lickierambert Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 From administration, -10 in league 1 to an exciting, vibrant, Premier League team in 4 1/2 years, including: A trophy 2 promotions The continued development of local academy talent A likable, unified group of players Committed, ambitious and well meaning owners Taking an overweight, journeyman striker from League 1 to England match-winner Recruitment of international class players I know I'm biased, but I genuinely wouldn't swap my supporting experience in recent years for the continued dominance of Man Utd, or the success of Man City or Chelsea. Norwich and Swansea are the only two clubs IMO who can boast a similar journey, but I'm not sure they can offer all of the above, despite winning more illustrious silverware over the period. I think we may all look back in 20-30 years time and realise just how lucky we were/are to have had an emotional investment in Saints since the final dark days of of the Lowe era Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncanRG Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Manchester City and Swansea City. The latter in particular have even more to boast about than we do with regards to ownership. Besides that, probably not many in England. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Sanchez Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 There would be a few, United, Chelsea,City, Swansea, Newport County, Norwich and even possibly Wigan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lifeintheslowlane Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 You want to try the last 55 years newcomer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Man United Chelsea City Swansea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypochondriac Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Man United Chelsea City Swansea Probably Norwich too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Probably Norwich too. norwich, good shout the rise of bournemouth has been impressive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downthe36 Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 There would be a few, United, Chelsea,City, Swansea, Newport County, Norwich and even possibly Wigan. Wigan - the FA cup win wouldn't offset the terrible following and eventual relegation for me. Norwich - Similar rise to us, but haven't achieved anything we haven't, plus their style of football has been less exciting than ours. Swansea - Yep, can agree with you there, but we're not far off. Newport County - Hell of a rise through the Leagues, but no thanks. United, Chelsea, City - If I wanted to support them I would have gone out and bought a shirt and Sky subscription like most of their fans. Plus I don't reckon it would be particularly exciting to support a team that is just "expected" to do well anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Balls Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Don't forget the fun we've had laughing at our rivals who have gone the opposite way. City going from a mid table club in the shadow of United to Europe, FA Cup, winning the league. They've had a decent few years. Probably feels quite hollow though. Swansea would be up there. Enjoy the ride. It won't last forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stud mark of doom Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Are people seriously suggesting man utd or Chelsea's last few years as comparable? I would have both down as some of the most boring periods for a fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Are people seriously suggesting man utd or Chelsea's last few years as comparable? I would have both down as some of the most boring periods for a fan. winning the champions league and/or getting to finals of champions league is so dull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Didcot Saint Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 No it's been fantastic for me, I am loving it. Swansea would come close but from nearly being liquidated to signing world class players beating the Champions last season and the ride to where we are now has been totally fantastic. I never though or dreamt I would see it after loosing at home to teams like Colchester when RL was chairman. Simply awesome. Thank You Marcus, NC NA and everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suewhistle Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 For some of those teams my opinion is best expressed by the sign in the back of one of the Saints coaches as we left Cardiff: "Cheer up Arsenal, you won". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Sanchez Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Wigan - the FA cup win wouldn't offset the terrible following and eventual relegation for me. Norwich - Similar rise to us, but haven't achieved anything we haven't, plus their style of football has been less exciting than ours. Swansea - Yep, can agree with you there, but we're not far off. Newport County - Hell of a rise through the Leagues, but no thanks. United, Chelsea, City - If I wanted to support them I would have gone out and bought a shirt and Sky subscription like most of their fans. Plus I don't reckon it would be particularly exciting to support a team that is just "expected" to do well anyway. Why didn't you just write possibly Swansea? Its my opinion, ask a Newport County or Swansea fan, possibly even Cardiff and I doubt they would mention us, its pure bias, open your mind. We have had back to back promotions and bought some good players and are starting to merge them into a team. There are many other sides that think they could trump that with either success, silverware or a rise from the lower Leagues into professional football again. Swansea and Newport County straight away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedArmy Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 I can't imagine we'll be experiencing anything close to the joy of winning the premier league in injury time. For the fans that were there in div 2 just over a decade previously, I can't even imagine how good that was for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedArmy Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Are people seriously suggesting man utd or Chelsea's last few years as comparable? I would have both down as some of the most boring periods for a fan.are you mental? 2 European titles in 2 seasons is boring? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toon Saint Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 (edited) Yeovil haven't done too shabby either. Remember seeing them with my best friend at school when they were still playing in the Ryman's league. More over the last decade or so, but an incredible rise through the football league nonetheless. Edited 21 August, 2013 by Toon Saint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Sanchez Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 are you mental? 2 European titles in 2 seasons is boring? Red Army, there are so many fantasists on here, the furthest they have been out of Southampton is Winchester when they turn on the Christmas lights, they need to see the Country (The World can come later), they think others do not or have not improved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golac's Iron Gonads Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Bayern Munich, You'd also be German and have a national team to shout about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Pompey. They now own their club (100%) and don't have to worry about the burdons of supporting a team in the top flight. They get to watch real grass roots football - none of this inflated ego malarkey in the premier league. What a fantastic journey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stud mark of doom Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 are you mental? 2 European titles in 2 seasons is boring? Barely meets their inflated expectations, especially with their poor league positions and the fact they consider themselves above one of those competitions (as their new manager has said). I know loads of Chelsea fans and none of them is even close to being as pleased as I am at our performance over the last few years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Sanchez Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Barely meets their inflated expectations, especially with their poor league positions and the fact they consider themselves above one of those competitions (as their new manager has said). I know loads of Chelsea fans and none of them is even close to being as pleased as I am at our performance over the last few years. If you are like you Chelsea friends then you must be the life and soul of a party............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Barely meets their inflated expectations, especially with their poor league positions and the fact they consider themselves above one of those competitions (as their new manager has said). I know loads of Chelsea fans and none of them is even close to being as pleased as I am at our performance over the last few years. what the hell are you on about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verbal Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Enjoy the ride. It won't last forever. Pop that into the past tense and you have a tombstone epigram for all Saints fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lickierambert Posted 21 August, 2013 Author Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Newport are a great shout too. For a similar example in Scotland, I'd have rather been a Ross County fan than a Celtic one over the past 4/5 years. Such domestic dominance just wouldn't excite me in the same way as it has done for the Hoops. I bet a lot of them now want Rangers back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedArmy Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Barely meets their inflated expectations, especially with their poor league positions and the fact they consider themselves above one of those competitions (as their new manager has said). I know loads of Chelsea fans and none of them is even close to being as pleased as I am at our performance over the last few years.Poor league positions? They won it 3 years ago. Since 08/09 they've won 3 FA cups. 1 league title, the champions league and the Europa league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearsy Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Poor league positions? They won it 3 years ago. Since 08/09 they've won 3 FA cups. 1 league title, the champions league and the Europa league. How many Johnstones Paints??? How many 2nd place finish in Championship??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Balls Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Poor league positions? They won it 3 years ago. Since 08/09 they've won 3 FA cups. 1 league title, the champions league and the Europa league. And still always moaning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lifeintheslowlane Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Pompey. They now own their club (100%) and don't have to worry about the burdons of supporting a team in the top flight. They get to watch real grass roots football - none of this inflated ego malarkey in the premier league. What a fantastic journey. x2 plus the so far uncharted delights of a further fall into the Conference Premiership. I four one am green with envy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom & Gerry Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 There has never been a better team to support...end of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 There has never been a better team to support...end of. this Saints are for life, good or bad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Newport are a great shout too. For a similar example in Scotland, I'd have rather been a Ross County fan than a Celtic one over the past 4/5 years. Such domestic dominance just wouldn't excite me in the same way as it has done for the Hoops. I bet a lot of them now want Rangers back. Hmmmm, being a Saints fan is still miles better than being a County fan at the moment, and I should know, I'm both - though they have done a lot to recover my affection since I played against them in 2000. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pastor Patrón Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Haven't Norwich done the same but in a season less with less money to spend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brave Sir Robin Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 If I'm totally honest I just couldn't enjoy L1 or the Championship, because I never accepted that we weren't a Premier league team. Every time we won a game I couldn't help think "I should bloody think so too!", and whenever we lost I can't describe my sense of humiliation and disgust! Frankly, I mostly endured rather than enjoyed being a Saints fan for the whole time from relegation in 2005 until the final whistle of our promotion game in 2012! Absolutely loved last season, though, and am absolutely buzzing now looking at our squad and the fixture list, more so than I ever would've if I hadn't been through those long, dark seasons plodding through the wilderness hoping and dreaming of what might be one day. I'd almost go as far as to say it was all worth it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHAPEL END CHARLIE Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Good thread this. So after a long period of dismal decline, the wheel of fate's remorseless rotation brought us the Leibherr era, a period that has turned out to be a 'golden age' for this wonderful old football club then? You know thinking about, and despite a few bumps along the way, that might just be right I suppose. Long may it last, but beware my fellow Saint fans because gold is also the colour of sunset ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_lambden Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Fleetwood. 5 promotions in 8 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Too many knee jerk posters who in their desire to ****** on others parade can't look at the question objectively. Not many clubs experienced a cup final, got relegated after years in the top flight, fell again and were on the brink of oblivion, were saved by a white knight, hurtled up the leagues and now look stronger than ever. End of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucks Saint Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 If I'm totally honest I just couldn't enjoy L1 or the Championship, because I never accepted that we weren't a Premier league team. Every time we won a game I couldn't help think "I should bloody think so too!", and whenever we lost I can't describe my sense of humiliation and disgust! ! Yeah, I really struggled to enjoy beating Oldham away (midweek, in sub zero climate) 6-0, with six different scorers, all from open play, because we used to do that all the time and it was totally expected. And as for those two late goals to beat Brighton 2-1 at their place, to be the first team to win there all season, frankly I was seriously hacked off we had not scored ten Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 21 August, 2013 Share Posted 21 August, 2013 Fleetwood. 5 promotions in 8 years. Yeah, but they have to live in Fleetwood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brave Sir Robin Posted 22 August, 2013 Share Posted 22 August, 2013 Yeah, I really struggled to enjoy beating Oldham away (midweek, in sub zero climate) 6-0, with six different scorers, all from open play, because we used to do that all the time and it was totally expected. And as for those two late goals to beat Brighton 2-1 at their place, to be the first team to win there all season, frankly I was seriously hacked off we had not scored ten It's just how I felt. Oldham?... I'm, sorry, who the **** are they?!! And the fact we didn't do it all the time just reminded me how far we'd fallen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norwaysaint Posted 22 August, 2013 Share Posted 22 August, 2013 It's a good question. I'm not sure I'd agree with people saying United. Five years ago they were the top team in the country and former champions of Europe, expecting to win the premier league again and massively dominant over their local rivals, now they are one of the best teams in the country, former champions of Europe, hoping to win the league again and without the greatest manager in their history. It's not much of a journey. City have had an incredible journey and have stepped out of the shadows to at last be a proper rival to United, won the league in the most thrilling way possible and things are still looking very positive for them. Norwich and Swansea fans have a similar amount to be happy about to us as far as progression goes, Swansea even more really, plus Norwich got the division title where we were runners up, although we got the schadenfreude of seeing our local rivals fall from a dominant position to the foot of the league while our fortunes improved. Then again we had to say goodbye to Markus after such a short time. Overall, I feel like I'd rather be us right now, but I'm sure other fans would rather have their own position. Oops, somehow forgot Chelsea with league, CL, Europa and FA Cup titles in that time. I can see the other bloke's point about a sense of entitlement taking the edge off the pleasure, but I'm not sure they would've realistically hoped for all that. There are probably loads of lower league teams that have had loads to be delighted about too, but I have to confess to being pretty ignorant about most of them. Well we're up there anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tajjuk Posted 22 August, 2013 Share Posted 22 August, 2013 (edited) It's been amazing. I think only Swansea and City can compare, same use started low and built back up they have exceeded us and reached cup wins, got to Europe and in City's case the league. Plus Swansea have part fan ownership. Norwich deserve a mention, they have done it with less money than us, but not with the academy players or the same style IMO. Chelsea yes have won the Champions league but so many players, so much money, so many managers, so much controversy and very few local lads to cheer on. At least with Utd you know they will always bring through a few youngsters. - Recovering from near extinction. - back to back promotions and then staying up. - excellent youth academy products throughout the time. - investment in facilities and infrastructure. - decent attacking football style throughout. - a good core of England players. - focus on youth, not many clubs field 3 18 year olds in a starting line up. - Our own Roy of the Rovers story in Lambert scoring for England. - and most recently some excellent top class signings that wouldn't look out of place at Liverpool or Arsenal. We couldn't have really asked for much more. Edited 22 August, 2013 by tajjuk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucks Saint Posted 22 August, 2013 Share Posted 22 August, 2013 It's just how I felt. Oldham?... I'm, sorry, who the **** are they?!! And the fact we didn't do it all the time just reminded me how far we'd fallen! I must have been away when we secured a divine right to be a Premier League side. Now I know why attendances - still very good by most L1 standards - fell by 30%. I am glad you and the others can now enjoy following saints again and dont have to suffer the humiliation and disgust Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 22 August, 2013 Share Posted 22 August, 2013 I must have been away when we secured a divine right to be a Premier League side. Now I know why attendances - still very good by most L1 standards - fell by 30%. I am glad you and the others can now enjoy following saints again and dont have to suffer the humiliation and disgust That'll be Oldham, founder members of the Premier League, too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studentsaint Posted 22 August, 2013 Share Posted 22 August, 2013 Crawley? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dronskisaint Posted 22 August, 2013 Share Posted 22 August, 2013 From administration, -10 in league 1 to an exciting, vibrant, Premier League team in 4 1/2 years, including: A trophy 2 promotions The continued development of local academy talent A likable, unified group of players Committed, ambitious and well meaning owners Taking an overweight, journeyman striker from League 1 to England match-winner Recruitment of international class players I know I'm biased, but I genuinely wouldn't swap my supporting experience in recent years for the continued dominance of Man Utd, or the success of Man City or Chelsea. Norwich and Swansea are the only two clubs IMO who can boast a similar journey, but I'm not sure they can offer all of the above, despite winning more illustrious silverware over the period. I think we may all look back in 20-30 years time and realise just how lucky we were/are to have had an emotional investment in Saints since the final dark days of of the Lowe era No for me, obviously, but there's never been a better team to support over the 50+ years I've been doing it and it's a good question.. I, given the timespan above, have experienced the highs and lows. 1976 will always (I suspect) be a peak but I stood on the edge of the pitch at the Burnley game which confirmed our drop to L1 and was as miserable as I can remember in my footballing life...we were, of course also experiencing the financial implosion and most of me just wanted to just have a club to support but it seemed such a come down. I never expected to enjoy L1 and them down the road (hi skatechez) were stealing their way to a position that I'd never known in my lifetime..two leagues above us! And then it changed..ML, NC, Pards, Ricky, Fonte, Adam developing, JPT, promotions NA... and it's been a brilliant ride -I guess Swansea must feel something similar given their financial woes but apart from the Leighton James era they were never really an established top flight club in the same way as we were through most of the latter part of the last century and I can't really take the oligarch-owned, JCL-attracting teams mentioned as being similar. Newport's story is great but again, not having come from as high a falling position as us. I don't consider my supporting of Saints as an option...it's in my DNA, my blood and I see everything from that perspective and I'm just very grateful to have been part of this and even more so to those who have made it possible...a big thank you to Mr Liebherr for listening to Nicola Cortese and putting his money and faith behind the 'project' - Thanks for the ride, it continues to be barely believable for a fan of five decades! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brave Sir Robin Posted 22 August, 2013 Share Posted 22 August, 2013 I must have been away when we secured a divine right to be a Premier League side You missed a great 27 years! Fortunately for us, Cortese recognised that we belong in the top flight and was able to persuade Markus to help make it happen. Let's not kid ourselves that we'd all have remained happy watching Saints playing at that level if we didn't all believe it was only temporary until we got back to the Prem. I think it's probably just that I was less patient for it to happen than you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brave Sir Robin Posted 22 August, 2013 Share Posted 22 August, 2013 I must have been away when we secured a divine right to be a Premier League side You missed a great 27 years! Fortunately for us, Cortese recognised that we belong in the top flight and was able to persuade Markus to help make it happen. Let's not kid ourselves that we'd all have remained happy watching Saints playing at that level if we didn't all believe it was only temporary until we got back to the Prem. I think it's probably just that I was less patient for it to happen than you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucks Saint Posted 22 August, 2013 Share Posted 22 August, 2013 You missed a great 27 years! Fortunately for us, Cortese recognised that we belong in the top flight and was able to persuade Markus to help make it happen. Let's not kid ourselves that we'd all have remained happy watching Saints playing at that level if we didn't all believe it was only temporary until we got back to the Prem. I think it's probably just that I was less patient for it to happen than you. No. Nor was I less patient. Just missed the absolute guarantee that people like you ("Brave") dont have to suffer humiliation and disgust of us not being a Prem side. I must be very odd because, having accepted where we were, and why, I enjoyed the majority of the performances, finishing 2nd, being promoted, that sort of thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brave Sir Robin Posted 23 August, 2013 Share Posted 23 August, 2013 (edited) Well that's good for you, Buck's, and it's a bloody good job there were 1000's of us still turning up and getting behind the team no matter what, or we might not have done it quite as quick. Of course I enjoyed the same moments of victory as you, the promotions and the cup win. I was bursting with pride when we dominated Man U for 60 mins in the fa cup whilst in L1. All I'm saying is, if I'm honest, it always bugged me that despite it all, we were still in the lower leagues and therefore unrecognised, and aware that we still had a long way to go. I'd much rather have not gone through all of that. At the time, I would've much preferred to be chugging along in PL mid table, like Stoke or Fulham. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, just how I felt at the time. What staggers me now though, is all the fans of other clubs who say to me all the time "where are you getting the money from?" - genuinely unaware that we were bought by a billionaire and have been one of the richest clubs in the country for several years now. Goes to show just how obscure and overlooked you are unless you're in the top flight! Sad indictment really, but just the way it is. Edited 23 August, 2013 by Brave Sir Robin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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