All, I just thought I would jot down a few thoughts ahead of our return to the Premier League... To quote Adkins, "isn't it just great" (our first 5 games). It's true. In 2010 when we were in the bottom 4 of league 1, I would have done ANYTHING to get to play Man City, Man U, Arsenal, Liverpool etc! What short, short memories I have. I remember losing away to Walsall - no disrespect to them, but surely losing away to Man City is allowed! BUT, football is a funny game.. why will we lose? Because we are the 'new' boys, they are the champions? If that was the case, City will go unbeaten all season. The reason I mentioned Walsall is a guy at work. I live and work in sunny Bournemouth (our new rivals...) and a guy from work is a Walsall fan (he was born there). He asked me how much I was looking forward to the new season. I initially replied that I was ***ing it! He said Why? Just enjoy! You have been through the mill the last few years, even if it's for one season what a journey you have been through. He's right. WHAT A JOURNEY! Who broke that mirror? 7 long years out of the Premier League! You know what, I am now a 'better' fan after that. I do not want instant success. I do not want overpaid idiots playing for my club. I want hard working individuals that care. Hard work beats talent, if talent doesn't work hard (N Adkins 2011). So if on Sunday we lose heavily, remember the Rochdale, Walsall, Gillingham away defeats. No disrespect to those teams, but in 2 years, look where we are. Aspirations...Well obviously to stay up this year (though, upon reflection and experience is it THAT important - just look down the road). Maybe a bit of cup success? Whatever happens, I will forever thank Markus, Nigel and Nicola for the journey..somehow though I think it has only just begun! No7
Spot on, but I honestly don't think that we will be embarrassed on Sunday, people seen to be massively overestimating Citeh and underestimating us. They have got the players, no doubt, but we have got a superb team ethos, that NA and his staff have carefully cultivated and some of our players aren't bad either. I think that we will probably lose, but it won't be by more than 1 goal in my opinion, as for the rest of the season?, well I think that there are definately 6 teams that we are better than.
This thread deserves to keep being bumped to the top. Football is a funny old game. The highs and lows are what keep us coming back for more. I have predicted a heavy loss against City but yet I have still put £20 on Saints to win. If only my heart told me to bet with my head. I'm a Saints fan. I think the lack of signings (so far) has got us all a little bit anxious. The olympics has been and gone, 65 medals and over 300 events. It kept me occupied until 10pm every night but then it was back to scouring the net for any sniff of a rumour. One things for sure, we'll bring in players right for SFC. I don't want us to settle for second best for the sake of it. We'll get players in that fit our way, if that takes time then so be it. We will be stronger in the long run. Who knows, maybe now that we're Premier League we'll finally land Matty Holland ! Onwards and upwards! Cheers.
I remember something that got me through the last few years with Saints. My sister-in-law said in 2005 immediately when we went down: "Remember this. If it wasn't for the bad times, you won't appreciate the good times" It sticks with me and is probably why I have loved the last 3 years as a fan so much. How many fans of Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal etc have been through what we have (Man City have I know!). If we lose to a big club, just remember the long treks to Carlisle, Hartlepool & Tranmere (only 2 years ago...). Let's just enjoy the continuation of the fabulous journey that Markus is orchestrating from up above! No 7
This is a season to be enjoyed....to make the most of playing those top teams which I took for granted. Sure the wins will be fewer but they will taste a lot sweeter.
We're ahead of schedule, we could still get relegated and come straight back up and still complete the five year plan.
Cortese said we'd never get relegated whilst he was here. We shall see. But yeah, good post - we've come so far in such a short space of time, and now we're in the big-bucks of the Premier League, we can take advantage of our solid foundations and financial backing.
People who say 'enjoy being in the premier league, even if you get beaten every week' always tend to either support a club that never has and never will be in the premier league, or a side that has always been at the top of the league. In my opinion it's an incredibly patronising statement. No matter who you lose to, it's never nice to lose on a consistent basis. At times this season we will endure losses that hurt just as much as any we suffered in the last seven years. Hopefully though, we will finish 17th and look back on this as a great season.
A few days ago I was getting really nervous, but am now looking forward to the season. We won't win the same number of games as we have over the last two seasons, but we will win enough. Losing to Man City (as we probably will) does not define our whole season.
Hi Fran. I just hope that if the worst happens and we make an awful start we don't panic. I'm really confident we will survive and continue to progress.
Morning. The PL will be a test for Adkins, the players and fans. Keep calm and carry on. We usually started poorly in the PL, but we are in good hands now. Every game is regarded by Adkins as a chance to learn and improve.
I remember back in the late 80s, City were promoted to the top flight after 2 years in the (then) second division (now the championship). Those two years were when I really got my teeth into supporting City as a teenager. Old enough to start going to games without my Dad, young enough to not feel embarrassed about still having my Dad subsidise my season ticket!! Anyway, back in the top flight, and our first game was away to Liverpool (the champions). It would be the first top flight away game I ever went to, and we lost 3-1. I just lapped up the atmosphere and enjoyed every minute. Since then we've had to endure the very worst period in our history and now are enjoying one of the best periods. And enduring such low points does make the highs feel all the more better for it. Now Southampton have earned their place back in the top flight, fans can (and will) look back on such low points with a sense of perspective. As the OP points out - a degree of comfort can be taken in losing to the likes of United and City when you've experienced losing to the likes of Rochdale. That's not to say that you don't care whether your team wins or loses, just that, as already pointed out, it puts such defeats into perspective. But no one should get ahead of themselves. Those games are yet to be played, and whose to say that Southampton can't go to the likes of City, United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and come away with positive results? Of course the odds are stacked against you, but anything can happen in football. Re-wind a few years, and if someone said you'd be a PL team in 2012 many may have felt that was an unrealistic, unlikely prediction. Well, is an away win at such clubs really any more unrealistic? Of course it can happen. I'm looking forward to the game on Sunday. I won't be there - this season I've had to stop my season ticket as financially it's been an horrendous year for me. I am not expecting a win for City - I only ever always hope for one, irrespective of how good or bad we are/have been. Anyway, Sunday aside, I wish you all the best for the coming season. It's good to have Southampton back in the top flight.
Agreed Ripley (sorry to hear of your financial problems) Miss going to the Dell,it had lots of character which st Mary's doesn't have.Perhaps it is one that grows on you?
Fran we are not the Saints of old but a bold, brash and very ambitious new Saints. Hold on to you hat.
Thanks RC! It's great to be back, and your post reinforces the view that you have to go through the bad times to come out more humble and enjoy the good. I never enjoy a loss (just ask the wife!), and all losses hurt, but you have to look back to see how far we have come back in such a short time. There will be highs and lows this season, that's what makes football such a great game! Good luck to you too (after Sunday), I love to see Fergie's face when you are above them!! No 7
It is fans like this that will forever make me want City to win the title over United! I am so excited about the new season, I just really hope that everyone will keep calm if we lose a few games and not start calling for Adkins/Cortese out etc. I know a lot of saints fans can be really fickle, so I hope the atmosphere at St. Mary's remains positive all season. Negativity, "tutting" and moaning will only hinder our performances.
