Frank's cousin

Dont be paranoid Alps- this goes with the territory of being successful- take it as a complement that the club and it's players are now more newsworthy. Rumours and speculation are the lifeblood of the papers, especially when there is an international break and no one really cares about Hodgson and Rooney love in... If by some chance we do get a CL place, 90% of the coverage we get will be positive, 10% will be selling our players for us ... The success is worth it don't you think?

I understand perfectly... I just don't consider it relevant - what we are doing is proving that the resources, finances, squad cost, and revenue, do not need to be considered as the key criteria - if you use other criteria, such as infrastructure, team work ethic, squad harmony, coaching quality etc... then we are probably 'punching at our weight' as its clear that in these categories far from average. By always focusing on the financial resource, it undermines the value of those qualities we are excelling at.... nowt to do with chips on shoulders, just a different perspective, one that looks at what is driving or progress and suggests these can be more important qualities than the resources that you seem stuck on. And just for Turks, before you go on ...and on... about some sort of obsession given the posting times - the hint was 'airport lounge' - just happen to travel frequently in my job, which means time to kill at odd times and in different time ones... and means more time spent with family during normal hours....

...I understand the phrase very well... Just in my opinion, it's not one I believe should be used because of what it implies... You struggling to accept differing points of view.... Again...and again.... oh well...

Don't agree with the term 'punching above our weight' for starters it's patronizing and secondly it assumes that we are not as good as the table suggests. Fact is our TEAM is performing far better than the others with exception of Chelsea... So far. Simple. We finished 8th last season and as everyone says 'improved with the transfers' so we should be doing better than last season... This is our weight now... Sure it might be closer had some of the other sides who traditionally do better been more consistent, but we would still be up amongst it based on our results. Our weight right now is top 6 and that is where we are and where I believe we will finish... The position within that could surprise us even more, but a lot will depend on how others do, luck and whether our form remains as high...

...like I said... ;-)

Patience - the saints goal will come soon.

If you have an iPad, download dragon video app costs about 5.99, but then if you select browser mode and the ilive option and then live sports, you I find a stream that works most weeks without the security issues of using a windows based laptop and all those annoying pop ups.

I do believe you mentioned me first dear boy.... As you seem to every time you post, somewhat obsessive. You are funny...

Indeed, the resin why weare top 4 is because we have been doing what top 4 sides do consistently - best most sides from 6 or 7 down. We have no idea how long it will continue but as others have said lets just enjoy and see what happens - I get the feeling though that RK and the players see the possibilities of a surprisingly good season

No it's worse than that in Turk's case - they just shrug their shoulders and say they 'who?' To get nsignificant to register much of an impact (as he was so kind as to name drop me, thought I would return the favour - quick I better hide or ask the mods for protection.... He is so big and tough )

To ignore luck, is to actually do injustice to the things that are planned... We could not be sitting where we are right now despite the succession plan and 'southampton way' being introduced over 5 years ago.... Without luck, and as you say we could be unlucky in future and It Would NOT be the fault of the 'Way' The Souhampton Way includes a serious succession plan - we decided on a way we wanted to play and a philosophy to give youth a chance... Which means we reduce the elements left to chance by not just seeking managers and players who are just available, but finding those (and being prepared to let them go) that are here to a job within the parameters we set. It means harsh decisions at time (nige - victim of his own success) when one part of the plan is completed early, but it is the major reason why we have not fallen by the way side.... We do not bring in managers who try and enforce their own style and philosophy- we build on and evolve the one that is already here, tweaking, improving, yes, but not revolution. Players are recruited who fit our system, not purely on who they are. But luck does play it's part - because even with the best succession plan, and the detail scrutinised to find those that fit the plan and can slot right in, these players still have to fit in, gell and do so rapidly in an unforgiving league. Yes we "give players a chance" but the league does not. The fixture list has also given us a start that has meant wins early and that breeds confidence - we could easily be on 10 points had we had a Chelsea, City and one of the over tradition big boys in these last 9 games .... Luck does play a part. When 6-7 core players leave, you still need some luck that the targeted players are available, willing to come and that complex financials can be worked out... And then they have to settle i was very critical of Kruger when he arrived - I was concerned that in their efforts to be different from what Cortese had brought to the club, and That he and Reed had developed under the 'Southampton Way' would be chucked out with excessive spoons... That the style and philosophy that underpinned our continuity , and the succession planning that underpinned it would be gone and we would end up like most other clubs, hiring a manger available who comes in and tries to do it all his own way.... KL and Kruger did not convince as they seemed to be struggling and even When Reed was put on camera, it looked awkward and contrived... The sales did not help. But hats off to both KL and Kreuger who showed the strength of character to recognise, that not all that had gone before was in need of radical change... And that the most important part to our progress is still in place. So huge kudos to teh 'Southampton Way', huge kudos to KL and Ralph for recogniziing it's value. Huge kudos to Reed for his part in building and implementing it, and huge Kudos to the Players and Ronald K for working so well and hard within it. And be thankful for the 'luck' that has given it a chance to flourish - no shame in admitting that it's played a big part to... We just have in place a philosophy that reduces it's influence.

Simple really - although not really any of your business a- but when you lose a close cried that you have known for 20+ years to liver failure, it tends to make one little sensitive to such constant and ill informed jibes. Would his now 14 year old son think these comments a classic attempt at web forum will me up and hilarious or that you, Fry and your little sycophant hypo were arseholes?

If in your small and to be honest rather pathetic mind a glass of wine or a pint once or twice a week is a problem, then yeah, best get over to the AA. The fact that you see nothing wrong with your 'running gag' is what demonstrates your ignorance. I can only assume you have had it tough or were poorly educated to turn out such an ar*ehole - (or do my expletives offend your ever so sensitive ears?).... jeez.

Uhm.. let me think about this ... 'reacting emotionally and making a fool out of myself' on a football web forum? Yep, happy to oblige you ol' china - not really fussed about doing that, although you seem to place rather a lot of significance on this place with such high expectations.... but on a more serious note, do you and Fry really think your running alcoholism joke is something appropriate for your snidey mocking? I am lucky Turks, I don't have a problem, in fact I don't drink that often so its no surprise that a couple of glasses of wine and I can be of ranting with the best of them... so not fussed about that either. But as I have said to you before, I do know folks who have seen their lives completely shattered by that disease - seen the effect its had on their families, kids - and its not really a laughing matter IMHO. If you and Fry believe it is, well that says more about your characters than anything else - and demonstrates that, yeah, co*k and Tw*t are quite appropriate and as such the pair of you go well together.

Maybe, but reality is if he always went with the obvious, would anyone read it? He has to through a few odd balls in every week to generate the right amount of interest and discussion... as we see here. Unfortunately, some like Fry, seem unable to let folk express and opinion without making a snide arse like comment...

haha you just cant help but make and even bigger fool of yourself everytime you open your mouth. No thats wrong, i made a fool out of myself reacting a bit emotionally to the summer turmoil... i can live with that. you on the other hand just make yourself look like an Tw*t. Not only one that thinks that is actually funny, but one that needs to use second hand material (it was lame the first time Turks used it.... ) get yourself some originl to say, and you might be worth listening to...

Yep very true, was worried. you on the other hand spent not just summer, but pretty much all the time behaving like a Tw*t. we all look forward to when you actually make a constructive contribution or express an actual opinion. Tell me, did you have to practice for a long to time to perfect the miserable grumpy as feck personna, as you make it appear so natural?

So basically , in summary: the summer saw a bunch of saints fans behave like a bunch of Tw*** by reacting pretty much how the majority in football and football media responded....now those first class brains who did not respond in this tw**ish way are behaving like a bunch a Tw**s in pointing out how others behaved like a bunch of Tw*** in the summer? Therefore logic dictates we are all a bunch of Tw***. Quad Erat Demonstrandum

Wes, I think you need to tone down the self righteousness a little here because you state the 'assurances given by Reed and Krueger' yet fail to acknowledge that even within 24 hours actions went against what they said.... The issue there was one of credibility. You are trying to tar many posters with the same 'gullible' brush, and it's a bit arrogant to suggest the 'most sensible posters' etc.... The reality is most professionals and even the less sensationalist leader writers were suggesting we would struggle.... Not because they wanted us to, not because of some 'agenda' or dislike for saints but because a side losing it's 5 best players was unprecedented and all logic pointed towards a season of difficulty... So some reacted angrily, some went OTT, some just disappointed. Fair play to the those who were genuinely unconcerned... But I suggest that their number is far fewer than the number crawling out with 'told you so' rhetoric now. It does now appear that the sales was coped with because of a succession plan originated way back when Cortese brought in Reed... The same succession plan that saw Pards, and Nige replaced and allowed us to cope with Pochs departure ( see above post), but that does not take anything away from the simple fact that it was still risky given the numbers and quality of the players we lost.... And the need for rapid assimilation of the replacements...

sorry whitely, but have seen that spending loads is no guarantee... Many examples so always better to keep stars where possible that you know are are performing well, than the risks associated with new players... To put some perspective on this, as always how we see this does tend to depend on our overall feelings two wards take in charge... There seems to a pretty close correlation between those with 'foresight' and those who were glad to see the last regime disappear... But that's another discussion. What does not seem to be raised is that it's the clubs 'succession' planning that seems to have worked and worked perhaps better than even the most optimistic could have foreseen. Cortese and Reed at some point early on put in place a strategy that no one employee would ever be 'irreplaceable' the committed to a structure and style that was the Southampton Way... Maybe to some little more than a sound bite, but the reality it seems is that it meant our managers have been selected to do particular job within a defined long term plan... And not simply revert to their own 'style' and over haul the complete team and playing style... Its why we have seen progress and success despite having 4 Managers in 6 years when that goes against the conventional wisdom.... But it's because we ave selected managers to suit the SFC way, that will buy into the existing philosophy and approach, rather than do their own thing... Same seems to go with the players brought in. My biggest covers when we lost Cortese was that we might revert to the more traditional way... Nap bringing in managers as staff who were available, but would be doing their own thing and building from scratch.... Add to that the unprecedented numbers of key players who left, the crappy communication, and I feel totally justified in being concerned. Thankfully, it seem Reed, KL and Ralph did want to continue the 'Way' that was introduced by Cortese and Reed.... And the succession plan was successful. For the benefit ofTurkish so as not to confuse the dear boy, the 'luck' I refer to in an earlier post is not to do with the succession plan, but in the simple fact that even with the best plan in the world, players still need to settle, Gell and integrate - the fact that ours have so quickly is in part because they appear to have been selected as team players, but also down luck.... If we see a similar set of departures again in the summer... I will not be worried that the board don't have a plan, but I will still be concerned that we might not be so lucky next time no matter how good the intention. We do eventually need to try and convince players to stay for contractual terms if we are progressing- otherwise what is the point? Whatever, some may think of Cortese, he did see to have the ego/knack of convincing players of the ambition with Saints... The current board are doing an excellent job... Very happy that I can say that despite not being convinced before... Fully des ever every bit of credit they are getting right now, but there will be further tests next summer and they may not have the fortune next time around.

Think you will find most fans acknowledge the difficult conditions at the time... But his attitude towards us and the job is what sticks in the craw... The first week he was here, he began criticising the p layers as not being good enough... A group that was already demotivated and lacking confidence... So much for his 'brilliant' man management.... Throughout his career, he has bought hundreds of players making 'agents' fortunes and hoping a few good uns settle in... Go read Tom Bower's 'Broken Dreams' - whole chapter on dear old Harry and his transfer policy... What is his strange and weird love in people have with 'loveable rogues'... It's always been about himself... Oh and maybe his dog Rosie if you include her off shore accounts... But hey that's alright because 'he's a character, in it'...

...true, but may I ask what is so wrong with folks all reacting differently to it? We are all different, some reactionary, some over emotionally (expressed both positively and negatively), some predictably expressing that they are 'far too grown up' to be so emotional....yet is not supporting the ridiculous game all about emotion? Sure some of the personal attacks against Katherina were totally out of order. I gave Krueger a load of stick because he WAS **** poor at communicating what was happening with any credibility.... And what is wrong with that? There are plenty on here who suggest this sis wrong, yet spent plenty of time in their criticism of the previous regime... It's opinion and on this kind of open forum, I still find it funny that some don't seem to expect such different opinions or responses.

I thought we were fecked, nicely surprised.... We may still get pulled back down to earth in Dec/ Jan when we have a 'trickier' set of fixtures, but can't help but enjoy it whilst it lasts. But anyone who says they were NOT concerned given what what's was happening - is telling porkies IMHO... Or where just over joyed Cortese and POCH had gone, which meant more than loosing 5 quality players, irrespective of the risks associated with bringing in unprovens in this league. Hindsight is a wonderful thing... But seems that Reed et al were able to find quality out there. The problem was with the communication. Krueger got a lot of stick, and tightly so, for some poor statements...that really did challenge his credibility... He has since turned it around as he has learned quickly so fair play to him... But it was not a great time for the club and to suggest we would come through with such positivity is far more mystic meg BS than those having a melt down based on predictions of relegation... The majority of football thought we would struggle... If we end up selling half the side again in the summer and losing Kooman.... Yes the club will survive and we go on, but I would not bet that we will have such fortune again.

You know, we have not often seen eye to eye... But the fact you spotted it and took the time to offer condolences is top stuff - respect to you. Fantastic win that we can all be proud of.