http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/11389542.Krueger_hails_Les_Reed_s_influence/?ref=mac Interesting piece from the Echo praising the contribution of Reed. He claims from talking to Shaw's parents that Luke would have left two years ago if not for Les Reed. Says he was instrumental in getting Koeman here...he says Ron is not here for the short term and makes an oblique swipe at MP at the same time.
I'm all for oblique swipes at Pochettino, though there's a lot to be said for a straight right to the jaw. Not totally convinced about Reed or Kreuger just yet, but feeling more confident.
Just look at the responses! Argh! There must be enough wet beds in Southampton to start a very successful tanning business. We'll be rich in leathers.
Noticeable that the most critical posts were heavily disliked...suggesting the average fan is more positive than some posters. My view is that the worst is over (hopefully), there is nothing we can do about the past (except learn from it), so have to go forward. Les Reed has been there through our rise and working under a very critical boss, so he must have something going for him.
It is funny that Les Reed is in suave, sophisticated, Italian or seen wearing trendy suits. It has been said that Krueger is full of bull **** and having Cortese as a dictatorial leader was preferable to having someone who is nice and smiley. It was said its often better to have a boss who isn't "nice" yet no-one found it positive that the players "didn't like Les Reed" because he wasn't nice.
Good point...people liked it when agents said Nicola was impossible...no one complained that he wasn't nice. It is said that the best form of leadership is a benevolent dictator....sadly, after a while dictators stop being benevolent. Another example of inconsistency is that people complained that Ralph called us Southampton Saints...have just read someone complaining that he now says the Saints as an attempt to sound like one of us...chap can't win.
I'm actually very satisfied with the frequency and nature of the communication we've had from SFC ever since Cortese left. It's as though some fans think that they have a right to experience absolutely NO stress over the summer. They forget that every group of fans from top to bottom are feeling anxious. It's called the off season. Stating the obvious, of course we have yet to see how Ron manages, whether RK's words have substance, and all the other stuff, and the clincher being which players we'll keep by September One(TM). All those s**tting brown steam since January should maybe consider Cortese's role was performed perfectly - convince a billionaire to buy us, wipe out debts, get us promoted by being ruthless (and very astute) with appointments. But if he was going to be a mini Mussolini about it, plus start guffing about Champions League, then it shows he wasn't being realistic, which is exactly what the top brass must be, and what the fans are not required to be. BTW, Saphir Taïder was born on February 29th, which is a sure sign of something. I don't know what though.
Funny this pops up the day after that positive FFP article pops up with Krueger hinting at 'making sure that the fans never see another summer like this one'. Seems to tie in maybe coincidently with the transfer sell to boost wage spend to give us more leverage in the future. Being a cynical person I tend to take that article with a heavy pinch of salt but then I am one of those optimists that want to believe positive things, so lets hope that is the plan. Sell, boost the wages, KL empties her bank on us over the next 4 to 5 years.
