Welcome to our world...

[SonicBoom]

Saints fan here. I dropped in a while back when you were on your march towards the title and good for you, you made it. 

Of course you are now finding out what happens when you actually perform above what is generally regarded as your level. The huge clubs just want to take all your players. 

We are known as a selling club yet all our players went to Liverpool, Arsenal and Man u . As you are seeing with Vardy, when they come knocking there is very little you can do other than try to get the best price. I am amazed that he wouldn't want to stay with you and play in the Champions League, it would seem to complete the story perfectly. 

 

Our forums are a mix of opinions. We have a good structure and each time we've lost players we spent wisely and moved on although there is a feeling that you can't do that every year and sooner or later it'll catch up with us. 

Now of course it's the manager. Everton (whose fans now appear to believe they are the next Man City), are prepared to make Koeman the worlds 6th best paid manager and so he's done a complete U-turn in two weeks after initially publicly saying he has no interest in going there. What a surprise so once again it's one step forward and two back. No doubt the press will soon be screaming that all our players are going to follow him out the club despite the fact we're in Europe and finished 16 points above Everton. 

 

I really hope you're team stays together. At least the players can't claim to want Champions League football - but there's lots of speculation about Mahrez and Kante,  and Vardy pushing off will spread some uncertainty around the team. I genuinely wanted to see what you could achieve in the CL with your team from last season, hopefully the majority will stay - although no one knows better than us that having top players is both a blessing and curse. 

 

 

[johnny the fox]

well, it is the price of success... it could be worse, we could be portsmouth, coventry, forest or derby... ha ha.. have you got any decent players ? we are looking to asset strip some poor fooker.

[LCFC FOX]

Let's raid Southampton! Ah no wait that'll be Celtic this summer

[SonicBoom]

We have but of course every one of them wants out or is about to follow Koeman to Everton! 

It is the price of success but it does get very irritating. Seems like it doesn't matter what you do , a player will still b ugger off to one of the big finve first chance he gets. 

you are the perfect example. If you can't keep your players having won the title and playing in the Champions League then what hope is there for the rest of us! 

[goose2010]

nothing will take away the fact we won the premier league on basically a show string budget compared to 'the bigger clubs' it will hurt for a few weeks but we should be taking inspiration from Southampton who like the OP has said have spent wisely.

 

We will be fine next season, we may have a few different faces in the starting 11 but the fans will still be there and so will our leader (god I hope I have jinxed it) and our scouting master.

 

Unfortunately its how football is turning its just one big money fight at the minute which will eventually implode.

[bovril]

I like Southampton and how the club is run. But with all due respect we won the league. We have no regrets. For one glorious season we pulled off the impossible. Even if our team is broken up, we'll never have to think "what if..." like we do with the 99/00 O'Neill team.

[Strokes]

I like Southampton and how the club is run. But with all due respect we won the league. We have no regrets. For one glorious season we pulled off the impossible. Even if our team is broken up, we'll never have to think "what if..." like we do with the 99/00 O'Neill team.

Is better than a world where you have players neither you or other teams want, like we did from around 2004-2010.

[SonicBoom]

I like Southampton and how the club is run. But with all due respect we won the league. We have no regrets. For one glorious season we pulled off the impossible. Even if our team is broken up, we'll never have to think "what if..." like we do with the 99/00 O'Neill team.

Yep and I don't blame you. You are in the record books and have actually achieved something remarkable. I'd like to see you put up a good defence of the title next year too rather than be decimated and slip to mid table. Although let's be honest it won't be hard to make a better fist of it than Chelsea did! 

[Out Foxed]

shame pearson didn't hang on, he could have gone back to southmapton. now he's stuck shagging sheep.

[Koke]

I actually said this weeks ago but I was told we hold more bargaining power cos we're in the CL. We don't.

Southampton and Leicester are similar sized clubs with similar sized fan base. We will always be selling clubs unless our respective owners do a Man City.

At least Southampton have a successful academy. We don't. Even our latest promising academy product wants to go to Liverpool.

[erlee]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7CpBXBVbtI

 

[Koke]

Koeman going to Evrton is a kick in the bollocks though. Everton are the bigger club but it's not like Everton are challenging for honours. Bigger salary granted.

[Bazly]

I think LC is entering a potentially pivotal season. If the team can perform and retain a top 4 place then the glass ceiling will be on its way to being broken rather damaged as it is now. The big money clubs will always have an advantage but reputations can be built quickly, over only a few seasons. Before the Chelski days, Chelsea were shit. Mid table if lucky, relegated if not. Leicester or any club can be established as a top team after a 10 year period of success. Reputations are as easily lost, Man U are fading fast and now struggle to land the glitz players.

 

LC are ranked 11th in the World (club football) and above all other English teams. Stabilise around that position (364 higher than the previous season) and we would become an established top team.

[Guest CityFan 06]

Would like to point out just how well Southampton have done to sustain high finishes in the PL. I mean, you've had a lot of your key players move on and to still comfortable be a good side in the division is definitely worthy of praise.

 

Hopefully, like you pointed out, we do manage to keep our core team together, as I think Leicester have the potential to do well in the CL, and of course next season's PL too. Whoever stays or moves, we will still need to be clever with our recruitment, I'm sure we will be but Southampton are fairly inspirational in that regard.

[Arriba Los Zorros]

Hope Koeman stays Sonic Boom. I don't think Everton are a particularly bigger club, especially these days, and he's done so well for you.

 

Saints are definitely my second team in the PL, and you've done very well whilst playing an attractive style. Long may it continue!

 

Thanks for your  sentiments RE Vardy!

[Bayfox]

As nothing is confirmed as yet, I think we all thought having won the title and having CL football, making history, that they would all at least give us 1 more season, and I would guess most of us thought that out the 3 being linked with clubs that Vardy would be the most likely to stay.

 

However, our fear is now if one bolts and leaves the door open, others will follow.

 

I don't know the situation with southampton inside out, but in the past your finishes haven't been a patch on what we achieved and you seemed to be able to get good money for players and play hard ball to an extent with Man Utd over shaw.

 

It seems we allowed agents to get release clauses into contracts. Now with Kante ok he was unknown at the time and we took that gamble, but with Vardy he signed that deal less than 6 months ago, at a point when we looked at least nailed on for a top 4 place even had the wheels come off, so either Vardy or his agent already had designs at leaving, and that is the sad part.

 

It seems a monumental achievement and a place in history, still doesn't mean much compared to another 60k in the wage packet.

 

As this is has been written before I have seen an conclusion to the Vardy saga. I will say, I wish him all the best as a person, and if he stays, then fantastic and he gives a little more hope to all clubs.

 

On the subject of koeman, I don't get the attraction of Everton at the minute (new investment yes) but so many other factors that need addressing, I assume he sees it as another stepping stone, however if he fails, he rules himself out of getting a really top job, in this country anyway.

 

But you replaced before, sure you can do it again.

[Fox92]

I keep referring to Southampton as an example... You lose good players, but you get better players in. I mean, Lallana goes and then Mane comes in (and Mane is the better player).... With a decent scouting system, which we have, I remain positive that any player we lose we can replace (Kante is the only one I struggle to comprehend as he is a sort of one-off player)... At the end of the day it's the same scouting network that found Vardy, Mahrez and Kante for a combined fee of less than £10mill.

 

I imagine it's a kick in the teeth Koeman going to Everton. He has done a superb job with you lot and I think he'll move Everton forward too. There is no doubt the money is probably better but Everton are the bigger club also.

[foxy boxing]

if we have to rebuild, then we will players managers come and go but the club will always be here, thanks to the owners we are on a great footing.we will just see how it goes but we need to stay established in the premier league and not do a villa

[Nick]

Saints fan here. I dropped in a while back when you were on your march towards the title and good for you, you made it. 

Of course you are now finding out what happens when you actually perform above what is generally regarded as your level. The huge clubs just want to take all your players. 

We are known as a selling club yet all our players went to Liverpool, Arsenal and Man u . As you are seeing with Vardy, when they come knocking there is very little you can do other than try to get the best price. I am amazed that he wouldn't want to stay with you and play in the Champions League, it would seem to complete the story perfectly. 

 

Our forums are a mix of opinions. We have a good structure and each time we've lost players we spent wisely and moved on although there is a feeling that you can't do that every year and sooner or later it'll catch up with us. 

Now of course it's the manager. Everton (whose fans now appear to believe they are the next Man City), are prepared to make Koeman the worlds 6th best paid manager and so he's done a complete U-turn in two weeks after initially publicly saying he has no interest in going there. What a surprise so once again it's one step forward and two back. No doubt the press will soon be screaming that all our players are going to follow him out the club despite the fact we're in Europe and finished 16 points above Everton. 

 

I really hope you're team stays together. At least the players can't claim to want Champions League football - but there's lots of speculation about Mahrez and Kante,  and Vardy pushing off will spread some uncertainty around the team. I genuinely wanted to see what you could achieve in the CL with your team from last season, hopefully the majority will stay - although no one knows better than us that having top players is both a blessing and curse.

Welcome - good post.

[ThaiFox]

Saints fan here. I dropped in a while back when you were on your march towards the title and good for you, you made it. 

Of course you are now finding out what happens when you actually perform above what is generally regarded as your level. The huge clubs just want to take all your players. 

We are known as a selling club yet all our players went to Liverpool, Arsenal and Man u . As you are seeing with Vardy, when they come knocking there is very little you can do other than try to get the best price. I am amazed that he wouldn't want to stay with you and play in the Champions League, it would seem to complete the story perfectly. 

 

Our forums are a mix of opinions. We have a good structure and each time we've lost players we spent wisely and moved on although there is a feeling that you can't do that every year and sooner or later it'll catch up with us. 

Now of course it's the manager. Everton (whose fans now appear to believe they are the next Man City), are prepared to make Koeman the worlds 6th best paid manager and so he's done a complete U-turn in two weeks after initially publicly saying he has no interest in going there. What a surprise so once again it's one step forward and two back. No doubt the press will soon be screaming that all our players are going to follow him out the club despite the fact we're in Europe and finished 16 points above Everton. 

 

I really hope you're team stays together. At least the players can't claim to want Champions League football - but there's lots of speculation about Mahrez and Kante,  and Vardy pushing off will spread some uncertainty around the team. I genuinely wanted to see what you could achieve in the CL with your team from last season, hopefully the majority will stay - although no one knows better than us that having top players is both a blessing and curse. 

Thank you for your excellent post. Like other posters on here, I feel for your club. A really well run decent club, who like us are punching about our weight. It is such a shame loyalty has gone and money talks (doesn't it always?). What gives all of us the hump is when managers and players talk about their love and commitment for the club we love, then backtrack, often within hours!

 

I have no objection to people wanting to better themselves. It is human nature to do that. I do have a problem with liars. Unfortunately football nowadays is run by loathesome leaches called agents, who 'advise'. Not advice for the good of the player, but for themselves. If players stay, they get a lot less than a percentage of a transfer fee. This is why players and managers have become so disloyal and why agents ruin football.

 

Good luck next season. If we don't win it again, I really hope Southampton do. I hope your manager situation is sorted and for the better. You are better off without Koeman if he moves. Just don't appoint the Wally, or hodgson when he's fired from the England job in 2 weeks time!

 

p.s. Everton might have been a big club, they might be again, but they are well off Southampton's standing at the moment in my opinion.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Bit sickening that Koeman is going to Everton for the cash - not buying the notion from some that Everton are a 'bigger' club, anyway. Nowhere near the same quality youth set up or success when it comes to academy graduates, no European football this season, likely that their best player (by a considerable distance) will be sodding off in the summer. All of these are relevant to now.

 

At the moment they're absolutely no bigger than Southampton.

[ealingfox]

Definitely. There's a difference between being a historic club and a big club. You can't just be considered big forever. How often do you go abroad and see foreigners wearing Everton shirts?

Preston, Burnley, Forest etc - not big clubs.

[Spudulike]

Saints fan here. I dropped in a while back when you were on your march towards the title and good for you, you made it. 

Of course you are now finding out what happens when you actually perform above what is generally regarded as your level. The huge clubs just want to take all your players. 

We are known as a selling club yet all our players went to Liverpool, Arsenal and Man u . As you are seeing with Vardy, when they come knocking there is very little you can do other than try to get the best price. I am amazed that he wouldn't want to stay with you and play in the Champions League, it would seem to complete the story perfectly. 

 

Our forums are a mix of opinions. We have a good structure and each time we've lost players we spent wisely and moved on although there is a feeling that you can't do that every year and sooner or later it'll catch up with us. 

Now of course it's the manager. Everton (whose fans now appear to believe they are the next Man City), are prepared to make Koeman the worlds 6th best paid manager and so he's done a complete U-turn in two weeks after initially publicly saying he has no interest in going there. What a surprise so once again it's one step forward and two back. No doubt the press will soon be screaming that all our players are going to follow him out the club despite the fact we're in Europe and finished 16 points above Everton. 

 

I really hope you're team stays together. At least the players can't claim to want Champions League football - but there's lots of speculation about Mahrez and Kante,  and Vardy pushing off will spread some uncertainty around the team. I genuinely wanted to see what you could achieve in the CL with your team from last season, hopefully the majority will stay - although no one knows better than us that having top players is both a blessing and curse. 

 

...but did all of those players that Southampton lost have release clauses in their contracts ?? Seems that our crown jewels may be leaving for knock-down prices.

[Vacamion]

When we came up, we wanted, like every other club to emulate Southampton, is be well-run and finish top half.

From now on, every promoted club will want to "do a Leicester"...

[Strokes]

When we came up, we wanted, like every other club to emulate Southampton, is be well-run and finish top half.

From now on, every promoted club will want to "do a Leicester"...

Have we set the bar to high though? Even for ourselves?