Daft Kerplunk

Regular working class English football fans not trusting their clubs leaders who are often privileged types is nothing new. The likes of Les and Ralph have been clever enough to get there (given they are from sporting backgrounds and not raised in boarding schools) but most of the rest are probably 'bred' for leadership as has always been the case in the U.K. just like banks and politics. A meritocracy is part skill and then a massive part hubris and self belief which certain sectors of society have been taught to have. It's always difficult to trust people who've had helping hands from the moment they were born although it doesn't mean they are ****, just that they've had more help and opportunities than the rest to get where they are even if they wouldn't have the self awareness to admit or appreciate their good fortune. For me, like the team, the board are as good as their performances with respect to their biggest and most important products, and that is is the first team, the academy, the stadium and thought leadership within the community that they represent. On these four, the first team is the trickiest as always under the spotlight but things are as a good as could be expected from a team like us, the academy is a long term project that produced better players under the previous leadership than this one so far if we are all honest, the stadium is what it is and is functional, not spectacular (a reflection of the city it is in) and then the foundation is the shining light of what the club does in the community although that is largely due to the people that work in it caring deeply about their community. Southampton FC have existed for 130+ years. This board is just a tiny part of that history and as long as they don't forget that and get ahead of themselves thinking they are some sort of heroes, then I'm sure they'll be fine. As for trust, none of the current board created Southampton FC and they don't (appear to) have any historical connection with the city or club so for them it is a job, and thankfully they all, apart from Les who is reasonably close to retirement need good CVs for better jobs should this one go wrong so they will want to do a decent job. Not a great job because they'll never care as much as we do, but safe enough so their reputations and future employment prospects aren't jeopardised. With this, they are largely okay compared to others in football, albeit still in it for themselves like most in our society.

Fair play to Les on this one. We did need a more creative midfielder, the forward line is still an area of concern in terms of productivity and the academy is set for quite a few dry years, if not more, but to sign a couple of top players in Lemina and Hoedt and keep VVD is major progress on previous summers. Hopefully the tide has turned.

Hopefully he will be back to playing quickly and stop being a moody pr!ck. Better in the team that out of it. I'm sure his team mates will accept him back in no time. Doubt we fans will ever be as forgiving but if we get £100m from Barca or PSG next year all will be fine!

Good to see the old academy is delivering finance for the new edition

Our midfield options are apparently 'strong and deep' so I guess that means the very necessary creative midfielder who can pick out a pass through the lines or to an team mate in an advanced position is off the agenda!

Let VVD go and watch the Bertrand sh!tstorm follow.

Puel wasn't terrible but he wasn't that good either in terms of motivating the players which is what we need as the problem was and is the quality of the squad. Both managers/coaches can only work with what they have and there are very few if any academy players coming through to make a genuine (meaning more than a couple of games) impact and put pressure on the first team players. Ronald could motivate players and had a genuine game changer in Mane. We have a couple of decent players and hopefully MoPe can get the team spirit and commitment to a high level to make up for players who are decent pros but not great.

Do you really believe that last bit? There is no way the jobs of Ralph or Les are remotely on the line if they sell VVD. Not a chance. Reputation amongst some fans, absolutely but not their jobs. Shame Virgil has been terribly advised by his agent and followed it. One day maybe the players will realise they are being mugged by these parasites who use them to get rich out of the limelight whilst the player gets the hate.

We need to sell Virgil asap or we will lose our net spend champions title!

Yesss, just in time to get a couple of new players in before the transfer window shuts. Unless most of the money has ended up in a personal Swiss bank account of course...

Best of the rest outside the top 7 as Everton have gone in to that. We are 8th, the best of the rest.

Definitely agree. It's not ideal that he wants to go but there are reasons. He does need to go now though, if only for us to be able to use the cash to strengthen the first team. And quickly.

Regardless of whether Les has done a good job or not (which looking at the transfers since a well know manager or over ambitious chairman was in charge haven't been that strong), he is absolutely untouchable as a vice chairman now. He's basically accountable to himself. We will see how the next couple of weeks go before the end of the transfer window but the self belief of the club may well be well ahead of the reality of the quality in the playing squad. As well as Ralph, I bet some of the board haven't even been watching football properly for longer than a few years. They obviously listen to Ralph but forget that many of us have been watching top level for decades and know that the squad isn't at the level that they want to tell us it is.

Anyone watching tonight might believe a relegation battle may be on the cards. Reality check for Les and the director dream team

If we get the money we want, he's gone. The 6 year contract he signed with us benefitted us as much as him as it means we have a degree of control over the money we get. Shame that we lose him really but I don't think his heart was in it as much after RK left and was replaced with the less inspirational Claude. Ah well, we will absolutely smash the net spend league this year once his fee is in the bag.

Dave Watson has Les' ear. GKs with new contracts, and not necessarily overly justified given that Stuart Taylor is probably here for the banter and FF had a long term deal anyway. Ah well, maybe some more key players signing longer term deals soon to get us all excited for the coming season...

He can do it but he often hold s on to the ball for too long. But maybe the new coach will encourage him to release the ball earier as Gabbiadini begins to make his runs.

We could do with signing a midfielder who can pick out the runs of Gabbiadini far earlier than we did last season. That was my main hopes for signing this summer but they are few and far between and expensive. If we don't sign anyone of note, but don't sell anyone then perhaps we've done better than recent windows but not to buy anyone of note would be an interesting choice for the club to make.

I agree on not having sleepless nights over it but I don't feel as confident as you that he won't go this summer but I'll be delighted if he doesn't.

It could just be the transfer of money from Chinese to Swiss banks. The thought is that it would be easy but there's probably a fair bit of paperwork to do for someone/a company to pay an individual for an asset of this type from a Chinese point of view.

It could just be the transfer of money from Chinese to Swiss banks. The thought is that it would be easy but there's probably a fair bit of paperwork to do for someone/a company to pay an individual for an asset of this type from a Chinese point of view.

Everton are benefitting from the fella who moved there from Leicester and Ronald's status in the game. They are certainly signing first team or those challenging for a place players. Looking forward to our signings who will make a quick impact when they come on board the good ship.

Nothing in the text says that top players won't be leaving. It is carefully worded so it can't be used back saying that with any accuracy. Nothing different than usual.

With VVD, J-Rod and maybe Bertrand and Cedric all leaving, there could be a bumper kitty available for Les and co.