Fitzhugh Fella

Sometimes St C posts some good stuff but perhaps he needs to concentrate on more quality less quantity.

Bump X 2

Players need to be bollocked we all know tha,t but the skill lies in the manner in which the player is bollocked. I have heard a rough transcript of what Koeman said and it was pretty unpleasant and humiliating especially for a young player, who at the time was being treated by the physio. Tell a man off by all means but don't humiliate him. Targett may have had a poor half (they all did) but to single him out in such a way makes Koeman a bully in my eyes.

Bump

Can the Mods make this a sticky for a few days please?

Sad to report that ex-Saint Tony Byrne died yesterday aged 70. Tony played for Saints between 1964 and 1970 making 101 starts, 13 sub appearances and scoring 3 goals. A Republic of Ireland international he was a versatile left-sided defender who was often picked by Ted Bates to man mark George Best. He was a lovely chap who I remember would often take time out after training to coach us kids in The Dell car park. He wound down his career at Hereford (Terry Paine brought him with him) and Newport. All thoughts go to his family.

Thanks Florida Martin All makes sense but a bit of a worry.

If I was an Everton fan I would be starting to develop an inferiority complex. The longer this drags on the more I would be thinking he doesn't really want to be Goodison's next messiah. This is almost Pompeyesque in its schadenfreude

I prefer managers that get results and have a shred of decency

No I must admit the negative stories about RK only really started around the time of our mid-season slump. I was aware he had a degree of apathy towards the Academy but as Terry Paine told me that was always the Barca way of doing things ie the first team players were always kept aloof and apart. I assumed RK was just following this tradition having been schooled in the Barca way. I was aware that this was not in keeping with the club's overall strategy and was causing tension. I think what we have all read today is the club's version of events and it suits their purpose. I am sure Koeman would tell another story and as CB Fry points out in a result driven business Koeman has delivered.

Well we all know there are two sides to every story but Even as a cynic I am inclined to side with the club's version. RK changing agents at a crucial time was strange but now I can see why if you take this explanation at face value.

I am pretty sure JS's post is pretty spot on at least as far as the club sees it as a couple of things tally exactly to what I have heard. I would also add I am 99% certain that this post originated directly from the club. With Koeman back tomorrow the release of all this info - which adds up pretty much - is perfect timing. Tomorrow or Tuesday will be interesting!

Indeed - Koeman made a particularly harsh verbal assault on Targett in front of the whole dressing room, blaming him for everything that had gone wrong in the first half and saying he epitomised the reason why he would not pick any U21 players, they were all c**p like Targett.

Well I can 100% vouchsafe the Targett part of the story -it happened during half-time in the Leicester A dressing room

On form and with a sensible head on him he is virtually unplayable. 50m at least he is a proven Prem goalscorer, he is young and knows where the net is. Priceless

I honestly don't know but I think we will soon find out by the length of time it takes us to appoint a successor- if it's more than a day or two it will show Koeman's departure was not expected.

Not really, at the time the players were apparently a bit bemused by it, but looking back now with hindsight, it could be construed as the management preparing them for a possible regime change. As I said on another thread earlier, at the time of Kelvin's testimonial I know the general consensus in the boardroom was that RK would not extend so putting 2 and 2 together my take is contingency plans were already being considered.

The club

At the season's end the players were briefed to expect a harder tougher regime next season.

I am afraid that the players respect him even less. I know Howe has no pedigree to speak off but everyone has to start somewhere, even Ferguson, and Howe's potential, personal circumstances etc etc while, not being the exact fit, comes closer than the likes of Moyes Hughes Martinez etc. The Premiership remains our bread and butter and Howe is a young Premiership manager.

This is v similar to what I heard from an impeccable source (not a player) and the club have known for more than a fortnight he was not going to extend. Why Reed released that interview I have no idea. Many of the players don't rate Koeman. He is aloof and interacts little at training. His brother is more highly rated and liked. At half time in the away game at Leicester he nastily and publicly castigated and belittled Targett in a manner many present thought unacceptable. Although he has done well for us and the fact his departure will rock the boat for a while, I am none to sad he is going and as I said before and not too many of the players will be particularly bothered either. Howe would get my vote as he is not likely to want to move too far and we need managerial continuity if we want to maintain our recent growth.

The fans will be more upset than most of the players.

Time to go? Nah he is box office popcorn material

Inclined to agree - on form he is unplayable. Vital we extend his contract but I don't think his head is in the right place ie Southampton.

Yes thanks for all the typing. Les Reed certainly talks the talk and fair play for that but next move is to turn words into facts