shurlock

Took the latest thread I could find - as i said it was still pre-Osvaldo. The other threads, especially the one from July, don't suggest that many people expected 8th. Rather people thought it would be an excellent achievement. Very different.

No, not really. Most said they would be very happy if we finished 8th, not that they expected it. Completely different. Never mind, it was a strong 8th, not a part-of-the-rest-of-the-pack 8th Take the following thread, albeit was pre-Osvaldo http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?46151-The-Guardian-predict-14th-place-finish-for-Saints&highlight=Prediction+season+league#.U4WFne29LCQ

Morgan spelled out what he hoped to see - keep the squad together as much as possible, bring in two or three players to improve the team. And repeat. Suggests the players were pretty realistic about what they expected - whether that was the 'promise' made to them is another matter.

Agree far-fetched or not, the players ultimately bought into it and it made a difference on the pitch. The first Saints team I've seen that played with a swagger and genuinely went toe to toe with the big teams. Ambition is only ever a problem when people don't believe it, grow cynical and it damages morale and performance.

Our first XI is more than a match for Everton - and arguably has more potential. Beyond that I agree the difference between the two squads is much more obvious. But by the same token, it takes very little to improve on a Gazzanigga, Hooiveld, Fox or take the load off a Gallagher whereas it is much more difficult for Everton to add at the margins without spending a shedload.

I made no reference to their final points tally - I simply asked whether their squad is light years ahead of ours. Quite different concepts and statements.

And while we were aiming for 4th - we were making progress, knocking on the doors of 6th. Not a bad consolation prize and ultimately not a million miles from 4th. You genuinely think Everton that pushed Arsenal all the way for 4th has a squad that's light years ahead of us?

Just as its moronic to turn the fact we offered him a contract into some kind of untouchable, gold standard.

You mentioned Lallana would stay if MP stayed? How does his departure change things? Would players be willing to look past his departure if the ambition is there (conceivably, MP left because we couldn't match his ambition)? Or is the uncertainty of a new manager and setup a turn off in its own right?

Keeping Lallana has always been less realistic than Shaw IMO. Hopefully the need to recruit a decent manager means whoever comes in will be no pushovers when it comes to demanding a budget. That's my fear with some of the championship managers that have been touted.

Am partying like its 1999-2004. To be fair, at least, you're willing to update and revise your views in light of new information.

I thought you were going to join in with the rest of the gang and change your avatar?

Would love a bit of that. Humble in victory.

Reckon Shaw, Lallana and Morgan are gone whoever comes in. Think Lovren will be the acid test test of whether this turns into a proper pillage.

Always thought the writing was on the wall in jan for MP. He's gone, we now move on. More interested in what this means for the squad. Is it going to trigger a rush for the exit or can the tide be stemmed? Much will depend on who we appoint but there will be departures. Question is how many will leave? What realistically counts as success? IMO if we can get away with 3 departures, that will be a very good result...

Nope to anyone living in this ****'s shadow.

Unbelievable Jeff. Much was made of the fact that the season began on the Monday following the united game. Seriously, you only have to look at activity at other clubs to realise that the big strategic decisions are made in the first few weeks of postseason and the rest of the summer is spent implementing them. That the players are away is utterly irrelevant - they're not setting the direction of the club. If anything, this is the absolute worst time for anyone at strategic level to be away. Never mind that in our case, resolving the manager situation, our number one priority, was deliberately postponed till this time.

Very true - though he wouldn't be alone.

Has RK moved lock, stock and barrel to the UK? Is he planning to? Being a consultant or taking up a nonexec position is very different from being a full-time chairman which his role has morphed into.

Sure it had a massive effect - he was always going to see the season out. Couldn't understand the plums who thought him staying on was a massive coup. A managerial CV without one full season in England wouldn't have looked as nearly as good as it does now.

Don't let sentiment get in the way of reason. No need to read the rest of your post when your final sentence sums everything up. MP did nothing to warm to or win over the fans, played none of the populist cards some here appear to lap up; yet was recognised for what he did on the pitch. Having actually been to most games, the difference between Adkins and MP was night and day -regardless of the players at his disposal. We had a clear system and controlled virtually every game we played, things that can't be said about NA. Save wastefulness in the final third, the difference would have been even greater - perhaps enough for armchair voyeurs like yourself to take notice. I have no love for him and can't help but feel a bit resentful about how things are playing out; but give credit where credit is due.

They were brilliant against Spurs and Chelsea, the interchange between the top 3 was a joy to behold. Would be a gamble but no more than MP was.

How about louche Turks? Former Basel manager - got them playing some of the most fluid football I've seen from a team without huge stars - played spurs off the park a couple of seasons ago and did Chelsea twice in last season's CL league. The Swiss connection would also be a plus.

Poch will be joining a lovely club with a lovely bunch of supporters. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/charles-bronson-coats-himself-butter-3611167

Agree its a matter of degree.