Its the one area that has frustrated me most over the last few years, we have good youngsters with bags of potential, but we dont use them enough. Uncle Les openly talks about developing players that can play in more than 1 position and that is a good theory. But if they never get a chance to find their feet in their most suited position-its a bit of a waste. Although slightly different, Daniel Sturridge has had to look around before becoming the player he is capable of being today. Poor injury record aside-and I know that may be one reason he has moved clubs, he has been prepared to go to other clubs in order to work on his best position. Yes, we need backup, but we also need to give the youngsters a meaningful competition to play in if the Mickey Mouse U21 league wont cut it.
I think Adam Blackmore said something similar the other day, but at this stage I would just smile a very big smile if Uncle Les insisted on high compensation figures with all kinds of add ons and essentially put him on gardening leave. Or, alternatively, make Ronald sit in the corner and think very hard about what he's done.
What is the legal situation, here? If we are not happy with the compensation agreement, and I am reading, here and elsewhere, that Everton aren't happy to sign an agreement that stops them picking off our current players and those on our wish list, can we just say - "ENOUGH. He is staying here for the last year of his contract, but will be put on gardening leave for the duration." We then bring in the manager we want and Everton have to f**k off with their tails between their legs, and bring in another man. With the extra to money coming in, we could definitely afford it. Might not be ethical, but then breaking a contract isn't ethical either.
I would absolutely love it it that happened, send out a strong message that we will not be pushed about easily.
Would love that to happen, but financially foolish. He'd probably take us to court as well, though I'm not sure what his position would be if he being paid his basic money. Perhaps we should ask Katharina to sub it...we're really pissed off, Kat....could you just look through some unused handbags for a few mill.
I don't think it's ever got to court before, as no one wants to test it and we all want to pretend contracts mean something, but I think Ron could protest it was a restraint of trade or the right to practise such. On the other hand I'm hopefull all of Everton's signings this season are as slick and over a similar timescale as Rons. Could be entertaining.
On the other hand, being paid to do nothing is hardly Guatanamo Bay, is it? Can happen in other fields where firms want to keep important people away from competition for a certain period of time.
I think maybe people are overestimating the quality coming from the Academy and the impact it might have had. Pochettino was excellent about playing the younger guys. That was my favorite thing about him. But when I think of him giving players opportunities, it's more about giving brief appearances to Gallagher, Rowe, McQueen and Sinclair. Shaw and Chambers were somewhat pressed into duty. Also, they were the cream of the crop. By the time Koeman got here, they were already gone. IMO, Targett got a chance early this season and was somewhat exposed defensively. When he got to play later in the season, I think it was mostly when we used 5 at the back. Which left Koeman in a no-win situation. If we play 5 at the back, then he gets heat for not playing the way Saints are supposedly set up to play. Plus, it forces Bertrand to the center and it takes away a spot that could go to someone else who needs playing time. If he plays 4 at the back with Targett playing over Bertrand, then he's not playing our best 4 and that is a defense that looks a little soft. JWP honestly just didn't shine enough. His playing time would have come at the expense of Davis. I like Davis less than most here, and even I think Davis is better than JWP and it's hard to take Davis off the pitch because his "glue" role in the team. JWP got a lot of time off the bench, and a decent amount of starts. I've got no problems with how he was used. The only player I wanted to see play more and that I might criticize Keoman for not using is Reed. But then, Clasie and Romeu needed time as well. I don't see too many people complaining that those guys suck or were terrible purchases. In fact, the prevailing opinion now seems to be that we can go ahead and sell Wanyama, and it's okay. So even then, it's hard to complain about Koeman. That period after the bad spell where it looked like there was no danger of relegation and the team wasn't a disaster, but where it also looked like we were out of Europe and would finish 8th? That's when you would go ahead and semi-punt the rest of the season and develop the youth. Koeman opted not to do that, and instead we went on a tear, qualified for Euro, finished 6th and had our highest points total. I'm not going to criticize the guy for that. He saw something to play for, and went for it, and it worked. Moreover, by qualifying for Euro, he basically opened up more playing time for the young players next season. How he allegedly treats the U-21 players or whatever during training could be a problem. I'm not saying Koeman might not have some issues there long-term, I don't know. But this whole "doesn't play the youth" thing to me is unfounded. It comes out whenever the team isn't playing well, or when we want to find something to criticize about Koeman. It's sour grapes in this case. No one was complaining when we were benching our best young players and winning games.
Another annoying thing (amongst so many), Saints are putting out videos of the best bits from a great season, but not many can bear to watch it. I never watched games again from the Mauricio time and now I will get no pleasure from some great games in the last two years. It is like a long-term lover leaving....they don't just take your future, they take all your past.
I had it for 6 months. I used to go into the office and do nothing.... I did 3 months of nothing at home before starting this current job. Tip for people: don't resign on 30th October if you have 3-6 months notice; do it in the spring/summer
This. If it's true that Koeman and his brother actually came in on Friday and cleaned out their desks then I can't see him coming back, nor would I want him back. I think the only reason Koeman hasn't said anything and doesn't seem in a hurry to see this sorted out is because his dickishness now works in his favor. It's a point of leverage that works in his and Everton's favor. "Oh, you want 5m compensation for RK? Well maybe we don't pay it and then you have to sack him and get nothing, or be stuck with him for another year when he's lost all respect and we all know he doesn't want to be there."
I think I could easily watch that game against Liverpool at St Marys endless times. As for the bit where our manager ran down the touchline to celebratd with the players? Absolutely loved that at the time. Now I'd just shrug and flick him the V's in a half hearted manner.
I've got three games from last season on my Sky box to watch again when there is no football. I've got a feeling it will be like 2 years ago and they will just be deleted because it's just too annoying to watch. I haven't watched the best bits they are putting out either. Normally we would be fighting over who's going to put them in the Saints stuff thread!
That's rather profound and true, I think. I can agree with everything you've written there. For the casual or distant supporter, or simply for the supporter who doesn't care about individuals, just about the red & white, showing season highlights videos are an entertaining thing, I'm sure. Indeed, if things were as per normal, I'd probably have looked at them myself. But, as with the Pochettino videos, I have no interest at all. I have a lot of full 90 minute videos of games from several years back and I can't really enjoy any of them now. If we'd have sacked them both, then no problem.
And now the real fun begins! Bring it on, can't wait - like Christmas all over again. Anticipation, anticipation, anticipation ....... (please complete for yourself depending if your glass is half full or half empty).
