Southampton Banter Archive June 11 2014

11 Jun 2014 23:20:04
ok, so there has been a lot of speculation about who is coming in and who is coming out - the board have said no business will be done before a new manager comes in. But today I do feel something is wrong. Reports say Lovren wants out - now as a board member knowing how much saints fans want to know what is going on at the club do you not think that the very first thing they should have done is confirmed if there is any truth in the rumour and if so also confirm that the manager would get whatever percentage of that transfer to go to replacing Lovren - why would I want to pay for a season ticket when I have no idea what I will be paying to see?

U get a season ticket because you surrport the club unless you only surrport them if there in the top half of the prem?.

Strawbs, I don't think the board need to comment. He probably has handed in a request, but if it isn't accepted, why worry - like Suarez last season. I don't want to watch the Les Reed interview again as its 20 mins long, but I'm pretty sure he said that there is a transfer budget plus any sales would go in on top of the budget. I think the board should return players calls even if it's just to tell them to wait until the new manager comes in. The ill feeling is based on Cortese's promises of bonuses that this board sees as unreasonable and unsustainable, so have not paid them (I think), plus according to a journo (not from the Daily Mail!), the Club and Koeman are still trying to agree what the transfer budget should be - hence no new manager announcement as yet.

In my view the club has been as open as they can be and more open than the vast majority of clubs. The club will decide whether or not Lovren's transfer request (if one has been made) will be granted, the club will decide which players are bought and sold and these decisions will be made with input from our new manager. Fans buy season tickets because they support their club, whoever is on the pitch, whatever league they are in and whoever our manager and owners are.

12 Jun 2014 10:08:33
No Smirky, many will get a season ticket to watch good football, and if they can't get that they may decide to still support the club but maybe listen to the matches on the radio. There are a lot of supporters of clubs who have to make financial choices.

I know they will not be true supporters in your eyes but many of the 32000 each home game are making those choices.

You buy a season ticket to support your team, regardless of who's playing, players come and go the club is forever. Buy a Chelsea season ticket if you're only interested in supporting the big names

The club will only comment on facts, literally no other club in the position we're in have ever or will ever comment on rumours in the paper. They certainly aren't going to say he has handed one in yet anyway, just incase he changes his mind

I have supported saints for over 40yrs - I will support them till I die and probably be buried in their shirt - I travel a minimum of 4hrs to a game - I work part time now so my money is halved - for myself and son to get season tickets is expensive. I have sat trough good football and sat trough rubbish football so please don't judge me if you don't know the circumstances by my reluctance to buy a ticket. if I want to watch kids playing I have that already at no cost. my argument is that fans of today are mistreated - most fans struggle to pay for a shirt let alone season tickets for a family of four. Meanwhile players earn more in a week than I do in a year and football is becoming a corporate or rich mans sport - we could expand our stadium - lower prices and give children free access to games with low gates. but they would rather the stadiums half empty and keep fans aways because they think the truth will scare us. same of story the rich get richer and when the poor complain they are told to shut up or their opinion doesn't count

I happen to agree unders 12s should go free as we are a family club and personally would like to see some of the seating removed and get back to a standing section drop prices that way

11 Jun 2014 18:59:25
Everton finished higher in the table than Saints, no money in the kitty but no mass exodus either, why?

11 Jun 2014 19:18:47
I think my friend you have already answered your own question?

I'm not sure he has, the real answer is Everton are one of the clubs in the media's 'top club' list. They are in a European competition, we however are looking like overachievers to the press so we have to have a 'fire sale' in order to make us a low-end club again. Obviously some big clubs are interested in our players so being the little club we are we have to let them go.

Or alternatively the papers know everything that goes on everywhere and are 100% right, believe whatever it's not like it makes much difference.

A few seasons ago it would have been everton in our position, Wigan, Stoke, Swansea, Everton, WBA. they've all been in this position, as soon as a club is seen to punch above their weight the press love to dig into them

12 Jun 2014 00:19:29
They finished higher than us, if we finished 5th I doubt as many would want out

12 Jun 2014 11:07:36
I don't think you can compare our situation to there's. WBA? Stoke? who have they lost of note? Everton lose 1 star a year, Swansea lost Joe Allen. Not exactly the same as losing Lambert, Lallana, Shaw and Lovren is it? I can't think of any club losing 4 players of that quality in one summer

I can't remember another club having 4 quality players like ours in our position

11 Jun 2014 17:37:40
Current 4 favourites for the job*:

1st: Ronald Koeman
2nd: Roberto Mancini
3rd: Claudio Ranieri
4th: Murat Yakin

Not exactly a bad manager among them there. I'd prefer not to get Claudio Ranieri, at least below the others. I'm sceptical of Mancini, about whether that's genuine or assumed as well as whether or not he's the 'right fit' for Saints. Murat Yakin is still my preferred candidate, he was who I wanted the day after Poch left and he still is now but I'd still be convinced by Koeman. Of the 4, who would everyone prefer and why?

*top 4 created by several bookies odds combined, saturation of the media of their linking and recency of the articles.

11 Jun 2014 15:34:22
Hi ed is it possible talks have already happens with Mancini over the phone etc or is it more than likely bookies clutching at straws?as the mirror Bruce as top of the list whitch I really can't see being true

11 Jun 2014 19:21:30
flurry of opportunist betters from sly spurts more like. He's fav on but no other ones?

11 Jun 2014 15:05:17
Been said on twitter that an official enquiry has been made to Burnley for Danny Ings any truth in this Ed's?

{Ed002's Note - Ask on Twitter.}

This is not new news. I mentioned some time ago Ings would almost certainly be joining.

11 Jun 2014 14:59:36
Just read koeman is on hols till Monday so doesn't look like he will be announced till at least then if it's him

11 Jun 2014 13:59:00
Roberto Mancini has been reported by some papers as being the next saints boss. This could be in line with some of what Reed was talking about yesterday. This might be the final twist in the saga

11 Jun 2014 13:45:54
Koeman?!, i'd preer sam allardyce, large build, great tactics, and overall exciting and challenging football!.

Lol tasked you must be a wet ham fan living in dreamland

11 Jun 2014 17:27:58
Allardyce?!?! Tactics? Hooooof!

11 Jun 2014 12:11:14
Mancini anyone? Left Galatasaray. ?

11 Jun 2014 09:27:05
Saints still aiming to announce Koeman on Friday

Info I have this morning is that its a 3 year contract!

There is a feeling within the club that there is a small chance they may have to hold of the announcement until Monday. But they are relaxed about the situation

What about Mancini?

11 Jun 2014 12:53:16
dont think its Koeman somehow its taken way too long

Could see the delay if they are trying to bring a Fey player with him & start the WC so no players will be actively negotiating to leave, but wouldn't Saints want to have 2 separate announcements rather than one and in answering my own question re Mancini. hasn't done much with 'youth' has he? Les Reed says this is a big criteria for the candidate.

11 Jun 2014 19:27:50
West Brom have been without a manager for longer than us. Don't think it been 'way too long' for Koeman