Koeman poll

Nope just a **** memory.

 

Fonte is on nearly 80k? He's been a great club servant but that's crazy money.

Davis - Agreed. Gazza seems to be our clear 2nd/3rd choice now so time for Kelvin to move into coaching. He seems a great presence around the place so keep him at the club if possible
Yoshida - I'd probably keep him and get rid of Gardos, purely because Yoshida can play different positions
Let Caulker leave. - Yep
Martina - Yep
Davis - Maybe. He's a useful squad player. Depends on other signings and his wages
Long - Yes, assuming we sign a replacement (preferably a first choice striker)

Agreed that we need a new CB. We possibly need a RB as well, DM is okay even if Wanyama leaves. Then we badly need more attacking options. I wouldn't rely on Rodriguez coming back either. He may never return and if he does I wouldn't be surprised if he never reaches the same level he was at before.

 

Oh, hang on. It's just occurred to me it's my birthday in eight days time. My birthday weekend has a recent history of being very Saints related. In 2013 Nigel lost his job on my birthday, with Poch being appointed. In 2014, Cortese left the day before my birthday. I was waiting last year to see what would happen that time, but fortunately it was all rather quiet. But maybe that was a one-off, and 2016 will be big again. Ron really needs to ensure that Watford and WBA don't go against him...

 

Quite a few people don't rate him on here, it's quite regularly been brought up.

Long has always flourished in a team when partnered with a fellow striker and he always causes teams problems. He makes space for other players, I don't think we utilise him too well and rarely gets a long run in the team.

 

But the academy train separately do they not? Also didn't Gallagher have some falling out with the club before his loan?

 

Fair enough. I haven't read much "dislike" though which is a little different to "not rating" which may be splitting hairs. I love Shane Long as he is a fans favourite everywhere he goes because he gives his all, runs his socks off, takes a battering and is a real trier. I don't happen to think he's anything special at all as a player though. He's ok, not much more. If we are questioning Clasie, Davis and others because they haven't done this or they haven't done that, then surely we must say that Shane isn't what is needed for a team pushing to the next level. I don't want rid as I think he is a good squad player, but I would say (without looking up stats) that at every club he's been at, he has worked his socks off, fans have loved him but apart from one season at Reading he has hardly go more than a handful of goals. His touch when running with the ball is hit and miss and his finishing never seems controlled. Certainly not a natural finisher. Having said all that, I love him.

 

U21s use to train with the first team with Poch. Think it is different now.

 

Agree completely. I desperately want him to get into double figures at the start of every season but it will never happen.

 

Ton up

 

72.5% ....that's Nigel Adkins level of support.....

 

Absolutely nothing to be gained by sacking a manager mid season , a lot of people acting like we're in the relegation zone , 2 wins this week puts us on 30 points and safely in mid table, as much as we would all like to win every game even Chelsea, Utd etc have bad runs and bad seasons.

I think the problem lies with Les Reed and the board we cannot keep running the club by selling our best players for premium prices and then replacing them with cheap potential bargains.

Only Van Dijk has been consitant out of the new signings, some of the others show promise but with 18 months left on Ronalds contract if he isn't backed with a large warchest in the summer dont expect him to hang around anyway.

 

I've just made it a round 73%. I remember Ron saying when we were in the top 4 last season that he didn't quite understand why. Well now we're not and his work starts now!

 

It is U21 's train with U18's. Only ones that train regularly with first team are Targett and Reed. Koeman is only interested in his CV has shown little interest in U21's apart from turning up occasionally for the games.

 

How can 15% say sack Ron if we lose to Watford? It's like saying I'm getting a divorce if my wife doesn't make love to me next Friday! P.S. I'd be divorced on Saturday!

 

If Koeman thought any of the u21's would compete and improve the 1st team they would already be there. Koeman wants to win every game, which he said when he came here, like many managers.

So what are people saying? That you disagree with Koeman and the academy players are good enough and should start displacing seniors? Or you don't know whether they are good enough (prob accurate for us lot really) but they should be played in the interest of bringing academy players into the first team?

My personal opinion- the best 11 start who are most likely to achieve victory, regardless of origin. If they are academy players- amazing. If not they are still Southampton players and deserve their place.

 

Hesketh got games last year in a stronger squad , where is he this year?

 

It's not that. Poch let all the u21s play with the first team. Poch didn't say they were all ready. But thought it was important that he saw as much of the youngsters as he could.

 

He got one game when we were hit with injuries and suspensions. He then got injured himself.

 

Doesn't the board and the black box come up with the signings? Which would mean the blame would lie there rather than at Ronald's feet. There is no way we can replace Clyne for Cedric, Schneiderlin with Clasie and Forster with Stekelenburg and expect to improve.

I like Long but he isn't a good enough finisher to start every week. I said in the summer we needed another striker and now that is being justified. I think we'll be okay but it is starting to get a bit worrying. Correct me if I'm wrong but there was no mention of trouble between Ron and the academy when results were going alright?

 

But since that injury which was fairly minor if i recall where has he been? not even close to getting in to a squad