Europa League is a definite possibility, although that really can be a double-edged sword, smaller clubs definitely struggle to maintain Europa and PL competitiveness.

[VectisSaint]

What I do find highly amusing is that people are prepared to take Lee Holmes "inside" knowledge a gospel yet dismiss Jason Puncheon as a tosser we should get shot of when he critisised te regime. Surely they'd both have as much inside knowledge as each other. Holmes is a nice chap who has been well looked after despite not playing regularly in his 4 year here. He is a practising Christian so he's going to say nice things!! Why is his inside knowledge yet more evidence of our ambition, drive, champions league match underway. Yet Puncheons critisicms the ramblings of a tosser with an attitude who need to get rid of?

Seems self evident to me, Puncheon is a bit of a tosser, Holmes isn't. What has Puncheon said anyway since his return to the fold, clearly even he could see that things were actually pretty good at Saints. Anyway, I don't see what Holmes has said that is so unreasonable. He says he sees a bright future for the Club and people think he is mad. Really don't see that him being a practcing Christian has anything to do with it, did Ian Paisley always (ever) say nice things?