eelpie

Being English I will need an interpreter for the benefit of the foreign press

£30 million should have bought us a road sign as least as good as that.

Wayne Rooney, Ross Barkley, Jack Rodwell, Adnan Januzaj, James Wilson ? Not good enough examples for you?

And he wears the same style of glasses as Nigel Adkins. On the touchline Rangnick could even look like NA. Sign him now. I can't wait for his Nickisms

Good point. Somebody has to pay them. I wonder where / who that money will come from?

What the f*** does "various customer touch points?" mean in plain speak? Nobody is touching my points. I'd rather be able to communicate my views direct to SFC by phone or email than via an anonymous corporate third party

You have appalling, insensitive bad taste

It is another pitifully weak statement from the Board. The club simply MUST NOT consider ANY transfers BEFORE the new manager is appointed. And he should be a party to all player movements, in or out. For obvious reasons. And we Saints supporters should make that adamantly clear by telling them in no uncertain terms. (imo) The Rickie Lambert transfer to Liverpool is now history. But he was sold far too cheaply and that rankles. (And incidentally Liverpool were not aware of his AVAILABILITY until Saints told them, which makes a mockery of Katherina's pledge not to sell players. ps I don't begrudge Rickie his move to his boyhood club, but that is not the issue. The issue is that the Board are still failing to give strong direction. That can only help to deter a future suitable manager from coming here.

It should be stated quite firmly that NO negotiations will take place before the appointment of a new manager who will, hopefully, sell his vision to the players. That may not deter AL and LS from leaving, but it might prevent a larger exodus.

Firmly tell all the squad (and media) that any negotiations about leaving the club cannot happen while we have no manager installed. Not until then will we know the new manager's future plans for SFC. If the Board appoint a manager who the players respect because of his track record, and he can sell his vision for the club, then perhaps some of our better footballers will buy into it and stay. I am not only talking about Adam and Luke, but others like Lovren, Fonte, Schneiderlin and Wanyama. An incoming manager will want a strong core squad to rebuild around. Only then can we begin to strengthen the first team. This is what should have happened ever since Poch left! The Board are naive, out of their depth and too weak.

If KL wanted to sell the club it surely would be with our main stars intact and included as part of the deal. Our value to a purchaser decreases considerably without them. Probably they are collectively worth more to the club in the team than as individuals.

Fair enough. That is a view. What do others think?

.....accept they need as much time as it takes to interview new managerial prospects, even if that drags on? I am as worried as many are in the perception that they are out of their depth. I think the Echo article rings much that is true when it suggests there has been some naivity, indecisiveness, lack of urgency and a lack of vision and ambition on their part. Should the Board honour their promise of open communication, or are they right in keeping quiet. (I realise that it was Cortese's habit not to release statements until there was something to announce, however most of us, I believe, had confidence in him to make the right decision for the club.) Should we have a poll, mods? My feeling is that we should. If only to let Katherina understand our very real concerns. She needs to call the whole Board, some of whom may be on holiday, for an urgent meeting, imo. So, a Vote of Confidence, yes or no?

Doesn't anyone want an English, Scottish or Irish manager? Aren't we the club that is producing the best home grown young football talent? So why not? We are Southampton, recognised by the press as the saviour of English football. I'll start the ball rolling. Nigel Pearson He was doing well for us before L***e undeservedly sacked him. He didn't want to leave Saints at the time. And he is doing a fantastic job at Leicester.

Dreadful musicians, both of them.

Including Nigel Pearson? What has he done badly in his career?

What a stunning career. Everyone has got to admire not only his amazing footballing skills, but his professionalism and determination to succeed. (But what a pity for Saints that L**e cashed in on sell-on clauses - that did not in the end stave off administration and has got be one of the biggest miscalculations in football finance. Never mind though, all worked out well for us in the end)

Still hesitating because of the increased expense.

True, and as we all are. If only the club realised that.

My son is getting married this weekend. So perhaps one day there will be another young Saints supporter

The key word is 'vision' A Statement of Intent from the new Board is urgently required. What is the next Five Year Plan? Or any plan? No club can stay the same. It is either onward and upward. Or downwards.

Not to mention the musical

Probably true (Ox's departure seemed to stiffen the Don's resolve). Cortese knew how to silence speculation. However, Katherina had to reign in Nicola's spending excesses. But it could have helped considerably if the new Board have not been sending out early, naive mixed messages, as S-Clarke has said in the Lovren thread: 'They should not have publicly come out and said ''We've inherited a bad financial situation'' and ''we will start discussions with clubs at the end of the season'' - as that basically says, we're open for business. Come and talk to us, welcome to the South Coast fire sale. Pathetically nievee and has set the tone for the entire summer. That's why I'm kind of happy that the club keep quiet until there's something to announce, as everything they've said so far has either been PR Guff or an own goal of the highest order.'

I thought Athletico were trying to be us ... ... many years ago

A good measured post. For me, so far so good. It is reassuring that she has been coming to a good few home games, and she does look like she is enjoying herself. The Southampton Way seems to be having its effect. But this pre-season is going to be along one. I am crossing fingers.