Roger Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 This is what's happened in a nutshell. 1. Original 5 year plan and then cortese had told players we were going to become champions league club. By keeping the best players and buying better players. Summer of 2013 we bought Osvaldo 12million, wanyama 12 mil and lovren 8.5 million without selling any of our best players. A trend that other than selling the ox in championship had happened for 3 years. As a result of this plan the players ie lallana and Morgan etc signed long term contracts with the view we were going to become almost a superpower. 2. Katrina saw the money she was putting in and decided that she wasn't prepared to bankroll us to that degree and informed cortese that players would have to be sold and that we have to live within our means and basically have the budget of a mid to lower prem club. Cortese was offered fab deal to stay but said that if you sell best players you lose your ambition and that he wasn't prepared to stick around in that situation. 3. The players after seeing the club had 'changed course' then starting seeking moves as previously there was hardly any stories of our players wanting out. Shaw I know at the time was happy to stay here. Lallana made his 'happy to stay for life' comments thinking we were sticking to original plan. Lambert has side said all this was the case. I don't think we can blame Katrina as she has put a lot of money in and we are in far better position now than under Lowe. At least we reinvest. Also, it's her money she can do what she likes with it. But we will struggle to keep improving on league positions IMO. I don blame cortese as I see he was ambitious and wanted to take us to the top but it wasn't his money and who knows what Markus would have decided! I don't blame the players as they were promised a plan that changed and why shouldn't they be able to try and get to the top once they saw that saints weren't anymore the vehicle to take them there? Only thing I would say is I think saints need to ditch the talk of champions league as it gives the fans unrealistic expectations. Just be honest about the targets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faz Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 Have you seen the Les Reed interview? He couldn't have been more honest about our Champions League ambition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 What is the point in ever blaming anybody Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 (edited) Why 'blame' anyone? We are in the best position the club has been in in my living memory. Players come and go, even if we had been pushing 2-3 placers further up the league there is no certainty that players would be staying anyway... on commercial terms the clubs immediately above can offer great wages and have better credibility in offering a consistent spell of performing at that level anyway. We are in a position where our squad needs constant managing and reinventing, just like every other club. As long as we keep our scouting focus strong and look to keep taking the money and re-investing in good replacements then we are being run properly. That so many of our players and staff are in demand is a massive (yet perverse) compliment. So let's keep doing what has made us strong and let it lead us forward. To break into the top 6/make it a top 7 will take a very long and pragmatic plan/approach. No jerking knees, keep focused and steadfast. Edited 13 July, 2015 by Colinjb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berkshiresaint Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted 13 July, 2015 Author Share Posted 13 July, 2015 I just said I'm not blaming anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatlesaint Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 Thats all very well Roger but in your "change course, mid to lower prem club" budget how do you explain the club going out and appointing what has been the highest profile manager in the clubs 130 year history ? That alone does not smack of a club settling for 10-15th place every year and being happy with it as were probably were a few years back under Askham and those before him, Woodford etc etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted 13 July, 2015 Author Share Posted 13 July, 2015 Thats all very well Roger but in your "change course, mid to lower prem club" budget how do you explain the club going out and appointing what has been the highest profile manager in the clubs 130 year history ? That alone does not smack of a club settling for 10-15th place every year and being happy with it as were probably were a few years back under Askham and those before him, Woodford etc etc Oh it's much better than those days. I'm saying further down the line and koeman was a huge name as the player but still had things to prove as manager. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Logan Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 Is there really any point in this thread..........? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint-Armstrong Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 We're in a fantastic position and the progress of all areas of the club has been pretty remarkable since the family Liebherr arrived in 2009. If, and when, they go - I'll have nothing but thanks for them, and certainly no blame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
van Hanegem Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 Katrina Liebherr appears to be a decent owner. I wonder, would you prefer some Arab or Russian with enough money to compete with the top but as a result the current identity of the Saints is lost? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 Where has this thread come from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErwinK1961 Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 This is what's happened in a nutshell. 1. Original 5 year plan and then cortese had told players we were going to become champions league club. By keeping the best players and buying better players. Summer of 2013 we bought Osvaldo 12million, wanyama 12 mil and lovren 8.5 million without selling any of our best players. A trend that other than selling the ox in championship had happened for 3 years. As a result of this plan the players ie lallana and Morgan etc signed long term contracts with the view we were going to become almost a superpower. 2. Katrina saw the money she was putting in and decided that she wasn't prepared to bankroll us to that degree and informed cortese that players would have to be sold and that we have to live within our means and basically have the budget of a mid to lower prem club. Cortese was offered fab deal to stay but said that if you sell best players you lose your ambition and that he wasn't prepared to stick around in that situation. 3. The players after seeing the club had 'changed course' then starting seeking moves as previously there was hardly any stories of our players wanting out. Shaw I know at the time was happy to stay here. Lallana made his 'happy to stay for life' comments thinking we were sticking to original plan. Lambert has side said all this was the case. I don't think we can blame Katrina as she has put a lot of money in and we are in far better position now than under Lowe. At least we reinvest. Also, it's her money she can do what she likes with it. But we will struggle to keep improving on league positions IMO. I don blame cortese as I see he was ambitious and wanted to take us to the top but it wasn't his money and who knows what Markus would have decided! I don't blame the players as they were promised a plan that changed and why shouldn't they be able to try and get to the top once they saw that saints weren't anymore the vehicle to take them there? Only thing I would say is I think saints need to ditch the talk of champions league as it gives the fans unrealistic expectations. Just be honest about the targets. Probably all that was needed to be said. As Faz says, I think the Les Reed interview surmises the clubs thoughts on Champions League. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 Katrina Liebherr appears to be a decent owner. I wonder, would you prefer some Arab or Russian with enough money to compete with the top but as a result the current identity of the Saints is lost? Exactly this. Our billionaire isn't quite as rich as Man City's billionaire. Boo hoo. Ive never seen the attraction of simply buying success anyway. At least we retain an element of home grown player development in our success Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 There was a lot of blame flying around last week when Toby signed for Spuds. Someone even wondered if the Board would have the balls to come out and explain what had happened. Seems like they did and it has shut some of the bed wetters up for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalkboy Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 Thanks for your summary Roger, but are you saying that Lallana, Lovren, Shaw, Lambert and Chambers would have turned down moves to Liverpool, Arsenal and Man U if Kat hadn't pulled the plug? Sorry, I don't buy that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 I think there is blame to be apportioned. Personally I blame Chelsea, Liverpool, Man U, Man city, Arsenal and Spurs if they didn't have temerity to have bigger budgets, buy the best players and pay higher wages we would have won the PL by now ................Bastards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 This is what's happened in a nutshell. THIS: Only thing I would say is I think Saints need to ditch the talk of Champions League as it gives the fans unrealistic expectations. Just be honest about the targets. I don't recall anyone on the Board (past or present) predicting a CL position in a short time....and going from 22nd in L1 to 7th in the Prem. must be some sort of record? Yes there was some mention of future " European football ", although nearly everyone wet themselves with laughter when the topic was first mentioned, but that will come to fruition in a few weeks.....whether it continues all season (or not ) remains to be seen. A step up as large as getting TOP 4 CL place, is an even bigger challenge than teams who win the Championship one season and get relegated back down the next. I'd like to see Saints do well (even very well) in the Europa League (wouldn 't we all?)....but the reality of it is that, even with further progress ...CL football at SMS may be at least 2-3 seasons away - if indeed at all. As a fan of 56 years standing......I'd like to see real success - at last, but the reality of our previous 27 year sojourn in the old Div.1 / Prem. set-up rarely saw us finish in the top half of the table. It would be nice if this were the dawn of a new Saints era, but only time will tell. Those 56 years (both good and bad) have made me more philosophical about life, but we live in hope and no-one should start criticising the present SFC set-up because it hasn't delivered the Prem.title or a CL spot in one or two seasons, and some of our better players have gone on to make a quick fortune elsewhere. Let's get real, eh ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 This is what's happened in a nutshell. 1. Original 5 year plan and then cortese had told players we were going to become champions league club. By keeping the best players and buying better players. Summer of 2013 we bought Osvaldo 12million, wanyama 12 mil and lovren 8.5 million without selling any of our best players. A trend that other than selling the ox in championship had happened for 3 years. As a result of this plan the players ie lallana and Morgan etc signed long term contracts with the view we were going to become almost a superpower. 2. Katrina saw the money she was putting in and decided that she wasn't prepared to bankroll us to that degree and informed cortese that players would have to be sold and that we have to live within our means and basically have the budget of a mid to lower prem club. Cortese was offered fab deal to stay but said that if you sell best players you lose your ambition and that he wasn't prepared to stick around in that situation. 3. The players after seeing the club had 'changed course' then starting seeking moves as previously there was hardly any stories of our players wanting out. Shaw I know at the time was happy to stay here. Lallana made his 'happy to stay for life' comments thinking we were sticking to original plan. Lambert has side said all this was the case. I don't think we can blame Katrina as she has put a lot of money in and we are in far better position now than under Lowe. At least we reinvest. Also, it's her money she can do what she likes with it. But we will struggle to keep improving on league positions IMO. I don blame cortese as I see he was ambitious and wanted to take us to the top but it wasn't his money and who knows what Markus would have decided! I don't blame the players as they were promised a plan that changed and why shouldn't they be able to try and get to the top once they saw that saints weren't anymore the vehicle to take them there? Only thing I would say is I think saints need to ditch the talk of champions league as it gives the fans unrealistic expectations. Just be honest about the targets. This is all just speculation, merely a personal view, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectisSaint Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 This is what's happened in a nutshell. . Why are you looking to blame anyone, and for what? CL isn't such a long way away, after all we could win the EL this season and qualify (unlikely I know). When the original 5 year plan was put together that wasn't even a possibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintalan Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 Is there really any point in this thread..........? Why is there a need to reply then? Seems like there is nothing to moan at so just render it meaningless! Not just aimed at you Don. I dont think Roger was blaming anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano6 Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 I like how after we "changed course" we went from being an 8th placed Premier League team to a 7th placed Premier League team. More of that course please!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Marco Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 1. Original 5 year plan and then cortese had told players we were going to become champions league club. By keeping the best players and buying better players. Reed said only two months ago "It wouldn't be our intention to sell any of our players this summer. “We’re in the process of renegotiating contracts with some but our main purpose at the moment is keeping this squad together and adding to it." And in April "As far as the policy in concerned we have had a great season, we want to build on that season, we want to improve the squad going forward, we want to retain the players we’ve got. They are all contracted, they all have existing contracts and we intend to honour those contracts. Any enquiries we get will probably be met with a ‘no, not for sale.’ Our intention is to keep this very good team together and build on it by bringing in players to improve upon it. " Also Saying in april ""We'd like to think we have the structure to reach the Champions League in the next five years. "But it's important to be established as a top-six club over that period." Cortese was long gone when those statements were made. The ambition to keep the players and add to it, and reach the CL has been said by multiple people. I don't blame anyone at the club for anything but you can't say it was Cortese's ambition as under the current board it is just the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 I think our main aim is the same as any club outside the top 6, simply to stay in the Premier League. Realistically, what is wrong with that ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaceman Spiff Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 The reason we lost players last summer for the first time is logically obvious - this was the first point at which it became apparent to clubs wealthier than ours that our players were worth buying. If you finish 17th, a top 6 club generally won't want your players as they're only good enough, on average, to give you a 17th place finish. If the clubs from 7th-16th place aren't richer than you, then there's no financial motivation for the better players to leave (we can pay them just as much, and none of those clubs are really a "dream" move). If you finish 7th, then the clubs immediately above you will think that your best players might be up to their standards (though your average quality is worse). These clubs CAN pay higher wages than us, so there is a financial motivation for players to move. The fact players started leaving last Summer was because that was the first time they attracted serious interest from clubs who could better their career or salary. Happy to help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaceman Spiff Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 P.S. mods - you can lock the thread now I've cleared this up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 The reason we lost players last summer for the first time is logically obvious - this was the first point at which it became apparent to clubs wealthier than ours that our players were worth buying. If you finish 17th, a top 6 club generally won't want your players as they're only good enough, on average, to give you a 17th place finish. If the clubs from 7th-16th place aren't richer than you, then there's no financial motivation for the better players to leave (we can pay them just as much, and none of those clubs are really a "dream" move). If you finish 7th, then the clubs immediately above you will think that your best players might be up to their standards (though your average quality is worse). These clubs CAN pay higher wages than us, so there is a financial motivation for players to move. The fact players started leaving last Summer was because that was the first time they attracted serious interest from clubs who could better their career or salary. Happy to help. Stop ruining it. It was about CORTESE and AMBITION. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 This is what's happened in a nutshell. 1. Original 5 year plan and then cortese had told players we were going to become champions league club. By keeping the best players and buying better players. Summer of 2013 we bought Osvaldo 12million, wanyama 12 mil and lovren 8.5 million without selling any of our best players. A trend that other than selling the ox in championship had happened for 3 years. As a result of this plan the players ie lallana and Morgan etc signed long term contracts with the view we were going to become almost a superpower. 2. Katrina saw the money she was putting in and decided that she wasn't prepared to bankroll us to that degree and informed cortese that players would have to be sold and that we have to live within our means and basically have the budget of a mid to lower prem club. Cortese was offered fab deal to stay but said that if you sell best players you lose your ambition and that he wasn't prepared to stick around in that situation. 3. The players after seeing the club had 'changed course' then starting seeking moves as previously there was hardly any stories of our players wanting out. Shaw I know at the time was happy to stay here. Lallana made his 'happy to stay for life' comments thinking we were sticking to original plan. Lambert has side said all this was the case. I don't think we can blame Katrina as she has put a lot of money in and we are in far better position now than under Lowe. At least we reinvest. Also, it's her money she can do what she likes with it. But we will struggle to keep improving on league positions IMO. I don blame cortese as I see he was ambitious and wanted to take us to the top but it wasn't his money and who knows what Markus would have decided! I don't blame the players as they were promised a plan that changed and why shouldn't they be able to try and get to the top once they saw that saints weren't anymore the vehicle to take them there? Only thing I would say is I think saints need to ditch the talk of champions league as it gives the fans unrealistic expectations. Just be honest about the targets. I got as far as point 2, which is totally wrong, and stopped reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErwinK1961 Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 P.S. mods - you can lock the thread now I've cleared this up. Seconded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redslo Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 This is what's happened in a nutshell. 1. Original 5 year plan and then cortese had told players we were going to become champions league club. By keeping the best players and buying better players. Summer of 2013 we bought Osvaldo 12million, wanyama 12 mil and lovren 8.5 million without selling any of our best players. A trend that other than selling the ox in championship had happened for 3 years. As a result of this plan the players ie lallana and Morgan etc signed long term contracts with the view we were going to become almost a superpower. 2. Katrina saw the money she was putting in and decided that she wasn't prepared to bankroll us to that degree and informed cortese that players would have to be sold and that we have to live within our means and basically have the budget of a mid to lower prem club. Cortese was offered fab deal to stay but said that if you sell best players you lose your ambition and that he wasn't prepared to stick around in that situation. 3. The players after seeing the club had 'changed course' then starting seeking moves as previously there was hardly any stories of our players wanting out. Shaw I know at the time was happy to stay here. Lallana made his 'happy to stay for life' comments thinking we were sticking to original plan. Lambert has side said all this was the case. I don't think we can blame Katrina as she has put a lot of money in and we are in far better position now than under Lowe. At least we reinvest. Also, it's her money she can do what she likes with it. But we will struggle to keep improving on league positions IMO. I don blame cortese as I see he was ambitious and wanted to take us to the top but it wasn't his money and who knows what Markus would have decided! I don't blame the players as they were promised a plan that changed and why shouldn't they be able to try and get to the top once they saw that saints weren't anymore the vehicle to take them there? Only thing I would say is I think saints need to ditch the talk of champions league as it gives the fans unrealistic expectations. Just be honest about the targets. Assuming your summary of events is fairly accurate, you still overlook the effects of Financial Fair Play. Cortese plan to spend millions of pounds every year would not have been permissible under the current rules absent a way to get big commercial and sponsorship deals in place to cover the spending and it appears clear that his inability/failure to get such deals was one of his biggest weaknesses as club chairman. Thanks for your summary Roger, but are you saying that Lallana, Lovren, Shaw, Lambert and Chambers would have turned down moves to Liverpool, Arsenal and Man U if Kat hadn't pulled the plug? Sorry, I don't buy that. Also, this. If Cortese's plan was to put together a Championship League club while paying midtable wages, it was never going to work. If he planned to pay top four wages, the Financial Fair Play problems would be even more insurmountable--except they were already insurmountable so it is hard to say they were more insurmountable. Exactly this. Our billionaire isn't quite as rich as Man City's billionaire. Boo hoo. Ive never seen the attraction of simply buying success anyway. At least we retain an element of home grown player development in our success As a San Francisco 49er fan back in the '80s, when they were accused of buying success, I can tell you that it is attractive to do so and not easy. If you do not hire the right coaching and scouting staff and find and retain the right players you cannot buy success no matter how much money you spend. And the European club trained home grown rules make it difficult for any club to reliably do well in the Champions League without a significant home grown player development contribution. That is one of Manchester City's biggest problems. They effectively have four dead spots on their European roster--a problem we will share with them this year--unless Isgrove is useful in Europe. I think there is blame to be apportioned. Personally I blame Chelsea, Liverpool, Man U, Man city, Arsenal and Spurs if they didn't have temerity to have bigger budgets, buy the best players and pay higher wages we would have won the PL by now ................Bastards Actually, you are right. Unless the premier league is willing to adopt a salary cap that does not favor the richer clubs, good clubs like ours will always lose player to the richer clubs--although this summer it looks like we will not be the only victims of this process. And, of course, no such salary cap will ever come to pass because it is entirely inconsistent with a league structure that includes relegation and promotion. I think our main aim is the same as any club outside the top 6, simply to stay in the Premier League. Realistically, what is wrong with that ? I think our ambitions extend further than that. Also, I think avoiding relegation is first on everyone's to do list, even Manchester United's. P.S. mods - you can lock the thread now I've cleared this up. Quite right. Between us re have covered it all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ally_uk Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 Maybe Koeman / board is just clearing out the deadwood / egos getting as much money in as he can so that he can build a team that actually wants to play for us? why do all the bed wetters come out so we have lost Morgan, Toby, Clyne Morgan we knew about for a year: Toby wasn't ours: And Clyne well he had his head turned playing for England: However why even wet the bed when we haven't even signed replacements yet? or have gaged the calibre of these signings? it really doesn't make any sense. I am looking forward to next Season rumours of Jordy Clasie coming in I am happy with that decent player lets kick on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GGalpin Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 Know it's been said an awful lot and is often met by groans... but it is just six years ago since Saints were on the verge of bankruptcy. Any Saints fan would have snapped their hand off in the latter noughties to be a club that was established in the Premier League and steady. There will come a point where it won't wash anymore and Saints should aim higher, but whilst the club is competing with the top six even with a financial disadvantage compared to the top seven whilst being sensible with the money, the very recent past should be remembered. Saints have come an awful long way in a short space of time, and instead of wanting more and more, just remember what we do have now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 I'm not blaming anyone for our current situation. Too busy celebrating our highest points tally ever two years running. Roll on next season and Jay-Rod vs Mane vs Pelle in the race for 30 goals! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluto Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 How could Cortese even via Markus fund the money to the CL as financial fair play wouldnt allow it. Cortese was a shyster full of himself all mouth and childs trousers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 How could Cortese even via Markus fund the money to the CL as financial fair play wouldnt allow it. Cortese was a shyster full of himself all mouth and childs trousers. The only way would be to whack a great big expansion to the ground straight it of someone's pocket. Zero cost to the club and let the bigger revenue streams help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simo Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 There is always someone to blame! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farawaysaint Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 Am I really the only person looking forward to next season? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killers Knee Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 Slowly, slowly catchy monkey....or Spurs, if you prefer. Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redslo Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 The only way would be to whack a great big expansion to the ground straight it of someone's pocket. Zero cost to the club and let the bigger revenue streams help Exactly. Although the money could have been borrowed and the interest would also not have counted against FFP. However, even with this type of expenditure the math is iffy. Say we expanded by 30K and sold out every seat for every game for 100 pounds. That is 30,000 x 100 x 19 = 57 million pounds. I am not pretended that that wouldn't help, but it still leaves us far behind the top six revenue clubs. Even worse, West Ham is sort of doing this at virtually no cost to themselves so we will soon be permanently behind West Ham in turn over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 Funny isn't it. You make one bold 5 year plan and achieve it. Make another and people moan before it's begun. Just because we can't compete now doesn't mean it's hopeless forever. That's the beauty of sport and why none of us support Chelsea or Man Utd. We were never going to keep all our players after just 3 seasons FFS! It's amazing we've done so well everyone wants our players. Give it 5 years and hopefully we'll be in a better position to keep them. Some of you lot have the patience of toddlers. Well, it's not really about patience. The season we've just had is pretty much the template for the next five years. Try and squeak into the top four or six, waiting for one or two of the established clubs having a poor season giving us an in. We will continue to lose players to bigger and richer clubs. There's nothing to be patient about because that's the plan for the next five years. If we achieve it we've done great. In five years time if Man U come in for a player of ours, they'll go. And that's fine. If anyone is in any doubt, listen to the Les interview. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted 13 July, 2015 Author Share Posted 13 July, 2015 I got as far as point 2, which is totally wrong, and stopped reading. And you think I care? But hope you made yourself feel important. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redslo Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 im not in much doubt, and as you say, it's fine. We can try to keep good players but they'll go eventually and we just have to get good money. Thing is, we're good enough that our stand out players will command top clubs and mega money, so it's all down to how we reinvest and who we bring through. still got high hopes for lots of the youngsters over the next few years, and overall we've been good with signings. If clasie and van dijk are true we'll be at least as good as last season imo, and even better up front. Yeah sales suck and the money in football is ridiculous, but as a saints fan I've never been more optimistic. We have a genuine chance to win trophies over the next few years and that's what I want to see. Top 10 finishes, a trophy and some European football would be brilliant. Maybe our new goal should be to sell our players to PSG, Bayern, Barcelona, and Real Madrid so we can get more money and not strengthen rivals. That would be a good five year plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint IQ Posted 13 July, 2015 Share Posted 13 July, 2015 Maybe our new goal should be to sell our players to PSG, Bayern, Barcelona, and Real Madrid so we can get more money and not strengthen rivals. That would be a good five year plan. I like it Also a lot of them aren't british now so it will be easier to shift them from the love in that is the Premier League. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whelk Posted 14 July, 2015 Share Posted 14 July, 2015 Maybe our new goal should be to sell our players to PSG, Bayern, Barcelona, and Real Madrid so we can get more money and not strengthen rivals. That would be a good five year plan. Apart from not one of our players being good enough for RM or Barca. Mane and maybe Callum Slattery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ENSKIED Posted 14 July, 2015 Share Posted 14 July, 2015 If the blame game were to be the name of the game and somebody had to carry the can, I'd be tempted to point my bony finger at the authorities such as EUFA for not implementing the FFP on a much better, stricter and wider basis. They implemented the FFP for obvious reasons and at the first challenges by the Big Boys they ameliorated them. You see the inherent danger is a European elite could win [er BUY] the trophies season on season and make football certainly at the Top, predictable to an eventually boring level which might in the end have a detrimentally telling effect on the game as a whole. Ergo last season I think most of us would readily agree that the Championship was in truth a far "better" and a far more exciting league than the Premiership, which not for the first time was really over around November time. Watching Bournemouth break through was newsworthy and so exciting and thus in essence good for the game. What a breath of fresh air it would be if the likes of the Saints, able to keep many of their Top players, were then able to break through and truly challenge and ultimately win the League Title / ECL . . . . . at least once in awhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 14 July, 2015 Share Posted 14 July, 2015 If the blame game were to be the name of the game and somebody had to carry the can, I'd be tempted to point my bony finger at the authorities such as EUFA for not implementing the FFP on a much better, stricter and wider basis. They implemented the FFP for obvious reasons and at the first challenges by the Big Boys they ameliorated them. You see the inherent danger is a European elite could win [er BUY] the trophies season on season and make football certainly at the Top, predictable to an eventually boring level which might in the end have a detrimentally telling effect on the game as a whole. Ergo last season I think most of us would readily agree that the Championship was in truth a far "better" and a far more exciting league than the Premiership, which not for the first time was really over around November time. Watching Bournemouth break through was newsworthy and so exciting and thus in essence good for the game. What a breath of fresh air it would be if the likes of the Saints, able to keep many of their Top players, were then able to break through and truly challenge and ultimately win the League Title / ECL . . . . . at least once in awhile. The thing about the championship is the play offs give more teams something to play for right up until the end of the season Maybe the automatic cl place should only go to first and second with the other two spots being settled with play offs between the next 8 teams below ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarniaSaint Posted 14 July, 2015 Share Posted 14 July, 2015 im not in much doubt, and as you say, it's fine. We can try to keep good players but they'll go eventually and we just have to get good money. Thing is, we're good enough that our stand out players will command top clubs and mega money, so it's all down to how we reinvest and who we bring through. still got high hopes for lots of the youngsters over the next few years, and overall we've been good with signings. If clasie and van dijk are true we'll be at least as good as last season imo, and even better up front. Yeah sales suck and the money in football is ridiculous, but as a saints fan I've never been more optimistic. We have a genuine chance to win trophies over the next few years and that's what I want to see. Top 10 finishes, a trophy and some European football would be brilliant. Problem is when they get into the full England squad they always leave a coincidence?? don't think so.......so better if we never have a full England international until we are in the CL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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