Not good enough

[Legod Third Coming]

So do you completely disregard Cortese's assertions that the club has to be run as a viable business? Or are you saying you just want us to lump a load of money at the problem, and be damned with whether we make a profit or loss?

 

Rupert Lowe received a lot of justified criticism but his decision to not allow the club to run at a loss was proven correct; under the reckless stewardship of the club after he was ousted we found out first hand what "paying the price" really delivers.

 

He can have a viable business or a five year plan to get to the Premiership. He can't have both.

 

So, the question remains, who's going to tell him??

[Barry the Badger]

He can have a viable business or a five year plan to get to the Premiership. He can't have both.

 

 

Rubbish, it's entirely possible to make the Premiership without running at a loss.

[Legod Third Coming]

For those who say we do not have a bottomless pit I say cobblers.

 

In January we were the tenth highest spending club in England - yes that's more then TEN PREMIERSHIP clubs and every Championship Club.

 

And to remind you, Jose Fonte dropped down a division and Dean Hammond claimed our club was the quickest way for him to reach the Premiership.

 

So now all of a sudden with no movement when we NEED players, you're all happy to sit around and wait?

 

It makes no sense. None.

 

We can buy anyone we want IF WE WANT them. Anyone (within reason) will come for cash (would we want that to be their only motivation? Who cares).

 

I am not advocating buying Kaka or Rooney. I am advocating us getting off our arses and buying the midfielder we need to WIN THIS LEAGUE.

 

When in six games we are not top of the league our manager will be feeling pressure, most of you will be up in arms blaming him and no one will be asking why the Chairman didn't put up the cash to win the league.

 

He can't have it both ways. Either we're serious about becoming a Premiership Club or we are not. If we are, get on with it. If not, stop bloody well building up my expectations only to dash them.

 

Too many of you are making excuses and sounding liky Rupert bloody Lowe and his 'prudent card'.

 

Well name me a single team in the Champion's League that is playing within its means?? One...

[Legod Third Coming]

Yep which Club is doing that and staying there then? They are all funded by owners.

[Window Cleaner]

Rubbish, it's entirely possible to make the Premiership without running at a loss.

 

provided you have put the structure into place beforehand and don't have to buy various brazilians,equatorians and eastern europeans who are more than likely to have 2 bad games for every good game,the weekly stipend however is always the same ie far far too much.i

The new owners of Man City have certainly learned this the hard way, 300 million down the drain and still not in the top 4.

[alpine_saint]

For those who say we do not have a bottomless pit I say cobblers.

 

In January we were the tenth highest spending club in England - yes that's more then TEN PREMIERSHIP clubs and every Championship Club.

 

And to remind you, Jose Fonte dropped down a division and Dean Hammond claimed our club was the quickest way for him to reach the Premiership.

 

So now all of a sudden with no movement when we NEED players, you're all happy to sit around and wait?

 

It makes no sense. None.

 

We can buy anyone we want IF WE WANT them. Anyone (within reason) will come for cash (would we want that to be their only motivation? Who cares).

 

I am not advocating buying Kaka or Rooney. I am advocating us getting off our arses and buying the midfielder we need to WIN THIS LEAGUE.

 

When in six games we are not top of the league our manager will be feeling pressure, most of you will be up in arms blaming him and no one will be asking why the Chairman didn't put up the cash to win the league.

 

He can't have it both ways. Either we're serious about becoming a Premiership Club or we are not. If we are, get on with it. If not, stop bloody well building up my expectations only to dash them.

 

Too many of you are making excuses and sounding liky Rupert bloody Lowe and his 'prudent card'.

 

Well name me a single team in the Champion's League that is playing within its means?? One...

 

Bravo, LGTC

[Legod Third Coming]

provided you have put the structure into place beforehand and don't have to buy various brazilians,equatorians and eastern europeans who are more than likely to have 2 bad games for every good game,the weekly stipend however is always the same ie far far too much.i

 

We don't have to be run like Portsmouth. Does anyone realise that? We can be run like Chelsea. Or Tottenham. Or Arsenal - how are they doing on breaking even??

[VectisSaint]

No, but it is weaker than that squad that finished last season.

Is it? Unless you are saying that the loss of James and Thomas have seriously weakened us then this argument simply does not wash. We have signed Dickson, Richardson and Butterfield, we lost Antonio, Papa and Semi. I agree that the strength may have shifted slightly, we are currently a bit weaker in MF (though the availability of Chamberlain and a fit Holmes goes some way, but not completely I agree, to replacing Antonio). I still think we need a MF and a striker, but we are no weaker than the team that finished last season.

[Window Cleaner]

provided you have the wherewithal to attract the very best players...and keep them, I don't think we have that sort of money at our disposal.I think many of you seriously overestimated Markus's cash in hand wealth, sure he's got plenty but compared to Abrahamovic he's probably in the begging bowl department.

Markus no doubt worked hard to obtain his personal wealth...Abramovitch was just in the right place at the right time...easy come easy go is his motto.

Tottenham have only become a serious force since they acquired 'Arry Boy and he is unique, give him the key to the treasure chest and shut your eyes is the only way with him, if it goes tits up well...........

[Legod Third Coming]

Is it? Unless you are saying that the loss of James and Thomas have seriously weakened us then this argument simply does not wash. We have signed Dickson, Richardson and Butterfield, we lost Antonio, Papa and Semi. I agree that the strength may have shifted slightly, we are currently a bit weaker in MF (though the availability of Chamberlain and a fit Holmes goes some way, but not completely I agree, to replacing Antonio). I still think we need a MF and a striker, but we are no weaker than the team that finished last season.

 

For me, it's not about being weaker. We were poor without Morgan last year and Wotton gives us no real options or creativity - he's not even a very average holding player.

I can see us losing out to teams who simply put men behind the ball who we cannot break down because they control midfield (Wycombe away anyone?).

That we should be addressing in my view.

[alpine_saint]

For me, it's not about being weaker. We were poor without Morgan last year and Wotton gives us no real options or creativity - he's not even a very average holding player.

I can see us losing out to teams who simply put men behind the ball who we cannot break down because they control midfield (Wycombe away anyone?).

That we should be addressing in my view.

 

Ooo, dont mention Wycombe again, my BP goes up.....

 

(blood pressure, nothing to do with oil leaks)

 

FWIW I agree with you. IMO, the MF looks pants now, especially as Lallana is probably going to need an op and be missing until Xmas.

[Viking Warrior]

Alpine

 

You on happy pills tonight you seem to be somewhat humerous and positive for a change

[madruss]

 

So now all of a sudden with no movement when we NEED players, you're all happy to sit around and wait?

 

It makes no sense. None.

 

We can buy anyone we want IF WE WANT them. Anyone (within reason) will come for cash (would we want that to be their only motivation? Who cares).

 

I am not advocating buying Kaka or Rooney. I am advocating us getting off our arses and buying the midfielder we need to WIN THIS LEAGUE.

 

When in six games we are not top of the league our manager will be feeling pressure, most of you will be up in arms blaming him and no one will be asking why the Chairman didn't put up the cash to win the league.

 

He can't have it both ways. Either we're serious about becoming a Premiership Club or we are not. If we are, get on with it. If not, stop bloody well building up my expectations only to dash them.

 

Too many of you are making excuses and sounding liky Rupert bloody Lowe and his 'prudent card'.

 

Well name me a single team in the Champion's League that is playing within its means?? One...

 

I'm not happy that we've had to wait to get the quality midfield and attacking players needed to complete the squad prior to the first game...and you can bet anything that Pardew isn't either.

 

Perhaps if Boro hadn't been in for Bailey we would have signed him earlier in the summer and we wouldn't be having this conversation now. But please stop saying that any half-decent player, when faced with a choice of a rich League 1 club with promotion credentials and a rich championship club with promotion credentials, would choose the league 1 club. They will always choose the championship club. Always.

 

Yes Fonte dropped a division, but his choice was between a rich league 1 club and a nearly bankrupt championship club...big difference.

 

I'm personally of the opinion that Pardew could have signed some decent quality lower champ/ league 1 standard players for our problem positions by now, but that he's holding out for something much better by playing the waiting game. Sure it's a gamble, particularly if Morgan's not fit for the first game...but hopefully the gamble will pay off

[Legod Third Coming]

I'm not happy that we've had to wait to get the quality midfield and attacking players needed to complete the squad prior to the first game...and you can bet anything that Pardew isn't either.

 

Perhaps if Boro hadn't been in for Bailey we would have signed him earlier in the summer and we wouldn't be having this conversation now. But please stop saying that any half-decent player, when faced with a choice of a rich League 1 club with promotion credentials and a rich championship club with promotion credentials, would choose the league 1 club. They will always choose the championship club. Always.

 

Yes Fonte dropped a division, but his choice was between a rich league 1 club and a nearly bankrupt championship club...big difference.

 

I'm personally of the opinion that Pardew could have signed some decent quality lower champ/ league 1 standard players for our problem positions by now, but that he's holding out for something much better by playing the waiting game. Sure it's a gamble, particularly if Morgan's not fit for the first game...but hopefully the gamble will pay off

 

Russ, there are no Championship Clubs with our money or potential. None. Gibson is worth what? £120 million?? If Bailey went there, he went for more money now (ie we would not meet his wage demands, which we could have chosen to). We need to assess what our promotion is worth to us and pay accordingly. We cannot look back and say if only we had bought Bailey... Or A N Other player.

[madruss]

Russ, there are no Championship Clubs with our money or potential. None. Gibson is worth what? £120 million?? If Bailey went there, he went for more money now (ie we would not meet his wage demands, which we could have chosen to). We need to assess what our promotion is worth to us and pay accordingly. We cannot look back and say if only we had bought Bailey... Or A N Other player.

 

And when we're a championship club, we'll be able to compete with those other championship clubs. Until then, the prospect of playing in League 1, even if for a season, is very unattractive...regardless of the money on offer. For me, the time to pay over the odds is when we're in the championship...we'll get much better value for money then.

[Turkish]

Russ, there are no Championship Clubs with our money or potential. None. Gibson is worth what? £120 million?? If Bailey went there, he went for more money now (ie we would not meet his wage demands, which we could have chosen to). We need to assess what our promotion is worth to us and pay accordingly. We cannot look back and say if only we had bought Bailey... Or A N Other player.

 

LGTC, Boro are to the CCC what we are to L1, favourites to go up. Bailey is 26, next year he could and will be playing premier league football assuming everything goes to plan for boro. If he joined us he would have to wait a MINIMUM of 2 years for PL football, Realsitically he has 4 years left at the top of his game so will want to play at as a high a level possible. Any player worth their salt would chose them over us otherwise the only reason they would have come here is for the money, thats assuming your theory that we offer everyone stupid money to come here. It would be different if Bailey was 20 and had his career ahead of him, but he is half way through it already. It is nothing to do with how much the chairman is worth, wage demands, it is simply the fact that at the moment CCC favourites Middlesborough are a more attractive proposition to join the L1 Southampton and the same goes for any player in his position, people need to get realistic.

[Barry the Badger]

He can't have it both ways. Either we're serious about becoming a Premiership Club or we are not. If we are, get on with it. If not, stop bloody well building up my expectations only to dash them.

 

 

We are clearly serious about becoming a Premiership club, but the way to do it is not to go out offering mega bucks players to drop down to L1. I bet you would be the first to moan when we ended up stuck with a load of average championship players on massive money and long contracts, which we had been forced to offer them to get them down here.

 

You are thinking so short-term. I want the club back in the premiership, but I want us to be able to stay there long after Marcus and NC have gone. It is possible to get there without needing constant propping up from Marcus' wallet. You come across as a spoilt child who thought we were getting Abramovich but has now realised we have actually got sensible business people running the club, and I for one am glad.

[Turkish]

We are clearly serious about becoming a Premiership club, but the way to do it is not to go out offering mega bucks players to drop down to L1. I bet you would be the first to moan when we ended up stuck with a load of average championship players on massive money and long contracts, which we had been forced to offer them to get them down here.

 

You are thinking so short-term. I want the club back in the premiership, but I want us to be able to stay there long after Marcus and NC have gone. It is possible to get there without needing constant propping up from Marcus' wallet. You come across as a spoilt child who thought we were getting Abramovich but has now realised we have actually got sensible business people running the club, and I for one am glad.

 

I want players that are here because they want to play for Southampton FC and want to be part of the project and are here the the long haul, not because we offered them an extra couple of grand a week. I would question the motives of any player who turned down a move to a club that is in a better position than us. By that i dont mean in the CCC, but like Bailey, who chose Middlesborough over us as it is quite obvious he has a better chance of premier league football quicker with them than us.

[Professor]

I'm not happy that we've had to wait to get the quality midfield and attacking players needed to complete the squad prior to the first game...and you can bet anything that Pardew isn't either....................................

I'm personally of the opinion that Pardew could have signed some decent quality lower champ/ league 1 standard players for our problem positions by now, but that he's holding out for something much better by playing the waiting game. Sure it's a gamble, particularly if Morgan's not fit for the first game...but hopefully the gamble will pay off

Gambling is not the way to win but if thats what it is, and it doesn't work out, the betting will be on whether or not Pardew keeps his job.

[Legod Third Coming]

I want players that are here because they want to play for Southampton FC and want to be part of the project and are here the the long haul, not because we offered them an extra couple of grand a week. I would question the motives of any player who turned down a move to a club that is in a better position than us. By that i dont mean in the CCC, but like Bailey, who chose Middlesborough over us as it is quite obvious he has a better chance of premier league football quicker with them than us.

 

Do you believe in father Christmas too?

You don't think the fact we tripled Lambert's wages has anything to do with him being here?

 

In reality, I don't (and nor should you) give a stuff what someone's motivation is. If they play well for money, who cares?

Kevin Keegan was here two seasons and brought on younger players leaps and bounds. He gave me two of the best seasons of my life.

I didn't need him here to be a part of a project...

 

If we get two years from a great player or manager and they use it a stepping stone, great. Who loses out? I would rather have great for a short time than mediocre for good. If players do well for us and then go on to Real Madrid, fine. That shows ambition. I want that.

[Turkish]

Do you believe in father Christmas too?

You don't think the fact we tripled Lambert's wages has anything to do with him being here?

 

In reality, I don't (and nor should you) give a stuff what someone's motivation is. If they play well for money, who cares?

Kevin Keegan was here two seasons and brought on younger players leaps and bounds. He gave me two of the best seasons of my life.

I didn't need him here to be a part of a project...

 

If we get two years from a great player or manager and they use it a stepping stone, great. Who loses out? I would rather have great for a short time than mediocre for good. If players do well for us and then go on to Real Madrid, fine. That shows ambition. I want that.

 

Lambert had the choice of Bristol Rovers, consistant L1 club in a small ground or Southampton, big fish in a small pond, lots of money now and on the way up, building a squad that should win promtion this season, to the CCC. Strikers cost money, he may have got a lot more cash but it was also a good career move for him

Bailey had the choice of Southampton L1 club, on the way up but premier league club in at absolute best two years or in reality 3-4 years, or Middlesborough, solid club, decent manager ,realtive wealth and should get promoted, premier league football in one year.

If you seriously believe we can sign who we want, including anyone that doesn't want to play in the champions league then you are an idiot. Why do you think Danns, bailey and Carter turned us down?

And yes i do want players who want to be here, otherwise we end up with underperforming w*nkers like Mark Hughes, Stuart Ripley etc, remember them? They weren't cheap and did f*ck all for us. Give me 11 players who play for SFC not the ££££ everyday of the week, i'd rather have that that a team full of Ashley Cole and Adebeyors.

Edited 4 August, 2010 by Turkish

[NickG]

No, but it is weaker than that squad that finished last season.

 

don't think that's clear cut, possibly stronger