Southampton have just had a brilliant season. In their second season in the prem they finished comfortably in the top half. Perfect time to push on But they lost their manager to a team only a few places above them, lost Lambert, and look like they're going to lose Shaw to the team that finished 1 place above them (Man United) and their best player looks like he is on his way as well. So what is the point?? If we do well next season will we just lose our manager and our best players to the established big teams?
It proves the point that the vast majority of players are mercenaries,who only care for themselves!!!
Yes, is the answer. We used to laugh at countries like Spain, Italy & Portugal when 3 or 4 clubs would totally dominate the league Our only hope is a season or two in the sun and a trophy, we'll never win the league or even come close to it. The game's up.
Haway Smug, it's not like that's going to happen in our lifetime. For me, I'd love us just to be a well established, financially solvent, and attractive club for quality players, appreciative fans and a once proud city to stand tall again.
Potentially we have more going for us than Soton, if those at the top are a determined team and bring in quality over time then they reap the benefits of success. Pocchtino took a taltnted bunch on and hardly got to know them before deserting, young promising coaches are still learning their craft sut at Spurs he will be in a hurricane from day one.
No i dont think so, by the grace of god we are in the miz again, ellis haa enough tenure now to know what is required You have to take £25m for hendo, even if he could run our midfield This is where we kick on i think
But on the other side of the coin, Southampton probably got to where they are, because the sold their better young players for millions, Wallcot, Oxlaide-Chamberline and invested it on their youth academy to bring the next lot through. Lambert deserves his chance, 32 been loyal to Southampton, but his boyhood club has just cone in for him, not sure why Liverpool need him mind but he deserves it. Shaw and llalana come through their youth, they could get 50 million for the pair, its not like its chump change, which again they can invest. The top clubs can't have every player, I just hope the British players they do poach get game time, and not just rot in the reserves only to be sold for a pittance in 3-4 years time. Loyalty only exists in teams that are winning things.
They will have received compensation for their departed manager, and will receive good fees for lalana and the full back If they recruit well and invest well they will move on The OP suggests they have been left will nothing
So what if they get good money? It's not like they can bring in star players Who are Southampton going to spend £50m+ on? They'll bring in good players, I'm sure, but the best they can hope for is another top 10 finish. And for me finishing in the top ten alone is ****ing boring and pointless. Any star performers will be off again This year we managed to get to the final of a cup, but how long till the next time we get to a cup final? How long till we win something? It's ****e
Regardless of the Ox and Walcott sales, they were loaded for a lower league club anyway. They've got a fantastic academy, but their best players are just being bought by other teams I disagree with that last line as well, Dortmund won the Bundesliga twice, Kagawa goes to play a bit-part role at United, Gotze leaves to Bayern & Lewandowski leaves to Bayern
Even a trophy is big ask, we managed to get to the final and the lads gave it everything, but when the opposition has spent as much as City have it's always going to be very tough. These teams are getting better each year and we'll see the gap widen and widen. Only chance we have of winning the league, or even getting champions league is getting bought by someone with more money than sense
But like I said they cant take them all, and why can't Southampton get further and invest it in new players to get them to that next step, I agree it will be hard work but its not impossible, and if they do get to Europe/top 4 then they will do the same, they will poach players from lower down the league. Actually all teams do top pl will poach lower pl top championship, lower pl will poach championship, top championship lower championship etc etc etc. We may not like it, but its a business they are running, and only 4 teams out of 92 can ever get cl football per season.
I like to be optimistic, but being realistic, what's the best we can hope for? One season in the top half? Getting to another cup final?
Man u and Bayern are a hell if a lot bigger than Dortmund even if they won the league twice. Plus its not always up to the player, the club might say the offer is too good, cya
They've just had an amazing season but finished 8th, they'd have to spend so much money to compete with the other teams for champions league, and with Uefa's fair play thing how can Southampton do that?
How do you define "a lot bigger"? Dortmund had the highest average attendance in Europe last season Well Gotze left because he wanted to and so did Lewandowski. Money talks clearly, which is what my issue is. You can't achieve any sort of prolonged success unless you are filthy rich
The uefa fair play, Southampton got about 78 million at a rough guess for finishing 8th, they will probably get. 50 million for 2 players which is all profit, because they finished 8th they will get more matches on TV up until Christmas, which = more money So they have about 130 million to play with again at a rough guess, I don't think they need to worry about ffp do you. Money doesn't always bring success, just look at spurs for that, but even if it doesn't it will still help them in the long run. Let's be honest though, this isn't exactly a new thing, getting old and memory is fuzzy but Leeds won the league, Man U bought Cantana, Man U won the league, real bought Ronaldo. Us and Newcastle years ago were always complaining about selling our best players, its never changed and probably never will.
I never thought I'd feel sorry for Newcastle supporters but they're in a terrible situation. Ashley is only interested in the money, he has zero interest in the club or the fans ........ and they know it. They also know they're totally powerless to do anything about it. When your only hope is that he'll someday buy Rangers our situation doesn't seem so bad
