Great Jeremy Wilson article here. He seems to be very much the man with an in at SMS this year. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/southampton/11140340/.html
He did used to write for the Daily Echo, so he's fairly pro-Saints. But he's all right, in my book. Helped us track down the late Ron Davies when we did his charity thing.
Superb. As was suggested, when the time is right and it can be done properly, Saints will make sure their side of the story is out there. Just before we play Spurs seemed a pretty good time. Glad to see that has been the case.
Just finished reading that article. Very balanced, extraordinarily clear. Reads as though it has had clearance from Saints into its veracity. Puts everything into order. I'm tempted to copy it into the Not606 Newbies Guide so that disagreements can be shut up when it is clear protagonists are talking out of their arses. There were no promised transfers by Cortese, no release clauses. Nothing. Saints took the shirts off the Big 4 clubs backs when it was clear they had to. For now I'll put the article's link in the Newbie's Guide and people can look it up if they choose to or keep wandering around in the fog.
Fantastic article, about a fantastic football club. It still amazes me how little loyalty the players showed.
It has always somewhat amazed me that despite SFC loosing staff to other clubs and sporting circles, the standards have never dropped [I'm talking mid-2009 and on here]. For example, when the first Academy Manager proper [prior to this it was a Youth System] Huw Jennings, was spirited away, I thought... OK, here we go. Then Matt Crocker came in and it was seamless. Now he's gone and Matt Hale is the new manager. Again, big deal. People just get on with it and the standards remain or get better. People leave and the club moves forward because the philosophy is exactly the same and so the direction is unchanged. I have had faith but I should have had more because the evidence has been right there before my eyes, all along.
I nearly posted that up on the forum the other day. I watched it again very recently. Somehow it seemed quite appropriate second time around.
This appears a very well researched and informed article; Jeremy Wilson seems to have an 'inside track' on the machinations that took place behind the scenes and explains with authority. Thanks for posting this SaintJoey.
I am not going to Spurs. I am not going to Spurs. £2m quid to leave? I am going to Spurs. Poch is a truly honest and upstanding citizen.
Great article. Not to be a negative head but it is quite clear from that article that we will likely continue to be a selling club. Another good performance this season and we will all be spending the summer hitting refresh and scouring every link on news now. That thought fills me with dread. On the plus side, we have already idetnified our targets for the future and hopefully we will be able to get a couple in before we open the exit door this time around. Further, one look at the fortunes of our last exodus should be enough to make anyone think twice about jumping ship. Couldnt be more pleased with the club I follow right now. Making every weekend a good one.
Very interesting article. Cortese did get another 2 things right...putting the 2 million clause in MP's contract and apparently shafting Morgan (who is far too trusting ). Bet he reads any future contracts very carefully. Confirms why the club were angry with Mauricio over and above the fact he wanted to leave. Also puts the lie to all those newspaper articles about Spurs increasing the offer for Morgan...they wanted him cheap or not at all. Like the 'flipped like a burger' comment about Lallana....little weasel. The money United paid for Shaw was too silly to turn down...they paid over the top for a kid with potential. They really paid the next price for him if they had sold him on in a few years. Would still like to have kept Chambers...real potential and with the professionalism to become the best he can be. Luke has to be very careful and listen to people if he isn't going to flush his talent away. As for Lovren...we've come out of that pretty well. Mentions Nicola's micromanagement again...what input can he bring to where walls go? However, he was our saviour...but it's like he said once (about Adkins) you employ someone for a job, but you sometimes need a new person for the next phase. The leader you need in war is different from the one you need in peace. Finally, Les Reed...he's been the one constant in recent times. As Kreuger said, if you want fantasy, Les isn't the man. Nicola could be inspiring (to those he wanted to impress), but Les does the leg work and hasn't let us down.
One of the first business lessons I learned: Sell when you don't have to and you'll get a much better price. Buy when you need to and you'll be shafted. cf Shaw, Lallana, Lovren sales. Vin
What a breath of fresh air that article is, and it is obvious that the senior management at the club have decided to make a clean breast of things as far as the last few years are concerned. On the "selling club" thing, if we finish top half but outside the top 6, then yes, the vultures will once again be circling, but at least we'll know there won't be asset stripping going on, and that the transfer income will be used to strengthen the squad. If, on the other hand, we get into the European spots, it will probably be at the expense of at least one of the clubs who took our players this summer, so there will be less incentive for our players to move on. I could see Morgan going abroad, to Barcelona or PSG, but I can't see him going to Arsenal if we're around the same place in the league.
All clubs are selling clubs to a certain extent...the difference is that we aren't forced to sell players and therefore getting bad deals. Sales are considered on their merits...especially if we fancy an up grade. The Academy produces players for the team and any we sell help finance the Academy...so, thanks ManU and Liverpool...you paid for our new facilities.
