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Will Roko and the board go for broke in January!!!


Bermuda Saint

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To be honest, I'd be well happy if we just come out of the January window keeping all of our current squad! Given the way we've played, it's reasonable to expect the usual suspects to be eyeing up a few of our players for bids in January, even if just to try and unsettle us.

 

Hopefully, the board will have a strong strategy prepared for this though - I don't think we can play it like we did in the summer, as would be too unsettling mid-season to see several players go (or be unsettled like Morgan was) and then have to try to sign new ones, even if we had good targets in mind again.

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We will have a better idea of our chances come January, at the moment we are probably in a false position due to our easy fixtures.

 

Between 30th Nov and 10th Jan we play Man U and Arsenal twice, Man City, Chelsea and Everton. If we are still top 4 after those then I wouldn't be surprised if we strengthen in Jan.

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I'm in two minds about whether I want us to finish in the top four. I know that sounds crap, but I think that winning the europa league would be better than getting killed in the champion's league next season. That could set us up for CL the season after.

 

Having said that, it would be so good to finish in the top four. As long as we win one of the cups too so that we've actually won something so it doesn't matter that we get slaughtered next season.

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I'm in two minds about whether I want us to finish in the top four. I know that sounds crap, but I think that winning the europa league would be better than getting killed in the champion's league next season. That could set us up for CL the season after.

 

Having said that, it would be so good to finish in the top four. As long as we win one of the cups too so that we've actually won something so it doesn't matter that we get slaughtered next season.

lol

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Danny Ings was out with the Saints players on Saturday night, nit sure he is what we are after at the moment though.

 

although I'd rather we went for John Guidetti who is on loan to Celtic from Man.City. A former Koeman graduate in Holland, he's back amongst the goals again, after along lay-off.

 

Many Swedes recall that he was " one to watch " - even when he was only 16.

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I'm in two minds about whether I want us to finish in the top four. I know that sounds crap, but I think that winning the europa league would be better than getting killed in the champion's league next season. That could set us up for CL the season after.

 

Having said that, it would be so good to finish in the top four. As long as we win one of the cups too so that we've actually won something so it doesn't matter that we get slaughtered next season.

Yes but the financial rewards for making the group stages in phenomenal.

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Yes but the financial rewards for making the group stages in phenomenal.

So get to the Group stages, finish 3rd and go on to win the Europa League. Then qualify the following season for the Champions League as Europa League winners. Simple. Glad thats sorted.

 

Think its more likely we wil bring in a couple of players in January to reinforce what we already have. We clearly have 2 or 3 positions where we need to improve our strength in depth with players that could slot in, rather than as squad players, GK, CF and AMF. Wouldn't be surprised to see Cork and maybe JRod depart to make way for some new signings. We will not go out and spend 30m or anything like on one player, no such player would have the impact that the OP seems to desire.

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I'm in two minds about whether I want us to finish in the top four. I know that sounds crap, but I think that winning the europa league would be better than getting killed in the champion's league next season. That could set us up for CL the season after.

 

Having said that, it would be so good to finish in the top four. As long as we win one of the cups too so that we've actually won something so it doesn't matter that we get slaughtered next season.

 

:mcinnes:

 

just a no in my opinion, sorry.

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:mcinnes:

 

just a no in my opinion, sorry.

 

It's unlikely, but not impossible.

 

Why did you pick up on that minor point, instead of addressing the main thrust of my post, which was that europa league would be a better target for us even if we could qualify for champion's league?

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I'm in two minds about whether I want us to finish in the top four. I know that sounds crap, but I think that winning the europa league would be better than getting killed in the champion's league next season. That could set us up for CL the season after.

 

Having said that, it would be so good to finish in the top four. As long as we win one of the cups too so that we've actually won something so it doesn't matter that we get slaughtered next season.

 

Didn't Rangers make it to the Semis a few years back?

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It's unlikely, but not impossible.

 

Why did you pick up on that minor point, instead of addressing the main thrust of my post, which was that europa league would be a better target for us even if we could qualify for champion's league?

 

again i disagree- champions league would be so much better, the money from sponsors, tv money, playing against top teams in the world, it would be easier to attract top players, whilst we might lose convincingly in one/two games, champions league would be much better than the europa league- having said that, obviously the europa league is a more realistic target.

plus the memories! imagine a team like barca/real/bayern playing at st mary's!

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again i disagree- champions league would be so much better, the money from sponsors, tv money, playing against top teams in the world, it would be easier to attract top players, whilst we might lose convincingly in one/two games, champions league would be much better than the europa league- having said that, obviously the europa league is a more realistic target.

plus the memories! imagine a team like barca/real/bayern playing at st mary's!

 

Well I agree with all that, just think we need this season and next before we can even have a chance of getting a respectable scoreline. Two transfer windows between then and now, but I want to see how far this team can go. Just need a couple more to cover injuries.

 

Exciting times to be a saints fan!

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Didn't Rangers make it to the Semis a few years back?

Final wasn't it? And Fulham under Hodgson. And Middlesborough under McClaren.

 

Sounds like a realistic aim to me. Win the Europa League would be an amazing achievement.

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I'm in two minds about whether I want us to finish in the top four. I know that sounds crap, but I think that winning the europa league would be better than getting killed in the champion's league next season. That could set us up for CL the season after.

 

Having said that, it would be so good to finish in the top four. As long as we win one of the cups too so that we've actually won something so it doesn't matter that we get slaughtered next season.

 

What makes you say that. IF we were to qualify and make it into the group stage we wouldn't be playing 3 European giants. Even this season's sh*t Liverpool team stand a good chance of making it into the knock out phase. I can't see this Saints team getting slaughtered in the CL group stage. Maybe by Madrid, Bayern, Barca or Dortmund but we could give the rest of them a game.

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win the Europa League. Then qualify the following season for the Champions League as Europa League winners. Simple. Glad thats sorted..

:mcinnes:

 

just a no in my opinion, sorry.

 

Relatively recent Europa League/UEFA Cup finalists...

 

2005/06 Middlesborough

2007/08 Rangers

2009/10 Fulham

 

Not to mention some other foreign clubs Saints have significantly bigger turnovers and budgets than.

 

If they can do it, why not Saints?

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Buying a star player also means star's wages. That could unsettle the rest of the team. It isn't only about finding the money for the purchase, which we could probably afford.

 

If we are going to sign someone to play for us for a star's wages this January it should be Morgan Schneiderlin.

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Would like a backup for Pelle. Austin would be a great fit (same kind of player, knows the league, knows the language) but no way in hell are QPR selling him in January as it guarantees relegation. We could grab him on the cheap in the summer. Or we could continue our 100% record of making Lyon players stars in saints shirts and get Lacazette. Different player to Pelle but having variety is good when Pelle is getting shutdown. He's top scoring ligue 1 and this will surely be his last season there, won't be available for cheap though; 20m+. The way I see it, Koeman might have a plan a b c & d but each one involves Pelle, they have a huge relationship and I think it unlikely that we'll sign someone forcing Pelle onto the bench in a rotation.

 

Another CM will be the next signing. Cork probably deserves a new contract but if you wanted to upgrade the team by signing a great CM which one of Schneiderlin/Wanyama/Davis/Cork would be dropped? Most would agree that's Cork.

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Go for broke? Have you ignored everything Les Reed has said about our policies?

The OP has already explained this on this thread.

 

When he says "go for broke" he didn't really mean "go" for "broke".

 

He meant something else. About spending more money on £30m players or something. And gambling. Which to me, still looked like go for broke.

Edited by CB Fry
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The real problem with the initial premise of this thread is that it fails any kind of reasonable cost benefit analysis. Making the champions league should be worth at least 32 million pounds in UEFA tv money to Southampton in 2015-2016. It could be worth more depending on how well we do once we qualify, but it could be worth a whole lot less if we come in fourth and lose in the playoff. There would be additional matchday revenue. If we pretend that is 30,000 tickets times three games times 50 pounds (I am not claiming this is right--it is just simple and quick and good enough for my purposes) that would be a total of 4.5 million pounds. Let's just say that if we put it all together we could count on receiving 40 million pounds.

 

There are expenses that would be incurred as well, but I cannot reliably calculate them since I don't know who our opponents would be (and I couldn't calculate them very reliably even if I did). On the other hand, the might be increased sponsorship possibilities.

 

The question is should we buy a single world class player in January I order to make the Champions League. This hypothetical player would cost 30 million pounds and have to be paid at least 100K pounds per week. We might be able to recoup some of that in a year by selling him if we do not qualify for the champions league again, but we will have his salary to pay for a year and a half so that is total cash out of pocket of more than 37.5 million pounds.

 

In other words, if buying this player guaranteed us that we would qualify for the champions league and failing to buy him ensured that we would not, it would be just slightly better than a break even proposition.

 

Since there are no such guarantees, it is just a bad idea.

Edited by Redslo
to put in missing words
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There will (or damn well should) be a significant uplift in worldwide commercial revenues if we join the "top-six" table and play European football. Not huge, but not to be sneezed at.

 

More revenue from sponsors, tv money, BPL ladder position bonus, merchandise, ability to charge higher ticket prices at home games because of more fans. Qualifying as a once-off won't do much but each successful season improves the Southampton brand.

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I find this all very interesting, but don't think we will break the bank at all. We have achieved all we have this season with a solid determined team ethic. The last thing we want is a prima dona on twice what anyone else is as I believe it will undermine that team strength.

Also find it interesting that some want to make a massive signing whilst ignoring the fact that none of the starting 11 on Saturday came through our academy. Only 3 of them were English. Were we all not banging on recently about how important it is to show youngsters a path to the first team???????

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If you take the spirit of the OP questions rather than anally dismember it then I would still say its worth a throw of the dice.

 

We will have JRod back and potentially Boruc that is like adding a £15m striker and a £10 Gk - I am sure we can afford to spend another £20m to £25m without breaking the bank and within FFP.

 

If realistically that money is spent on two / three players which is what we seemed to spend in the summer on players - then 2 x £10m players of the calibre we bought in the summer, I believe could (not definite) give us the strength in depth that we need to see to off the final half of the season in a CL

 

Given that A) the main contenders for that Fourth spot seem to be in a bit of disarray B) currently there seems to be two spots up for grabs - then I dont think we will have a better chance of finishing top 4

Spending £20m on two players will not jeopardise our finances, break the wage structure etc

 

Nothing is guaranteed but lets be ambitious in a sensible framework

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If you take the spirit of the OP questions rather than anally dismember it then I would still say its worth a throw of the dice.

 

We will have JRod back and potentially Boruc that is like adding a £15m striker and a £10 Gk - I am sure we can afford to spend another £20m to £25m without breaking the bank and within FFP.

 

If realistically that money is spent on two / three players which is what we seemed to spend in the summer on players - then 2 x £10m players of the calibre we bought in the summer, I believe could (not definite) give us the strength in depth that we need to see to off the final half of the season in a CL

 

Given that A) the main contenders for that Fourth spot seem to be in a bit of disarray B) currently there seems to be two spots up for grabs - then I dont think we will have a better chance of finishing top 4

Spending £20m on two players will not jeopardise our finances, break the wage structure etc

 

Nothing is guaranteed but lets be ambitious in a sensible framework

In fairness the OP said we should sign a World Cup striker for £30m.

 

What you are saying is not in that spirit at all and more like something we would conceivably di.

 

Letting Cork go and bringing in Claisie for £10m odd is a possibility. Maybe another striker but depends if JR is fit and minded to stay.

 

Smashing records for fees - twenty/thirty mil is not a possibility.

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Relatively recent Europa League/UEFA Cup finalists...

 

2005/06 Middlesborough

2007/08 Rangers

2009/10 Fulham

 

Not to mention some other foreign clubs Saints have significantly bigger turnovers and budgets than.

 

If they can do it, why not Saints?

None of the above actually won the Europa League, therefore the simple little plan I outlined does not apply. Under the new rules you have to win the Europa League (from this season) to qualify for the Champions League. There is nothing gained for being best loser.

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OK, I get it saints fans, years of disappointment has left you incapable of dreaming for the stars. If we are in CL places during the Jan transfer window why not try for that impact player. Dream big....ings? bigger......charlie austin (he is big physically).......bigger......Diego milito......bigger......Miroslav Klose, ahhh, now your talking. A proven goal scorer, who still looks like he has got it in the tank to be a big impact player. A partner to Pelle, or supersub, someone to complement the team, not upset it, an experienced head used to the pressure of big games, an impact player. You see where I am going with this, this is where I hope the board will go!.

 

No one is suggesting get some ego maniac that thinks it is all about him and will disrupt team harmony, c'mon guys, that is what we do! we look extensively into players mental and physical abilities (I think Osvaldo was MOPO idea, and not the norm). Players like Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Morata, Mora, or maybe even the great Pirlo. If they will fit into ROKO plans, they will bring instant class to a team looking to beat the big boys. If we are serious that we can achieve something special this year, because what we have expertly put together is gelling together so quickly and seamlessly. Then our hard fought for top 4 position is worth keeping with a little push (think BIG!). We will not forget our academy players, and the more competitions we get in the more chance they will have. They will see less time as the games get more valuable if we continue to battle for CL spots, we just can’t afford the luxury of inexperienced academy players learning their game when the stakes are so high, unfortunately our meteoric rise up the table has increased the pressure to perform at the highest level. If we were mid table I think our slow and steady approach to building a team is prudent. BUT, because we have shot out of the gate, we are a team that can keep excelling if one or two key players of proven quality come in to make the difference. Don’t give up on the prize while it’s still in reach!!

 

There are many great players that will relish the chance to play in the prem. We have the money, we have the standings (for now), we have the vision, we have the plan. The loan system is working very well for us too, (for those that are bedwetting in fear that we will blow all our money on one player and inflict financial ruin, NOT.), Bertrand and Toby are as good as signed; they would be fools if they didn't join our revolution. The loan system could be a great way to get a top notch striker or creative midfielder that cannot get into a RM, MC, PSG, BAR etc. for a reasonable amount, and we can see how this season plays out. Think outta the box Saints fans, think of the player who you would never associate with the old SFC, this is the new era, dream BIG, I bet ROKO does!!

 

I like the idea of Klose, André-Pierre Gignac, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar for strikers, or Shaqiri, Marco Reus(yes please!, ok that is dreaming a bit too much), Kevin Strootman, Matuidi, Toivonen are great mids, and I think there must be a few you can think of too. THINK BIG, but practical (will Edinson Cavani or benzema come to SFC, no). I think the attraction of Koeman and the way he has us playing is enough to turn a few heads………think BIG!.

 

I think Jordy Clasie is ours if we want him. He and ROKO are very close, I think we would have got him last summer but the strength of our midfield and the priority of keeping Spydy was forefront. He got injured right at the end of the transfer window (luck or design?) so he stayed with Feynord to mature a little more (he may be the key to Corkys contract hold up, Corky is proving once again to a new manager that he is a very good player and one who fits well into our system.) But I don't pretend to know what they do (top managers making millions on their expertise), ROKO has shown me there is better than Lalla, Ricky, lovren out there, we just have to trust their experience.

 

Rumours:

Southampton (ok, I put this in, but we should look at this guy before Newcastle becomes a French speaking stadium.)Newcastle and Arsenal are interested in signing Andre-Pierre Gignac from Marseille. (Mirror) Premier League clubs including Arsenal and Newcastle have been put on alert after Marseille admitted they might not be able to afford to keep the hotshot striker Andre-Pierre Gignac. The France forward has 10 goals in 11 games for Marcelo Bielsa’s side and is Ligue 1’s top scorer, but his contract expires at the end of the season, at 28 could be tempted by one last opportunity to move abroad.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has held talks over a new deal at Schalke, amid reported interest from the Premier League. The Dutch striker is available on a free transfer in the summer and the Bundesliga club were said to be willing to cash in on January. Huntelaar has enjoyed an impressive season to date, scoring seven times in 11 appearances

These are not as ambitious as my targets, and they could be just Media trash.

Everton and Southampton are hoping to sign Juventus midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah on loan in January

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman is plotting a January swoop for Palermo striker Paulo Dybala. Dybala (20)- who the Italians compared to Manchester City's Sergio Aguero is one for the future.(Mirror)

Southampton are planning a £10m bid for Tottenham's England Under-21 forward Harry Kane. (Sun)

Dirk Kuyt, currently at Turkish side Fenerbahce, is a target for Southampton in the January transfer window. (Star)

I have been a very optimistic poster, always looking for the good things we have done and can do as a club, I tried to give people hope not hopelessness. look at my post about the exodus through the summer. Some have come around and can see we are rewriting history, we do not need to live in the days of just staying up was all we could hope for.......join me in dreaming of the big leagues, We have not been wrong so far!

Even the other managers and players can see we are the real deal. (I think Bruce is trying to set himself up with a job with us in the future, he is always so complimentary about the Saints, I rate him as a manager and appreciate his opinion.)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/southampton/11203973/Ronald-Koemans-Saints-go-marching-on-as-Wanyama-wondergoal-seals-victory-at-Hull.html

 

I know financially we cannot compete with the big boys, we will have to build the majority of our team just the way we have been doing, great academy players, and picking good players from foreign countries that we have extensively scouted and deem fit to join our system at a reasonable price. FFP restrict us from trying to buy our way to the top 4 (once again, read Redsolo analysis), we are just too small of a club globally……but there is room for the exception, we are a good team, with a good bench, why buy a player with potential or youth or as good as what we have now. Those are best left for the summer, not at overinflated January transfer window. Why not get an impact player, a one off, a proven star in the twilight of his career ready for an exciting challenge, or a loan for a great player from one of the big clubs that need playing time because they have stacked themselves full of million dollar stars. If it fails we haven’t thrown the bath out with the bath water, we can go back to building slow and steady.

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Walcott the first team regular at Arsenal? I'll have a pint of whatever you're drinking.

 

Huntelaar would be a decent shout if he would take a reasonable wage offer for a 2.5 year deal. Imagine bringing him on for Pelle with 25 minutes left, or both if strategy dictates 2 up front.

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Walcott the first team regular at Arsenal? I'll have a pint of whatever you're drinking.

 

Huntelaar would be a decent shout if he would take a reasonable wage offer for a 2.5 year deal. Imagine bringing him on for Pelle with 25 minutes left, or both if strategy dictates 2 up front.

he is when not injured, he will NOT be leaving them lol

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I know that Football Manager is not the real world, but when I get Southampton to this point in my FM saves, I usually try to buy up several tops prospects, not one big player. This always seems to work out well. Of course, identifying future world class players is easier in FM than in real life, but if the real life people at Southampton FC think they can do it, it would be a good idea. It would have been nice, for example, to pay Celtic money for Wanyama (900K pounds) or Red Bull Salzburg money for Mana (4 Million pounds). Of course, there is the question of whether they could have gotten work permits back then.

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:lol: when a post is prefaced thus i always think to myself, YES! this is gonna be a valuable contribution to the debate! :)

 

The football equivalent of 'I'm not racist but...'

 

I think what Redslo is trying to say is that we need to sign Cherno Samba and Tonton Moukoko in January.

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