M271

I voted for Koeman again, but seeing the Reed interview makes it sound like Yakin to me.

I don't begrudge Rickie going to his beloved Liverpool who are in the Champions League next year, I would have been unhappy selling him to the likes of West Ham where it would have appeared that he just didn't want to be with us anymore. Unfortunately we have reached a stage in Saints development where we are at the end of our 5 year project (and the new project isn't clear, to us anyway), had a fantastic season where our players have shown to other clubs how good they are and invited interest, lost NC, lost MP and there is uncertainty going forward. These in isolation or certainly combined are good reasons why players will be considering their futures and career progression. Again I cannot begrudge a loyal (over 3 years at Saints) player the chance to go to a good Champions League club (home or abroad), we should feel priviliged that our club helped to get them there. If they go to similar clubs to ours just for the money then that's a different matter. I think that all of us, players included, need to keep level headed for the next month until we know who the new manager is, which new incoming players are being touted and clarification of the Boards commitment to the club. If we get a World Class Manager (potentially) better than MP and a class striker better then Lambert then things might not seem so bad. It is important to get the new manager in ASAP though to 'stabilise the ship' and give some direction as far as players staying/going are concerned.

Koeman's agent was saying the exactly same thing about the Swansea job a few months ago http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26554276 , and was being named in relation to the possible West Ham job a few weeks ago.

Interesting article. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2641980/Mauricio-Pochettino-high-maintenance-Tottenham-Spurs-finally-break-sulky-Argentine.html

Must admit I like the sound of this Yakin chap (although I admit I hadn't heard of him til the last day or so!), but I have a feeling that it will be Moyes that will appointed.

IF Poch does go it is the knock on effect which concerns me more and what is happening behind the scene ref ambition. 1)The players who are wavering whether to go on to 'bigger' things may be more keen to move on from Saints. We needed 3 or 4 better players anyway but add to that replacing another 3 or 4 players leaving means over half a new team, look what that did to QPR and nearly did to Sunderland. 2)Has the 'board' lost the ambition/project and is being overly cautious with the purse strings? In this league even if you stand still you go backwards. I hope Poch doesn't leave for consistency reasons and because I feel with 3 or 4 better players we could do even better next season, if he leaves he can be replaced with another good manager but it is the reasons why he wants to move on, the attitude of the board and the implications to the club which concerns me more.

Just realised that his son Justin Krueger is playing for Germany tonight.

Ralph has just been on German TV as he is in Minsk watching the Russia v Germany Ice Hockey match. So he is not in UK sorting contracts out, tonight anyway!! They were asking him during the 2/3 interval about Southampton and of course the hockey. Couldn't understand a word of what he was saying but the words Saints, Southampton were used a number of times and the word London was used once, I guess the the UK newpaper hacks (and SWF members!!) could make up a number of storys from those few words. As usual was full of enthusiasm.

Can a company of net worth £1.5m afford to sponsor a Premier League team? How much do other teams like us get per year?

Hazard - PFA young player of the year

500 to 600 reduction in average capacity from last season is only 1.5 to 2%, which could be explained by dates/timing of matches, opposition away support, corporate attendence etc.., it would be interesting to see what the actual Saints paying supporter attendance is when away supporters, corporate, employee, player friends/family tickets etc.. are stripped away from the figures. I personally think that the stadium is about the right size for our club and i would rather have it on average 95% full than filling a larger stadium for a few matches and being 75% full for the 'lesser' games. When we are filling the stadium rather than getting 8 - 10,000 for a League Cup match in September at £15 a ticket I may think that the pent up demand is there and stadium expansion is warranted.

Agree with this. Players will come and players will go, the higher in the Premier that we are and success that we have the more likely we are to retain the best players and attract improvements to what we have. However I cannot begrudge one of our star players in their mid twenties, who we have had several good seasons from, leaving for a good fee to a 'superior' team in the Champions league and better salary etc., I do though expect some loyality/service from the younger academy players for several seasons now that we are in a healthy premier league position. (Walcott, Bale, Oxlade leaving quickly was a different matter considering we were in the lower leagues at the time). I also think that the team spirit that we have counts alot for helping retain players. In alot of other careers people are less likely to leave a job where they enjoy being with colleagues who have become friends, get on well with the manager, feel like a valued member of the team and there is a good atmosphere/facilities, even if there is a better paid job at another company being offered. However if the manager leaves and the colleagues start feeling uncertainty then other options may start to be considered!!

Any news on Jay? Did he have an operation and was the initial scan diagnosis confirmed? There must be different degrees of ruptured ligament. I guess at this point of his recovery he is just in a cast with his leg immobile.

We rarely go on to win in these games where we dominate play but are still only drawing. I can feel that Villa will break away and score at some point.

Originally Posted by THEVMAN 22nd Feb 2014 Looking down at the threads started on this forum makes me think it's time to leave all you crying bastards who obviously have forgotten where we were a few seasons ago to fight it out between yourselves good luck "You are very different now, since you've played for England - you never used to be like this." Regards Clatters

Theo also suffered Anterior Ligament Damage in early January, this article was written 7/8 weeks later. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10669312/Im-learning-to-walk-again-says-Arsenals-Theo-Walcott.html Latest news from yesterday is that Theo hopes to join some pre-season training, so for him will be 6 1/2 months after his injury.

So sorry for him, he's pushed on and reached another level this season. He, Ricky and Adam have struck up a really good understanding which reached new heights recently and especially in the Newcastle match last week, typical Saints luck that so soon after that game they will not now play together again until the back end of the year. Still it is up to some players in the squad to step in and make a name for themselves and it gives the Club plenty of time to decide on the best way forward with transfer strategy. All the best Jay hope the time out is not as long as predicted.

I'd like to think that it was telling that Roy Hodgson was at St Marys again yesterday rather than be at The Britannia to watch Carrolls return.

Well the 9 league games from this thread are now completed and the result was 15 points, more than the pessimistic 10 points which I predicted. Won 4, drew 3 and lost 2. 16 goals for and 14 against.

I bought 2 tickets for the Newcastle game last night online and had a £2 added cost for 'fees and tax', what tax?

Ban will stands according to SSN

Personnally I would like to keep things as stable as possible but again improve the squad, my ideal scenario would be: Owner - KL keeps steady hand on the club, provides sufficient funds to improve the depth of squad. Board - Who bring in good professional skills and plan the long term development of the club. Must get on with others board members and act as a cohesive team. Management Team - Keep MP and management team, extend contract. Really like his style of football, youth philosophy and team ethic. Wish he would do interviews in English though as his translated interviews are so tedious. Squad - Retain the main starting team and best squad players, add 3 Quality additions CB, GC and striker, any additions must fit the Southampton Way not Billy big bol locks. No man is bigger than the team. Worst case scenario would be: KL looks to sell and we are bought by a individual who has a dubious background and uses the club as a status symbol and makes stupid ill thought out decisions. Doesn't release sufficient funds to improve or spends too much on Star 'has been' high status players. Board has in fighting and individual agendas pulling the club in different directions, no single vision. This dis-harmony filters down throughout the club. Management Team - MP and team go and we get a past it, seen better days, journey man manager. Squad - The best players leave or want to leave for many of the reasons above ref owner change, club vision, management team, poor team harmony. Has been players are brought in on inflated wages with all their past baggage and superiority.

Had this one down for a draw but after being 2 goals up and totally dominating feels like a loss. Pity they scored so soon after our 2nd or it could have been a big win to us, but that goal got them and the supporters going. It's promising that we played so well for large parts of the match but we need to get a convert more chances and possession into goals. Obviously the most worrying thing is the injury to Lovren hope it's not as bad as it looked, but you don't give someone gas and air if it's only a little painful! I don't thinik that my blood pressure can take it if we have weeks or months of the season with Hooveld playing, Fonte paired with Yoshida were OK towards the end of last season but losing Lovren will be a big step backwards, can Wanyama play centre back?

Sunseeker already a minor sponsor and a localish company and would fit in with looking to redevelop the area. Might even finally get the Monkey Chicken Petting Zoo, can anyone dig out the original plans?

I would like to think that MP atitude will have changed since his statements last May when he had only been here for 4 months. He should have more allegience and connection now to the club, players, supporters not just to Cortese especially after seeing his plans showing such success in the early part of the season. I think that he would stay if the plans for 'the project' have stayed much the same but would leave if the ambition has changed by losing Cortese.