Okay, it seems we've got to that tipping point whereupon even the most level-headed of posters are beginning to have a little bit of a wobble (which will turn into a full-scale blubbering mess when/if Morgan goes). Now it's fine if the likes if Clasie and Rojo step through the door as it revolves, but for anybody with any semblance of business experience must find the board's strategy in terms of communication quite comically incompetent. Perhaps the most bewildering part (after appointing Ralph) was the assertion that communication would go back to the top of the agenda - that's fine and great if you implement that. However if you say that, and then actually don't do it - in fact do quite the opposite - it really screams "we don't quite know what we're doing here" or even "we're bottling it a bit here". Now we feel that, but you can be damn sure the employees of the club feel it even greater, particularly if they're still unsure of what the board's strategy is (if there even is one). Now I'm quite sure that the board will eventually get wind of external feeling and wheel out Les Reed for Round Three of utter balls, but why on earth are they not commercially smart enough to be pre-emptive? Why is there not a clear and stated aim here that is adhered to, jeeze, I'd even settle for a company motto here (whatever happened to The Southampton Way!?) Now as I've stated, I'm not actually in meltdown (yet) about player sales. With the manager in place and these funds, if we spend smartly we'll be fine (though I worry about the start of the season, when we should/may need to pick up points). However as someone who has previously run a couple of businesses, I really am amazed by the bumbling incompetence of our board. So yes, this is a new thread about many of the same points perhaps, but let's keep it as the 'board' discussion part.
Anyone'd get the impression they're all very much unqualified. Maybe because they are all unqualified.
But.....but.....Sybil is a great Titan of business in her own right (I'm still amused that people made that assertion previously).
Thing is, are we to assume there's nobody, but nobody in the whole organisation with the qualification an wherewithal to talk to the board and say "guys, not really sure this is the right thing - if these players are off, we need to do x, y and z for all the stakeholders, both internally and externally". I mean seriously, even Banana would be able to work that one out. It would take 5 minutes to sort.
Trouble is according to some people that are closer to the family than we are, with a couple of other businesses she inherited she asset stripped a couple of them as well and they are struggling as a consequence. (How or why I don't know) I was not told what she had done. It is true there could be many an explanation as to what her plans are. Although it is so bloody hard to see what that explanation is likely to be. One thing is for certain she is alienating a lot of fans which is likely to thwart her plans if she has any at all regarding genuinely progressing through the premier league that is. I am worried quite frankly that we could find ourselves alongside Pompey in a couple of years if she does not get her finger out!!
So if you were in charge, when asked about sales you would say 'yeah anyone who wants to leave can do'. Fans may be unhappy with the messages coming out of the club but few can genuinely say we have let any players go cheap. Giving the right message is key to that. I genuinely believe saints knew they would lose the first three (lambert, Lallana and Shaw) and that was required to strengthen in key areas. I also believe they have tried hard to retain the others. No one wanted to see Lovren stay so that makes Chambers (if it goes through) as the first big disappointment. Some will blame the board. Some will blame Cortese and Pochettino. Why we have have this culture of needing someone to blame is beyond me. The new manager is without doubt the best we have ever had at this club and he is building a team to compete. He may be forced to give us new names but next season is potentially going to be the best yet.
The manager hasn't even started competitively yet, so saying he's the best in the history of the club is very odd! Saying that he is 'without doubt' the best is even odder. Of course you don't put that message out, but some clarity and a degree of honesty is needed. Not wanting to sound c**ky, but give me an hour with those three and I could easily come up with a far preferable and more coherent strategy of communication than they have. As could the majority of people. That's the part that worries me - it smacks of business naivity at best.
I am trying to just sit back and see what happens. LTL - I'm not quite at the point of fatty owls yet, however I have genuinely found myself a few times recently contemplating writing/driving to the club and seriously offering my services; may e you and I should meet up in the car park for half an hour first and come up with a plan for them. Half an hour seems like it would be enough to better the current one. However I am just going to give them a little longer. Finally, I'd like to spend half an hour with Mowgli first, because that is some serious happy thinking fella and if you can convert our current situation into "the best manager ever" and "best season ever" then I am sure that you can make me a permenantly positive thinker, rather than the mainly positive one I am now! Wow.
I'm genuinely not a million miles off penning a letter myself - I'll include your services in the offer! As you say, half an hour, and let's bring the back of a *** packet too......
I've nothing against positivity at all and Mowgli's assertions may well (with a VERY fair wind) prove right in the long run. I just think it's rather too fanciful to pronounce them right now!
I actually feel like taking a swing at Les Reed & Ralph Krueger atm. This week is massive for them. They have to start delivering on their promises, or there is going to be some serious backlash at SMS on Sat.
