Season 2015-16 
Opinion Talking Points
Koeman: More a sinner to the Saints?
84 Comments
During a recent trawl of Everton related media, I came across an interesting commentary by a Saints fan that has been making the rounds on their fan sites.
I'll reserve my personal opinions until the end but I decided it was definitely something worth discussion by the ToffeeWeb faithful.
At the end of the season, Koeman verbally agreed to a new contract with Saints, even down to such details as what players would be leaving [Wanyama (most likely to Spurs), Pelle (most likely to Lazio), Juanmi (to Sociadad, already done) lol, I didn't even know he had gone! and Mane (most likely to Man. Utd)] – as well as discussing our transfer targets into the Club. This was all verbally agreed upon, leaving the finer details of Ron's actual contract itself to be sorted by his agent and settled when he returned from [his first] holiday.
Whilst he was away however, Everton approached Ronald's [now former] Agent, Guido Albers, to sound him out on Ronald's interest in taking up the Everton Job. His agent, taking Ronald at his word - "I like to honour my contract, I like to shtay at Saints" - [bear in mind that the agent had been involved in negotiating Ronald's new Saints contract, and therefore believed that he wished to stay] flatly turned down the Everton approach on behalf of Ronald, and instead put forward the name of another of his clients, Frank De Boer, who was indeed interested in the Everton job. [Two agent pay-days for the price of one!] lou_wink2
Everton, having already been turned down by their first choice, Unai Emery from Sevilla [who is off to PSG] were determined to get their second choice [Ronald Koeman] – and so used Dutch agent Rob Jansen to approach Ronald with an "offer he could not refuse" – i.e. £6-7 mill a year, and £100m transfer kitty to splash. Ronald was furious that his own agent [Albers] had refused the offer without even speaking to him first, and sacked him, taking on Rob Jansen in his place. And here is where things get interesting.
Koeman was not entirely dishonest – as he wasn't really that interested in the Everton job. Who would be, when you've just got your team into European football for the second year running, already enjoy substantial backing from your board, the adoration of your loyal fan-base – and Everton are nowhere? But what Koeman wanted to do, was to use this interest and concrete offer as a bargaining tool when he returned from his holiday, to say to the Saints Board "this is the kind of 'ambition' I am talking about". He wanted to "use" the Everton interest to get himself more spending money with Saints – but he grossly overestimated his own "value" to the Saints Board.
For quite a while now – Saints have not been entirely happy with Koeman. Many of the agreements he had previously made when he first signed, he had not been honouring. The style of football, formation, and most importantly – the much vaunted "pathway" to the First Team from our famed Academy – which under Ronald has been said inside the Club to have become "blocked". His attitude toward our young players, never bothering to involve himself with the Academy or even watch their games [he sees himself very much as a "First Team Manager only" whereas we want our manager to take a keen interest in helping develop our burgeoning talent], often discouraging them, blankly stating that most of them are simply not good enough, and at one point launching into a very nasty tirade of abuse to young Matty Targett, that is said to have stunned those who were there in its cutting spitefulness and completely unnecessary severity. The "esteemed" Ronald Koeman callously tore a sensitive young lad to shreds in front of all his mates, and has since been widely regarded as a complete cunt.
Ronald Koeman, despite his very well presented and controlled public image in the media, is not particularly well liked by many at the Club, to make a sweeping understatement. His aloofness and arrogance on the training ground, his unapproachability, and tendency to snap at players and speak to them in a disrespectful tone has not gone down well. Mane, JWP, Harry Reed, and Tadic in particular have an immense dislike of Ronald Koeman, and others only tolerate his tactless approach as they're regularly in the Team, were enjoying an element of success under him, and don't want to rock the boat. But you get the general idea.
We are also greatly peturbed at some of Ronald's training methods, i.e the lack and short duration of them, the low intensity, and lack of commitment to training in general. He gives the players a lot of time off, and is prone to "disappearing on golfing breaks" when we feel that he should be spending his time coaching our players!
The Board have been questioning a lot about his management style and not honouring his commitments to playing "The Southampton Way" and his stifling of the pathway for our young players for a while now – but whilst he has been enjoying success and has the firm backing of the fans, they have been loathe to take any firm course of action. Ronald got very lucky during our disasterous run of form over the Christmas period, where we lost seven out of nine games, and we were persisting in that horrendous hoofball style of football, lumping long balls up to a woefully out of form [yet constantly picked anyway] Pelle, and privately among the Board, questions were being asked by some, of whether to get rid of Koeman then. But as I say, he got lucky: Pelle got injured, and Ronald was forced to play the excellent Shane Long [who he previously never game a proper chance to show his qualities], and change back to a style of play more suited to our philosophy. Shlong pretty much saved Koeman's job at that time.
So that's the background. Ron thought his "gravitas" in the game deserved a certain respect, and coupled with the success he has brought us – he badly misjudged his importance to our Board. He thought he could use the Everton interest, believing his value and position at the Club to be unassailable – to effectively blackmail the Board into agreeing completely to his own terms to sign a new deal. It wasn't so much about the personal money on offer, but more with getting more to spend on new players than was on offer – and forcing Sadio Mane to stay again against his will. Sadio hates Koeman [the phrase used (by Sadio) was "fucking arrogant asshat"], and the irony is, we now have a higher likelihood of keeping him [Mane], without Koeman around. Not to say that will definitely happen, just that it might.
Koeman gave us an ultimatum, that we could either make him an offer much closer to what Everton were offering – or he would simply not sign the new deal, and see out the last year of his contract as promised. This effectively massively backfired on him, as our Board were really not that fussed. We have other excellent candidates on our shortlist who we feel would stick much more closely to our Club philosophies, and therefore be a better fit with the Club – and as stated – many players who'd be happy to see the back of him.
So the Saints Board effectively called his bluff, and said sorry Ron – either you sign the deal you've already verbally agreed to – or you can take the Everton job and we'll get in someone who will do things the way we want, according to our Club philosophy. What we won't have, is a "lame duck" manager seeing out the last year of his contract, when what we want, is for someone committed to our new Five-Year Plan and hungry to build on what we've already achieved. Ronald simply wasn't showing the kind of commitment we were looking for, so we gave him the choice to either do so, or fuck off to Everton. Lol.
We gave him two weeks to decide what to do; sign the new contract, or go fuck himself. Ron stormed off in a huff on holiday number two after this, and we shall await the final outcome. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that he yet may end up staying, so don't burn any effigies just yet – although to be honest – I suspect that bridge has now been burnt sufficiently from both ends to be unlikely in the extreme. Though, stranger things have happened – like Ronald Koeman being interested in a club like Everton for example, lol. lou_wink2
And this is why the whole sorry saga has been playing out now for so long. Ronald doesn't really want the Everton job – but his own duplicitous conduct has ended up forcing him down a path he was entirely not expecting! He badly misjudged the situation and his own worth to the Club – and thought that we would bend to his will, to keep such an esteemed figure at the Club at all costs. And now – if he doesn't take the Everton job – he looks like a complete cunt, as he [almost certainly] won't be staying at Saints. Well, he looks like a complete cunt either way now, whatever he does, lol.
He's completely blown the reputation he carefully established for integrity, decency, and being a man of honour and respect.
Another thing, is that we will not budge on the finer details of his compensation package with Everton. Some of which (including guarantees that they will not make offers for any Southampton players once Koeman arrives) are proving to be a real sticking point, as is the contract on offer to his brother Erwin, and the fact that both Erwin and particularly Jan Kluitenberg (our fitness coach) are pissed off at Ronald, as they both love being at Saints, and didn't want to leave. Erwin, ultimately, will be loyal to Ron – but Jan (and his family) really love living in the area, have settled really well here and don't particularly want to leave. (He may yet even end up staying). If Everton do not agree to absolutely everything that Saints want – we are quite happy to deny Everton permission to take our under contract manager, and essentially "hang him out to dry" for a year whilst his contract runs down, and we'll get on and appoint someone who does want to commit to us fully.
Moving on to that now – and some details of our shortlist:
Most of the names in the press are not our preferred targets. Don't worry at some of the horriffic options that have been bandied around. The likes of Moyes and McClaren are nowhere near consideration. I've heard Pellegrini linked in the media, and he is on our list, but only as an albeit very decent back up option if we don't get one of our preferred candidates. Eddie Howe I've also seen linked, he is on our long-term watch list of potential managers that is constantly updated, and Les Reed in particular is a big fan – but overall we don't feel that he yet has the required level of experience or "gravitas" to impress our Europe-bound Squad or the names we're looking to bring into the Club. Frank De Boer has also been linked everywhere, and is on our list – but some way down the pecking order, as we prefer someone with experience and evidence of implementing their philosophy across a range of Clubs to show consistency in application, whereas Frank has so far only managed at Ajax.
My friend [indicated to the existence of, but] will not reveal the names - of two of our most favoured options at the top of the list, as they do not want to risk alerting other Clubs to the possibility of their availabilty, but other than those, I can say that Murat Yakin [currently out of contract after parting ways with Spartak Moscow] Vitor Pereira [of Fenerbahçe], Paco Jémez [of Rayo Vallecano] are all managers who are thought of very highly by the Club, sharing in our philosophy and playing the brand of football we like, and have long been on our watch-list. So if we don't get one of our two unrevealed names, those three are high on our appreciated list. So too very much is Thomas Tuchel, but the fact he's only just recently replaced Jurgen Klopp at Dortmund crosses him off of our potential targets for now, [he's unlikely to be interested].
A good read on Koeman.... Seems he left himself short.
Firstly, I feel a distinct amount of betrayal in this piece, which reinforces my view that this is a hit piece against a man who has scorned this insiders team.
But secondly, some of the points raised do grow a level of concern in me. The training issues, the blocking of the academy, the potentially over-inflated sense of self worth.
Thirdly, as a side issue almost, I find the nerve of some of references to Everton galling, and find it painful to see our standing with other fans at a recent low after the last 10 years.
So what do we think Toffeeweb? Who is our future manager really? Is he the much vaunted guiding hand we have view him as, as a majority, or is he the character much maligned in this piece.
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Reader Comments (84)
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2 Posted 13/06/2016 at 21:33:58
Sour grapes - the dig about anyone preferring Everton to them is all the evidence you need.
3 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:14:22
One would think that some news of his blatant failings would have reached face-book, twitter, or some other form of social media in this day and age?
It is obviously a matter of pure coincidence that all these inadequacies in his clearly flawed make up have come to the fore within days of him deciding to leave Southampton FC.
4 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:20:02
5 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:20:25
For someone who did not have Koeman as first choice it does tinkle some alarm bells especially as it explains the delay and agent nonsense (though there are many other explanations). As ever the proof will be in the pudding though my stomach is sitting a bit uneasier now....
6 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:22:18
Thanks Dan @197.
As you correctly say, it is an interesting read.
Whether it is all true, true in part or untrue (personally it seems that there are some true, some probably not) will come out in the passage of time. Dressing rooms are very leaky when a manager departs.
I find there is disconnect between the apparent keenness to retain the contented fitness coach and the readiness to blame Koeman for the short, low intensity training. That seems a bit fucking odd to me.
Then the notion that Koeman is actively blocking the progress of academy players and never ever watches them. OK so turning up occasionally would be encouraging to the youth players and acknowledges the importance of the academy staffs work. But as with the fitness coach, it is work delegated to others. Perhaps he doesn't give the fucking lawnmowers a lick of paint either ? (Acknowledgement here to CG's ribtickler).
My view of many such "horses mouth", info is that the people who provide this are often people with some junior position entirely unconnected with the true seat of power. Not exactly fantasists but those who spin a great deal of yarn from very little wool.
People who actually hear the real dialogue are hired because their track record proves that they are utterly watertight. They were handed tasty rumours, and those rumours never, ever surfaced.........
Those who leaked ?
Not promoted.
There is an enormous market for accurate information, but the more accurate it is, the more apparent the source.
A billionaire such as Farhad Moshiri doesn't leave a file marked "Top Secret" on his desk when he knows that blabbermouth, noseyarse Gladys the cleaner is vacuuming the office...... Unless he wants the silly old bat to spread a load of codswallop.
Still interesting reading though.
7 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:25:05
8 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:27:54
9 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:28:42
10 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:45:39
Judging by the author of the piece and Martin though, plenty are happy to hang on every word, even though it's appears to be another inflatable banana waving premier league Johnny Come Lately who forgets five years ago they were in the third tier.
Whether Koeman comes or not Southampton never have or never will hold a candle to Everton FC.
11 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:47:08
All of a sudden he is a "cunt", all the players hate him yet Southampton are insisting on a clause to stop him going back to buy any??
Full of contradictions, complete waste of a read. File under non-sensical pile of shite!! And to think they call us bitter!!
12 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:56:12
13 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:59:35
Which is exactly what it is.
14 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:12:09
15 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:22:58
Rubbish like this posted above is all in the tiny mind of the idiot that penned this piece. He claims to know what Koeman has said to the board, what the agents have said, and what the board think of their manager.
Some people lap this shit up though. Incredible.
16 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:30:37
17 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:31:22
Not saying it would change your mind, but it gives more of a background to the story that the quote above doesn't.
18 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:36:35
Oh, and the fact he calls a Koeman a "cunt... lol" twice in the piece – kind of gives away the real motivation behind this complete mess at attempted defamation. Probably a sad attention-seeking twat living in his mum's loft somewhere on the South Coast...
19 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:43:37
In all honesty, I was just trying to suss out what's taking so long so I had a look on a Saints fan site and that came up.
So, why do you think Koeman hasn't been announced yet... any idea?
20 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:48:06
Anyone who has seen an interview with Manè know that he probably doesn´t have such verbal gems as asshat in his vocabulary.
Oh, and the rest of this is just as likely...
21 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:48:24
22 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:50:31
Dan #17 - I've wasted too much time on it already but if you want to post the full original I'll happily read it, why not.
23 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:56:06
24 Posted 13/06/2016 at 00:01:04
25 Posted 14/06/2016 at 00:12:10
Editorial Team
26 Posted 14/06/2016 at 03:24:36
There is no endorsement of the content. Just something some have already seen and are talking about. How else could we garner your searing analysis??!?!?
27 Posted 14/06/2016 at 04:45:06
Also, I posted to generate discussion so whilst we all believe, and I commented as such after the quoted source, that this is at best a hit piece, some of the proposed flaws sounded familiar, the disdain for our club and the respect we deserve were sorely lacking I thought some people would have more to say than just "sour grapes" and name calling of the ITK.
The general ideas presented to me by this source, "doing the rounds" on Soton fansites annoyed me enough to have more of a response than just "ignore somebody who actually knows nothing".
@Michael, thank you for posting the article and generally cleaning up the mess I definitely made trying to upload from a mobile. And also defending the need for discussion.
28 Posted 14/06/2016 at 05:02:02
Probably the reason Mane doesnt like him ids because he has been told to up his workrate and hopefully a few of our will follow suit while bucking their ideas up.
Successful managers like SAF, Clough and Revie don't give a flying F about egos and bling bling cliques they just demand a performance everyweek and woe betide anyone who doesnt put a shift in.
Roll on Ronald you werent my first choice but if you cant do significantly better than Martinez I will be shocked.
29 Posted 14/06/2016 at 05:20:41
Nice one KT
30 Posted 14/06/2016 at 06:12:15
Just the type of manager we need after El Bob
In fact he sounds like a modern Harry Catterick !
The sooner he arrives the better
31 Posted 14/06/2016 at 07:31:27
I've also had a look at the blokes previous posts on the site, which have very little, if nothing, to do with football and are just a vehicle to hurl abuse at Pompey fans, the public in general, massage his own ego etc.
My view is he's a pretty complex individual, and this is his imaginative attack on Koeman and us because he's bitter about Southampton being robbed of their manager for the second time in two years. He is a lover spurned, nothing more, nothing less.
If Koeman stays, or goes, he'll point at different parts of the story claiming he was right. My advice is ignore him, the blokes clearly a dick.
32 Posted 14/06/2016 at 08:07:46
33 Posted 14/06/2016 at 08:18:06
34 Posted 14/06/2016 at 08:21:43
35 Posted 14/06/2016 at 08:45:02
See you in August.
36 Posted 14/06/2016 at 09:37:25
RK is joining a club that has been and always will be a much bigger club than your Poxey small time club .
37 Posted 14/06/2016 at 09:39:20
Interesting that we are 'nowhere' and they are seemingly the better bet, bigger club even.
We finished 11th and got to both cup semi-finals and the fans are apoplectic. They know a club as big as us with a squad this talented should be doing much more. Southampton finished 6th but did nothing in the cups but are ecstatic. I'm not sure that season would be at all warmly greeted here.
Expectations are linked to the quality and stature of a club and squad. Ronald is making a sensible move.
38 Posted 14/06/2016 at 09:47:11
39 Posted 14/06/2016 at 10:00:45
40 Posted 14/06/2016 at 10:04:38
41 Posted 14/06/2016 at 10:10:37
Firm but fair to everyone is the golden rule, and there will always be those who won't like it, but still give grudging respect.
If not, ship them out.
Just imagine what a fit Everton would have done last year!
The good times start here.
42 Posted 14/06/2016 at 10:38:49
46 Posted 14/06/2016 at 10:55:24
50 Posted 14/06/2016 at 11:04:13
Regardless which supporters wanted him or not; Moshiri did and he got him, so now is the time to back him and let's see who was right.
51 Posted 14/06/2016 at 11:12:36
My point... small club mentality that seems to sum up most Southampton fans more than this article does Keoman. From now on. I will be firmly behind Pompey or Bournemouth when they play them.
Oh, and welcome to Everton, Ronald.
52 Posted 14/06/2016 at 11:16:47
I don't want people to like us. I want them to moan and whinge about us, to make up rubbish about us, because that means we're a threat.
As I said on the other thread, this story is interesting, but it's all about bitter fans finding ways to criticise the manager that they wanted to leave anyway but are strangely bitter and disappointed about him going.
Welkom Ronald. Mog je en goed zijt in EFC hebben!
53 Posted 14/06/2016 at 11:19:52
Yet filled by total joy and blind optimism.
As a player. World Class. + Winner.
Personally I hope some aspects alleged are true.
Will not lose sleep if he chews out any overpaid delusional player.
Up the Blues.
54 Posted 14/06/2016 at 11:26:42
We just got rid of Mr Nice guy so perhaps a no-nonsense approach will serve us better. He's done well at Soton but losing your best players must grate on the man. Doubt he could care less about Lukaku or Stones. There are better players out there...
56 Posted 14/06/2016 at 11:35:59
57 Posted 14/06/2016 at 11:53:17
I'm not surprised by Mane hating him as Koeman spoilt his Manchester United leaving party and I must admit that some of Koeman's man management appears entirely appropriate given the short term demands of some of the Southampton players. I wish him luck at Everton and hope he can build his reputation with us.
60 Posted 14/06/2016 at 12:17:59
Sounds a strangely familiar story??
61 Posted 14/06/2016 at 12:19:39
Doesn't really matter as all Evertonians are welcome, as is Ronald. No idea if he'll be any good but it definitely makes for an interesting start to next season.
First fixture announced tomorrow – what are the chances on it being Southampton? One nineteenth I suppose or as the fixtures are already decided there are no odds.
62 Posted 14/06/2016 at 12:24:15
63 Posted 14/06/2016 at 12:30:44
Dave, I'm sure it would be easy to work out where people live right now, but harder to split those of us who grew up in Liverpool and are now elsewhere and those of us who are 'adopted' (and very welcome!) Blues.
64 Posted 14/06/2016 at 12:34:14
On a serious note, maybe the editors could produce an article about theirs or TW origins, what was the catalyst that started it off? (If you haven't already), was it Possibly someone from Scandinavia?
Anyway I'd love to know anyway; by far the best Everton website bar non, from Everton brothers on different continents no less... think I'm going to cry.
65 Posted 14/06/2016 at 12:34:19
Some interesting observatiobs, but laced with too much speculation, post-hoc rationalization and plain hurt feelings.
Cut through the kack in the extract and on here and you find that Koeman was our priority traget and we got him by playing hard and paying plenty. This is a different and better Everton.
66 Posted 14/06/2016 at 12:37:01
There's a strange irony with this appointment - Soton being my RS at the time.
67 Posted 14/06/2016 at 12:43:56
Full statement below.
"Made up to have joined Everton. To be honest blue, I couldn't wait to get out of that poxy fucking village lad. It'll be boss to be back in a proper city again. Should 'ave seen it there mate, I'm not even kiddin' lad, there were fuckin' gozzy-eyed 'unchbacks, simpletons, woolybacks an'..like..carrot-crunchin' wurzels everywhere bud. People marrying their mams and their sisters are their fuckin' uncles kid. Swear down lad, I seen fellers there with tails and hairy spines. Even met one feller with one big fuck-off eye in the middle of his forehead - a big mad Jethro-style cyclops lad, swear down, strength o' ten men an all"
68 Posted 14/06/2016 at 12:46:01
Funny, by the way.
69 Posted 14/06/2016 at 13:10:16
The real question is how the team do, how they shape up after a bit of Koeman care. Are they, results not withstanding too much, heading in the right direction. I remember a Moyes team with only 3 points in mid Oct...but they got out from under.
Koeman does the Biz = everybody happy...so It's in his (and our) own interest to do it...Barca and being Wenger's successor can wait.
Just like we will have to, wait and see.
70 Posted 14/06/2016 at 15:48:42
Pity that the Official Website hasn't posted this (clearly genuine statement).
Many thanks, including my dislocated rib cage.
71 Posted 14/06/2016 at 15:56:10
Ironically what the Southampton fans are crying out for – philosophy, youth, 5-year plans – are exactly the things Martinez got the sack for, because he couldn't keep us in the upper half of mid-table.
72 Posted 14/06/2016 at 16:29:08
From Liverpool now other UK
From Liverpool now overseas
Other UK now overseas
Other UK
Overseas
Overseas now UK / Liverpool
But I expect from the web traffic the editors have an idea of their demographic current locations, but not their origins.
Myself, born and bred Liverpool, now overseas.
73 Posted 14/06/2016 at 18:19:31
However, a Blue is a Blue, after all……......
"...........we are chosen....... "
So in my (blue) eyes
"............we are ALL CHOSEN EQUAL ! ".
I'd love to know how broadly we have spread, and how how isolated a Blue may be yet chosen.
I was born in Broadgreen 'Ozzy in '57, early years Childwall, briefly in Lincoln, Maghull for a couple of decades, Uni at Aston, then a year in Blackpool, few in "The Smoke" (what a dirty shithole), Maghull again, then a couple of decades in Tuebrook. Now, Maghull again.
Still want to grab a backpack and sod off, but 40 years continual season tickets make that an increasingly difficult decision.
Maybe if I want success, I should let go ?
The Everton self blame conundrum ?
74 Posted 14/06/2016 at 18:58:11
75 Posted 14/06/2016 at 20:17:41
76 Posted 14/06/2016 at 22:59:52
My ALL time fave was this tale (with pics) from two lads who were crossing the Sahara Desert as part of some adventure style holiday experience (I'm still fuckin emerald green with envy).
Anyway, they had to stop because the experts running the jolly needed everyone to take safety in a "refuge", to avoid a kickass sandstorm. Upshot was, as they emerged from this hefty refuge, following this biblical scale sansdstorm.... The lads see this rock emblazoned "EFC".
The guides were utterly gobsmacked.
Love them tales of Evertonian dedication/desecration.
I firmly believe that there is a rock on the planet Mars emblazoned in Royal Blue with the inscription
"..... no explanation....".
77 Posted 15/06/2016 at 05:28:43
Everyone is welcome to the Everton family, once touched by Everton there is no going back.
78 Posted 17/06/2016 at 08:12:59
The main objection seems to be Koeman is not a very nice man. Well, good I say. About time we had some ruthlessness. I hated Koeman's cynicism as a player but that translates to winner for me, as opposed to the complete loser we just got rid of.
You could swap out the name of Ronald Koeman for Alex Ferguson there and it would not look out of place.
What a bitter rant.
79 Posted 19/06/2016 at 11:55:28
80 Posted 21/06/2016 at 18:45:03
Don't know why, but I keep thinking of us thrashing Southampton 8-0 in 1971, it's oddly symbolic. We'd just had a state-of-the-art electronic scoreboard installed at Goodison, and I can remember the sequence of scorers: 7, 9, 7, 9, 8, 9, 9, 7. It was 5-0 at half time. 7 = David Johnson, 9 = Joe Royle, and 8 = Alan Ball.
81 Posted 21/06/2016 at 18:58:50
Fantastic achievements!!
82 Posted 08/01/2017 at 15:13:32
By the look of things, we're in balls-deep with Ronnie, so we'd best prey he gets it right.
83 Posted 08/01/2017 at 15:30:08
Tittle tattle.
84 Posted 08/01/2017 at 15:34:36
85 Posted 08/01/2017 at 15:47:08
As we sometimes get on here, at the time, it smacked of someone trying to present themselves as 'in-the-know' on Saints forums. It still does.
Just read his final 'ITK' paragraph about their manager targets. Nowhere close to identifying their eventual choice, Puel.
86 Posted 08/01/2017 at 15:50:58
I wonder how anyone manages players with lots of money, with buy-out clauses etc. In the seventies managers would dictate to the players, and stick them in the central league for a year or two, if they caused problems. These days it is more complicated.
All managers have their own way of doing things. Martinez talked phenomenal bullshit, and Koeman is blunt. So Mane hates him... perhaps Mane is right or maybe he is a pampered spoilt brat?
If he upsets some players, I don't care. I want results. Time will tell.
87 Posted 08/01/2017 at 16:05:05
I think that line is a dead giveaway as to the authenticity of the tale being spun above. Have you ever heard anyone utilise the term "asshat" outside of South Park? Certainly can't see it being a slang name of choice in Senagal or France.
88 Posted 08/01/2017 at 16:12:32
89 Posted 08/01/2017 at 16:18:53
93 Posted 08/01/2017 at 16:34:41
Claude Puel
He isn't exactly setting the Premier League alight, is he?
94 Posted 08/01/2017 at 17:19:24
This piece, to me, seems to have been written by a fan who has tailored whatever scant information he has to suit his own agenda. Has he a short cut to the Boardroom? Has he the ear of Les Reed, their DoF? What do you think?
I doubt it, and regard much of it like I would the "a mates Mam cuts the hair of a bloke who cuts the grass at Finch Farm, and HE says" etc, etc. sort of crap. Like when Schneiderlin was at Finch Farm last Friday for a medical...with Riquelme.
The bit that IS apparently correct is his attitude towards the Academy and ignoring the promising young players there, something I have read has happened here with him not watching the Under 23's until well into the season, and then only once, whilst Walsh watches every game. Now, it could be that the Saints young players just weren't ready yet and that was the reason why they were overlooked, and the reason some are getting game time now is because they are up to 12 months further on in their development.
Sadio Mane is a different case. He is, without doubt, an absolute shit straight out of the El-Hadji Diouf school for young gentleman. Saints fans, despite appreciating his prowess as a goal scorer, considered him as, well, an "asshat" whatever that is... they complained that, towards his leaving Saints and his transfer to the RS,he never appeared to enjoy playing for them, never celebrated his goals, and stunk the gaff out with his attitude.
And he has previous with this "attitude" of his, this, taken from his Wiki page:
"End of August 2014 Mané forced a transfer out of the club,(Red Bull Salzburg) by not coming to the training and to the most important game for Salzburg at that time to qualify for the Champions League" in order to force through his transfer to Saints and the Premier League dream these guys have, or the Premier League pay packets more like. Yes, he threw a massive sulk. I wouldn't put much credence on anything that that shitbag says
Saints fans were gutted when he left and hold the Mother of all grudges against Everton for poaching their manager. A recent survey showed that Saints fans hated Everton more than any other club . why is that, do you think?
So, I think much of this piece is conjecture, made up to suit the author's personal agenda, far too much conjecture and an air of fantasy about it.
That's my opinion.
95 Posted 08/01/2017 at 20:15:16
96 Posted 08/01/2017 at 23:16:48
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1 Posted 13/06/2016 at 21:31:11