A proven CL manager like Koeman doesnt take a job to fight relegation. He knew which players were leaving and has the best part of £60m still to spend. Might take a few games for new players to bed in but as SP and AE say its exciting!
That relies on the assumption that Katherine is willing to spend the money and isn't just reclaiming what's been spent, with a couple of relatively cheap signings to placate the fans.
Thanks all for the welcome back! My thoughts exactly. I am not one for gloating or rivalry really, I would like to see success on the south coast , but not at the demise of football clubs and their supporters. I do fear for Saints fans. I am not saying they have blinkers on, but how can a team that finished in the top half one season try to emulate that when they have seen half a dozen first team players leave with no real replacements? I have a feeling it is going to be a long hard season for them - but I am prepared to eat my hat and when I am hopefully proven wrong. On the note that Koeman would not come for a relegation fight - I don't think he even expected the mass exodus that has occured.
What mass exodus three have gone and two have come in. All three were known before Ron signed and he also knew about the Dejan interest. Watch this space the Saints are on the up!
I'm somewhere in the middle of a fair few of these opinions - I do think the players sold to date and the others potentially to still go will impact on our Stripey colleagues - however I also think Koeman is a canny enough operator to be pulling in players that are relatively unknown from European leagues that will solidify their position - I am not so sure they will better their showing of last season but equally I do not think they will be struggling down the wrong end either.
I have to admit that these made me laugh - sportingintelligence ‏@sportingintel 7h Almost at the stage when it would make more financial sense for #LFC to buy #SaintsFC outright, keep the players they want & flog St Mary's. http://www.itv.com/news/2014-07-26/southamptons-player-exodus-sparks-internet-jokes/
Paddy Power ‏@paddypower 1h "Shut up Paddy. Southampton have loads of money that we can reinvest in the squad with." pic.twitter.com/s5GC0ST8Sz please log in to view this image
Do you think Gravesend & Northfleet, sorry Ebbsfleet United, have any chance of promotion up to the Conference this season? Beating you 3-0 today might indicate they may because Portsmouth FC are a really good football team.
Nice of you to say so Sa1nts. Yes, Ebbsfleet played very well today, and appeared more "up for it" than the Pompey side they played. PS. Ebbsfleet have already beaten Charlton & Dagenham this pre-season, so they can't be a poor team.
I'll have you know that Tadic & Pelle are still with us. That's 2 weeks now. There's loyalty right there.