Is now the beginning of the best ever time to be a Saints fan?

I'd go back further, to when Liebherr bought us and we came out of administration and started rebuilding the team. That was probably the most excited I have ever felt as a supporter, even though I had no idea how far it would lead.

 

Possibly, and although I agree with you to an extent, I didn't start believing untill we won the JPT.

 

Funny how age clouds your judgement?
I remember a time when everything Saints related was so simple, must have been late seventies / early eighties, when myself and 3 mates decided on the spur of the moment to go to St. James Park, Newcastle to watch the lads. We set off on 2 scooters, me riding pillion with a pal up front and just headed North, it took us 2 days to get there sleeping rough the 1st night. Remember my eyes were like piss holes in the snow, but managed to watch us lose 4 - 0 [I think].
Remember getting half way back, tapping my mate on the shoulder and saying 'For fu-ks sake let me off, there's a train station over there, my arse is like John Wayne's saddle' - Happy days.

 

I agree with this. We’ve come a long way from League One and things look positive at the moment but the higher you go, the harder the climb gets. Next season I’ll be hoping for a top half finish but a relegation battle wouldn't surprise me either; I firmly believe there’s not much difference between any of the teams in the Premier League outside the top six or seven.

Yes, we’re on a very nice run of form at the moment but it’s only a few games. It’s also worth remembering that we've had a relatively injury-free season so far and we’re still in the bottom half. Plenty of teams before us have come up, done okay for a while and perhaps even won a trophy. Then they've stumbled, slipped back and even got relegated in some cases.

People here are talking of regular European football. It may happen but let’s not get carried away. It’s not an immediate prospect; I’d actually be quite concerned if we got into Europe next year and took it at all seriously. If Cortese wants to achieve his European ambition then the challenge is to consistently break into that elite top group of six or seven clubs, and that’s something that will be very difficult.

Let’s get things in perspective. Not long ago I found a copy of a football annual from 1990 (Shoot maybe?) that my parents must have given me as a child. There was an article in it that talked about the “Big Five” clubs (listed as Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool, Everton and Man Utd). In the 23-24 years since that article was written only Man City and Chelsea have really broken into that group and they did it courtesy of sugar daddies spending crazy money on players and wages. Blackburn, Newcastle and Leeds also spent big money and challenged for a while but they were all relegated not long afterwards and they've all had fairly serious financial problems as well.

I’m not saying Cortese and Southampton can’t get to the level he wants but nobody else has done what he wants to do. Other teams have done what Southampton have done since 2009 (and more). Other teams have risen through the leagues quickly, other teams have had some limited success in the Premier League and other teams have done okay in the Premier League while winning a cup or two but none have consistently broken into the top six.

If Cortese does manage to get Southampton to that level it will be his greatest achievement at the club and one of the greatest achievements in English football since Clough won the European Cup with Derby and Forest. It wouldn't surprise me if he does it but recent history suggests it would be less surprising if things fell apart.

 

There have been some great times in past years for being a Saints fan. Winning the FA Cup was quite exciting! The 'golden years' in the 80's when so many England (and other) internationals played for us. The times when Saints provided several members of the England set-up (on at least one occasion 3 Saints started a match for England, Steve Williams and David Armstrong were two although I can't remember the third).

However the fantastic thing about NOW is the anticipation of just what MIGHT lie ahead. Yes, we may remain a mid-table team for years to come, but if that includes serious challenges for a top 6 finish then that sounds good to me. But if NC's plans work out and Saints Do become one of the elite, I just hope my heart keeps ticking regularly!!

 

I forgot to add: Now is the most important time in life so I voted for the 'now' option.

 

I swear mine skipped a beat the other day when Gaston scored.

 

I think it will get worse for the simple reason it can't possibly get any better. At some point, expectations will change so that a #10 finish will be disappointing. And we'll have to start replacing players we really like with more highly skilled players who aren't quite as much fun to root for.

Of course, I thought the same thing after last season's high. And then I thought the good times were over after Adkins was fired. So hopefully they keep proving me wrong. I wonder if Norwich supporters still feel like they are in a happy, golden era?

 

Better in the 80's .

We did well , The Dell rocked & Money was not killing the game .

 

Interesting question about 3 or more Saints playing for England in a game, I'm sure someone will tell us?
Don't forget at one time we had Shilton, Mick Mills, Dave Watson, Dave Armstrong, Mick Channon, Kev Keegan and Stevie Williams?

 

Interesting question about 3 or more Saints playing for England in a game, I'm sure someone will tell us?
Don't forget at one time we had Shilton, Mick Mills, Dave Watson, Dave Armstrong, Mick Channon, Kev Keegan and Stevie Williams?

 

Is it the beginning well that's hard to say without knowing the future. In my lifetime almost definitely. Were not far at all from our best prem finish. We had the fa cup final which was great and hasn't been matched yet but at the moment there is the sense that we could go on to much greater things, a sense which was lacking back then. Surely it would take a lot to match coming second in the league and having the European player of the year play for us? That's some way off at the minute if we did get there then we could look back at the day Marcus and Nicola rolled and say yes that really was the start of the best era in our history. Whether it will happen remains to be seen.

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/johns-called-up-775454.aspx Here comes another one when will it ever end?

 

My earliest memory is early 90s so I can't really comment. We had Le Tiss back then, also we beat Man U at home two seasons on the trot, so that's my vote

 

Didn't we have something like 6 England captains? Mick Channon, Mick Mills, Peter Shilton, Dave Watson, Alan Ball, Kevin Keegan. Maybe one more? That must be something of a record.

 

To me we have yet to match the Keegan, Shilton years but I'm confident we are going to!

 

Not quite all at once, sadly. IIRC Keegan left before Shilts arrived.

 

How about Mark Wright?

 

I think I have a poster from the 80s in an old scrap book I recently passed on to my son, with Mark Wright, Peter Shilton and David Armstrong in the same England team. I'll check it out.

 

and another:- Norwich City 1 Nottingham Forest 1: Britt the hero as Canaries reach Youth Cup final after 5-4 win on penalties.
Goalkeeper William Britt was the hero for Norwich City as they beat Nottingham Forest 5-4 on penalties at Carrow Road to reach the final of the FA Youth Cup. He is on loan from Southampton!

Name: Will Britt Position: Goalkeeper D.O.B: 22/03/1995
Strong shot stopper who opted to join the Saints Academy from Brighton to complete his scholarship. His height is an obvious advantage as he measures in at 6' 2", and enters his career hoping to emulate sporting hero David James.