Frank's cousin

Cant believe the outrage... hilarious that some of you are Soooo angry.... if anything just shows what a prat Levy is if this is the kind of thing he thinks is important - sure it plays to the media/PR brigage (a reward for their 'help' in securing the switch no doubt if I was being cynical... but playing the media game can be useful) but I prefer our approach which was to protect us and the manager from misinterpretation... Pards.... Nige.... MP....? Key to our progress and success was not one man, but the CONTINUITY is style and appraoch with each able to provide incremental improvements on his predesessors - its that CONTINUITY is style and approach that will be key. If the new man has his 'own' brand and style and wants that or nothing, we will struggle no matter who is appointed.

TBH, not fussed 'Who' the new man is form a name perspective - MP showed that getting players to buy into what we are trying to build, style etc, is more about how they gto aout it, than 'who' they are. For me, the key is that w eget someone willinga nd able to continue building on the style and approach we set out under Pards... Nigel .... MP etc where each was able to build on the foundations laid by the previous - in effect a major reason for our progress and relative success has been that 'CONTINUITY' - not in name but in style of play with incremental improvements - and with a squad that his getting tighter all the time. Tuchel seems ideal to me, given he is considered to be simialr to Klopp as well... soudn squite exciting

Fair points re the timeframe - problem is the impact of that timeframe mid season (closed window) v open window. I doubt there was/is anything the board could do to speed up the process if indeed they are as advanced as Les said - but without being able to communicate what is happening to players, there does seem to be a vacuum that is causing a fair bit of unrest? Things we do not know for certain and thus open to speculation: 1. Has a manager decision really been made - are we really close, or still more negotiations? 2. Have players been given any kind of reassurance/time line etc to avoid them (and their agents) getting the hump? 3. Have the players guessed who the manager will be .... and dont like it? I know what you think of NC, but whatever he did, whatever faults he had, he did seem to be the glue that held things together, and its the fracturing of last season's squad that is causing concern... the perception we are left with is that the board is struggling to maintain the strong bonds from last season. Now whether they believe they can restore these once the new man is in place or are happy to let the new man rebuild from scratch we dont know..... but if it is rebuild from scratch, then that is a dangerous game, given the likely need for a completely new spine... gelling etc... that is why some are worried.

and therein lies the problem .... To many 'from what I have heards' with no source and nothing to substantiate the rumour.... Often from many who have previously indicated their position... So it would be naive to believe it... It's got nothing to do with not wanting to believe it, seriously, but it's all to do with the simple fact that it's all speculation, from those who have not hidden their dislike for NC...

Trouble is, we are told/ conditioned that to be a true fan, you MUST accept everything, no matter what SHIETE the 'board' throw at you... Because the club will always be there and other such cliched Bol lox... And that is what it's is... Despite what various über fans will suggest. We do NOT have to accept it. We chose to because we are told it's the right thing to do. Well what is wrong with saying enough is enough? What is wrong with saying you are sick and tired of your clay being a 'victim of its own level of success'? And seeing your best players leave on mass because 'that is what football is about'? Why is it about that? Why can't we demand change, which will only come about when fans on mass turn off Sky? The marriage analogy is a good one.. Because when we start out we want it it be a relationship that lasts forever and is wonderful. But whereas the uberfans are like your grandparents generation, refusing to lose face and stay in an 'unhappy marriage' - why should we not accept that the previously unthinkable - 'I've had enough' - is the only way we could force change? Whilst fans of all clubs outside the top 4 continue to accept whatever is thrown at them, that they have no chance of ever going beyond their 'level' - nothing will change and the TV. Companies will be happy. .... Too many are too frightened of openly admitting they have had enough of what the SKY money and prem has done to football, even if they agree in private, resigned to the fact the can't change it... Is it not time that 'real' fans say enough is enough and make their collective feeling known?

.... So you believe that there IS a 50mil transfer kitty? Seriously, you are happy to believe a 'positive' media speculative news story? Haha. ... And you believe we we're in a difficult financial position? Really? 60mil spread over 2-3 years where 30mil is infrastructure is not a bad situation... Unless you get relegated....suggests that the only 'difficult' financial situation we will face is if we get relegated after having sold the spine of the side one go... The only facts we know about are that NC was a TRUSTED friend of Marcus. He was an advisor to his businesses. When he sadly died and after an extended probate period , KL inherited and slowly closed and shut down all of the. Mali group of companies - in which many lost their jobs... NC was removed from the the Mali exec by KL... Is it not reasonable to assume this whole fall out goes beyond SFC, and began with Mali? The spend on Staplewood, and transfers versus our turnover is not 'beyond' control - you know it, I know it, but it suits your continued joke to rubbish a bloke you did not like... But for you where 'Mongs' and other 'disabilities' are fair comedy game, it's hardly surprising.... You are the classic case of someone who thinks if you shout loud enough and often enough, the weak will believe... Whilst sni ggering like a schoolboy from behind the keyboard that they take you so seriously....

... I hate auto correct on the IPad .....

Interesting thoughts but not sure I agree entirely. As I saw it we were fine against sides who were more open: the Betty sihes willing to commit players for watch and our pressing high up as well as having space when we attacked in numbers, was still very effective and in part teh reason IMHO that we won more away points than we had previously in prem era. At home and against those sides happy with a point, we still lacked that extra bit of quality to unlock solid defences... Often having all teh procession and being open to the sucker punch on the break. i still think POCH did what he could with the squad we had, and having to contend with the injuries etc. we also had a young squad in general and often we were were guilty of nothing more than a bit of nativity.... Had he stayed and the squad stayed together + a couple of additions I would have expected continued development and progress. having said that, if we get Koeman, we could see that development anyway, and I would have to take back what I have said about Kreuger and the board... And nether would being left with egg on face give me more pleasure ;-)

Seems a bit... Creepy... To me ;-)

Its no good MLG, the urban myth peddlers insist NC blew 15 mil because he could not decide on the colour of the curtains and therefore had all those Pompey supporting builders idle for 15mil worth of man hours....

This whole overspend as a result of 'constant' design changes is another urban myth invented and peddled by the NC bathers. Like ken all major projects, I am sure there has been some small detail changes that make it more expensive than if part of the original plans.... But 15mil? Seriously you believe that was down to such 'messing about'? if everyone cares to recall, the original work began when we were NOT in the prem... So were of a more modest level, but with room for additional phases in future. when we were promoted it was communicated that the club were going to press ahead with the next bigger phase, (as we had additional prem revenues) ... Seriously, anyone who actually believes we're turned a 15mil project into a 30 mil one through incompetence is letting their dislike of NC prejudice their opinion.... Which is nothing particularly new on here

That is so good, I am wasting one of my 3 a day just to

Sorry david, cant agree. None of our players were considering leaving last year... OK so in part, none were desired by other clubs to te smae level, but it' also about having an environment in which they WANT to be. Whatever folks think about NC and MP, whatever you believe is reality or BS level of the 'plan' - they created an environment in which players at all levels believed Saints was the best place for them. If all of a sudden a high number of players want to leave, then in my book this more about changes in the environment that they dont like, so we need to look at that. Fans go on about loyalty, but seriously, if anyone sill expects that from players they are seriously naive. Even MLT would have gone in this day and age, given the diaparity in wages and lure of CL competition... and if h had stayed, it would have said more about a 'comfort zone' than loyalty... To keep and attcat players, you need a be able to CONVINCE them its the right place for them and their career - yes with wages, but also with belief that success is possible if they willing to work collectively and hard.

Seems a real shame how quickly folks are willing to turn on one of their own. Sure Adam may being having doubts, and now wants to try things elsewhere, but lets be honest, with Poch and NC gone, and the 'plan' now unknown, seems quite natural to me... add the temptations of more cash and CL football and you have a combination that would tempt anyone of us if we are honest with oursleves, especially if we also think back to when we were 26 and how we would be. I think its a shame that the club has changed to such a degree that we no longer appeal to him.... and that he does feel he cant be part of whatever is to come.... IF that report is indeed correct. Any conspiracy theorists might just suspect such stuff is planted to make us dislike him and thus not feel so bad about the board selling him - who knows... as too often the ''facts can be used to obscure the truth''

It should have been in quotation marks - as it was a point on the offensive use of that words that I was trying to make... Apologies for this , to be clear, I find the term equally offensive and unnecessary. with respect to my comment on Ralph. Re his lack of credibility - we in effect sold a player the day after he stated public ally we would wait until the new manager is in place....and now he states a get out clause.. Now it may well be right that there are unique circumstances around RLs transfer, but an experienced chairman, would or should not make statements that don't allow for these situations... In effect it exposes him to accusations of misleading us. finally, Ohio, I liked your suggestion for how to spend the '50mil' ;-)

Its quite simple you pathetic child. Thankfully I have no alcohol related problems or addictions. But I know people who do. I have worked with people who do, and have seen a good friends life disintegrate because of their illness. If you, Turkish and CB Fry feel it's acceptable and 'funny' to mock such things, well it's shows you up for the ****ty little human beings you are. I may spout a load of ****** on here, I may get a bit precious and OTT, I can and always will be an opinionated bastard and probably quite boring to those who like their discussion or debate in a few words... But at least I ain't a complete c*nt.

Haha, as opposed to you who must be incredibly stupid. You missed the bit about being drunk, or have you finally realized those kind of comments just show you up for the sad little spiteful piece of work that you are... You know the one that must make your family so proud. ***t. If my posts really do annoy you so much why the need to respond to every single one of them... It's great mind, to have you as my own little mong board TM stalker... Like some little pet that I can rely for another moronic and inane sound bite.... As a result of you being too fricken thick to every understand what is posted, and lacking the attention span to read more than a sentence... You really are funny as feck ;-)

We are all obviously entitled to our own opinions, and most respect that. But surely when forming these we should be basing them on the facts / truths we do know, rather than continuing to peddle myth as facts? What do we really know about some of the so called popular beliefs? 1. 'Cortese was on a spending Spree that was unsustainable' All we can go on is the last published accounts and the current liabilities indicated in the various business overview sites. The last published accounts showed a loss of 7mil before player trading. for a club only just back in the Prem, would say that is not too bad. The BBC published a comment from an independent financial expert that our accounts were in good shape... Especially when compared to others in the prem. So what of the 60mil liabilities we have seen published by the various business intel sites? Well we know that 27 mil is Transfer fees and that the academy is costing 30 mil, so it's reasonable to assume this makes up the majority of these liabilities.. We can not say this is fact, but it's a reasonable assumption, as we may have borrowed from either KL or the BVI to pay early instalments of the building costs whilst waiting for prem revenues. IF that is indeed the case! then is this unsustainable? I don't believe so. Hofstatter also said we paid back 20mil plus last season in transfer fees, so given the huge jump in revenue, it would be safe to assume we could afford 30mil in repayments over the next two seasons to cover this... Even with improved contracts for some key players..... IMHO, the conclusion based on what we do know suggests there was no previous mad spending. 2. So why would Cortese want more from KL? Here we are speculating. It's clear Cortese wanted us to progress rapidly. That would require additional funding... Given the quality we had, perhaps not as much as some have suggested, but given that if KL were to cover the academy costs, we could use 30 mil to add to the squad, this could be the impasse they reached, given that this would be fine under FFP. was Of course, KL is entitled NOT to have to spend her cash, no argument there, And I like most want to see a sustainable club, rather than one always relying on a rich owner to make up annual shortfalls. But I do think we ARE sustainable if prepared to accept minimal transfer activity without sales. What Cortese was after was based on our situation of having potential to go even higher right now, given the promise of our starlets, but we needed a bit more... The shame is that for some reason, hey have fallen out, and sadly that falling out is to the detriment of the club.... 3.' KL is asset stripping' No, simply not the case. Speculation again, but what she may be doing is selling to remove the liabilities from the books. To me this suggests she may look to sell when the club has no liabilities as this would in theory command a better price than if we had certain players but a debt...why? Because the players are not assets, their value reduces over the length of their contracts to zero, and their value is determined only by what someone is willing to pay... So from business perspective we have more value without debt... May sound obvious, but would explain the apparent willingness to let 3 -5 key players leave. What seems odd though is that they have not factored in the reduction in value of the club, if we struggle or get relegated as a result of these sales.... So the question remains open as to what her intentions are. 4. We will struggle next season Well of course it all depends on what is actually sold and who we bring in, BUT let's be honest, even if we sell for 60mil and buy 60 mil, we will not start next season in as good a shape as we finished this one. The risk of some of that spend being wasted is always there, no ones fault, but transfers are all a risk. Next is the simple fact we have done so well because our spine has been together for 3plus years. Trying to integrate 3-5 new players into the squad will take a while.... And if the new manager is one whose is unable or unwilling to continue the pressing and passing game we have developed since Nigel's day, then we are are likely to be strugglers.... 5. 'The board are clueless' Naive possibly, but seems clear they know what they are doing, just that as fans we don't like it.... And there is nothing we can do about it.... And Krueger talks a load of she it'd, that much we do know, given that his credibility is now zero, the sooner he disappears up his own arsehole the better IMHO.

The last time we were relegated from the Prem, it was clear we had stood still over the summer and failed to improve what we had just to keep up with everyone else. Does anyone really still believe we will start next season in any way as competitive as this season let alone more so? Surely we should be entitled to expect the club to be serious about progress, even if only small steps that they hope will see a competitive improvement... But let's be honest, we are going to start next season worrying about relegation. I am not sure whether it's naivety or design, it does not matter, but if Krueger thinks he can pull the wool over our eyes , he's is seriously naive. If KL has no interest, fair enough, she has the right not to be, but please then let it go and actively look for a decent successor. Sorry, but right now, whoever thought of this approach or is driving this strategy, it smacks of some kind of vindictive revenge... And the club is suffering because of it.

Great post and totally right. When viewed in isolation, no one begrudges the move for RL who has given his all for us any deserves that final opportunity. But sadly we can't take it out of the context - that of it being on top of MO going, Shaw, Lallana and a few other likely to go... And all because? Just what is KL Reality thinking or doing? Ricky can not be blamed for anything, he has repaid the faith we showed I him, but his departure is symbolic of all thanks wrong right now...

Fair cop... Thankfully I have enough self awareness to recognise a fail. Will hold my hands up and apologise for the failed attempt to lighten the depressing day. Sadly CB FRy seems to lack any self awareness of just how unpleasant a 'character' he is. His family must be so proud that he manages to stoop so low....

Greetings my fellow soccerball saints supporters. I understand that many of you may now be asking yourselves a few serious questions. And you are right in doing so, so I feel my friends that I am duty bound to speak to you proactively and explain why we have been involved in transactions with players. I should add that these transactions are being done proactively. Let me explain. Proactive transactions used be known as active transactions, and before that simply transactions, but now they are carried out proactively which mean they are on our terms. So let's talk about our recent proactive transaction, that of the sale of our veteran international strike force ball scorer. As you know we owe him a great deal as the mighty saints surged forward to a path of glory from the depths of the minor leagues with the desire to win the Stanley cup. Unfortunately, as you know, he was involved in an altracation with our Spanish defensive centre Fontelanardo. This can't be tolerated and so to get $4million for Ricardo Lamberto, the 43 year old Italian international is a pretty great result for the mighty saints. As you know, I am just a Hockey guy who talks like a c***, so I am hoping I got all that right. But rest assured, everyone at the club is doing everything we can to ensure we are as competitive as possible in whatever division we play in. Remember, progress is not simply about goals and wins and getting points, it's about more than that, it's about our values, the saints values that we are all 100% committed to. Yer darn tootin!

Its a vey good offer to counter the lower and accepted one we will get for Lallana - speculation naturally, but would be VERY naive to discount that as part of a strategy to land Lallana at price that means less given away to Bournemouth....

Minty, I have always admired your calm and reflective posts and your ability not to let emotions run away with you. You make fair comment and I appreciate that it's always well thought out, intelligent and insightful.... However, in this case I do think fans are perfectly entitled to be concerned or worried... I don't believe it's too much of a risk to suggest that IMHO we will start next season considerably LESS competitive than this one. Whoever is sold or bought, that is my opinion. And from that perspective the board will have demonstrated a failure to recognise the potential and build on it ( which ironically would see KL see a GAIN in the value of her asset) either through nativity or design. as far as I was concerned the writing as on the wall the moment Hofstetter revealed 'financial concerns' when in reality anyone with a brain could recognise that we would be able to Budget accordingly. We we were I go, being readied for major change, one that might ensure ten club is cash rich and 'debt'' free, but left uncompetitive in this division, and certainly far worse than this season. i hope beyond hope I am wrong and I will welcome ten bed wetter tag as it means we have a competitive and progressed side, but sadly it will most likely pain me to say I told you so...

I admire your optimism, but for us 'not to have to sell any stars' we need to be in a place where we are attractive enough to keep them, either through wages, or Challenging for honours... It's a chicken and egg situation.. At some point if you want that to come about you do have to bite the bullet and be willing to invest to create that environment... I don't think it needs 100s of millions, something no one can do now anyway with FFP etc.... You also need a clear vision, strategy and whatever folk think about NC, or whether you believe his was possible or not, one thing was for certain. He was able to get players to believe in it... That article is right about one thing though... We do need to ensure continuity of that strategy... And this is where I think many of this countries problems with football stem from... And why the 'traditional' British manager is unpopular... They are often too much about passion and ego, entering a club and changing everything, from established methods, strategy, players and approach, turning thing upside down... When they leave the next one does the same, undermining any positives the previous May have installed... It's why NC talked about the manager being just an employee... This was not an insult, but a statement about what we were trying to create... A long term strategy that I has continuity whoever is there. It allows the selection of managers who can implement that approach, and add their own improvements, without the club losing everything when they leave. I am am not disappointed pooch has left because he was irreplaceable, but because we are still not sure if the new board recognise the approach, and will install someone who actively warns to continue on that path, across all levels from the kids to first team... they do that and we will continue to improve even with a few potential sales... Even with a bump down for a season - because ultimately, we have that continuity... we'll see what happens.