What happens next - The Journey

[bowers-sfc]

Following on from earlier thread about the past 5 years, what would you like to see happen?

 

What do you think the next 5 years holds for The Saints?

 

Try to be realistic as possible.

 

If you were Ralph or katharina... What would you do?

[Barry Sanchez]

Following on from earlier thread about the past 5 years, what would you like to see happen?

 

What do you think the next 5 years holds for The Saints?

 

Try to be realistic as possible.

 

If you were Ralph or katharina... What would you do?

 

I would tell the truth about our intentions, selling players and in turn buying replacements, what happens to the money from the sales and where it would go, a far more transparent business and customer engagement would be the best course of action.

[Ludwig]

I would like to see the club diversify. We have done exceptionally well both on and off the pitch ver the last few years and many football clubs could learn from us.

For example, our social media work and the use of YouTube is second to none. I think we could establish ourselves as a viable PR or TV company. We have experience and a creative vision in this area so why waste it? It could bring in another stream of revenue that could be used to invest in the club and associated businesses.

Obviously i would like us to invest in players but we have to be honest. We are not going to break top 4. Therefore we need to think laterally. What could we be successful at? With a CEO with a background in ice hockey, what about having a ice hockey franchise? Either here or abroad. Wear the same kit, same badge etc. it could be an area that we really excel in. I would rather see us be successful at something that unsuccessful at everything.

[Ian the Red]

We will sign MP on a 5 year contract, keep all our players, buy a goal keeper, another centre half, a goal scorer and a pacey midfielder. We will sell Gully and Osvallido. Wewill further strengthen the squad in January and we will finish 4th next season and Champions League football will come to St. Marys. In the Euros in 2016, there will be more SFC players than from any other Premier League club.

[Faz]

We will sign MP on a 5 year contract, keep all our players, buy a goal keeper, another centre half, a goal scorer and a pacey midfielder. We will sell Gully and Osvallido. Wewill further strengthen the squad in January and we will finish 4th next season and Champions League football will come to St. Marys. In the Euros in 2016, there will be more SFC players than from any other Premier League club.

 

You're not a very good reader of body language are you? Winky thingy

[Dig Dig]

I can see us being sold in the next couple of seasons as I think SFC is now KL's most valuable asset post liquidation of the Mali business, I think there is less emphasise now on the "Southampton Way" from a footballing perspective and more emphasise on maximising profits so she can squeeze as much as possible out of the value of the club. The footballing ambition until then will be to retain Premier League status.

 

It's a shame as we seemingly have up to 5 players who are looking for the next challenge and would be willing to try it with Saints but the club cannot match that ambition any longer. It will be a long time before we are in a position like this again.

[Ohio Saint]

I feel that we will maybe hold our current level for 1 or 2 seasons, maybe less.....Then drift back into our old ways of being perennial strugglers. That is my opinion based mainly on my experiences as a Saints supporter. Anything better than that is pure hope and fantasy, but I dare to dream.

 

And I am what the WUMs call a happy clapper blinded by optimism!!

[charliemiller]

Increase the commercial turnover and club world profile ......then float 50% of her ownership , return her invested money plus some , inject the rest into the club to take it to the next level and further increase the value of her shareholding .

 

Everyone is happy , players retained , KL has no debt in the club and further investment ......just a thought but might happen ??

[The Cat]

I'd like to see us get to a cup final while continuing to produce more first team players from the youth set up.

 

I'd also like the Academy to sign my 8yo son and begin his development into a world class goalkeeper.

[Frank's cousin]

I feel that we will maybe hold our current level for 1 or 2 seasons, maybe less.....Then drift back into our old ways of being perennial strugglers. That is my opinion based mainly on my experiences as a Saints supporter. Anything better than that is pure hope and fantasy, but I dare to dream.

 

And I am what the WUMs call a happy clapper blinded by optimism!!

 

 

No no you are just like the rest of us... It's the saddest thing with the Premier league, and despite the crap they spout about it being the best... It's just the best of a load of leagues now dominated by a fe sides to the perennial exclusion of others, no matter how they try to do things right. Whether there's any truth in the Lallana wanting to go story or not, it's indicative of all that is wrong with football today. The fact players can treble their earnings elsewhere and are willing to play a bit part in a larger squad to get it.

 

What is so bad about earning 40k a week, playing for the side that spotted you, coached you and gave you a chance, when there is potential for success IF they desire to stay together? Why does the likes if Shaw at 18 need to go and earn more, when the success earned the hard way with this club would be of so much more worth?

 

Championship of CL medals... Very nice and desirable. BUT doing it with a club that yo have been with for a long time would surely be so much more rewarding.... But the media, the league, the clubs with the global cash and arrogance to match seem a more desirable place, a bigger pull than doing something amazing with your mates, and that is why I don't give a flying feck anymore about all the cultural stuff, the history and the platitudes FF seems so bothered about. Because if we will NEVER. Be able to realistically challenge the best, then why bother? Sport is about the competition and a 'playing field' level enough to ensure it's about talent nurtured and coached... Not about the biggest budget... Or it should be anyway.

 

The media and as a result those clubs lucky enough to have their billionaires investing, are happy with the status quo. But we are a club that tries to do things the right way, by not only nurturing talent, but by giving it an opportunity,and yet we cannot be given a chance as the vultures swoop, and the owners are happy to give in, also just happy with the 'league status' rather than actually doing something within it..... Then seriously I am not sure why I bother .... It's only because so many fans feel that it's about supporting whatever, that the clubs and the league get away with it... If owners are just happy to beware of it, what message does that send to players, and more importantly us fans... To many have become conditioned into thinking we have to accept it as it is.

 

 

Cortese was obviously a mean bastard... (Although I suspect if Markus has been around to steady his hand, we Amy hae see on a better good cop/bad cop balance), but he DID want to upset the status quo and overturn mediocre expectation. Whether he would have succeeded or not against the odds I don't know... Probability low, but FFS at least he seemed like he was interested enough to give a bloody good try. Not bothering because of the FEAR of failure is worse than failure itself.

 

Accepting out position, consolidation, selling talent early, rather than later or saying NO and keeping it for the contractual length even if it leaves on a free as result, is the only way we will challenge expectations and conventional wisdom.

 

If KL and Krueger are prepared to do that we will have a great next five years whatever the happens.... If they are resigned to losing players and willing to accept the 'also ran' - it will be disappointing IMHO given the potential that we obviously have.

[aintforever]

The aim has to be Europe.

[Batman]

if sturomseysaint is to be believed, NC has left us on the edge that requires player sales and lots of cutting back

 

so 17th will be the aim, i assume

[Turkish]

if sturomseysaint is to be believed, NC has left us on the edge that requires player sales and lots of cutting back

 

so 17th will be the aim, i assume

 

That's the second time you've name checked him on here in the last couple of days, he doesn't even post on here 'Brett' stop being a helmet, no one cares what Warick Davis body, Rusell Grant head says.

[View From The Top]

if sturomseysaint is to be believed, NC has left us on the edge that requires player sales and lots of cutting back

 

so 17th will be the aim, i assume

 

He knows less than the mongs on here.

[aintforever]

The media and as a result those clubs lucky enough to have their billionaires investing, are happy with the status quo. But we are a club that tries to do things the right way, by not only nurturing talent, but by giving it an opportunity,and yet we cannot be given a chance as the vultures swoop, and the owners are happy to give in, also just happy with the 'league status' rather than actually doing something within it..... Then seriously I am not sure why I bother .... It's only because so many fans feel that it's about supporting whatever, that the clubs and the league get away with it... If owners are just happy to beware of it, what message does that send to players, and more importantly us fans... To many have become conditioned into thinking we have to accept it as it is.

 

You are forgetting that we are only in the Premier League because of a billionaire's wedge.

[Bearsy]

Angar with world

 

Enjoyed that rant Frank! I have small consolation for you tho, instances of premier league clubs having to bend over are becoming increasingly rare. I reckon we've all just got too much dollar now to be tempted by a fair price! Off top of my head I think cabaye was the only one in Jan, maybe Fellaini & Bale in the summer, & each time the buying clubs got pretty much rinsed!

 

For all the paper talk, draw a line through Baines, Michu, Benteke etc. There's no value in hostile domestic transfers, any more. Much better to rape France, Holland, Italy etc

[The Kraken]

Enjoyed that rant Frank! I have small consolation for you tho, instances of premier league clubs having to bend over are becoming increasingly rare. I reckon we've all just got too much dollar now to be tempted by a fair price! Off top of my head I think cabaye was the only one in Jan, maybe Fellaini & Bale in the summer, & each time the buying clubs got pretty much rinsed!

 

For all the paper talk, draw a line through Baines, Michu, Benteke etc. There's no value in hostile domestic transfers, any more. Much better to rape France, Holland, Italy etc

 

Agree with you there, Bear. In 2009 Saints' turnover was £8m. With the £80M+ prize money and all else, that figure must now be somewhere around £120M.

 

A £30M bid to a company who turns over £8M a year is absolutely irresistible. You simply can't turn it down. A £30M bid to a company that turns over £120M? Really not the same thing.

 

I still think Lallana and Shaw will leave in the summer, but it's going to take a massively hefty chunk of money for it to happen.

[Bearsy]

I still think Lallana and Shaw will leave in the summer, but it's going to take a massively hefty chunk of money for it to happen.

 

My worry really is that the current board might be a bit nice. If Lallana goes to Liverpool it won't be cos we can't afford to turn the money down, it will be cos Adam asked them nicely and we didn't want to stand in the lad's way, or some wet load of bolllocks like that

[The Kraken]

My worry really is that the current board might be a bit nice. If Lallana goes to Liverpool it won't be cos we can't afford to turn the money down, it will be cos Adam asked them nicely and we didn't want to stand in the lad's way, or some wet load of bolllocks like that

Yep, definitely.

[S-Clarke]

My worry really is that the current board might be a bit nice. If Lallana goes to Liverpool it won't be cos we can't afford to turn the money down, it will be cos Adam asked them nicely and we didn't want to stand in the lad's way, or some wet load of bolllocks like that

 

That's what I fear too bear, but let's see what happens. The thing with NC is that he didn't give a **** about reputations or what people though about his answers.

[Turkish]

That's what I fear too bear, but let's see what happens. The thing with NC is that he didn't give a **** about reputations or what people though about his answers.

 

It's a lot easier telling Ryan Dickson he isn't going on loan to Yeovil than telling an England international he isn't going to Liverpool/man United for £25m and double his wages.

[Frank's cousin]

Agree with you there, Bear. In 2009 Saints' turnover was £8m. With the £80M+ prize money and all else, that figure must now be somewhere around £120M.

 

A £30M bid to a company who turns over £8M a year is absolutely irresistible. You simply can't turn it down. A £30M bid to a company that turns over £120M? Really not the same thing.

 

I still think Lallana and Shaw will leave in the summer, but it's going to take a massively hefty chunk of money for it to happen.

 

to be civil and serious for a moment, you are right. The truth is everyone is a selling club at the right price... The difference though between us and the top 4 or 5 , is that when they sell they CAN replace with equal of better talent. Our problem, at our size and rep is that when we sell a Shaw or a Lallana, talent we will ONLY ever have if we produce it ourselves, is that unless we have kids ready to to take their place, we will be weaker as a side as a result, as we won't be able to attract talent of the same or better quality...I hate the fat it's true, but we will always lose such talent eventually, but if we can convince them to stay a few years more, we might, just might see something special now and again. Is that really too much to ask or expect from our board?

[The Kraken]

to be civil and serious for a moment' date=' you are right. The truth is everyone is a selling club at the right price... The difference though between us and the top 4 or 5 , is that when they sell they CAN replace with equal of better talent. Our problem, at our size and rep is that when we sell a Shaw or a Lallana, talent we will ONLY ever have if we produce it ourselves, is that unless we have kids ready to to take their place, we will be weaker as a side as a result, as we won't be able to attract talent of the same or better quality...I hate the fat it's true, but we will always lose such talent eventually, but if we can convince them to stay a few years more, we might, just might see something special now and again. [b']Is that really too much to ask or expect from our board?[/b]

We'll find out in the summer. But I'd say yes, it is. It always has been, when the big boys come calling. Cortese's "Champions League vision" may have tried to deny it, but when it turned out that we really don't have the money to complete with the riches on offer from the top 4 or 5 clubs then the players heads are turned, hence the constant utterings in the media.

 

At least we're (hopefully) now in a position where we can fight off advances from the likes of Everton, Newcastle, Villa, the types of club we've lost some star players to before. Top 4 or 5 clubs though is a completely different prospect and always will be.

[CB Fry]

No no you are just like the rest of us... It's the saddest thing with the Premier league, and despite the crap they spout about it being the best... It's just the best of a load of leagues now dominated by a fe sides to the perennial exclusion of others, no matter how they try to do things right. Whether there's any truth in the Lallana wanting to go story or not, it's indicative of all that is wrong with football today. The fact players can treble their earnings elsewhere and are willing to play a bit part in a larger squad to get it.

 

What is so bad about earning 40k a week, playing for the side that spotted you, coached you and gave you a chance, when there is potential for success IF they desire to stay together? Why does the likes if Shaw at 18 need to go and earn more, when the success earned the hard way with this club would be of so much more worth?

 

Championship of CL medals... Very nice and desirable. BUT doing it with a club that yo have been with for a long time would surely be so much more rewarding.... But the media, the league, the clubs with the global cash and arrogance to match seem a more desirable place, a bigger pull than doing something amazing with your mates, and that is why I don't give a flying feck anymore about all the cultural stuff, the history and the platitudes FF seems so bothered about. Because if we will NEVER. Be able to realistically challenge the best, then why bother? Sport is about the competition and a 'playing field' level enough to ensure it's about talent nurtured and coached... Not about the biggest budget... Or it should be anyway.

 

The media and as a result those clubs lucky enough to have their billionaires investing, are happy with the status quo. But we are a club that tries to do things the right way, by not only nurturing talent, but by giving it an opportunity,and yet we cannot be given a chance as the vultures swoop, and the owners are happy to give in, also just happy with the 'league status' rather than actually doing something within it..... Then seriously I am not sure why I bother .... It's only because so many fans feel that it's about supporting whatever, that the clubs and the league get away with it... If owners are just happy to beware of it, what message does that send to players, and more importantly us fans... To many have become conditioned into thinking we have to accept it as it is.

 

 

Cortese was obviously a mean bastard... (Although I suspect if Markus has been around to steady his hand, we Amy hae see on a better good cop/bad cop balance), but he DID want to upset the status quo and overturn mediocre expectation. Whether he would have succeeded or not against the odds I don't know... Probability low, but FFS at least he seemed like he was interested enough to give a bloody good try. Not bothering because of the FEAR of failure is worse than failure itself.

 

Accepting out position, consolidation, selling talent early, rather than later or saying NO and keeping it for the contractual length even if it leaves on a free as result, is the only way we will challenge expectations and conventional wisdom.

 

If KL and Krueger are prepared to do that we will have a great next five years whatever the happens.... If they are resigned to losing players and willing to accept the 'also ran' - it will be disappointing IMHO given the potential that we obviously have.

 

Even by your standards, that is a breathtakingly pointless ramble about nothing whatsoever.

 

Just more flailing about to make up some way we can get into the top four without spending hundreds of millions of pounds, laced with your current "I refuse to accept mediocrity, me" routine.

 

And what you've rambled your way to is a recommendation for to let key players leave at the end of their contract for free. Brilliant.

 

Keep em coming.

[Turkish]

We'll find out in the summer. But I'd say yes, it is. It always has been, when the big boys come calling. Cortese's "Champions League vision" may have tried to deny it, but when it turned out that we really don't have the money to complete with the riches on offer from the top 4 or 5 clubs then the players heads are turned, hence the constant utterings in the media.

 

At least we're (hopefully) now in a position where we can fight off advances from the likes of Everton, Newcastle, Villa, the types of club we've lost some star players to before. Top 4 or 5 clubs though is a completely different prospect and always will be.

 

Corteses 'vision' has been exposed for what some always said it was, one mans ego day dreaming. Its wasn't a 'vision' that was shared by the owners nor did he have the backing to make good on what he ran his mouth off about, you might even go so far as to say some players were sold a lie.

 

I'm sure some will still laud him and say how much better it was when he was here, how everyone would stay and we'd take our rightful position in the top 4, not being bullied by the big boys and challenging the status quo etc, but the realty is his vision wasn't a vision at all. It was pie in the sky day dreaming, telling people what they want to hear. And just 18 months into taking our seat at the top table at he top table he quit on his 'vision', he clearly didn't believe in it himself.

[aintforever]

That's what I fear too bear, but let's see what happens. The thing with NC is that he didn't give a **** about reputations or what people though about his answers.

 

Yet he still flogged Oxo to Arsenal because the player wanted to go.

[Olallana]

Could live with selling Shaw + Osvaldo. Give MP that £30-40m + another £10m and we could build a stronger team.

 

Let the rest of the Sky Money and other incomes take care of the debt and running costs. That would be in the area of £90-100m and if that doesn´t strengthen the finances at the club I dont know what will and at the same time build the team and therefor the club stronger...

[shurlock]

Yet he still flogged Oxo to Arsenal because the player wanted to go.

 

Coz being a top 8 Prem side that is getting full international recognition gives you no more leverage or bargaining power than a newly promoted side to the championship which we were with Oxo.

 

[St Chalet]

Could live with selling Shaw + Osvaldo. Give MP that £30-40m + another £10m and we could build a stronger team..

 

I spoke to a senior player at the awards night and that was his view of what would happen. Albeit his words were "stronger squad".

[CB Fry]

Corteses 'vision' has been exposed for what some always said it was, one mans ego day dreaming. Its wasn't a 'vision' that was shared by the owners nor did he have the backing to make good on what he ran his mouth off about, you might even go so far as to say some players were sold a lie.

 

I'm sure some will still laud him and say how much better it was when he was here, how everyone would stay and we'd take our rightful position in the top 4, not being bullied by the big boys and challenging the status quo etc, but the realty is his vision wasn't a vision at all. It was pie in the sky day dreaming, telling people what they want to hear. And just 18 months into taking our seat at the top table at he top table he quit on his 'vision', he clearly didn't believe in it himself.

 

100% this.

 

The single most important thing the "vision" needed to actually happen was a strong leader determined to see it through against a heck of a lot of adversity. Like big clubs waving huge cheques. Like relentless press speculation. Like vulture agents. Like ambitious or greedy players.

 

But we were going to see the vision come true. All we needed was someone driven to make it happen, come what may. A man who could look players in the eye and say "stay here. With me. Go nowhere, like me". Someone who had the unequivocal support of the owners. Someone in it for the long haul.

 

But we had the man. He was going to do all that, showing that vision is far more than just empty words.

 

Now, what happened to that driven, determined, visionary?

 

Oh yeah. He quit the gig before a player was even thinking of handing in a transfer request. After one entire Prem season.

 

Some vision.

[shurlock]

100% this.

 

The single most important thing the "vision" needed to actually happen was a strong leader determined to see it through against a heck of a lot of adversity. Like big clubs waving huge cheques. Like relentless press speculation. Like vulture agents. Like ambitious or greedy players.

 

But we were going to see the vision come true. All we needed was someone driven to make it happen, come what may. A man who could look players in the eye and say "stay here. With me. Go nowhere, like me". Someone who had the unequivocal support of the owners. Someone in it for the long haul.

 

But we had the man. He was going to do all that, showing that vision is far more than just empty words.

 

Now, what happened to that driven, determined, visionary?

 

Oh yeah. He quit the gig before a player was even thinking of handing in a transfer request. After one entire Prem season.

 

Some vision.

 

Small Fry if you don't think the last five years involved adversity and required vision, you're an even bigger moron than I thought.

[Jonnyboy]

Maybe he got fed up with all the negativity man?

 

Anyway, anyone else reckon Ralph and Kat have got the hots for each other?

[SaintRichmond]

We will sign MP on a 5 year contract, keep all our players, buy a goal keeper, another centre half, a goal scorer and a pacey midfielder. We will sell Gully and Osvallido. Wewill further strengthen the squad in January and we will finish 4th next season and Champions League football will come to St. Marys. In the Euros in 2016, there will be more SFC players than from any other Premier League club.

 

I didn't realise that Fantasy Football was so much fun

[Saint_Tony]

I think it's important now that we accept that Lallana is definitely going and move on. Many said we should try and sign another 3/4 players in the summer, but with Lallana and potentially another 2/3 first teamers plus Ramirez, Osvaldo, Jos And Guly, I think we might need another 8 or 9 new players.Obviously this is a worst case scenario but a possibility. It all depends whether the board will at least try to reinvest in some quality players, or buy a load of the painfully average players mentioned on here (Redmond, Bertrand etc.) I'm very concerned we are going to be following in the footsteps of Aston Villa. Ralph has talked a good game, but actions speak louder than words.