Saints Stuff

Well the future would have been playing in the lower leagues in a stadium that was much less than half full.

Don't think we've sold out a single home match this season have we? What makes you believe we would have found an extra 10k matchgoers?

 

Can someone copy and paste please.

 

Southampton expect Ralph Hasenhuttl to sign new contract as major changes to squad forecast for summer
Futures of a handful of players are still up in the air at St Mary’s

BySam Wallace, CHIEF FOOTBALL WRITER7 February 2020 • 4:42pm
Premium
Ralph Hasenhuttl has the full backing of the Southampton hierarchy CREDIT: Getty Images
Southampton expect to agree a new contract with manager Ralph Hasenhüttl before the end of the season, having been rewarded for their faith in the Austrian since the 9-0 defeat to Leicester City in late October.

Hasenhüttl, 52, signed an original contract until the summer of 2021 when he took over the club in Dec 2018 and it was his decision, along with that of chief executive Martin Semmens, to put any extension discussions aside after the nine-goal defeat to focus on stabilising the club. Although the club are yet to reach what they consider a safe points total, there is confidence that Hasenhüttl buys into the long-term future and is prepared to commit to a new deal.

The club has been restructured in recent months with the arrival from the Football Association of new director of football operations Matt Crocker, who had previously worked at Southampton’s academy. The work on rebuilding the squad began last month with the departure of Cedric Soares and Maya Yoshida on loan in the transfer window to Arsenal and Sampdoria respectively, both older players who will be free agents in the summer.


Hasenhüttl’s influence is crucial with the Austrian expected to set the path for the foreseeable future. His input is anticipated in every part of the club and the new contract will discourage any Premier League or Bundesliga clubs looking at him as a potential new appointment.

He was backed emphatically by the club’s board in the aftermath of that record-equalling Leicester defeat with the message to the squad that it would not be the manager who would shoulder the blame for the defeat. The club’s principal owner Gao Jisheng, his daughter Nelly, former majority owner Katharina Liebherr and Semmens were in agreement that Hasenhüttl was the right long-term choice. Provisionally a target of 38 points for safety was set in the aftermath of the defeat to Leicester that left the club on eight points and in 18th place on Oct 25.

Currently on a run of 16 points from their last eight games, including a win over Leicester at the King Power last month, the club believe they can move up from 13th and secure a top ten finish come May. They also have the future of a number of players to resolve once safety has been achieved. Striker Shane Long, whose current deal expires in the summer, will sign an extension and stay beyond this season.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is among the players whose futures remain undecided CREDIT: Getty Images
The future of club captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, entering the last year of his contract in the summer, will have to be sorted out one way or another.

Ryan Bertrand and Oriol Romeu both have deals which expire in the summer of next year. Danny Ings and James Ward-Prowse will have two years left after this season.

There is also likely to be the sale this summer of four of their highest-earning players currently out on loan – Guido Carillo (contracted to 2021), Wesley Hoedt, Mario Lemina (both 2022) and Mohamed Elyounoussi (2023).

As for Fraser Forster, on loan at Celtic and under contract until 2022, a decision will also have to be made on whether the goalkeeper has a future at Saints. The club are looking for players who suit Hasenhüttl’s high-pressing model with the loan signing of Kyle Walker-Peters from Tottenham Hotspur in the last window a step in that direction.

 

Cheers No7

 

Put it this way. A long time ago, Old Trafford had a far less capacity. In the 1960s it had a 44K capacity seating/standing. Not hugely more than Saints [30K]. But they had imagination and ambition. Southampton FC didn't. I see this as plain as day.

 

It also helps they are based in one of the biggest cities in the UK. Much bigger catchment area. Therefore demand for tickets grew bloody quickly as football became more and more popular.

 

Yeah that's a brilliant comparison.



Our highest average during the 60s was 25k btw - our first ever season in the top flight - and over half the decade the average was sub 20k.

 

Granted. But they were very smart.

 

They were also incredibly successful.

 

It also helped that they were competitive and won stuff in the 60s...like the European cup

EDIT: Snap

 

That too.

 

`Big` teams come from big cities. Check any league in the world. Occasionally a wee team will upset the status quo, but it ends up as unsustainable.

 

Despite the cities being smaller, more people used to support their local teams. I though agree we should do better with attendances. Mind you, we were a lot a lot closer to getting a 25k stadium than a 40k one, so 33K was at the time seen as ambitious.

The vast TV money should be used to help slash ticket prices. I see having a big full ground as important not just for the experience and atmosphere, for growing the club, the brand, sponsors, the next gen of fans, non local followers/fans and potential signings.

 

Shane's staying!

 

That’s what RL wanted originally a stadium of 45000 capacity but Eastleigh weren’t keen on it because of the shops he wanted to build as well. The board were not prepared to put the money in though to build the extra capacity at St Mary’s. Although it was always thought they would add to it later.

 

Apologies if I`ve missed it, but any update on JWP`s injury ?

 

Might be ok for the Burnley game.

 

You've probably already seen this AS but this the latest I can find

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/18214154.james-ward-prowses-knee-injury-not-bad/

 

Where did you see this Richie?

 

Read it here.....don’t know how accurate they are.