Just been thinking about two things that we appear to be doing with ever greater frequency that I've only really noticed since Markus bought us and Nicola became chairman. 1) Far more often than not, despite us targeting younger players we seem to be recruiting players who already have settled family lives. Married and even children. Forren (age 24) - Married with a child Boruc (age 32) - Engaged with child and step-child Yoshida (age 24) - Married Gaston (age 22) - Married Mayuka (age 22) - ? Gazzaniga (age 21) - ? Clyne (age 21) - ? S. Davis (age 28) - Married Maybe it's just coincidence, but I get the impression it may be a favourable characteristic that we look in our signings, particularly if buying from abroad. 2) We generally never drop a player/sack a manager after a specifically poor performance, preferring to do a bit later after they've restored pride/public opinion in them (think Gazzaniga or even Nigel for example). There seems to be some kind of ethics around this we follow that baffles us at times as fans, but so that there is a fair rotation/replacement that does not harm either the public perception of, or belief the person replaced has in their own abilities. I think Nigel knew as early as that interview after Coventry that his part in the mission ended upon reaching the Premier League, and that he just hoped that if/when he would be replaced it would be at a point where his stock would be rising rather than falling, as if there had been a gentleman's agreement. On this basis, I wouldn't be surprised if Puncheon was not renewed even in the summer (despite having had a very good season for us so far) as it may be part of a similar gentleman's agreement that he could leave while his stock was on the up to be replaced by a player we rate as better at that time. Is it possible, or have I gone completely crazy? Happy for people to refute or disagree, just interested in people's thoughts.... Lat
In most careers it was always been a favourable asset of a new employee if the are married. The employer tends to believe that the employee will work harder and be more responsible, because of the commitments to home and family. Nowadays, the average employee also has to be flexible, which suits the single person. I always found that, whatever my marriage status, an employer wanted the opposite. So I ended up saying b******s to the lot of them.
A manager (whose name I forget) said that the best thing to happen to a footballer was to get married. Presumably because he'd be less likely to be falling out of bars and into cars. Young single men with loads of money are a bad mix to try and combine with being an athelete. I have always felt that the deal with Puncheon was interesting...suspected it might have been suggested that he did the best for us and he'd be more likely to get a decent move. Remember that at the time we were looking for a midfielder...why pay money when you have a perfectly decent one on the books. I thought he might get a new contract offer at the end of the season, but that is all up in the air now. I think Cortese thought that Adkins deserved a chance to turn things round (he is not a monster, whatever we think now), but of course the doubt was already firmly in his mind. As you said, Adkins star is on the rise compared with at the start of the season which is better for getting a new job.
Personally I think Cortese made his mind up in November, and it was only the unavailability of a suitable replacement that saved Adkins then. The married thing is probably a coincidence, footballers tend to marry and have kids younger than most, they are financially secure about ten years earlier than most men at least!
If the conspiracy theorists are to be believed MoPo was going to come here when he was sacked in November, but for some reason Nicola gave NA a bit longer (Maybe he did listen to the fans and bowed to their opinion?). However, again, if the theorists are to be believed, all was not rosy within the camp, the transfer sagas may have been a part of it, some of NAs decision making was being questioned, it is anyones guess and you can be sure that most of the truth will remain in house and I can't see NA shouting his mouth off, he is an honourable man and no doubt will have been amply compensated (some will say bribed) not to go running to the papers, who will of course, not having any facts will have a field day, and may accidently get it right, who knows, this part of our journey is now confined to the history books, we have to move on.
If I was a rich young celebrity with an athletic body... Well I wouldn't be in a rush to settle down I'm telling you!
Judging by some of the pictures people have noted from his Facebook I would say he most certainly has.
Luke Shaw must be one of the most famous 17 year old lads around! I sure wouldn't mind playing in the Prem whilst at college! Also worth noting they are hardly 'settling' they marry the best looking women from all over place. Many are from a modelling background.
Talking of footballing philosophies, those of us with a long memory might remember the Inter-Milan philosophy of the mid-sixties under the guidance of an Argentine manager (Helenio Herrara) . Their players had a kind of monastic existence from the Wednesday onwards prior to a match as they were not allowed to go off home to their wives and girlfirends. The belief was that sex would tire them out! We have an Italian chairman and Argentine manager ...????
So, this Coutinho fella.... We're definitely signing him, but here's why: 1) He's a young highly rated footballer, check! 2) He plays in a league our scouts/contacts are familiar with, check! 3) He's under the age of 25, check! 4) He's played for the new manager previously, check! 5) He's priced in that magic we're offering £8m, but the selling club want £12m range, check! 6) He opens up another country (Brazil) whereby the signing may lead to the press in that country thinking 'Southampton, they're a big club now', check! 7) Despite being the ripe young age of just 20. Coutinho got married on 27th December, 2012, check! (see original post of thread, and then article below) http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/liverpool-target-philippe-coutinho-scouting-1549155 Now, if he doesn't fit the 'Southampton Way' I don't know who does! Over and out, Lat
