The worst season in our recent history

[Crowds]

So we are down, whether the ownership and management is right or wrong. Why aren’t we saying to the players at least play for some dignity? 

Jan transfer window sell- 

-bednerak

-Walker Peters

-Ramsdale

-Sulemana 

What’s the worst that can happen with these… we lose?
 

Let’s go down fighting ffs, but have at least half a game plan for next year? 

[Bakovnetski]

15 minutes ago, Crowds said:

So we are down, whether the ownership and management is right or wrong. Why aren’t we saying to the players at least play for some dignity? 

Jan transfer window sell- 

-bednerak

-Walker Peters

-Ramsdale

-Sulemana 

What’s the worst that can happen with these… we lose?
 

Let’s go down fighting ffs, but have at least half a game plan for next year? 

Not gonna happen with a week left and to effectively gut the team

[Whitey Grandad]

What’s the betting on when we are going to be officially relegated?

[Gloucester Saint]

7 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

What’s the betting on when we are going to be officially relegated?

Could be as early as mid-March.

[SotonianWill]

Remove the word “recent.” Surely we’ve never been this bad, even in lower divisions. Relatively, 6 points is not very good. 

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, SotonianWill said:

Remove the word “recent.” Surely we’ve never been this bad, even in lower divisions. Relatively, 6 points is not very good. 

Yeah, this has to be the worst. 🛑 

[Badger]

27 minutes ago, SotonianWill said:

Remove the word “recent.” Surely we’ve never been this bad, even in lower divisions. Relatively, 6 points is not very good. 

Can’t wait for the souvenir t-shirts to go on sale.

Picture of Lego Head and Rasmus on the front. And dates and results of defeats on the back. 

[Nordic Saint]

You have to admire the upbeat use of "recent" though. This is a season SO bad that in the 140 years of our history, nobody could ever even have imagined it would happen. 

The lap the players do around the pitch at the end of the season is going to be 'interesting'. They could liven things up a bit by all wearing their 'Record Breaker' T shirts.

One thing's for sure: Everton are never going to live this season down.

Edited Sunday at 12:05 by Nordic Saint

[Turkish]

11 minutes ago, Nordic Saint said:

You have to admire the upbeat use of "recent" though. This is a season SO bad that in the 140 years of our history, nobody could ever even have imagined it would happen. 

The lap the players do around the pitch at the end of the season is going to be 'interesting'. They could liven things up a bit by all wearing their 'Record Breaker' T shirts.

One thing's for sure: Everton are never going to live this season down.

Wed need a plural for those t-shirts. We really could break numerous records this season. Perhaps to enhance the party atmosphere they could so the lap of hour to the tune of the old “record breakers” anthem from Roy Castles 1980s TV show 

 

[Badger]

17 minutes ago, Nordic Saint said:

You have to admire the upbeat use of "recent" though. This is a season SO bad that in the 140 years of our history, nobody could ever even have imagined it would happen. 

The lap the players do around the pitch at the end of the season is going to be 'interesting'. They could liven things up a bit by all wearing their 'Record Breaker' T shirts.

One thing's for sure: Everton are never going to live this season down.

I don’t think there will be anyone in the ground after the last match for the’ lap of appreciation’.

Let’s be honest very few stayed for last years. 

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

Wed need a plural for those t-shirts. We really could break numerous records this season. Perhaps to enhance the party atmosphere they could so the lap of hour to the tune of the old “record breakers” anthem from Roy Castles 1980s TV show 

 

This is the closing credits tune I remember. Except that for Southampton FC it would be 🎵 ‘Defecation, that’s what you need if you’re going to be a Derby record breaker 🎵 

None of our sorry players will be first at any tape.

 

Edited Sunday at 14:17 by Gloucester Saint

[Galway saint]

On 25/01/2025 at 22:13, Whitey Grandad said:

What’s the betting on when we are going to be officially relegated?

I think the current record is 29th March held by Derby  

Much depends of course on other results but we must be in with a shout of beating that 

[Eric The Red]

7 minutes ago, Galway saint said:

I think the current record is 29th March held by Derby  

Much depends of course on other results but we must be in with a shout of beating that 

Even if er got 0 points in our next six games it's incredibly unlikely that we will be relegated in March because there are 9 games (27 points) scheduled for April and May. 

Sorry to disappoint 

[Saint_clark]

On 25/01/2025 at 22:22, SotonianWill said:

Remove the word “recent.” Surely we’ve never been this bad, even in lower divisions. Relatively, 6 points is not very good. 

Relative though, isn't it. The season we got relegated from the Championship was worse, despite the fact we finished with 45 points. The day we lost at home to Forest 2-0 with multiple fights breaking out between Saints fans in the stands was the absolute low point of supporting the club for me. 

[Sarnia Cherie]

On 25/01/2025 at 22:22, SotonianWill said:

Remove the word “recent.” Surely we’ve never been this bad, even in lower divisions. Relatively, 6 points is not very good. 

Thank you. I got slated for posting that, as a long standing supporter, I have never felt so totally despondent as I do now. Yes, the administration, Branfoot years etc were painful but I remember still having a faint glimmer of hope that things would improve. For me, SR are the worst owners we have had. Their managerial appointments and the money wasted on players like BBD under their ownership has put is where we are now. I have been used to totting up the points to avoid the drop but this is on a whole new level. I will still support Saints but SR have drained all the pleasure out of it for me. A total rebuild has to start with SR leaving St. Mary's and allowing the club to collect what few shreds of dignity we have left in order to move forwards.

[Long Shot]

7 hours ago, Saint_clark said:

Relative though, isn't it. The season we got relegated from the Championship was worse, despite the fact we finished with 45 points. The day we lost at home to Forest 2-0 with multiple fights breaking out between Saints fans in the stands was the absolute low point of supporting the club for me. 

No the fans were fighting because of the sudden relegation and don’t forget we were very potless back then.  This is by far the most inept season in the club’s history in terms of results on the pitch and inept management. 

[Saint_Jonny]

The overwhelming majority of Saints output on the pitch has been utterly depressing since 2017/18, save for some very un-Saints-like blips where the team found a way to win under Ralph (briefly) and Martin (albeit in the Championship).

I wouldn't be surprised if someone did the math and they found that Saints fans have seen fewer wins than any other of the 92 league clubs over the last 5 seasons. Apart from the Championship season, all the prem seasons saw us barely surviving or in the case of the last two "attempts" in this division, finishing bottom by miles. 

It really has been completely terrible. Why I and a stadium full of other people continue to turn up is baffling. Imagine being a kid and being dragged to St Marys week after week over the last 5 or 6 years - I never thought I would think this way, but WHY would you choose to grow up a Saints fan if that is what you had been exposed to? Fucking horrible.

 

[Badger]

1 hour ago, Long Shot said:

No the fans were fighting because of the sudden relegation and don’t forget we were very potless back then.  This is by far the most inept season in the club’s history in terms of results on the pitch and inept management. 

Good point, that during that year we were shit because we were penniless.

This time round we’ve spent best part of £200m to be this bad.

That’s a pretty impressive achievement by inept and muppet management at the top. 

[rallyboy]

9 hours ago, Galway saint said:

I think the current record is 29th March held by Derby  

Much depends of course on other results but we must be in with a shout of beating that 

I'm going to stick my neck out here and say I reckon we can make it into April.

#madfool

[BILLYDO]

I have a Saints coat, which is very welcome in the inclement weather. I live in Maidenhead so attracted quite a few comments given our league standing. At one stage I thought I ought to stop wearing it but then I realised that having been a Saint since the 1950's and seen many ups and downs I cannot stop being a Saint. Our fortunes will upturn one day and if they don't I'll still be there cheering on my team.

[Saint_clark]

12 hours ago, Long Shot said:

No the fans were fighting because of the sudden relegation and don’t forget we were very potless back then.  This is by far the most inept season in the club’s history in terms of results on the pitch and inept management. 

It doesn't matter why it happened, it was still the lowest point in my time supporting the club. This season, however bad it's been, doesn't come close because we have a decent chance of bouncing back next season. That season we went down from the championship there was a very real possibility the club would cease to exist. 

[Whitey Grandad]

Here’s a question:

Would you rather have had another season in the Championship or this?

[Gloucester Saint]

21 hours ago, Saint_clark said:

Relative though, isn't it. The season we got relegated from the Championship was worse, despite the fact we finished with 45 points. The day we lost at home to Forest 2-0 with multiple fights breaking out between Saints fans in the stands was the absolute low point of supporting the club for me. 

There was more fighting still at the Doncaster game…

I think with SR being more remote it’s harder for the fans to get as worked up, whereas Rupert Lowe was always a very marmite figure even in the WGS good times and by that stage was loathed widely but a hard core bought into the ‘youth’ fig leaf and taken for mugs. Those games were a culmination of the penny finally dropping, frustration from that group at the boycott (I was still a STH at that point but I could see why people were staying away) and realisation there might not be a club beyond that summer. 

[Green]

Doncaster was the low for me as well. It was a no police game, we were awful, losing and fights between Saints fans.

Looking at the table for the 2008/09 season we managed to win ten and draw fifteen to get to 45 points albeit in a 46 game season. 

Relatively and in terms of non competitiveness this will surely be our worst season ever.

[SaintsBarry74]

This season has been pure misery.

We start off “dominating” possession in the league with absolutely nothing to show for it. Russell Martin’s tactics proven about as effective as a concrete parachute, at the same time we’ve managed to break the record for most defensive errors leading to opposition goals - despite the season being far from over. Brilliant. Another dismal record to add to our collection. At least it’s not 0-9 again... (Although Spurs did manage to empty out St. Mary’s by halftime during that 5 goal carnage.)

Then we rapidly become the league’s laughing stock, fast-tracked by Martin jinxing Pep and the ensuing media coverage. We go from a struggling side to a full-blown parody. Saints fans, in typical dark humour, start tongue-in-cheek references to Derby, but surely, deep down, no one really thought it was that bad.

Martin’s eventually sacked, taking his beloved suicideball with him. Enter Juric - a glimmer of hope - Saints > Derby (surely?). The football improves, but sadly, the points do not. 

Now, with 15 games left, we’re no longer being laughed at as much as we’re being pitied. Pathetic.

The focus for us fans has boiled down to one thing: scraping together 6 more points and avoiding the honour of beating Derby’s infamous record.

Honestly, you couldn’t make this club up.

[Football Special]

I know the whole Derby thing relates to the Premier League era, but what's the actual worst ever top division total? 

Appreciate need to adjust for two points for a win, just wondered if we're competing for all time worst team or just the modern era post 1992 

[SaintsBarry74]

7 minutes ago, Football Special said:

I know the whole Derby thing relates to the Premier League era, but what's the actual worst ever top division total? 

Appreciate need to adjust for two points for a win, just wondered if we're competing for all time worst team or just the modern era post 1992 

I asked ChatGPT:

"The absolute worst-ever top-flight season in English football history belongs to Loughborough in the 1899-1900 Second Division, but since we're strictly looking at the top division, here's the answer:

Worst-ever season in the top flight:

• Derby County (2007-08): They hold the record for the fewest points in top-flight history, with just 11 points in the Premier League. Across all years and formats, this is the lowest total ever.

No team has come close to matching this total, even in the longer, pre-Premier League seasons. Derby's disastrous campaign is widely recognized as the most historically inept in the English top flight."

[Football Special]

33 minutes ago, SaintsBarry74 said:

I asked ChatGPT:

"The absolute worst-ever top-flight season in English football history belongs to Loughborough in the 1899-1900 Second Division, but since we're strictly looking at the top division, here's the answer:

Worst-ever season in the top flight:

• Derby County (2007-08): They hold the record for the fewest points in top-flight history, with just 11 points in the Premier League. Across all years and formats, this is the lowest total ever.

No team has come close to matching this total, even in the longer, pre-Premier League seasons. Derby's disastrous campaign is widely recognized as the most historically inept in the English top flight."

Blimey, cheers. That really is a proper entry of shiteness into the record books. Wonder if Dragan has had this explained to him?

On the topic of records I caught some of Burnley v Leeds last night, quite incredible Burnley have only conceded 9 goals in I think 29 league games , that's got to be some kind of record as well 

[Dr. Kucho]

11 hours ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Here’s a question:

Would you rather have had another season in the Championship or this?

This then another year in the Championship. It would have been the same result if we went up a year later with Martin and his tactics and the poor recruitment. 

Maybe best if we do beat Derby’s record, that could result in Dragen making more drastic changes to this SR scam. Remove more people and recruit others who have got good track records at other clubs. Find someone who says you cannot go cheap in the PL and expect to survive. 

And don’t be so obsessed with data. Data should be assisting, not leading in recruiting new players. 

[Saint86]

I really do think we're going to go down with the record low points total - to the point where i have absolutely no doubts about it at the moment. I don't think we'll win another game all season - or if we do, it won't be until later on when other teams are essentially on holiday with nothing to play for. We simply don't score enough, our defence has more holes in that Henry's bucket, and the rest of the league is currently so even that everyone is up for 3 points vs dreadful little Southampton. Its actually got to the point where teams have to beat us because it would be embarrassing for them otherwise...

As far as our squad is concerned, the belief and passion has gone, they look like they're essentially going through the motions each game - they'll have a go at attacking, but are ultimately waiting to concede or have a bad ref call against them, before their heads drop and we get beat. They've also got nothing to play for as relegation is assured. The grim fact is that most of them have already embarrassed themselves and terminally damaged their careers in so far as their premier league credentials are concerned - and they know it - and i also don't think there are enough leaders in that squad to make them seriously play for pride.

Its a bloated squad with too many journeymen and a few ego players that just want out (and you can't even blame them). There are 2-3 you could say that actually genuinely seem to care and are appalled at what's happening. THB one of the most notable. Grim times.

The club has had worse seasons off the pitch - but as far as on the pitch stuff goes, this season is unlikely to ever be topped. At least in the seasons to come we can remind future saints fans that things can always be worse ey?

Edited Tuesday at 09:38 by Saint86

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, Football Special said:

I know the whole Derby thing relates to the Premier League era, but what's the actual worst ever top division total? 

Appreciate need to adjust for two points for a win, just wondered if we're competing for all time worst team or just the modern era post 1992 

Derby’s is the worst ever although from a 38 game season, Stoke must have been as bad with 17 points from 42 games - remember them being very poor - in 1984/5 - although they managed a 0-0 at the Dell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984–85_Stoke_City_F.C._season

If it’s just the PL, Sunderland, Huddersfield and Villa were pretty horrific https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/what-is-the-lowest-points-total-in-premier-league-history#

Edited Tuesday at 09:39 by Gloucester Saint

[Dark Munster]

On 28/01/2025 at 00:52, Dr. Kucho said:

This then another year in the Championship. It would have been the same result if we went up a year later with Martin and his tactics and the poor recruitment. 

Maybe best if we do beat Derby’s record, that could result in Dragen making more drastic changes to this SR scam. Remove more people and recruit others who have got good track records at other clubs. Find someone who says you cannot go cheap in the PL and expect to survive. 

And don’t be so obsessed with data. Data should be assisting, not leading in recruiting new players. 

Yeah that's what I also mentioned a while back. If we do beat Derby's record, I doubt even the King of Bullshit Rasmus will be able to bullshit his way out of his monumental mess with Dragan.

[Challenger]

Let the owner's and players wear it as a badge of honour, take a bow, bravo ,well deserved all round.

[Gloucester Saint]

21 minutes ago, Challenger said:

Let the owner's and players wear it as a badge of honour, take a bow, bravo ,well deserved all round.

It’s Dragan who has to own it and whilst I’ve been very critical of SR I’ll admit had currently is owning it and has stepped forward.

Mr Sloping Shoulders of Denmark will point to his Goztepe role and have amnesia about his summer transfer activities with Saints, pinning it all on Henrik Kraft. Martin will blame Juric. 

The players won’t give a toss - no survival bonus - but they will be on their spivs for another move and signing on fee. 

[franniesTache]

club should fine the players one months wages for every point they finish below Derby's record at least that way they might stop dicking around and actually try and win games

[Turkish]

I know things are a little bit miserable on the pitchand the grand long term plan to reinvent football has had to be shelved for now but off the pitch things have progressed superbly.

The new fanzone has been an immediate hit. We unveiled the Knightwood lounge and it has been hailed as truly one of a kind with its thoughtful design, the 1885 lounge is in a world of it's own with luxury padded seats, meanwhile the jewel in our crown is the award winning halo lounge. Meanwhile the Dell bar is a fantastic place to connect and have fun.

We have a selection of drinks and foodstuffs in the concourses that can keep the hungry fan refreshed ready to roar the boys on for the remainder of the match. With the long coveted "kop end" now in place with away fans moved to the corner it can surely only be a matter of time before we become unbeatable at St Marys

For the first time we truly are able to deliver the ultimate match day experience to fans from all walks of life, however they want to watch the game. In my opinion there has never been a better time to attend St Marys.

Edited 12 hours ago by Turkish

[Patches O Houlihan]

On 27/01/2025 at 09:37, Saint_Jonny said:

The overwhelming majority of Saints output on the pitch has been utterly depressing since 2017/18, save for some very un-Saints-like blips where the team found a way to win under Ralph (briefly) and Martin (albeit in the Championship).

I wouldn't be surprised if someone did the math and they found that Saints fans have seen fewer wins than any other of the 92 league clubs over the last 5 seasons. Apart from the Championship season, all the prem seasons saw us barely surviving or in the case of the last two "attempts" in this division, finishing bottom by miles. 

It really has been completely terrible. Why I and a stadium full of other people continue to turn up is baffling. Imagine being a kid and being dragged to St Marys week after week over the last 5 or 6 years - I never thought I would think this way, but WHY would you choose to grow up a Saints fan if that is what you had been exposed to? Fucking horrible.

This got me thinking! Should be easy for an AI to work out right?! Nope - well not the ones I normally use anyway.

I'm not frustrated enough yet to crunch all the numbers myself but here are few nuggets to be getting on with. Note I haven't looked at cup games.

From 20/21 through to today Saints fans have witnessed 54 League Wins.

But 26 of them were last year. We got 12, 9 and 6 wins in our previous 3 PL seasons, and 1 this season for a total of 28 League Wins. 

If you had been a 'super loser' plastic fan who changed allegiances every season, and supported the least winning team in each of the top 4 leagues over the same period then you would have seen these figures:

League 2: 37

League 1: 34

Championship: 36

PL: 20

Looking at this I suspect your lowest win rate would be a super survivor in the PL. 

Everton have 54 wins in that period. Wolves have 55.

If you discount teams relegated from League 2 and thus not having all the seasons in the top 4 English leagues there is a strong argument that we would be joint bottom, or if not in the worst 5.

It feels even worse of course because our record winning streak in the Champ was topped and tailed by a losing spell with some embarrassing humpings. 

Edited 10 hours ago by Patches O Houlihan
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