Should I have a pop at writing the next Saints manifesto as well.? Hmm.. perhaps I've peaked already.
Absolutely confident that Ron will see his contract out at the minimum....he has a history for doing that. An honourable man who would hate to leave a place with a bad taste in his mouth...unlike a certain Tottenham manager (actually there have been 2 Tottenham managers who did that). He knows he will always be in work, so doesn't need to panic and think he has missed the boat.
All well and good; but we have no idea what Ron's really thinking. All the above is just what we'd like to believe is going on in his head. Just supposition, though it would be great if it was true.
Kreuger says we are thinking long term about Koeman....not like he has ever been proved wrong the very next day Be lovely to think he'd sign a new contract....the jury is out on that one, but I'm willing to bet he is here next season.
Of course, Hoddle being the other one. It reminds me of those few years with WGS in charge. Spurs had Hoddle and they came to St Marys on the Wednesday, New Years Day and we beat them 1-0, with Beatts scoring a good solo goal. Then they returned on the Saturday for the FA Cup when we absolutely thrashed them 4-0, and it could so easily have been 5 or 6. Then, early the next season, after we acquired Kevin Phillips, we went to WHL and beat them 3-1. Spurs knew they were in trouble, but they'd had everything, personnel wise, from Saints that was honourably possible [even for Spurs], so Hoddle started his journey towards the Exit door. I'm not a bitter man, especially with what subsequently has turned out these days, but wouldn't it be nice if fate happened again.?
I have always considered that we would have stayed up if Lowe had been able to bring Hoddle back when he wanted to...unpopular thought at the time and doesn't matter now
I had mixed feelings on that. I also feel and felt the same, on that score, but I was beginning to see the light regarding Lowe as an overall good for the club. People have their good time at a place [Cortese, for example] and Lowe was up to the limit on his tenure. He enjoyed an FA Cup Final and, in retrospect, should have made plans to go after that, for the good of the club. However, I'm glad he didn't. We would not be where we are today had Saints not had that extremely bumpy ride to July 2009, so ironically, it's hard for me to think too badly of Lowe these days. I think well of Mary Corbett and especially Leon Crouch, even though he was no speaker his heart was well placed. He kept Saints staggering along long enough to be noticed.
For me, this is a solid reason also as to why he might not sign a new contract. After three years, he may feel there's nowhere else he can take us using this model, and committing to another three years for Ron may not be the same decision as for other managers, as for Ron it means three more years, rather than reneging on that contract whenever he gets a decent offer. Six years at any club, let alone a non-CL club, is extremely rare - almost unprecedented - so would think a one years extension may be the most we could hope for. Doesn't stop me being optimistic, though - I am going to continue thinking he may well sign for a further three years, such is his willingness to become indelibly associated with our history. Fans, though, do also get bored with relationships, and even good ones that work - eg. Pulis at Stoke - get stale somewhere down the line.
Always nice to recognise another member of the schadenfreude club I feel I shouldn't take such petty pleasures, be above it all. But hey, we're all human.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34528727 As I suspected there is seeding for the euros which means the organisers expect a Germany v Belgium v Spain final. While this my make a great final, as we all know when two highly fancied teams get there, the outcome is usually a tetchy dull affair. It would be wonderful to chuck the seedings aside and have an open draw. It would make for a very refreshing tournament, as it is the best teams will labour way to the latter stages of the tournament. EUFA get a grip and change your attitude!!
http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/...y-man-united-s-lgv-credited-for-southampton-s Prezzo credits LVG with Pelle's development. That'll go down well with our Ron.
Ah but then Markus would have taken over Pompey, Rickie would still be playing for Bristol Rovers, Nige would be a manager in League 2 who no one knew, and worst of all Jose would probably have moved back to Portugal.
