Must admit I metaphorically yawned at the prospect of Ron and Erwin taking over the reins. I was in post-Pochypoo shock. I didn't see where we would get a coach who was even better [and he is, clearly better], at what seemed like short notice, or at all.
As for attracting star players, even the FM specialists on here didn't really raise an eyelid when Tadic was signed, or Pelle. If they were stars, then it was entirely confined to fanatics and the Eredivisie crowd, because I'd never heard of them, and I don't suppose I was alone. Nor Gardos or Mane. Alderweireld I had heard of, from the World Cup, but that was it. Oh, and Shane Long, of course.
Within half a game I knew Tadic was a bit special. Pelle took about one and half games to show himself. And the rest just seemed to have been playing for Saints for ages, so well did they knit into the team. Gardos and Mane were superb last night, on their full debuts, for pete's sake.
The tactics are superior because; 1] they vary and every player obviously understands them. 2] there is not only a Plan A, but quite obviously a B, C and so on. And they change them almost imperceptibly. The team of last season wasn't capable of last night's performance, and that is down to Ronald and his staff, Les Reed and his staff, for seeking them out, and ultimately the Chairman and Owner. Everyone at St Mary's has played a blinder in the last few months. After the last 5 years I thought I had faith in the club. I should have had more, but who saw this coming..?