Sport Republic

[Mboto Gorge]

1 minute ago, Dman said:

The fact the bloke who is funding the group out his own pocket, has personally stepped in to run us, is pretty strong evidence of that. 

He’s not doing a very good job of running us though is he? He seems to still be giving Rasmus a free reign to call the shots, so if this is his version of “running us” then nothing has really changed from before , being that Rasmus’s hands are all over pretty much every transfer we are involved in. Rasmus is doing whatever he pleases, with Solaks blessing.  They are both fucking idiots. Seems that some People just don’t want to accept that Southampton FC is being taken for a ride by these clowns. 

[Fabrice29]

39 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

Yeah but ignore all the facts that clearly point to what Rasmus said actually being his intention. Let’s bury our heads in the sand and assume we are still the flagship club despite all of this. It’ll all work out. Im Not sure if some of our fans are thick, naive, or just don’t want to believe that we are being used as a pawn to further another clubs aspirations for Rasmus to be seen as a hero. After all, he’s basically in charge of Goztepe, surely for his own ego it makes sense for him to prioritise them over us now. We all know how egotistical it is- he will want to be seen as someone who’s catapulted them to stardom as his name is all over them. 

I think you’re caring too much about what this guy is saying in that specific environment 😂 Like you said, if he’s basically in charge there then yes he’s going to a) play to their crowd and b) have their interests at his heart. 

We have people playing the same role here, it’s up to them to focus on us and there’s plenty of energy to be critical of them so don’t waste it on this 😂

[Fabrice29]

4 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

He seems to still be giving Rasmus a free reign to call the shots

Where’s that evidence then?

[franniesTache]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

Saints are the keystone club in the group as the owner Dragan Solak has stated publicly.

So let me get this right, when Rasmus says the opposite to a turkish audience it's just being said because it's a turkish audience and isn't true, but when Solak says it to an audience in southampton it's not because it's to an audience in southampton it's because it's true.

Cool stuff, nice to know we don't need to question what's being said anymore and that they don't do marketing with us.

[Mboto Gorge]

1 minute ago, Fabrice29 said:

Where’s that evidence then?

I said that’s what it “seems” to be happening based on the links to Rasmus in staff and player trading. Do you disagree then?

[Mboto Gorge]

3 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

I think you’re caring too much about what this guy is saying in that specific environment 😂 Like you said, if he’s basically in charge there then yes he’s going to a) play to their crowd and b) have their interests at his heart. 

We have people playing the same role here, it’s up to them to focus on us and there’s plenty of energy to be critical of them so don’t waste it on this 😂

Let’s hope you’re right. However surely it’s an idiotic thing for Rasmus to say regardless . He didn’t need to say something that’s clearly an outright lie, to appease their fanbase did he? As I’ve said before, they’re a delusional bunch at goztepe if they’re expecting to be told that they’re the biggest club in the group. When they’re clearly not

[Fabrice29]

Goztepe in fairness are a lot more successful than us. They are in with a shout of European football. Think it would be really bad business sense if the didn’t try and focus on them. 

1 minute ago, Mboto Gorge said:

I said that’s what it “seems” to be happening based on the links to Rasmus in staff and player trading. Do you disagree then?

I haven’t seen any evidence that Rasmus is driving the recruitment of staff or players? I’d say all evidence suggests he’s taken a back seat here, we’ve appointed a specific DOF to do that for us and he’s focusing on Goztepe. So unless there is any, I’d be inclined to disagree yeah. 

[Dman]

2 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

He’s not doing a very good job of running us though is he? He seems to still be giving Rasmus a free reign to call the shots, so if this is his version of “running us” then nothing has really changed from before , being that Rasmus’s hands are all over pretty much every transfer we are involved in. Rasmus is doing whatever he pleases, with Solaks blessing.  They are both fucking idiots. Seems that some People just don’t want to accept that Southampton FC is being taken for a ride by these clowns. 

A lot in here to break down, i'll give it a go. 

Quote

He’s not doing a very good job of running us though is he?

Nope. Doesn't mean that we're seen as second fiddle to some mob out in turkey. 

Quote

He seems to still be giving Rasmus a free reign to call the shots, so if this is his version of “running us” then nothing has really changed from before , being that Rasmus’s hands are all over pretty much every transfer we are involved in. Rasmus is doing whatever he pleases, with Solaks blessing.

He may or may not be taking advise from Rasmus. We may or may not be leaning on his 'algroithm' to highlight potential transfers. 

Personally, I think the fact that pretty much everyone we've signed has been known to the DOF in charge at the time* would suggest that Rasmus hands aren't all over every transfer we do. 

Quote

Seems that some People just don’t want to accept that Southampton FC is being taken for a ride by these clowns. 

Doing a shit job doesn't equate to 'being taken for a ride'. Its a pretty expensive ride for them as they aren't going to recoup anything close to what they've invested. 

If you seriously think that we only exist to fund a champions leauge push for some noddy turkish mob, then you crack on. 

[Mboto Gorge]

5 minutes ago, Dman said:

A lot in here to break down, i'll give it a go. 

Nope. Doesn't mean that we're seen as second fiddle to some mob out in turkey. 

He may or may not be taking advise from Rasmus. We may or may not be leaning on his 'algroithm' to highlight potential transfers. 

Personally, I think the fact that pretty much everyone we've signed has been known to the DOF in charge at the time* would suggest that Rasmus hands aren't all over every transfer we do. 

Doing a shit job doesn't equate to 'being taken for a ride'. Its a pretty expensive ride for them as they aren't going to recoup anything close to what they've invested. 

If you seriously think that we only exist to fund a champions leauge push for some noddy turkish mob, then you crack on. 

I’d like to think not, but I’m struggling to believe that our owners could be this incompetent whilst having us as their priority.

I think we were their priority, but we no longer are - coincidentally ever since they realised how much money is involved in stabilising as a Premier league club , something they’ve grossly underestimated with recruitment of both players and managers -  and also ever since Rasmus was sent to focus primarily as Goztepe as their chairman. So yeah, I’ll crack on believing that goztepe are being prioritised before us, - (never said we “only exist to fund them” but nice try there)

maybe you’ll realise that after a few more years in championship or even a drop to league one soon.

Edited 8 hours ago by Mboto Gorge

[Dman]

1 minute ago, Mboto Gorge said:

I’d like to think not, but I’m struggling to believe that our owners could be this incompetent whilst having us as their priority.

I think we were their priority, but we no longer are - coincidentally ever since they realised how much money is involved in stabilising as a Premier league club , something they’ve grossly underestimated with recruitment of both players and managers -  and also ever since Rasmus was sent to focus primarily as Goztepe as their chairman. So yeah, I’ll crack on believing that goztepe are being prioritised before us, maybe you’ll realise that after a few more years in championship or even a drop to league one soon.

This litterally only happened because he was doing a shit job with us 😂

[Mboto Gorge]

1 minute ago, Dman said:

This litterally only happened because he was doing a shit job with us 😂

Yeah - my point is that wherever Rasmus’s priority lies, so does the entire groups. He dictates that, because Solak is entrusting him to. What is happening currently would certainly point to that. His current priority is Goztepe so the group are also focussing on that because he is heading the groups overall football operations. That’s how I see it anyway, If you believe otherwise that’s fair enough, we will see what happens.

[Dman]

1 minute ago, Mboto Gorge said:

Yeah - my point is that wherever Rasmus’s priority lies, so does the entire groups. He dictates that, because Solak is entrusting him to. What is happening currently would certainly point to that. His current priority is Goztepe so the group are also focussing on that because he is heading the groups overall football operations. That’s how I see it anyway, If you believe otherwise that’s fair enough, we will see what happens.

Goztepe spend this season, €6m

Southampton spend this season, €60m

What have Goztepe gain from us? Matsuki on-loan (who came back to us a better player), Lis who wasn't good enough for us and that brazilian striker who's scored 6 goals in 21 games in the turkish leauge ffs. 

We're a basket case, Im not defending SR - they need to go. But there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that they have taken the prioirty in the clubs ownership model. It is within their intrest for all clubs to be over performing, but the money will always be with english clubs. 

A throw away comment, that was made a few years ago now, from a snake oil saleman won't change that fact for me. 

[Fabrice29]

Is this conference 3 years ago as well? 

[Osvaldorama]

They’re fucking useless 

[Matthew Le God]

1 hour ago, franniesTache said:

So let me get this right, when Rasmus says the opposite to a turkish audience it's just being said because it's a turkish audience and isn't true, but when Solak says it to an audience in southampton it's not because it's to an audience in southampton it's because it's true.

Cool stuff, nice to know we don't need to question what's being said anymore and that they don't do marketing with us.

What the owner of the group says has more weight than what the chairman of the sister club says.

[benjii]

1 hour ago, Dman said:

The fact the bloke who is funding the group out his own pocket, has personally stepped in to run us, is pretty strong evidence of that. 

Has he?

[tdmickey3]

15 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

What the owner of the group says has more weight than what the chairman of the sister club says.

Except on transfers

[Dman]

13 minutes ago, benjii said:

Has he?

Yep https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/club-statement-january-14-2025

[franniesTache]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

What the owner of the group says has more weight than what the chairman of the sister club says.

Cool so the owner of the group doesn't tell people what they want to hear and always tells the truth. Gotcha.

[Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd]

C**TS!

simple as that. 

[Crab Lungs]

I’ve now moved over to this way of thinking after Juan.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

10 minutes ago, Crab Lungs said:

I’ve now moved over to this way of thinking after Juan.

Consider holding off until you see a lot of recruitment going the same way. Don't base your opinion on Juan player. 🙂

[Willo of Whiteley]

5 hours ago, Fabrice29 said:

I think you’re caring too much about what this guy is saying in that specific environment 😂 Like you said, if he’s basically in charge there then yes he’s going to a) play to their crowd and b) have their interests at his heart. 

We have people playing the same role here, it’s up to them to focus on us and there’s plenty of energy to be critical of them so don’t waste it on this 😂

As much as I’d like to disagree I think this is spot on.

You play to the immediate crowd. He makes himself look an absolute plum though as time has gone on and Southampton have declined.

[HarvSFC]

The one positive you used to be able to say about Solak/SR was that they were at least investing money into the playing side. But, since the first season scattergun it has actually been quite minute in football terms.

Indeed, we did spent a fair amount last season. However, that was funded heavily by the sales of Livramento, JWP, Lavia and Tella pocketing us over £100m the summer before having only spent money on Ross Stewart and Shea Charles across the season. We didn't exactly break the bank on any one single player in the summer of 2024 either and missed out on a host of targets (Delap, Carvalho, O'Reilly to name a few).

Similarly, this season has been funded by the sales of Sulemana, Dibling and Fernandes, while Amo-Ameyaw, Onuachu, Bednarek, Ramsdale's loan fee, Edwards, Bella-Kotchap and soon to be Armstrong have added a few more million to our net spend title hunt.

The frustrating thing in the summer was that we had no movement on incomings, barring squad players in Quarshie, Downs and Roerslev until we got the Dibling and Fernandes fees. While, this January, we've known we've need a physical centre forward who can remain fit since the season began. We loaned out Downs earlier in the month, but needed to sell Armstrong and potentially shift Archer out of the squad to obtain one. Should have been a priority, but again it's being left until the last minute.

Also, can't understand why we haven't utilised the Premier League loan market again. I know Solak criticised this strategy in the summer, but it played a big part in helping us win promotion two years ago - You just don't have to put a £20m buy fee on each one.

With the clear out we've made this month, you'd hope that we'd be able to go into this summer a bit more proactive and decisive. However, we all hoped the same would be the case for last summer with half a year to prepare for it. So, you know this will now be our squad with a few contract expirations until August 29th and four games into next season season.

A couple of miserable nothing January's in a row, but at least there wasn't any hope last year. You can also see why no manager with any credibility would go near us if this was our pitch for January to them and Eckert was the only one to accept such conditions.

So, what are the positives of an SR ownership now? Level One?

[S-Clarke]

1 hour ago, HarvSFC said:

The one positive you used to be able to say about Solak/SR was that they were at least investing money into the playing side. But, since the first season scattergun it has actually been quite minute in football terms.

Indeed, we did spent a fair amount last season. However, that was funded heavily by the sales of Livramento, JWP, Lavia and Tella pocketing us over £100m the summer before having only spent money on Ross Stewart and Shea Charles across the season. We didn't exactly break the bank on any one single player in the summer of 2024 either and missed out on a host of targets (Delap, Carvalho, O'Reilly to name a few).

Similarly, this season has been funded by the sales of Sulemana, Dibling and Fernandes, while Amo-Ameyaw, Onuachu, Bednarek, Ramsdale's loan fee, Edwards, Bella-Kotchap and soon to be Armstrong have added a few more million to our net spend title hunt.

The frustrating thing in the summer was that we had no movement on incomings, barring squad players in Quarshie, Downs and Roerslev until we got the Dibling and Fernandes fees. While, this January, we've known we've need a physical centre forward who can remain fit since the season began. We loaned out Downs earlier in the month, but needed to sell Armstrong and potentially shift Archer out of the squad to obtain one. Should have been a priority, but again it's being left until the last minute.

Also, can't understand why we haven't utilised the Premier League loan market again. I know Solak criticised this strategy in the summer, but it played a big part in helping us win promotion two years ago - You just don't have to put a £20m buy fee on each one.

With the clear out we've made this month, you'd hope that we'd be able to go into this summer a bit more proactive and decisive. However, we all hoped the same would be the case for last summer with half a year to prepare for it. So, you know this will now be our squad with a few contract expirations until August 29th and four games into next season season.

A couple of miserable nothing January's in a row, but at least there wasn't any hope last year. You can also see why no manager with any credibility would go near us if this was our pitch for January to them and Eckert was the only one to accept such conditions.

So, what are the positives of an SR ownership now? Level One?

There was an initial investment in that first window, but even that was executed all wrong. That was the moment their entire model failed before it had even started. £160m spent and a load of absolute crap we've struggled to offload since (bar Lavia). Like you say, they benefited hugely from that relegation by selling JWP, Tino, Tella etc. We didn't spend much in the transfer window under Martin, the big 'fire sale' in 2023 was used to fill those mistakes from the previous windows.

You'd hope they'd learnt when we got promoted, but they did it all wrong again. Splurged £120m on players we are now struggling to shift, bar Fernandes. They lucked out with Dibling, as he was nothing to do with them, and this has allowed us to splurge this year - jury is out to see if things pick up longer term with the spend this summer, but sitting bottom half of the Championship is a suggestion it won't.

You'll see this summer that it'll be all about THB, Downes, Charles, Leo etc being sold - and we won't hugely reinvest as it will be used to plug the financial holes which are getting bigger by the month. Expect to see the likes of Bragg, Quarshie, Bree (he'll get a new contract), Robinson start to play roles in the team to fill the gaps of those who have left. 

I fear for the future of this club with these charlatans remaining in charge. They don't know how to run a football club, they have no footballing experience at the top levels and they are dragging us down at record levels. That 5 year climb from the abyss is about to be erased, and I don't think we come back this time. At least we have an arcade though.

Edited 2 hours ago by S-Clarke

[Wade Garrett]

For those that understand this sort of thing - does this window make us riper for a new buyer?

Hoping it does.