benali-shorts

Yes, I wondered the same. There's probably a shelf life for the Director of Football role (for both parties) and a move for Les might suit both parties if Gao wants to re-structure here too, which would be understandable. I suspect a summer of re-structuring lies ahead regardless of what league we end up in.

West Ham after an experienced Director of Football. Les must have been saving up all those amazing transfer prospects and top European coach lists for them. https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/west-ham-to-appoint-a-director-of-football-as-david-sullivan-takes-a-step-back-from-transfer-a3788646.html

One dimensional and total uninspiring.

Wilson has been terrible, including his gratutitous self-promotion in the media when Rangers interviewed him. 4 appalling transfer windows in a row. Amazed Les hasn't hung him out to dry in the name of self preservation.

Hmm, Ralph, Les, Mitchell and Pellegrino all in the same room together? Someone fetch the ricin.

You lucky bastard Quincy. You nearly had to play for the worst manager in world football.

This is a relatively well built model, if there is such a thing. Has us 7th most likely to be relegated, finishing on 38 pts: https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/soccer-predictions/premier-league/

So if Carrillo arrives, it may be instead of Gabbi rather than in addition to...

With Verdi possible starting, Bologna intends to take precautions with possible substitutes. Today there was a meeting with the agent of Orsolini but there is also another idea for the attack. This is Manolo Gabbiadini: an idea, this, for the immediate (if Southampton lets him go right in January) or for June. There was also a meeting for him between the agent and the rossoblù company, intent on returning to Serie A Gabbiadini. It will be only to see if the times will be short or will work for the summer.

Agree re Maddison. We were linked with him when he moved from Coventry. Would be nice to think we had a coherent transfer modus which involved decent young talent from the Championship.

Presumably Maya, Virgil, Hoedt - Cedric lemina Romeu PEH Bertrand - redmond Long. Which all makes sense from damage limitation perspective.

Great hair? Check. Well-cut suit jacket? Check. Managed at mid-table euro teams? Check. Out of contract in the summer? Check. If he also wears tight trousers, I think we have our man. Paulo Fonseca

Always a pleasure to reminisce: https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/sep/22/the-joy-of-six-matt-le-tissier

Whoever was co-commentating on the stream on Saturday (Curbishley?) suggested Forster has an achilles issue which prevents him pushing off effectively. Would explain his seeming inability to move quickly, but would make it completely bizarre to fail to address cover in the window given McCarthy's ongoing injuries too. If the commentator was aware of this physical limitation, presumably all the teams are (and would be from England camps anyway where they must have to manage the injury) and would make Steve's comment above re frequency of long range shooting even more relevant.

Weren't we after Musa last summer?

This is beautiful work. Keep going.

Much the same from the Times, although this claims we have told Liverpool we will not sell to them at any price. We'll see. The Times: Liverpool will not face any action from the Premier League for allegedly tapping up Virgil van Dijk. Southampton made an official complaint to the Premier League this month after being angered by widespread reports that the Dutchman wanted to move to Anfield to work with Jürgen Klopp. After a preliminary investigation, however, the League has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to start disciplinary proceedings. Premier League lawyers have spoken to both clubs and are satisfied that the correct procedures have been followed. Southampton have not withdrawn their complaint, but accepted an apology from Liverpool three weeks ago and will not push for them to be charged. The Premier League will not take any action unless new information becomes available, which, given that Southampton submitted all the evidence at their disposal with their initial complaint, appears unlikely. Premier League lawyers have spoken to both clubs and are satisfied that the correct procedures have been followed. Liverpool will be relieved to escape without being charged, particularly as they were sanctioned this year by the Premier League for tapping up an academy player at Stoke City and offering his family inducements. In that instance the club were fined £100,000 and banned from signing academy players for 12 months, and although a fine was the most likely outcome if they had been found guilty in the Van Dijk case, the Premier League has the power to impose transfer bans on repeat offenders. Liverpool have not denied making an illegal approach to Van Dijk, but their punishment will be restricted to the humiliation of being forced to make a very public climbdown and the probable loss of a key transfer target. Klopp still wants to sign Van Dijk, but has been told by his employers that another move for the 25-year-old is unrealistic and so is prioritising other targets such as RB Leipzig’s Naby Keita. During the talks between the two clubs before the apology, Southampton made it clear that they would not sell Van Dijk to Liverpool at any price. In addition, Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s owner, values its reputation for probity and does not want to be seen to be going back on its word. Southampton are hopeful that Van Dijk will stay, but Chelsea and Manchester City are also interested in him.

(cont.) The Liebherr investigation is understood to be focused on all those who received payouts from his estate and there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by his daughter but, as she was the biggest beneficiary, any retrospective tax bill would potentially have significant implications for Southampton. The club, with a valuation of £200 million, is Liebherr’s biggest asset in a portfolio worth an estimated £300 million and a large tax bill would increase the pressure on her to sell. Liebherr has been seeking new investment in the club for more than a year and negotiations over a proposed £190 million sale to the Lander Sports Development are continuing, although the Premier League has expressed concerns about allegations of corruption in China against the owner, Gao Jisheng. Depending on the result of the German investigation, Liebherr may be forced to consider selling for a knockdown price. Southampton declined to comment last night.

The Times article: German tax inquiry could force sale of Southampton exclusive Matt Hughes, Deputy Football Correspondent June 7 2017, 12:01am, The Times A large tax bill would increase the pressure on Liebherr to sell Southampton RICHARD POHLE/THE TIMES Katharina Liebherr, the Southampton owner, has become embroiled in an investigation by the German tax authorities which could increase the pressure on her to sell the club. The Times has learnt that the public prosecutor’s office is investigating the tax liability of her late father, Markus Liebherr, who bequeathed Southampton to Katharina after his death in 2010 along with several other companies forming part of Mali Holdings. The German authorities are investigating whether they are entitled to levy taxes against the beneficiaries of Markus Liebherr’s estate after receiving allegations that he spent more time in Germany than was previously realised. The German-born Swiss industrialist claimed Zurich was his main residence, but he also had property in Germany. Authorities in Germany often focus on high-profile cases in the belief that the resulting publicity leads to a higher tax yield from ordinary citizens. Uli Hoeness, the former Germany forward and current Bayern Munich president, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for tax fraud in 2014 in a case which reportedly led to 26,000 Germans opting to disclose unpaid taxes.

I certainly think you're full of sh!t, but you're more than welcome to keep posting if it helps you mingle with society.

I can barely live with the suspense of having to await AR10's next revelation.

I'm slightly unnerved by his track record, as opposed to our (currently perfectly acceptable) mid table league position. Monaco: won the title in his first year (but to put in context, they'd finished in the top 3 9 of prev 12 seasons, winning title twice), before then finishing 11th and 15th. Sacked Puel, then finished 2nd and 3rd. Lille: took team who had finished top 5 in prev two seasons to 14th and 10th, then up to 2nd and 3rd, then back down to 10th and 7th. Lyon: had won the title 7 years in a row, finished top 3 but no title in his three years. Nice: took mid table team to 4th / 17th / 11th / 4th. They have finished third this season after his departure. It feels like 5 good managerial seasons out of 16, and strangely familiar ring to this observation on his time at Lyon (who admittedly have a deluded sense of entitlement that they should have continued winning la ligue indefinitely): "Puel was handicapped by his poor communication skills and his apparent lack of enthusiasm during media events. His tactics were perceived as negative and for the first time in decades, Lyon were being associated with boring football. His relationship with players was equally poor, to the point that during the 2010–11 season, no one would speak out in defence of him when he was criticised by fans or the media. Several players, including Yoann Gourcuff,[18] hinted that their poor form could partly be explained by disagreements with the coach's tactics". Overall, difficult to see he has done sufficiently badly to warrant the sack this season, but definite alarm bells ringing that over his proven ability to take the club forward based on his track record. Not impossible that the club are releasing the possibility of dismissing him to weaken his leverage over transfer budget for the summer too. He's bound to be either a) acquiescent to small budget if he fears the sack or b) belligerent to point of resigning and saving the club money.

Article in full: Southampton look set to become the second Premier League club to pass into Chinese ownership after receiving an improved offer from Lander Sports Development to buy a 100 per cent stake in the club for £190 million. The Chinese property development company has proposed a phased takeover in which it would initially buy into the club before going on to take full control. Katharina Liebherr, the club’s owner, rejected an offer of £180 million in January, as revealed by The Times, but Lander’s improved bid is much closer to her valuation and negotiations are believed to be at an advanced stage. The sale is being handled by the Zurich office of the investment bank UBS, which has been retained by Liebherr since she inherited Southampton after the death of her father, Markus, in 2010. Liebherr intends to keep some of her shares in the short term to provide continuity before selling up completely if Lander’s promises of additional investment materialise and the buy-out goes well. Lander and Southampton have been talking for more than a year, although a six-week period of exclusive negotiations ended in January without an agreement. Lander appears to be happy for Liebherr to stay on as a minority shareholder and is not planning any significant changes at the club if it secures a majority stake. The chairman, Ralph Krueger, and chief executive, Gareth Rogers, are likely to remain in place, although Lander will seek representation on the board. Liebherr’s willingness to sell stems from her belief that Southampton require additional investment to cement their position as a top-ten Premier League club and a desire to spread her assets across a wider portfolio. The Liebherrs’ wealth was reported to be £3 billion after Markus’s death, although that figure is understood to have referred to the entire family’s assets rather than the trust that Katharina inherited. Southampton posted healthy financial results for the year ending 2015-16 last week, with post-tax profits of £4.9 million and an increased turnover of £124.3 million, although the club retains debts of almost £50 million, a factor that is believed to have played a part in the protracted negotiations. Lander is seeking to become the second Chinese owner in the Premier League after Guochuan Lai’s takeover of West Bromwich Albion last year.

Bit more in the times today: Southampton have rejected an offer of £180 million from Lander Sports Development to buy the club, The Times has learnt. Negotiations with the Chinese property company are continuing despite considerable irritation inside the club at Lander’s announcement on the Shenzhen stock exchange yesterday that an agreement had been reached in principle, but the two parties are a long way apart in their valuation of the club. Katharina Liebherr, Southampton’s owner, is understood to value the club at £270 million so a sale is unlikely to be completed imminently. Moreover, it is unclear how much of Southampton Liebherr is willing to sell. In an open letter to the fans yesterday the Swiss heiress referred to a “potential partnership” whereas Lander’s aim is to buy the club or secure a controlling interest. Liebherr inherited Southampton as part of her late father Markus’s £3 billion trust after his death in 2010, a year after he had bought the club for just £14 million after they had been placed in administration. Under the family’s stewardship Southampton have risen from mid-table in League One to become a top-ten Premier League club, and on Wednesday reached their first leading final for 14 years courtesy of their EFL Cup semi-final win over Liverpool. Lander’s announcement came shortly after Southampton’s 2-0 aggregate victory, with club insiders suspicious of the timing and speculating that it was an attempt to speed up the deal. Industry experts have valued Southampton at between £160 million and £220 million, as the club’s sound financial footing and huge success in player trading is offset by a seemingly limited potential for significantly increasing its match-day and commercial revenue. I can assure you that any steps we do take will be in the best interests of the club In the club’s most recently published accounts to June 2015, Southampton recorded turnover of £113.7 million and profits of £14.9 million, down almost £15 million from the previous year, almost exclusively because of a reduction in the value of player sales. The club’s revenue from television rights has increased significantly from £84 million in 2014-15 to a minimum of £105 million this season, although the wage bill will also have increased. Southampton have debts of £62 million, £32.7 million of which is owed to Liebherr, with the rest split between two separate bank loans. Liebherr wrote to fans yesterday to say that she would act in the best interests of the club, but insisted that greater commercial growth was crucial to its future. “I can assure you that any steps we do take will be in the best interests of the club,” she wrote. “The Premier League is increasingly competitive; we need to keep moving forward and look to new markets for commercial growth, innovation and to share our journey.” Southampton and Lander were unavailable for comment last night.

Brilliant, must mean we've got a replacement sorted. Is it Jon Gittens?