eelpie

I would loved to have been a fly on the wall during the Liverpool/Saints Lambert transfer negotiations. Who was/were doing the negotiations for Saints? It might not have been only Les Reed as I don't believe the Board had agreed on everyone's roles at the time. (it was only after the anger from supporters that Les stepped up and announced that there would be no more transfers before a manager was appointed.) It might have been the donut who claimed Saints had financial difficulties, and grabbed at the coppers, because the transfer fee was laughable. As for Poch's move to Spurs, that imo was stitched up weeks before it was announced. So as for ethics, was it a case of incompetence by Saints in Rickie's case, and cynicism by MoPo. Heyho, who cares now?

Very true. And we fans are part of a new future. But it all comes down to costs. On the plus side: We have a promising new management team and Ron Koeman is highly respected. With Katherina's backing, Ron's leadership we can rebuild an exciting new team. There may inevitably be comings and goings but we are in a better position with our current core squad (whoever leaves) than when we were first promoted, I believe, because then we were inexperienced. I have confidence that Big Ron will bring in some strong talented players with transfer moneys and we will again have a good balance of youth and experience. Perhaps we might not hit the Premiership with the same immediate success as last season, but as new players gell I expect us to gradually climb the table. This now really is a good time to be a Saints supporter. One of the great pleasures of watching Saints these last five years has been to witness our players evolve into a great team, and now it could all be happening again. But it is understandable why there have been poor Season Ticket sales. The draconian increases in seat prices combined with the uncertainties following MoPo's departure and rumours of players leaving have all been disastrous. Many of us just can't afford the new prices. (I only renewed eventually by downsizing to a less expensive area.) The club does need to address the problem of empty seats. It has to acknowledge that it has miscalculated. The club has to admit the hike in prices was a mistake and come up with incentives. Short of announcing that it will revert to last season's prices and will refund those who have already purchased (but why not?) it has to rethink how to bring back the missing fans. Otherwise gates may probably be nearer to 25,000 than 30,000. Not what Ron would be expecting. Supporters (no matter how keen they are) have to balance their own budgets and will pick and choose what matches to see and so attend fewer games.

You make it read like 'athleticism' is an affliction.

Admitting that this season's price hike was a terrible mistake, and consequently ticket prices will be reduced to last season's prices, and refunds made to those who have already purchased. That would have the most effect in improving attendances

We have never really known exactly what Ralph's roles were (are?) Come to that is it clear what the roles of the other Board members are? Do we have a right to know? I think so, since it does affect who communicates what to supporters and members of the public, and that was not exactly a success until Les emerged as spokesperson for management succession. And it will be good to know that there are no contentious rivalries within Board members over their roles within SFC. So in the welcome appointment of Ron Koeman and team, who is responsible to whom, from Katherina down? Is it time for an update? (And I hope that Ralph Krueger is no longer in the mix.)

Yes, but we can hit Liverpool before their new signings have gelled.

If Koeman should read this dire thread he might wish he hadn't signed for SFC

I am delighted with the way Les Read has negotiated to bring Koeman and team to the club, and congratulations to everyone from Katherina down who helped to make this possible. But I don't apologise for the criticism I levelled at the Board for seemingly public disarray following MoPo's immediate departure and also earlier statements about our 'financial difficulty' that led to media frenzy that we had become a selling club. And I still believe that Lambo was sold too cheaply and at the wrong time. It was not until Saints supporters' strong criticism and demands that the club should not make any further player movements before a new manager was appointed that Les Read made his first firm statements and voiced his welcome strategy for seeking a new manager. Ralph's weak utterances had not helped either. I still believe that there may have been some early governance confusion and Les might have had to fight his corner. Well done Les. This is now history, and the outcome is brilliant. Though the question does remain. Who among the Board is responsible for what? And who reports to whom?

How great it is to have another Big Ron to cheer! I am well pleased. Welcome, welcome, welcome! I have my season ticket on it's way, so let the season begin!

But he is wearing a watch

sorry of course - my typo

If you like cliche, cliche, cliche, cliche, cliche, cliche, cliche cliche, cliche,cliche...........zzzzzzzz And you think the BBC commentary was boring?! Actually I quite liked the BBC's deadpan observations. The BBC tried to let the game speak for itself fairly well without ITV's over the top, cringely irritating 'listen to me, i'm the witty Lawro the Great with more of my clever cliche's.

Lambert should have come on instead of Barclay, or failing that, Lallana. The last stages of the match when Italy were happy to defend their lead in depth were when Rickie would have been at his best. All those corners into the box and no Lambert to head into goal or harass tired defenders! What a waste of a tactical opportunity. And if Rickie wasn't used then why did Woy take him to the World Cup?

very good Koooooman, Kooooooman, Koom an you Saints!

It does seem to me that Liverpool could well be guilty of tapping up our players either directly, or indirectly via their England connections or even via the press, and that is certainly worth investigating.

Mancini can only achieve success though expensive signings. But even that din't help him at Man City

I wasn't going to for all the reasons mentioned by many. But in the end relented, but by going to a less expensive part of the ground. Why? I couldn't bare to miss the company, and the banter. Plus I am hoping that we will see a new talented young squad blending with a few experienced incoming players emerging out of the ashes of this torrid time. Hope is eternal.

Well said, Les That is what we wanted to hear. Cometh the hour, stepeth the man.

But still as informative as anyone else on here.

Mods. the Poll is out of date and redundant. Time for a new one that includes Yakin and Francis.

Looks like it could be Nother now

There is a little detail that Koeman apparently wants assurances that there will be no players leaving. While Bruce has not as far as is known stipulated that has to be a condition of him coming here. Al negotiating points of course.

Ill advised statements like 'we have financial difficulties' that were interpreted by the vultures that we are now a selling club, followed by indecision and confusion when Mo Po finally left. Fortunately lessons seemed to have (hopefully) been learned, ever since the belated statement that no decisions over player movements would be made before a new manager was appointed.

Concensus can mean that we get the least worse candidate. Better that the specialists make the key decision, albeit in consultation. There can be too many on a panel. Clearly Les Read and Kaherina need to agree. Finance needs to be agreed on, then health and fitness. We witnessed what a mess all the Board got into when first appointed.

I received a malware alert when attempting to read the link to Koeman's agent. Has it occurred to anyone how vulnerable we might be to hackers when following up every rumour? That aside, I do hope we sign up Koeman.