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[drofmor56]

Not sure that money is the main reason for moving nowdays as there is so much money around in the Premier League all but the newly promoted clubs can offer big salaries nowdays, but rather think it is the prestige of playing for a so called "massive club" that is the attraction.

 

But i think there is a great opportunity for the the so called lesser clubs in the Premier league to change the status quo now that Leicester have kicked open the door. If Southampton, West Ham or Everton say  could win the Premier league this season i think it would change the mentality of every one involved. Leicester's title success is probably considered a freak result but i think one of the main things holding other clubs back from a similar  achievement is a lack of self belief,something that only really came to Leicester as the season progressed. The Man City/Utd/Arsenal/Chelsea of this world are  not unbeatable. Look at Man Utd and Arsenal's attempts in Europe this season ,where they were made to look very ordinary on several occasions.

 

If Saints do lose Koeman its not the end of the world !  Look what Raneiri did for us in his first season here. 

 

ps   Losing Vardy/Mahrez/ Kante would be a blow but sometimes it allows other players to step out of their shadows. We were concerned when Cambiasso left last summer but looked what happened ..Danny Drinkwater  stepped up !  

[LAprice_]

Ironically, if Vardy does leave Leicester, it could be Southampton's Shane Long who is brought in to replace him... 

[Kendal Fox]

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! 

Thank you mate. Good spirit from you there and I feel for you with the way you guys have been treated. Hope things work themselves out for the better for you before the new season.

But with the risk of sounding a tad selfish, even arrogant, I guess it's the fact we won the league by a big margin and I had hoped we would have garnered sufficient respect for that to stop the Wenger's of this world cynically swooping before we've even had time to truly savour what was achieved!..

At least I'd hoped they'd allow us the first half of the season then see where we are at, before making bids in the Jan transfer window. Naive I know.

[WigstonWanderer]

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.

Good post.

Southampton became my second team after we moved to Wiltshire in the mid sixties. My father used to take me to some of the matches at the Dell as it was deemed too far in those days to travel to Leicester.

They had some star players like Martin Chivers, Ron Davies & Terry Paine. Pretty sure the first two got pinched by bigger clubs even in those days. There was also another older, bald-headed chap (whose name escapes me) who always seemed to get slagged off by the Saints fans.

The only match I really remember was when Leicester beat them 5 - 1 IIRC, and Peter Shilton scored!

Good luck next season. Really hope the second tier of teams in the PL start regularly challenging the big names so that we get a more level playing field (no pun intended). Would love one of the big teams to go bust! Doubt it will happen though.

[Rincewind]

Thought Everton had a decent manager. OK they only finished halfway but they were never in danger of going down.

Southampton have done well and just need stability. I hope with City winning the title brings about a new era. Top teams in football goes in cycles. A small group of teams dominate. It used to be Liverpool and Man Utd Then Chelsea and Man City. Now even Swansea and Stoke have established themselves as a top 6-10 finishers. Now it is Leicester's turn maybe. With Arsenal Chelsea Man Utd and Liverpool it will take a few bottom half finishes even relegation to stop people regarding them as massive clubs which they established over the years. Now it is time for another group of teams to dominate.

[ThaiFox]

Looks like Koeman's gone. Another sad day for football where it's proved previous words about loyalty and loving the club mean nothing and the loathesome agents and money win again.

 

Only in long and distant history are Everton a better club than Southampton.

 

I hope Everton struggle and I hope if we don't retain the P/L, Southampton win it. That would be justice.

[johnny the fox]

Looks like Koeman's gone. Another sad day for football where it's proved previous words about loyalty and loving the club mean nothing and the loathesome agents and money win again.

 

Only in long and distant history are Everton a better club than Southampton.

 

I hope Everton struggle and I hope if we don't retain the P/L, Southampton win it. That would be justice.

Southamton have had shed loads of money in the last few years...if i was a fan i would be asking questions where is it all going..? surely they can now compete with everton who haven't had loads of money till now..

[Dan]

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.

 

You honestly think if us and Southampton went for a player right now that we'd not be in pole position? I agree we're not at the level of giant clubs but I think we've overtaken clubs like Southampton and West Ham for this summer at least.

[Fox92]

Looks like Koeman's gone. Another sad day for football where it's proved previous words about loyalty and loving the club mean nothing and the loathesome agents and money win again.

 

Only in long and distant history are Everton a better club than Southampton.

 

I hope Everton struggle and I hope if we don't retain the P/L, Southampton win it. That would be justice.

 

Everton are much bigger than Southampton. Not just historically but in modern times too. Everton are the second longest serving top flight side (after Arsenal) aren't they? While Southampton have drifted in between the second and third tiers regular for the past decade or so. Anybody that is seeing this a sideways move is deluded.

 

Surely if you want Southampton to win the league for "justice" then you wanted them to go down when they sacked Adkins and brought in Pochettino.

[Koke]

You honestly think if us and Southampton went for a player right now that we'd not be in pole position? I agree we're not at the level of giant clubs but I think we've overtaken clubs like Southampton and West Ham for this summer at least.

No you're right. We have more chance of getting X player if both us and Southampton went for him.

But unfortunately neither clubs are big enough to keep hold of their players when bigger established clubs come sniffing around. Ideally us winning the league would have given us more bargaining power but the sad reality is there is a hierarchy in football and we're nowhere near the top.

[Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo]

Anybody that is seeing this a sideways move is deluded.

 

 

Everton are slightly bigger than Southampton but not really better - they've been more established in the Premier League than Southampton but have done very little of note in years and years. Southampton have a great infrastructure but Koeman is following the money. Sideways move

[Fox92]

Everton are slightly bigger than Southampton but not really better - they've been more established in the Premier League than Southampton but have done very little of note in years and years. Southampton have a great infrastructure but Koeman is following the money. Sideways move

 

If Southampton had done something in recent years then I'd probably agree with you but they've won literally nothing. They played in the third tier as recent as 2010-11 season. And since that season, Everton have finished 7th, 7th, 6th and 5th in the top flight. Everton are much bigger. They haven't played in the second tier since the 50's. 

 

Koeman has done a superb job at Southampton and will do the same at Everton. Hope he does, hope he makes them a top 6 club again.

[Arriba Los Zorros]

Everton are slightly bigger than Southampton but not really better - they've been more established in the Premier League than Southampton but have done very little of note in years and years. Southampton have a great infrastructure but Koeman is following the money. Sideways move

Have to agree, sure Everton were a bigger club 40 years ago. Nowadays this is a sideways move given the stature of both clubs currently, Southampton have the better team right now and are hardly top-flight paupers

[Fox92]

Have to agree, sure Everton were a bigger club 40 years ago. Nowadays this is a sideways move given the stature of both clubs currently, Southampton have the better team right now and are hardly top-flight paupers

 

Southampton played in the third tier in 2010. Everton finished 7th in the top flight. 

 

Of course Southampton have a better team now, most of which were signed by Koeman, if Everton had the better team they wouldn't be looking for a new manager would they. 

[Arriba Los Zorros]

Southampton played in the third tier in 2010. Everton finished 7th in the top flight. 

 

Of course Southampton have a better team now, most of which were signed by Koeman, if Everton had the better team they wouldn't be looking for a new manager would they. 

Yeah, but by that logic we played in the third tier 8 years ago but it doesn't make Burnley a bigger club than us because they won things in the past and haven't been down to league 1 recently. Even if we'd finished second last year and hadn't won the PL it would still be true.

 

also, Southampton have had a run 8th, 7th, 6th finishes in the last three years so are well on their way to establishing themselves as a Top 10 club, and recently Everton have never looked like surpassing that. You can argue that Everton have more prestige, but they are not ultimately a step-up, there's nothing to justify that now

[Fox92]

Yeah, but by that logic we played in the third tier 8 years ago but it doesn't make Burnley a bigger club than us because they won things in the past and haven't been down to league 1 recently. Even if we'd finished second last year and hadn't won the PL it would still be true.

 

also, Southampton have had a run 8th, 7th, 6th finishes in the last three years so are well on their way to establishing themselves as a Top 10 club, and recently Everton have never looked like surpassing that. You can argue that Everton have more prestige, but they are not ultimately a step-up, there's nothing to justify that now

 

No comparison there though because we've just won the Premier League. Southampton haven't.

 

I'm not arguing about bigger clubs now though. I'll agree to disagree... On the move itself, as a neutral, there's a big potential at Everton. "Sleeping giant" - sort of - superb ground, big fanbase, decent squad and now new owners with, apparently, a lot of money. Southampton, for me, can't go any further than where they are currently finishing and in some ways Koeman may feel he has taken the club as far as he can (yes the money's good - I'm not doubting that either).

[Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo]

Southampton played in the third tier in 2010. Everton finished 7th in the top flight. 

 

Of course Southampton have a better team now, most of which were signed by Koeman, if Everton had the better team they wouldn't be looking for a new manager would they. 

 

 

But we're not talking about 6 years ago. And if anything that shows you how stagnant Everton are and how brilliant Southampton are!

 

If Everton didn't have the Liverpool rivalry no-one would give a shit about them. Much like us (until this freak PL title) and Southampton they are almost exclusively a club for the locals. Everton aren't in European competition, they are just one of many mid-table Premier League stalwarts. Just because they have an old ground and have a derby doesn't mean they're a big club

[Arriba Los Zorros]

No comparison there though because we've just won the Premier League. Southampton haven't.

 

I'm not arguing about bigger clubs now though. I'll agree to disagree... On the move itself, as a neutral, there's a big potential at Everton. "Sleeping giant" - sort of - superb ground, big fanbase, decent squad and now new owners with, apparently, a lot of money. Southampton, for me, can't go any further than where they are currently finishing and in some ways Koeman may feel he has taken the club as far as he can (yes the money's good - I'm not doubting that either).

I kind of see your point, if I had to choose who was bigger I'd go Everton but there's really not much in it to justify it as a step-up.

 

I'd have to sum it up like this - when Liverpool took Lallana and co, nobody doubted they were moving to a bigger club. Koeman to Everton has left many people scratching their heads

[Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo]

Southampton, for me, can't go any further than where they are currently finishing and in some ways Koeman may feel he has taken the club as far as he can (yes the money's good - I'm not doubting that either).

 

 

Did you not learn anything last season? There is no such thing as a glass ceiling. We lost our most successful manager in donkeys years and Cambiasso, then won the title. Why is it not possible that Southampton can't push for the top 4? The "big clubs" in this country are proper overrated and Southampton are a decent outfit

[Fox92]

Did you not learn anything last season? There is no such thing as a glass ceiling. We lost our most successful manager in donkeys years and Cambiasso, then won the title. Why is it not possible that Southampton can't push for the top 4? The "big clubs" in this country are proper overrated and Southampton are a decent outfit

 

Oh I know that, and yeah any side can push the top four, but lets see who they appoint. 

[Dan]

Everton are much bigger than Southampton. Not just historically but in modern times too. Everton are the second longest serving top flight side (after Arsenal) aren't they? While Southampton have drifted in between the second and third tiers regular for the past decade or so. Anybody that is seeing this a sideways move is deluded.

 

Surely if you want Southampton to win the league for "justice" then you wanted them to go down when they sacked Adkins and brought in Pochettino.

 

Think you're being quite harsh on Southampton personally. By all means yes Everton are historically a bigger club but can you really pinpoint every single reasoning behind joining a club on what they achieved in the past? 

 

No you're right. We have more chance of getting X player if both us and Southampton went for him.

But unfortunately neither clubs are big enough to keep hold of their players when bigger established clubs come sniffing around. Ideally us winning the league would have given us more bargaining power but the sad reality is there is a hierarchy in football and we're nowhere near the top.

 

I think if Leicester get picked apart this summer then it's the best evidence yet that football has fallen into a truly sorry state. It would deem the elite to be pretty much unbreakable no matter what the others do. We've put up the best assault to the elite clubs that I've ever seen anyone put up, it's fair to say Southampton put up a good one but not anywhere near as good as ours. If ours fails it's all a bit depressing really.

[ThaiFox]

Everton are much bigger than Southampton. Not just historically but in modern times too. Everton are the second longest serving top flight side (after Arsenal) aren't they? While Southampton have drifted in between the second and third tiers regular for the past decade or so. Anybody that is seeing this a sideways move is deluded.

 

Surely if you want Southampton to win the league for "justice" then you wanted them to go down when they sacked Adkins and brought in Pochettino.

The Pochettino point is very valid and a very good one too. Strange how we often forget these things when we are trying to make a point! Just like how fans would not give a fig about sacking a manager or player who is under performing, but go wild when another club poaches one of our best players, or their manager.

 

I have no specific love for Southampton, but this past season has shown just how much the public are sick and tired of loathesome agents, money, greedy players and managers. The so called big clubs force these situations upon our level of club, and us winning the league has shown how much people are desperate for the big clubs to fail.

 

As for Everton, they are obviously a bigger club in history, but the impressive way Southampton have grown as a club and established themselves is a credit to them. Everton have fallen away big time over my lifetime. They do have potential, but I would have thought Southampton have that too, just like ourselves. None of us know how the future will pan out, and hopefully clubs at our level will slowly eat into the so called big clubs mentality, so players and managers will not jump ship, just because of a name. I hope that happens because I'm not the only one who is sick and tired of the P/L being a 4 or 5 club cartel. 

[SecretPro]

Dad's a saints fan so I've always had a soft spot. Been good entertainment the last few years too, hope it continues. Everton on the other hand, self entitled club and self entitled fans. **** em.