The Premier League Thread

For a fleetingly short period, Saints did have a multi-billionaire owner, willing to throw some proper money down. But he died.

 

That's a bit of a myth. Markus wanted us to be self sustaining, not somewhere for him to throw his money around.

 

He certainly spent money initially and a relatively large amount for a League 1 club....set us on the right track. He was certainly very keen on Saints in the short time he was here and may have given us more money if he got over excited about our progress, but there was a suggestion that he wasn't as rich as initially rumoured...stinking rich rather than filthy rich On the other hand he may have sold us. We will never know sadly because he died too young. The only thing I am sure of is that he saved us and laid the foundations for us to do well in the right hands.

 

In answer to your previous q, the FT report was regarding the Qatari’s taking ownership of Leeds. They’ve been lightly nosing around some PL clubs for a bit. I had initiated some cursory discussions with them around the time the....ahem....large changes occurred with our ex-chairman etc. Because said discussions were directed toward another certain ex of ours. The Qatari’s were interested in taking things further. Our ex flirted with me and us a little, before backing out, for reasons I shan’t go into...

 

That's so obscure, but I like it.

 

I'm always torn when discussions are about clubs getting rich new owners. I guess I want an owner who is just 'rich enough'. Be great to have terrific players and go for it, but I really want to feel that success has been earned and not just bought. Probably illogical when you see the way things are going, but I prefer a team that is built rather than wholesale transplanted. Guess I'm a dinosaur.

 

I had virtually no idea what he was talking about.

 

I get it.

You had a ex-girlfriend that was from Leeds, and Cortese fancied her. He pretended to be your mate to get to your ex, but all along it was a Qatari who fancied her and once they realised that Nicola wasn't your mate really, they went after another woman.

 

Are you saying you were speaking to the Qataris suggesting Southampton as the team they should buy into and suggested to them about teaming up with said ex of ours. That they were both up for it until our ex decided against it, and I could guess as to why that was/is. Why would the Qataris only have been interested in us if teaming up too with our ex? That could have been a wild ride! Is our ex part of any Qatari takeover regardless of club? I.e will he turn up at Newcastle now if that goes through?
I understand if you can’t or don’t want to answer any of those questions. Just interested. I could also be barking up the wrong tree with my supposition.

 

So obvious now.

 

Not part of it now as far as I understand it. He was part of the package I was proposing to the Qataris.

There’s all sorts of land/stadium development questions etc that they will be interested in them purchasing a club. Not just a vanity position. I was of the opinion that the person that would know the answers best to these questions was an ex of ours. Remember, this was a time when we had Les, Hughes etc at the helm. It made most sense with his drive and ambition on board, but then our stability as a PL club at that point was very questionable, and had we been relegated it would have been suddenly a lot cheaper. Some might say it was the start of a ripple that created a wave of changes for the better.

 

Sherlock Holmes couldn't have done better.

 

Welcome back Aston Villa. It will be interesting to see how far up the PL this momentum will take them. I certainly cannot see them lucking anywhere near the relegation places once into their stride but they may well need to go out and get a striker if Abraham returns to Chelsea.

Certainly, it is shot in the arm for the West Midlands to have two teams back in the top tier. I am sure Wolves fans are looking forward to locking horns with them again.

As for the manager, Dean Smith, he seems a very inspiring choice for them.

 

I wish it had been Derby. That Aston Villa squad is incredibly boring. Lots of the same old faces.

But fair play.

 

While it is good for the PL to have Villa back, it is a loss to the Championship to lose the club that pulled the highest attendances. With Villa, Sheffied United and Norwich all promoted, and Spurs settled in again at their new stadium, PL attendances may well hit a new high next season. Only 5 clubs cannot accommodate 30,000+.

 

Bournemouth, Palace, Watford and?

Edit - Norwich

 

You beat me to it!! Double edit: We forgot Burnley.

 

So we did! Knew there was one more from this season

 

Perhaps you should invite Amanda Stavley to dinner By the sounds of things, she has a wad of cash, burning a hole in her purse.

 

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/17670176.liverpool-fan-guilty-of-assault-on-officer-at-st-marys/
Liverpool fan convicted of assaulting a police officer at SMS and banned from attending football matches for three years. Sometimes you wonder what goes through the space between a football fans ears....alcohol probably.