blonde poker forum

That Mirror article is riddled with inaccuracies.

That sounds good to me. Means Lallana will probably also have a large price-tag on him and Liverpool can look elsewhere for a player of his quality at a fraction of the cost.

Yeh tbh I hope they price United out too cos Shaw is hugely over rated

It's a lot of money, but he's a very good talent.

obviously not enough money and with lallana deal finally going through (getting a medical as we speak
saints have a massive rebuild ahead

When you say reinvest, you probably mean pay off debts?

what do you expect?

southampton, like my club, will always be a club that develops players and sell them on

virtually no prospect of breaking into the top 6-7 clubs, and came as close as you can to doing so last season, and if you have any success they will come knocking

no player is going to turn down champions league, top 6 etc

develop the next set of players, secure the future of the club, try and finish top half every year

can never get better than that under the current structure of british football

There is no shame in being a selling club.

its just heart breaking if we could keep producing players like those that have come out of the youth academy in recent seasons
and hold onto them we could break the glass ceiling problem is we will never have the fan base of a man u or even a spurs or everton
to keep these players its why i was so disappointed and putting out a reserve team in FA cup last season in our chance to win something

i agree with your last point, that FA Cup team selection was a baffling one

teams like southampton should be trying to win cups, best chance they have of success

easy to say when you support team that has fan base to win things

the joy aberdeen brought to 1000s of fans by picking up a minor trophey this year was unreal
and all fans should have the dream of winning things

You don't think we are a selling club? We've always been a selling club, it used to be to big clubs like Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal now it's to wee clubs like Southampton! We are trying to compete with teams in Europe in the same way Southampton and the like are in England but we understand that we need to bring through our own players, source rough diamonds and sell them on at a profit because we get virtually no domestic TV money.

You don't need to tell me about Aberdeen either there is no excuse for how bad they have been for the last 20 odd years. I was going to Celtic home and away when we didn't win a title for 9 years and didn't win a trophy for 5.

Lallana transfer confirmed by saints an hour ago undisclosed fee

£53M

Such an exciting summer for Saints, looking forward to seeing all the new faces.

Last season was the best ever in our history. Very successful, lots to shout about and one of the most enjoyable teams to watch in the league. We will replace players and go again.

Could be worse, just ask that rabble down the road. Looking forward to being at Anfield first day.

Can't remember a team selling as many key players although I think in all cases Southampton have got more than a fair price

Callum Chambers £16 million!??  Surely not.

Schneiderlin and Rodriguez to Spurs is imminent according to the local southampton journalists

This is so painful.

Been trying to be upbeat about it all Summer but this is just too much now.

its like somebody is playing football manager 2013, selling all players for top dolla and trying to build a team

obviously top 6 clubs are not going to be turned down by manager or players

but is there a financial imperative for this, now that Cortese has gone?

if not why would you sanction all nine going?

how much would it have cost to buy the whole club?

according the the premier league squad details we have 14 players over 21  43 of them are goal keepers and only 4 are HG after we sold oll the brits
obviously if we keep schnderlin and rodregious we get an extra 2 HG players


which player in his right mind will be signing to join the squad untill a few more quailty players are added

and someone need to be the first

if fonte goes we will have 3 defenders in squad including U21 players suppose we could play a 3-5-2 will be interesting

It sounds as though one or two of your GK's might have to go...

At least you've still got Wanyama

Think that's only because he got injured.  I must admit to having a huge man crush on big Vic though.  Reminded me of a young Davie Hay. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28542225

Fantastic news. Clarity finally and line drawn in the sand.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BtvB3EqCcAAZUW_.jpg:large)


Must admit, that did make me laugh.

Phil McNulty tweeted that the reason he's upset is that he was told only spurs had bid for him.

breaking news liverpool have bid 20 million for ryan bertrand

Sure have.  Liverpool are after Moreno.

Bertrand will do a good job for Saints.

Celtic definitely going out now so hopefully we can get the deal for Forster sorted before the season starts.

Need a centre back before next Sunday too - would be pleased to see Vlaar.

We have ran well with fixtures to start the new season and are going to need it. Expect us to be bringing in players right up to the wire.

VVD from celtic could be on the cards as well as forster now celtic are out of Europe, they don't need the squad to win the spl

The talk up here is £10m fee agreed to take Forster to Southampton.

would be good thought it might be held up for the next round

How do you see your starting XI for first game of the season.

£12m fee agreed to take Shane Long to saints according to Sky.

Sharpe 450k to leeds just not quite good enough for prem

Not sure long is prolific though. Happy to take Billy to Leeds for that money.

You only offered £4m for Byram but Leeds holding out for £8m which is peanuts for prem teams budgets these days.

Not that I think Long is bad by the way.  But I'd rather just keep Lallana than spend £12 million for standard premier league players.

saints get close to £50 million for lallana and shaw who are missing the start of season

I'd be more concerned with them spending 12m of it Long  and him not missing the start of the season :)

i am afraid other clubs are seeing you coming

he signed for £6m in jan

4 goals in 15 games later its £12m

what's changed? not a lot apart from other clubs know you are forced buyer

Long is just ok for me nothing more

Quick question who is going to score the goals/any goals for Hull this term?

i am afraid other clubs are seeing you coming

Nature of the beast. We have the money to throw our weight around a bit now and force transfers to happen. I am sure that we have paid over the odds but I still think it's OK business.

No one is quibbling over £5 million overspent on a player if you stay up at the end of the season. We have the money - we need to ensure our long term premiership position.

I am glad the chairman has stuck by his word. 6th highest spending club in the premier league this summer - just got to fit them together now.

Nature of the beast. We have the money to throw our weight around a bit now and force transfers to happen. I am sure that we have paid over the odds but I still think it's OK business.

No one is quibbling over £5 million overspent on a player if you stay up at the end of the season. We have the money - we need to ensure our long term premiership position.

I am glad the chairman has stuck by his word. 6th highest spending club in the premier league this summer - just got to fit them together now.

why is this a cause for celebration when you recommended a bet on them to go down?

26-May   ironside   totesport   may-2015   football   premier league 2014-15   Southampton   14/1   15

could always lay the £15 back now and freeroll for £100+

why is this a cause for celebration when you recommended a bet on them to go down?

26-May   ironside   totesport   may-2015   football   premier league 2014-15   Southampton   14/1   15

redic post

Is it value?

To be fair, think it is fine to be a fan here and still tip up the relegation bet.  If you start celebrating on TfT it is different.

It's obviously tongue in cheek. Don't be so dramatic.

redic post

I don't know if we can play like that week in week out then we wont go down
question is can we play like that week in week out
I would still say we are good enough to stay up but where the value line lies for us getting relegated I would say its somewhere over 6-1 and under 10-1
the 14-1 for me was still massive which is was proven with the current betfair exchange price

great performance from the team today despite no points

optimistic for the season ahead

yoshida didn't impress (but wasn't his fault for either goal)

but apart from that things are looking good

give the new players a chance to bed in and we could come out ok this year

Yoshida was terrible, Davis was a bit meh but overall you have to be happy.

Wanyama was an absolute boss, the boy with the double barrell name was very good as well. 

Think you need an out and out striker, I know it was the first game but yous looked suspect uptop. 

Obviously. 

yes, obviously

ironside and i go back ten years, he gets dry comments.

and its ridic, not redic!

potty looks very likely to be going to spurs now, he is talking to levy. with him going its going to be likely the squad is going to get broken up
with lallana and shaw already likely to go add into that lovern schneiderlin and ward-prowse

with intrest also going to be in chambers clyne rodrigeous and rameriez

the saints could easy be losing 6+ of the squad that got them up the table last year
and its going to be hard to attract players of a quailty to a "selling club"

the 2.25 for finishing in bottom half looks a good bet
as does the 15.0 for relegation even 10.0 looks value to me


maybe i am just being a pessimist but i would recommend £10 on both

Betfred would not lay me a penny at 14-1, I was going to put the £25 freebet on

totesport on the other hand

Bet receipt
Your selections

    Event: Premier League 2014-2015 - Relegation
    Time: 05-05-2015 15:00
    BS_MARKET: Relegation
    Selection: Southampton @ 14/1

Your Bets

    Win
    Single:
    Southampton
    1 line at £15.00 per line
    Total stake for this bet: £15.00
    Potential Return: £225.00
    No: O/0849138/0000013

    Total stake:£15.00
    Free bets/vouchers:£0.00
    Total cost:£15.00


i'd rather not do 2-1 bottom half with the bet to run for 15 months, and have the bit extra on relegation bet ironside if thats ok

I know a lot of money left the club when Cortese left, and some of the £ from the players will be re-invested but we have

a) new manager risk
b) getting new players in of sufficient quality risk

so i reckon 14-1 should shorten as it plays out

Clearly, that would be why he felt the need to defend his recomendation. 

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=redic

I didn't.

dramatic fall from grace for Andros.  Less than a year ago he was England's best player.  Now can't get in the Spurs team.  He needs a move I think.

Kristof Terreur ‏@HLNinEngeland  6m
Atlético Madrid and Southampton agreed terms on Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld. He'll sign tomorrow (by: @svenclaes)

very very solid player

Taider at st Mary's on a season long loan  looks like bringing loaned out for rest of season lmao

Southampton cancel Saphir Taïder’s loan from Inter Milan after a month "having failed to live up to the high levels of commitment expected"

Toby Alderweireld and Sadio Mane both undergoing medicals at the moment.

Both look good and fill important gaps.

How's that Southampton signing most players bet looking?

Not going to win. Think it's Liverpool.

Try West Brom ;)

i think Southampton fans have other things on their mind...

I think you'll be fine, but I think it's a tad optimistic to suggest you haven't been weakened!

Not sure how the 4th goal hasn't received more love.

41 passes

Every one of the Saints team touched the ball in the buildup

No Newcastle player got a touch

GOAL

http://wall.saintsfc.co.uk/Article/783223-VIDEO-Schneiderlins-stunner-caps-41-pass-move

Loving life!

bad news about ward-prowse being out for 6 weeks though

were on the march with koeman's army

But not anymore? 

lol

is that cause i is a cripple?

I didn't meant that, was grammer rozzering  http://grammar.about.com/od/words/a/weregloss.htm (http://grammar.about.com/od/words/a/weregloss.htm).  Think you meant "where on the march with Koeman's army"

pelle called up for the italy squad you think his price tag has just gone up?

I have to say at the time, I thought you naming the Southampton thread 'Koeman is a saint' was a mistake. I smugly thought to myself that 'this fella might be out the door by Christmas' and he'll have to start a new thread called 'Arry is a Saint............again'.
But no. I think with what happened over the summer, most neutrals will be thrilled with your success.
Enjoy it sir!

Brilliant day. Sunderland were atrocious.

I don't doubt any more that this team is better than last years and that's remarkable given the Summer. Tadic is on a completely different level, love watching him.

Looking forward to the test of playing the big teams in the next couple of months.

Stoke at home, Hull away, Leicester at home. Will be a third of the way through the season at that point!

Tests against Arsenal, Man U, Everton and Chelsea after that. 2/1 the top 6 finish... who would have thought it.

liverpool are expressing an interest in clyne but the saints are offering him a bumper new deal

lets hope we dont get another transfer window like the last one

Why not? The last one improved your team massively.

man alive Schneiderlin going off made a big difference

midfield was a very good contest with him in front of the back four

without him, less so

Totally this.  He is so important to them defensively because of the way he executes that high press.

Was always going to happen iron. They'll fall away now

No idea how we lose to a United side that poor. Clueless tactically considering we were so depleted.

Lots of positives, nothing not to believe in Iron.

Was always going to happen iron. They'll fall away now

Thought we would of put out a stronger team tonight no tadic or pelle we had to aim for a cup this season imho.

Good to see Morgan and jwp both back and starting though

It is ridiculous teams like Southampton put out weak teams for the League Cup.

They aren't going to be relegated and they aren't going to make Europe.

What is the point of their existence if they don't try and win a cup?

next Barca manager market is a bit worrying

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B60qSMHCQAEB1YY.png)

I'm not afraid.

We were poor today, but you created the perfect storm for that to be the position.

Wouldn't want to back us vs you in a Match Bet for the rest of the season.

any vacancies in any top english or european sides is going to be worrying

This thread tilts me the most cos of Irons zzzzz small club we will be ok posts

Loved the Southampton fans chanting "We are staying up, we are staying up!"

:D

I'm still pretty sure you won't be up there.

This thread tilts me the most cos of Irons zzzzz small club we will be ok posts

I'm still pretty sure you won't be up there.

This thread tilts me the most cos of Irons zzzzz small club we will be ok posts

I can cope with that, even though he repeats it endlessly. S'oton fans don't often enjoy these giddy heights, so good luck to Iron, & them.

What I do struggle a little with, every time I open the Betting Boards, is this.....

koeman is a saint

I would so prefer......

Koeman is a Saint

Sorted

aRE yOU sURE?

aRE yOU sURE?

Or call it Southampton FC?

I feel a little for rickie lambert, in the summer he signed for the only team IMHO he would leave the saints for, but now faces prospect of losing a place in squad of  25 at Liverpool and being offloaded to west brom or crystal palace. Must be hard to be at the peak of your career suddenly to get a dream move and for it to fall flat.

Think he will struggle to get another England cap too.

Gary Neville: The era of the gaffer is over

Southampton's incredible rise has destroyed the traditional model of a football club – we're now in the age of the technical director

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/11366206/Gary-Neville-The-era-of-the-gaffer-is-over.html

19:41

Portuguese giants Benfica have confirmed on their official website that Filip Djuricic has completed a loan move to Southampton until the end of the season, terminating his loan arrangement with German Bundesliga side Mainz.

DONE DEAL

Bertrand to Saints

Posted at 23:01

A bit of a surprise this one, as Southampton complete the permanent signing of left-back Ryan Bertrand from Chelsea after his successful loan spell.

Excellent piece of news that. I thought he might have been poached in the Summer. If Clyne is being valued around £20 million then I see no reason why Bertrand is not far behind. A great deal for a top player.

Still look short of options up top.

Haha, oops. I just assumed Mahrez was a full back, cannot have been paying attention very closely.

Not interested if he can't defend then, got enough of those already.

The Saints Go Marching On

Southampton is one of them and is this year’s fastest growing brand. The Saints’ brand value is up 89% to $183 million. However Southampton has been more than a passive beneficiary of booming broadcast revenues. Ronald Koeman has masterminded a 7th place finish that means a club facing administration in 2009 and playing in the third tier of English football in 2010 can look forward to European football next season and the chance to build its own brand on the international

Soon to be ex-Saints XI (4-1-3-2) -- Boruc; Clyne, Chambers, Lovren, Shaw; Schneiderlin; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana, Bale; Lambert, Walcott

remarkable job done to keep the club moving forward with this lot gone

Second season syndrome? What price Southampton to go down?

3rd season now though

Why a miracle? He spent a few quid, bought some decent players. Lost some players but they weren't exactly miles better than what he replaced them with.

33/1 is a decent price. Might have a few quid on it

33/1 is a decent price. Might have a few quid on it

more games small squad just look at celtics results around the times they are in europe celtic bigger team in weaker league


wait untill the first 3-4 games of season it will be a bigger price i am 80% sure then get the money on

83% of stats are made up on the spot

IMHO saints are going to have an advantage of being slightly more advanced in there prep for the season due to europa qualifying
along with that there first 3-4 games are games that saints should be targeting to win
i feel we can get off to a good start and then as the games mount up the squad depth will kick in and we
will head south in the league

all dependant on saints getting into league stage that is

http://talksport.com/football/southampton-expect-pip-tottenham-signing-atletico-madrid-defender-toby-alderweireld

Madrid forgot to cancel the buy out in time

Gone bugger

New player in though looks like a bit of coverage

1out 4 in but still need to cover the loan signings from last season

Think vvd from Celtic might be back on the cards

How about Lovern?

give me your starting line up for southampton for the first league game please.....

give me your starting line up for southampton for the first league game please.....

                    Stekelenburg

Cédric      Fonte     Yoshida    Targett


         Wanayama            Davies

        Tadic       Mane        Rodriguez

                       
                         Pelle


Classie is injured and will miss the first game at least. Question is do you drop Davies back from the front 3 or trust one of James Ward Prowse or Harrison Reed to fill that role. I suspect they will drop Davies back deeper.

That leaves a few competing for that left wing spot. Realistically, for me, it is J-Rod v Long. Will likely depend on European minutes the Thursday before.

Longer term - Bertrand replaces Targett. Another CB replaces Yoshida - maybe Caulker or another signing. Classie returns and Davies plays left wing.

Very excited by Tadic, Mane, Pelle this season. Think that first team is a very strong one.

Very tidy midfielder.  Think Chelsea are suprised he didn't come on more after they signed him from Barca.  Watford were rumoured to be after him a month back, but assume we couldn't agree wages or he turned us down.

Think he'll fit in really well at Saints.

i like watching rodriguez

good player, good to see him back

Second time in the last 12 months that Mane has been dropped for turning up late to a team meeting.

I think it is correct to make an example of him but for goodness sake. Buy the lad an alarm clock. If somebody comes in with 25 million then would think it would be sensible to cash in now.

would you let wanayma go?

Second time in the last 12 months that Mane has been dropped for turning up late to a team meeting.

I think it is correct to make an example of him but for goodness sake. Buy the lad an alarm clock. If somebody comes in with 25 million then would think it would be sensible to cash in now.

The chatter seems to suggest it is his way of agitating for a move in the transfer window.

Any news on Gaston Ramirez down there mate? News up here (Boro) ranges from he is having a medical to we arent interested!

4 clean sheets for forster since coming back from 10 months out injured including 10 saves (according the EPL fantasy site i counted more) tonight
has to be on the plane to the euros and challenging for the number 1 spot surely

without him coming back saints could be on the fringes of a relegation dogfight

Matt Targett expected to start again tmoro ?

if we play 3 at back yes

i think he will stick with 3 at back if it aint broke dont change it

Tyty, and gl :P

what a fantastic end to the season, 5/6th and record points haul

will be supporting Bournemouth Tuesday in the hope of getting 5th and the auto group stage of Europa league
i can imagine that man u will have a young fresh eager team out on Tuesday as they rest the main players for cup final

Million u get Emery.

FDB maybe?

lol@tighty

i was just coming along to do the same although its still not official  due to his holiday need a new long term topic name though

"Saints & Sinners"?

apart from wanyama we dont sin much

'God' was a Saint

ldo

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb6rt1QY-9Q

great player, but hard as nails and very rare he gets through a game without sinning and getting a card or 2

so, realistically, who do you want for next manager?

Do you think Koeman will come hunting some of his players? I'd think he'd be tempted to try and take the spine - Forster, VVD, Wanyama & Long giving him a known toughening up of Everton. Would need serious money to do so obv.

It would be really harsh to lose them, but I've an ulterior motive as I'm sure Celtic will have sell on clauses in with Forster VVD & Wanyama.

At the end of the season, Koeman verbally agreed to a new contract with Saints, even down to such details as what players would be leaving [Wanyama (most likely to Spurs), Pelle (most likely to Lazio), Juanmi (to Sociadad, already done) lol, I didn't even know he had gone! and Mane (most likely to Man. Utd)] -- as well as discussing our transfer targets into the Club. This was all verbally agreed upon, leaving the finer details of Ron's actual contract itself to be sorted by his agent and settled when he returned from [his first] holiday.Whilst he was away however, Everton approached Ronald's [now former] Agent, Guido Albers, to sound him out on Ronald's interest in taking up the Everton Job. His agent, taking Ronald at his word - "I like to honour my contract, I like to stay at Saints" - [bear in mind that the agent had been involved in negotiating Ronald's new Saints contract, and therefore believed that he wished to stay] flatly turned down the Everton approach on behalf of Ronald, and instead put forward the name of another of his clients, Frank De Boer, who was indeed interested in the Everton job. [Two agent pay-days for the price of one!] Everton, having already been turned down by their first choice, Unai Emery from Sevilla [who is off to PSG] were determined to get their second choice [Ronald Koeman] -- and so used Dutch agent Rob Jansen to approach Ronald with an "offer he could not refuse" -- i.e. £6-7 mill a year, and £100m transfer kitty to splash. Ronald was furious that his own agent [Albers] had refused the offer without even speaking to him first, and sacked him, taking on Rob Jansen in his place. And here is where things get interesting.Koeman was not entirely dishonest -- as he wasn't really that interested in the Everton job. Who wouldbe, when you've just got your team into European football for the second year running, already enjoy substantial backing from your board, the adoration of your loyal fan-base -- and Everton are nowhere? But what Koeman wanted to do, was to use this interest and concrete offer as a bargaining tool when he returned from his holiday, to say to the Saints Board "this is the kind of 'ambition' I am talking about". He wanted to "use" the Everton interest to get himself more spending money with Saints -- but he grossly overestimated his own "value" to the Saints Board.
For quite a while now -- Saints have not been entirely happy with Koeman. Many of the agreements he had previously made when he first signed, he had not been honouring. The style of football, formation, and most importantly -- the much vaunted "pathway" to the First Team from our famed Academy -- which under Ronald has been said inside the Club to have become "blocked". His attitude toward our young players, never bothering to involve himself with the Academy or even watch their games [he sees himself very much as a "First Team Manager only" whereas we want our manager to take a keen interest in helping develop our burgeoning talent], often discouraging them, blankly stating that most of them are simply not good enough, and at one point launching into a very nasty tirade of abuse to young Matty Targett, that is said to have stunned those who were there in its cutting spitefulness and completely unnecessary severity. The "esteemed" Ronald Koeman callously tore a sensitive young lad to shreds in front of all his mates, and has since been widely regarded as a complete *****.Ronald Koeman, despite his very well presented and controlled public image in the media, is not particularly well liked by many at the Club, to make a sweeping understatement. His aloofness and arrogance on the training ground, his unapproachability, and tendency to snap at players and speak to them in a disrespectful tone has not gone down well. Mane, JWP, Harry Reed, and Tadic in particular have an immense dislike of Ronald Koeman, and others only tolerate his tactless approach as they're regularly in the Team, were enjoying an element of success under him, and don't want to rock the boat. But you get the general idea.
We are also greatly peturbed at some of Ronald's training methods, i.e the lack and short duration of them, the low intensity, and lack of commitment to training in general. He gives the players a lot of time off, and is prone to "disappearing on golfing breaks"
when we feel that he should be spending his time coaching our players!
The Board have been questioning a lot about his management style and not honouring his commitments to playing "The Southampton Way" and his stifling of the pathway for our young players for a while now -- but whilst he has been enjoying success and has the firm backing of the fans, they have been loathe to take any firm course of action. Ronald got very lucky during our disasterous run of form over the Christmas period, where we lost seven out of nine games, and we were persisting in that horrendous hoofball style of football, lumping long balls up to a woefully out of form [yet constantly picked anyway] Pelle, and privately among the Board, questions were being asked by some, of whether to get rid of Koeman then. But as I say, he got lucky: Pelle got injured, and Ronald was forced to play the excellent Shane Long [who he previously never game a proper chance to show his qualities], and change back to a style of play more suited to our philosophy. Shlong pretty much saved Koeman's job at that time.So that's the background. Ron thought his "gravitas" in the game deserved a certain respect, and coupled with the success he has brought us -- he badly misjudged his importance to our Board. He thought he could use the Everton interest, believing his value and position at the Club to be unassailable -- to effectively blackmail the Board into agreeing completely to his own terms to sign a new deal. It wasn't so much about the personal money on offer, but more with getting more to spend on new players than was on offer -- and forcing Sadio Mane to stay again against his will. Sadio hates Koeman [the phrase used (by Sadio) was "fucking arrogant asshat"], and the irony is, we now have a higher likelihood of keeping him [Mane], without Koeman around. Not to say that will definitely happen, just that it might.
Koeman gave us an ultimatum, that we could either make him an offer much closer to what Everton were offering -- or he would simply not sign the new deal, and see out the last year of his contract as promised. This effectively massively backfired on him, as our Board were really not that fussed. We have other excellent candidates on our shortlist who we feel would stick much more closely to our Club philosophies, and therefore be a better fit with the Club -- and as stated -- many players who'd be happy to see the back of him.So the Saints Board effectively called his bluff, and said sorry Ron -- either you sign the deal you've already verbally agreed to -- or you can take the Everton job and we'll get in someone who will do things the way we want, according to our Club philosophy. What we won't have, is a "lame duck" manager seeing out the last year of his contract, when what we want, is for someone committed to our new Five-Year Plan and hungry to build on what we've already achieved. Ronald simply wasn't showing the kind of commitment we were looking for, so we gave him the choice to either do so, or fuck off to Everton. Lol.We gave him two weeks to decide what to do; sign the new contract, or go fuck himself. Ron stormed off in a huff on holiday number two after this, and we shall await the final outcome. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that he yet may end up staying, so don't burn any effigies just yet -- although to be honest -- I suspect that bridge has now been burnt sufficiently from both ends to be unlikely in the extreme. Though, stranger things have happened -- like Ronald Koeman being interested in a club like Everton for example, lol. And this is why the whole sorry saga has been playing out now for so long. Ronald doesn't reallywant the Everton job -- but his own duplicitous conduct has ended up forcing him down a path he was entirely not expecting! He badly misjudged the situation and his own worth to the Club -- and thought that we would bend to his will, to keep such an esteemed figure at the Club at all costs. And now -- if he doesn't take the Everton job -- he looks like a complete *****, as he [almost certainly] won't be staying at Saints. Well, he looks like a complete ***** either way now, whatever he does, lol.He's completely blown the reputation he carefully established for integrity, decency, and being a man of honour and respect.
Another thing, is that we will not budge on the finer details of his compensation package with Everton. Some of which (including guarantees that they will not make offers for any Southampton players once Koeman arrives) are proving to be a real sticking point, as is the contract on offer to his brother Erwin, and the fact that both Erwin and particularly Jan Kluitenberg (our fitness coach) are pissed off at Ronald, as they both love being at Saints, and didn't want to leave. Erwin, ultimately, will be loyal to Ron -- but Jan (and his family) really love living in the area, have settled really well here and don't particularly want to leave. (He may yet even end up staying). If Everton do not agree to absolutely everything that Saints want -- we are quite happy to deny Everton permission to take our under contract manager, and essentially "hang him out to dry" for a year whilst his contract runs down, and we'll get on and appoint someone who does want to commit to us fully.
Moving on to that now -- and some details of our shortlist:Most of the names in the press are not our preferred targets. Don't worry at some of the horriffic options that have been bandied around. The likes of Moyes and McClaren are nowhere near consideration. I've heard Pellegrini linked in the media, and he is on our list, but only as an albeit very decent back up option if we don't get one of our preferred candidates. Eddie Howe I've also seen linked, he is on our long-term watch list of potential managers that is constantly updated, and Les Reed in particular is a big fan -- but overall we don't feel that he yet has the required level of experience or "gravitas" to impress our Europe-bound Squad or the names we're looking to bring into the Club. Frank De Boer has also been linked everywhere, and is on our list -- but some way down the pecking order, as we prefer someone with experience and evidence of implementing their philosophy across a range of Clubs to show consistency in application, whereas Frank has so far only managed at Ajax.My friend [indicated to the existence of, but] will not reveal the names - of two of our most favoured options at the top of the list, as they do not want to risk alerting other Clubs to the possibility of their availabilty, but other than those, I can say that Murat Yakin [currently out of contract after parting ways with Spartak Moscow] Vitor Pereira [of Fenerbahçe], Paco Jémez [of Rayo Vallecano] are all managers who are thought of very highly by the Club, sharing in our philosophy and playing the brand of football we like, and have long been on our watch-list. So if we don't get one of our two unrevealed names, those three are high on our appreciated list. So too very much is Thomas Tuchel, but the fact he's only just recently replaced Jurgen Klopp at Dortmund crosses him off of our potential targets for now, [he's unlikely to be interested].
And that is about all I have for now. But suffice to say, that if Koeman does eventually end up at Everton -- it is only because we have succeeded in getting everything that we want from Everton in order to release him from his contract. Otherwise, enjoy a year of downtime Ron -- and just think of all the holidays and golfing opportunities you'll be able to partake of!

What do you want to change it to?

How big of a role will ward prowse play next season? Time for him to step up? Think his lack of athleticism will hold him back?

Great news Eric black appointed asst manager, and lesser news some French guy appointed manager

Pelle off to China. £13 million.

http://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/11700/10496118/graziano-pelle-leaving-southampton-for-china-sky-sources

Good money for a 31 year old.

Pelle off to China. £13 million.

http://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/11700/10496118/graziano-pelle-leaving-southampton-for-china-sky-sources

Good money for a 31 year old.

Pelle off to China. £13 million.

http://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/11700/10496118/graziano-pelle-leaving-southampton-for-china-sky-sources

Good money for a 31 year old.

I don't support a PL club but Southampton are, by a distance, my favourite club as a neutral. You're definitely the best team at operating a 'moneyball' setup. With apologies to Tighty I think, overall, if clubs followed the Southampton model they'd have more success in the long term than  trying to build a team in the Leicester mould (one that plays like them, rather than off the field stuff).

Really hope The Saints have another great season.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CqyG5JfXEAAVQCj.jpg)

Southampton Football Club has today been made aware by the Daily Telegraph that, as part of their on-going investigation, the club's assistant first team manager Eric Black will feature as part of an article in tomorrow's paper.

The club immediately requested to be sent, by the Daily Telegraph, the details of this article, but the newspaper declined to share any further information. We have today contacted The FA and the Premier League, and intend to work closely with both bodies on this matter when the facts become clear.

Southampton Football Club is fully committed to investigating any situation that directly or indirectly relates to our club, employees or the wider community.

Le Tiss would have been proud of that.

Why isn't Bertrand playing?

(http://i68.tinypic.com/123r39f.jpg)

Jose Fonte hands in a transfer request. :-(

He is the last remnant of the league one team and has really been the heart of the side for 7 years.

Need a good replacement before he goes anywhere as Yoshida is not an adequate stop gap.

This says a lot about our wage structure. Fonte obviously believes he can get that one big deal elsewhere. Probably makes good business sense but tugs at the heart strings.

I assume we have some options in the pipeline given he was making these rumblings in the Summer.

i hope one day we get a transfer window where we dont lose an important first team player

WEMBLEY here comes the Saints

i know there is a big disconnect between (some) fans and clubs as to the FA Cup

and it was Southampton's ninth game in january yesterday

but (play another record) wasn't the team selection yesterday a complete shocker?

Jake Humphrey Verified account
‏@mrjakehumphrey

Decisions like Puel's to make 10 changes do the Fa Cup no favours.  Not going down, unlikely to make top 7...so go for it in the cup!!!!

thanks

i think i am just realising i am living in a lost era!

I love the cup but as I posted on a fb group last night, we have played more games than any other epl side this year, we have 9 players getting treatment for knocks or injuries that have played for us this season just now, less than 72 hours since we reached the league cup final and potential 3 more fa cup games before that Wembley date (draw v Arsenal would of meant replay 5th round and another replay). Let the squad recover now one game a week until the final and get there rested and ready to play.

Pretty sad to see Southampton throwing a comp as glorious as the FA Cup.

Southampton are going to report the approach to the Premier League.

There was a meeting this morning at St. Marys with a few angry senior people at the club. There has been no official offers from Liverpool yet Virgil is saying he wants to go their as Klopp has personally been involved in chasing him.

Suspect it will get done but, as is usual, we will dig our heels in to get the best deal. Goes without saying that selling your best players every Summer is so demoralising for the fans. It's the reality of modern football and being the sort of club we are but it still pains. Say the same thing every year.

Manager gone.

Manager gone.

Chelsea have offered £60m for VVD saints say £65m or he aint going anywhere
i have a horrid feeling he will be gone soon enough but cant knock back £65m

6million not really that much in these days for transfers championship players are going for 7 figures