MarkSFC

No. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Over the last few years we have sold 3-4 players for between 20 & 35odd million pounds. So far we have been very successful in recruiting within the 8-15m bracket. Unfortunately this bracket needs to shift up for two reasons; firstly we are aiming get higher each year and so the pool of players we need are going to be more expensive. Secondly everyone on the Premier League has vastly more money and so there are people clubs willing to chuck money around - albeit with a far less robust long term business model than ours may I suggest - and so we need to spend more for those 2-3 really good players we need to improve our team, not our squad. If Boufal is acquired for £25m then it's obviously a big leap for our record transfer and although the actual number seems huge for us, these numbers are all relative. We as fans should forget the actual number and compare ins v outs window to window. I would also hope we spend 15-20m on a defensive midfielder. I would imagine then we would also get another striker for fairly decent money. Any other additions like perhaps a RB (although I don't think we need one) and a young CB and of course a back up keeper will likely be purchases in the 5-10m bracket. I can see us spending 80-90m on new players but of course that's likely to be a net spend of 30-40. Sounds big but not in real terms. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I feel mixed about Pelle. On one hand he has been a really good player for us, and I the Euros has looked one of the best. One the other hand if we were to get between 10-15m as has been mentioned for a player his age I think it would be too good to turn down. Assuming he does go then we clearly need another out and out striker and although I would be happy with Berahino or Benteke my preference actually is Andy Carroll. I can't see WHU selling him but he has the qualities we need, tall and powerful. Long, JRod, Austin, Tadic, Redmond plus at least one real quality attacker is a formidable set of front players. Hopefully though we get two! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Don't forget that football doesn't really exist outside of Liverpool, Manchester and London according to the media!! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Oh well. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Just today?! This appointment is exciting. The last time we had a French technician in our club we produced some excellent players. French football has always been based on sound technique and flair and if reports are anything to go by our new manager produced scintillating football with Nice. It's fair to say we almost certainly have a stronger squad but I'm sure we will some exciting players added and this means we should be in for some exciting football. We may not finish in he top 6 but I have no doubt we will be in the top 10 if not top 8 and experience a good cup season. For those who are not impressed you are probably symptomatic of our culture now which because of the Internet allows EVERYONE to share every single thought and emotion with EVERYONE, instantly, which causes further over reaction and uncertainty forced on those who would prefer you keep your emotions to yourself! Logical comment and debate is what is normal, not irrational, I'll-informed, knee jerk rants! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Very true! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Many people on here would probably not be happy if we signed Mourinho or Guardiola! Yep lets get it done and enjoy the signings coming our way.... Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yours is also a decent post! The sooner people "get it" the sooner they can enjoy supporting this fantastic club of ours! I think this is great deal if the price is around 30-35m. People will always moan about the price and if we sold him for 50m some would say we should of got 60m! Our club id not "lucky" in its success it is based on sound business model. Buy young, improve them, improve club, sell at profit and repeat. Expecting any player to spend more than 3-4 years max at any one club is rare unless you are Real Madrid or Barcelona etc. We are not and never will be. I'm proud of how our club operates and am looking forward to a great summer of recruitment and an exciting season in Europe!

So in you your world what does that actually mean? Of course we are a football club first but it's a business too that needs to be successful in that sense first otherwise you end up in administration.........oh! You're supposed to be an expert on our history but clearly you have not learnt from it. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

The Southampton Way is merely a corporate slogan and it sounds like you do not get the difference between a slogan and a culture. The Southampton Way is not a PR slogan it is a particular way of doing things, how people are treated, what the values of the business are, what the objectives, are how they go about achieving those objectives. You can attempt to condone this so often called corporate speak as none sense but the reality is that every single business, every single family or group of friends have their own culture, what they do and what they say and how theŷ think. The Southampton FC culture is ever evolving and is clearly based in sound foundations and has success running through its veins at most levels and areas of the business. This is not the club we had under Askham or Lowe or Wilde which also had a culture.......predominantly a small-minded culture, whereas under the leaders since administration that mindset has changed significantly. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Comparing the appointment of Puel (if indeed it does happen) to those of Wigley and Gray is ridiculous, there simply is no comparison. Also comparing the decisions made by Lowe to Read is ridiculous. Read has proved for many years that his and other people visions and decisions are sound, whereas Lowe failed miserably at virtually every step. Puel is someone I had never heard about but then I do not really follow other countries football to the same detail as I do here. Reading the various articles and info available on him and he seems like a really good fit to our clear philosophy. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Reportedly 11-12m anyway for Wanyama. Redmond we don't actually know but he is 3 years younger and English but if it's about the same or even a bit more that seems fine. As good as he is Wanyama is limited and won't improve a great deal more. Redmond has much more potential and will certainly score more goals! You don't seem to be really good at understanding football. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

City fans (my ST holder mate there at least) were calling for Pellegrini to play Iheanacho earlier and more. They/he also seemed annoyed by his relatively negative tactics. I'm not convinced by him albeit his CV is suitably impressive in terms of clubs. It may be of course that he's a better manager with a smaller budget than a huge one but he's not my preferred candidate right now! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

11m does seem a little low but it always seems to me that prices the so called 'big clubs' pay for 'smaller club" players is always slanted in favour of the bigger club........we never really know the fees where Saints are concerned. He's been a good player but limited in his ability, great in slow paced games and when we have a lot of possession but against fast players and when we are under pressure a lot he struggles particularly when he gets turned and is running back to goal. I'm sure we will get better or at least someone more mobile if not quite so brutal. Romeu is tough enough. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I think the statement is perfect! They are making it clear that the club is bigger than any individual. We don't pander to egos. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Good post Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

BRILLIANT, MADE ME LAUGH!!....."YOU'RE A DICKHEAD.....""

Well, I think its a shame that he looks like leaving before the end of his contract but perhaps the club has someone lined up who they see as a longer term option now (rather than next summer) and in a sense we are in a stronger position now than we potentially might be next summer. The fact that he hasn't signed an extension suggests he didn't want to, or maybe the two parties couldn't agree on the length, and once that is the case i think its probably best to let him move on now. I suspect that the interest of Everton facilitated this attitude. Player wise I'm sure there will be the usual bed-wetters worrying that we will lose loads but its clear that we are looking longer term with the recent signings and with the likelihood of others to follow. This approach also suggests they would like a manager who wants to be here for 3-4 years rather than the usual premier league average of two or less!! It wouldn't be Saints without a summer of turmoil but Im sure this will be less so overall than the last few!!

According to a list of the top 20 paid managers Koeman is on £2.3m. It seems logical that any significant extension (2-3 on top of his final year) would be at a much higher salary, at least double I would suggest. If Koeman has been on holiday it may simply be a case of waiting til he is back in Southampton to sign, I guess the club and him know exactly what the situation is already. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

A "big club" will almost always be in a big city. We cannot change this, it's a natural consequence of the number of residents. We can become a bigger club than we are currently viewed as by most of the media and other football fans. How? Well, like the OP states, winning things over a number of years and competing in Europe regularly, and competing at the top end of the league every year. We are at the beginning of this change but whether we can continue only time will tell. I think the next few seasons will continue to be exciting and see a quality football team representing our city. Inevitably we may not finish higher every year of course but that should not be the only judgement. We must also ensure that our future is secured during this time of huge tv money and the club must look at increasing our capacity or even rebuild. When the money reduces which surely it will at some point, having a stadium that will hold 40-45k will mean there is a good chance of remaining competitive in the years to come. As soon as The Dell capacity was reduced to 15.5k we became less competitive, and hence the move to St Mary's. The argument that we might not always fill 40-45 is relevant but counter productive. Better to have 38k every game with a few sell outs than 19 sell outs at 32k. The next 5 years though I imagine is focussed on performance on the pitch in order to maximise options off the pitch. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I wasn't that surprised, I will be interested to see how many STs they sell in 4-5 years time though!

£15m and they can have him......

In light of VVDs long contract and based upon the assumption that other key members of the team and any new additions this summer will follow in similar fashion, this "new direction" Guan hints at suggests a more stable longer term approach versus the 2-3 year revolving door of players and manager. Although this has served us well to this point perhaps the increased financial status allows us to look further ahead. With that in mind I'm in two minds regarding Koeman and whether he should leave this summer if not going to extend, but more inclined to think he should leave early summer or sign. If we do need to replace him this summer I think Howe would definitely be a good longer term option although obviously does not have the gravitas of Koeman which may be a hindrance. I'm not convinced by Rodgers credentials, he seems to have lived on the back of other managers ground work but only for a season or two and then been shown up. Pellegrini seems too dour for our club. I'm sure the club have their contingency lined up but hopefully they won't need it and Koeman extends for a few more years!!

If they sign either or both and want to get rid of Carroll then he would be a great signing.