Chalkboy

Do you think Rk's comments appearing in the national press, (where they twist it to use words like "Koeman slams academy" or "academy stalls" ) are good for the club or bad?

That's a good point, but I would like to think that a good coach should be able to earn that respect once he gets started. Do we have a squad full of big-time-Charlies? We may also have the problem of a few players being here because of Koeman, so once he's gone I could see a situation arising were they are unsettled. If we have to find a manger that the players instantly respect then it reduces the pool that we choose from.

I suggested Gary Rowett a few days ago, so agree with you. Turned Birmingham around after sitting at the bottom of the Championship with Lee Clark, all against a backdrop of chaos and no money (they got Carson Yeung, we got Markus - fine lines) Martin Hunter said this about him - "It does annoy me when English coaches get criticised. We have good coaches – we just don’t have enough of them. One of the best is Gary Rowett. He understands about observation and communication, has a good eye for a player and has good tactical and technical sense.’’ Sure he'll be considered no way good enough for us on here though.

If they aren't good enough, they aren't good enough, I agree. But maybe the coaching isn't great either and we aren't getting the best out of them. Also, it comes down to opinions too. You only have to read this forum to see how posters perceive different things during a match, some say JWP is improving, some say he's terrible, others - Clasie great, no he's sh*t, Ron's great it's all the boards fault for crap purchases, no, Ron is awful he's gotta go. We all see different things - Ron might be getting it wrong too, maybe not getting the best out of what he has available, or maybe the board have too much faith in the academy products, who knows?! My own opinion is that Koeman isn't as good as we think he is, or he thinks he is.

Hi Chez, it could be argued that part of his job description has been to integrate them into the team, his experience at Feyenoord I thought, was one of the reasons he was supposed to be a good fit for us. Whether they are good enough or not (which could be debated) some will say that if Ronald Koeman says they aren't good enough then he knows best, after all - it's Ronald Koeman!!!! But maybe, just maybe, he isn't the great judge of players that we expect him to be, maybe he isn't as good a coach as we have been lead to believe he is (based on last season). Another coach might have an entirely different view on the academy talent and a different way of trying to integrate them. In the end though, I don't give a single solitary **** about Ron's reputation, if he brings negative press upon the club like this one; "Ronald Koeman not impressed as Southampton's famous academy production line stalls" http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/486317/Ronald-Koeman-Southampton-academy Unprofessional in my view and creates a negative perception about the club. (even if his comments are honest and true). Criticise the academy, the club's pride and joy, and I think he's only got one place to go, and that's out I'm afraid.

If Ron walked tomorrow, any idea who would step in as caretaker?

Nice one Ron!! I'm pretty sure the board didn't foresee Koeman providing these kind of headlines when they brought him in; http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/486317/Ronald-Koeman-Southampton-academy http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3391539/Ronald-Koeman-blasts-Southampton-academy-recent-21-fixture-leaves-unimpressed.html http://www.goal.com/en/news/1862/premier-league/2016/01/09/19138612/koeman-blasts-southampton-academy http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/ronald-koeman-puts-southampton-future-7142521 Should imagine Les Reed is furious.

I said as much on this thread yesterday. It doesn't do the club's reputation of having a top class academy much good either! He won a lot of praise for last season and saw his name linked with big jobs. I think he's distancing himself to try and keep his reputation intact. I can't see his comments being welcomed by the board who are trying to sell our academy excellence to a wider market. I don't see him as our future but would be happy to be proved wrong.

Can't do much for their confidence when the first team are misfiring and they still can't get a go in a one-off match. I genuinely (but stupidly) thought he might give them a run-out, as I think Les Reed can't be pleased at the lack of game time they are getting.

I concede, it is probably the daftest comment I've made on here. There was never a chance of playing them. No belief in them, no wonder confidence is shot.

You're right actually, it was a stupid thought, I am deluded - shame Koeman couldn't surprise me. I guess I knew all along he wouldn't.

Yep, I know, and I agree with you.

For some reason I thought Reed and Seager would have been given a chance today.

Been reading through old articles about the academy - Les is certainly passionate about it. Anyway thought these two were worth pointing out, there is this one from Oct '14 about our "perfect academy"; http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/southampton/11199367/St-Marys-is-the-perfect-academy-for-youngsters-at-the-Southampton-dream-factory.html Thought this was an interesting line; “We got the right man for the job (Koeman) and then spent the money wisely. While all that was going on, the young players were training with the first team. Ronald has a good look at them. Eventually, we would like 50 per cent home-grown in the first team. Ronald is ultra-supportive. He believes in talented youth. Mauricio (Pochettino) was good as well. Came across this from last Summer, concerning Europa football: http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/southampton-place-trust-academy-reed#:L7xENJYZclS34A "So I think it's manageable. Yes, you want a bit more strength, but what we've built is an academy that supplies players to the first team so we'll get our strength in depth from that." Strength in depth from the academy............

That's not the point I'm making. We could talk all day on here about whether certain players from the academy are good enough or not. I just can't see any benefit to the club for Ron to say what he has about the academy players to the press. I think he's thinking about himself rather than the club. We are a club renowned for our "excellent" academy, it's important for our reputation in this country and now worldwide. Whether the current crop of players are crap or not, we don't need it fed to the media that our manager doesn't think they are up to much! Why not be positive and say that there is some real talent, but it's not ready yet - even if it's bullsh*t? Some on here have surmised that he said it to put pressure on the club - to spend. My personal opinion, and it's just an opinion, is that he is looking after his own reputation (also mentioned in the Neil Ashton article you linked earlier) Any question marks about why he hasn't brought through academy players at Saints, might call into question his coaching ability, and therefore his next "big" job - which I'm sure he has an eye on. He's aware of this, so gives his honest view on them - they're not good enough, it's not my fault! Thing is this doesn't do the club's rep much good and therefore I think he was wrong to say it.

I think he's protecting his own reputation. "Why haven't you brought through any youth from the academy Ronald?" "Because they are no good!" (in mine opinion)

The famous Ronald Koeman, approaching me personally and telling me I need to improve, would have more effect on me than seeing it printed in the local rag.

I like Koeman's honesty, I find it refreshing, but in this case I can't see the value in telling the local press that he's not impressed by the academy players. He's in the perfect position to speak face-to-face with players and coaches to tell them exactly what he thinks. Why the need to let the the rest of the world know that the "famed" Southampton academy is running a little dry? It's just negative and unnecessary imo and can't see what good it will achieve. Wonder what Les Reed makes of it.

I was reading some comments on a Swansea forum about Shelvey, they are similar to the sort of comments Wanyama is getting on here.

Good points - but it's keeping him that's the problem. If we can do that, fine.

Agree with this

I should have known he'd be mentioned after my post. But in some ways you're not far off - a British manager would perhaps be far less likely to be poached by the so called bigger-clubs, the experience with Moyes at Man U and Rogers with Liverpool has seen to that. I like the Jorge Sampoli shout, but fear we'd just be auditioning him for his move after 18 months. Here's a random suggestion - Rowett at Brum. He took over from Lee Clark, where they were languishing at the bottom of the league, and transformed them despite a lack of funds and chaos behind the scenes.

Someone who won't do a Poch on us. Someone who won't be linked with bigger jobs after being with us a few months. Someone who won't umm and ahh over whether to extend their contract.

There was this thread from back in August regarding a Neil Ashton article. Could it have been that? http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?55008-Tenaions-Between-Koeman-and-Reed Ashton wrote; A year on, there is tension building between Koeman and Southampton’s head of football development Les Reed, with the pair in frequent disagreement over the talent pool at the club. I know, I know.............it's the dreadful Ashton

Who would the ultimate decision to sack Ron rest with? Ralph, Rogers or Reed?