Think we can reasonably get this going at this point. Thanks to all who contributed to last seasons thread. Would be good to see some more supporters of L1, L2, Scotland in general. And of course welcome to supporters of Wolves, Burnley and West Ham. I’m hoping to visit at least 2 new grounds there.
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My ambition for Pompey will again be ‘survival’, given our wage budget. That said I’m really looking forward to seeing how Lincoln get on in the Championship.
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I’m disappointed Skubala jumped ship so quickly. No better off at Bristol City. Arguably worse given their weird sales strategy.
I agree, Mike.
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No major disappointments for the past two seasons as we finished where I expected us to.
This comming season may prove more nerve wracking. Our performance under Clement since Christmas suggests a probable top six finish & possibly automatic promotion. Anything less will be a major disappointment for me.
It will assist us greatly if Clement reminds the players that the season begins in August. Even in our two most recent promotion seasons they seemed to think it started late September.
A good start, would be ideal for both the team & my blood pressure.
It all sounds pretty straightforward but, being Norwich, I’m sure it won’t be!
Unless your results are to our detriment, good luck to all.
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One of the reasons I just couldn’t get worked up about the “Wrexham in crisis” and fake “emergency meeting about the future of Parky”. Talk Sport click bait guff. I seem to recall saying something along the lines of actually expecting us to be in the relegation zone by October or until maybe November. Also the reason I still insist the season doesn’t really start until November and is shaped between November and February.
There’s no real off season any more and the amount of juggling you have to do to just get a team, let alone a fit one, out in August is insane. This year there are two tournaments going on which will leave multiple clubs with their best players coming back having not had a rest and yet fans expecting them to be fully rested, fully fit, no niggles and playing with entirely new squad members as though they’ve known them all their lives.
I absolutely expect this season to be a grind for us. Hyam may not play a minute for Scotland at the World Cup but his lack of rest will plainly impact his consistency and fitness. No-one else in the squad can sub for him at centre back. Lots of other issues too but… it will never be a season defined by how you start.
It’s not my nature to be too optimistic about Norwich but after our performances since Christmas it’ll be very disappointing if we’re not top six.
I’m even more confident under Clement than I was under Farke due to now having an ambitious owner with a good record in sports finance. If anybody can navigate the crazy world of football finance I’d say Attanasio is as good a bet as anybody.
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Well, I don’t know what to hope for next season as a Southampton fan. I am appalled that young intern analysts were persuaded to spy on other clubs’ training sessions. The fall out may rise all the way to the board room because of poor governance.
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Hopefully ‘Who knew what and when?’ will be answered soon.
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I find it more than a little disconcerting Eckert remains in post given what we know thus far but then I guess the negotiations to terminate and avoid litigation must be fraught to say the least. I am however trying to remain circumspect as none of us really know what our own clubs get up to.
I think that Southampton FC is waiting to find out how long a ban Eckert gets before the board decides what to do about him. He was a very good manager compared to the previous two the club appointed and the players continue to support him. However, if Eckert is banned for a year or more, they will have to let him go. Whilst in place, he can give evidence to clarify what went on.
Hope for next season?
Camouflage outfits so they don’t get spotted next time perhaps?
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That’s next season’s away kit.
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Hoping Wolves can bounce right back to the PL but not confident given how poor we were last season. One good signing already in Trippier and just hoping we can persuade Jimenez to return for one last season (he has unfinished business following his departure when Lopetegi didn’t fancy him). I am more invested this season with a half share of season tickets with my brother (he was going to give them up). Always Wolves.
“I believe Tonda that he didn’t know that it was the rule that he was breaking,” said Solak, whose media company acquired a majority stake of the club in 2022.
Putting aside the rights and wrongs of what Eckert got up to this stement from the owner is complete nonsense ignoring as it does the evidence that Eckert (according to his actual spies) bullied staff into spying. He knew, they all did. At least be honest. Just say he did wrong. He knew it. He’s apologised and that’s good enough for me, the owner, to retain a coach who looks better than anyone else I could recruit to replace him.
Should add both the owner and Eckert claim to have ‘taken full responsibility’. Clearly they haven’t.
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Each statement that comes out of Southampton is amazingly worse than the previous statement. They just keep doubling down on everything, no real contrition and still attempting to play the victim. I don’t think the FA has finished with them yet.
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You would have thought by now they’d have figured out things can only get worse if they don’t keep trying to make out they weren’t caught red handed.
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Exactly, mind boggling!
Putting to one side the sporting implications, I think the coercion and the hanging out to dry of the junior staff, is the most shocking aspect of the whole episode. Now the owner feels that said staff should have been stronger to push back on the managers instructions. Yeah, that’s going to work isn’t it. Shocking.
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I’m still not going to judge because, as noted earlier, none of us know what our own clubs have been up to. There but for the grace of god go any of us and our fandom.
I also think the Saints owner is a shrewd cookie. Why sack your manager when you can appease a sub set of fans aggrieved mostly by the fact they’d be losing a very good manager? Why sack your manager when you can appear to be the good guy by standing by them? Why sack your manager at great expense and with the guarantee of litigation?
Why not simply say “He’s a good guy who made a big mistake and he’s allowed a second chance” when knowing full well that the EFL et al can do a great job for you by banning him and making everything you do post ban, such as terminating him for a breach of contract or because the contract can no longer be performed, look eminently reasonable.
Clever stuff I thought.
The continued insistence the punishment was disproportionate to the crime whilst asserting you lost £200m does make him look like he doesn’t understand the concept of proportionality but otherwise I think he’s moving shrewdly.
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I hear where you are coming from with your first paragraph Mike, but I think I will judge all the same. I don’t think Steve Gibson would have taken the action he did if he knew his club had something to hide. You’re spot on with the rest of your post and assessment of the Saints owner.