Southampton Banter Archive July 27 2014

27 Jul 2014 22:04:13
Hi fellow Saints fans. Further to all the latest news we have lately being enjoying, I thought I'd let you know my other half has put a bid in for Paolo Gazzanigga. She's promised him a bacon sarnie with brown sauce and a cup of rosy lee. Kreugar wasn't there to take her call and apparently Reed was cowering in the corner counting piles of money so the cleaner said. "Two bacon and eggs sarnies and it's a done deal". I must say my Mrs has perked up. Best make em free range, love.

{Ed007's Note - Best make sure he doesn't help her make them fertilised eggs.}

Ed007, awesome, that's my first chuckle of the day, thank you

She only wants him for a hat-stand, Ed 007, or that's what she's telling me. Haha.

27 Jul 2014 19:27:36
Can someone explain why the club is in debt, I hear its something to do with transfers, my point is we have not been extravigant with transfers in the last few seasons, indeed a large percentage of our team compared with other teams in the premiership cost nothing or very little in todays market, I thought we had rich owners with money to invest so where did it all go wrong?
another point I think we are going to see just how good a manager rk is!

Elmo I get your point but the simple answer is Marcus Leibherr died and the extra funding to cover shortfalls stopped. I believe that to be true but I am not a boardroom member. So just my opinion.

27 Jul 2014 18:46:20
just been reading an article in the paper saying
footballers now don't care about clubs
they just want a big wage packet each week and don't care if they sit on the bench every match
he also states he is worried about the premier league the way it is going
apart from the top 3 or 4 the others haven t got a chance
perhaps it would be better if there was a european league and the top clubs pulled out of thepremiership and let the others get on with it
the premiership could be going like spl the top teams dominate the league the others are also rans
no doubt I will be shot down but so what
forestsaint

Its happening already.

27 Jul 2014 13:31:20
Arsene is according to reports going to be using Chambers as a central defender. shame our board hadn't thought about that!
I don't see his sale as good business. He will be worth another 10m+ in the next couple of seasons.
The other transfers have been for great money but still a loss to the club.
My prediction as we lie is a relegation struggle as we have no strength in depth. Any injuries or suspensions and we are going to struggle to put a PL quality 11 together.
But. with another 4 or 5 additions we could easily be pushing up towards 7th/8th again
Hopefully they will arrive sooner rather than later but if it means bagging the right player I'm happy to be patient.

Don't be surprised if the manager walks!

Franklong, I posted this as a possibility if the selling continues - Koeman also has his reputation to think of

I would be surprised if the manager left.
How often can you walk into a club and receive a transfer kitty of the size of the one available to RK? He can buy whoever he can convince to join.

How often do you have an academy with players and facilities like we have? He can further advance his reputation as a developer of young players.

On top of this fantastic opportunity, he has half the fans expecting relegation swiftly followed by the apocalypse!

Southampton is still a great club, with some great players. All we need now is some faith in the board and some GREAT support. Please stop doom mongering and whingeing. This is a rumours site, not the Samaritans!

27 Jul 2014 10:33:02
So I've been having a think

Clearly we are not going to be pushing on. If what we are hearing is true there is a lot if debt clearing going on so we can continue, under this leadership or a new one debt free.
Having said that we should look at the out going transfers.
Lambert: understandable and reasonable price
Shaw + lallana: ridiculous money I think we would have taken this anyway
Lovren: shame but has been so petulant. Also I the board were just letting anyone leave, would he have had to force it so much. Plus we did get an over the top price
Chambers: a shame I assume clubs was going to be first choice so he was deemed surplus (this one makes the least sense
Spider/jrod: nothing concrete so can't say


So it looks as if this will be a consolidation season. How is the team shaping up, where do we need more players?

Gk: boruc is good enough. Need cover. Ideally we would bring in a top class (Marshall or Forster) keeper and boruc would be that backup

Lb/rb: atm (assuming no chambers) we only have two, and one of those unblooded. I have faith targett will do fine.
Ideally need another lb and rb but one versatile player (or a rb with Clyne as cover for lb) should be ok for this season

Cb: as ever our problem position. Fonte is the only one good enough atm. Need two. Possibly one would suffice but would leave us horribly weak if any injuries happen

Cm: we are set. Even if spider leaves, cork, wanyama, wp and reed. If spider goes ideally need cover (for me clasie would be first on that list)

Lm/rm/lw/rw: wingers and wide midfielders are looking ok. Tadic looks class. McQueen and especially isgrove have been impressive. I believe with more playing time mayuka can come good. When jrod is back we look good here. However with his injury we could do with cover. Perhaps someone who can play as a central striker aswell?

St: pelle looks good. Would like to see a bit more clinicality in the next two preseason games but he is clearly our first choice. Could do with some decent cover. Again maybe someone versatile who can play on the wings aswell.


So what do we need; 1 rb/lb, 1 or 2 cb, 1 winger/ st
So 3/4 signing to be safe in the prem so we can go forward. For me this is all we should be signing or we will struggle to knit everything together. Perhaps another one in jan then push on next year.

Keep the faith
COYR

I agree with the debt clearing I do think she is going to sell has no intrest in footy and be happy if she leaves the club in the black in the prem, just hope she sells to someone decent and doesn't go for a dodgy middle eastern type, I'd love it she recouped her money and then said right Steve from Veho here's the club take it forward for the fans, imagin being run a true saints fan with business smarts, not like kl needs the cash is it

The front line looks sort of ok!bit more pace and a cutting edge would be nice. the real concern is that central defence is just not good enough. Like the look of central mid field. So for me, get that back four sorted asap, give them as much time together as we can. and I believe Forster would be a massive addition. good luck! and get on with it!!

27 Jul 2014 18:33:11
Boruc is a much better keeper than forster, but forster is a better back up than what we have although I wood prefer marshall who has shown he can win games in the prem as has boruc, forster is untried in the prem, being englands no 3 means nothing.

I agree Boruc is a better keeper why are we trying to blow all this money on a goalkeeper anyway.

At least someone agrees with me elmo!

Boruc is getting on a bit and Forster can still improve and I'd take Forster over Boruc any day! Some of his howlers last year cost us, although appart from the odd blunder he was brilliant I have to add, but at 34 we should look to someone younger

27 Jul 2014 10:26:30
Get the board OUT! We are a laughing stock! Nearly getting to the point that I am embarrassed to mention that I am a saints fan.

At last! a statement from on high, is the tide about to turn?This can be sorted with the right mental attitude from our Lords and Masters, I can and I will and don't forget to take the troops with you!! beginning to feel that something may be about to happen. hooray

27 Jul 2014 10:13:56
I now don't blame mopo lovren lallana etc for wanting out obviously they knew what a joke we were about to come KL get away from our club #greedyowner

27 Jul 2014 09:46:35
I think KL needs to do an open Q and A session with the fans. The direction historically was very clear when NC was here. Our intention was very clear and open, players were happy, lambo and lallana themselves stated during NC reign that they wanted to stay, something has changed dramatically and the club and players all seem to be in the know. The fans are NOT. I fear that the reason this is is because we wouldn't be happy with this knowledge. I am waiting to drive past at Mary's soon and there be a huge tesco sign going up in place of our crest. Come on board, open the door and let us fans know what is going on at our club. At least if we know we would be able to stop trying to work it out ourselves and the media vultures can stop writing stories about us in free fall. Perhaps then clubs like Cardiff will stop putting in ridiculous offers for our soon to be new captain fonte too!

The way I understand it the reason so many of the first team have left or are leaving is, NC (allededly) promised them a large bonus for qualifying into europe (not his money by the way), and the owner of the club, KL put a stop to it, which I would have done if it were my money, the players felt the club reneged on their promise and wanted to leave, so IMO it was all about money.
I am afraid that the LOVE of money is the root of all evil.

Saw that lovely story about King Kev today. Thought a moment we had started buying!!

27 Jul 2014 09:12:46
today the daily mail is saying that liverpool are after jay rod as well as spuds
most probably get shot down by others now
but the media have been spot on concerning players leaving saints
i just don't think the fans would take any more saints players going to liverhampton
hope I am wrong but the way things are going its a good possibility it will happen
forestsaint

27 Jul 2014 09:42:40
In my opinion the sooner we sell the rest of our players the better then the board can take their money and f. off and make way for someone who wants the club to succeed

27 Jul 2014 10:16:50
as I stated if any more saints players go to liverhampton
it shows the board have no scruples and do not give a to## about the fans
forestsaint

Well said salisbury St John

27 Jul 2014 08:43:52
First post on here but disappointed to see so much anger at board. Kreuger not from football but serious sports businessman and know agents whilst without KL and family we'd be nowhere. Seem to remember this season first in 5yr plan. If exodus price of last seasons overacheivement maybe trying to avoid that end of this season - otherwise never reach europe. Also, much as its frustrating, cards close to chest means other clubs don't know what we're up to in market either. Plenty of optimism left here.

I also find this negativity to the board very disappointing. Some of neggies have very short memories as to how far we have come in the last 5 years, they remind me of a child at a supermarket checkout wanting a bar of chocolate, and mum saying no, in other words there like a bunch of spoilt brats when things don't go as they would like.
I am not overly happy with the situation at St Mary's, but give them a chance to get it sorted, instead of running around like headless chickens.