Southampton Banter Archive July 26 2014

26 Jul 2014 21:31:44
So now every saints fan is calling for board to be removed become we are selling. What we are actually doing is making good money on the assets we have when we have a buyer willing to pay a high price. The down side of this is that when coming to replace those assets we either have to pay inflated prices or wait for clubs to reduce the price as deadline day looms ever closer. Unfortunately fans are not as patient as the board and we have to remember it is not down to the fans who we buy and sell. Be patient, a lot can happen in a few days. Look at how much business gets done on deadline day. Saints forever. Keep the faith. Coyr

Deadline day for a club desperate to sign players is a nightmare. If we haven't made signings by then but have made further losses our prices will increase by even more as clubs look to hold their key assets with renewed belief they can (having made it to deadline day) and us being desperate to sign on new players to give ourselves a fighting chance.

We had scouts watching kolo, left back for nice today

We still have 5 weeks. Stop panicking. I will let you panic with a few hrs to go

27 Jul 2014 11:13:19
Saints fans or at least the majority posting on here are their own worst enemy. No wonder the club feels able to sell sell sell, they know they will get away with it as many of their clubs fans are basically wimps. Or are these posters Liebherr employees masquerading as fans to ensure compliance??

26 Jul 2014 20:15:49
Just seen that Klass Jan Huntelaar has a 20m euro buy-out clause. What do you lot reckon? A cheeky bid?

No chance, board won't pay his wages or go so high for one player. We have to limit our expectations a bit with who is coming in and then hopefully we will be pleasantly surprised once or twice.

Yeah think he is on about 80k a week can't see it unless he takes a pay cut

26 Jul 2014 12:46:43
Ahhh tried so hard to be positive about this but losing Chambers is the last straw for me worst case scenario we'll loose Shneiderlin, J Rod and Lovren too and that will be 6 first team players from an already thin squad, Eds I know you don't like our fans much and rightly so because of the abuse a few have given you, but please tell us if you have any info about what is going on that club please tell us! Because it's getting depressing now particularly the lack of transfer activity to go with it especially after recieving £60m so far, please Ed's help us out here!

{Ed001's Note - I don't expect J Rod to leave right now because of his injury, though Poch wants to take him to Spurs, so that should be one staying for now. I do expect some investment, but it will be at a cheaper price than you were selling for. Koeman is expected to mix and match academy products with a few select signings. That was why he was brought in, he is happy to work with youth products, in fact he wants to do so. I expect a forward and defender soon. Van Dijk of Celtic is one target, but Spurs want him too. The club had built up a large debt under Cortese, they are paying it off, but it is a gamble to do so quite this quickly. Which is why my opinion is that it is for a sale, rather than keeping, because if you intended to keep it you would take your time about reducing debt to keep the club safely in the Prem.}

Hi Ed001. I'm a little confused by all this talk of large debt at Southampton. As far as I understand it, Saints had a debt of £27m of which £22m had to be paid this year.
Cortese is a very shrewd operator, who was a merchant banker. Surely the debt was easily serviceable with the finances coming in, and secondly it didn't just creep up on Saints - it was planned.

The whole thing just smacks me in the face as a hatchet job.

{Ed001's Note - it wasn't just the current debt, there was future debt, with payments on transfers being the main one. Also wages, with the bonuses he had promised being the main issue, had crept up beyond a reasonable level. You do realise that merchant bankers are so crap at running a budget that they caused the recent recession with their overspending right? So to use Cortese's occupation as one to claim he is good with money is not really making a good case for him! Plus, to be fair to him and putting aside the jokes about merchant bankers and what they rhyme with, he was running to a budget set by Markus Liebherr. That was with the acceptance that Markus would inject capital on a regular basis to cover the overspend. Without him around, the club was operating massively over the allocated budget. If Markus had still been the owner, there would be no issues. It really is that simple. Given a few more years of him around to inject money into the club, then it would have been stood on its own two feet. Just remember it could be worse, just remember Gretna in Scotland when their owner died.
This should be a one off, there should be no need to bring in this kind of money ever again. There should also never be a bunch of players having promises made to them broken, leaving them all unhappy. The club have now cut the wage bill down to size, they have the money to clear off outstanding, and upcoming, debts. It will be then that you will see just what kind of owners you now have. The problem with this situation is that you can not be sure until after the event how good or bad their intentions are. On the face of it, they are putting the club into a safe financial situation, and it can only be judged on that until they prove otherwise.
Personally I do have my suspicions that they are clearing the decks of debt to allow for the most profitable sale. Otherwise they could have easily cleared off the debt gradually over the course of the next few years. That was what they disagreed with Cortese over, he did understand the need to reduce costs etc, but he felt that it could be done more slowly. I know you probably thought I am blaming Cortese, but I am not, I am just saying he was working to a different budget and so ran up bills the foundation were not happy with.}

So basically Ed you are with the same point of view as most supporters that this season is now major doom and gloom territory?

{Ed001's Note - not really. I think they are taking a gamble on the club's academy and manager being good enough to hold on short term. I wouldn't say that was doom and gloom, there will still be incomings, it is just they aren't going to spend huge sums buying up big name players. Personally I wouldn't say that was such a bad thing for a club that was in League 1 so recently! The club has grown massively in such a short time, it now just needs to consolidate.}

Thanks Ed, always useful to get you to comment on these things. Fingers crossed this will only be a one time thing and this squad can hold us and consolidate a good position itself anyway.

Thanks Ed001, a really useful and insightful post

{Ed001's Note - thank you.}

27 Jul 2014 11:04:06
Edo001 I completely agree with your assessment. But I still have issues. Why did Reed and Krueger before him give fans the impression that players were not going g to be sold that the ambition remained intact? Nonsense of course but its hardly surprising there is now real anger. my main issue with Katarina Liebherr though is as follows: Her father took on a project Southampton football club out of recognition of the close links he and his family had with Southampton for business reasons. She should have respected his memory and kept to her father s plan which did involve overspending. No billionaire buys a club to use as a cash cow what would be the point. Markus was ambitious for Southampton. If Katarina cannot find it in her , in spite of her inherited wealth to show respect then she should simply sell the club, not proceed to systematically rip it of any real talent it possesses. In my book, we are now favorites for relegation, assuming the best part of our first team is sold without being adequately replaced. How does that Katarina if you read these posts, sit with your conscience if you have one that is? And why aren't Saints fans going down to St Marys to protest in their droves at was seems to be happening, can you imagine Newcastle Utd fans not doing so if faced with the same scenario? What is wrong with them, do they always have to roll over and die?

{Ed001's Note - I really can't answer why they were giving the impression the ambitions remained the same. Only they could tell you that.}

27 Jul 2014 11:08:17
It seems to me that the views of fans like Sainty saintsaint and funkysaint are part of the problem they meekly accept players will be sold comfort themselves with the fact that went for top dollar forgetting that none of the money goes into their pockets and simply move on. Are they completely simple?????

Many thanks Ed001. You're a Gent as always, and your insightful comments are greatly appreciated.

I am aware that plans were being put in place for the financial future of Southampton Football Club by Marcus Liebher and Nicola Cortese, but unfortunately Marcus became ill suddenly before these plans could be completed - and in case anyone wonders where I got this from, it was a friend of the Leibher family that regularly sits amongst the fans at St Marys.

26 Jul 2014 15:39:14
Hi all I'm sure it doesn't help at all but I'd just like to say every fear minded football fan in the country feels for you all right now.
Great fans, great club and you deserve so much better than you are getting.
I know the odds are long but I hope you have a good season and stay up and who knows maybe the Carling cup, it won't make everything right but it might help ease the pain a little.
I genuinely wish you all well.
Good luck Saints fans

27 Jul 2014 00:40:21
Cheers Gunner, its heartbreaking, but we have been in worse situations, got to put it all into perspective, we are not dodging bullets in Gaza or Afghanistan!

COYS

27 Jul 2014 00:40:27
Cheers Gunner, its heartbreaking, but we have been in worse situations, got to put it all into perspective, we are not dodging bullets in Gaza or Afghanistan!

COYS

26 Jul 2014 13:20:49
Hi Eds a question for you guys, reading on the Arsenal page that you belive we are being asset stripped with all our best talent being sold and not all the money being reinvested.
What do you think the clubs plans are, do you think the owner is getting ready to sell or do you think she is looking forward to a relagation battle? can't see the manager being too happy with the situation do you think they lied to him when they appointed him and what's the chances of him moving on?
Thanks in advance and we won't give you boys any greif as youve been proved right when you tried warning us earlier.

{Ed001's Note - it is not really an asset strip as such. They don't want to get rid of all the talent, they just want to run on an even keel. Rather than spending 3 years getting the club back into the black, they are doing it one go this summer.

My opinion, and it is just an opinion, is that they would like to sell once they clear the debt. They won't want to asset strip as that would destroy the sale value. They are, imo, gambling that Koeman will keep you in the Prem on a reduced budget and they can then sell at a higher price.

I do expect a proportion of the sales to be reinvested, but nothing like all of it.}

Thanks Eds01, let's hope the gamble pays off

27 Jul 2014 10:45:31
In boards interest to keep quiet whilst papers want to play up every whisper ans stir stories. How can we know what's really happening? Need some faith. Buying players hardly like nipping down Aldi. more like buying house. Masses to check, competing buyers but purchase has go gel with others and can turn buyer down! Think this a quick process to do right?Lets see when window closes.

26 Jul 2014 13:41:52
froster and van dijk not included in celtic squad could on the way here

{Ed007's Note - The Celtic team is made up of youngsters and reserves.}

26 Jul 2014 13:23:27
Hey there saints. I'm a Liverpool fan or liverhampton fan as some of you may call. I'm on this page quite frequently because I'm eager for you. to be doing some buisness. I've noticed a lot of you are worried about what is happening with your club, and I for one am gutted for you. I love Southampton as a club and it's supporters like, and you have provided some super sexy football for me to Watch. Anyway I saw a post regarding what's going on with the club and thought. I'd pass what he's said on. {Ed001's Note - it is neither. They had a sugar daddy who put a chief exec, Cortese, in place with a remit to run the club with the aim of achieving European football. It was almost an open cheque book, with the club spending a lot of money on infrastructure, including an excellent training ground, players' wages and bonuses etc.

Unfortunately Markus Liebherr died, leaving the club to a foundation which is in the hands of his children. They want to run the club as a business, and are not willing to sink their own money into something they have no interest in. Initially they just left it to Cortese to run while they sorted out their dad's affairs. Then they started to look into the club, they found that Cortese was spending far more than the club was making, plus making verbal promises on bonuses that would mean the club's debt would increase etc.

So they removed him from his position and started to cut back on spending, including player bonuses, in an attempt to set the club back on track. The lack of bonuses upset the players, hence senior ones being desperate to leave, the lack of ambition compounded the problem. They have brought in a manager who is happy to run the club on a tight budget and try to utilise the youth academy players as much as possible.

Now they are just selling up those who are unhappy to reduce the debt, provide funds for spending and to put towards future expansion of the ground. I am not sure if their long term plan is to set the club straight and then sell, or if they just want to run it as a long term stable business. Either way, they have decided to take the short term route to financial stability and hope that it doesn't lead to relegation. }

AH

Cheers AH, that's very interesting to know and to be honest a bit depressing. That doesn't bode well for the future at all, we've surely sold enough players to easily be in the green now, surely?

26 Jul 2014 12:40:28
My concern is that we have let too many players go this summer. Out of our first team we could have dealt with 3 first team players leaving and replaced them. We are now looking at 5 or 6 already. Our team needs time to gel. We won't survive this season if we don't get them replaced by last week. What happened to no fire sale, What a load of tosh that was.

26 Jul 2014 12:04:49
i personally think koeman knows what he is doing selling a right back for 12-16 mil just beause he is english look at newcaslte buying jamaat for 4-5 mil who had a great world cup

Im more worried bout Les Reed and what he's doing?

Yh because we need the money don't we, only got £60m from other transfers so far, selling more of our talent is never a good thing

26 Jul 2014 11:17:36
Clearly the club is gona be sold c'mon on saints release a statement ffs the exudos has to stop now!!!

26 Jul 2014 11:51:20
no point in the club making a statement
would be all LIES like the last one les reed would say NO PLAYERS ARE FOR SALE
mind you there are not many left now
forestsaint

26 Jul 2014 10:40:28
might stick a tenner on us to go down then might be able to get back some of my season ticket money! sack the board!!!

26 Jul 2014 10:29:21
This is getting embarrassing! What the hell is the board doing? If player go, players go. But we need to bring players now. Potentially 5 gone now, and only only two in. And even some of the names being touted don't really impress me. Will we even be able to field a first XI? Getting very very disheartened by the whole thing.

To say we have 5 weeks to go, may be true. However, players have to bed in, and we don't want to be miles behind by the autumn fixtures. So please let's get on and get the guys in and let's see some urgency. Good wishes to every one on this site and at the club. We are all on the same side, this is a wonderful football club much loved by its followers, don't let us down.

26 Jul 2014 09:46:40
The Board has one week to sign at least 5 quality players. If not we will start the season as relegation favourites having been docked 10 points for not being able to field 11 players.

This is a shambles! One week to save our club or do a Villa and put it up for sale.

26 Jul 2014 09:16:18
Hi Saints, reading a few posts and getting the idea that you're all extremely unhappy and understandably so, as an Arsenal fan I'm used to seeing stars leave, but never at this magnitude.

Just wondering what is going on? Is there a reason all these players are leaving?


For players like Shaw it's understandable because he could have gone anywhere and £30m is hard to turn down when you have Targett coming through to replace him.

But the others leaving is just crazy from the whoever are sanctioning these sales.

Not trying to poke the bear guys, must be very frustrating and just curious to what's going on. Always had a soft spot for you guys, always do it the right way so I'm not worried for you lot.


One more question, Lloyd Isgrove? Do you think he will make it to the starting XI for Southampton?

At this rate Isgrove will be 1 of XI players left it seems.

In all seriousness it's incredibly frustrating that the club has just bent over and taken whatever other clubs will throw at us. Teams need time to bond together and by this time with so many key losses already having happened we should be only buying now. Bring in what we need to replace and if necessary sell off the remaining one or two moaners next summer. Team chemistry seems to have gone out the window.

26 Jul 2014 08:41:23
Agree with everyone's concern. Quite frankly this is beyond a joke, it really is. Where is all this money going I wonder? Back in KL's coffers no doubt. We won't see a 3rd of the money we make in player sales reinvested. Our squad is thread bare as it is. Something seems desperately wrong, it really does.

Yeah kl is cashing in and selling up, making a hell of a lot of money making markus turn in his grave, it was mentioned when she took control shes not a very good business person going by her other companys failings and my god doesn't it show, mmmm wonder why mopo left

26 Jul 2014 09:46:30
when she goes
hope she takes freddy krueger and reed with her
krueger has achieved what he was brought in for
forestsaint

I'm not entirely sure what Kruegar has done, he's been absent for the last 3 months

26 Jul 2014 07:53:22
As many Saints fans we be this morning. i'm shocked to hear that Calum Chambers is likely off to Arsenal.

Its important that we maintain an identity, we were all so proud of our England contingent, not just the World Cup members but the U21s and U19s + U18s and U17s.

Selling those around us that want to go that are more mature is sort of understandable. Nobody who is a true fan begrudges Ricky his move, silly money for Lallana and Shaw. Lovren is a mercenary and with an attitude like that good riddance.

Spiderman would be a huge loss but as all of the others have left it looks like even with a £27 million price tag Arsenal can afford him. especially if we are mugging away Calum Chambers. we should not be selling him!

If our management cannot control the desires of 19 year olds then we can kiss goodbye Rodrigues. the only reason he is still here is that he is injured! So what are we going to do. repair him and sell him before we see anything other benefit to the Team than pound notes?

Okay so we can buy other players that may be better players but they will not be English. they will not be Ours. Southampton produced with a collective understanding. we are on for a very hard year.

I think we'll be relegation fodder this year, we'll struggle there's no doubt about that, if all the reported players leave

At the, risk of repeating myself. I really do think it is time for somebody from the Board to steady the ship with a statement.