I'm sure it's not as simple as that once you factor in wages, agents/signing on fees etc. but it does seem like we should be able to spend more than we do. We must have properly ****ed up on wages. Need Fraser and Carillo gone asap really.
Just as a point of reference, after the 2015-16 season, our net debt stood at 39.1m; after 2016-17 (where we took in about 15m more in transfer fees than we paid out) it had improved by 42m. 20m of that was converted to equity as part of the sale, but we still netted more than 20m in real-by-god cash (as opposed to paper profit). And that was when we already had an enormous wage bill: above every team save the big six and Leicester (we were basically level with them).
I think you’re right about Ralph, but all teams are unlucky with injuries, in our case it just reduces the choice of which not quite good enough player is left to choose from. Might sound a bit harsh as I believe most of them are trying damn hard, more so in recent weeks but it doesn’t change the reality I’m afraid.
One thing we can probably agree on is that, barring a dramatic upturn in form, Long won't be with us next season. Ralph believes this squad is good enough to stay up but the major rebuild will see a lot of departures - but not McCarthy, Valery, Bednerak, JWP, Hojberg or Redmond. I reckon the team will be built around them.
It seems a while since the last set of accounts were produced. So we must be due seeing them. I think the financial year is June - May and you have a year to publish them. We should see a large profit (VVD), but keep our eyes peeled for £2m spent on paper clips. As you noted earlier, we spent/wasted most of the VVD money and he was only one set of wages compared to five new arrivals. Think the lack of spend in January is as boring as Ralph said. Clubs don’t want to sell and we couldn’t or didn’t want to overspend or waste resources on 3rd choices
I wonder if it will be like when Pelle left and everyone thought they wouldn't miss him and then we had nobody to score goals.
I thought Long's movement on Saturday opened up space for us others to [not] use effectively. I may be the last Shane Long fan left in Southampton, and I can appreciate how a striker with such a low strike rate comes in for stick; but I do see what he offers.
Nah another one here. We all know his limitations but I can't help but love the bloke, will be sad when he leaves.
Yes indeed, in fact I’ll take any way or anyone to score the winner there!! It can be deflected off the ref’s behind for all I care! But whatever happens let’s get through a game by not giving the opposition easy goals or inviting them to score (IF we get one) after we have!!
I wasn't that surprised that nothing happened during the January window...... Injuries have not helped us either. Having said that it was great to see that our midfield started to score goals. But What I cannot fathom out is why it is that our so called forwards aren't adding their share. I hear what you say about injuries and while I agree to a point some go a whole game with hardly even getting a shot on target !!!!
Yep. Danny Higginbothom style v 'Boro a few years back (yeah, i know that wasnt a winner - but you get the gist).
Cardiff really didn't deserve to win that game. I saw one team playing for football, albeit ineptly at times, and another team playing for free kicks and corners. We weren't great by any stretch of the imagination - too many misplaced passes where the team wasn't in synch with one another - but I still think we'll stay up. Cardiff won't win many more games with their anti-football
I'd put saints at 50 / 50 to stay up now. We are way too soft in defence. I just hope Brighton keep losing!
I'd put the chances of us getting relegated a good bit less than 50/50. In fact I'd gladly have an even £50 with you that we will stay up.
