Tectonic Shift

[CanadaSaint]

The accomplishments since SR arrived have been amazing:

1. Outline a sustainable business model for a club of our (current) size - CHECK
2. Don’t place too much power in one set of hands - CHECK
3. Strengthen the coaching team (move out the deadwood, rectify the manager’s weaknesses by introducing a team approach to decision-making) - CHECK
4. Commit to a high-intensity style of play (our "identity") that utilizes our strengths and is hard to match (regardless of who we’re playing) – CHECK
5. Increase squad quality and depth in all positions, ideally with young, high-potential players – CHECK
6. Implement a talent acquisition model (and the staff to operate it) that allows us to quickly replace the players we inevitably lose to the big-spenders - CHECK
7. Play the kind of football that gets St. Mary’s electrified and makes things much harder for opponents (and referees) - CHECK

Who’d have thought that our most challenging issue this year would end up being the pitch?

We seem well on the way to a tectonic shift. And not a Saudi in sight.

[Saint86]

Early days, but they've put all the right peices in place despite some of the fanbase grumbling all summer and jeering the team and manager for the first couple of matches. 

Its hard not to be positive when you consider that they've significantly improved recruitment, revamped the coaching setup, trusted semmens and Ralph (rather than tearing everything up) and have clearly identified Ralph as a competent manager that needed (and has been given) backing. Hats off to them for all of that.

The risk remains however - Our model is only going to deliver sustainable growth if we can sell the players for a profit AND use that profit to both address the club's finances (I.e. debt), increase revenues/FFP limits, and recruit again with a similar level of success. I remain hopeful that will all be the case, but until it happens we are in effect carrying the significant net cost of these players up front, and I don't believe the status of the outstanding loan/debt has been explained as yet? 

Also, I am curiously optimistic to see how this multi club model (centred on saints) develops. 

Edited 31 August, 2022 by Saint86

[Le Timmier]

Quite amazing!

As is the tectonic shift in mood on this forum since we were 0-2 down at home to Leeds 😂

[iansums]

Yes, but:

8. Change the beer served on the concourse

[nta786]

18 minutes ago, iansums said:

Yes, but:

8. Change the beer served on the concourse

That’s if you can get one! Queues at Leeds and United were horrible

[Marsdinho]

Shift wont be complete until we get our radio station back. 

SR OUT

[skintsaint]

13 hours ago, Le Timmier said:

Quite amazing!

As is the tectonic shift in mood on this forum since we were 0-2 down at home to Leeds 😂

Funnily enough the shift in mood coincided with ditching the 5 at the back! 

[CB Fry]

I think its probably too early to say we have a "sustainable business model". Its not really been fully tested yet. What I think is meant is that we are now not just doing "sell-to-buy". Which is exciting and great and what we want to see.

So all fine but not necessarily sustainable. Spin back 18 months and most here would have been salivating about how Leicester had got everything right. Now looking at a window where they are buying next to no-one and still get rinsed of their best players, plus the fans not happy, and they need to claw some money back or at least put the breaks on. Not so sustainable.

Fundamentally the issue remains that you can spend loads more £xxxx to go for 8/7th not 15/16th but the difference in the financial return is marginal. It probably is more financially sensible to aim to just do enough to stay in the league rather than really stretch to climb up the table which likely costs more than can ever be got back. 

I think all of us are absolutely desperate for us to spend a bit today and its suddenly exciting. So let's just enjoy that. Please buy Gakpo please buy Gakpo.