... which sends a message to all those foreign owners who want no promotion and relegation from the Premier League. This is a good read: http://gulfnews.com/sport/football/...igns-of-vitality-in-the-championship-1.920126 It illustrates what has happened in English football that the media and the PL have forgotten and that is fans love fair competition. The Championship is the best place to be. Do we really want to be cannon fodder for the mega rich clubs with their armies of armchair and overseas fans. Football clubs based in their local communities and supported strongly within their communities is the English way and long may it last. English football is crying out for major change to reintroduce competition and to kick the mega rich into some sort of foreign league. Wouldn't it be great to be able to turn on the radio or TV to listen or to watch the football without having to listen to some pundit/commentator/announcer have an orgasmic love in session over Man Utd, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea or those has beens Liverpool.
Very good article. We enjoyed League 1 because we started winning again. The Championship is full of good sides and we're top (what's not to like!). There is a conflict here though...the excitement is that most teams have something to play for..promotion or avoiding relegation. We all want promotion to the Premier League where results are usually, though not always, predictable (QPR v Chelsea anyone). We will either be fighting relegation or midtable...only a few teams seriously compete for the title. The other thing to play for is a European place, but again little chance of actually winning. As I am on the Island I can say that because Nicola can't come and give me a slap (we all know his desire for world domination). We did enjoy our time in the top league, so perhaps we can learn to love it again if promoted.
Excellent find Godders; really good read. I agree with it all except two things: 1. Poopey fans aren't happy, they're just pretending. 2. Despite all the vigour and competitiveness of the Championship and the apparent gloom of the Premier League, I really want Saints to be promoted to the top league. It is where I want us to be playing every week. The Premier League is still the place to play really; let's not pretend otherwise.
Really good article. It manages to say the very things fans are concerned about, and it actually mentioned our conflict, as fans, that watching our clubs in the Championship or League One is a great experience, because we can be competitive. Every club can be competitive, which is what makes the Football League so enjoyable. The Premier League is, by comparison, just a league for 4 + 2 perhaps, and the rest make up the numbers. Do we really want to be Big 4 fodder..? I don't. What I want is for the Premier League to change back to being the First Division, as it was. Competition - without it, football eventually dies. As to Saints being competitive there, well that's up to our illustrious Chairman. How far does his ambition go..? Well we know how far it goes. Further than our imaginations, as shown by Fran's post: ...We will either be fighting relegation or midtable...only a few teams seriously compete for the title. The other thing to play for is a European place, but again little chance of actually winning... I appreciate you can't see it Fran. Neither can I, and neither can 99% of the others, I'll bet. But for now, we have to trust Nicola. I wonder what a our 50,000 seat stadium will look like..? please log in to view this image
Jon Keen of the Football Supporters' Federation is a Reading fan. "I've said it for years — as a supporter, the Championship is the best place to be" Yeah you might want your team to play in the championship for ever but I want Southampton FC to be in the premier league,the best league in the world.
If we get to the Premier League, we will compete. It's as simple as that! How many people thought we would be either first or second in the Championship every game for the first 14 matches? Not many of us, I'd bet, but look how well we've done so far, against some of the best teams in this league. When we go up, we will strengthen the side and be competitive.
No one wants to be in the Championship, that's why it's so competitive. As NA often says, there are about 16 teams pushing for promotion with only 3 places available. If the PL had that many top 4 contenders, it would be electric.
I'm a big fan of the Championship, its the most exciting League.....but, if we are to keep players like Lallana for many years to come, then theres only one place to aim for, & thats the promised land of the EPL. Where corridors are filled with greed & sky tv calls the shoots, but its the lesser of two evils I suppose.
PREMIERSHIP : Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Obviously want Saints to win football matches which would result with us getting promotion to EPL. The Championship!! the best and most competitive league in the world imo and apparently the 4th best supported....hope we get to the promised land but we will be leaving the best league in the world
