July 8th - Two years on

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RedandWhiteManofKent

RedandWhiteManofKent

Well-Known Member
Mar 23, 2011
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Canterbury
Today 2 years ago something special happened to Southampton Football club. From the brink of extinction (and it really did feel like that at the time) Markus Liebherr's bid to buy the club was successfully completed.

At that time there was relief but still uncertainty about Southamptons future direction.

Quotes at the time;

Joint Administrator Mark Fry commented: "The sale of the Saints to Markus Liebherr is a fantastic opportunity to rebuild the Club. Markus Liebherr was attracted to Southampton by a number of qualities which include the Club's rich sporting heritage, loyal fan base, first class stadium and training facilities and the potential for the Saints to regain their rightful place at the higher echelons of English football.
"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all Saints' fans for their support and patience in what have been uncertain times for the Club. I would also like to wish both Markus and the Club well for future success."

Below is part of Markus Liebherr's statement:
"I believe we have a superb opportunity to rebuild this great Club. Clearly, this will require resources, planning, hard work and patience. We will assemble a strong management team at every level of the Club. We will act rapidly, but also plan for the long term, because I am here for the long term."
"I also look forward to the Club re-engaging with the fans and the local community. We cannot succeed without their backing."
"We should not expect instant success, but our fans, employees and other stakeholders can expect 100 per cent commitment from me and my team"

I feel sad just reading this, especially the 'i am here for the long term' but every promise he made has been fulfilled and his legacy continues.

2 years on, we have won 2 trophys and promotion we have just made our first major signing of the summer and can see the renewed optimism for the coming season.

i feel a great togetherness and can only see a bright future. A far cry from 2 years and a day ago.

Thank you Markus, thank you Nicola and everyone that has not only made the last 2 years possible but the secure future of Southampton Football Club possible.

obituary from the independent http://www.independent.co.uk/news/o...preneur-who-saved-southampton-fc-2063201.html

How do you all feel 2 years on, best moments over this period - Any other thoughts
 
Three games stick out in my mind from the past two years.

The first is the game v Millwall. Our first game in League One. Starting off with -10 points, we effectively fielded a team of reserves, with a few players from the previous regime in there too....and a fleeting appearance from Rasiak too <laugh> I remember watching it, thinking about the preceeding summer, and just feeling this optimism that "It could only get better". Sure enough, Matty Patterson popped up and scored, and I jumped out of my chair for joy. Of course, the game ended 1-1, but that definitely lifted my hopes up.

The second is, of course, our JPT final v Carlisle. Dominating the game, winning a trophy at Wembley with 40000 of our fans there. There and then, I knew we would be only going up from there.

Lastly, the United game in the FA Cup. The way we played was not unlike a Premiership team. We pushed them, we went 1-0 up, we forced them to change strategy. The pundits say we ran out of legs, and while that was the case possibly, it still didn't stop us from pushing on.

Those three games encapsulate the past two years for my view on this club. They represent courage, optimism and progress. The very foundation which this club is now built on. It is almost as if a completely new team has formed since we were relegated. And I think we all know that this is only the beginning for us.

It's been a great ride so far, and I think we can safely say it is still climbing.

I actually feel like shouting COME ON SAINTS right now...
 
How do I feel? Excited, ecstatic, energetic and filled with enthusiasm. Hats off to Saint Markus.

I'm also filled with a little intrepidation, but that's because it's my wedding anniversary; off to Tesco to get a card and then off to golf.
 
conman14 - great memories, for me a couple of games towards the end of the season - MK Dons at home and Brighton away - two great wins after being behind when the pressure was really on the guys - that wasnt the saints of 2 years ago, a new grit about the team.

fatletiss - happy anniversary to you and Mrs fatletiss

The last 2 years havent always been a smooth ride, loss of owner, manager sacking, some bad results but could we have wished for anything more. Would you have done anything differently?
 
I agree Spiderman, I think I can safely say last season was the most enjoyable whole season I've enjoyed as a fan.

Can it get better than that? I don't know, but to this day, I'm so grateful to Markus (and now his family) and Nicola for everything they've done for the club. Long may it continue.

Markus, you probably never knew how much your appearance really meant to us fans but we hope you're looking down on our little Championship club with that big smile of yours.
 
So many memories, but there has been one massive change for me at Saints, never experienced before. Last season, under Adkins, I never worried when we fell a goal behind. Was always certain we could come back, even 2 goals down against MK Dons. We have a team that plays as a team. I know the Championship will be harder, but I am still confident we will do well.
 
Very sad but if we compare the shambles of a club from just over 2 years ago to the well built up and structured team we now have. There is no doubt that Markus has left a legacy in the form of a brilliant club, here here, long may it continue!
 
For me the best two years of supporting Saints have just passed (out of 37 years). JPT Final, Norwich in the q/f of JPT, Notts County Away, Leyton Orient both years away. Far too many memories to write down.
I actually dont crave for Permier League football any more. Just more seasons where we win more than we lose. The team are good to watch and the spirit around the club is good. I only hope NC doesnt get too frustrated with a few seasons in the Championship and chop NA prematurely. However lets enjoy the good times and try not to get negative when the boys lose a few games on the bounce when they no doubt they will this season. Markus would no doubt be more than happy looking down at the current state of the club compared to two years ago. Long may it continue...
 
Best moment is the promotion party against Walsall...... Saint Markus, Nicola Cortese, Nigel Adkins & his coaching staff and all the players (except Puncheon) have given the club back it's self respect and dignity and hope for the future, "it's as simple as that!"
 
Many happy memories of the last two years. The way the club has been transformed in such a short space of time is remarkable. Markus will never be forgotten. That big smiley face in the stand is what I will always remember from the past two years.
 
Some of us older fans have experienced the Euphoria you are experiencing, many, many, times before. I am not saying it is old hat, far from it. As we all know there is huge disappointments too.
As has been previously stated, SFC went through a very traumatic period about 5 years or so ago culminating in the club nearly going out of business altogether a fraction over 2 years ago. Our pride, integrity and reputation was trampled into the dirt big time.
Then an unassuming man came to the podium. Took us on and told us he would rebuild all that we had lost. He made promises we all wanted to hear. He began the rebuild. He plugged the bucket that was leaking fans quicker than water at a stroke. Could we believe this man? Could we believe a self made and self financed man, a billionaire? We had heard so many of those promises before over the years. What made him so special?
Marcus Liebherr didn't flash his money to buy our friendship, he quietly assembled his team and told them to get on with it. He made sure he was present to show genuine interest when he could. He didn't make a lot of noise he just joined in. To show how inconspicuous he was at Wembley he got out his own little camera to take the photo's that meant so much to him.
Any lingering doubts that were around would have disappeared at that moment. There was no doubting he was one of us a Southampton fan first, the financier second.
Sadly he was taken from us all too quickly, not that he wanted to go, he just was. It does show the character of the man that he put so much in place....."just in case"
Human nature being what it is, fans opinions will have different idea's and different ways of achieving the dream. The one thing though that we all will agree, that is how one man shared a dream with us, put things into place to achieve that dream.
Gave us back our dignity our pride and our ambition. His legacy to us is the memory he created and the dream we dared share with him and hopefully can now go on to fulfil.
We should not underestimate the task ahead but we have to believe in the leadership that Marcus Liebherr put into place. OK there has been a short tweak but lets all agree engines need a tune up now and then! Let us just enjoy what is to come ahead whether it be the present euphoria, or the dreaded inevitable disappointments.
For we are the mighty Saints...................
 
i think the biggest compliment i can give is that for the first time 2ince the uefa cup season i will be buying the season DVD - this was a yearly thing until relegation year and i have not wanted reminding of any season since.

i did buy the jpt final dvd of course but thats a one off game!!

we all need to make sure that the legacy of this great man continues as i think we all know he will forever be a big part of the fabric of Southampton FC's history.
 
A lot of people were extremely derogatory about the JPT, even from our own ranks, to me it was a stepping stone, a taster for real success, a vision of what was to come if things went in the right direction, besides it was a fantastic day out, most who were not there, were envious of those that were, we know we could have filled many of those empty seats had we been given the chance. If nothing else it must have rung alarm bells in the other Clubs board rooms. Step two, promotion to the Championship, we must look up, but there is no harm in revelling in recent success, but we definitely want more. COYRs
 
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