Originally posted by @areloa-grandee
It might be all good being able to take a ‘moral high ground’ perspective n this DP, but the view we end up with will most likely be that from the ivory tower. Clubs need to get better and improve each year to stand still… failure to do results in an Aston Villa - stagnation followed by dwindling gates, indifference and relegation…That might sound all doom and gloom, but its a sad fact that without a clear sense of purpose and direction, there is a simple way down.
I am not sure how our annual slaes and frequent manager changes afford us a ‘clear sense of purpose and direction’ - and I will say again, what has changed from a few years back when such frequent changes caused so much mistrust and hatred for the board despite protestations that there was fuck all they could do about it?
Gay Highland Saint
I think we’ve known what our purpose has been for years. Despite the success that Ron brought us, you could argue that one of the pillars of what we call success, the development of young players to the first team, has been compromised in chasing that. This was supposed to be the year that Calum Slattery broke through, and yet, we’ve relied mostly on signings.
I can understand that, and I support it. Blooding young players has always been a part of my Southampton FC experience. However, there have been rumours that Koeman isn’t as keen, and if that’s close to being true, then we had a long term problem with RK anyway.
I know we get attached to these people, particularly when they go and say stupid things like “I’ll see out my contract” or “I’d bite your hand off to finish my career here”, but the reality is that almost everyone has their price.
RK’s move seems very cynical and just about the cash, but as I’ve said before, football in Liverpool is an entirely different proposition to how the sport is perceived and supported locally. As someone that has made the move for a lot less cash, I’m the last person to be criticising the move between those two cities. It’s also a bigger gamble for him than it is for us.
That cash ain’t coming for free, and whereas he’d have probably been fine here with anything over 10th, there will be huge expectation tied to both his salary and the results on the pitch. This is really where structure comes into place, as anyone who goes to work will know.
Not blowing my own trumpet, but I’m pretty good at what I do, yet I’ve worked for places that have been so badly run that I’ve felt shit at what I did in those places. RK is no doubt good at what he does. The question is are Everton as good at providing the environment for success that Southampton does? On recent evidence, you’d need to say no. At best, they’ve been up and down, tending to have a good season (for them) followed by a bad one.
The money changes all of that, of course. Comparisons with Man City are valid, but not the City that exists now, more the profligate upstart that we remember from years back. That’s what he’s walking into, and as I recall, clubs in that situation are never overburdend with patience,
