02 Sep 2014 22:15:15
So. We sell Lallana (who will be found out as single speed and out of his depth) and for the money we get Tadic and Mane. I cannot wait to watch these guys playing in the same side. Brilliant job by the new excellent Manager who by e way has more than one plan and the board who have done everything they said. We now have a stronger team than I can remember since the heady year of '82. Thanks all and looking forward to the season. And Hah to all those bogus Saints fans on this site who talk down the team and management. (Well done Newport).
I would hardly call fans bogus on the basis of them being worried, upset and angry at what happened to a very good saints squad.
I am however surprised that fans who were saying not to panic we have only played two games are now counting their chickens after beating a very poor west ham team and two exciting signings.
We won't really know till christmas how well the board have dealt with this chaotic summer.
We made 40m+ this transfer window. The only other team to make money was swansea who made 2.5m! this only from transfers, does not include tv money etc.
Should we finish top 10 or even better then we will have done extremely well and the board will deserve massive praise.
If we were to finish just behind united again this season we would have made nearly 200m on them in one transfer window (i would class this as an incredible season). A few seasons like this and we could well be the next everton.
I however remain grounded and withold judgement for now, it is never easy sailing for the saints.
I think the point ibsaintly is trying to make here is that while no one enjoyed the loss of a good team a little bit of faith and patience could have been expected from real fans. You have reacted strongly against the use of the word bogus. The posts on this site and others have been positively venomous towards the club management. Unrelenting venom totally uncalled for, based on no knowledge and displaying real ignorance. Well just take a moment to think about what Les Reed, Ronald Koeman, and Katherine Liebherr must have felt like with this daily dose of s**** while trying to do their best. Yes the jury is out till Christmas but we have never had a better starting point. We do have a better squad at this point than last year.
We haven't seen 3 of our signings even kick a ball and you want to claim we have a better squad. exactly my point.
The 2 signings on deadline day seems to have changed everyone's tune. up until this point it was all very hairy. To imply people are bogus fans simply because people were speaking up on their views and worries of a board who let's be honest did not give the best portrait of themselves seems a bit meh.
A real fan and a real person stands up for something they believe in. I would much prefer a club and fans where if people see something they feel is wrong they speak up.
Imagine if a member of the board had read some of these posts and had seen how upset and annoyed some fans were. It may well of made them feel a duty to make it right.
I personally feel we may have come out stronger but time will tell but to not understand peoples frustration at what happened is the real ignorance.
Find me the fan at the end of last season who if given the option of - "ok so we are going to sell half the squad, lose our manager, lose our captain, lose our talisman in SRL. Then try to rebuild with a new manager. How about it?" who would of said yes?
We know very little about the current board and they had not shown many positive signs during the summer and only saved themselves from a backlash on deadline day.
Ultimately they decided to go very quietly about their business and seemingly have done well (time will tell).
Maybe some fans (me included) could have shown a bit more patience but well done anyone speaking their mind and standing up for what they view is best.
For me these fans are just as if not more important than ones willing to put up with and accept anything without fighting back.
04 Sep 2014 12:02:49
I will just say that if the players that have left were still here we would be in real trouble as two of them are injured ( Llallana and Shaw ) and Rickie is past his sell by date. Think the prima donna exodus will be proved to be a blessing in disguise.
I think LVG is to blame for shaws injury
04 Sep 2014 14:51:25
Maybe his extra training given by Van Gaal probably didn't help but if you remember he was never really fit here and missed quite a few games. Some players at his age can't do the same muscle stretching as more senior players. Bale is an example, he was always injured when he was with us and it's only very recently he seems to keep sort of fit. He was only 18 as well when he was here, so the sort of money we got for Luke was great business and a big risk for United.
Well said esso14
It was colds and flu with us. he ran up and down that wing for 90 minutes no problems. I would never have questioned his fitness in a saints shirt. his immune system yes. I don't even recall having to be subbed on 70.
04 Sep 2014 17:28:24
When he first started playing in the first team he did have problems with cramp and needed subbing quite a lot, but he worked hard on his conditioning last summer and had no such problems last season. You are right, he missed games due to infections, but that will be the case with a lot young players who are still developing an effective immune system.
Fit as a fiddle last season. LVG is renowned for running players like dogs. Rooney will love it.
And also, although we have a better squad i'm still not sure we have a better starting 11 especially considering most of these lads had been playing together for a few years.
Well Esso you now seem to agree we have a better squad. That is what the management asked for, until Sept 1st. Better squad with £40m still in the bank. See St Christopher below. It is not nice to be so negative.
My issue and gripe was about the poor lack on communication by the board. Add to that every tabloids seeming joy that we were selling our best players at the time.
We've got a great team now. Maybe getting a few through the door sooner rather than later would have made me feel a little more comfortable.
The board has done a good job, we have a great manager, an exciting looking team plus youngsters coming through.
One other thing. Clyne and JWP should have been in the England squad. and to be honest on his performances so far this year so should have Bertrand
With regards to Luke Shaw and his fitness. It also seems he is not settling in. and this is where Man U are just not used to bringing through young players in recent years. All they have done is bought, bought, bought! They have shoved him in some town centre hotel. he is a young man, barely used to living on his own. He is not a mature, experienced MAN. and as for his injury, again he is not fully developed. Southampton know exactly how to nurture and improve their young players. This could be the ruining of him. He is fine young man and great player. look after our Luke properly or he will not be the same player.
05 Sep 2014 16:26:47
Don't want our players in the senior England side. They will only be tapped up by the "big club" players who have a fraction of the ability but will be earning mega bucks, and this will only unsettle them. The senior England side now seems solely an opportunity for players to promote themselves, and some will be able to do this continuously however badly they play. There is no sign of team play and no development of tactics.
Can't see our players would benefit and likely to pick up an injury.
How right you are! We are better off doing a Fergie and keeping them away from our National side.
Let's keep developing our youngsters to play for SFC and be like Everton.
06 Sep 2014 22:33:03
lets be clear about one thing wit hregard to this debate. The club have made much of the fact that the acadey in which so much money has been invested is there to produce players for the first team. It is not there for the powers that be to swoop and sell off our best to the opposition, which is precisely what has happened this summer. I just hope that no precedent has now been established and that we won't have to face the same scenario next summer.We might be lucky this year with all the signings working out. But we might not be so lucky next time, and I still think it is extremely risky to sell off your best players and hope you can replace them for less.The orther point worth making is that from a brand perspective Saints have suddenly come to the world s attention based upon what the team did last season largely through the efforts of home grown players. It is let's face it unusual for this to happen the only comparative example being the famed class of 92 at Manchester United.Selling Shaw was really disappointing, and the sale of Chambers only added to the distress. From a branding point of view its not good business. Disagree all you like, we may do well this year, but something has been lost from the Saints image, we are now seen as much the same as other clubs buying in foreign talent, which is a huge shame.