Badger

A choice of 'knee-jerk', go with the fashionable flow, or 'inertia' , do nothing ... I'd like to think we do things in a more planned and controlled fashion. Or perhaps I've been listening to too many of Les Reed's end of season videos.

Expect Les to give a reassuring interview any day now letting is know everything in the garden is rosy and there are no concerns whatsover and no one is looking to leave in the summer.

The Telegraph and Mirror articles look a rehash of the French article and nothing more. The Star goes a little further in mentioning player disputes but that 'story' could esi;y have been picked up from scouring this and the UI forum.

Roger Schmidt was sacked from his club in March, presumably because mid table and an exit from Champions League was considered under achieving. http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11891/10791955/bayer-leverkusen-part-company-with-head-coach-roger-schmidt Agree we tend not to poach from others, the last recruitment from another club was Adkins. The other trait tends to be avoiding the obvious candidate (such as Pelligrini perhaps) and going for someone under the radar, rather like player recruits as well. Perhaps it fits in with the club(Les) believing their own publicity over the black box and our recruitment. It would be good if we were to identify our target and go for them, although much depends on the direction the owners (existing or new) wish to go in, if and when sorted.

Not a policy that Chinese owners will endorse, a family ticket will be two adults and one child only.

Is anyone taking notice though, or is the attention elsewhere on ownership

Think you're probably right which is indeed a shame. If we were tosign a young full back for say £500,000 from L1 having been a player of the season for his club two years on the trot we'd no doubt be full of it, signing a great prospect.

I don't think we can afford the luxury of Tadic, Redmond and Bouffal on the pitch at the same time. It just doesn't work.

POTY for the last two seasons at different clubs stepping up the leagues. Wonder if we'll offer him a new contract, or how closely we've actually been monitoring his progress whilst away.

Neither of whom were on the pitch when we were awarded the penalty yesterday.

Which, depending on the owner, could be equally as worrying.

Been the case all season. And why was Tadic allowed near taking the penalty for Christ sake? Agree the future ownership/structure has to be sorted before any decisions are taken, either by a new board, or KL if she accepts she's in it for another year.

Yet that is exactly what could happen if during the six month exclusivity period talks have been ongoing with another party who accept they'd be unable to complete the purchase until this time has ended.

... and eaten ?

Why the period of exclusivity then ? As someone else asked earlier, how committed are we to them during this time? I initially believed this was for due diligence, and during this period the seller gave a commitment not to enter into negotiations with another party but I'm sure we'll have a mergers and acquisitions expert out there to clarify.

or change the kit to an all red abortion of a Saints shirt.

Agree with your first point, and that he has done enough to stay in place for next season. I'm not totally convinced however so the "better alternative" is a key question in my mind. Two other issues may have a bearing on Puel's time with us: 1)Investment, and who the decision makers are. If a new consortium comes in then they will probably wish to make their mark immediately. Chances are they'll want to go for a "name" judging by the appointments of Chinese owners so far, Di Matteo at Villa, and Zola at Brum. Both disasters. 2)Puel himself. Amidst all the discussion of whether he should stay on, has anyone considered if he will want to ? There was an article linked from a French paper back in January where he spoke of his wife not settling etc. At the time with results not going well it appeared a case of getting your version out there early for a parting "by mutual consent", but was it a flag waving for another job at home ?

Could be worse The top man at Amer International that I've mentioned above is a Wang Wenyin ( https://www.forbes.com/profile/wang-wenyin/ ), and previously there was another Wang at Dalian Wanda. So we might have to fit the name Wang into a song.

Article previously mentioned Amer International, another Chinese bidder: http://www.insideworldfootball.com/2017/04/18/chinas-lander-forced-pull-200m-saints-buy/

Isn't this rehash of a previous article ? One that has already seen Blackbridge discredited by some on here already.

Possibly conflicting with the only 'known' fact, that they were granted a period of exclusivity. Although of course it might be that they were preferred at that time but things have moved on with someone else now in the frame.

But taken to a new level:

Christ,how things have changed. Bet Fonte doesn't end up doing that.

He was a favourite player 1983/4 and was being talked about as a future international. Always remember hearing commentators purring over his distribution out of defence when most hoofed it, and very few teams used a sweeper. Big question is really, why the fall in his career, and the fall out with Lawrie?

Don't think he was ever a young local though as he came through the London centre