The overwhelming conclusion I've drawn from reading reaction to this news on here, on SaintsWeb and on other online platforms is how one-sided loyalty seems to be in football. When we're doing great and Ronald has other options, people are adamant that he needs to commit his future to the club. When it's not going so well and the club has other options, some people want him out the door, rather than committing his future to helping us to turn things around. Commitment is a two-way thing. It would arguably be very poignant if Saints and Ronald signed a five-year deal off the back of a rocky season, not only as RK showing his commitment to SFC, but SFC giving a very public statement of belief and faith in Ronald for the long-term. He hasn't become a bad manager overnight. Let's not forget that he gave us the best Premier League season in the club's history and took us into Europe. Yes, things went badly beyond that point and we went out far earlier than we would've liked. There are lessons to learn, but let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. I do believe he does want to play football the right way, I do believe the club's philosophies and Ronald's philosophies match pretty well and I do believe he's got what it takes to lead the club out of this current rut and on to better things again. I'm not a fan of changing manager every couple of seasons. Providing this turns around and we finish c. 12th, I'd still offer him a new deal and back him with further funding to lead the club on a longer basis. End.
Good post but regarding your last sentence about Manchester United - there are some very good players there and perhaps a change of manager might radically alter their results. One just needs to think of Chelsea and how they have suddenly sprung to life again. Regarding Saints the question is do we ride out the storm or go for the quick fix and end up with someone like Poyet?
Why would we go for Poyet?! Glen Johnson and now Poyet.. Haha. There are other managers out there besides Koeman. No one would have thought of Pochettino until it happened, and Reed/Cortese pulled that out of the bag. "There's no-one else" is not a good reason for keeping a manager. There are far too many variables behind the scenes which we, as fans won't know. We have to trust that Reed will though, and that he will pull the trigger or give full backing Ron as he sees fit.
There are s There are some good players there, but the philosophy that SAF bought for so long has been thrown out of the window. Sadly, I find myself agreeing with that knob head Durham off talk sport. They are just another club now prepared to spend in order to perpetuate the lie that they are as big as Man City, Chelsea, PSG, Real and Barca. With regards a short term replacement, there is no one that would really float my boat. Defo not poyet though....!!!
The U21 league system is a joke, any league that allows talent to be hoovered up by the larger clubs and then loaned out on mass across the same and other countries needs serious work. But then financially, it works for the league and the big clubs financially, so why would they change it...?!
There is hardly a poster doing that now is there? Some saying stick with him, but I'd say that almost all are asking questions. On Pelle, I hope he comes back firing or I'll be for the high jump!
bloody pedants! I'm finding a new clique. You were obviously dragged up posher than me. We bathed in the sink.
Hi Os. I made a question not a statement. I don't believe in the quick fix but one or two posters on here would wave goodbye to RK if results don't go our way in the next few games. The outcome of that as I have stated is that we end up with someone like Poyet, something I wouldn't want. As regards getting someone like Glen Johnson, someone on this site did agree with me. I suppose we shall have to agree to disagree on that one but the guy a good engine and real pace to attack down the right flank, thus allowing the players further forward to attack the penalty area. Anyhow that is hypothetical as it is 99.9% unlikely to happen.
Ides, stop mentioning that blokes name. I know you don't want him, but every time I see his name, it makes me feel queasy
Would I like Koeman to stay and get us back on track? Course I would. But then sometimes life isn't as simple as that. As always I am a wait and see guy. If he turns it around and signs a new contract then great news. If Koeman gets sacked now or if we lose our next two games then he gets sacked I can see why. I am neither loyal to the board or Koeman. The only thing that matters to me is Saints. If Kat sells I wouldn't care as long as the right person buys us, same with Koeman getting sacked or leaving. I will say thanx and move on if either happened. My loyalty isn't to the players, the manager or the owners.
I would be delighted if he signed a new deal for 5 years. It would tell me that the board have agreed a strategy with the manager and that would be to invest more money, but without taking risks with the club's finances. If RK is asking for signings then it makes sense that they would want more commitment from him. RK has nothing to prove to me after the way he handled the rebuilding of the team last season. The board has nothing to prove to me after I look at the investment which has gone into the club. To those not just concerned but panicking about our recent poor form, a quick thought; imagine that our form had been consistent throughout the season and we were still 13th, would you still be thinking of possibly firing the manager? 13th ain't great, but not a disaster in my view. As others have said, it's been fine margins recently. Reminds me of Nigel's start-bad luck and individual errors which were coming good just as he was fired. I can only hope that this rumour is true.
The only thing niggling me is the academy rumours. What would people expect the Board to do if the manager is not looking at doing what they want him to do? Maybe they accept his judgment on those not up to it? Several fans have been saying on here that we are entering a lean period with regard to quality of players coming through - maybe this is true. Maybe not. For me, first things firsts. Win some games. Get some points. Quash any discussions of relegation. Move up the league. I genuinely think that the issue of the Academy players is clouding things. Yes, it would be great to have some kids coming through, but I don't think they are the answer to our on field results. Playing Reed isn't going to suddenly score us goals and win us games. I've only seen a little of Seager. He can finish, but for those who have seen him they seem to suggest he is a poacher. If that means he isn't going to hold things up and be hanging round for the one or two chances, then maybe we can't afford that. Having said that, our main striker isn't great at hold up play anyway. Targett covers Bertrand. If we don't win some games soon, then I think the Board will take their action. If we do, then I hope the behind the scene things are amicably being sorted and we move on.
Sink? SINK? Bloody luxury, lad. We were hosed down with Sulphiric Acid once a week. And we had to be grateful.
I don't think the current results are going to get him sacked. We'll be safe from relegation. It is all down to whether the rumours/reports of Koeman's approach (or non approach) to the academy that will get him out the door. It's all very well saying that he is just being honest but his honesty could have implications longer term on something that is key to our business model. We have invested heavily in the academy and while Koeman's words and actions are short term the repercussions wouldn't be. I've said it on another thread. It doesn't matter if Koeman turns things around if he has the mentality and opinion that we need to buy players instead of blooding youngsters because that is the model we are promoting to all and sundry. Not just to parents of would be top level footballers but to the world. That is our selling point and what we are using to build our reputation. The comment 'telling parents to bugger off' is ridiculous. For the sake of this season or next season we should risk the future plans that we have heavily invested in? To me it is plain and simple. Either Koeman buys into the 'Southampton Way' program including the 'pathway' or the board say sorry we need someone who will get with the plan. Forget CL and Euro places, we are being outspent by those around us. 'The Southampton Way' will be necessary for us to keep top half the way things are going. I think over the next decade most teams in and around our position are going to see the league go a bit like the Lower leagues where it can be a lottery whether you do well or not depending on the player turnover hitting the ground running and who you get on loan. Only takes one bad season and you're down. Could be anyone who isn't splashing out mega money on the very best players. Leicester down there last season, up there this season, next season who knows. Us up there last season, down there this season, next season who knows? The Southampton Way and the Pathway is much more important to us than the short term results because that policy is our future.
Posters are complaining that we cheaped out this summer and should have bought more and better players. That would have only buried the Academy players further. I can only imagine the mega-meltdown that would have happened had the club said "Naw, we won't replace Schneiderlin. We'll just hand the job to Reed," I also remember saying last season that MP was good about playing the youth, an getting attacked for it. i do think a youth policy is important. But it takes balls. Which sad to say many here are lacking judging by how much they panic over a loss and how quick they are to write off players. None of this is about the academy. It's just more stupid second-guessing and grasping at straws. No one has seen Seager play in a PL match, so therefore he must be awesome.
