05 Jan 2022 09:15:15
Quite a bombshell to start the NY with - new owners and with that, raised expectations. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure how this will affect the club. Early statements suggest "no revolution" and business as usual because we are a "well run club".
I am cautiously optimistic that we can expect more demands for on field performance from the hierarchy as this will affect their stated ambitions for company growth - they need Saints to be successful to enhance business profile elsewhere.
I just don't know - maybe we can become less of a selling club and hang on to our prized assets. Or maybe there will be little appreciable difference from the fans' perspective.
I would be interested to hear what people think.

1.) 05 Jan 2022
05 Jan 2022 21:39:51
I’d hope this will lead to something of a second black box revolution, being sensible in the market and no more Osvaldo or Ramirez buys. We do seem to be leaning into a method we experimented with a while back, buying fringe players off the bigger clubs, but unlike Lemina and Hojbjerg we now are looking at Chelsea and City having pinched KWP from Spurs as well.

I can’t see us hammering away at our transfer fee record, however unlike Gao, who unfortunately seemed to have his hands tied by the Chinese government once he bought us, we will hopefully now get investment, even if it is ‘just’ a few £10m each window, as opposed to having to always sell to buy. Small, sensible acquisitions, maybe £20m for the odd player who will become a future star.

The squad is in a decent place, we have a loan to pay off but given Gao bought us for £200m a few years ago and we are now worth £100m + £78m in debts, and the owners have the money, we should be looking up as there is in effect money spare to invest into the club.

Hopefully one or two buys this window, and kick on in the summer. For now we look ok - given Burnley, Newcastle and Norwich have won 4 times between them this season I think 34 is probably the mark, so a few more wins and we’ll be okay, then from summer onwards hopefully a better outlook for the club and city as a whole.

I’m glad we haven’t been Newcastled, I’d rather someone who would like to grow the club organically rather than sportswashing it.

2.) 06 Jan 2022
06 Jan 2022 12:01:03
I'm very excited by the takeover, it has to be said. To be the staple in a football club investment strategy that looks to echo what Red Bull has done is a very exciting prospect. It'll take some time to implement and a lot could change by the time the project gets to where the owners want it to be.

That being said, in the short term, I think we'll be more stable as a club. Having investors that will want to invest in the club and the first team, to ensure its success and PL status will put us in a better position. For example, I don't think these guys will go down the route of what we make in the transfer market will dictate what we can spend in the transfer market. If they feel like that club needs the investment of new players to improve year on year, I'm sure they will help us out.

As you mentioned, I think we'll still look to be a "selling" club. Whereby we'll use our black-box method to look to unearth gems, who we can buy and sell for a substantial profit. However, with the direction of modern football and the inflation of transfer prices, I do think that if the club feels like they could buy the next big thing for a hirer price than what we're used to paying, then they might well pay that. So we might just see our transfer record broken.

3.) 07 Jan 2022
07 Jan 2022 07:35:25
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE. What a fabulous result with the Club’s takeover and future prospects therein.As per SaintGGsy recent post I tend to absolve GAO for lack of investment as the Chinese Communist Government imposed severe restrictions on any funds leaving China.However it appears the SFC now has a much brighter future and with Ramus Andersen involved at the helm which may result iin Ralph’s overall responsibilities being diluted but allowing him more time to concentrate on fine tuning the Team to achieve better results.Failure in this respect and Ralph may well be looking over his shoulder in the direction of Brentford FC.!