Hysteria

I've never seen this place like this. It's gone mad. Can we stop making wild conjecture about the future of the club and allow the next two weeks to pan out? There are only a few facts, but here they are.

1. Cortese left.
2. Pochettino left.
3. Lambert is leaving.
4. Since the season ended, there have been big money bids for Shaw and Lallana.
5. So far, those bids have been rejected.
6. Yesterday, Liverpool offered £25 million for Lallana.
7. We are looking for a manager.

What's causing the problem?

We don't know or trust the board. Why? Because they talk a lot of waffle without saying anything - and yet there were things said after Poch left. He made important points about ambition and player sales. According to The Echo, the offer for Lambert came the day after he made these points and left the club in a difficult position. Obviously, Lambert made it clear he wanted this, and Liverpool time pressured it. Who would really stand in his way?

So, what are we left with?

The board have resisted big money bids for the last few weeks and say they will continue to do so until the new manager comes in.
The board say they want a high calibre manager.
The board say we are still ambitious.

Those three statements are all reasons to be cheerful - and as yet there is no firm evidence that any of them is a lie.

 

I that there are worse places, not that I ever visit EeyoreWeb myself. Trying to ask for calm at the moment is probably a tad optimistic.

 

Yes some are in meltdown. We all just need to stay calm. We cant control any of it so lets just wait and see. Who knows we could end up better off.

 

Probably right. But I genuinely feel calm until I come on here - and everyone is talking about things as if doom is certain and as if we've been lied to over and over. When the new manager arrives, I may panic.

Why did the board offer Pochettino such a big pay rise if they want to asset strip or devalue the club?

 

The board have said we are aiming for Europe, so we must support that.
To be able to get to this a Manager with the experience should be appointed.
(unlike spurs)
Action speaks louder than words, so only time will tell.
Players come and go all the time, so maybe just maybe better ones will come in?
It hard at times when a great player moves on, but it's a team game and you will only
Succeed as a team.

 

They are not asset stripping.

Our best players are being wanted by clubs much bigger than Southampton FC is.

This happens in football, it's called, R E A L I T Y.

 

In truth though SS all the fans are doing is being football fans!! Asking for calm at this point is rather trying to calm a rough sea. Just remember. This forum only represents a small fraction of Saints fans as a whole and you can bet your last dollar that most are saying .......lets just wait and see..........

 

Totally agree, so many predictions of doom are going around that I think some are starting to believe they have already come to pass!

 

This forum is a sounding board a lot of the time where we can share our worst fears and maybe our biggest hopes for the club and let the emotions run free. When I talk to fellow supporters in person I find no one is hitting panic yet.
Just because you type on here that something is a possibility does not mean you wholeheartedly believe it.

One thing is for sure and that's this forum and plenty of well informed Saints fans have lost confidence in the board to do the right thing and that's why last night when the Lallana bid was made public many are assuming that Saints are going to accept and roll over because that is the impression of the club this week.

I personally don't think they'll accept the increased offer for Lallana, but I have no serious confidence in that statement at present.

Of course our faith in the board is not irretrievable, but they have to stay firm this week. Make a strong statement about Lambert and the reasons behind the move(which we all understand) and reiterate that they will not do any more business until a new manager is appointed.

 

What amazes me, especially on Twitter, is the sheer number of people who seem to forget we will buy replacements, and will have a hell of a lot of money to do so if Shaw goes etc. From the sale of Shaw alone we could reinvest in Borini and Bony, 2 strong signing I'd say.

 

Not sure about Borini.

 

So, we are not able to sensibly discuss the possible things happening with our club? I am not in melt-down or hysteria and have been discussing some of the possibilities. There are few people screaming and swearing that the Board are this and that, but most are having a discussion.

What is wrong with that?

 

Well only you can control that, so may be your OP was aimed at yourself

 

Your assuming that money in from outgoing players will be reinvested in the transfer market.
I'm not so sure this will happen, sure we will buy various players, but Borini and Bony, don't think so?

 

Look at it this way: due to the relative debt-free position of the club, we've been able to spend about £30m of the club's revenue on transfers in each of the past two seasons. This season we should presumably be able to do the same again, even without any additional revenue from selling players. We'll spend plenty in the transfer market, sure, but will it be more than £30m? I highly doubt that. We'll pay off that £27m Krueger was sure to make a fuss about even though it's merely transfer fees from previous seasons which haven't been paid yet, spend a decent amount on some new signings, and it'll look as if they're investing generously in rebuilding when actually they're really not.

 

For me, the situation with Lallana and Liverpool will be very telling. We don't what has actually been said by Liverpool, only reported media speculation, but for all the sadness of Rickie leaving and his 'value' to Saints, I can understand it and even accept it as a gesture. A 32 year old striker, is not our future, no matter how much we love him. Selling our 26 year old Captain doesn't make sense unless it is for a way over the top price.

I'll watch that space with interest.

 

I am not panicking...I would describe myself more as unhappy. I want to know what we are doing...I hate this feeling that we are weak and seen as easy pickings. We may not be...after all we haven't taken Liverpool's first offer for Adam or United's possible offer for Shaw, but it is the perception. I don't think we are being asset stripped or anyone is behaving malevolently, but we appear rudderless and lurching from one crisis to another...mind you we had a few things like that under Nicola.

 

The Lallana thing feels a bit like the acid test at the moment, sell before the new manager is appointed and it puts a huge question mark over all the recent RK statements. However if they refuse to bend to Liverpool's (supposed) timeline then you can take recently stated good intentions at face value far more easily.

 

In Internet forum terms this place is one of the calmest and reasonable places going.

I think it speaks volumes that even on a forum like this there are this many unhappy fans. Whilst they are not yet done deals, it appears like the core of our team are being auctioned off for prices akin to daylight robbery. Even the most glass-half-full of people can't deny that it looks bad.

 

Exactly this. I mean why the hell *should* we agree to Liverpool's timeline on this, even if Adam does want to go.