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Post by Stealth on Oct 27, 2009 12:05:00 GMT
Very good result on Saturday Tim. Starting to look quite optimistic now as plenty of ganes to go and only 11 points off a play-off place.
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Post by SaintTim on Oct 30, 2009 9:06:53 GMT
Very good result on Saturday Tim. Starting to look quite optimistic now as plenty of games to go and only 11 points off a play-off place. Yes Stealth things are looking good & Pardew is looking like a good acquisition.
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Post by SaintTim on Oct 30, 2009 9:07:33 GMT
Pards plays down expectations
Alan Pardew has tried to play down increasing expectations as Saints bid for five straight league wins for the first time since 2001.
On the eve of his side’s League One trip to Leyton Orient, the Saints manager has insisted: “We’re not Leeds United yet.’ Pardew has transformed Saints from a group who you could barely imagine winning a game to a side who suddenly look like never losing.
A feelgood factor has swept over the city as a result.
That is underlined by the fact that over 3,000 Saints fans will be at Orient tomorrow to watch Pardew’s side try and make it six wins on the bounce in all competitions and five in the league.
If Saints win again, there is also a reasonable chance they will climb out of the relegation zone.
However, with expectations now running high, Pardew has to tread a fine line between using the momentum to push the team on whilst guarding against complacency.
He said: “Looking at us and the goals we’re scoring, potentially we could be a top six side.
“But starting with minus ten points we have to be better than that and that’s what we’re striving to be – to be a Leeds United and the ten points then become irrelevant.
“There’s a long way to go before we’re there.
“They (Leeds) have been two or three years in this division building that team and we’re trying to do it in three or four months, and that doesn’t really work.
“But we’ve got momentum and that’s a strange thing – it can take you to places that perhaps you didn’t envisage so we want to keep the momentum going.”
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Post by SaintTim on Oct 30, 2009 20:51:46 GMT
What a great team we had many years ago
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Post by Stealth on Nov 7, 2009 14:29:09 GMT
What a phenomenal goal Tim! Funny, I don't remember seeing that before.
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Post by SaintTim on Dec 23, 2009 6:38:19 GMT
Chairman's Christmas Message to Supporters As Christmas approaches, as does the middle of the football season, it is perhaps a good time to reflect on the progress we have made so far. Markus and I extend our deep appreciation to you all for your support for the Club and to me personally as a newcomer to Southampton and English football. We have had literally thousands of Christmas cards from you and have been overwhelmed by your good wishes. It is without doubt this magnificent support that drives our commitment to the Club and our desire to bring success to the Saints. It also tells us just how much this Club means to each one of you. I'd like to take this opportunity to emphasise that, like you, I really care about this football club and its people. To be authentic and real is something which always helped me to succeed in my business life and these attributes I bring with me now to Southampton Football Club and ultimately to you the supporters. I will now be taking a few days away in Switzerland for the Christmas break but, make no mistake, I will be back for the Boxing Day match at home to Exeter. A bumper crowd is expected judging by ticket sales so far and I encourage as many of you as possible to come along. It would be quite something to see our first capacity crowd at St. Mary's. We also now look forward to a Third Round FA Cup tie to see in the New Year and are thrilled to have made it through to the Area Final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy after a very tense match against Norwich. Of course, progress in the League remains our top priority and we remain ambitious to continue our climb up the table. Our footballers have performed well and there is a great spirit in the team led by Alan and his coaching staff. Off the pitch, our colleagues have responded superbly to many challenges put to them over the last six months. Many swift decisions had to be taken when I joined the Club. The positive effects I expected from these decisions are beginning to come through and are starting to reflect in the position of the Club. We still have a great deal to do, but are delighted that we are on track with our plans. This month I announced proposals to bring our training facility at Marchwood up to the highest standards in football. This project is about creating the right infrastructure for the development of top quality football and top quality football teams. It marks our determination to be among the best in the game. So I am very excited about the future and the prospects for success for this great Club and its great people. I wish all the supporters and everyone associated with the Saints a very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. I look forward to seeing you all on Boxing Day. Yours, Nicola Nicola Cortese www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~1911035,00.html
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Post by SaintTim on Dec 23, 2009 6:51:34 GMT
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/leagueone/southampton/6867866/Alan-Pardew-back-on-the-march-with-Southampton.htmlAlan Pardew back on the march with Southampton"The messages of motivation that hang from the walls of Southampton's New Forest training ground are impossible to miss." "Nobody is blamed: all of us are accountable," says one. It is a philosophy that Alan Pardew may have wished for as the manager of West Ham United and Charlton Athletic where he spent much of two years being both blamed and held accountable. After a coaching career that had been on an upward curve following promotions with Reading and West Ham, as well as an FA Cup final, it was, in his own words, a "lean spell". Now, though, following an eight-month break, phase two of Pardew's managerial journey has begun promisingly at Southampton. "In some ways it was a gift to have that time away to reflect on your work," he says. "Most people go through their working lives without that opportunity. I looked at other genres. I looked at rugby union, I had a chance to read stuff, went to watch other managers work." And the main lesson? "A winning mentality is key to any franchise or organisation. Now I'm more experienced, I found that easier to put into this club." Having himself been regarded as the great young domestic hope shortly before a controversial sacking, Pardew is certainly well placed now to empathise with Mark Hughes and the wider challenge facing British managers. "There's the top echelon of managers who have stabilised themselves there," he says. "Unfortunately for us, to try to break into that is very difficult. I think it's important that British managers branch out and work abroad. It's certainly an ambition I had when I was off. "I think that's something for me and the type of manager I am and maybe even people like Steve Bruce might need before they get one of the big four in England. That's how it is, but I'm not in the business to get a top-four club, I'm in the business to be a success. Nothing else is in my mind and this is where I feel I can get success." Amid interest from higher up the football pyramid, Pardew's choice of Southampton was a surprise. The club have been involved in a slow-motion car crash over the past five years that has been every bit as gruesome as the fate that previously engulfed Leeds United, the League One leaders. Yet with Pardew behind the wheel, they are gradually being steered towards a future filled with hope. Having almost gone out of existence earlier this year after the club's holding company went into administration, Southampton have recovered from a 10-point deduction to stand a realistic chance of the League One play-offs this season. They are also just one step from Wembley in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. "We really didn't know how to win games at the start but I look at them now and they are battle-hardened," he says. "What I made a point of doing was to make it uncomfortable on the training ground. I think it's very important not to lose the British mentality. "We have a certain aggression that lifts us as a nation sometimes and we should never lose sight of that. I've always worked well with younger players, I've always found dialogue to motivate and inspire them." As well as Pardew, central to the Southampton revival is Markus Liebherr, a Swiss billionaire who, in city circles, is estimated to be the third richest club owner in Britain. When the call came during the summer, Pardew admits that Liebherr's vision was decisive. "What got me to the meeting in the first place was the tradition, the size of the fan base and club but I genuinely thought I wasn't going to take it," he says. "I wouldn't have come here if it wasn't for Markus Liebherr and Nicola Cortese [the chief executive]. They want to go to the Premier League, that's where I want to go. I've had no assurances about how much money I've got but the one assurance I have is that I don't have to sell anyone. "It was almost a blank canvas. We are not here to breed mediocrity. To finish middle of the table doesn't really interest me. There is no doubt in my mind that Southampton have a very good chance of being in the Premier League in the next five years and I'm hoping I take them." With Pardew full of ambition and optimism about the future, there is scant negativity about the way it ended at Charlton and, most harshly, West Ham. "My first lean spell at West Ham cost me my job," he says. "We needed to address some problems in the dressing room, we had one or two characters who were starting to lose the plot. "We lost Dean Ashton. That was the single biggest thing. Carlos Tévez and Javier Mascherano came at a time when it wasn't the areas I felt the team needed to be a better team but they were fantastic players and I had not a day's problem with them. "I loved it at West Ham. Somewhere down the line I might end up there again in some capacity. I don't know, maybe the pitch announcer. But at the moment, I feel I have a good club here, good owners, the public have been first class and I couldn't be happier."
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Post by SaintTim on Jan 10, 2010 4:17:13 GMT
Southampton sign Jose Fonte from Crystal Palace
Southampton have signed Crystal Palace defender Jose Fonte for an undisclosed fee, reports BBC Radio Solent.
The 26-year-old Portuguese centre-back has signed a three-and-a-half year deal with the League One side, dropping down a division from the Championship.
Fonte has been a regular for Palace since joining them on loan in 2007 from Benfica, making 92 appearances and scoring six goals for the Eagles.
"I'm really happy to be at St Mary's," Fonte told BBC Radio Solent.
"Don't get me wrong , I was happy at Crystal Palace and I had a good spell there. I have only good things to say to the fans and everybody I have worked with at the club.
"But I've made a decision and I'm very happy with it. I've come here with a purpose which is to help this club move to the top divisions.
"I'm very happy with this contract, and with how Southampton have treated me, so it's a happy day for me and I just want to help the club.
"I want to play in the Premier League and I think I can do that quickest by moving here."
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Post by SaintTim on Jan 13, 2010 14:42:17 GMT
Southampton sign Daniel Seaborne from Exeter City
Southampton have made their second capture of the January transfer window with the signing of Daniel Seaborne.
The 22-year-old defender has arrived from League One side Exeter City for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-and-a-half year contract.
The Saints head to Exeter in League One during the first week of February.
"I'd love to be involved when we play there but Saturday's game at Millwall is the most important for me at the moment," he told the club website.
"Hopefully I'll be in the team this weekend and put in a good performance, then we'll go from there."
Seaborne has come through the ranks at Exeter City, featuring in over 30 games in City's promotion from League Two last season.
The defender also captained the side to promotion from the Blue Square Premier league two years ago.
"We had a fantastic squad when we were in the Conference, probably League One standard," he added.
"We played at Wembley twice in that time, and getting promoted last season on the final day was fantastic for the club."
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Post by SaintTim on Jan 14, 2010 16:00:28 GMT
Southampton sign Jon Otsemobor from Norwich City
Defender Jon Otsemobor has joined Southampton on a free transfer from League One rivals Norwich City.
The 26-year-old has signed a six-month deal at St Mary's.
Liverpool-born Otsemebor came through the youth ranks at Anfield, making his debut for the club in 2002 but managing to make just six starts for the side.
He then spent time on loan at Hull, Bolton, Crewe and Rotherham, before his move to Norwich in 2007, where he made 88 league starts.
Otsemobor featured in the League One meeting against the Saints at St Mary's in November, and is the side's third signing of the January transfer window following the arrivals of Jose Fonte and Dan Seaborne.
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Post by SaintTim on Jan 22, 2010 15:22:20 GMT
Southampton sign Southend striker Lee Barnard
Southampton have completed the signing of Southend United striker Lee Barnard for an undisclosed fee.
The 25-year-old, who began his career with Tottenham Hotspur, has signed a two-and-a-half year deal at St Mary's.
Barnard could make his Southampton debut in Saturday's FA Cup fourth round clash with Ipswich Town.
Meanwhile, Southend have signed Saints striker Matt Patterson on a free and extended Wolves defender Scott Malone's loan deal until the end of the season.
Patterson, 20, has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal at Roots Hall.
Malone, 18, initially joined the Blues in August and has made eight appearances.
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Post by SaintTim on Jan 23, 2010 7:27:37 GMT
Barnard ready to help Saints step up
Alan Pardew finally has a welcome selection dilemma – when to give Rickie Lambert a rest.
The Saints boss has again reiterated his desire to give Saints’ put upon goal machine a break and now has the chance to do just that thanks to the capture of Lee Barnard.
As exclusively revealed in yesterday’s Daily Echo, Barnard completed his move from Southend for £175,000 plus Matt Paterson and is straight into the squad to face Ipswich in the FA Cup third round at St Mary’s this afternoon.
Lambert has started every game since joining Saints and has rarely played less than the full 90 minutes.
Pardew is unlikely to want to rest him for the vital upcoming league matches, which could make or break Saints’ play-off chances, nor is he expected to be left out in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.
That leaves Pardew mulling over whether to give Lambert a rest against Ipswich and hand Barnard a debut just a day after completing a deal.
The new signing said: “Whoever I spoke to had good things to say about the club and from an outside point of view this is a big club that’s going for it.
“They’re ambitious and the target is not just to get into the Championship but to go on into the Premier League as well, so I’m really happy to be here and I’m looking forward to playing."
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Post by SaintTim on Jan 27, 2010 19:41:43 GMT
Nicola Cortese stays at SouthamptonSouthampton executive chairman Nicola Cortese has confirmed he is staying on at St Mary's despite interest from a leading Serie A club.BBC Radio Solent revealed Cortese was the subject of interest from an Itlian club, now known to be AC Milan. "Southampton is my baby I'm not going to abandon it," Cortese said. The Swiss-Italian confirmed he was aware of the interest but remains focussed on delivering success to Saints owner Markus Liebherr. Cortese added: "I'm a friend of Markus. It could be tempting but I'm not driven by money and people who work with me on a daily basis know that. "I talked him [Markus] into this and he keeps reminding me of that. "He said at the time 'I will only do this project if you will be on board' and that remains the case." news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/8483042.stm
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Post by SaintTim on Jan 28, 2010 2:26:59 GMT
Chairman Committed To Saints
Saints' Executive Chairman Nicola Cortese has today confirmed that he remains 100% committed to the Club.
Speculation has been escalating that an Italian club were interested in appointing Cortese into a senior board position, however, whilst the man who oversees the day to day running of the Club admits there has been interest, he has reassured fans that he remains totally committed to Southampton.
"I heard the speculation yesterday morning, but knew that there were already rumours around in Italy, so it was not new to me" explained Cortese. "I can confirm that there was an approach from a top Italian team, not just now, that happened a few months back.
"I am obviously flattered about the interest, and flattered that it has come from a top, top team because I think this is a success, not just for me, but for Southampton Football Club, the supporters, my management team and our First Team. It shows that what is happening here is attracting awareness, that is good for both our supporters and our partners, and also good for attracting new partners. It shows that we are not just creating awareness locally, but nationally, and also as it seems internationally.
"My answer at the time when I had this approach was a simple one and I didn't have to think for even a second about it. The club, despite where they are and the success that they have had in the past in the Italian leagues cannot offer me anything that Southampton cannot achieve. I consider the approach to be a success for all the hard work we are putting in here, the results of what we do off the pitch are not always seen by the public, but this proves that what we are doing is right. I have a great team in place here behind me that helps me to operate the business.
"A week ago we had a staff meeting where I started my speech by explaining how proud I am to be here, and how happy I am with the foundation that we have created because the staff we have here are excellent staff. We started at the very beginning where things were very hard for me because I was heading in the right direction, but I was on my own. The staff were completely demoralised and were not used to carrying out responsibilities and I had to get them on track with me and to aim in the same direction."
Having been in charge at the Club for nearly six months, Cortese was also able to give a further insight into how the takeover came about, and explain how his relationship with the Club has developed since he arrived in Southampton.
"My adventure here didn't just start on 8th July when we took over, or when I was officially appointed on 1st August, it started back in May. Since then, everything that has happened, including the takeover was all based on my judgement and my actions. Every single decision since 8th July has been based on my strategy and on my plan. Markus comes here to enjoy the matches and he loves what is going on, but everything that has been done at the Club has all been based on my affinity with football and desire to lead the Club.
"A lot of people may not be aware of that, but ultimately I consider Southampton to be my baby, and I'm not going to abandon my baby. I am a friend of Markus and I talked him into this and he keeps reminding me of that! He said at the time "I will only do this project if you will be on board" and that remains the case."
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Post by SaintTim on Jan 31, 2010 2:45:34 GMT
Puncheon Joins SaintsSaints have completed the signing of midfielder Jason Puncheon from Plymouth Argyle.The highly rated 23 year-old has penned a three and a half year deal for an undisclosed fee. He spent the first half of the season on loan at fellow League One side MK Dons, playing in both games against Alan Pardew's side in the league and the first leg of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Area Final. Puncheon has found the back of the net on seven occasions in this campaign and offers versatility in attack where he is at home on either flank or further forward. He has played for the Dons in both the FA Cup and the Johnstone's Paint Trophy this season so is therefore cup-tied for both as Saints push for success in three competitions. The Croydon born midfielder has featured for the Dons more than any other Club in the early part of his career, having originally signed as a young Wimbledon player in 2003 he was a member of the very first MK Dons squad under Saints' Chief Scout Stuart Murdoch at the start of the 2004/05 season. Despite a promising start with the Dons, Puncheon joined Barnet in the summer of 2006 and, after two outstanding seasons with the Bees, he became one of the most sought-after players in the lower leagues and subsequently joined Plymouth Argyle for £250,000 in 2008. After making just a handful of appearances for the Championship side at the start of the 2008/09 season, he re-joined MK Dons on loan initially until December and then until the end of the season after a brief return to Home Park. His ability and impressive performances saw a host of clubs put on alert for his signature at the start of this season, but Paul Ince swooped to take him back on a season-long loan at stadium:mk which has now been cut short as Alan Pardew makes his fifth signing of the January transfer window. The Saints manager explained that Puncheon is a player who will bring something a bit different to the side and is looking forward to working with the player. "It's been a complicated transfer because of the situation with MK Dons and Plymouth, but we are very pleased to have secured him," Pardew said. "He is a bit of a maverick footballer and I think the side could do with a bit of individual flair which he brings. He will help us control games from either the wide or central areas as he can play anywhere across the midfield and he gives us real competition to an area that I felt we needed to strengthen. "What interests me about him is his character, he wants to win and he does it in a different kind of way to most footballers. He travels with the ball, can take people on and create things. Potentially he has some improving to do as well, so that intrigues because we don't know just how good he can become. "We are now finished for this second half of the season in terms of transfers, and this team now will have to see how far it can go in terms of getting us as close to the play-offs as possible, possibly winning the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and progressing in the FA Cup." news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/8489604.stm
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Post by SaintTim on Jan 31, 2010 19:22:29 GMT
Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock has urged Neil Danns to stay put and shun a move to Southampton.
The League One outfit have made an offer for the midfielder, who netted both goals in Saturday's vital win over Peterborough.
But Warnock believes a drop down a division would be a backward step for the player.
He also warned the administrator of the club to show caution in the coming days as regards the sale of players.
The Eagles boss said: "Southampton have made an offer for Neil and a couple of other clubs have made offers for other players.
No disrespect
"But, no disrespect to Southampton, who have already taken Jose Fonte off us, but that would be a backward step unless you want a few quid. And I think Neil Danns' career comes first.
"I'm aware of a couple of derisory offers for other players - and I don't think the administrator can put a gun to players' heads.
"The administrator has to be careful because whoever buys the club - and there are a few interested - are not going to want it decimated for a few pieces of silver."
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Post by Stealth on Feb 1, 2010 18:32:02 GMT
From what I've seen of Jason Puncheon Tim, that looks like a pretty good signing! With Lee Barnard as well you're building a pretty strong squad for that level of football.
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Post by SaintTim on Mar 14, 2010 4:15:00 GMT
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Post by Desktop Hoggy on Mar 14, 2010 15:07:20 GMT
Great result for Southampton yesterday Shame a fairytale playoff finish looks unlikely, purely because the teams 3rd to 6th are already on 63-66pts with 10 games remaining. Looking back to the previous 6th place finishers in recent seasons: In 04/05, Hartlepool finish in 6th place with 71pts. In 05/06, Swansea finish in 6th place with 71pts. In 06/07, Oldham finish in 6th place with 75pts. In 07/08, Southend finish in 6th place with 76pts. In 08/09, Scunthorpe finish in 6th place with 76pts. Southampton must win 10 out of the remaining 12 games, 4 of them against teams in or around the playoffs.
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Post by SaintTim on May 6, 2010 22:13:09 GMT
Striker Lambert scoops Southampton's top player award
Southampton striker Rickie Lambert has been named the club's Player of the Year in his first season at St Mary's.
The 28-year-old has scored 34 goals in 57 games since joining Saints from Bristol Rovers in August last year.
Lambert will collect the award on the pitch before Saturday's final home game against Southend at St Mary's.
He was also voted the PFA Fans' Player of the Year for League One, for his performances in propelling Saints to a top-eight finish.
Lambert was also named in the PFA Team of the Year for League One, voted for by his fellow players. Saints team-mates Kelvin Davis and Jason Puncheon also featured.
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Post by SaintTim on May 12, 2010 7:52:01 GMT
Matt Le Tissier says Southampton should be grateful to have Alan Pardew MATT Le Tissier has thrown his full support behind Alan Pardew on the day the Saints boss is due to hold crunch talks with chairman Nicola Cortese. Cortese is reported to be meeting Pardew today, with owner Markus Liebherr allegedly unhappy at the progress made this season. Despite persistent rumours Pardew is being prepared for the sack, Cortese has failed to publicly back his manager yet. As a result, Saints legend Le Tissier has also hit out at Cortese’s handling of the situation. Le Tissier believes the club should be grateful that Pardew wants to remain at St Mary’s. “I would be immensely disappointed if they sacked Alan," he told the Daily Echo. “I would be very disappointed. “He (Cortese) has handled this issue very poorly. “He should be grateful that Alan Pardew wants to stay and work here.” www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/8160113.Le_Tiss_wants_Pardew_to_stay_at_Saints/
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Post by SaintTim on May 12, 2010 20:39:18 GMT
Pardew talks postponed until tomorrow SHOWDOWN talks between Saints boss Alan Pardew and chairman Nicola Cortese will now take place tomorrow, it has been reported. The pair were due to meet today, with Pardew's future as manager expected to be under serious threat. However, that crunch meeting is understood to have been postponed and instead shifted back until tomorrow. Speculation is growing that Pardew will be given the sack, especially after it was revealed at the weekend that owner Markus Liebherr is reportedly unhappy with the progress made this season. www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/8161256.Pardew_talks_postponed_until_tomorrow/WHAT A monkey'sING JOKE
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Post by SaintTim on May 13, 2010 12:05:05 GMT
Driving The Saints Forward
A message from Nicola Cortese
It was a proud moment for Markus and me when we acquired ownership of this great football club and the pace of positive change over the last ten months has been impressive.
First, and very importantly, we stabilised the Club on and off the pitch and began to provide the business with the direction it had lacked for so long. I have since appointed a new First Team Manager, strengthened the playing squad and, more recently, established a Football Development and Support Centre.
Behind the scenes a huge amount of work is being carried out to improve every facet of the Club's operations.
Reflecting on the season just ended, we finished 7th in League One, thereby missing out on the play-offs which was obviously disappointing despite the ten point deduction. Nevertheless, we made good progress, particularly in the second half of the season, and we won the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on a special day at the home of world football.
In recent days, there has been much speculation in some of the tabloid national and local press about the position of our First Team Manager, Alan Pardew. This speculation could be interpreted as a deliberate attempt to unsettle both the Club and Alan. Without exception it has been ill-informed.
In addition to this, various figures with past associations to the Club have been quick to voice their opinions, among them a long time former manager, and former players, one of whom was associated with a so-called consortium which delayed for an important few weeks last summer our plans to stabilise the Club.
These commentators are each entitled to their opinions of course. However, I must tell them that running a major football club such as Southampton is a rather different matter from writing about doing so. I am sure that readers of this message will reach their own conclusions.
One of my early actions was to eradicate the politics that had cast a shadow over Southampton for so long. However, it seems that those same people are trying to continue behind the scenes. I can assure the supporters of Southampton Football Club that I will not be influenced or driven by people who seek to harm the Club in the pursuit of personal agendas - whoever they are.
Our fans and staff should be reassured that I will only make decisions affecting our future based on sound football and business thinking and not on the whims of a local newspaper keen to maximise readership or pundits whose agendas are unclear. Furthermore, I will not respond to every piece of idle speculation. We have too much development work to do to waste time on such pursuits, and my time is dedicated to that work.
As a local paper, I would have hoped that it would provide the local community with news, rather than gossip. However, I am not so naïve as to expect such speculation to stop.
I spoke in January of how I feel this Club to be my baby. Southampton Football Club has been my way of life for over a year now and I have seen what started as my vision for this Club begin to develop into reality. I will continue to follow my principles with the same conviction, vision and ambition that I applied when I attracted a meaningful source of finance to save the Club and take it forward, and will not be deterred from that.
So, for the avoidance of any doubt, our policies and decisions will only be made by me and the Club's Executive Committee and only in the interests of the Club as a whole. This is our guiding principle.
Yesterday I completed a thorough review of the First Team with Alan and we are clear and agreed on our plans and objectives for the coming season. Any significant developments affecting the First Team will, as usual, be announced in a timely way on the Club website.
We will also be making announcements soon via the website on season tickets, match tickets and packages, together with news on the new home kit, which next season will not carry the name of a commercial sponsor.
Beyond next season, reaching the Premier League remains our stated and primary objective. We are also committed to developing a style of play that is compelling to watch - a style that ultimately becomes known as the Southampton Style. Inevitably, this will take time, patience and diligent application, but everything we are doing is geared to achieving this. To get there will require open minds, expertise and clear thinking and we have that.
Both Alan and I share these objectives and targets. Although getting the football side right is a serious business, Alan and I have a lot of fun doing it and we are developing a mutual trust.
We also intend to devote meaningful resources to developing our own playing talent and to have a seamless approach to our football from the youngest players through to the First Team.
In the business, our executive management has been strengthened and our staff numbers have been increased. We will soon start on the work to turn our training ground into a state-of-the-art facility. The new Football Development and Support Centre is beginning to take shape. Further physical enhancements are soon to start within the stadium.
There will be an array of commercial initiatives designed to strengthen the Club and give improved service to our fans and customers. In fact, every aspect of the Club is now subject to a programme of continuous improvement.
Everyone at the Club will now be working hard to prepare for a critical new season in which expectations across the fans, our staff, the management and the owner will be high - mine and Alan's included.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff throughout the Club for their tireless efforts during a very demanding time for all concerned. May I also wish you all a great summer as we look forward to the new season and further success for the Saints.
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Post by Stealth on May 13, 2010 17:58:36 GMT
If that's the truth it looks as if the Pardew gossip was just rumours all the while. Still, he'd better have a flying start next season!
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Post by SaintTim on Jul 24, 2010 23:37:27 GMT
Pards will have to fight for Tyson
SAINTS target Nathan Tyson is keen on a move away from Nottingham Forest, but Alan Pardew will have to increase his offer if he wants to sign the striker.
Forest have reportedly rejected a £400,000 bid from Saints for the 28-year-old and are thought to be holding out for about double that.
If they do sell, the Championship side will be confident of securing a good fee, especially as Tyson currently has a number of clubs interested in him.
The player is understood to want a move away from the City Ground, as he is frustrated at being played out wide so much.
Tyson, whose contract runs until next summer, wants more of a chance up front, which is his preferred position.
However, Forest are in no rush to sell the Reading-born player, who has scored 40 goals in 176 appearances for them.
They have already loaned out striker Joe Garner to Huddersfield, while former Saints frontman David McGoldrick is set to miss the first couple of months of the season with a shoulder injury.
That leaves Rob Earnshaw, Garath McCleary and Dele Adebola, who has been sidelined with a groin problem, as their only other available strikers.
Tyson was yesterday pulled out of the club’s pre-season friendlies this weekend, with Forest citing a “slight groin injury” as the reason.
If Saints do want to sign Tyson, they will face stiff competition from elsewhere, with Championship sides thought to be interested.
That won’t necessarily worry them too much, though, as the likes of Jose Fonte and Ryan Dickson have opted to ignore advances from second tier sides to move to St Mary’s.
Tyson, proven at League One level, would add some valuable pace to the Saints squad, which is one of the few departments they are currently lacking in.
Saints also have the advantage of Pardew knowing the player well.
The Saints manager was the one who gave Tyson his professional debut, when the pair were together at Reading in 2000.
Tyson, who came through the youth ranks at the Madejski Stadium, made 40 appearances for the Royals, scoring once.
A series of loan spells followed at Maidenhead, Swansea, Cheltenham and Wycombe.
Tyson was then signed on a permanent basis by the Chairboys, in March 2004, for a nominal fee.
After 87 appearances and 44 goals at Adams Park, he was given a chance on loan at Forest in November 2005, when they were then a League One side.
Two goals in eight starts persuaded Forest to pay £675,000 for him in January 2006.
He helped fire them into the Championship in the 2007/08 season and was awarded with his latest deal in January 2009.
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Post by SaintTim on Jul 24, 2010 23:38:48 GMT
Southampton said to be interested in audacious move for Benjani
SAINTS have been linked with an audacious move for Pompey’s former £4.1m striker Benjani.
As previously reported on the Daily Echo website, the 31-year-old Zimbabwean striker is currently a free agent after being released by Manchester City last month.
Benjani was signed by Pompey boss Harry Redknapp in Jauary 2006, shortly after the manager had returned to the club from Saints.
He had been recommended to Redknapp by Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger.
Benjani moved onto Manchester City just over two years later in a £3.8m deal.
The player, also recently linked with a move to Premiership clubs Blackburn, West Ham and Wolves, ended last season on loan at Sunderland, failing to score in eight starts.
The possible capture of Benjani would be a remarkable piece of business by Pardew, capturing an experienced Premier League strike - and beating off top flight clubs in the process.
Saints boss Alan Pardew has also reportedly failed with a £400,000 bid for his former Reading striker Nathan Tyson.
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Post by Stealth on Jul 28, 2010 10:26:23 GMT
Being ex-Pompey how would that go down with Saints fans Tim?
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Post by SaintTim on Mar 15, 2011 11:15:58 GMT
Fixture chaos puts Saints under strain
SAINTS are facing the gruelling prospect of nine games in April, after their visit to Plymouth was postponed.
Nigel Adkins’ in-form team are on course for automatic promotion from League One, but must now contend with the headache of yet another rearranged game.
The trip to Home Park on Saturday, March 26, must be switched due to Argyle’s international call-ups that weekend.
Peter Reid’s men have had three players picked to represent their country, meaning the relegation-threatened club are within their rights to request a change of date.
That has been granted, which leaves Saints having to make yet another midweek away trip before the season ends.
Manager Nigel Adkins could be forgiven for thinking the football gods are conspiring against him when it comes to his team’s fixture list.
Saints moved into the box seat for automatic promotion with Saturday’s crucial 3-1 win at Bournemouth.
But their remaining schedule was already congested enough without another postponement being thrown in.
Putting the Plymouth date back will only add further strain to the squad during the all-important run-in.
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Post by Desktop Hoggy on May 4, 2011 23:59:24 GMT
Congratulations to Southampton on effectively sealing 2nd place, even better when Huddersfield have gone 25 games unbeaten and the best they can do is finish 3rd
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Post by SaintTim on Aug 23, 2011 23:14:50 GMT
We need another striker , any ideas who we could sign to help us push on towards the premiership ?
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