Yep I'm over the FLD now. I actually quite like him. I remember how he wished us well against the Swans and then congratulated us afterwards - he didn't have to do that, and he went back up in my estimation. Of course, he could just have a good PR guy behind him though
Pre season starts tomorrow... be interesting to see if the likes of hoedt, carillio and clasie rock up or not. Or whether they'll be included in the first team training.
We would never have kept RK.....The club is just not ambitious enough. All they want to do is to stay in the premier to make a few bob. If an odd cup run comes along great stuff, more money. We would like to win a trophy or two but no worries if we don't. When you think of the top 5/6 clubs they made it known they want to be up top. Other than the likes of Leicester which had a fluke season without spending a lot of money the best we can ever hope for is a spot just inside the top 10. Sadly that is why we can't keep decent managers. IMO
All of that is reality and realistic for us Saints fans Beddy and has been our identity for 99.99999% of our existence. We need to remember what the club was/is and forget the brief period under Cortese when we (falsely IMO) believed that we would become a mega rich club like Citeh and Chelsea. Where the club is and has been in the past few years is still an achievement for us (PL status, domestic cup semi-final and final, EL qualification). We're alright and doing ok I reckon.
Mate I would agree........Strangely though back in the 50s and 60s we were actually aspiring to be a top team yes even before the likes of Liverpool!! The year they were promoted to the then div 1 Saints beat them 3 times twice in the league once in the cup!! When we eventually got the promotion we deserved we struggled and the Lawrie Mac joined us.Ok he didn't save us but he did bring us back up.......... and we more than held our own. Eventually getting our best league position as runners up div 1 not forgetting our historical FA cup. It was obvious though our ground wasn't really big enough and the offers from Charlie Knott were turned down....the rest as they say is history...............At best we can hope for is a top ten anything further up the scale would be almost a fluke. Thats why it is unlikely we will keep any decent manager.
The thing I don't understand with some Saints fans is that they let their unrealistic expectations affect their experience and enjoyment of supporting the club. I'd love the club and be proud of them no matter what league or position we were in. Skates have had it a lot tougher than we have recently!.
And if people really think that the only point in a football club's existence is to be at the top, the EPL might as well just have 5/6 clubs.
There is nothing like throwing the towel in before you even start. Cortese was a man of ambition and we would have become a highly successful club under his leadership. However if you have no ambition then don't be surprised when you win **** all.
I'd love it if another owner came along and pumped finances in but i'm equally happy and proud to carry on enjoying watching the Saints progress currently under Ralph finally utilising the raw materials of our Academy. PS Cortese left the club over 5 years ago now and there is no actual proof that we would've become a top club and won trophies permanently!
I suppose Ive been lucky in my support for the club.............All through my boyhood and youth there was always this ambition to do well whatever league we were in. We were known as giant killers of our day especially during the 70s. No team that played at the dell could guarantee they would get a result. Our giant killing days pretty well ended as we entered the big time although we still had the odd result. That is why I think I have always supported Saints is because of their unpredictability. Sometimes annoying but sometimes really really great............i've supported them a bloody long time......and proud of it.!!
Well said Beddy! We are all extremely lucky to support the unique and mighty Saints!... No, i'm not on drugs...
Their first major stay in the top leagues..............27 years in the premier....ok nearly always touch and go but we were considered in "the big time".......Thats how the 1st and premier were looked on in those days. The European league hadn't got so big in those days.
But that period coincided with us coming within a few wins of winning the league and cup double! So I guess you really mean from the late 80’s onwards.
Ok. In that case I don’t get your comment about the giant killings... that was my era and we had lots of what I’d call giant killings. I recall lots if great wins against the very big teams. Of course being in the top flight, that cancelled out cup giant killings from us, because lower league teams were looking at getting those against us.
It could be later guys as Chilcs says.........Certainly once we were in the top flight our giant killing gradually dwindled although in truth there was still no guarantee of a definite win at the Dell. Which used to make some of the very top teams embarrassed mainly because they were sure they would win because perhaps our form at the time. To the last match at the Dell it was known as a fortress for us.
