We use hypnotism against our opponents, plus put really small but pointy stones in all their boots before each game. And then the team plays well, which helps.
The ability to flog overhyped English "talent" for a ridiculas amount and sign better players for less
We breed success. We don't buy it. We march on. A player comes to us and we improve him. Our players go else where and generally they regress.
Seriously? Its about the club. There is no one player or staff member that is key to our success. Everyone that comes in signs up to the established vision to give us continuity. And anyone that comes in has to be an upgrade on the outgoing person. Stick to the plan you believe in. It's not rocket science but really hard for owners to understand sometimes.
A combination of patience and hard-nosed business acumen. We don't change managers for a 'quick fix', a la Spurs, but if what is happening is not leading to the ultimate vision of a well-run, financially stable successful club, things are changed - Alan Pardew, then Nigel Adkins were replaced. Then there's the academy, and the scouting network, plus we don't make a song and dance about what is happening. When players (Lovren & Lallana) think that they can do better, we open up another avenue of talent, and make sure that any club who thinks that individual players are the reason for our success have to pay over the odds to find out that it's not true (Lovren to Liverpool, Shaw to Man Utd) I've said too much.
Nicely put Lemons. Other clubs and the media still seem to think its some kind of magic rather than a ground up philosophy so long may it continue to baffle them.
People say that football is no longer a sport (as if it ever was) but is now about business (which it never is as no one would run a business in the same way that football clubs are run). Southampton however have become the closest to running a football club as both a place of great entertainment and a sound business.
You may have solved this particular conundrum -The capacity of St Marys is large enough for a visiting team to be intimidated (or is this just The Northam), and it is not so large that fans are hidden among the 'audience' (aka Prawn Sandwich Brigade), which is what Mourinho has complained about at Chelsea. Of course, Les Reed selling his soul to the devil must have helped (Credit where it's due - Fran noticed this first)
Slick, efficient, German inspired machine. On the rare occasions a part fails it can be replaced very easily unlike the fiats, rovers and tatas that are pretty awkward to replace and continually need new parts.
An honest answer? I haven't got a blooming clue why we have consistently come up smelling of roses for the last 5 years, but I intend to enjoy every minute of it. Must have something to do with owner though. And maybe it does make good business sense to invest in the local football club of the town where your name (Liebherr) is on all the cranes along the docks. Just look at the managers we've appointed since the Liebherr family took over; 1) Alan Pardew. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but an absolute bloody coup for a League 1 side to appoint a manager of his calibre. 2) Nigel Adkins. Back to back promotions. Never stopped smiling, never stopped winning. Absolute top, top bloke. 3) Pochettino. Not looking so clever now, but no doubting he improved us from the word go. and 4) Ronald Koeman. Absolute legend.
Dam I was going to say that earlier! Maybe that's just its code name. I bet it's actually a very high tech time machine! How else would Ronald look so young
