Why we're on a downward curve.

[Sour Mash]

That's the problem in some peoples mind though, some things SHOULD have happened. A clear structure and strategy needs to have filtered though the club which clearly hasn't happened given the snippets we are getting from people whom should be well enough placed to gauge such an effect.

 

Lets not forget, Ralph had been in and around the club for some time 'overseeing' so really should have devised a new strategy.

 

We need to be intelligent enough to read between the lines, and right now the noises direct from the mouths of the playing squad are not exactly encouraging ones!

What are the "clear structure and strategy" of the other 19 Premier League clubs?

[OldNick]

You say "definitely" and yet don't provide any evidence of it, Nick.

 

The two highest-profile former players who fell out with Cortese are Le Tiss and Benali. Le Tiss paid his own way whenever he had the opportunity, while Benali was banned from the stadium so didn't have that chance.

Steve,there were people who rightly or wrongly had their privileges taken away,some posted on here in the past, ex-players also. I dont think its right to name people.

[hypochondriac]

I think Crab Lungs makes some valid points and I understand his concerns but for me the journey was always going to end in tears, it was inevitable. We got where we did by spending a reasonable to large amount of cash, far more than any previous regime had shelled out and we made progress beyond our expectations but......... the bubble had to burst. The writing was on the wall last summer with reports of a division of views on the budget between KL and NC.

 

Unless we persuade KL to splash big (unlikely) or find a multi billionaire who wants to take up the challenge of securing CL football, we have scaled our version of Everest and are now looking for lesser, less-arduous-to-climb mountains.

 

I just want a cup win then I don't really care what we do.

[Unbelievable Jeff]

Just keep clutching 'em, dude........

 

I was just wondering, I assume you haven't then.

[OldNick]

This is about right to me.

 

I fail to see how not pursuing the CL pipe dream is then whipped up into us hurtling to oblivion.

 

We could quite easily sustain a nice mid table Premier league club, bringing young players through, and why not get to the Europa League final like Boro and Fulham did, but actually win the thing like they didn't.

 

I know that seems beneath the nutcases like Richmond and Alpine but it would effing well do me.

i think that is correct, similar to RL days. the danger being that our team lose focus and the desire wanes a tad. The squad gets watered down and our lack of quality means we end up in the lower echelons of the league or worse. Mid-table safety and some cup runs are Ok by me

[Lallana's Left Peg]

The reason there isn't a plan is due to the Pochettino situation. How can you make any sort of plan when the decision of one man is so vital to what the players are going to do. There may well be plans in place for if he says yes or no, but so far he hasn't said either so we are left in limbo.

 

As I have said in another thread then, why are we pandering to him so much? We are coming off like his little *****. Are we not bigger than any one individual?

[Unbelievable Jeff]

i think that is correct, similar to RL days. the danger being that our team lose focus and the desire wanes a tad. The squad gets watered down and our lack of quality means we end up in the lower echelons of the league or worse. Mid-table safety and some cup runs are Ok by me

 

Or we're run like Everton, with a hungry squad with smaller investment that constantly bloodies the noses of the big 6.

[Unbelievable Jeff]

As I have said in another thread then' date=' why are we pandering to him so much? We are coming off like his little *****. Are we not bigger than any one individual?[/quote']

 

I don't think we are pandering as such, it is only a week and a half since the season finished. If we're in the same position by the start of the World Cup then yes, I'd be worrying, but I think we will know either way then.

[Dig Dig]

What are the "clear structure and strategy" of the other 19 Premier League clubs?

 

The problem is a lot don't and end up finishing 8th one season and 17th the next or end up getting through 3 managers in a season.

[Sour Mash]

The problem is a lot don't and end up finishing 8th one season and 17th the next or end up getting through 3 managers in a season.

A lot of teams finish one season 8th and the next 17th? I can't think of too many that have done that. Quite a naive idea to think that the vast majority of Premier League clubs aren't planning and preparing to be the best they can be.

[Dig Dig]

A lot of teams finish one season 8th and the next 17th? I can't think of too many that have done that. Quite a naive idea to think that the vast majority of Premier League clubs aren't planning and preparing to be the best they can be.

 

Well you were asking which clubs have structured strategies in place yet now you are saying they are all planning to be the best they can be? My point is that you can't stand still at this level and not be a few steps ahead of others around you as the decline can be quite rapid and there have been numerous examples of that.

[CanadaSaint]

We have absolutely no evidence that Katharina has pulled the plug on anything. She didn't step out of her preferred shadows and into a high profile role just to pull the plug on her father's vision or turn off the spending tap. She could have paid people to do that and stayed in the shadows. Or sold the club for a lot of money when Cortese left. And she wouldn't have kept coming to games if she had mediocrity in mind - or even a major cutback on the club's aspirations.

 

I think she's committed to the same dreams but within a more friendly and more fiscally responsible framework. That's quite achievable, considering that the two most expensive buys in our club's history turned out to be nearly thirty million's worth of duds, and considering the money flowing through the PL now.

 

If she were to tell Pochettino that there is a 20 million pound budget for transfers plus whatever we get for Ramirez, Osvaldo and possibly Luke, and that nobody else will be sold unless it's for silly money, we can continue to progress but in a more responsible way.

 

The three caveats are these:

 

1. We need to keep Pochettino.

2. We need strong leadership capable of articulating the vision within the club and beyond.

3. We must have someone in the club capable of ensuing that the transfer budget is spent wisely - no more duds.

 

The problem is that the Pochettino situation is up in the air, Ralph is a great and very talented guy but (as I feared) he might be struggling to acclimatize to a new sport, and I don't see the person in the club capable of ensuring #3 (I don't think it's Reed).

 

Yes, there are problems that give the impression that the dreams are dead, but there are also solutions to those problems that could bring them back to life.

[Sour Mash]

We have absolutely no evidence that Katharina has pulled the plug on anything. She didn't step out of her preferred shadows and into a high profile role just to pull the plug on her father's vision or turn off the spending tap. She could have paid people to do that and stayed in the shadows. Or sold the club for a lot of money when Cortese left. And she wouldn't have kept coming to games if she had mediocrity in mind - or even a major cutback on the club's aspirations.

 

I think she's committed to the same dreams but within a more friendly and more fiscally responsible framework. That's quite achievable, considering that the two most expensive buys in our club's history turned out to be nearly thirty million's worth of duds, and considering the money flowing through the PL now.

 

If she were to tell Pochettino that there is a 20 million pound budget for transfers plus whatever we get for Ramirez, Osvaldo and possibly Luke, and that nobody else will be sold unless it's for silly money, we can continue to progress but in a more responsible way.

 

The three caveats are these:

 

1. We need to keep Pochettino.

2. We need strong leadership capable of articulating the vision within the club and beyond.

3. We must have someone in the club capable of ensuing that the transfer budget is spent wisely - no more duds.

 

The problem is that the Pochettino situation is up in the air, Ralph is a great and very talented guy but (as I feared) he might be struggling to acclimatize to a new sport, and I don't see the person in the club capable of ensuring #3 (I don't think it's Reed).

 

Yes, there are problems that give the impression that the dreams are dead, but there are also solutions to those problems that could bring them back to life.

Very good, well-balanced post.

[Sour Mash]

Well you were asking which clubs have structured strategies in place yet now you are saying they are all planning to be the best they can be? My point is that you can't stand still at this level and not be a few steps ahead of others around you as the decline can be quite rapid and there have been numerous examples of that.

No, I didn't ask "which clubs have structured strategies in place". My point is you are very naive to think most clubs don't have one, they just won't come out with mission statements for the fans every 6 months.

[Smirking_Saint]

Well, I thought I better give my opinion and tell you all also what I've heard over the past few months. Some of this is truth, some of this just my opinion. Some of it is me reading between the lines. Irrespective, it's not great reading and I think I'll be proven correct shortly that since Cortese left, we're on a huge downward curve.

 

Here's what I know.

 

- There was a huge upturn in atmosphere when Cortese left. The day-to-day (non-football) staff were initially a lot happier as NC could be a very difficult taskmaster at times.

- RK and KL set about repairing links and friendships with important businesses and former employees/players.

- Contractors and others Cortese had working for him via the club were a lot happier.

 

However, over time, this has changed somewhat and most importantly, the footballing side has been somewhat neglected. It soon became apparent that our objectives and ambitions had shifted and the players/staff were left completely in the dark. They bought into Cortese's long-term strategy/vision and it was him who was the glue who held everything together, despite his obvious shortcomings in other areas of running the club. When Cortese left, so did all the aspirations of pushing on and progressing as a club.

 

In the meantime, we've had;

 

- fan-pandering letters from the new setup

- mixed messages regarding the sale of players - Reed "not for sale" Krueger "will talk to clubs about our players"

- unprofessional snipes at Cortese's handling of the club with reference to the comment about our financial situation and the adidas kit debacle

- continued non-communication in this new "era of transparency"

 

Now, cast your mind back. In the early part of the season when we were riding high, remember all the talk of Champions League? This wasn't just from the players (Boruc, Wanyama, Lallana, Schneiderlin) but from the manager as well. This was Cortese's objective and the playing staff were 100% committed to delivering it; maybe not this season, but with future investment and the retention of the better players and the manager this was seen as potentially achievable. Now, fast-forward a few months later - uncertainty reigns, no-one dared uttered a word about it and the new leadership's policy is sustainability and nothing else. From February to the present day, we've had Schneiderlin, Lallana, Fonte and others all drop huge hints in the press about being happy here but only the proviso we kick on and improve.

 

If just one of those "big" players had the assurances they required to stay and committed so would the rest. Now, the opposite is in action; all it'll take is one or two to leave and it could lead to an exodus. The first and most important person is Pochettino, but I don't think he's too enamoured with the new "mid-table" project and having to face replacing key members of his squad. Surely some of you must have heard the alarm bells ringing the moment the new board started even entertaining players sales and mentioned that we were in a difficult financial situation? If that isn't greasing us up for a potential firesale of 2, 3 maybe 4 of our best players I don't know what is. Sure, no sales have been confirmed yet but I've absolutely no doubt that they will, very soon.

 

We're water-treaders now at best, unfortunately. If people are happy with that then that's their prerogative but I can almost certainly guarantee you that from reading between the lines and hearing what I've heard that we're in for a pretty sh1tty summer. It's genuinely galling to watch this unfold as like many of you, I was finally excited by the fact we were THAT close to having a thoroughly decent, competitive Premier League side that could challenge the big 'uns not off the pitch but most definitely on it. With a couple of solid acquisitions as a statement of intent and retention of our best players, we could have had a real go next year. That's what the players wanted, the manager wanted and that's what Cortese wanted. That dream died to moment he was turfed out of SMS for good.

 

Don't worry though - the pain of tumbling back into mediocrity will surely be offset by a nicely worded club statement.

 

Exactly this crabby, but obviously Cortese was the bad guy......... Obv Id much rather the contractors were happy then success and good football on the pitch...

[SaintRichmond]

A post full of blatant assumptions and factually incorrect information.

 

What is "factually incorrect"

 

OK, so instead of your dismissal of my opinions, how about some "counter" theories

 

That would be novel

 

Be quick though, it won't be long before you, and others, will have to eat their own words

[The Kraken]

What is "factually incorrect"

 

OK, so instead of your dismissal of my opinions, how about some "counter" theories

 

That would be novel

 

Be quick though, it won't be long before you, and others, will have to eat their own words

I didn't dismiss your opinions at all. You're welcome to them just as much as I'm free to think that they're speculative nonsense. My "counter argument", which it isnt it's just another opinion, is further up this thread.

[Batman]

we're DOOOOOOOOMED i tell you

[norwaysaint]

Highest points tally in the PL, attractive possession football, better players than I remember us having in years, international call ups, up to the highest league position we can really expect without a big dose of luck, the whole country looking at saints with respect and admiration for our system, home grown talent in abundance.

 

So much to enjoy and be happy for compared to what we've had in the last 30 years.

 

but we're saints fans, so we have no intention of reveling in the good times. We just have to go on about how everything will soon turn to ****.

 

We've supported saints across three divisions, we've supported saints with and without investment, we've supported saints during the two seasons we won a trophy, during the very few when we came close and during the many we came nowhere near. We've supported saints when we play nicely and when we play ugly. What exactly is the upcoming disaster that's going to be so bad? One day we'll be **** again, one day we'll be great again, both are a certainty. I'll enjoy the good times and not keep looking forward to hypothetical bad times cheers. Clap clap clap.

[Wade Garrett]

Up until now we still have our manager and no player has been sold. We've also not been whoring our players to all and sundry.

 

Until anything actually happens, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

[doddisalegend]

That's the problem in some peoples mind though, some things SHOULD have happened. A clear structure and strategy needs to have filtered though the club which clearly hasn't happened given the snippets we are getting from people whom should be well enough placed to gauge such an effect.

 

Lets not forget, Ralph had been in and around the club for some time 'overseeing' so really should have devised a new strategy.

 

We need to be intelligent enough to read between the lines, and right now the noises direct from the mouths of the playing squad are not exactly encouraging ones!

 

Eh? All we have is a load of posters on here over analysing every comment to come from the club, manager, players and ex chairmen then using it as evidence for their own personal doomsday scenario. Instead of reading between the lines and then making s hit up how about we all wait to see what actually happens over the summer?

[Turkish]

Dry your eyes rylan. He's gone and he doesn't give a f*ck about your weeping and wailing. I would say man up but I hate that expression and in your case 'apply some more mascara and smile' is more apt

[shurlock]

This is about right to me.

 

I fail to see how not pursuing the CL pipe dream is then whipped up into us hurtling to oblivion.

 

We could quite easily sustain a nice mid table Premier league club, bringing young players through, and why not get to the Europa League final like Boro and Fulham did, but actually win the thing like they didn't.

 

I know that seems beneath the nutcases like Richmond and Alpine but it would effing well do me.

 

Do explain what midtable means because it sure as f**k doesn't mean what it used to. With the gap between haves and have nots widening, a team finishing 10 or so will probably have relegation fears at the back of its mind till the last few weeks of the season. And there are no guarantees that it won't be sucked into a relegation dogfight the following season. It's a slippery slope.

 

If you want 'midtable' safety, you have to be aiming higher - much like we did last season and which now appears to be in doubt.

 

The days of the comfortable middle -doing a plucky Fulham or Boro- are as illusory and naive as the champions league talk you mock.

Edited 21 May, 2014 by shurlock

[Horley CTFC Saint]

Now, fast-forward a few months later - uncertainty reigns, no-one dared uttered a word about it and the new leadership's policy is sustainability and nothing else.......With a couple of solid acquisitions as a statement of intent and retention of our best players, we could have had a real go next year. That's what the players wanted, the manager wanted and that's what Cortese wanted.

Like Leeds United you mean?

[The Kraken]

Do explain what midtable means because it sure as f**k doesn't mean what it used to. With the gap between haves and have nots widening, a team finishing 10 or so will probably have relegation fears at the back of its mind till the last few weeks of the season. And there are no guarantees that it won't be sucked into a relegation dogfight the following season. It's a slippery slope.

When was the tipping point? Up to what point was this not the case?

[View From The Top]

What exactly do you think Markus's Dream was ??? Win the Hampshire Cup every two years ???

 

HE wanted to get us to the very Top, AND he had the money to do it.

 

Tragically, he passed away, and so did his Dreams ...... THEY died after HIS Five Year Project was over. Cortese realised this after his talks with Katharina, and THAT is why he left. He didn't like the watered down New "Project"

 

Katharina is nothing like her Father, and has nothing like his Visions and Dreams. We will fall back into a "lower half" Prem team, IF we are lucky

 

The only hope that Southampton has is that, with Ralph Krueger, we have the best chance yet to get the Southampton Vikings back

 

Love the way you just make things up.

[shurlock]

When was the tipping point? Up to what point was this not the case?

 

I am pretty sure if you plot the distribution of points across teams over the last ten to fifteen years, you'll find that it's much more bimodal than in the past.

 

Just from experience, I remember the days when there was a genuine middle and in late Feb/early March you wouldn't have to look beyond 15th or so place to know which clubs would ultimately be going down.

 

Can't put my finger on a date or turning point without looking at the data but something definitely changed while we were out of the prem -and perhaps it was even changing just before that.

[saintant]

If anyone is to blame for potentially breaking up our great team it is players who want away ie Lallana and Shaw along with Mopo for not expressing his loyalty and appearing to be waiting for other offers. As with any club if players/managers see the grass as greener elsewhere they will go and that is their choice although maybe they should think about honouring contracts. Nobody, even the ruthless Cortese can make them stay if their hearts are elsewhere. Man Utd couldn't hold on to Ronaldo, Spurs couldn't keep Bale. It's how football works whether we like it or not. If players and the manager leave it won't be through a lack of ambition from KL it will be because they want to go. We can't offer Champions League football and probably not trophies either unless we decide to take the cups more seriously. If Lallana, Shaw and Mopo along with any other 'want away' players were keen to stay and see where this great squad can go then they would be saying so but if they decide to go let's not lay the blame on those who run the club. All we can ask and expect of them is that they use funds raised to secure as good replacements as they can get. It is a great shame that players and possibly the manager are prepared to damage the project but heads get turned by offers from larger fish and we can't prevent that. Maybe, in time, some of those who go will regret having left at a time when we could be on the verge of something special.

[CB Fry]

Do explain what midtable means because it sure as f**k doesn't mean what it used to. With the gap between haves and have nots widening, a team finishing 10 or so will probably have relegation fears at the back of its mind till the last few weeks of the season. And there are no guarantees that it won't be sucked into a relegation dogfight the following season. It's a slippery slope.

 

If you want 'midtable' safety, you have to be aiming higher - much like we did last season and which now appears to be in doubt.

 

The days of the comfortable middle -doing a plucky Fulham or Boro- are as illusory and naive as the champions league talk you mock.

 

Me saying we can and hopefully will finish mid table over a number of seasons (as you asked, by mid table I mean around the middle of the table) a d go for cup success in Europe (and domestically) is as niaive as people saying we can qualify for the Champions League?

 

You do write some exceptional strawman nonsense but this one is right out of the top drawer. Seriously, well done.

[The Kraken]

I am pretty sure if you plot the distribution of points across teams over the last ten to fifteen years, you'll find that it's much more bimodal than in the past.

 

Just from experience, I remember the days when there was a genuine middle and in late Feb/early March you wouldn't have to look beyond 15th or so place to know which clubs would ultimately be going down.

 

Can't put my finger on a date or turning point without looking at the data but something definitely changed while we were out of the prem -and perhaps it was even changing just before that.

I'm not sure if its that simple. I don't think the points distribution has changed much, just by performing a very quick and random look. Have a look at the very first Premier league, 1992-93. Mid-table of a 22 league was 11th (Chelsea) and they stayed up by 7 points. Tottenham finished 10th in 96 and stayed up by 6. In most seasons it was more, but by way of comparison 10th this year was Newcastle and they stayed up by 16 points.

[Sour Mash]

I am pretty sure if you plot the distribution of points across teams over the last ten to fifteen years, you'll find that it's much more bimodal than in the past.

 

Just from experience, I remember the days when there was a genuine middle and in late Feb/early March you wouldn't have to look beyond 15th or so place to know which clubs would ultimately be going down.

 

Can't put my finger on a date or turning point without looking at the data but something definitely changed while we were out of the prem -and perhaps it was even changing just before that.

But that's the crux of the position we now find ourselves in; we can no longer say "we're aiming for CL football" without having to start backing up our words with serious intent and resources - if those resources aren't there, they're not there.

[derry]

We have absolutely no evidence that Katharina has pulled the plug on anything. She didn't step out of her preferred shadows and into a high profile role just to pull the plug on her father's vision or turn off the spending tap. She could have paid people to do that and stayed in the shadows. Or sold the club for a lot of money when Cortese left. And she wouldn't have kept coming to games if she had mediocrity in mind - or even a major cutback on the club's aspirations.

 

I think she's committed to the same dreams but within a more friendly and more fiscally responsible framework. That's quite achievable, considering that the two most expensive buys in our club's history turned out to be nearly thirty million's worth of duds, and considering the money flowing through the PL now.

 

If she were to tell Pochettino that there is a 20 million pound budget for transfers plus whatever we get for Ramirez, Osvaldo and possibly Luke, and that nobody else will be sold unless it's for silly money, we can continue to progress but in a more responsible way.

 

The three caveats are these:

 

1. We need to keep Pochettino.

2. We need strong leadership capable of articulating the vision within the club and beyond.

3. We must have someone in the club capable of ensuing that the transfer budget is spent wisely - no more duds.

 

The problem is that the Pochettino situation is up in the air, Ralph is a great and very talented guy but (as I feared) he might be struggling to acclimatize to a new sport, and I don't see the person in the club capable of ensuring #3 (I don't think it's Reed).

 

Yes, there are problems that give the impression that the dreams are dead, but there are also solutions to those problems that could bring them back to life.

 

A couple of very good posts Bill. I'm prepared to wait and see, because firstly I have no choice and secondly as of yet what we are seeing is more fiction than fact and we just don't know what is happening. As most of the stories are media led, there doesn't seem to be much fact if any.

 

I was told by you know who that the players are very happy under Pochettino but haven't a clue what is happening, he isn't impressed by Reed's statement and is less than complimentary about Krueger not being a football man. What does worry me, if that is Lallana's view there is a problem.

 

The other worry I have, KL is is a multi billionaire so consequently lives in a bubble, Krueger is new to this and the people that he needs are a tyro CEO and the football man seen as weak and indecisive by YNW. I just hope this inactivity isn't them sitting on their hands.

[OldNick]

Or we're run like Everton, with a hungry squad with smaller investment that constantly bloodies the noses of the big 6.

That would be good, but the difference is that clubs know that you get a. Bloody nose when you eventually prize a player away

[The Kraken]

That would be good, but the difference is that clubs know that you get a. Bloody nose when you eventually prize a player away

Sorry, what point are you making here? Surely not that Everton have not been given a bloody nose before and come through it just as strong?

[shurlock]

I'm not sure if its that simple. I don't think the points distribution has changed much, just by performing a very quick and random look. Have a look at the very first Premier league, 1992-93. Mid-table of a 22 league was 11th (Chelsea) and they stayed up by 7 points. Tottenham finished 10th in 96 and stayed up by 6. In most seasons it was more, but by way of comparison 10th this year was Newcastle and they stayed up by 16 points.

 

As I say, you'd have to look at every year and not just the final point scores but when teams were effectively safe (as midtable teams often take their foot of the pedal while one team at the bottom will have a run, making final positions look closer than they were).

 

Just look at the teams in the prem, there was a time when teams like Villa, Newcastle, Man City (before their riches) and even Stoke, Sunderland, Wham would always be decent bets for a relatively leisurely midtable finish (of course, none of them could ever be safe). Nowadays with perhaps the exception of Newcastle (ignoring the top 7), every team seems like fair game. It'll be the same next season too.

Edited 21 May, 2014 by shurlock

[Saint Charlie]

Agree with the OP.

 

The people who say nothing has happened yet are kidding themselves.

 

We are going to start next season in a significantly weakened position compared to how we ended the previous one a couple of weeks ago.

 

Have to wonder if we have the right expertise in the boardroom.

[The Kraken]

As I say, you'd have to look at every year and not just the final point scores but when teams were effectively safe (as midtable teams often take their foot of the pedal while one team at the bottom will have a run, making final positions look closer than they were).

 

Just look at the teams in the prem, there was a time when teams like Villa, Newcastle, Man City (before their fortunes) and even Stoke, Sunderland, Wham would always be decent bets for a leisurely midtable finish (of course, none of them could ever be safe). Nowadays with perhaps the exception of Newcastle, every team seems like fair game for a relegation scrap.

Again, I just don't see it that way, not without any evidence. I genuinely don't believe there's been a change in distribution of points through the division, it's kind of always been this way for at least as long as the Premier League era in my mind.

[manji]

I normally see eye to eye with Lungs and Im a bit jittery as I am every summer but I dont get this negative stuff at all. Nothings happened but generally nothings happened at any of the other clubs except for the obvious sackings of Moyes and Sherwood.

There's the World Cup coming up so most Football types will be preparing for that or going on holiday.

All that has happened is loads of speculative articles in the papers (most of them laughable) and a serious amount of bed wetting (sorry Crabs) on this forum. Maybe we will sell a couple of players (no evidence of that yet) but all clubs sell players. Rooney Everton to Man Utd or Bale Spuds to Real for example. Its the real world.

We have moved forward every season for ages why cant we do so next season ?

[manji]

Agree with the OP.

 

The people who say nothing has happened yet are kidding themselves.

 

We are going to start next season in a significantly weakened position compared to how we ended the previous one a couple of weeks ago.

 

Have to wonder if we have the right expertise in the boardroom.

Nothing has happened. How do you know we are going to start next season in a weakened position ?

[Saint Charlie]

Nothing has happened. How do you know we are going to start next season in a weakened position ?

 

Because Shaw and Lallana will be sold, possibly Schneiderlin and there is a high chance MP will not be the Manager.

 

I would say 95% Shaw and AL will leave. Might not be official but its as good as.

 

Nothing official has happened but we all know the official bits are the formalities. Doesnt take an ITK to realise whats going on in the background.

[doddisalegend]

Because Shaw and Lallana will be sold, possibly Schneiderlin and there is a high chance MP will not be the Manager.

 

I would say 95% Shaw and AL will leave. Might not be official but its as good as.

 

Nothing official has happened but we all know the official bits are the formalities. Doesnt take an ITK to realise whats going on in the background.

 

So in other words you haven't got a ****in clue what's going on like 99.9% of this message board......

[Saint Charlie]

So in other words you haven't got a ****in clue what's going on like 99.9% of this message board......

 

So you think Shaw and Lallana are staying and that Poch is going nowhere?

[Saint Charlie]

Still waiting...assume you agree with me then?

 

Open your ****ing eyes. Jesus.

[doddisalegend]

So you think Shaw and Lallana are staying and that Poch is going nowhere?

 

No what I'm saying is I don't know and neither do you but feel free to carry on crying. I'll wait until it actually happens before I wet myself.

[Andy Durman]

I really think nobody on this forum has a clue what is going on at Southampton.

 

However the facts speak loader than any hypothetical claptrap I have read.

 

Nobody has yet been sold.

 

MP is still Manager.

 

I will await further club statements

[Saint Charlie]

No what I'm saying is I don't know and neither do you but feel free to carry on crying. I'll wait until it actually happens before I wet myself.

 

Fair enough but surely you have an opinion based on everything you read and hear?

[Sour Mash]

Still waiting...assume you agree with me then?

 

Open your ****ing eyes. Jesus.

[Saint Charlie]

 

Haha. Some right wallies on here. Things only happen when official statements are made.

[norwaysaint]

That was odd, man points out he doesn't have a clue as there's no evidence to go on and is abused and told what he believes. Settle down Charlie, do something else for a while, eh?

[washsaint]

My god - what a fuss over nothing (yet). To date, correct me if I am wrong:

 

1) Pochettino is still here (how can you blame the Board for him hedging his bets?)

2) No players have been sold - of course some will likely be sold, but likewise we will "steal" someone elses best players. That's the nature of football.

3) If players leave it will be to further their careers at top, top clubs not clubs a similar size to Saints. And we should get top dollar for them.

4) We are smoking crack if anyone thinks we can break top 4. how exactly when our average attendance is around 32K and we are not a global brand

5) NC has left....yes, he did a terrific job in rebuilding Saints. But this was bankrolled by the Liebherrs who appear to be getting some very unfair criticism. As others have said, what would NC do minus the Liebherrs funding

6) Why should the Liebherrs spunk their families inheritance to placate unrealistic expectations among some of the fan base. That worked well for PFC, Leeds and others didn't it?

 

Why can't we just wait and see what happens over the summer. Posters stating "95% fact that Shaw and Lallana are gone" have not got a clue - you know what, the sun will come up tomorrow and set tomorrow evening. Does that make me as ITK as these posters that are claiming facts all over the place?