um pahars

When someone wants to leave, they only have year left on their contract and a £2m release clause then there ain't much you can do. I thought it was pretty shtity to blow out Adkins the way we did, but the line was we had to to push ourselves on, and I think it's pretty shtity the way MoPo has blown us out in order to push himself on. It works both ways. Disappointed he has left so soon, but the only thing that matters now is who replaces him.

But Jan, we've always been a stepping stone Club, as has almost every other club out there. Of course there are degrees of stepping stonedness, but the overwhelming majority of clubs lose their star players & managers over time. It's the nature of the beast, and with the odd exception, exceptional players, coaches and managers will always gravitate towards the top of the footballing pyramid. We should probably be grateful that there are many more teams below us than above us! Before we get too upset, perhaps we should remember that many of our "stars" have been picked off from stepping stone clubs. For me, losing players and staff is part and parcel of the game and there is little we can do about it, what matters is how we respond. That is within our control (aka don't go showering the Shearer dosh on Dixon and Speedie!!).

I suppose there is a third option, which would be, could/should we have brought someone else in to replace Adkins, with the view they may have stayed longer?? But as we know money and power turns heads, so who knows. I think it just boils down to the fact that we have become the victims of our own success, in that MoPo's managerial success has made him ripe to be poached in much the same way as the success of our players means the big boys will start sniffing around.

But those few places really are massive. Tottenham are a much bigger club than us, IMHO 6th biggest in the country. In 3 years time, White Hart Lane will have a capacity almost double ours and they will fill it regularly and if he stays as long as Jol or Redknapp, then he will be leading a team out on its opening day.

In modern football, loyalty to a Club and vice versa is a very rare commodity. I'm not knocking MoPo for it as I fully accept the extra money, the lure of the bright lights of London, European football and the reputation of Spurs (rightly or wrongly) is obviously too much of a pull for him. If MoPo was really loyal to the players then with perhaps only 2-5 going, why is he not loyal to the remaining 20+? Why would someone pledge loyalty to a group of players he hardly knows and choose them over such a move. This is a big opportunity for him and one that IMHO he cannot refuse. And if he was loyal to Cortese, then he should have done the honourable thing and resigned when he left, or immediately after seeing out this season.

The only loyalty MoPo has is to himself and his immediate family. I don't for one minute think he has any loyalty to a bunch of players who he has know for about a year or less.

Just wondering whether this 16 month fling with MoPo has been worth it? It's been a wonderful season, with many fantastic memories, but we will come out of it stronger as a result of his departure? Would we have struggled had we stuck with Nigel?, got relegated? or perhaps alternatively would we have slowly built up towards mid table safety (& beyond)? I'm torn between thinking we should have stuck with him as there was a really good feeling about the place and we were still moving forward and then thinking actually MoPo has shown what really was possible with the squad. I accept players and managers heads will be turned by clubs higher up the pecking order, it's the way of the world and has happened thoughout my Saints supporting life, but my issue here is that it really has only been one season. That's the bit that grates with me, in that he will walk out after so short a period of time. But I also accept when we talk about loyalty, we have to remember it works both ways and we as a club are happy to cut managers and players when it suits us, so not sure how we can be so upset about MoPo walking out on us after 16 months. So back to the question, was this fling worth it, or should we have stuck with Adkins?

Over the last 20 years, Everton's average league position has been about 11th. Even over the last 10 seasons, which have been more successful, they've averaged about 8th. And that's a team which such a pedigree and history. As with almost every other team over the years, they have been raided losing the likes of Fellani, Arteta, Lescott, Rooney & Rodwell (who were both Evertonians).

Been doing it for ages, can remember "Argentina, Argentina" getting an airing up the Dell to wind the home fans. A sort of up yours response/pre emotive dig towards the stick they were getting. Apart from the extended United Calypso at the end, they were not a patch on their recent visits. It was as though there was an air of resignation and worry about the place, as on the pitch they looked awful and in some need of massive rebuilding that could see them take a backseat for a few years to come.

Agree with most of what OP is saying. There's nowt wrong with tempering optimism with a dash of realism and at the same time being really proud of being the 6th/7th/8th/9th best team in the entire country.

Right here's my track record; Shearer misses too many 1 on 1s to make it big (a few games after his debut) Lambert will play for England (whilst we were still in League 1) Blackstock, Best & most definitely McGoldrick are not top flight strikers. A real mixed bag there, showing I know Jack Shift, but my prediction for Sam is ........ Not a top drawer striker. Would love the young man to prove me sooooooo wrong, but compared with other youngsters who have come through, I just don't think he will make the same impact.

As someone above has said, these last 5 years are as good as the early 80s. (Toe to toe with the big boys and a team full of internationals, characters & flair) & perhaps late 70s (a few trips to Wembley & promotion to the top flight). The highs far outweigh any lows, with the highs almost too numerous to mention. A real high was watching a group of players grow together with a core playing through three divisions. In a game where players are increasingly transient, it was good to see the likes of Lallana, Lambert, Fonte & co grow with the Club.

And I've been suitably chastised. its pronounced V-O (as in Vee-Oh).

Vay-ho

They do indeed frequent this site!! And they are a tremendous bunch of lads and lasses who have built this company up from nothing (and who have ambitions to compete with the big boys). From a Saints perspective, surely all that matters is that the deal is commercially sound and have to say I find it a bit strange how some people get all worked up about a sponsor.

TBH I'm not sure anyone can hold players back if one of the big names offer to treble their wages and allow them to play in the top echelons of the game. I'd be disappointed if any of them went to a Newcastle, Spurs, Everton, but couldn't blame them if they went to one of the top 3/4 or a massive Club abroad. Regular European football, top honours, playing with the world's best etc is quite enticing. But as a footnote, maybe Cortese has played a negative role here, as the rumours I heard were that some of the more established players noses were slightly out of joint with regards the big ££££££s being paid to Osvaldo and Ramirez (made worse by their lack of return for that money).

Didn't realise his goals per starts ratio was almost 1 in 3. I know most were in the lower divisions, but still a decent return. Like a few others, Guly contributed to our rise up the divisions and I will be eternally grateful for that. And as another poster has already said he contributed to a pretty happy period to be a Saints fan. Always thought he put a shift in and will get my applause and thanks next week.

Congratulations fella. Wonderful pictures. All the best.

With all due respect, I don't think we are at a crossroads, instead we are riding the crest of a wave! If we maintain our mid table position, then that will be an amazing feat given the competition in what is the richest and best league in the world. And we are nothing like Liverpool were last season. They were sat on years of success and massive support earning about three times what we do. In fact their merchandise/commercial income alone was more than what we earned last year. There is no comparison. In this dog eat dog world, players who excel at "lower" ranked teams will always get picked off by the "big boys" due to the money they can earn and the possibility of winning things and playing in the best teams in the land. I would love it if we could keep our squad together, and would love it if this squad of players thought more about the Club and tried to break in to the top 6, but I'm also realistic that when the big clubs, big ££££s, European football and potential to win trophies come a calling, some of our players will jump ship. And when they do I hope it is done honourably and with us calling the shots with regards transfer fees.

Always wary of commenting on interviews as too often they are misconstrued, taken out of context or selectively edited. But IMHO this sounds a little like Morgan is getting his excuses in early if someone bigger than us comes in for him (or perhaps he has already been tapped up?).

We rejected him when he was about 14. Hasn't got much better judging by the 7-0 drubbing. Got done by Gallagher for our first, lost his man and was stationary for our second. Think it was the fourth when he was made to look like a dummy and chasing shadows all night. They've gone back to being a complete irrelevance to us, much as they have been for the overwhelming majority of the last half century. Off the radar, not even on a par with Bournemouth.

From what I've read and seen, it doesn't look as though the vote itself would stand up to any semblance of scrutiny. From loaded questions, procedural irregularities, no independent oversight, lack of a secret ballot & potential voter intimidation (from both sides??), it looks a real sham of a process. Personally, I think the idea sounds awful, (then again maybe I'm an old fart), but surely the weirdest thing is the notion that as a result of the name change, the world famous Hull City will start to rake in millions from their soon to be found Far East fanbase!

From my quick look at the numbers I have to say that given our current position (safe in the Prem & with a benefactor still willing to support us), I too couldn't find much to worry about. We cleared £20m+ of transfer fees this season and given the large increase in TV income, can't see why it will be a problem doing it again. Any refund/resale on Osvaldo will also help!!!! So like you, also not sure why the negative slant?? I'd suggest (1) a chance to have a thinly veiled pop at Cortese, and/or (2) an early dampening of expectations with regards spending millions this summer.

Would have to say that judging by the thinly veiled criticisms emanating from SMS today, I don't think the parting was as amicable as the initial announcements suggested!! Then again, as many have said previously, most departures are hushed over as it's not that beneficial to be seen to be washing your dirty linen in public. As for the staff, I wonder if they will carry on using the new coffee machine which I understand cost tens of thousands to buy and install!!!!!