Toon Saint

Well for chief executive position anyway: http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jan/22/southampton-appoint-gareth-rogers-interim-chief-executive-nicola-cortese

Doubt it. He was interviewed for Chairman position but obviously didn't get the job. Seems strange that he would then be offered the lesser (though obviously still v. important) position as director of football. He doesn't have any experience/expertise in that role either - not that that has been an issue for us in the past - but RK's interview does seem to suggest that whoever is appointed will be a 'football expert'.

Cheers for noticing! Did type that bit out but must have deleted it when formatting.

Not really. Talked about most things in very broad terms, without going into specifics. Most notable titbit in terms of commercial growth was the three candidates for sponsorship that he is meeting with over next few days. I'm guessing aap3 will not be one of those.

Interesting interview with our new Chairman here: http://www.sportsnet.ca/590/prime-time-sports/ Prime Time Sports - March 17th - 5pm Monday, 5 pm: Ralph Krueger and Buck Martinez Starts around 11:00 min mark til about 34:30. - Contacted last 'fall' by KL about position on board, didn't expect to be made Chairman but 'cards have fallen that way' - KL felt he was suited to role and RK says he is 'quite surprised' about how many things he feels comfortable with in new role - Seemed clued up on status of MLT calling him a 'hero' in town and mentioned him saving saving us from relegation numerous times in the 90's - Goal we 'are shooting for' is catching Man Utd this season - Will 'absolutely not' be involved in football decisions, a lot of his day-to-day tasks will be involved in communication and creating a culture that is 'loaded with respect' - Wants to build brand and bring it to Canada and North America and play with the 'big teams' - He couldn't say how the club will evolve as he has just arrived at the club - Taking it real slow and getting to know people and environment, consuming information like crazy - First board meeting with League coming up soon - We have best academy in country - mentioned Luke and Adam and the exposure they will get at WC. - Will be focused on building commercial arm of organization. Huge gap that needs bridging. - Going to bring in a Director of Sport who has 'tremendous experience and expertise' - Will be spending time meeting corporate sponsor candidates over the next few days - board has narrowed it down to three candidates. - Trying to bring in a better budget so we can retain kids and bring in new talent to the organization - Joked about Sky Sports coverage in which he mentioned 'hockey' rather than football - talked about need to learn new vocabulary. - His gold medal at Sochi was a great 'PR event' just before his appointment, and feels this made the fans more receptive to him - Organized an event where he will be communicating with local radio station, happy to take difficult questions. - Thinks fans have found this talk of open communication 'refreshing' but accepts he will be judged on results next season - Fans have been accepting and find his Canadian accent 'refreshing'?? (Might be talking about craic with staff here) - Some waffle about leadership models and leading for the right reasons - Believe patience is something he will bring to the club, so we can build financial arm of organization 'inch by inch', whether that takes 2,3,4 years - Is in 'no rush' to help build the success at the club Direct link courtesy of MLG: http://pmd.fan590.com/audio_on_demand-3/Ralph-Krueger-with-Tim-Micallef-and-Sid-Seixeiro--PTS--20140317-Interview.mp3

What has happened to Papis Cisse? A shadow of the player he was two seasons ago.

Mel's English is so poor it renders the interview pointless. Would rather him use a translator so we can hear something of substance.

Pepe Mel proving why Poch is right to use a translator.

Horror tackle by Ramires and correct to send him off, but not sure the ref had a clue until Villa players went mental. Foy had a shocking game.

Played his first game for Swindon today, away at Bristol City. Ended in 0-0 but Swindon had a man sent off after about 55 mins, so they did really well to keep a clean sheet. Stephens got some rave reviews by Swindon and Bristol City fans on twitter, saying we have another 'gem' on our hands, etc. Dan humm‏@dannyhumm·3h @jackstephens_18 what a future you are going to have in the game, great debut!! Horse Racings Fryboy‏@FryboyRacing·2 hrs To all my Saints fc followers you got another cracker in @jackstephens_18 imo if today anything to go by @Official_STFC best player by mile Horse Racings Fryboy‏@FryboyRacing·2 hrs @jackstephens_18 As a non Swindon fan have to say that ur display was top notch today fella Lost count of how many last ditch tackles/blocks Early days yet but hope he can put a string of performances together for Swindown and come back and challenge for a first team place next year. Would very much like to see a decent CB come through the academy and take Jos' place in the squad in 2014/2015.

Actually it was just Chambers first-team appearances that were more than the other 13 in the squad combined!

Ralph Krueger on Mauricio Pochettino: “From the first minute we met, we were coming from very similar worlds.”

Purely arbitrary number I was using there - should have known that would have been picked up on. Given the amount of debutants we have had this year, it's not too outlandish though. Not producing players 'exactly' the same standard as Shaw, but certainly PL top 6 class. Cortese mentioned about bringing 2 players through for the first team, and 2 through for the football league every year, a la Bayern and Barca.

Not the best quote taken in isolation: “We’re going to be transparent, but it’s too early in the process to specify what that means.”

Yes, but it was pretty easy for NC to spout all of his 'ambitions' as he was delivering on them with someone else's money - whether that was ML's or KL's inheritance. That level of funding wasn't going to be sustained forever, especially with financial fair play coming in (which of course NC objected to). I'm sure given that RK's and KL's close relationship, and that KL is now taking a much closer interest in the club, there will naturally be more accountability on spending. But hopefully RK will realise some of the commercial potential he has alluded to, and that will see less reliance on raking in big transfer money for academy graduates. Shaw may well be sold this summer, but if he brings in c. £30m then that covers the investment being made in the training ground. That investment in turn might bring through another 6-8 players of similar calibre over the next 5 years, so maybe that is what he is talking about in terms of 'living within our means.' Perhaps again, he is simply referring to growing the commercial side of things. I'd like to hear a bit more detail of KL and RK's plans of course, but pretty sure that NC didn't come out and say those sort of things on day one of the job.

First impressions are very encouraging. Looks as if KL is set for the long-term, and very positive words from our new chairman re: open communication with fans. Seems as if he has forged a good relationship with Poch already, and reading between the lines, it suggests an announcement about his contract extension - 'we will be very open and quick when we look to finalise' - is very much on the agenda, and hopefully not too far away, Seems as if KL and RK are very much defining their goals in opposition to the reign of Nicola, perhaps a little too much, as would have liked to hear a bit more substance about long-term plans on commercial development and infrastructure side of things...hopefully he will be able to articulate those ambitions - rather than the nebulous 'fulfilling our potential' - with a bit more detail at some point. Can hardly complain too much though...seems the polar opposite of Nicola, and great to have a Chairman fronting the camera, happy to entertain the media, speaking with candour, etc. Funny to think about the hysteria unleashed after Cortese's resignation. It was always a worry about him clashing with KL at some point, and for all the good he did for us, at least we have a Chairman, owner, and (hopefully) manager, now working together on the same page.

He used to play Hockey, He f*cking hates Pompey Surely that will be the one that captures our fans imaginations. Unique.

St. Mary's may or may not be the first stadium to be something that you are not totally sure will happen, and aren't willing to reveal anyway. Oh, you big attention seeking tease.

Massive improvement from last year. He has always had the technical ability, but he seems to have gained an extra couple of yards of pace and his fitness levels are astonishing - a credit to the pre-season work in the summer. His confidence levels have clearly soared and he just looks so at ease now in the PL. Closest English player we have to someone like Santi Cazorla (two footed, passing, vision, workrate) Incredible to think that there was debate about him being in the starting XI over Puncheon, at the back-end of last season. If he maintains his current form to the season's end, then there is every chance he will get shortlisted for player of the season awards. He won't win - Suarez will surely clean up - but would be a massive credit to him to be nominated.

Thought he scored a header from a corner vs. Barca? Wonder performance, but not a wonder goal.

Jack Cork out for up to 6 weeks according to Simon Peach on Twitter. A big blow, but a chance for Vic and JWP to stake a claim. Simon Peach‏@SimonPeach·5 mins Sounds as if @jackcork1 faces up to six weeks out with ankle injury sustained at #CPFC. All the best to him - big blow for #SaintsFC.

"Today is one of the days I myself have enjoyed the most. I throughly enjoyed myself today." - MP Great win, but not sure about Poch's demeanour atm. Seem's to have the look of 'faraway places' about him.

Now safety is secured (not that there were any worries), Gaston, Gallagher, JWP, and Wanyama could all do with some game time for their development, while Rickie is clearly in need of a bit of a rest to enhance his form ahead of WC. With Cork most probably out injured vs. Norwich, wouldn't mind seeing this side out next Sat - assuming they will set up quite defensively: ------------J-Rod--------- ---Lallana--Gaston---JWP -------Morgan--Vic------- Shaw--Lovren-Fonte--Chambers -----------Boruc---------- Bring Gallagher on for last 30 when coasting at 2-0, to smash in his first PL goal.

Dan Burn from Fulham. Great potential, and we could do with a young CB competing with Lovren/Fonte as not sure whether Stephens or Turnbull are going to be banging down the door anytime soon.

But didn't anyone see his body language today? His heart isn't in it!