baggytrousers

Tielemens ?

Don't believe we are going down the 3 at the back road. Think that was a reaction to conceding 5 goals, including some real counter-attack sucker punches, in our first two games. As RK himself pointed out we currently only have 2 out of last season's defensive 7 available so we really needed to shore things up at the back in the short term until the cavalry (Bertrand, Classie, Van Dijk ?) arrives and RK can confidently move back to plan A. I think that the plan is to take the positives from last season and build on them whilst adding more of a cutting edge> The agme against Villa showed how we can destroy a team who is foolish enough to play a high line against us. Pelle's layoffs, flick-ons and movement cause problems for their centre backs which the pace of Mane and Long could exploit. Where we struggled was against teams that packed the defence, let us play in front of them and then tried to hit us on the counter. From the looks of the Everton game we still are struggling with this, in fact we've gone backwards. However, I do believe a lot of that is due to unfortunate circumstance this year. We planned for selling Morgan and Clyne and I think we've got two excellent replacements for them. Where things have gone wrong is that I don't think we banked on losing Toby and then losing Bertrand and in particular Classie to injury has knocked back the master plan. Even Big Ron has ended up on crutches which probably hasn't helped. When everyone is back I think we'll be playing a similar system to last year have a lot more incisive passing coming from the middle of the park. Top of the assists table last year was Fabregas followed by Carzola. Both of them played for teams that often had to break down an organised deep-sitting defence and both of them were playing from deep, in the double pivot role. I believe that's why we've bought Clasie. He may not be quite as good as Morgan defensively (although he's no slouch in this regard) but his range and accuracy of passing is really impressive. There's a reason why he's called the Dutch Xavi. Likewise Romeu is a player who can both protect the back four and make incisive passes upfield, although I don't think he's quite in Clasie's class in this regard. So, in my opinion, the side we can look forward to is a 4-2-3-1 come 4-3-3 system with Fonte and Van Dijk at the back protected by Big Vic (sitting), Romeu and Clasie, whilst Bertrand and Cedric bomb up the wings providing the width. Pelle's obviously the mobile target man with Mane and JRod buzzing around between him and the overlapping fullbacks. Most important player in this system is Clasie who'll be pulling the strings in midfield, which is why it's such a bummer that he's out. Got Steven Davis in there at the mo but I honestly believe that Clasie will prove a serious upgrade on him and ultimately an upgrade on Morgan but it might take a little while to get there so plenty of patience needed. Also think that JWP will get groomed for this role should Clasie be out but don't think he's there yet. I'm quite optimistic for the future but a bit frustrated at the way it's unfolded so far. Do believe that RK will get the team playing some fantastic football at some point this season but don't know how far away that might be as it takes players a while to get over injuries and/or up to speed. Stay patient and keep the faith.

Here's an article that lays out quite nicely where we are now and how we are moving forward in a much more objective and balanced way than the knee-jerk tripe spouted at the top of this thread : eplindex.com/69759/southampton-fc-blueprint-clubs-following.html

If we sign a quality centre back like Van Dijk then I believe that we will have a stronger squad than last year. Just as we have done each season for the past 5 years. Koeman is on record as saying that all his targets last year were already being pursued by Saints when he came into the club so to make out that he somehow single-handedly saved us is complete tosh. He's a really good manager but if he were to leave tomorrow I honestly believe that the gradual organic strengthening of the club would continue under another talented manager and Les Reed and Ralph Krueger's watchful eyes.

Don't view it as a cycle. More of an upward spiral.

How on earth could Athletico break the Barca-Real cycle in Spain but they did ? We have to keep doing what we're doing, but each time we sell a star player for a lot of money use it wisely to increase the overall quality of the squad. Hopefully, we'll gradually approach critical mass where we have a squad with skill and depth enough to mount a proper challenge for a CL place. There's a gap to be bridged but I firmly believe that we're gradually doing it. Patience and belief in the Southampton way are the keys.

An interesting article (http://thinkfootball.co.uk/what-next-for-southampton/) which sums up Saints current situation and priorities for the transfer window nicely. Makes some interesting suggestions for who we need to buy. Not sure I agree with them all in terms of personnel but I think the positions are right. Personally, I think we'll get Stekelenburg, Clasie, Vilhenna and Ings as well as signing Toby on a permanent deal with Morgan leaving.

Elia and Djuricic are both loan players brought in after the Hesketh injury at Burnley. Sometimes you can bring youngsters in too early and it can set them back. Think they are looking to promote some of the youngsters but they're not quite ready yet so they're filling the gaps temporarily with loan players and seeing if they find a diamond along the way. Isgrove went on loan after Elia came in which was probably the better option for him as I'm not sure he's ready for the Premiership just yet. Getting into Europa League next season will be interesting as I suspect we'll see the youngsters getting more chances in the Latvian away games and Carling Cup fixtures. Club's philosophy is still the best in the Premier League for young players coming through in my opinion.

I know 12mill for Long was baulked at by some but it's looking like a shrewd move, at least until JRod gets back. Pelle was looking isolated early season but now he has Long making energetic runs off him. Tadic likes finding space on the left and our CMs weren't getting close enough to him so having Long's runs coming in off the right have really given Pelle something to work with. Be even more exciting once JRod returns and Mane gets settled.

Hope one will be Virgil Van Dijk after Celtic have played the 2nd leg of their CL qualifier.

On the contrary. Getting players for free on high wages is a possible strategy to break the shackles of FFP. It's essentially converting transfer profits into wages. If we didn't do this we'd be stuck with a total wage bill which is a third of Man U's so how could we ever hope to keep players when the big boys come calling ? I believe the board's strategy is to use a fair amount of the transfer profit this year to up the total wage bill so we have a better chance if keeping our young starlets in the future without breaking FFP. This is why we're seeing some one year loans happening. That having been said I don't think we'll sign Samaras as I think that whole story's bogus.

I agree that the wages weren't out of control but we are in the position of an up and coming club with young improving players looking to better themselves both in football terms and financially and FFP has put a financial straight jacket on us. When you've got a total wage bill of 52 mill and you can only increase it by 4% there ain't a lot of room but when your wage bill is closer to 200 mill and you've got expanding commercial operations then you have a lot more flexibility and can offer what you need to to get the players you want. FFP has simply cemented in place the current order. That's why NC was against it and I suspect what to do about it was at the route of the schism in the club last year.

I think the expensive tat in question is Osvaldo. I take it that they are going to loan us two players to balance the wages of Osvaldo so both clubs can balance the books wage and FFP wise but it's difficult to tell for sure from the interesting translation

As far as I understand Financial Fair Play Saints are only allowed to increase their total wage bill by 4% p a unless they generate extra revenue somehow. This would mean that in order to pay our players more we have to sell players. FFP is horrible for Southampton and is something NC vehemently opposed as it effectively knackered his vision. I suspect the board are looking at a longer term plan for growing the club within the straight jacket of FFP which does involve taking some of the money from player sales and converting it into wages.

Celtic have got to get past Legia Warsaw in CL qualifiers. Don't expect Van Dijk or Forster to sign until after 5th August.

There's certainly some smoke surrounding Chambers at the moment but is there fire ? The Arsenal medical story came originally from a Gooner on Twitter so not exactly reliable. It's subsequently been picked up by some of the media but not all. The Daily Fail and Mirror are running with it but they're not exactly credible sources. The one that worries me is the BBC who usually check their facts so maybe it's true. Also Callum was a no show for the Bournemouth game which seems to add weight to the medical story but RK indicated in his interview that Chambers was not fit to train at the mo and that a story about him going was just rumours whereas he pretty much confirmed the Lovren leaving situation. The main thing that makes me question this one is that I can't see what's in it for Saints. The sales of Lambert, Lallana and Shaw and the anticipated sale of Lovren all had a kind of logic to them and a benefit for Southampton whereas this one I keep asking myself "Why would Southampton do that ?" unless of course Arsenal are offering silly money which doesn't seem to be the case. If Chambers really wants out the club are in a position with Clyne and Cork available and loads of money where they don't need to sell a real prospect whose future transfer price has plenty of upside potential so why would they, particularly this year given the number of exits that have already happened. My gut feel is that this whole story is bogus as I can't see why Saints would agree to the deal. Time will tell. Keep the faith.

Excellent. That'll keep the price down.

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/483267/Arsenal-Everton-and-Southampton-told-to-move-fast-for-Lyon-s-Clement-Grenier

I presume there are Ajax players playing for their country in a little game against Germany today.

Be delighted if we got FDB but can't see it.

How can you not be arsed about the playing style ? Surely it's fundamental to our club, from the academy teams up ? I'd much rather have a bright young manager who has overachieved on limited resources playing good attacking, possession-based football but not necessarily won anything than have a big name manager who hasn't needed to be so tactically adroit because they've had large resources. Just look at what Rodgers, Martinez and our own Poch achieved last season. Yakin or Tuchel for me but I'd also be happy with Koeman as he seems to have a good mix of tactical awareness, adventurous football, youth development and is also a world-renowned name in the game. Definitely don't want a manager who is just a big name but will not fit in with the Southampton Way though.

A N Other may only have six percent but at the moment but that puts him in second place which gives a fair indication of how thin the field is after RK. I think a lot of people would be happy with RK or Yakin as they both set their teams out with similar principals to MP and would give us a promising way forward. Bit of a shame that we weren't really given the chance to cast a vote for one of the two outstanding candidates when people like Lennon and Magath were included. Voting for A N Other doesn't really give you a chance to express your true preference. I personally would have Yakin as my first choice but voted for RK as I would also be happy with him and didn't want any of the other specified choices and A N Other didn't give you an opportunity to say who.

Basel didn't just beat Chelsea, they did the double over them in the Champions league and also beat Tottenham in the UEFA Cup. More importantly, they did it playing an impressive possession-based high pressing game with a side that was assembled for a fraction of the cost of their opponents. Celtic's win over Barca was a real backs to the wall job where they surrendered possession and territory and defended admirably against a Barca side that were essentially already through. Lennon deserves credit for it but it wasn't beautiful football. Basel completely outplayed Chelsea and did it in style. It's not just the wins it's the manner in which they were done. For me Yakin is along way ahead of Lennon.

I agree. Yakin would be my first choice as manager, just ahead of Koeman. Can't understand why he wasn't in the list given he was favourite at one point, before the Moscow job came up, which he didn't take. Seems an ideal fit to me.

That would make sense. Hodgson has said he wants any transfer activity to be concluded before the World Cup starts. Saints have said they won't sell until a manager is in place. Leaving the announcement til Thursday effectively stalls any Lallana, Shaw deals until after the World Cup by which time the landscape may have changed.