lmao good luck
Brazilian Legend 'Ronaldo' Hired As Pochettino Replacement At St Mary's
Southampton chairman Nicola Cortese - who earlier this week sacked Argentinian Mauricio Pochettino for his failure to learn the English language - has hired another South American as his replacement.
This one has better English speaking skills, however. Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, better known as simply 'Ronaldo', has been drafted in as his replacement, despite having never played in England. Though he knows more English than Pochettino, which will help him to communicate with the team more easily, many Saints fans are asking one question - will he know as much about football management as his predecessor?
With the Brazilian legend having no experience in management whatsoever, it is hard to see why Cortese did not just pick an English manager with experience under his belt. The club is likely to receive a strong following from around the globe now, as this footballing icon takes the helm, but surely this is not a sufficient reason to appoint him as the manager? It will be interesting to see his transfer policies, as everyone is completely clueless as to how he is going to operate.
One thing's for sure - Saints fans will not be happy if Ronaldo's lack of experience causes them to slide back down the divisions, a past that is too recent for them to forget. But all good managers have to start somewhere - could we be about to see the next managerial mastermind?
I doubt Saints fans would be too unhappy at their chairman - unless it was Rupert Lowe 
good luck mate 
Ronaldo ftw
Ronaldo ftw
Three Sign For Saints - Is New Boss Ronaldo Restructuring The Team?
Veteran Welsh winger Craig Bellamy, Scottish midfielder Graham Dorrans and French winger Sylvain Marveaux are the first signings to be made under the Ronaldo era at Southampton. The three players all travelled to the south coast on Monday night, where they met with each other and their new manager outside St Mary's, before entering the stadium and signing their contracts. The three players will all have time to impress the coaching staff before the start of the season, as Southampton have a busy schedule of friendlies during the pre-season, and the players will surely be delighted at the chance to be able to prove themselves.
Bellamy joins for a fee of £1.4 million from Cardiff City. He has signed a two year contract with Southampton.
Southampton are a club who are developing rapidly, so it was great when they offered me a chance to join them." told a grateful Bellamy. "I really hope I can prove myself during my two years here. I know that my age is a concern to a few of the fans, but I am confident that I can turn in some good performances to help the club this season. I just want to be a part of this wonderful clubs future, so I am extremely glad that I am here. I know that currently the squad has some fantastic players, but if I can break into the team with some good performances, I could hold a place down."
Scottish attacking midfielder Graham Dorrans is the second player to sign for Southampton this week. The 26 year old signs from Midlands side West Bromwich Albion for a fee of £2.1 million on a four year contract. The Scotland international, who played for Livingston before joining West Brom, has spoken of his delight at being able to play for a different club.
"Whilst I was very happy at West Brom, I feel that it is really important that a player doesn't stay at one club for all of his career. I think that, although West Brom are a great side, I need a club that will match my ambitions, so when Southampton approached me, I had to accept. I am disappointed that I felt I had to leave the club, but I hope the fans will understand my decision."
The final player to join The Saints is French winger Sylvain Marveaux, who joins the club from Newcastle United for an initial fee of £2.9 million. The Frenchman also signs a four year contract. He never really proved himself during his spell at Newcastle, so the move will be welcomed by Marveaux, who will hope that he can perform much better during his time with Southampton.
Craig Bellamy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Should be a great leader for your club. Hopefully he helps the younger players
I don't quite understand the signing of Craig Bellamy. I do think you could have got in someone so much better. On the other hand, this is a great start to your story LFC. Keep it up.
Pre-season Report
Southampton played out a busy schedule of pre-season friendlies across the last month, with seven matches being played. With new manager Ronaldo looking to get a good impression of his squad, and with places up for grabs, did the side manage to perform?
The Results
: Rickie LambertThe Saints began their pre-season with a match against their reserve team at St. Mary's Stadium, played behind closed doors. Southampton FC dominated the first half but were unable to make the most of their chances, and the two sides went in level. However, just three minutes after the half time break, Saints striker Rickie Lambert stepped up to take a free kick in a dangerous area. He took a step before unleashing a fabulous free kick, which flew into the top corner. With just over fifteen minutes to play, exciting prospect James Ward-Prowse doubled the Saints' lead. After a short pass from team-mate Jack Cork, Ward-Prowse curled the ball into the bottom corner from 18 yards out. The shot was brilliantly placed, with the ball narrowly evading the keeper's reach. The senior squad were dominant throughout the match, and all players gave a good performance, something that new manager Ronaldo will be having a long think about before the first match of the season.
Attendance: 0.
Attendance: 0.
:Graham DorransThe next friendly opposition came in the form of German Bundesliga side Hannover 96. Southampton played the match in front of their fans at St. Mary's Stadium. However, things did not start well for The Saints. Three minutes into the match, Hannover's Polish international, Artur Sobiech turned Szabolcs Huszti's cross past Polish compatriot Artur Boruc with his head. Southampton's new signing Graham Dorrans, who was playing in his first ever match for the team, equalized fifteen minutes later, when promising fullback Calum Chambers pulled the ball back to Dorrans from the byline. Dorrans took a touch, before firing the ball into the top corner from 18 yards. Seven minutes later, Lars Stindl whipped in a cross which dropped perfectly onto the head of Jan Schlaudraff, who nodded it past Boruc to put Hannover back into the lead. Just after the half hour mark, Dorrans struck again to make it two for him, and two for Southampton. Hannover's Felipe had a seemingly easy clearance to make, but Dorrans sneaked in to tackle him, before slotting the ball into the bottom corner. Southampton took the lead for the first time just before half time, when Dorrans' through ball found Uruguayan Gastón Ramírez, who powered the ball past the keeper who was left rooted to his goal line.
After half time, Ramírez doubled his tally and Southampton's lead when James Ward-Prowse was tackled on the edge of the penalty area. The ball ran through to the Uruguay international, who was through on goal, and didn't make any mistake in extending the lead. Graham Dorrans completed his 'debut' hat-trick to round the game off when youngster Ryan Seager played a fantastic through ball into him, and he finished Hannover off with ease. Attendance: 11,688.
After half time, Ramírez doubled his tally and Southampton's lead when James Ward-Prowse was tackled on the edge of the penalty area. The ball ran through to the Uruguay international, who was through on goal, and didn't make any mistake in extending the lead. Graham Dorrans completed his 'debut' hat-trick to round the game off when youngster Ryan Seager played a fantastic through ball into him, and he finished Hannover off with ease. Attendance: 11,688.
:Jay RodriguezFollowing their impressive 5-2 win against Hannover, Southampton made the trip up north to Scotland, where they faced Morton. The first goal came after 30 minutes when Rickie Lambert played a magnificent lofted pass to Jay Rodriguez, who touched the ball down, before taking the ball around the oncoming goalkeeper and slotting the ball into the net. He doubled his goal count three minutes later when he controlled fullback Nathaniel Clyne's cross, before smashing the ball into the net on the half volley.
Morton pulled one back after half time after Aidan Fulton's cross found the head of substitute Jordon Cairine. Morton were finished off with just over five minutes to play when a tackle on Graham Dorrans ran through to Japanese player Tadanari Lee, who struck a fierce shot which bounced off the crossbar and into the net. Attendance: 2,997.
Morton pulled one back after half time after Aidan Fulton's cross found the head of substitute Jordon Cairine. Morton were finished off with just over five minutes to play when a tackle on Graham Dorrans ran through to Japanese player Tadanari Lee, who struck a fierce shot which bounced off the crossbar and into the net. Attendance: 2,997.
:Sylvain MarveauxAfter a long trip to Scotland, Southampton's players returned to England where they came up against Sky Bet League 1 side MK Dons. Pablo Osvaldo opened the scoring for Southampton after Calum Chambers' long ball picked the Italian out perfectly. He controlled it brilliantly, took it past two defenders and cracked a shot into the top corner of the net. Eight minutes later, Lee Hodson found George Baldock on the edge of the penalty area. The midfielder took the ball into the penalty area before finishing past Artur Boruc to equalize for MK Dons.
After half time, new signing Sylvain Marveaux, who had a quiet first half, put Southampton back into the lead. After some poor defending from MK Dons, a weak ball from Victor Wanyama found its way through to Marveaux, who had made a good run into the penalty area. He took a touch and slotted it past the keeper. The lead was extended when a Marveaux corner found the head of Dejan Lovren, who headed it across the penalty area to Morgan Schneiderlin. He blasted it into the top corner to make it 3-1. In second half stoppage time, Southampton scored again when Ryan Seager played a lovely through ball to Adam Lallana, who controlled the ball before curling it around the keeper, who was darting off his line. Attendance: 3,680.
After half time, new signing Sylvain Marveaux, who had a quiet first half, put Southampton back into the lead. After some poor defending from MK Dons, a weak ball from Victor Wanyama found its way through to Marveaux, who had made a good run into the penalty area. He took a touch and slotted it past the keeper. The lead was extended when a Marveaux corner found the head of Dejan Lovren, who headed it across the penalty area to Morgan Schneiderlin. He blasted it into the top corner to make it 3-1. In second half stoppage time, Southampton scored again when Ryan Seager played a lovely through ball to Adam Lallana, who controlled the ball before curling it around the keeper, who was darting off his line. Attendance: 3,680.
:Paul ClaytonAfter four wins from four friendlies, Southampton looked certain to improve on that as they took on non-league Alfreton. Paul Clayton gave them an early scare, however, when he nodded a cross onto the crossbar, before picking up on the rebound before the floored Gazzaniga. 5 minutes later though, Southampton were back on track when Pablo Osvaldo reacted first to a Craig Bellamy corner and smashed it into the net. After thirty minutes, another Craig Bellamy corner found Hooiveld, who took a wild shot. Luckily, Maya Yoshida was at the far post to turn it in, and give Southampton the lead. Southampton's final goal of the game came in the second half when James Ward-Prowse whipped a cross into the path of substitute Graham Dorrans, who knocked the ball into the net to grab his 4th of the pre-season. Attendance: 3,317.
:Volkan DemirelThe toughest test of the pre-season for Southampton came against Turkish side Fenerbahçe. Frenchman Sylvain Marveux gave Southampton the lead after 10 minutes when he floated a free kick into the top corner from 20 yards. Fenerbahçe equalized when Moussa Sow's cross found the head of Dirk Kuyt, whose header hit the post before crossing the line. Fenerbahçe's winner came after Kuyt drifted in at the far post, causing fullback Nathaniel Clyne to panic, and he turned the ball into the back of his own net. Attendance: 11,554.
:Maya YoshidaSouthampton's final game of the pre-season came against Spanish side Levante. Pablo Osvaldo gave The Saints the lead after six minutes when Sylvain Marveaux picked him out in the box with a through ball. He controlled before sliding it under the oncoming keeper. With just over ten minutes to go, Pedro Rios' corner found the head of David Navarro who powered a header into the top corner. Attendance: 11,094.
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