Cortese's Legacy

  • Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
  • Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!
In footballing finance terms, that's all ages ago now. They couldn't crack into the Champions League, where the next level of income comes from.

They have certainly done well with good management, but even with that, their fans seem to want more, to spend more.

Do you really believe that Man City, Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool & Spurs won't dominate the top 6 for the foreseeable future? They are the biggest clubs, biggest fan bases, biggest money makers.

Honestly believe some Saints fans have a tenuous grip on reality.

It's strange how just last decade is "ages ago", but this age we're in now is going to continue for the foreseeable future.
 
There's this thing called ambition, ever heard of it?

Actually, why are you posting on here. Shouldn't you be outside St Mary's, singing your heart out, backing the window cleaners at St Mary's and demanding the club keeps its best players & manager? Why aren't you there? WHY?!??!?!

Tell you what, if we don't win the league next season, it will all be because of YOU not showing enough ambition.
 
What is surprising is that you don't even dream or hope for better. You can't allow yourself to do it. You have obviously been a traditional Saints fan for so long, putting up with mediocrity, that you can't even steal yourself to have some belief. Well I always hope for better. There's nothing wrong with that. It's just my outlook, and I prefer it to yours.

I hope and dream TSS, but that doesn't make my view any less realistic.
 
It's strange how just last decade is "ages ago", but this age we're in now is going to continue for the foreseeable future.

Joe, last season Man Utd were awarded less money for winning the PL than Cardiff this season for getting relegated. It does change very quickly.
 
You want me to provide evidence from the future? I'm good, but not that good.

We might improve next season, we very well might. We might finish 7th.

We may also finish 10th, 11th or 12th and if that happens all hell will let loose amongst the fan base who have unrealistic expectations.
 
You have obviously been a traditional Saints fan for so long, putting up with mediocrity

I can't recall ever "putting up" with... anything. I support the club no matter where it is in the league ladder.

I've been through some brilliant saints times (76, 79, 80-82, 84, 86, 88, 91, 03) and some **** saints times (we all know them)

Did I love the club any different between the good and bad times? I don't think so.

Think for all the "putting up" that I've endured supporting Saints, I've had a bloody good time doing it!
 
I can't recall ever "putting up" with... anything. I support the club no matter where it is in the league ladder.

I've been through some brilliant saints times (76, 79, 80-82, 84, 86, 88, 91, 03) and some **** saints times (we all know them)

Did I love the club any different between the good and bad times? I don't think so.

Think for all the "putting up" that I've endured supporting Saints, I've had a bloody good time doing it!

Yep, been through those times too. We've both had to put up with some mediocrity. Some of them were indeed great. Let's have some more great times, eh..?.
 
CBK is right. The only way we can compete with the top teams is pay similar wages and that means huge investment from Katharina or we are bought by someone who is prepared to.
Time was once, a club could build a team to challenge the big sides (Forest, Derby under Clough). But now (as we may be about to find out) the promising players are picked off before they've hardly begun a challenge, so you have to start again. And so it goes on. The only way to keep them is give them the money and you might have a chance.
That's not accepting mediocrity or unambitious, it's realism.
 
CBK is right. The only way we can compete with the top teams is pay similar wages and that means huge investment from Katharina or we are bought by someone who is prepared to.
Time was once, a club could build a team to challenge the big sides (Forest, Derby under Clough). But now (as we may be about to find out) the promising players are picked off before they've hardly begun a challenge, so you have to start again. And so it goes on. The only way to keep them is give them the money and you might have a chance.
That's not accepting mediocrity or unambitious, it's realism.

I agree with your post, yet disappointed you didn't use Saints and Lawrie Mac as your example..... :)
 
I believe that we could make the top four next season. I accept it would be a ridiculously difficult task, but it IS do-able with a LOT of luck. We would need to keep everyone, stay injury free and unearth some gems in the process, but I think we could do it.

If that makes me stupid, naive etc. I don't really care. Everton almost did it this season, and we are as good as them minus one or two players. I don't think it's likely, but to rule it out completely is stupid.

Nothing in sport is impossible, and that's what makes it brilliant. If Liverpool can challenge for the title, we can challenge for the top 4.
 
CBK is right. The only way we can compete with the top teams is pay similar wages and that means huge investment from Katharina or we are bought by someone who is prepared to.
Time was once, a club could build a team to challenge the big sides (Forest, Derby under Clough). But now (as we may be about to find out) the promising players are picked off before they've hardly begun a challenge, so you have to start again. And so it goes on. The only way to keep them is give them the money and you might have a chance.
That's not accepting mediocrity or unambitious, it's realism.


We've had most of these players for 5 years now...
Its' all about how we do things. I would like to see us keep buying predominantly young players as well as bringing kids up through the ranks.
My ambition is not top 4 next year: I'd rather see us continue to not compete regarding wages, whilst still competing on the pitch. That is what Saints are all about for me.

So maybe we will not be in the top 4 next year, but the thing is this is a really exciting place right now. We've seen so many great talents go to big clubs over the last few years, but now we've managed to hold on to this bunch.
Maybe that is all down to the Don, but the more we can keep hold of our talent, the more we have a chance of showing there is another way to challenge the top teams.
 
I'm suprised by CBK's negativity. We were top two for the first 6 weeks? Who says we can't win the League, you only need a decent team and a lot of luck, really. If decisions go your way as well as injuries, and we sign a 30 goal a season forward? Stranger things have happened.
 
I'm suprised by CBK's negativity. We were top two for the first 6 weeks? Who says we can't win the League, you only need a decent team and a lot of luck, really. If decisions go your way as well as injuries, and we sign a 30 goal a season forward? Stranger things have happened.

He is not being negative; he is being realistic.
 
I believe that we could make the top four next season. I accept it would be a ridiculously difficult task, but it IS do-able with a LOT of luck. We would need to keep everyone, stay injury free and unearth some gems in the process, but I think we could do it.

If that makes me stupid, naive etc. I don't really care. Everton almost did it this season, and we are as good as them minus one or two players. I don't think it's likely, but to rule it out completely is stupid.

Nothing in sport is impossible, and that's what makes it brilliant. If Liverpool can challenge for the title, we can challenge for the top 4.

It doesn't make you stupid. Nor does ruling it out make people stupid. It may make them a little more realistic that is all. There is a difference between thinking something is achievable, hoping something can be achieved and where your expectations are.

You are right, anything is possible.

What are your expectations for next season?
 
Annnyway. Found some figures for PL wages for 2012/13, from The Guardian's website. Sorry I can't copy and paste, bit beyond my capabilities (this may indicate a lack of ambition). I'll just write a few out in long hand; the numbers are of course in millions.

Man City 233
Man Utd 181
Chelsea 179
Arsenal 154
Liverpool 132
Spurs 96

Everton 63
Saints 47

Oh, and I had to laugh at QPR with 78 mill, God bless em.
 
Annnyway. Found some figures for PL wages for 2012/13, from The Guardian's website. Sorry I can't copy and paste, bit beyond my capabilities (this may indicate a lack of ambition). I'll just write a few out in long hand; the numbers are of course in millions.

Man City 233
Man Utd 181
Chelsea 179
Arsenal 154
Liverpool 132
Spurs 96

Everton 63
Saints 47

Oh, and I had to laugh at QPR with 78 mill, God bless em.

Shows how well Everton did, but also how behind them we are in wages.
 
I suppose it was only a matter of time before someone came on and gave everyone a dose of reality, just happened to be in CBK's inimitable style.

The thing is, its hard not to dream a little when you can see how close we are to bing a really excellent side, and it feels good. The fact weve had it so good the last few years lends itself to our perhaps distorted reality right now. But, I say this thinking that actually most of us know the reality, as CBK said, it is essentially all out of our control, which is precisley why we can dream about it and hope and speculate and hope some more and want some more. It's a bit of a fantasy really, just not for Atletico Madrid.