Is that the joy of the loan system, though? Taider was very good in the pre season game I saw but, because he was on loan, we were able to get shot of him instantly when he turned out not to fit into the Southampton Way. We weren't stuck with him on our books like we are with Osvaldo. It means you can get people with problems into your squad while minimising the risk. Elia's a case in point. Reputation means no-one want to risk their money on him. We try him, make sure he fits and can keep calm for a season then we spend the cash. It's like a long-term test drive of a car; there's nothing to lose. Vin
What exactly has Elia done? The only thing I have seen are driving offences....not exactly wild parties and refusing to train.
We are getting a different type of loanee this season. Not the serial loanees who went to a different club each season, not the kind who if they came good went back to their club and if they were bad you could buy them. If I understand this correctly Ryan, Toby, Eljero have all come with an option to buy that we might realistically take up and due to the legendary Ronald/Black Box partnership might actually want to take up.
We're definitely getting loanees in who make a difference, and I would certainly put that down to Ronald's knowledge of the players involved and the infamous Black Box. I suspect that any player Ronald might flag up gets checked out on the system, and if Les Reed says that's good enough for us, we go for it. If I remember correctly, Tadic was suggested by Koeman, but we'd already been tracking him, whereas Pelle was also suggested and they ran the Black Box stats over him before giving the go ahead [I might have the players the wrong way round] Even Le Tiss said, after the Toon match, that he didn't quite know how we were doing it. I suppose that means that the secret of the Black [Magic] Box is safe even from him.
Its clear that the black magic box didn't really work properly until Ronald arrived. I can only assume he is a wizard of some kind ... or Doctor Who maybe ... or a descendant of King Arthur and only the magic touch of a being of his kind can make the box work properly.
Don't think it was fully up and running until after he arrived. It was mainly stood in the corner in some cardboard boxes with hastily connected wires and a 15" screen. Then, when the Markus Liebherr building was finished, it was installed in its special room, given instant iconic status and we are about to have its 100% capabilities aimed at the entire opposition football world. I think they need to duck, or we'll get 'em.
I can't wait until we explore more of its features ... The LVG tactical ineptitude generator worked well. (Black box operator) >>>>>>>> (LVG)
