I'm 23. I can't remember any football before 1995. We're as good now as we were under Strachan, in my opinion, and with more ambition. So yeah, best it's been in my short lifetime.
A considered... YES. Two reasons: 1] The past is the past and we can't relive it. Memories of a new era in the Elite [First] Division in 1966-67 are beautiful, as was the late 70's until the mid 80's, but they are memories and you can't bring them back. Even the last 2-3 seasons are past and have got Saints back to where they were, essentially in the same place as where those memories have taken place above. 2] This Saints era is NOW, but more importantly, we may be moving into territory previously uncharted by any previous Saints iteration. It's truly exciting to be a new Saints supporter at the moment because the particular man in charge isn't content to be an also-ran, unlike his predecessors. Also, he doesn't want flash-in-the-pan success, but intends building a long term legacy towards continual success, so that when he finally hands over the reins to his successor [hopefully not for many years] he be leaving a club that could well be a household name.
Yep, we've been spoilt with so many hero's wearing the shirt recently. Seen some great players & good times, but with NC upstairs, things sure look good right now.
Sorry Godders, going to be really pedantic and state that "the beginning of the best time" would have been 8th July, 2009 as I see this as part way through an ongoing journey. That said, being pedantic aside, I totally agree (having been a toddler in the 80's) that for me the present time is as excited as I've ever been as a Saints fan. The reason being we can not only enjoy our present results, but for once also dream about where we may be in the short-mid term future with optimism that it MAY be even higher up the table than at present. Back when we got to the cup final in 2002-03, it was exciting, but it felt like we'd hit our ceiling. We were still a selling club, and we relied upon finding the right bargains to replace the outgoing stars just to attempt in vain to break even in terms of results on the field. For the older generation, I could fully understand that the late 70's/early 80's may have been better as the game as a whole (and our success) was less influenced by money. Given the way the game has now become so involved by money though, it is at least refreshing to see that we are not just throwing it around a la Chelsea/Man City/QPR, but specifically planning for the future of the club right from the Academy upwards with a vision that if we nail that correctly, in time, we won't be needing to spend so much on transfers as we'll already have the best crop of youngsters coming through. All in all, the future's bright. It's red and white! (or just red with pinstripes!)
I noticed Dan there looking a bit lonely, so I voted with him. Perhaps I'd better explain, after the first post I made above. I mentioned the uncharted territory that this new version of Saints may well be entering. That's what I'm really waiting for. These are great times, but we've seen equally as good times before. What we haven't seen is the future that is being planned for, and that is incredibly exciting for either new [or jaded] Saints supporters.
The 80s were good, but our fabulous aging team could never be replaced due to finances, lack of TV money unlike today and a small stadium although it was standing so more could be squeezed in. I voted that this is the most exciting time as now we have a chairman who is more ambitious than most Saints fans.
Right now that's hard to choose. I had a ST in 1983/4 season and driven forward by one of England's most under rated midfielders ever, we were on our way to winning the double. Yes, I said winning the double. The top flight English league and FA Cup double. We got bloody close too and to this day I believe that it was only a knee injury to Steve Williams and the fact he played in that semi final with that injury and missed the next few league games, that we didn't win the double. It is very exciting now because of how far we had fallen and the ambition of the man at the top, yet can you imagine being a Sants fan chasing the double? That statement in itself almost sounds ridiculous to me, so I don't know what it must sound like to people like my son today. Southampton chasing THE double? Phah! Ask me again in two seasons and I may vote for now. Remember I have put myself in that place to make this vote, not knowing the then Board would stop the ambition. I imagined me, as a 14 year old in March 1984 and me now. Yes I'm very excited now and delights with our progress, but the double!!
I've just re-read the title of Godders thread. It could be the beginning of the best time, yes, but we don't know what we don't know. Anything could happen next, good or bad. I answered above as if I was in the now, then and in the now, now... make sense?
Ah good days! I remember a Laurie Mac quote at the end of the '84 season where we finished 2nd in the league to Liverpool and lost the cup semi final to Everton. "We've had a great season...we were an inch away from making it a miraculous one"
Wasn't a fan in the 80s (though I did exist!). There have been moments in recent decades which felt good...finally getting a new stadium, Gordon Strachan...but I felt I had to live in the there and now because it didn't necessarily mean good times in the future. The feeling at the club now is excitement...it's been good since ML/NC took over and the future is bright.
The beginning of the best times was the day we won the JPT. That was the start of our rise, and it's now continuing, on and into Europe.
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/10356449.Fair_play_could_put_Saints_in_Europe/ a sign of the times, but do we want it yet?
It says that Rodgers would turn it down, but that's misleading...he actually said we'll have to get fouling as he's not interested. Not sure we want to be in the qualifiers for the Europa...could disturb our preparations for next season. Anyway England have to be in top three and we are currently fourth, so there are a lot of provisos before we even get to consider it.
Great post. Really got me thinking about the Laurie Mac era, when we had some wonderful times at the old Dell. I think the main difference between now and then was that Saints were still a small family club where players were within reach of the man in the street. I remember Ron Davies living in a rather nice semi in upper Shirley and me, as a youngster taking a detour on my way to school, hoping to catch a glimpse of Big Ron. I also remember being in the company of the great Mickey Channon many times, as his brother was one of our mates at the time. Mick was very down to earth, very approachable guy, always up for a laugh. But on reflection we were punching well above our weight in those days and great as it seemed it was never going to last. By comparison everything now is on a different level, the stadiums, the pitches, the fitness and the standard of football Saints are playing is superb compared to the good days. So on reflection, nostalgia aside, I would have to say there has never been a better time to be a Saints fan.
I started going to the dell in 1989 towards the end of the Nicholl era, that 89-90 season was apparantly a cracker although I don't remember it too well. So for me yes this is the most exciting time to be a saints fan (although when we hit rock bottom -10pts in league 1, that was the start of the good times). I remember the Brantfoot days fairly well, ugh dire football. I think the most exciting thing at present is we only recently hit form- who knows how good next season will be if we can play a whole season at this standard.
My life peaked in May 1976, it has been bumbling up and down ever since, currently on the up as far as football is concerned, but time is running out!
This team is way better than the Strachan team. I believe it is easily the best team we have ever had and I'm including the early 80's team. Mind you I'm not taking into account the fitness levels etc. If the 83 team had today's fitness levels then it would be close. But actually, the best time to be a Saints fan was 1 May 1976! That will live with me for ever.
