Well, judging by the amount of anti-Pompey songs that cascade from the stands at every match ("shoot the Pompey scum" etc) I would've thought that one of the worst things a crowd favourite could do would be to actually play or manage them. My point is that each of the Legends that I named are Saints folk heroes and it is their acheivements in a Saints shirt that are remembered (and rightly so) and are not diminished in any way. Alan Ball was a master at saying what the fans wanted to hear, he would have a way of making you feel the most special club he had been associated with. I can remember him saying that he would've " walked over broken glass in bare feet" for the Saints Manager Job, but that never stopped him running off to Man City within 18 months. His name was ringing around SMS after he died and rightly so as it was at Fratton Park, whose fans also think that they were "special" to him. Now I would suggest that Adam Lallana's achievements at Saints are not far short of Alan Ball's and should be remembered in the same way, but that is just my opinion.
Except Lallana's behaviour leading to the move was poor. As was Lovren's. Why are you not understanding it's that which rankles, not them actually moving.
What has he done that was worse than Alan Ball leaving for Man City, which was also very unpopular at the time. I'm saying it is his 7 years of achievement that I would prefer to remember, not his "methods" of obtaining a move.
He was sensational at getting relegated. Martin Cranie? That move really didn't work out for him. Shame.
Alan Ball was also a fantastic player for Saints, don't forget. He was practically Steve Williams mentor, so there's many reasons to appreciate Bally. As someone else has said, it's not the fact they've left, it's the manner in which they left, which is the issue. And btw, Alan Ball left because Guy Askham didn't care whether he stayed or not. I have Alan Ball's autobiography, and he asked Askham if he'd like him to stay, because he would if he said yes. And Askham didn't say stay, so it's quite plain that Askham was happy for him to walk out the door. He was such a cypher, that bloke. At the time Bally was on £75,000 per year with Saints. Franny Lee said he'd triple that. What's he going to do..? Stay on his Saints money, when his own chairman can't decide whether he wants him to or not..?
I don't think Bally ever wanted to go. As I recall it, City asked for permission to talk to him, and instead of saying gfy, Saints said permission granted, which made Bally think he wasn't wanted. The clincher may have been his friendship with Franny Lee who was City chairman at the time; but the club basically pushed him into city's arms. Edit; should have read TSS' reply before I posted. Basically saying the same thing.
SA - do you sit down with your Mrs and fondly remember how good in bed those old girlfriends who dumped you were? It is probably worth pointing out to her what a good contribution they made to your experiences in that department; I'm sure she'd understand
This thread will do nicely for the terrible revelation the poor Dejan Lovcnut isn't having such a great time at his spiritual home as he would like: http://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/sport/11475370._/?
The telling part in that article was that he admitted that he was finding it difficult to lead when he was used to others leading. Fonte...take a bow. He didn't mention it, but he also got good coverage from midfield at Saints. We make people look good.
I am just 25 and the thing is I need to improve in every game as a person and as a player. Yes he does.
