david in sweden

Koeman using the "sign now or else " tactic sounds a bit far-fetched, but it's clear that if we were to go out and spend £x millions on more new players and Koeman were to walk next summer .....we'd have half a squad of players who had populated the Dutch League.. If Koeman wsn't prepared to stay long tewrm then he's made his choice to upgrade Everton......somehow I don't think it'll be quite so easy as it seems to some. we're well used to this ..." I might stay or maybe I'll go " outbursts from managers and players......it's not the end of the world. As regards the comments about NOT using more Academy players ?...in all honesty, there were very few who'd get a look in on last seasons form. The majority of the squad were internationals, and it would have been hard to break into the first team squad as a regular. If anyone thinks RK deliberately avoided Academy lads, he should say who he'd have chosen? and who he would have replaced?...I can't see anyone in particular.

met him a couple of times during his playing days. Friendly and polite too, but showed his metal when playing and recall his special assignments in marking George Best. Don't know if Ted Bates played him deliberately as Tony came from the Eire ....and George was a Northern Ireland international.....but the tactic worked well.

even though we might be glad for the couple of great seasons we've had with RK and his " I'll see out my contract "....his defection has really lost my attention now. as far as him "breaking silence" ..I think some of us feel a bit betrayed and would just want to " break wind "......

I don't disagree entirely, but remember that many Prem. clubs regularly loan out players to L1 /L2 sides, and so in theory the level should be about right. U21 league(s) put together younger players of the same generation, in reality L1 /L2 sides have more experienced players in their line-ups and should be tougher. IF ..some U21 players are " one step away " from their first team bench, then they need to play against better opposition than other 21 year olds. I'm sure that this will meet with mixed reactions, but the only way to find out is to give it a trial. I'm old enough to remember the criticism of the League Cup competition when it started in the 1960's ....nowadays it's a passport to European football.

well ......a large chunk sounds a bit excessive....the Prem. is almost 25 years pld and we were out of it for 7 seasons.......not that much. however, the worse part of the equation is that even if we finished better than Everton, we rarely beat them in that time, and our record at Goodison was terrible.

is due any day, and .....if there is any justice in the World, we'll end up getting Everton for our first home game. .....just wonder what sort of reception their new manager might get at SMS?

of course, for those of us who were fairly certain RK would be with us for at least another season.....we can forget everything we've written before on the subject. Probably find that the new manager has other ideas and Stekelenburg will end up signing .....for Everton.

....bought by Pompey on E-bay and used as a scarecrow when they re-seeded the Fratton Park pitch......

bit of a strange comment. Is this a disguised hint, or should we consult Sherlock Holmes ?

For interest: Les Reed (in an old interview) said that after Pochettino left, there were over 40 applications for the managers job....and the list included some "very impressive" names. (RK was top of their list and in the end it seemed like a no-brainer).

the traditional summer break in the Swedish season has come much earlier this year (because of the Euros) and teams are in for a long rest, whilst everyone prepares themselves for Sweden's participation in a tough group with Belgium, Italy and Ireland and many think they will do well to get past the group stage. Meanwhile, the early break sees Malmö back at the top of Allsvenskan and showing their CL form after a shaky start to the season. Last year's surprise champions Norrköping are in 2nd place, and Örebro 3rd. Mid table is a whole group of inconsistant performers, but the real shock for Stockholmers is seeing Hammarby 3rd from bottom in a relegation play-off place. Hammarby have fan-tastic supporters who could fill a ground the size of SMS on big matchdays, but the team has performed very poorly, which is depressing for a club who traditionally are famed for their fast, exciting football. More than a few people have noted that their poor defensive displays have coincided with the long absence of Jos Hooiveld. The bottom two teams (Gefle and Falkenberg) are predictably at a low ebb.....and after 12 games.... have only 4 and 5 points respectively. We have to wait for 10th July to see a re-start of League games, although few Swedes will be sad about that, as we have had a great start to the normally short Swedish summer and have already seen temps up around 30 deg. C The real interest will be to see if the top teams can retain their advantage after a month off, and if the poor starters can find some real form in July.

.....take another look at " the Southampton Way " documentary on You Tube. Les Reed specifically said that Academy players are trained in the same 4-3-3 set-up as the first team, and we employ managers who like that formation.. ......the idea being that any youngster coming into the first team knows exactly how we play, and can fit in easier. Of course, we occasionally change formation to suit specific opponents and /or injury crises, but the basic set-up is always 4-3-3.

......think he probably misunderstood his agent. He didn't say ambition, but commission....

Hmm.......more than you can say for most of the Prem. managers........No! not you Sam......

EXACTLY....now no-one thought about that did they?

.......going ?......going ?........GONE !

I also see this as being " a bit strange " Angelman. Conflicting stories that he liked Saints and didn't want to leave, but the club (read Koeman)....wasn't keen to keep him, and he hadn't been offered a new contract. All sorts of Italian clubs mentioned and a good Euro will put his price up.(?). now stories of Stoke and Everton talking to him ( well, his agent, of course) as it's illegal to approach a player directly without the club's OK...(unless we actually have approved it ). A lot depends on who comes in as new manager ....if there were to be a new exodus, the idea of a strike force without Austin, Rodriguez, Long or Mane might mean it would be a good idea to keep him. Keeping him a bit longer....and eventually giving him a free in 2-3 years might mean we get no return..but after the money we wasted on Ramirez and ....Osvaldo (it feels like a knife in the ribs everytime I say his name).... then not getting a few million back won't matter ....if HDAJFU.

.......No Ronald Koeman, now there's no Ronald Koeman, No Ronald Koeman ......no more Ronald Koeman ........hope we sign a manager whose name can fit the melody......

........they'll all like us more when we win something...........

.......always assuming that the "Academy lads " are better than the regulars they replace.... If Moyes came..... then I hope he learns to smile a bit more... he always looks like a man with an E.D problem.......

Virgin Media Eh? .....any chance they have the know-how to fix the PA system?

now this was my era. I recall one occasion when the opposition won a free kick just inside the Saints half. Everyone else crowded our penalty area, and as the kick came in .... McGrath was first up to meet it ......and headed the ball back over the astonished kicker's head .....Now that does take some doing.......

......that was down to John McGrath, who was " effective " rather than skilful, and the comment came in that infamous game at the Dell. Shankly paid £1 million (not a small sum in those days) for teenager Alun Evans from Wolves, who had turn of speed that would have put a few greyhounds to shame. On the occasion in question, Evans broke loose down the right wing and was clear of Saints' defenders. McGrath was the "last man", but when he got up to speed resembled a slow moving Centurion Tank. In the last few strides, he threw himself in front of Evans who bounced off his chest and fell to the ground like a dead man. Eventually revived by St.John's Ambulance men, Evans was stretchered off the pitch, with arms and legs hanging over the sides like Pinocchio with his strings cut, whilst Shankly was going beserk on the touchline. He should have been more realistic...any manager who played Ron Yeats knew the job a CB has to do. Sounds serious, and so it did at the time, but McGrath knew his job and did it very effectively, even to practicing head-butts on the dressing room wall before each game.

Michael Svensson was tough, rather than dirty....but let's face it .....it's a man's game - isn't it ? Svensson disliked the fans name (Killer) for him, but reluctantly accepted it in good heart. He once explained that the name (Killer) was from a bad translation of a comment from fellow Swede Fredrick Ljungberg. They both played in the Swedish League, and being a star player at the time (Ljungberg) came in for some "special attention" from Svensson when ever they met. Ljungberg's reaction was to say that " it was murder " playing against Svensson. The rest of the story was lost in translation.

Lawrie McMenemy was convinced he could tame Mark Dennis, and he suceeded in part.....at least his yellow /red card count was reduced significantly in his Saints days.