saintant

You didn't answer the question I asked.

To judge our team's strengths and weaknesses next season you need to know who we buy and sell in the interim. Unless you have possession of said crystal ball there is no way you can do that. I know you'll shortly tell me I'm wrong but hey ho 🙂

Could you do a list of all the players they've signed and identify which you think have been decent purchases.

Financial advantages can be wasted if those spending the money have no clue what they are doing unless you expect SR to suddenly start using money wisely - I don't.

Depends on transfers doesn't it - or maybe you have a ball made of crystal.

Ok, I think we'll struggle if I'm honest. There will be players bought and sold and I have zero confidence that SR have the nous to bring in decent players. Their record so far is abysmal.

Think you might be in for a wake up call.

Well, we won't know until next season will we?

We'll see.

This is a prime example of arrogance and not respecting opponents in the FA Cup. Brentford played a weakened side in the only competition they have a realistic chance of winning. They'll never win anything else so should have full respect for the 2 domestic cup competitions. Madness.

Christ are they still here - get your finger out Dragan before they fleece you for another 100 million.

I think he needs to sign 17 or 18 players.

Like everything else SR touches the goalkeeping situation has been a disaster.

As a successful businessman from a country known for what could be termed a cut throat approach I am baffled as to how Dragan seems to allow SR to continue on the current downward spiral. Presumably the millions they have wasted on the wrong managers and players comes, in the main, from his pocket. At what point does he decide it's time for him to take a more hands on approach in the running of Southampton FC? He must look at other clubs of similar size and status and wonder what we are doing so wrong. He's clearly not a stupid man so I can't work out why he sits back and lets these charlatans continue to stitch him up.

Totally wrong I'm afraid. If the work is not done in pre-season all players will perform below the required elite level fitness all season.

Agree with all this and have voiced similar opinions myself. Unfortunately none of the above is likely to happen unless Dragan takes more of a role and seeks advice outside of SR - he must have many respected contacts in the world of elite football and should be speaking with some of them with a view to sorting out this incredible mess which will only get worse unless he acts.

We can buy and sell as many players as the situation allows but transfers in or out are not the problem - the elephant in the room is clearly quality as for a number of years transfer dealings have been handled by people who have no clue what they are doing. Both Brentford and Nottingham Forest have managed to unearth gems for very little money proving what can be done. So, unless we appoint a DoF and some scouts with a bit of nous and ability to spot untapped talent we will continue to throw good money after bad and pick up players who will cost far more than they are worth and not improve the squad. I'm not saying we've not had successes but if a blind man throws enough darts at a board he'll eventually hit the bullseye. There will be unknown talents available but it takes a lot of hard work and skill to identify them - we need to appoint people who have the necessary attributes or the mess will continue. It may take intervention from Dragan because I get the feeling Rasmus and his merry band of charlatans have no problem with maintaining the status quo and are probably afraid of appointing a good DoF as they will be quickly rumbled and their game may finally be up.

I imagine his point still stands.

Chris Wood said after the game that Nuno Santo tweaks things every week, it's not the same every week - a different approach for every game. A bit different from Russell who told anyone who cared to listen that we'd play the same way every week. Bonkers attitude and a lazy way to manage a football club.

I believe the idea is to sit down with Ivan Juric to discuss potential transfers/loans in and out. To be fair, for the amount of intelligent football discussion there'll be (IJ aside) they might as well hold it when the window closes for all the good it will do. What is the point of SR owners, who clearly know nothing about football, sitting down and talking about it as though they do.

Not unless you can get totally unfit players fit in that time which I'm afraid you can't. It's hard enough to compete at the elite level with super fit players - with unfit ones it's simply impossible.

Mugs continue to buy his snake oil and Dragan/Southampton FC are among his best customers.

None of this can or will happen while SR continue to call the shots.

Therein lies our biggest problem.

I don't give a monkeys about Goztepe or what SR have and haven't done for them. I have witnessed the way they have proceeded to ruin Southampton FC and have had more than enough of their incompetence. You can make as many contrary remarks as you like in your efforts to prove they might have redeeming features but nothing you say will convince me that they have ever been anything but a total disaster for us or that anything is likely to change.