LFEE

You can’t whinge about lack of atmosphere then start adding caveats when people create one… stop being so precious

Until summer and you realise we are way behind Spurs and Man Utd again… and got to climb that mountain again only this time some of the squad don’t fancy base camp again. Not sure paying supporters would be too thrilled either.

Hear a lot of criticism about Hey Jude by those wanting a better atmosphere etc. The facts of the matter is it seems the only song that constantly gets the crowd involved and by far gets the loudest reaction. (I attend every home game). You’ve got to be careful you don’t become part of an echo chamber when debating how to improve the atmosphere as you’ll get nowhere. It be nice if we had something more original that we relate to in the local area that works even better but until then… On a side note I see criticism of what Arsenal have started doing recently with their song which no one else does that works for them yet in reality that is exactly what we are looking for. Same with Spurs. To me both are unique (Southampton fans arguably could have a historical say on the Spurs one!) and work well. Ours sadly has become like a megamix. Maybe because it’s trying to please too many people.

Was unconnected and by chance TBH so don’t read too much into.

Was sat beside someone very high up at NUFC all game tonight and told them we needed four “strawberry corners” in all four corners of the ground to encourage the more timid to get involved and the stands to bounce off each other more so I’ve done my bit as promised.

John Driscoll https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0fmtxp2

Yep. It was the BBC Spanish correspondent. Can’t recall his name.

Like I said. In a sport containing 1000’s of clubs you can probably count on one if not two hands those that benefit. In general they are never as good a deal as they look.

Look at it from the other way. If they hadn’t of changed stadium and ran themselves the same way they’d be looking to be below us West Ham and Villa and soon to be Everton on a regular basis. The fact they’ve won nothing is irrelevant. They are in a better position that they could win something.

Because it’s not the best thing about us (our potential size of fanbase that is currently locked out is) and the only slight unique thing about it is it’s location which we are all arguing on the basis it’s moving a few hundred yards or at most less than a mile to the arena. I think the only one telling lies here is you to yourself. At a very very very basic level. I come to you for advertisement and sponsorship. I can either offer you exposure to the same set of people 20 times a year or 50% more people 20 times a year and a whole different audience another 20 times on top per year. Which one is going to get me the better deal from you? You are talking absolute nonsense I’m afraid.

Changing the rules (too late to catch Chelsea as usual as same goes for their Hotel fiddle) On a side note both these deals are yet to pass the FMV test apparently so they could come back to bite them. Scandalous the investigations take so long.

That’s why I keep saying there is no such thing as a free transfer and generally in the long term turn out to be less cost effective.

Just going off your own figures you should have yours answers. Look at the match day of us Vs Spurs who shall we agree for arguments sake a club in the big six bracket of similar success to ourselves albeit a couple of more ECL campaigns. It’s £118m v £48m. Their new stadium is around 20% bigger than current SJP (62k v 52k) yet our new one you’d assume be 50% bigger than SJP (75-80k). Then you’ve got the commercial income of £228m v £47m which is intrinsically linked to the stadium and what it can be used for none match days and the fact they are paying £25m interest payments for the loans for the stadium we wouldn’t. If £346m (£371m)v £95m is not moving the dial I’m not sure what is. Try and find Spurs figures for last year at WHL. That would be interesting to see. As for broadcast money that will increase with success which is hopefully improve by the other two figures combined. Look at Man Utd’s match day figures with a similar non multipurpose built stadium not based in London like ours with the only advantage is it’s capacity (74k) and corporate areas it allows which would be similar to what we are looking to build at a minimum. £136m v £38m. They are looking at a new multi purpose stadium heading towards 85-100k.

It’s what’s GOING to happen… Thats the problem with some people. They can’t look any further than their own noses at times. This is about the next 10-20-30-40 years and beyond when I’m long gone not about us sitting 5th and still in two cups this season. The UEFA regulations are going to be stricter than than the EPL current ones which already now we are having to sell players we don’t want to and not able to buy anyone of progressive note in 2 possibly 3 transfer windows. Wages unfortunately is the main way to keep players without success and they are intrinsically tied to both sets of rules. Here’s a little heads up. Players wages rarely go down. As it stands at the start of each season Man City can spend £260m more than us due to their turnover ratio alone never mind their ability to sell youth players unable to make the first team for £30-40m (or a backup striker for £85m) which are fees we see as a mainstay first teamers which makes their transfer pot even greater than £260m bigger. They are currently increasing their capacity to an already modern stadium. Arsenal have similar advantages and they’ve realised within 20years they were a bit shortsighted in their new ground capacity and now looking to increase and make the gap bigger. Spurs are making something like £100m more despite tied to £25m per year interest payments on the new stadium which they’ll eventually pay off. Chelsea are the closest to maybe trying to do things whilst staying at a small ground but the cheapest tickets that leads to is around £90 and have a completely different economical catchment area as well a 20 year head start on us. Liverpool have expanded too and still have one eye in the future to move if they can’t keep up and they’ve a 20 year head start also. Everton and Villa will challenge in the chasing pack despite where they currently lie in the table. Even Leeds and others not even in our division. Look what Real Madrid have built and Barcelona are building amongst other clubs in Spain and Europe. I think it’s you who’s living in fantasy land thinking remaining as we are will lead us to the top table of European football. We are only anywhere close because Howe is a miracle worker and we’ve had an almost perfect success rate in the transfer window. That will not always be the case and as the other clubs get bigger and bigger any thought of silverware will feel just as distant as it did under Ashley. I think most agree the location needs to be as central as possible for a new stadium. Turning your nose up at a fully paid for new stadium that would bring multi generational change is nothing but shortsightedness.

Losing our best players? Getting further and further from winning a trophy? Maybe even Howe… Really don’t get your fascination about the ground it’s falling apart if you have a wander around when empty. The acoustics are terrible. Some of the views are woeful and we’ve a giant screen only the away fans can see. Since my first game in 1983 all 4 stands have changed. The pitch has been dug up. The box office and club shop moved as have statues. What is it that you are clinging on to?

To finish above them in top 5.

Such a PSG signing. Thought they’d learnt their lesson.

I agree. I guess they didn’t want to deliver the news of the stadium move alongside overseeing the PSR fiasco. Would love them both back on board still as paid employees as they were great at the front of house stuff and promoting the community stuff and ladies team.

I still get Collymore Vibes off him. Probably more explosive actually but maybe not as cute. He’s raw but sometimes that appeals to me watching a player as you get to see them develop in front of you.

Yeah the one problem with the arena site that gets overlooked is the new arena site is years behind schedule. Was meant to open last year yet other than ground prep there is no sign of anything emerging.

Just caught up with this thread and have a feeling @Heronand his eyesight have mistaken Targett for Barnes

Great return albeit the opposition taken into account. What he lacks in physical assets he makes up for with his intelligence. Plays the game lovely and simple. Will be interesting how much game time he gets this season.

This. Almiron was never a winger. Certainly not an inverted one either.

The Arena site would make the ground more visible TBH.