x

Stoke City Tickets Selling Fast ! But Why Is It Not Sold Out Yet !

In case anyone has forgot we have a game on Saturday that will truly either see us start to pull away from the bottom three or keep us firmly in the mire, tickets are selling fast, but surely they should be sold out by now !

A look at the Saints official club website shows that there are perhaps around 900 tickets lef in the home sections for the visit of Stoke City in a game that is vital to both clubs.

However a look at the Stoke City website shows that they have only taken 2,500 tickets and have not sold them out yet, this means that Saints do have the capacity to put another 800 tickets on sale in the Northam End and possibly more.

But although the home tickets are selling fast, certainly there were twice as many as this available a week ago, surely it should already be a sell out !

There are no excuses not to buy ticket for this one, it is a Saturday 3pm kick off for a start, one big excuse for not going seems to be kick offs at various other times over the weekend

Then there is the fact that it will have been three weeks since our last home match against Liverpool, funnily enough a game that sold out without too much trouble even being on a Sunday afternoon at 4.30pm, I can understand why people would rather see Liverpool than Stoke, but if you want to see Liverpool next season then Stoke is a game we need to win.

Then there is the fact that this will be the last home game for six weeks, we will not play at home again till we meet Chelsea on April 14th, so given that this is the only home game in the middle of a two month period between Liverpool and Chelsea it can't be a financial thing for most.

So why haven't we sold out yet ?

I know what the answer is and that people will moan about Pellegrino, Les Reed, Ralph Krueger, that the club is in chaos and the good old chestnut that they are just not being entertained.

I can understand why people feel that way, but they are excuses for not going not reasons, the old adage is that the Club is bigger than one man etc, now is the time to prove that.

Whatever people feel about Les Reed and Ralph Krueger they have delivered a golden period in our history, four consecutive top 8 finishes, something never achieved before in the club's history, two European campaigns in a row, given that prior to this we had only had seven previous European campaigns in our history, that is an achievement as well.

As is a Wembley cup final for a major trophy, again given that in the modern era since we became a League club, we have only been to 3 Previous major finals, to get to one is not something that we do very often sadly.

But all that is forgotten as Saints struggle and a proportion of the supporters turn their backs on the club and would rather be somewhere else other than supporting their team in their hour of need.

Perhaps its a modern thing, but Leicester City fans have had a lot to moan about in the last season, perhaps more than Saints, yet when they hosted Leicester on Saturday they had almost 32,000 in the ground for a game that in the scheme of things was not that attractive or have much riding on it for the Foxes.

So on Saturday we need a few people to look at their consciences, if they have enjoyed the last few years then it is time to give something back to the club when it needs it.

The team needs a full ground, but more to the point it needs a full ground that is behind the team to a man from the first whistle to the final one, grievances with individuals be they members of the board, the manager or players need to be put aside and we all need to have a common goal and that is three points against Stoke City.

If you can't do that then probably better that you don't go to the game, but as the late great Bill Shankly used to say "If you can't support us when we lose, Don't bother to support us when we win"

Shankly had a point there that most football fans will get, if you don't then perhaps you are following the wrong sport.

I know some will say to this piece, "Change the record" but the fact is I have to keep putting the record on because of the empty seats, I get hacked off when speaking to fans of other clubs they ask why our fans are so fickle, they question why we are not selling the ground out and people are staying away and I'm sick to death of sniggers when I say it's because they are not being entertained.

We like to slag off the Scousers and the Mancs and even theScousers and Mancs that come from Slough, yet they go whatever the results, they tell me it's just what they do, form doesn't come into it, nor does Sunday kick offs etc, they accept that it is part of the game and get on with supporting their club.

We have many fans who are like this, most of them tell me i'm right to berate our fair weather fans, but sadly we do not have enough who do turn out week in week out.

Two years ago some were demanding the stadium be expanded as our support was growing, most of these fans are now staying away, there is an irony there.

So lets fill those remaining seats, turn up on Saturday wth a positive attitude, it is not the fans fault we are in trouble, but we now need to be part of the solution and not the problem.

In a month's time we will possibly be playing in a semi final at Wembley and would then take more fans than can fit into St Mary's, that will be another irony !

What to read next:

Return Dates Set For Injured Southampton Duo Ramsdale And Bednarek
If you thought that things couldn't get worse for Russell Martin after the defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers, then think again, injuries to two key players in the past fortnight have added to his woes.
Do Southampton Need To Recall Bella-Kotchap For Liverpool Clash
With Jan Bednarek seemingly set to miss his first Premier League game of the season, Saints are struggling for central defenders to take on the League leaders Liverpool at St Mary's, is it time to bring in a player out of the cold.
Does Shea Charles Prove That Russell Martin's Player Judgement is Flawed
There has been a lot of words typed on the internet about Russell Martin and his tactics, but is this just the reason as to why we are doing badly in the Premier League, last season there was a clear evidence that his player selection is not what it should be.
Central Defensive Injury Blow For Southampton
If the next few weeks were going to be tough with the potential absence of goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, then they are now getting much worse with the news that a central defender has been injured in International duty over the weekend.
England England's Number 16
It was a dream England debut for Southampton's Taylor Harwood-Bellis, in front of his future Father in law ex Manchester United & Republic of Ireland legend Roy Keane, not only scoring but also nearly getting an assist.
Nick's Saints Saints Away Travel Lay On 6th Coach For Brighton
Brighton away was the first fixture Southampton fans looked for when they came out back in June so there was great disappointment when the game was switched to a Friday night as it means it's virtually impossible to get back on the train.
Saints Not Afraid Of Sacking Russell Martin Even If They Have To Pay
Recent reports have suggested that Southampton have not dispensed with the services of Russell Martin due to the alleged £12 million compensation cost. However it is now suggested that this is not the case and that if they do lose faith they are willing to pay the price.
Southampton Settle Russell Martin Compensation With Swansea City
Its dragged on a bit, but Saints have finally sorted out the compensation package with the Swans for Russell Martin's switch from South Wales to the South Coast, although the details of the settlement are rather vague.
Goalkeeper To Have Surgery As Saints Season Gets Even Worse
One of the highlights, if you can say their were any, of the last few months, was the arrival from Arsenal of Aaron Ramsdale, but now comes some terrible news, that he has injured a finger.
Sources Say Southampton Have Made Decision About Russell Martin
The last two days have been ones of frustration for fans of Southampton Football Club, after a toothless display at Wolverhampton Wanderers, many were convinced that this would surely be the end of the line for the Saints manager.