Where would you either be now?

[Horton Heath Saint]

Were would you rather be now?... mmmm?

Still in the Championship this season and trying to get promotion?

Or? where we are now??

Me? The latter big time.

[hypochondriac]

Were would you rather be now?... mmmm?

Still in the Championship this season and trying to get promotion?

Or? where we are now??

Me? The latter big time.

 

What a weird thread.

[Saint_lambden]

Yeah, I'd much rather be in a lower league.....

[jawillwill]

I've always liked the look of the Bundesliga. We should play there one year.

[The Kraken]

Yeah, I'd much rather be in a lower league.....

 

Not as stupid as it sounds. While Premier League was always the goal, my enthusiasm for watching has diminished since we got into the top league. I'll always look back very findly on the past 3 years, and even the struggling Championship years before that (staying up in the Champ on the final day of the season against Sheffield United remains my favourite day at St. Mary's).

[Turkish]

I doubt the Championship would be much fun if you weren't trying to get to the premier league. It's a great league purely because the majority of the teams want to get promoted.

 

Nah, it's because unlike the premier league it's competitive.

[Mr X]

I'd rather a thread title that makes sense

[Saint_clark]

I don't understand, why would you rather be competing to be somewhere rather than actually being there?

Is the "ideal" season finishing third in the NPC and then losing on penalties in the play-off final, just so we can say we did as best as possible without having to actually play in the Prem?

[The Kraken]

I don't understand, why would you rather be competing to be somewhere rather than actually being there?

Is the "ideal" season finishing third in the NPC and then losing on penalties in the play-off final, just so we can say we did as best as possible without having to actually play in the Prem?

 

Maybe the ideal season (for some) is just being in a league which we can actually win and in which we aren't just making up the numbers?

[Turkish]

I don't understand, why would you rather be competing to be somewhere rather than actually being there?

Is the "ideal" season finishing third in the NPC and then losing on penalties in the play-off final, just so we can say we did as best as possible without having to actually play in the Prem?

 

No, it's winning the championship and refusing promotion.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Judging by the title, I think the OP has had a little too much fruit juice on a Thursday for his/her own good.

[Jack]

Milton Roader has a rival.

[Saint_lambden]

Not as stupid as it sounds. While Premier League was always the goal, my enthusiasm for watching has diminished since we got into the top league. I'll always look back very findly on the past 3 years, and even the struggling Championship years before that (staying up in the Champ on the final day of the season against Sheffield United remains my favourite day at St. Mary's).

 

They were fond years but the whole point of football (well, sport) is to try and be the best. It may have been more entertaining in the Championship but surely anyone with a brain cell, if asked, would logically chose the Premier League over the Championship.

 

That's without even getting into the new TV deal that, if we stay up, we'll get a share of If I remember rightly.

[Saintandy666]

I'd rather be in the premier league watching the best footballers in the world come to St. Mary's every week.

[Tokyo-Saint]

Couldn't we just win the championship (or come 2nd or whatever) get the money and the glory and then stayed there to win it again next year?

[The Kraken]

They were fond years but the whole point of football (well, sport) is to try and be the best. It may have been more entertaining in the Championship but surely anyone with a brain cell, if asked, would logically chose the Premier League over the Championship.

 

That's without even getting into the new TV deal that, if we stay up, we'll get a share of If I remember rightly.

 

That's your opinion. Sorry to say, not everyone shares your utopian world of "being the best", or they certainly recognise that "our best" simply isn't good enough at the top table. Does that diminish my enjoyment of supporting Saints while in the Premier League? Yes it does.

 

Its a strange dichotomy, supporting Saints in the lower leagues. Of course the natural reaction is to strive to reach the Premier League. And then to strive to finish as high as possible. But its just an abject league to be in for anyone outside of 4 or 5 clubs, in my opinion. Success is deemed massive to finish in the top ten. Finishing in the top 5 is remarkable. Finishing above that, well, almost inconceivable in this day and age.

 

You mention the TV deal; it won't make a difference to the structure of the PL, except for it'll make the very big teams even bigger and will stretch their advantage at the top even further.

 

So, in resposne to your disparaging remark that "anyone with a brain cell would choose the Premier League"; I'd simply say, please don't ever speak for me. I'll enjoy our time in the Premier League as best as possible. But I think I'll more cherish our time both struggling and succeeding in the lower leagues. Call me thick or brainless if that's your thing.

[The Kraken]

I'd rather be in the premier league watching the best footballers in the world come to St. Mary's every week.

 

So your enjoyment of Saints is determined by which superstars you can see playing against us?

[fromthedell]

na league 1 it was fun !!!!

[St Marco]

Not as stupid as it sounds. While Premier League was always the goal, my enthusiasm for watching has diminished since we got into the top league.

 

Really? Almost beating Citeh and United was a great feeling especially in the United game when we went 2-1 up. Everyone went mental! Didn't quite get the same feeling when we beat teams in the lower leagues. Maybe because we were expected to beat them? Playing teams at the top level and beating some of them now and then is more memorable to me then a game in the cold of winter on a tues night against Yeovil. But thats just my view really.

[The Kraken]

Really? Almost beating Citeh and United was a great feeling especially in the United game when we went 2-1 up. Everyone went mental! Didn't quite get the same feeling when we beat teams in the lower leagues. Maybe because we were expected to beat them? Playing teams at the top level and beating some of them now and then is more memorable to me then a game in the cold of winter on a tues night against Yeovil. But thats just my view really.

 

Nail on head right there. Its different strokes for different folks, there is no right or wrong answer. I'll quite happily put our visit to the Millenium Stadium right up there with our visit to Wembley for the JPT. I'll quite happily remember away days to Leyton Orient alongside trips to the biggest sides in the country. I don't particularly care for watching international players play against us; that's not my priority. I just like watching a half-decent Saints team, not feeling like I'm paying through the nose for it, and generally just enjoying going to games with a care-free attitude. The PL doesn't really give me that, I may be in a minority but there you go.

[GAS]

Were would you rather be now?... mmmm?

Still in the Championship this season and trying to get promotion?

Or? where we are now??

Me? The latter big time.

The SPL, we'd walk that league and get into the Champions League.

[Graffito]

Wigan at home was strangely flat from the beginning; team, crowd, eveything. Nonetheless, I think we just need to get some wins and I guess for most of us there will be no question about where we want to be.

[SB]

What would be the point in being in the CCC aiming for promotion rather than being in the premiership, you've lost your head pal.

[Saintandy666]

So your enjoyment of Saints is determined by which superstars you can see playing against us?

 

What's with all the superfan stuff?! I've been going to St. Mary's since it opened in 2001. I've grown up watching Saints and seen pretty much every home game during our non-prem years and I enjoyed all of it immensely.

 

But if it was a choice of watching Dagenham and Redbridge or Manchester United, I know who'd I'd rather see us play. I'd rather see the best quality football possible.

[hypochondriac]

What's with all the superfan stuff?! I've been going to St. Mary's since it opened in 2001. I've grown up watching Saints and seen pretty much every home game during our non-prem years and I enjoyed all of it immensely.

 

But if it was a choice of watching Dagenham and Redbridge or Manchester United, I know who'd I'd rather see us play. I'd rather see the best quality football possible.

 

I'd rather see saints play the best quality football. Couldn't give a stuff about the opposition.

[The Kraken]

What's with all the superfan stuff?! I've been going to St. Mary's since it opened in 2001. I've grown up watching Saints and seen pretty much every home game during our non-prem years and I enjoyed all of it immensely.

 

But if it was a choice of watching Dagenham and Redbridge or Manchester United, I know who'd I'd rather see us play. I'd rather see the best quality football possible.

 

Superfan? What are you talking about? You said (and I quote):

 

I'd rather be in the premier league watching the best footballers in the world come to St. Mary's every week.

 

That to me says you place most importance upon how good the team facing Saints is, when you choose how enjoyable a match is. Doesn't it?

 

Not sure why you're being argumentative about it. If that's how you rank games then fair play to you, it's your opinion. As I said earlier, everyone will have their own one so no-one's is either right or wrong.

[Saintandy666]

I'd rather see saints play the best quality football. Couldn't give a stuff about the opposition.

 

Well, that's kinda what I'm getting at. Best quality football is in the premier league!

[pingwing]

Well L1 is what really kicked off the mega interest in football (from just a fan to, I know Rochdale away on a Tuesday night is more sensible than anything else in the entire world ethos)

 

Then again if we weren't bottom on nil points the prem would look better

[Saintandy666]

Superfan? What are you talking about? You said (and I quote):

 

 

 

That to me says you place most importance upon how good the team facing Saints is, when you choose how enjoyable a match is. Doesn't it?

 

Not sure why you're being argumentative about it. If that's how you rank games then fair play to you, it's your opinion. As I said earlier, everyone will have their own one so no-one's is either right or wrong.

 

Not saying that at all. There are enjoyable matches at any level of football; league 1, championship and premier league... but in the premier league you'll get the best quality football combined with an enjoyable match. It's win win! Plus, I want Saints to do the best possible, and that means being in the top league.

[The Kraken]

Not saying that at all. There are enjoyable matches at any level of football; league 1, championship and premier league... but in the premier league you'll get the best quality football combined with an enjoyable match. It's win win! Plus, I want Saints to do the best possible, and that means being in the top league.

 

Not necessarily, no. I've seen some far better games of football in the lower leagues than I had to sit through in the Premier League (and Div 1 before that). The league we're in is no guarantee as to the quality of football on show.

[The Cat]

What's with all the superfan stuff?! I've been going to St. Mary's since it opened in 2001. I've grown up watching Saints and seen pretty much every home game during our non-prem years and I enjoyed all of it immensely.

 

But if it was a choice of watching Dagenham and Redbridge or Manchester United, I know who'd I'd rather see us play. I'd rather see the best quality football possible.

 

Home matches are only half of the games though. How do you feel about having to pay £49 to go to the Etihad rather than £15 for the terrace at Peterborough? What about more games getting moved and not knowing what days to book trains on or book off work? All these things need to be taken into account when I mull over where I'd like Saints to be.

 

Supporting a team isn't just rocking up at St Mary's for 50% of our games and sitting in a seat your Dad paid for.

 

I'm not fussed who we are playing. I go to see Saints and if along the way I get to see some world class footballers then that's a bonus. Seeing Jonathan Forte scoring against MK Dons gave me the same rush as watching us beat Man Utd 6-3 (or 3-1, or 1-0) at the Dell.

[Saintandy666]

Home matches are only half of the games though. How do you feel about having to pay £49 to go to the Etihad rather than £15 for the terrace at Peterborough? What about more games getting moved and not knowing what days to book trains on or book off work? All these things need to be taken into account when I mull over where I'd like Saints to be.

 

Supporting a team isn't just rocking up at St Mary's for 50% of our games and sitting in a seat your Dad paid for.

 

I'm not fussed who we are playing. I go to see Saints and if along the way I get to see some world class footballers then that's a bonus. Seeing Jonathan Forte scoring against MK Dons gave me the same rush as watching us beat Man Utd 6-3 (or 3-1, or 1-0) at the Dell.

 

Well, I know that. And while my Dad may have bought a spare season ticket for me and my brothers, it was on a shared basis... so I'd usually buy a ticket with my own money when it wasn't my turn(weekend job and before that paperround). So I do appreciate how expensive these tickets are. I had to sit in the family stand for the Wigan match such was the price(1st world problems I know)! I am sad I won't see as many games this year though because I'm off to Uni.

 

I do get what you are saying though, but I'd still rather Southampton were as successful as possible.

Edited 20 September, 2012 by Saintandy666

[tedmaul]

Not necessarily, no. I've seen some far better games of football in the lower leagues than I had to sit through in the Premier League (and Div 1 before that). The league we're in is no guarantee as to the quality of football on show.

 

Who the **** cares about the quality of football you watch, your not important or your money. Your opinion is irrelevant. You may hark back to the days of playing huddersfield away ... great. The revenue is tv money. your opinion is great and important to you but means nothing.

[the boy from saints]

Not as stupid as it sounds. While Premier League was always the goal, my enthusiasm for watching has diminished since we got into the top league. I'll always look back very findly on the past 3 years, and even the struggling Championship years before that (staying up in the Champ on the final day of the season against Sheffield United remains my favourite day at St. Mary's).

I have to agree, One of my best days at St Mary's was the day we stayed up beating Sheffield Utd. This season has just made me feel miserable compared to the optimism of the last three seasons. How long ago have we lost 4 games on the trot? The truth is that this is a non competitive league, and that fact takes the shine off actually being there. Where is the fun when another ridiculously well resourced team can change the shape of a game with world class super subs worth more than the oppositions whole starting 11, The results verge on boringly predictable - unlike the rest of the football league.

[Turkish]

This goes back to the old argument of if you go to watch Saints or the opposition. If you are happy to see saints be plucky, try hard losers like we were against Man U and City or of you want to see a us win a game. Most going to Arsenal just wanted to keep the score down and would have been happy with a 2-0 loss. Is that right? is that what some of you lot want. Who enjoyed the Arsenal game? Afterall some want to see the best quality of football possible and you can't deny that theirs was top notch. A lot seem to have been sold on the sky dream, that there nothing outside the premier league matters, it's all about seeing the opposition, about seeing Man U and City and these superstars coming to your town or city, you're irreverent of you're not part of it. So you lot enjoy your top quality football from the opposition and dreams of finishing 15th, for those of us that enjoy seeing Saints win, give me the championship anyday.

[Turkish]

What's with all the superfan stuff?! I've been going to St. Mary's since it opened in 2001. I've grown up watching Saints and seen pretty much every home game during our non-prem years and I enjoyed all of it immensely.

 

But if it was a choice of watching Dagenham and Redbridge or Manchester United, I know who'd I'd rather see us play. I'd rather see the best quality football possible.

 

A classi modern football person. Not a Saints fan, a football consumer.

[Saint Troy]

Kraken - would you like us to get relegated this year?

[dubai_phil]

I can now watch Saints play EVERY game live in full and with good friends.

 

These first few matches have seen the return of something that had gone missing - our gallows humour (still missing to an extent on here)

 

We were amongst the most ARROGANT fans in the country when we first went down to the CCC.

 

Those years have taught us the real meaning of football again and by almost losing our club we have a much better concept of the value and a closeness to it.

 

These first 4 games have been strange, other fans have said "Wow" at our football and have NOT offered us MOCK sympathy as in previous years. This time something could be different.

 

The reactions so far are all valid, we have learnt a winning mentality - it is very hard to adjust that to losing every week,so of course it is not "as much fun".

 

The issue really comes down to your view of this season. You think it will stay linke this (and it could) then the "it was more fun in L1" POV is very valid. BUT if you believe we do have a good side and can stay up then you will know that this is the start of a new ride/ a new journey and it is going to have some cracking moments.

 

For me. The team realised what the PL means last week. The fans against Wigan showed they had not. EVERYONE needs to up their game. Give it a couple of weeks then ask the question.

 

Right now it's a stupid question so gets the answer - I'd rather we were playing in the UAE Premier League every week, not the EPL so my live games were real and not in the pub. It's as valid an answer as Kraken's is

[doddisalegend]

Well I had to give up my ST when we moved to the PL as the prices shot up (i'll admit I was getting a good deal in the championship) So would I rather be watching saints playing teams like Leeds and Blackpool live every other week...or listen to saints playing man U or Liverpool on radio solent ...........championship every time for me. Plus I actually like saints winning:)

[Cabrone]

Football is relative, most fans quickly adjust to the league they are in and get the same buzz from winning regardless if its against Colchester or Chelsea.

 

From that perspective being at the top of any league is a lot more fun than fighting to survive but for me this season is still going to be interesting just to see how we will manage in this league.

 

I think if we can survive the drop then we will only get stronger so 2012/13 is pivotal and thus fascinating.

 

If I thought that we could only aspire to be perennial premier league strugglers then I wouldn't care about being in this league but I think given enough time we will be able to compete so I want us to stay up.

[Jack]

Nail on head right there. Its different strokes for different folks, there is no right or wrong answer. I'll quite happily put our visit to the Millenium Stadium right up there with our visit to Wembley for the JPT. I'll quite happily remember away days to Leyton Orient alongside trips to the biggest sides in the country. I don't particularly care for watching international players play against us; that's not my priority. I just like watching a half-decent Saints team, not feeling like I'm paying through the nose for it, and generally just enjoying going to games with a care-free attitude. The PL doesn't really give me that, I may be in a minority but there you go.

 

Very much agree with this. I loved our time in the FL. Yes, it's partly because we were successful, which does mean achieving the ultimate goal of promotion to the prem, but it's the whole feeling actually being in a position to compete for titles that I liked. Plus, you get proper football games in the FL. Passionate fans, brilliant away days, value for money, and much less of the commercial, overpriced and overhyped bullsh*t you get in the Premier League.

 

It just feels like something is missing for me this season (other than points on the board). It just feels a bit dull. 2 out of the 4 games have had a truly shocking atmosphere, as a whole. And I just found myself slightly irritated at both home games. The crowd felt different, so many 'Premier League fans' just there to see their local side play against the best, rather than Saints fans.

[Turkish]

Well I had to give up my ST when we moved to the PL as the prices shot up (i'll admit I was getting a good deal in the championship) So would I rather be watching saints playing teams like Leeds and Blackpool live every other week...or listen to saints playing man U or Liverpool on radio solent ...........championship every time for me. Plus I actually like saints winning:)

 

I don't get this, the prices didn't 'shoot up' my season ticket went up £50 and is only £125 more now than when we first moved to SMS. That's an increase of only £10 a year since 2001.

[doddisalegend]

I don't get this, the prices didn't 'shoot up' my season ticket went up £50 and is only £125 more now than when we first moved to SMS. That's an increase of only £10 a year since 2001.

 

Mine did shoot up. I take my two kids and we had seats in the chapel last three seasons (which was the family area last season but isn't now resulting in an increase) no free kids ticket becuase you now need two adults and their is only one of me. For a lot of people it wasn't to bad for me it went from 380 a year (which was a very good deal) to more like 600 and something almost double what I paid the season before I couldn't justify it.

[The Kraken]

Kraken - would you like us to get relegated this year?

 

I wouldn't be upset if we were. At all.

 

Last time we were relegated from the Prem it seemed like a disaster. In my lifetime I'd really only ever known Saints to be a top division side, so I couldn't really imagine life in the lower leagues. What I actually found out was that I enjoyed it more; I enjoyed not having to put up with games where Saints would try and keep the score down. Where a 1-0 defeat was seen as thoroughly acceptable and indicative of a solid display. In the years since we were relegated I've enjoyed going to games much more; I've been to more games each season than I ever did before; and in general I have a hell of a lot more respect and admiration for supporters of clubs that don't necessarily get all the Sky exposure.

 

So, while it may seem like a strange thing to say: I'll continue to hope Saints win every game that we play. I hope that we'll finish as high in the table as possible. I'll be p*ssed off when we lose games. And I won't care one iota if we get relegated at the end of the season.

[doddisalegend]

I wouldn't be upset if we were. At all.

 

Last time we were relegated from the Prem it seemed like a disaster. In my lifetime I'd really only ever known Saints to be a top division side, so I couldn't really imagine life in the lower leagues. What I actually found out was that I enjoyed it more; I enjoyed not having to put up with games where Saints would try and keep the score down. Where a 1-0 defeat was seen as thoroughly acceptable and indicative of a solid display. In the years since we were relegated I've enjoyed going to games much more; I've been to more games each season than I ever did before; and in general I have a hell of a lot more respect and admiration for supporters of clubs that don't necessarily get all the Sky exposure.

 

So, while it may seem like a strange thing to say: I'll continue to hope Saints win every game that we play. I hope that we'll finish as high in the table as possible. I'll be p*ssed off when we lose games. And I won't care one iota if we get relegated at the end of the season.

 

Well that pretty much sums up my feelings on the subject......

[Patrick Bateman]

The thread may not make sense to some, but I understand the sentiments. The last three years have been fantastic - trips to small grounds (some with terracing), winning a lot, being a "bigger fish in a small pond" and being seen as arrogant. The promotions and did I say, winning a LOT?

 

The Premiership was always going to be a come down. Less wins for certain, more sterile - but, we should see some fantastic football and if that's more your bag, then great! We've got more coverage, more money and we're back to where we were for 27 years and (I hope) financially secure now.

 

So yes, the last three years have been great fun, but hopefully in the past now!

[sotonian]

All I will add to this thread is I've been watching saints since 1967, the most enjoyable times have been outside of the top league, bar the early eightys when we actually challanged for the tittle, which I can't ever see us doing again, so for me, I'll go regardless, but relegation wouldn't bother me

[Saint86]

Maybe the ideal season (for some) is just being in a league which we can actually win and in which we aren't just making up the numbers?

 

This doesn't exist, and has never existed. If it has then we have been failing for 100 years. Saints. win a league. Jesus, is that why alpine is always depressed...

[Graffito]

This discussion has become polarised into an either/or argument but for me it's a mixed bag. There are things that I like about Saints in the PL and things that I don't like and the same applies to the FL. Relegation wouldn't be the end of the world but if we're going to get relegated let's do it after this season when the parachute payments go up and the financial gap between relegated clubs and the rest widens.

[The9]

I wouldn't be upset if we were. At all.

 

Last time we were relegated from the Prem it seemed like a disaster. In my lifetime I'd really only ever known Saints to be a top division side, so I couldn't really imagine life in the lower leagues. What I actually found out was that I enjoyed it more; I enjoyed not having to put up with games where Saints would try and keep the score down. Where a 1-0 defeat was seen as thoroughly acceptable and indicative of a solid display. In the years since we were relegated I've enjoyed going to games much more; I've been to more games each season than I ever did before; and in general I have a hell of a lot more respect and admiration for supporters of clubs that don't necessarily get all the Sky exposure.

 

So, while it may seem like a strange thing to say: I'll continue to hope Saints win every game that we play. I hope that we'll finish as high in the table as possible. I'll be p*ssed off when we lose games. And I won't care one iota if we get relegated at the end of the season.

 

Yup, me too. We no longer fear relegation as Saints fans, it's not "the unknown" and we've already come back from it once (or more if you're a bit older, but football has changed a lot since the 1970s even so).