Convict Colony

We will get smashed or we will win, no inbetween. The football gods like a laugh so i am erring on the side of a win. Might watch but if we have 5 at the back again (although probably appropriate for city) I think I will do something else. The last few weeks of lack of chances, goals or any sort of threat means sitting in the sun with a beer is way more appealing.

Honesly this period until we hand back our premier league status is like a phoney war. Managers giving interviews to raise their profiles, managers getting sacked etc etc

Great idea Fred, @Holmes_and_Watson is officially hired as soon as I get the role although since we are frenchifying the club you will have to change your name to inspector clouseau.

Lallana's already got that slot of veteran who hardly ever plays.

Ollie Wright Goalkeeper Ollie Wright impressed Southampton bosses in the short time he spent travelling with the team following Gavin Bazunu's injury. The 22 year old was their third goalkeeper at Wembley for the play-off final, playing stand-in behind Alex McCarthy and Joe Lumley. After a stellar end to the 2023/24 campaign with Worthing in the National League South, which nearly ended with a promotion to the National League, Wright got his move to the fifth tier. Wright has kept seven clean sheets in 17 National League games for Yeovil. Only York City (12) and Forest Green Rovers (14) have conceded more goals than Yeovil (15) so far this season. "The fanbase is brilliant here at Yeovil," Wright said of his time at Huish Park. "I can tell the standard is so much quicker in the National League. "You can't afford to make mistakes because goals will go in. It's been a big jump, but I feel like I've settled in nicely. I need to stay a steady seven out of 10." Kuryu Matsuki Japanese youth captain Kuryu Matsuki's departure from FC Tokyo was met with an emotional response from supporters. Upon joining Saints, the 21 year old was immediately loaned out to Sport Republic sister club Goztepe in the Turkish Super Lig. The midfielder recently scored his first goal in European football. He fired in late on to help them win 2-0 over Konyaspor. Back in the summer, Martin revealed the plan for Matuki while speaking to the Daily Echo: “We will see how he does at Goztepe. "We spoke to him a good few weeks ago when we got sent the clips. The ownership group are really keen on having some players they can develop within the group with the aim of coming back to Southampton and playing for us. "Stanimir (Stoilov, Goztepe manager) and Ivan (Mance, Goztepe sporting director) have a good record of developing young players. We will have to wait and see how he does.” Juan Another who joined Goztepe was Brazilian forward Juan. Southampton had initially agreed a deal for him to join in January before securing his services in the summer. The 22 year old former Sao Paulo man has done well in Turkey, scoring twice and providing four assists, but his future at Saints is unclear. Daouda Traoré The final player signed in the summer and spending this season at another one of Sport Republic's clubs is Daouda Traoré. French youth international Traoré is viewed as an exciting prospect at Saints and by those in France. He had already made his Ligue 1 debut before arriving on the south coast and is spending this season at Valenciennes. He has made nine league appearances for the club and played a further two games in the Coupe de France. i wonder how our young loan players made out over the full season. Will any be ready to play for use in the championship? We know Shea and Ronnie won POTY for thier loans Recent update on Sam. The Saints, after returning to the Premier League, let the winger join Anderlecht on loan in September. This move has worked out for the Southampton owned player as he’s scored four goals and registered six assists from 32 games. Two different injuries forced him to spend over 50 days on the sidelines this season. Edozie played the full 90 minutes in the final and assisted Luis Vázquez’s late goal. The newspaper states the Southampton owned player was the best performer for Anderlecht against Club Brugge. Good site to see who we have in the squad, in and out. https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/teams/8466/transfers/southampton Thanks The main thing i got from this was the reporters version of "done really well" and my version are miles apart.

You think normal team or manager to try out some younger players ?

This is the thing i dont get really. The ROI on investment giving you a good transfer budget for the league you are in will pay off next season, it is critical Valencienne be giving a large budget (say 5-7.5m as a guess) to sign players and give them wages better than they can get in Ligue 2 etc. 5-7m is hardly anything to SR given the money theyve wasted on players and the club is an asset so it they want to appreciate it they need to invest properly in the squad. When we were in league 1 we were the real madrid of the league it was awesome, buying the best players in the league and players from the leauge above (fonte) who came for the wages we could offer along with potential.

If I am incharge then everyone will know SR finally knows what they are doing. Dont worry fred, with me in charge when the team is winning every week even you can be happy 😃

First signing announced + shirt reveal

Thanks Remind me is Godin an established CEO for you or is he new ? i.e a sports republic person ? As I would of thought he could be under pressure as well

Sometimes these things are too easy to predict, maybe i should be in charge.

Tell me your a saints fan without telling me your a saints fan 😄

Sell whoever doesnt fit the new managers formation, regardless of standing and get players who play and can excel in the new system.

We need Rooney

Thanks bro appreciate these summaries.

Spent 1 week researching this i will have you know. Im lying it was Grok

Johannes Spors is a prominent figure in European football management, known for his roles in talent identification, recruitment, and strategic development across several clubs and organizations. His main achievements are derived from his impactful tenures at TSG Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig, Vitesse Arnhem, Genoa CFC, the 777 Football Group, and most recently, Southampton FC. Below is a concise overview of his key accomplishments, based on available information from sources like Transfermarkt, Southampton FC announcements, and media reports. Main Achievements of Johannes Spors TSG Hoffenheim (2006–2015): Role: Began as a video analyst and progressed to a key recruitment figure under manager Ralf Rangnick. Achievements: Contributed to Hoffenheim’s rapid rise from a lower-division German club to the Bundesliga, leveraging innovative analytics in the early 2000s. Played a significant role in scouting and developing talents like Roberto Firmino and Joelinton, who later became high-profile Premier League players. Helped establish Hoffenheim as a club known for youth development and data-driven recruitment. RB Leipzig (2015–2017): Role: Chief Scout and part of the recruitment team. Achievements: Instrumental in identifying and signing high-potential players such as Dayot Upamecano, Naby Keita, and Timo Werner, who became cornerstone players for Leipzig and later transferred for significant fees. Contributed to Leipzig’s ascent to the Bundesliga and their competitive performances in European competitions, building a squad aligned with the Red Bull philosophy of youth and intensity. Worked alongside Danny Rohl and Julian Nagelsmann, fostering connections that influenced his later career. Vitesse Arnhem (2018–2020): Role: Sporting Director, the first German to hold such a position in the Netherlands. Achievements: Led Vitesse to their best two seasons in club history, including reaching the Dutch Cup final and qualifying for European competitions. Oversaw notable performances, such as a victory against Tottenham Hotspur in European competition. Enhanced the club’s recruitment strategy, focusing on young, high-potential players, which strengthened their squad and financial model. Genoa CFC (2020–2022): Role: Sporting Director, the first German in such a role in Italy’s Serie A. Achievements: Stabilized Genoa during a challenging period, implementing a recruitment strategy that balanced immediate needs with long-term potential. Facilitated key signings, such as Stefan Ilsanker, and supported manager Alexander Blessin, earning praise for maintaining competitive performances despite relegation pressures. Built a foundation for Genoa’s transfer strategy, which was noted for its impressiveness under his leadership. 777 Football Group (2022–2024): Role: Global Sporting Director, overseeing football operations for multiple clubs owned by 777 Partners, including Genoa, Standard Liège, Red Star, Vasco da Gama, and Melbourne Victory. Achievements: Developed a global network of scouts and data-driven recruitment processes, creating synergies across clubs. Took ultimate responsibility for major decisions (player transfers, managerial appointments) across the group, demonstrating leadership in a multi-club model. Backed managers like Sean Dyche at Everton and supported strategic loan deals, such as Jarrad Branthwaite’s development, though some fan criticism arose over transfer policies. Elevated his reputation as a progressive sporting director, aligning with modern football’s data and youth-focused trends. Southampton FC (2025–Present): Role: Group Technical Director, appointed February 15, 2025, replacing Jason Wilcox. Achievements: Assumed full responsibility for all football-related decisions, including recruitment, managerial strategy, and squad development, reporting to CEO Phil Parsons. Introduced a clear philosophy of signing high-potential, youthful players to build a squad capable of immediate Championship promotion and long-term Premier League success. Emphasized an intense, consistent style of play, ensuring recruitment aligns with this vision regardless of managerial changes. Demonstrated confidence in stabilizing Southampton despite their impending relegation, earning praise for his “quiet confidence” and trust in his recruitment expertise. Successfully navigated initial work permit issues to secure the role, highlighting his determination to join the Premier League club. Additional Notes Talent Identification: Spors is widely recognized for his ability to spot and develop talents who later command high transfer fees, such as Upamecano, Keita, Firmino, Werner, and Joelinton. His work has consistently aligned with clubs’ strategies to buy young, develop, and sell for profit. Innovative Approach: His early adoption of analytics at Hoffenheim (2006) and multi-club management at 777 Partners showcase his forward-thinking approach to football operations. Challenges: While successful, Spors faced criticism at 777 Partners for decisions perceived as prioritizing Everton over other clubs, and at Southampton, he inherited a relegation-bound squad, testing his ability to rebuild. No Major Trophies: Transfermarkt data indicates no major competitive honors (e.g., league titles or cups) directly attributed to Spors, as his roles focus on recruitment and strategy rather than on-field results. Critical Perspective Spors’ achievements reflect a modern sporting director’s role: less about trophies and more about sustainable squad-building and financial growth. His success in identifying talents like Upamecano or Firmino is undeniable, but the lack of major honors and mixed fan reactions (e.g., at 777 Partners) suggest his impact is more structural than immediate. At Southampton, his ability to deliver promotion will be a critical test, given the club’s recent struggles and fan skepticism about ownership interference. Conclusion Johannes Spors’ main achievements include transforming recruitment at Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig, leading Vitesse to historic success, stabilizing Genoa, overseeing multi-club operations at 777 Partners, and establishing a youth-focused strategy at Southampton. His expertise in talent identification and data-driven recruitment has shaped multiple clubs, though his legacy will depend on tangible results at Southampton.

Last year we recieved our premier league status in the meeting on 6th june, assume similar timeframe to hand it back and become officially a championship club. This point is only relevant if we are looking to employ a manager in the championship with a release clause.

I'm calling it now. The new boss decides to get rid of the sporting director will be changed in the summer and @FredVaFC59100 will finally find something to be happy about😁. Next season you demolish the league, better players, better system and most importantly a better mentality.

I will be renewing my illegal streaming site bookmark for next season. Am very positive we will see us win again before Xmas.

God damn, another 3 years of people posting his "amazing team talk in french". It's like learning a language is an elite skill. I can speak elvish and Klingon and still can't get love.

Sign up primetime as coach and I'm in.

Kings day in Netherlands today so going to be joining the entire country by drinking in the sun I think so may miss the match. This almost guarantees a 6-0 win. You're welcome.

This is a good reminder I am sure one of our fellow members is uncle to Jarrod Branthewaite at Everton or am I misremembering as I could sworn he mentioned he was on loan at psv. Is anyone related to a better footballer than that ?