Saint86

Utterly agreed, there has already been talk about the next 5 year plan, namely organic growth to European football. Clearly there has been a lot of upheaval which acts as merely the first step. Out with the old batch and in with the new. Morgan and Fonte to be the survivors from the previous regime that carry on the journey.

Clyne Lovren Fonte Armero Cork Wanyama Morgan Tadic Ramirez

Great post Dave! Their are some true gems in the academy. Can't wait to see players like Rowe, sims, Sinclair and seager make the fringes and push through and they have a real chance under koeman as opposed to mopo as he actually will play wingers! Target, reed, gallagher, cha!beds and prowse are all the proof you need that the production line is continuous. As were dyer, surman, best, lallana, oxlade, shaw etc. With sound management this club will go up and up. We're selling players for 25m and buying as good replacements for half the fee in tadic and pelle. The big clubs will fund us and our academy.... Some fans are just divs like the OP who thinks we will never be a top 4 club yet excludes the 80s even on the back of 30years support. We have a great club, great setup and great potential... Plus we are actually cash rich, the future is bright and the next 5 years will show us organically grown into a European cub IMHO. This season maybe a tad bumby, but we have undergone change and ditched the rotten staff to make way for the new batch. COYR

Can you see us doing business with Tan, the man is a rich maniac... He will ask for a fortune for any player he wants to keep, and even if we offered it he still might not take it. (Wonders what would have happened had we still had cortese in charge) Long story short, I can't see people buying Cardiff's key players unless it is for stupid money. Ironic that its harder to get players out of a championship team who just got relegated than a premier league team on the up who are rich and just had their best ever premier league season.

kpturner 3 - 0 Batman Back of the net!!

Can't work out if you are claiming to be a board member or the tea lady. I find it hard to believe you are on the board of a multi-million pound business with that spelling at any rate. Also your post history does not demonstrate that you are in the know... Also, your comments about liverpool and man united - "they are huge clubs that will walk with their generous offers and pick another world class talent" - that is a shocking viewpoint for a football club who do not want to sell and have no need to sell. All in all, my BS alarm is in overdrive

He was one of Columbia's best players... Knew how to bomb down the wing as well (thought he was a CB) I'd take him

Good lad. Its becoming clear that MoPo was the cancer at the heart of the first team squad. And the board are trying to cut out the tumour surrounding his core players and their over inflated egos. Sooner we get rid of this dross the better tbh.

Depends what its in... a 2:1 in say Physics/Maths/Biochemistry etc is worth a hole lot more than first in say English/history/media/social sciences etc... Unless you're going for a job on the bbc at least

For "Huge rebuilding job" - see buy 3 players, something we haven't failed to do for quite a few seasons so far. And that ignores ANY academy graduates making the grade. Jesus chirst but the OP is embarrassing, does Alpine have a second account? We can still field a starting 11 of... Boruc Clyne Fonte Lovren Chambers Spiderman/Cork/Wanyama (2 of 3) Jayrod JWP Davis Gallagher We also have Mayuka, Rowe, Reed, Mcqueen, Target, Yoshida and BIG Jos to add to that (and Sharp and Osvaldo potentially!) Plus we see nailed on to sign Pelle, good chance of Tadic and Ruddy for back up keeper. We have a transfer kitty for the season with a minimum value of £50m, more likely to be around £70m. And signing Tadic and Pelle is going to cost us circa £16m.... Everybody PANIC!!!!!

Some of the above do get on my nerves. But they are nothing compared to barry or glasgow. Charlie (no offence here) but for me he just delivers it in a very antagonistic way somehow. Maybe our personalites clash trololol either way, i chose not to read his posts. Alpine is on ignore, sometimes i read, often i dont. Dalek - don't think that is very fair to include him. Window cleaner is a skate no? my mistake Pastor - i agree Either way, none of the above our that bad, they can be escaped and read by those who want to read them. Its not like when glasgow and barry started or runined every thread with 60-70% of all posts across the course of an afternoon. St Richmond mind, he is pretty bazza like. Good lord when he gets rolling its time to reach for the anti depressants Peace to all, this is england not syria like!

Hard is torn on Adam, it is the end of an era and I am not a fan of how the whole thing has been managed on his side. However, I can't not wish him well, he's stuck with us through thick and thin and been a symbol of our rise and the academy - proof that they can achieve whilst still at saints. He is also the last of "that batch" and I look to the next lot with a lot of hope. On a side note has Sarnia been banned as suggested on another thread? Wouldn't surprise me, all his posts in this thread are insults or antagonistic lol. Talk about embarrassing yourself on an internet forum "Hey want stop this before it gets outta control?"

Guan knows, and has said as much to be honest. Stop worrying and enjoy what happens. We have a good manager, money behind us, the remaining players are solid, the replacements will be good and we will be able to strengthen the squad over all. I'm also strangely excited by the new kit

Talk about missing the point Vectis. He means you'll find out what the board are doing when they want, not when we want. They get things done quietly and under the radar. At least preferably. Failed a bit with koeman mind

Wanyama, prowse, Davis, chambers, Gallagher... The whole point of being youth is to sell them for more money and the improve, none of these players will stay forever but the goal is that saints improve. People need to get a ****ing grip. We've done all right for the past 5 years after all

What you missed, was lallana, shaw and Lambert all wanting to leave. Possibly a few others. Your crying over players who left you. Why can you get behind Southampton and the squad that have stayed loyal. You criticise Katrina but I am fully convinced she loves the club.I was looking through old photos and she is in the directors box in many, Bournemouth 2010 being one example, and she was with her nephew/son. It is her money, the liebhers saved us, and they continue to try their best for us. In contrast your post summarises a stance from the fans that is at best ungrateful, and at worst pathetic, selfish and ignorant. I understand your how fans can get upset, but to paraphrase the killers, are we saints fans, or are we plastics.

There is no evidence that he handed in a transfer request, he has stated publicly that he doesn't want to leave, and that he loves the club and the fans. Since the rumour broke that he has handed in a transfer request, he has been uploading saints pics to his profile.... Doesn't look like a player on the move... Plus him and fonte are attached at the hip! Will be our star player next season, him and morgan. Adam is not a big loss, you will see. Could by sanchez or predro for £15-18m, and we don't have to worry about the homegrown player rule. As for shaw, I sure hope we have some good add ons in there. Because he is going to be worth a fortune in years to come. Good deal for the short term, kick ourselves in the long term - either way, better than bale as a transfer from our perspective. That really was a **** up!

Pangy, are you aware that Lallana has covered the second most distance of any player at the world cup this season.... second to Jedinak by a small margin? Now, does that sound like a player with fitness/stamina issues.

I don't care what they think, its a no brainer, sell lala and get shaqira!

Well I've veered from optimistic, to realistic when reading about people's skeptical views on his tactical knowledge. This article gives a more in depth of him as a manger, He's certainly not going to be poch and we won't play three narrow attacking midfielders under him. I'm braced for change, and perhaps a drop in performance (early days yet so god knows what playing staff we'll have let alone tactics or effectiveness), but all said and done... I am feeling optimistic! And we won't get relegated so certain posters (and Darlek) will be happy!

I don't think there has been any evidence of a transfer request from Lovren. And on top of that, he has been switching is his profile pics to him in a saints shirt at various points throughout the world cup. I will bide my time before assuming he is off personally. Although, if Barcelona are really in for him then I don't think anyone would begrudge him that move.

http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/p6_0_25580_ronald-koeman-what-southampton-should-expect.html#.U6lHLvldVWI onald Koeman has replaced Mauricio Pochettino at Southampton but what are the Saints getting from the former Netherlands international? Gary Howells explains… Ronald Koeman has replaced Mauricio Pochettino at Southampton October 24, 2010 was the date. The Philips Stadion was the venue. 10-0 was the scoreline. It was Feyenoord’s biggest ever defeat, inflicted by rivals PSV Eindhoven and the particular lowlight on their way to recording their lowest ever finish in the Eredivisie. What’s more, they were in big financial trouble; young talents Georginio Wijnaldum, Leroy Fer and Luc Castaignos would all be sold in the summer, with no money available for incoming transfers. It was going to be a long road back to the top. Ronald Koeman was the man tasked with the un-envious job, making history in the process by becoming the only man to both play for and manage Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord. Off the back of unconvincing and short stays at Valencia and AZ, as well as being viewed as an Ajacied by the Feyenoord fans, there was plenty of work to be done to win the trust of the fans. One season is all it would take, as Koeman lead Feyenoord from 10th place to second and into the Champions League play-offs for the first time since 2003. During the next two seasons Feyenoord would finish third - missing out on second only by goal difference - and second again last season, but Koeman will be remembered for much more than Feyenoord’s league position. He restored pride to the club and managed it all under great financial restraint, spending less than £4m over his entire stay, while nurturing some of Feyenoord’s finest young talent from the Varkenoord academy. Bruno Martins Indi, Stefan de Vrij, Terrance Kongolo, Jordy Clasie, Tonny Vilhena and Jean-Paul Boetius were all either given their chance by Koeman or nurtured into the players they are today. Such is his faith in youth, he handed Boetius his debut against Ajax in de Klassieker and was quickly repaid when the youngster calmly slotted home after just 23 minutes. Ronald Koeman has come to Southampton in search of a new challenge After three years at Feyenoord Koeman thought it was time to test himself at a higher level, with the Premier League his preferred destination. As luck would have it, a vacancy at what seems a well-suited club had just opened up, with Mauricio Pochettino departing Southampton for Tottenham Hotspur. It’s easy to see why Southampton went for Koeman; the similarities between the two jobs are striking. Just like when Koeman began at Feyenoord, Southampton too are facing a fight to keep hold of some of their better players, with Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw and Dejan Lovren all strongly linked with moves away and Rickie Lambert already completing his dream move to Liverpool. With Koeman’s history of trusting in and developing youngsters, the Southampton board have appointed the perfect man to get the very best out of their high-yielding academy. With players such as Jay Rodriguez, Nathaniel Clyne, Calum Chambers, Sam Gallagher, James Ward-Prowse and potentially Luke Shaw, there is already plenty for Koeman to be working with. For the large part of his stay in Rotterdam, Koeman set Feyenoord up in a traditional Dutch 4-3-3, with two wingers and a real No. 9. Koeman displayed his tactical flexibility towards the end of the season, however, as Feyenoord finished the campaign playing the 3-5-2 that Louis van Gaal has adopted during the early stages of the World Cup. With the full-backs providing all of the width and given the freedom to attack almost at will, this is a formation Southampton fans may be seeing more of, with the likes of Clyne and potentially Shaw at Koeman’s disposal. Graziano Pelle could follow Koeman to the Premier League It has also been strongly suggested that Koeman will be joined by one of his ex-players on the South coast, Graziano Pelle, who certainly has the ability to help Saints fans forget about Rickie Lambert. Standing at 6ft4, Pelle is a strapping centre-forward who was integral to Koeman’s Feyenoord over the past two seasons, scoring 50 goals in just 57 Eredivisie appearances. As comfortable with his back to goal as he is in front of it, Pelle proved to be the ultimate target man for Koeman’s Feyenoord and moving with a manager who clearly knows how to get the best out of him and trusts in his ability, his transition into English football could be a smooth one. For all of his success with Feyenoord there are still a few questions that remain of Koeman. His Feyenoord side retained an extremely strong home record during his three seasons there, but on the road they were often found to have a soft underbelly, losing to the likes of PEC Zwolle, RKC Waalwijk and ADO Den Haag last season. Feyenoord’s failure to run Ajax closer last season must also raise questions. Ajax were not at their machine-like best and Feyenoord’s worst ever start to a season, coupled with stuttering runs thereafter, never put them in a position to challenge, despite what was their strongest squad for some years. It will also be interesting to see how Koeman’s method of publicly criticising his players translates to a squad that received so much backing from their previous manager. Ultimately, Koeman now finds himself at another well-suited club, one which is in considerably greater shape than the Feyenoord one he found three years ago. If he is given the time to work with their kids and build on the impressive foundations laid by Pochettino, the Southampton fans will learn to love him just as much as those in Rotterdam have done so before them.

Glasgow can only wish he was as ITK as you Gemmel, instead he must bow down and worship

Agreed

This has zip all to do with ability of players, and everything to do with tactics and developing an effective system with what you have. Every manager has failed at this since Hoddle and laughably Venables before him. The FA and England set up are dinosaurs, and pick the same stagnant rubbish over and over again, promoting from within from the same stagnant train of thought. The nonsense about youth development being dead in england is acting like one big smoke screen and distraction, they are pouring all their efforts into solving the lack of good youth systems and not addressing the major issue that they can't pick an exciting and forward thinking manager, nor can they pick players based on merit and not ego and reputation. the result is stale, stagnant and predictable football that has seen our nation game go backwards for nearly 20years relative to everyone from Spain to Chile or even Australia. Big change is needed (but will never come) right at the top, and on the nation psyche of the English game - which recently is hard to actually recognise as a style of play. That is my 2 sense worth at least What I did tonight, was compare how terrible England were to how attacking and dangerous we were under pochettino, we never really looked like scoring and all our chances were half chances, Uruguay carved us open a couple of times, and duly punished us with a half fit striker. England haven't played a style of game they were comfortable with since 1998. If people think we are going to beat Costa Rica I can only ask to have some of what you were smoking. They are a fresh and exuberant side who will likely need to achieve just a point against us, with nothing to prove. Their players aren't world class, nor think they are, but they have an effective system with a lot of energy. We will have our work cut out to gain some pride, and if we do somehow win, we'll pay outselves on the back and say its a young team learning... its not... the only kid in that england team was frigging sterling. The rest was the same old usual bollarks.