A new era for The Saints!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ben
  • Start date Start date
  • Replies Replies 20
  • Views Views 2K
Status
Not open for further replies.
B

Ben

I am a biased ****.
Joined
Jan 21, 2009
Messages
6,353
Reaction score
0
Points
0
​


Over the last couple of years Southampton have been a club really declining. Debts spiraled and the club eventually fell into administration and found themselves in the third tier of English football for the first time in 50 years.

Markus Liebherr​

Markus Liebherr a Swiss businessman took over the club on the 8th July 2009 for around £14 Million pounds. He immediately sacked Paul Wotte and began the search for a new manager. He gained the respect of the Southampton fans quickly, after he took the club out of administration and then appointed a very well respected Alan Pardew as manager.​

Pardew's resignation!​

Alan Pardew, however was forced to retire after being ran over by a shopping trolley whilst shopping in Netto. The whole of Southampton, including Liebherr was shocked after such a minor incident forced Pardew to retire. For the second time, Liebherr is forced to search for a manager...

Bet365​

Matt Le Tissier 9-4
Alan Curbishley 4-1
Gary Megson 7-1
Steve Coppell 10-1
Sammy Lee 14-1​


Steve Coppell joins the Saints​

Steve Coppell has accepted a years contract with Southampton. The Liverpool born manager has proven himself with Reading and will now aim to do a good job with Southampton. With a ten point deduction though, can he gain promotion?​

steve-coppell-415x275.jpg



I drove in my new Jaguar X-Type to Staplewood training ground. I had never been here although the chairman had told me it was a good facility. It was 6.27 AM and the sun was starting to shine, it had rained the night before though as there was a mass of puddles on the roads surrounding Southampton.

I arrived at the training ground at 6.49AM and was greeted by Wally Downes who I had already promoted from First Team Coach to my Assistant manager. I walked into the complex trying not to get my best suit trousers muddy. Wally would show me around the place, and we would sit down and discuss every aspect of the team, the training and everything related to the club.

I felt the Southampton squad was very capable of putting in a good showing in League one this season even with the deducted points although I did want to get rid of a couple of players and bring in a couple. I wanted to make the team my own, so to speak. I also wanted to revamp the staff, bring in some talented coaches and a few people I already knew. I would bring in my own scheme of training, to try and get the best out of the players. I already knew some weaknesses of the team and had a few transfer targets lined up, I also had an idea of who I would let go. As I was in League one, I would be sure to look into loan signings, they can be a real help and if his parent club keeps on paying his wages that is a bonus.

It is 9.30AM now and I have a good knowledge of the training ground, the players arrive in half an hour, I better get ready...
 
Last edited:
1/8/2009
Transfer news​

As I said, I wanted to make the side my own and I have already made a few transfers. I have yet to bring in any players on a permanent basis although two young lads have traveled down from London. Nacer Barazite has joined from Arsenal. He is a tall attacking midfielder who is very creative and brilliant technically. The other player who has joined is Zavon Hines. He is a very pacey striker and has joined from West Ham. If he plays well he can partner Rickie (Lambert). On the other hand three players have packed their bags and left the club. Chris Perry was knocking on a bit and I doubted he could do a good job at this level. I decided to let him go to Bristol Rovers on a free. Simon Gillett, one of Southampton's own products is also a player I have got rid of. He's another player I doubted could compete at this level, could be a decent squad player in the future but when Shrewsbury came in with a 150K bid, I had to accept. The final player I have let leave the club thus far is Bartosz Bialkowski. The club payed 50K for the goalkeepers services back in 2006 but I had three goalkeepers at the club and decided to let him go in favour of Tommy Forecast who has only just joined the club. I had many offers for Bartosz but I held out for what the club payed for him and received 50K from Potenza for the Polish keeper. I will do more transfer business over the coming month, so expect some more excitement on this front.

I did revamp the staff also. I let go the majority of the staff at the club and replaced them with many people I felt had talent, or I know from past experience. I did spend 56K on bringing people in but it's for the best and it is not too much money. Here's a list of who came in and who I let go.

Staff

​

Pre-season games​
​
 
Last edited:
i liked ur other storys ben and as am from southampton i follow mate best of luck
 
Brilliant story mate,,, try and sign Kiko femenia will play really well for you!

---------- Post added at 05:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:30 AM ----------

Me too giggsy well just outside,,, Romsey
 
When I was reading the story and saw the transfers you made, I thought you are a truly Saints Supporter.
Good luck with it!
 
1/9/2009
Transfer news​

Only brought one more player in so far, Marco Verratti. A massive prospect from Italy. However he had just had 50% of him bought from Fiorentina so I had to pay a bit more than I would of. I payed 250K to both clubs (Pescara and Fiorentina) for his services although then when he came to St Mary's for contract negotiations he did say he wanted a large contract offer. I offered him £13,000 a week as soon as he turned professional and he accepted. Happy to have him, I have put a lot of trust into him, hopefully he will repay me! It is deadline though so i might be looking to sign another player to complete the team. I also decided to let young Jack Boyle go to Kidderminster for a measly 5K. I don't reckon he will be able to compete at the level we should be at by the time he hits his 20's. I have also let a lot of our young lads go out on loan to gain first team experience. Four of which have gone to our feeder clubs Eastleigh and Bournemouth.

Games

​

As you can see we have performed brilliantly so far scoring three in each and every game except for the Carling Cup match against West Ham. I am not too dissapointed about that because they're a big team and we weren't actually too bad against them. We have moved from the bottom of the league (because of the deduction) to 17th.

League table​



Player of the month: Rickie Lambert-9 goals in 5 league games​
 
Great stuff mate and nice skin you have there (H)
 
Veratti will turn out to be a great transfer for you, good story so far :)
 
Yeah, he is a great prospect. He might not play straight away though with Adam Lallana in the attacking midfielder position and the possibilty of a deadline day signing, could also be an attacking midfielder.
 
Internet has been off for three days so sorry. Update should be up tonight.
 
One Judas is taking over from a Reading Royal.

(Alan Pardew the Judas)

---------- Post added at 09:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:14 PM ----------

Good luck by the way. Haha
 
Deadline day signings!​

Gael Kakuta​

One of Chelsea's big talents, possibly their biggest. He is a quality attacking midfielder at this level and could keep both Lallana and Verratti out of the side. He joins on loan until the end of the season.​

Gaetan Belaud​

Another young French prospect. I have been looking for a right winger for a while to add some competition to Papa Waigo's place in the team. The 23 year old should be a good signing from Tours FC in France. He is a bit of a gamble at 75K but if it works out he could be a great player.​

Gaetan-Belaud_joueurfoot.png

Has Steve Coppell discovered a new talent in Belaud?​
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

FMBase

Beta

Resources

Back
Top