Just read an interesting article On BBC about potential models for promoted teams. Quote -"There are three models when you get promoted". 1.You can go for the all-out like Portsmouth and look what happened to them 2.Or you can go for the more conservative approach like Blackpool and just pay off all your debt and be more prudent. 3.Or you look at the Stoke City model of incremental building "If you sign one or two players on slightly higher wages you may be competitive." I'm assuming Corteses five year plan is based on the third option. That said we are way ahead of schedule and assuming we go up we may have to spend a fair bit more to stay there whilst the youngsters develop. What do you think?
The Portsmouth model is out of the question. We are not in a position to need to follow the Blackpool model, after all the £32m debt has been converted into shares. In effect there is no debt to pay down. The Stoke model is clearly the one which will more closely resemble the route I imagine we will take. however, i feel sure that Sir Nicola has a war chest for the premiership, which coupled with higher income will fund wage/bonus increases for existing staff, and the addition of key players in the pre season and the transfer window. The good news is that Sir Nigel will still be manager, and the club will not be held to ransom by agents and premiership players trying to line their pockets at our expense.
Dare I suggest that by being, potentially two years, ahead of schedule that Saints are not as ready as they might have been..? NO..! Banish the thought. Seriously though, I can't think of a better Executive Chairman, to carry the tasks out better, that [potentially, no chickens counted here] being ahead of schedule brings upon the club.
You may be right there. I have this horrible feeling that going up to soon could end up really hurting us, but avoid relegation next season and I think it's all uphill from there. We're relying on quality management and leadership at board level next season, but thankfully it seems we have that.
I'm all for the Stoke 'slowly but surely' model, so long as we don't have to play like them. Luckily we have a long-term "Southampton Way" as well as a short-medium term plan.
The fact that we are two years early going up (I know, I know!) can only be a good thing, surely? As we have been running at a loss all the time we have been in the lower leagues, and can only hope to make a profit in the Prem, then the sooner the better from all points of view, as the war-chest will not have been depleted too much. This will all have been taken into account and plans modified to fit the advanced timescales. As far as the players are concerned, we will undoubtedly have to make a few signings to see us through until the "golden generation" come through from the academy, but I bet there will be a few of them blooded carefully and quietly in the next season or two.
The Stoke model seems to be the current choice - was an interesting article on BBC why Reading should adopt this method. I'm sure these days that most clubs would try to live within their means, bring in a couple of experienced pro's, and build again the following year. Of course there's always an ambitious chairman who spends more than they can afford, but we don't need to worry about that one! It's a shame that sides like Blackpool and Watford couldn't stay up longer on the 'thrifty' model but fair play to them for trying.
The financial spokesman, speaking after the debt was converted to shares, said that we hadn't spent as much to get to our present position as was thought, so we definately hadn't overspent in order to be on the brink of promotion. I'm sure when everyone else is on their hols, Nigel and Nicola will put their heads together to discuss plans and targets, though I'm sure ideas have been bandied about already. The important thing is to keep the team balanced...add to the team but not disturb the ethos too much.
In truth if you do not speculate you will not accumulate. Only teams that have done this have ever got anywhere in the Premier. Teams like Chelsea, Man City went over the top in my view as possibly Tottenham. Arsenal don't seem to spend as much in one go as some of the others but are prepared to spend on youth more than established players which for them has worked. Teams like Liverpool have not spent too much and what they have spent is wasted. Newcastle and Sunderland may be the model to follow although to do that we may have to get get gates in exceeding 40000. Ok they may not be quite there but they are not far away.....both have decent managers that have an eye for players that will improve their squad at a reasonable price. As we have all seen expensive players do not always pull things off. Maybe a lesson to be learned there somewhere!!
I would suggest being more of a 'disruptive' force. I can't be bothered to go into detail, but it is sort of playing on the idea of disruptive innovation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disruptive_innovation
You must go into more detail! Having read that all I can think of is developing a team of genetically engineered genius', and never needing to buy a player ever again cos we own the rights to the formula. If you mean the only way is the Southampton way, with a new and distinct approach, what would you be looking to achieve?
