An interesting question.........would you have swapped the last 3 years, for maybe a bottom half finish in the prem each time? I know the sensible answer is yes. However the last 3 years have been so enjoyable and I wouldn't have swapped them for anything. 2005 was the lowest of the low... or so we thought. I think many people expected us to romp away with the championship and return rightfully to our premier league status..... after 2007 when we fluffed the play offs, things went from bad to worse ending in near disaster and 3rd tier football. Enter Markus who appeared from nowhere. Now I have to say the JPT was something I never even watched or bothered about, but that day will live with me forever. As will last seasons run in, where it was neck and neck with Uddersfield and we remained unflappable in seeing them off. And this season,well it couldn't have gone any better really. I will never forget the likes of Bernard and davenport strutting off the pitch against man utd when we went down, when I see the team bond we have now, it is poles apart. Long may it continue, next stop prem..... then who knows..... COYR
It is interesting that you ask this question as we were discussing this over dinner this evening. The question was posed "Will the Premier League be any more exciting, interesting and emotionaly rewarding than the last three years?" I have to tell you the answer was an emphatic no and indeed the view was we don't want to be cannon fodder for the half dozen or so rich clubs but would rather be playing in the Real Football world with real fans that is the football league. Our conversation developed into how we would revamp the PL and there was again a unanimous view that it should reflect all of the geographical areas of England and Wales but nobody wanted the Scots involved. There are going to have own bankrupt little country soon so their football clubs can go the same way.
Absolutely not. Wouldn't change anything at all. I wouldn't even have Messi unless we were forced to sell Pullis...
There were periods of enjoyment in the Premier League...great escapes, beating ManU, last game at The Dell, FA Cups, the WGS season, and Matt in his pomp, but I have never been as proud of Saints (management, players, fans) as I am now.
Well even if we had escaped in 2005, we'd have gone down the next season without a doubt. That team, excluding maybe Crouch and Phillips at the time, were dreadful. Now, you can't help but feel positive about everything on and off the pitch.
The last three or four years has pulled my family group together more than anything else could, the JPT Cup Final had a lot to do with it, but everything is dandy at the moment.
We lived some great days in the top flight, I have memories I'll always treasure. But, having people at the top you truly believe in, people you want to succeed in everything they do, well that is special, & that runs all the way down through the club now. I've never seen such a great spirit, a togetherness thats not just on the pitch, but all the way round the club. A little tinge of sadness on three years passing are, the saying goodbye to players who don't make the step, but in football thats life, you just have to let go & wish them well.
Another interesting question is (not wanting to hijack the thread at all), if we had won the play-offs in '07, would everything have been ok? I'd suggest it probably wouldn't, but it's an interesting thought.
No, the way we spent money in 2006/07 season (money we didnt have), we would have potentially been another pompey. Some times in life you need to take a step backwards in order to take 2 forwards, we are now way along the 2nd step!
anthony pulis,the guy is 27 and has played 47 first class games, its amazing that they thought he would be of any use- could not even get into the aldershot team and now trying to play in the usa
Yep couldnt agree more, the fact is, when the team has been winning, I know so many youngsters (my daughter included) that has loved going to see games, and winning football, to the point where they are now HUGE saints fans, we have gained a generation of followers with the football and success this team has had.
No. I think what has happened has been a great journey for us as fans and for the team. I certainly wouldn't have swapped it for scrapping for survival each season in the PL
Consistent winning football is something a generation of saints fans have been starved off since the early 80s. The last three years have been great fun. But ask me my favourite saints matches in my 20 odd years and it will be a bit down the list before you reach a game from the last three years for simply on the field performance. There is nothing like playing against the best in the country week in week out.
I don't think anyone would doubt that the early 80s were the most consistently exciting time for a Saints fan. There were some truly memorable performances during that era, such as the game against Liverpool, at Anfield, in their total and utter pomp, winning the Championship and European Cups, at the end of the season, but in the middle of it Saints had hit the top themselves. On the night, Liverpool had attacked Saints as only Liverpool did in those days, with the Kop roaring them on, with wave upon wave breaking up against a Saints defence that wouldn't be beaten. Then in the 87th minute, Kevin Keegan, playing against his old club, slipped Steve Moran through, who outpaced Alan Hansen, rounded Bruce Grobbelaar and scored. We did those kind of things in those days and we're beginning to do something like them again.
I think that all that has happened has united the club in a way that success could never have done. I agree with the cannon fodder comment but when you look at Swansea, Nardge and Stoke it gives me hope. COYS
Saintlyhero says that his most memorable matches are from our PL years. Leaving the PL years aside, I loved the opening match against Leeds this season. We naturally didn't know how we would do in the Championship and the joy I felt when Hammond scored was wonderful. That game indicated that we could cut the mustard in the Championship and we were a joy to behold...shame about that penalty at the end.
Emphatic yes from me. Winning more games than we lose and handing out the 3 and 4 goal pastings have been a complete joy. Now, we are less likely to have so much fun in the Premiership, should we go up but things will be very different than the last time we were there. Firstly, all the infrastructure is in place and we are not going to be dragged down by the debt. Secondly, because our finances are strong we will not have to sell the players coming through the youth system. Thirdly, and most importantly, we have brilliant leadership at board and pitch level. The first relegation hurt. The second one, not so much as I had been expecting it most of the season. Personally, I wouldn't change a moment of it.
This was something I was thinking about the other day wit hregards to my club, Leeds United. More along the lines that, if we were to get promoted (at some future point), I can't see us doing anything other than trying our best to prevent being relegated for however many years, until that time arrived when it came true. And knowing how frustrating it is to be treading water or fighting relegation in any league, I see nothing good would come out of us being promoted to the top tier, except a short time-span of a couple of months being happy and a load of money for Bates. What would be guaranteed is the Leeds massif would get very frustrated very quickly. It's not the same as when Wilko took us up
For me ken bates is simply there for promotion and a chance to sell the club at a dirty profit. The size of a club like Leeds should mean they're competitive in the top flight. Certainly have more hope than Southampton, although we have huge confidence in our current ownership to deliver something.
