Sport Republic

[sfc4prem]

11 hours ago, Galway saint said:

7 wins in 77 PL games since they took over 

 

 

 

Goals conceded versus goals scored?

[miserableoldgit]

[trousers]

1 minute ago, miserableoldgit said:

I look forward to Adam forcefully holding the club's hierarchy to account in the upcoming interviews he's undoubtedly got lined up with them.... 

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, trousers said:

I look forward to Adam forcefully holding the club's hierarchy to account in the upcoming interviews he's undoubtedly got lined up with them.... 

Dragan would give Adam a ‘people disappear in Serbia all of the time’ look and the words would soon dry up.

[Badger]

2 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Dragan would give Adam a ‘people disappear in Serbia all of the time’ look and the words would soon dry up.

Is that the Serbian regime that Dragan is also at loggerheads with ? Not sure he’d be holding them up as an example of how things might be done 

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, Badger said:

Is that the Serbian regime that Dragan is also at loggerheads with ? Not sure he’d be holding them up as an example of how things might be done 

It was more tongue in cheek taking the rise out of Blackmore like the Brian McMillan sledge v the Aussies in a Test match but point taken.

https://www.sacricketmag.com/watch-big-macs-sledge-shook-warnie/

[Badger]

22 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

That did not answer the question. Kraft and Ankerson aren't making football decisions, they've been replaced. The club has had a reset at the top level. So what is your issue now people you don't want making decisions have been removed?

I want to agree with MLG here, that Dragan has weeded out the problems at the top and things will improve.

For me, I’m hoping this is a new throw of the dice and it will go in the right direction. At last.

My reservation though is that I recall a similar comment from Solak after our last relegation that he should have taken closer personal interest. And that hasn’t worked well long term. 

Edited Sunday at 12:42 by Badger

[Badger]

18 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

What bad omens are there regarding Spors ability to recruit good players?

Turning this around, from what you’ve read and heard, are you optimistic re his appointment, and why ?

He comes with a decent reputation, agreed, but is that due to previous links with jobs at Spurs/Newcastle, or something more substantive? 
 

Not looking to point score, genuinely interested. 

[S-Clarke]

2 minutes ago, Badger said:

I want to agree with MLG here, that Dragan has weeded out the problems at the top and things will improve.

For me, I’m hoping this is a new throw of the dice and it will go in the right direction. At last.

My reservation though is that I recall a similar comment from Solak that he should have taken closer personal interest. And that hasn’t worked well long term. 

I agree, but for me this is the last throw of the dice I give them. They've flip flopped so many times, this new direction simply has to be something that gives us a foundation to work from.

I worry for next season because the hangover will be huge, we will likely have to overcome a very tricky first 6 months, but I'd hope that we'd start seeing changes in things and longer-term plans by Christmas that we can unite behind. At the moment there is nothing other than fluff pieces.

Their plan is almost as non-existent as Gao's 5 pledges at the moment, so we need to see something now.

[Matthew Le God]

18 minutes ago, Badger said:

Turning this around, from what you’ve read and heard, are you optimistic re his appointment, and why ?

He comes with a decent reputation, agreed, but is that due to previous links with jobs at Spurs/Newcastle, or something more substantive? 
 

Not looking to point score, genuinely interested. 

It is not due to the Spurs/Newcastle links, it is due to how the clubs he worked at in Netherlands, Italy and Germany did during his time there. No guarantee he will replicate it, but it is a promising sign that he is competent at recruitment. Something we've missed!

[Tommy Mulgrew]

The Chuckle brother is way beyond tiresome.  Can someone please bar him from reacting to posts?

prttty, prttty please!

[Football Special]

Spurs fans also protesting about the board, maybe they could replace Levy with Ankerson?

 

[Convict Colony]

I actually dont know any spurs fans but they do seem to whine a lot about a lot of shit.

[Hawkswood]

5 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

I actually dont know any spurs fans but they do seem to whine a lot about a lot of shit.

I know a fuck tonne of them and they're by far the most irritating fans I know. I remember a conversation I was having with a Chelsea supporting friend of mine a few years ago when Poch was in charge at spurs and he was talking about his hatred of spurs. He boiled it down this way. I don't mind the area really, I quite like their manager, don't really know about their chairman and none of the players particularly bother me, it's just that 90% of the spurs fans I know, when it comes to talking about football, are just total knobheads.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

2 hours ago, Convict Colony said:

I actually dont know any spurs fans but they do seem to whine a lot about a lot of shit.

They've hijacked our song and like Newcastle fans, they think they're a bigger club than they are. I vaguely remember the days when us and them were vying for promotion to the old Division 1.

Back to Dragan, he seems to have made changes at the top, so it'll be interesting to see Spors' impact in the coming months. We need to make sure we're doing a Sheff Uld/Burnley next year and challenging for promotion rather than taking too long to get going like Luton.

[ApprenticeBillionaire]

12 hours ago, trousers said:

I look forward to Adam forcefully holding the club's hierarchy to account in the upcoming interviews he's undoubtedly got lined up with them.... 

I can't remember the last time Blackmore ever did that.

Merrington was pretty vocal.

But bottom line...

Blackmore is a fucking Villa fan. 

He's not going to put his access on the line for us.

[miserableoldgit]

12 hours ago, ApprenticeBillionaire said:

I can't remember the last time Blackmore ever did that.

Merrington was pretty vocal.

But bottom line...

Blackmore is a fucking Villa fan. 

He's not going to put his access on the line for us.

Very unfair. Regardless of who he actually supports, as a professional reporter he has to balance his questioning if he wants to keep access to the club. The club have the power to stop any relationship.....like it or not. I know that some on here want him to say "Oi you bunch of c*nts, wot d' f*ck is goin' on?" but that's not how it works.....

[manji]

22 hours ago, Badger said:

Is that the Serbian regime that Dragan is also at loggerheads with ? Not sure he’d be holding them up as an example of how things might be done 

Good comment he’s a powerful guy in Serbia through his media but has to be careful revisiting . I’m sure he takes that as a compliment . 

[manji]

14 hours ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

They've hijacked our song and like Newcastle fans, they think they're a bigger club than they are. I vaguely remember the days when us and them were vying for promotion to the old Division 1.

Back to Dragan, he seems to have made changes at the top, so it'll be interesting to see Spors' impact in the coming months. We need to make sure we're doing a Sheff Uld/Burnley next year and challenging for promotion rather than taking too long to get going like Luton.

It is shit at the moment but Spors knew very well what he was letting himself in for . We’ve got ages to prepare for next season. Spors knew he was coming here before he actually . It’s tough for us going to the games but he will be about forward planning . We are not going to have the same players at the start of next season.

we should be far better prepared than at the start of last season . Dragan will feel humiliated about this season. That’s why he has made himself fully responsible and no he won’t be picking the team .

hes put a back room team he feels he can rely on . I would imagine Rasmus has been told to fuck off and worry about Goztepe.

RM was in charge of the last batch of recruitment with some help from Rasmus .

Juvic looks to me like someone who though heknew was letting himself in for then thought Fuck

Spors has his two succesful sidekicks with him. No idea what’s going to happen with Juvic but there’s no way Ralph’s coming back. With Spors joining us I get a Germanic vide with Danny Rohl coming in . It would make sense. Maybe Juvic was the hitman . 
The concept of wanting SR out now is insane we are in a good position to reboot for next season. If that doesn’t work out then things do have to change 

I know one thing scapegoating Smallbone ( again ) or ridiculous comments like “ this team would be a shambles in the Championship “ or so idiotic and narrow minded it’s beyond belief. 

 

[Huffton]

1 hour ago, manji said:

It is shit at the moment but Spors knew very well what he was letting himself in for . We’ve got ages to prepare for next season. Spors knew he was coming here before he actually . It’s tough for us going to the games but he will be about forward planning . We are not going to have the same players at the start of next season.

we should be far better prepared than at the start of last season . Dragan will feel humiliated about this season. That’s why he has made himself fully responsible and no he won’t be picking the team .

hes put a back room team he feels he can rely on . I would imagine Rasmus has been told to fuck off and worry about Goztepe.

RM was in charge of the last batch of recruitment with some help from Rasmus .

Juvic looks to me like someone who though heknew was letting himself in for then thought Fuck

Spors has his two succesful sidekicks with him. No idea what’s going to happen with Juvic but there’s no way Ralph’s coming back. With Spors joining us I get a Germanic vide with Danny Rohl coming in . It would make sense. Maybe Juvic was the hitman . 
The concept of wanting SR out now is insane we are in a good position to reboot for next season. If that doesn’t work out then things do have to change 

I know one thing scapegoating Smallbone ( again ) or ridiculous comments like “ this team would be a shambles in the Championship “ or so idiotic and narrow minded it’s beyond belief. 

 

I hope you're right. THe january transfer window was a bit of a disaster, unless they have decided that this season is a lost cause, don't waste any money and rebuild and consolidate in the summer, either with Juric in mind or if not hopefully already having a replacement lined up (Rohl?) and talking about additions to the playing squad for a big promotion push next season.

That said the way the prem is I'd be quite happy to finish 7th in the championship each year and take 6 points off those inbred cunts down the road, if they survive long enough

[trousers]

1 hour ago, manji said:

RM was in charge of the last batch of recruitment

Surely not....?

#rhetoricalbanter

[S-Clarke]

1 hour ago, manji said:

Spors has his two succesful sidekicks with him. No idea what’s going to happen with Juvic but there’s no way Ralph’s coming back. With Spors joining us I get a Germanic vide with Danny Rohl coming in . It would make sense. Maybe Juvic was the hitman . 
The concept of wanting SR out now is insane we are in a good position to reboot for next season. If that doesn’t work out then things do have to change

 

Out of interest, who are his two sidekicks? I haven't seen anything about staff he has brought with him.

The rest of this season is going to be odd, nothing really matters and there's nothing to build on because we'll be stripped back come the summer. We're in a weird holding position and none of us really know what is going on. Juric is pretty much just a caretaker at this point.

I also see Rohl as a logical shout come the summer, but SR don't do logical shouts!

[Gloucester Saint]

Hope you’re right on much of that Manji, if RM was in charge in summer recruitment with Rasmus doing the paperwork then he was even more out of his depth and deluded than we feared. Fancy buying BBD, Taylor, Archer and loaning Lesley for possession-obsessed football. 

It’ll require major investment from Dragan as far as FFP allows, Wolves under Nuno are the template. Pace, strength, then technical ability right through the spine of the team plus a new first choice keeper. Negotiate exit compromise packages with Bazanu, Stewart and Larios, latter two won’t be fit for professional football at any level again and insurance should cover some of it. 

Whether it’s Rohl or Cooper coming in, I don’t think another manager wedded religiously to a system or style is what is needed as we can have again at the moment as we had with Juric and Martin, although empathy and respect with the former for even taking this rabble on frankly. 

I didn’t care for the picture of Rasmus sitting next to Spores at the Burnley game with a face like a smacked arse. That didn’t look like someone willing to easily to give up his Mr Football/Frank Spencer role within SR. Dragan may have dissolve him out of SR and re-employ him for Goztepe’s DoF to resolve a potential power struggle. 

[saintant]

There is little or nothing on the official site about the appointment of Spores that I can find. I would have expected more including an interview in which he outlines his plans, ambitions and expectations.

[Matthew Le God]

2 minutes ago, saintant said:

There is little or nothing on the official site about the appointment of Spores that I can find. I would have expected more including an interview in which he outlines his plans, ambitions and expectations.

There is an article. He only started work two days ago, I'd guess interviews will come once settled in.

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/johannes-spors-appointed-as-group-technical-director#:~:text=Southampton Football Club is delighted,Director of the 777 Group.

[trousers]

7 minutes ago, saintant said:

There is little or nothing on the official site about the appointment of Spores that I can find. I would have expected more including an interview in which he outlines his plans, ambitions and expectations.

You'd have thought so, wouldn't you? It wasn't so long ago that the club's media department would've been all over such an appointment like a rash  from 'day 1'. Still, I'm sure our local journos are on the case as we speak in order to fill the club's media void....  

Edited Monday at 13:17 by trousers

[saintant]

1 minute ago, Matthew Le God said:

There is an article. He only started work two days ago, I'd guess interviews will come once settled in.

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/johannes-spors-appointed-as-group-technical-director#:~:text=Southampton Football Club is delighted,Director of the 777 Group.

Yeah I did see that but I'm hoping for something a little more in depth. As you say, early days so I guess I'll have to be patient. I'm wondering how people like Mowbray fit in because, to my mind, he'd been hopeless.

[trousers]

Jason Wilcox started on 1st July 2023 and his first interview was on 17th July. So I guess we can anticipate something next week maybe.

[Badger]

2 hours ago, manji said:

It is shit at the moment but Spors knew very well what he was letting himself in for . We’ve got ages to prepare for next season. Spors knew he was coming here before he actually . It’s tough for us going to the games but he will be about forward planning . We are not going to have the same players at the start of next season.

we should be far better prepared than at the start of last season . Dragan will feel humiliated about this season. That’s why he has made himself fully responsible and no he won’t be picking the team .

hes put a back room team he feels he can rely on . I would imagine Rasmus has been told to fuck off and worry about Goztepe.

RM was in charge of the last batch of recruitment with some help from Rasmus .

Juvic looks to me like someone who though heknew was letting himself in for then thought Fuck

Spors has his two succesful sidekicks with him. No idea what’s going to happen with Juvic but there’s no way Ralph’s coming back. With Spors joining us I get a Germanic vide with Danny Rohl coming in . It would make sense. Maybe Juvic was the hitman . 
The concept of wanting SR out now is insane we are in a good position to reboot for next season. If that doesn’t work out then things do have to change 

I know one thing scapegoating Smallbone ( again ) or ridiculous comments like “ this team would be a shambles in the Championship “ or so idiotic and narrow minded it’s beyond belief. 

 

Some good, interesting points in there, Manji.

Spors does bring an air of optimism to the otherwise bleak outlook, although not fully sure as to why. Perhaps it's just blind faith.

In terms of Spors team I highlighted the name Marcel Klos last week so assume he's one of them. Good news if Rasmus has been shunted out of the way.

I can't see Juric remaining in charge for next season. I've always felt his appointment was a temporary role , a kind of 'nightwatchman' until next season. Solak's interview hasn't convinced me otherwise, and with results as they are a change is inevitable, possibly dressed up as Spors wanting to do his own thing. Rohl would be the obvious candidate, but as others have said Saints don't go for the outstanding and obvious candidate, so it'll probably be some random Portuguese chap ... Added to which Rohl will probably have other offers, not least of all at home in Germany.

Agree that despite the SR failures to date, we have to give Dragan a chance to reset it all over again. No point rallying against him now, he's the club's best bet for a revival unless we've got a major benefactor to step in and shell out. 

Edited Monday at 14:05 by Badger

[FredVaFC59100]

On 15/02/2025 at 11:29, Matthew Le God said:

On what methodology are you basing that €600k valuation?

 

On 15/02/2025 at 11:18, Turkish said:

€5m paid out for a player valued at €600k which was one of the highest fees ever received by a French club outside of the top league says you are wrong 

Ben Chorley did assert last year in an interview still available on the club website, that Joachim Kayi Sanda was "the best Center Back in the world". €5m is dirt cheap me think for such an gem with an outstanding work ethic.

Our defense did improve since he left. Coincidence ?

[Badger]

56 minutes ago, saintant said:

There is little or nothing on the official site about the appointment of Spores that I can find. I would have expected more including an interview in which he outlines his plans, ambitions and expectations.

I'd rather he got on with the job. Too many have been too quick to talk about it in the past, then delivered fuck all.

[Badger]

50 minutes ago, saintant said:

Yeah I did see that but I'm hoping for something a little more in depth. As you say, early days so I guess I'll have to be patient. I'm wondering how people like Mowbray fit in because, to my mind, he'd been hopeless.

Not sure how much imapct is down to Mowbray. He found some decent players for Aberdeen who were effective for them, and he might take some credit for Fernades for example. Might need to give it time to see how the Japanese players turn out as well.

Several comments on the thread that much of last season's signings were down to Lego.

[Turkish]

Maybe Dragon should hire a consultancy firm to help him decide the direction of the club. A consultancy who had onboard someone with experience of guiding middle sized clubs to Europe, top half finishes and cup finalists. Someone with experience of signing young players and moulding them into premier league stars, someone who can hire top managers and who knows who they want to replace the current manager before they've even left, these guys look good....

Reed Consulting

 

[S-Clarke]

6 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Maybe Dragon should hire a consultancy firm to help him decide the direction of the club. A consultancy who had onboard someone with experience of guiding middle sized clubs to Europe, top half finishes and cup finalists. Someone with experience of signing young players and moulding them into premier league stars, someone who can hire top managers and who knows who they want to replace the current manager before they've even left, these guys look good....

Reed Consulting

 

I'm surprised there's nothing about how to waste £80m.

[Turkish]

 

Just now, S-Clarke said:

I'm surprised there's nothing about how to waste £80m.

he could position that as cost savings to Dragon, he'll only waste £80m rather than £200m. The pluses are stacking up