What a pile of utter ****e he has spouted. That really doesn't answer any of the questions that needed answering. We know you're to blame Ralph. Along with Les Reed the pair of you have ****ed up for the last 18 months. What we need to know is how you're going to turn it around. And as for the answer about spending in January you should have bloody promised new players. Get rid of Krueger. Waste of space.
Listen to the little bit at 14:15 here - https://audioboom.com/posts/6575574...-a-cloud-hanging-over-saintsfc-for-six-months The awkward silence after Blackmore mentions Koeman is gold... and also concerning.
Saying we are a small club is correct....compared with United, Chelsea etc. Saying that doesn't mean we have no ambition....just that we have to recognise that it may be harder. Low digits (or top ten as it is known to the rest of us) and Europe is the correct aim for us. For a team like us to challenge for the title involves everything falling into place and a great dollop of luck.....we missed our chance when we had a strong side and the top teams were doing poorly....Leicester took that chance....be a long time before that comes round again. Most of the rest was rather difficult to fathom....especially by the time you lose concentration at the end. Sifting through tells me a few things...we took a financial risk holding on to Virgil, but are quite pleased about it now. Part of that is due to the fact that we wouldn't be rolled over, but also suggests we got a better deal than Liverpool thought they could do unilaterally. We can't spend all the money on transfer fees because other financial factors are involved....repeating that because many fans completely fail to grasp that. MP2 has the board's support....and we have no intention of abandoning our plans and buy unsuitable/over expensive players in January. The money will be spent over the January and summer windows. No panic buys or moves planned (let's hope that works out). Now I'm quite long-winded, but did you notice, Ralph....I managed that in 2 paragraphs.
I put that silence down to him swallowing a little bit of sick that came into his throat when Adam mentioned Koeman.
AB: You're saying it's a group decision with everything. So ultimately you could all keep making bad decisions and nothing will change? RK: Well, I think with every single energy, when we're analysing leadership you need to move beyond the moment. Just looking at the moment is just not the right way to look at... AB: Well I'm looking at the last 18 months and since Ronald left, things have gone backwards... RK: *cough, cough* Sorry, erm... the cup final and 8th place last season was, for Southampton Football Club, a fabulous season. So that was definitely not a move backwards. It continues from there, but that's the amusing bit. All over the shop, Ralph.
He also seems to indicate that our issues this season are down to the VVD situation. I could accept that it has had some impact but not as big an impact as he is making out. Contradicts himself a couple of times in the interview as well
Which is what we have been doing. Just because we are a small club doesn't mean you can't be ambitious, just a bit more realistic. Constant top 8 finishes should be the aim for us along with cup runs.
Sounds like we're going to persist with the Southampton Way...meaning no external investment in the playing squad other than what we can scrape up in sales, no real intention to try and move up a level and to persist in the belief that our squad is already very good... I expected nothing more to be honest, but it doesn't make me hope for any major signings, and it doesn't make me believe the second half of the season will be any better. We seem to be treading water whilst watching other teams swim past, and as long as 3 other teams drown, we'll have done ok as far as the board are concerned. If the club think that stable mediocrity is success, then I can't see fans being any happier going forward. It just highlights the truth that fans don't really matter that much, in the big scheme of things.
I've liked this, not because I like it, but because it sums up what I took from the interview too. Unfortunately hoping for mid table stability often leads to scrapping for survival. You need to be aiming higher even if you don't always reach it.
Les and Ralph did say that it was "business as usual" after the takeover. Seems pointless to have a takeover if nothing of note changes. Obviously could get much worse...
Very good point, RSS. Villa aimed for mid table mediocrity, a position to which they also seem to aspire in the Championship. I know we're not top 4. I know we're not going to win a cupboard full of trophies. FFS, Ralph, I've supported this club for sixty years I don't need telling this. We are poor little Saints who seem to have lost their way. We only finished 8th under Poch, but we could walk with a swagger. Our team was noted for it's style of play. We lit up Wembley last February - the words of a number of observers of the game - and were happy to take the embarrassed plaudits of the Man U fans we travelled home with. We could never have held on to Poch after Spurs came in. Koeman was attracted by the promised "war chest" at Everton. But the guy who gave us pride at Wembley could still be here, but Ralph you screwed up there. And now you've got to support MP2. What is the alternative? You've dug yourself a bloody great hole and can't see your way out. Well tough, mate. Just don't give interviews that insult the intelligence of this club's supporters. As these threads indicate there are some sharp cookies around. So stop talking crap, and show real support for your beleagured manager by giving him the opportunity to build the team he wants. Either that or sack the poor sod. There is no "middle way".
