OFFICIAL: Ronald Koeman appointed as the new manager of Southampton Football Club

I still think that if MP was replaced by Koeman in the same way Adkins was replaced. After the initial uproar I would have thought it was an upgrade.

here's a conspiracy theory... Cortese was apparently going to sack MP in December and Koeman was serving out his time to leave Feyenord. Has this just played out since then with Koeman always coming here.Poch was offered a contract (no funds) which he would never accept. Its all been a great game of cloak and daggers from the real Don Kat. *

*tongue clearly in cheek!

 

We have no idea really whether Koeman is better than MP or vice-versa. Let's hope he is, but there's no suggestion that it's clear-cut at all. I rather suspect MP will be better, but that's just opinion.

 

If this was an episode of 24 then they always defeat a devious evil terrorist and then find out there was an even more devious terrorist in charge who usually starts off as a betrayed victim before revealing themselves as said evil genius

 

With Koeman trying to get a better grasp of English reminds me of that scene in Porridge where Fletch is talking to Godber and Warren about all the courses Godber has taken at Slade Prison. "He took a course in Spanish he only learnt two words Bread and Donkey. A fat lot of good that will do yer unless you want to live on Donkey Sanwiches for the rest of your life"". With Sam Kelly dying recently all 3 are no longer with us.

 

The biggest challenge for MP will be opposition expectation and Spuds being done on the counter. People know of him and his style now so it will be interesting to see how he copes.

 

MP has three issues: Do Spurs have the players for his style; can he convince Spurs players to work their socks off; can he satisfy Spurs fans' high expectations. Be interesting to see...could be disaster or inspired. Mauricio crashing and burning would be nice to see, but nowhere near as important as Saints consolidating and moving on from last season.

 

Two Spurs fans have each said to me recently that they'd far rather have had Koeman than Pochettino, and they weren't joking either. MP has a job to win over the Spurs fans. I suspect he'll succeed if he's given time, but who gets time at White Hart Lane? Of course, Pochettino potentially failing at spurs doesn't mean Koeman is any more likely to succeed at Saints, but looked at objectively, I think we may actually have got the better deal. time will tell, as ever.

 

The proof will be seen during the season (as Archers says) but on paper we got the manager that you would expect a team like Spurs to get. They have taken the kind of risk we did...Mauricio showed huge promise and Saints certainly wanted to give him longer to prove himself, but the jury is still out on him. I loved how we played and wanted MP to continue, but Saints expectations are lower than that of the average Spurs fan or director. We could afford to play the long game.

Koeman has a tough job because it is not solely about results (paramount though that is), but also about style...I've got a taste for supporting an admired side.

 

I'm with you Fran, I can't see MP getting the Good Time Charlie's to work as hard on the high press system as his Saints players did

Talking to a Spurs fan I know he reckons that he doesn't stand a chance unless he gets rid of half the squad and bring in hungry to succeed players

Time will tell

 

I think Spurs have plenty of players who could do that, the problem is they are not the stars. If Pochettino has been tasked with getting the best out of Lamela then he's going to have to compromise on his pressing game. Will be interesting to see if he can adapt his style to the players rather than the other way around.

 

Jan Kluitenberg on Twitter:

"Two days in Southampton and already my second home... I can't wait to start."


I'm still cautiously excited - anyone else?

 

Absolutely. Without question. As has been mentioned, I don't feel anything about the Lallana/Shaw things today as we pretty much got over that a month or so ago. I'm just looking forward to this new era/team.

(I reserve the right to be very upset should Morgan go though).

 

Don't even say that.

 

Jan would be happy in a caravan in Skegness judging by his hyperactive tweets! But yes, cautiously optimistic is a nice summation

 

I'm sure Ron knew when he accepted the job that these deals were all done and dusted. Has to be positive that he still sees great potential with saints. Doesnt it? It does surely.

 

I'm sure he did as well. He is faced with a clean slate, some promising youngsters and lots of dosh (relatively). Managers have had far worse to contend with. He will be up for it...as I said on another thread, we just need patience (though I don't want any flirting with relegation).

 

Jees - if Ralp Krueger tweeted that many people on here would be pissing themselves about the faceless/shameless management talk bullshit.

One of the management team post something that could be construed as slightly sycophantic...

Still - I agree we should be cautiously excited.

 

For £70m I think most of us could pick eleven decent players which would be capable of a mid-table finish.

Ronald must be excited to be starting with a clean slate.

 

Krueger wouldn't specify the amount of days or the place because it wouldn't give him any wiggle room.

"Early on in this new chapter and we are in a positive place going forward."

 

I'm hoping that he can get JWP to the next level. Potential there (certainly England think so), but is in danger of becoming a utility player....very useful to have, but I think he is capable of more.