angelman

LAst closed season, Napoli were linked with half the players in Europe.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2661103/Manchester-City-Liverpool-Everton-losers-Manchester-United-Chelsea-Arsenal-given-easy-Premier-League-starts.html So the Fail confirm that it's really 7 teams vs the rest, not that any of us were under any other impression.

Think you mistook my post as a criticism - it was more that most fans see us being relegated, apart from WBA who use as a yardstick for their lack of ambition. I do find other opinions interesting, but as I say, as they don't contribute (eg season ticket) then it is nothing but an opinion, usually wrong, but they are of course entitled to their wrong opinions. The one that I would be interested in is how Spuds view MP & RK. I imagine that they will take the natural stance, and not think that they have made a mistake and got the better deal, esp as they say that they turned RK down a few years ago. As for the Baggies post, I like the view on the relative finances of the clubs.

LOL, that is what I thought as well. I guess we might seem him at WHL, although there's no guarantee of that either!

If Suarez stays at L'pool, and he and Sturridge remain fit, I cannot see RL getting but a handful of games, maybe the cup games. Anyone who thinks that he will displace S&S from the starting line is potty.

Why are you talking about a reasonable price? It is common business practice that if you don't want to sell something, you either say a point blank no or, as "everything has a price" you put it up higher than it (possibly) should be. Reasonableness has little to do with anything, given our position, and especially when it comes to football.

PS why not take what the Baggies think? Paints a different picture. Seen a lot of comparison between their and our appointment and who has ambition and who doesn't.

Olallana, I do believe you are correct, as that manager had left a club on the brink of the abyss. Let's also not take into account the feelings/actions of the players/supporters to RK resigning (rather than being sacked). Anyway, it may work out badly, it may not. Other clubs are welcome to their views, but as they don't contribute to the club in any way, then why waste time worrying what others think. Especially those from WHU - honestly, who would they prefer as manager - Fat Sam or the Cowman?

It seems that there are many on Red Cafe who know things that our board and the 20 researchers don't!!

It means that he had supposedly visited before signing but the latest comment after today's visit suggests that he hadn't been to S'wood before today.

Bearsy, if you watched the clip, he compares himself most to Mezit Ozil (so does that mean we can flog him to Arsenal for £42m?)

I am afraid that I am a pessimist/realist and being offered the best part of £80-100-160k a week (depending whether you want to believe the press) is more of a pull. He may well have been a Barcelona great, but he left before Shaw was born (by a month or so) and won Euro88 a month after AL was born.

**** me your petty bickering is tedious and puerile. Can't you give it a break as not all of us want to read it - why not stick to the Muppet section if you have to carry on being so damned childish?

A lot better than the Fail who insist on having a picture of MP, the video from Spurs TV of MP speaking English and a video about Lovren wanting to leave.

Does anyone know why he resigned from Feyenoord?

what odds?

Why would our club secretary go to Manchester if it was to do with a Shaw transfer? Man U's would come to us, that is, unless we have become their b1tch.

I don't think that Dejan's hairdresser quite cut the mustard with Gerry and he was unwilling to move away from the person who cares for his mullet.

I find the Red Cafe usually quite interesting as most of the time (although there are a fair few slip ups) they aren't too arrogant, and thought this quite interesting with respect the quoted £30m odd. http://www.redcafe.net/threads/would-you-rather-sign-shaw-for-%C2%A330m-or.392400/

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11700/9350996/premier-league-ronald-koeman-agrees-contract-to-become-southampton-manager

I realise that unless the press portray the club in a way you like/agree with, then you think that there is some sort of axe that they are grinding. However, the spurious articles about us recently might lead some to think that there is an agenda. How many times have we imploded? MP was leaving us for Spurs about 2 months before the end of the season, taking all the players with him or them going elsewhere. It may well be true in the long run, but if you read and believed everything (especially from the rags that Guan said to ignore) then you would think that we were going to fold. Sure, at the beginning of the season, I think that most journos were glad that there was a different team in the mix, but that soon changed at the end of the season back to the laissez faire of the top 6 or 7 being the top 6 or 7. But.... You have to question certain sections of the media about their view of Saints. For example...... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2658594/Ronald-Koeman-named-Southampton-manager-search-replace-Mauricio-Pochettino-ends.html#comments At the time of writing this (as they do change things, like Ashton's "Reed it and weep" headline), they put up the video of MP speaking English in his first interview at Spurs. Why do that on an article about Saints appointing a new manager, an article where they can't even get the facts right? It sums up that they are a little disrespectful to little old Southampton, the team that dared to dream that they might break into the upper echelons of the league.

Depends what floats your boat. I did read somewhere that the club had said that they wanted to promote academy players and if it didn't always work, then the manager would not get the blame, or words similar to that. To me, that statement is one of the biggest selling points that could be made, backed up by a half decent academy. Too often these days, clubs want instant success, or maybe it is a case of having to have instant success in order to survive. I think last season there was a game when we had 5 teenagers on the pitch (including subs - Shaw, Chambers, JWP, Reed and Gallagher) and I am not sure that many/any other clubs could do that and still be half competitive. A manager here has the opportunity (seemingly) to be able to create something and if everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet, then more time needs to be given. Go to the clubs above us, and while they do try and bring through academy players (who wouldn't try as this is good business practice) they tend to buy the finished article. They want managers more than coaches. Depends what sort of person you are I guess as to what you get more satisfaction from - gaining success from managing a team of stars or creating a competitive team from rough diamonds. As a supporter, I was immensely proud of Saints last year. I thought that the balance of home developed and bought in was just about perfect. Would I prefer to support a club like Spurs? Sell Bale (no problem there given the price and the fact that Real has such a pull) and buy in £100m of players - not really. I prefer the home grown and English element. I hope that this can continue even if it limits our ultimate success. I do sometimes feel, when the bigger clubs start being arrogant, **** it, if you can't beat them, join them.

Is he an upgrade? Time will tell but I can't see it as a backwards step. As I was happy enough with MP, then I am more than happy with this appointment if it is ONLY a sideways step. As a name, if you had asked me 18 months ago, would not have focused on MP but of course would have heard of the Cowman.

don't be silly. when I mentioned wife and new baby might be happy here and being part of any decision about moving, I was told not to be so naive. I see the Fail are talking about Spurs now which would fit nicely with CL footie!

Very friendly!!