I think it will be fascinating returning to this thread in about 2-3 seasons time and seeing just how rosy things are in the future. For one, I cannot see a situation at St James' Park where the wheels do not fall off spectacularly at some point. How patient will the owners be with Eddie Howe if they fail to pick up silverware ? I just feel that Newcastle are being set up for a fall at some point as they are a club where success is only ever transitory and when things go wrong they tend to be catastrophic. I am not sure I would want to be jealous of Newcastle as you never know what is around the corner with that club especially with their current owners. Picking up on Lace's pertinent comment about the signings made by Shields, I think it will also be fascinating to see what happens to these players in the future. Of those listed, i think Edosie has the most potential but I feel that, looking back in a few year's time, the likes of Aribo and Maitland - Niles will be playing at a much lower level of football. Someone like Mara will going to end up having a similar career to the likes of the once fated Leandre Griffit and utlimately slide into obscurity in a lower tier French league. I am not convinced that Larius will ever play first team football for Saints and his diminutive stature is likely to see him play at a much lower level too where the physical demands are not so exacting. With Sports Republic very much thinking towards the future, it is obvious that the only player Saints fans will look back in disbelief out of the current squad that he once pulled on a Saints' shirt will be Lavia who is clearly destined for greater things. It will be another "might have been" situation for Saints rather like the situation with Gareth Bale. You could probably add Kyle Walker-Peters to the very small list of Saints players whose careers will be in the ascendency whereas the bulk of the current squad will never return to the Premier League. As for the others we have bought in, I just do not see these players all of a sudden coming good perhaps with the exception of Alcaraz who Adam Blackmore alluded to yesterday as someone other clubs want to take a look at in the summer. If MacAllister goes, you just feel he will be a shoo in at Brighton. When it comes to coaching, I think Ralph is the only one likely to make a further impression in the game. Nathan Jones' reputation has been destroyed by his experience at Saints and I don't seem him managing above the third tier. He is clearly not "one for the future." As for Selles, I feel this season will have been a massive learning curve for him and if he has a future as a coach, you would feel it is going to be on the continent. Ealy days for Selles, I feel, but he needs to learn his craft as he has fallen far too short in this respect during his time at Southampton. I hope someone resurrects this thread in the future or at least people post to discuss the whereabouts of those associated with the club. I do not feel that SR will still own Saints in 2-3 years time but there is no harm speculating about how their thinking towards the future ultimately plays out. Things can change rapidly in football and there can be surprises. In my opinion, the decisions we have made in 22/23 both with managers and playing staff to "invest in the future" will probably appear to be even more ridiculous than currently seems to be the case. I am really sceptical that anyone associated with Saints this season will ultimately come good other than Lavia , KWP and Alcaraz. The jury is still out on Edosie although I think he has been unforuante not to feature more this season. As for the rest, I can only see a downward spiral although I think it will be more immediate for some than others.
I agree with this up to a point, but the last time we were in the Championship, we were on the way up. The time before that we were on the way down and it was ****e*. I never, ever turn up to a game expecting Saints to win. The rest I totally agree with. *I seem to be using this word quite often these days and I have an uncomfortable feeling I will be using it even more in the future. @AshbySaint, you and your sister have clearly had an awful time recently, I'm glad to hear you are on the mend and I wish you both better luck in the years ahead. Enjoy your cruise.
For me the lack of ambition to move forward after Koeman left was very telling. There were so many big name managers who wanted the Saints job we could have had the pick of the very best at that time. May be that’s why Puel was never really accepted, even though he did well, there was always the feeling we could have chosen a better manager. The decline gathered pace when the board appointed Pellegrino as manager that was as bad as Ankersen’s Nathan Jones debacle. The standards just kept declining with Hughes, Ralph and Jones until eventually we hit rock bottom and relegation with Selles. Right now the feeling is more of relief than sadness. There will be renewed optimism at the start of next season as we have something to aim for; Promotion. Instead of just making up the numbers in the PL and fighting another depressing season from the bottom of the table, we will see the Premier League as our future and not just the past.
No, I am saying the standards declined under each managerial appointment after Koeman and that includes Ralph.
In 19/20, Ralph's first full season, Ings scored 22 goals. In 16/17, under Puel, our highest goalscorer was Redmond, with 7. Puel had a crocked J-Rod, Austin and Long as his striker options for the first half of that season. If he'd had Ings, or if Ralph hadn't, things would have looked very different.
FWIW, I know someone who works at the stadium and is in and around the players and gets a good feel for the day to day….. I’m certainly not claiming to be ITK and to a certain extent, nether is he, he just lets me know what’s roughly going on. The statement was written a couple of weeks ago and was always planned to be released upon confirmation of relegation. In addition, DS ordered a few weeks ago, a compete top to toe investigation into all the goings on this season; he is the money and wants to know exactly why things have gone so Pete Tong when the people who he has paid so handsomely have assured him that we’d be OK. It’s not major news, I’d expect nothing less, but I’m guessing, you don’t earn the kind of money he does/has without being a ruthless businessman. For me, it’s all about the statement that comes next; I’d fully expect Selles and others behind the scenes to go and that RA stays in the box DS has put him in. My moneys on Potter but that comes from nothing other than me. If ever we needed to hit the ground running, it’s this close season when it gets here, let’s hope DS is as good as his word.
It's really interesting you mentioning Potter. There are a lot of people saying there's no way he comes here, but I say why not. He did a great job at Brighton, but his reputation took a big hit at Chelsea. He was linked in the papers a month or so back with Saints, even though we where still bottom. Maybe he has set his heart on managing Saints, and the deal is already done? Even though we are now in the Championship.
There would at least be an element of feel-good with that appointment. Would be a very smart move if it was even remotely possible.
I think thats understating it TBH. If we signed Potter we would already be back in the Prem in the minds of many.
With Potter, I think it’s a shootout for him with the related clubs, and on that one it’s a competition we might actually win-only by virtue of being the worst in the league by a country mile. It’s seems to fit him being here but it wasn’t that long ago many convinced themselves that Marsch was the chosen one…
