http://thepremierleagueowl.com/in-decline-no-southampton-have-never-looked-better/ Finally a positive artical about saints
I though it was very positive, and I agree with the analysis of the situation. I'm looking forward to new faces and a new era under Koeman. I don't see last season as the pinnacle of saints achievement, just a starting point to continue to press on from. Lallana, Shaw, Lambert, even Schneiderlin will all be replaced and we'll all move on too. I've got my money on another top 8 finish and a decent cup run this time around
As long as we don't rely on Jos at CB, I think we still look like a good prospect to build from even with Lovren and Morgan gone. The article was written with them in the side, but from a pragmatic point of view they are just another 2 players that need to be replaced,and will be. I'm genuinely optimistic about next season, and I suspect I'm not alone
They will be replaced, but people tend to fail to appreciate the rate at which players brought in fail to meet expectations. We're losing five of our best players, known quantities all...it's not exactly easy to find five or more players who will step in from the off and replace what the departures provided. I'd be shocked if we finished in the top eight; I'd snap someone's hand off for a comfortable bottom-half finish, and build from there.
Two problems with replacing players which are glossed over: - They have to actually be good signings - They have to gel
I know, but if I thought about it too logically, I'd have no place on this board and wouldn't be looking forward to next season at all.
We'll probably struggle next season. It's a pretty familiar pattern for a third season in the PL even without all the upheaval. But so long as we finish above 18th, we can push again on after that.
IMHO The extent of the losses will determine how good we look on opening day. So far its not that big of a deal. Adam is the only substantial blow. Right now we look pretty bloody good with management and money in the bank. If our midfield marshal goes and our best centre-back it will rock the team right off-axis. MORE than them and we will be in danger of starting from scratch and even 100 million wont look that rosy. So far, I'm worried about the post world cup frenzy but happy with the current situation and looking forward to some new arrivals. Two signings of the calibre of Pelle and things will seem much more positive : )
As mentioned, the article was written before the suggestion we might lose Lovren and Morgan. Morgan linked to arsenal on Sky this morning. However, I do agree in the main...we are not losing players to pay off debts, but are reinvesting in players. Will be a tough job for Ronald and his team, but I bet they are up for it. What the fans have to accept is that our style will be different as we will be playing to a different range of strengths and weaknesses. However, as long as we don't resort to boring football (unlikely), I can live with that.
Recruitment is 50/50 in football Even with no-one leaving, teams would be 'fearing' us more and it's be harder to wing games. I said long back that finishing below 8th next season, maybe as low as 14th would have been ok before the departures and part of the overall progress. Too many fans expect a straight line graph with progress. Next season teams will not know what to expect - that may be an advantage. No team will be able to say, "stop Lallana, you stop Saints" Should teams press us next season, or sit back and counter? We don't know. They don't know. We will be ok I am sure. But do you know what? If the unthinkable happens, then I'll live with that too!
They just mentioned on Sky that Alex Ferguson made mistakes when making signings as well...turned down James Rodriguez to sign someone everyone's forgotten about. Not quite as simple as that of course, because perhaps Rodriguez would have faded at United as well.
Just realised I posted exactly the same article on Saturday, in the "Where would you rather be..." thread. Oh well.
I knew it had been posted before, but not by whom. Didn't want to be one of those annoying people who keep pointing errors out...with the exception of lamballana (always open season there) <--- this means I am joking.
Looked at SaintsWeb and was reassured of my own sanity by the crazies over there, but they are nothing compared to the Echo site. Some of those people really shouldn't be Saints fans...I'm surprised they haven't died of a stroke by now. Every player or member of backroom staff hired or suggested is apparently a liability and a sign of our imminent demise. Need a bit of spine and bouncebackability to support Saints, boys.
