Southampton Part Company With Pochettino

http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/harry_griffiths1/media/_65669393_pochettino_zpse6ecbb1b.jpg.html

Pochettino and the Board met in the early of hours of July 1st for emergency discussions over the uncertainty of his future, Southampton Chairman Katharina Liebherr has decided it would be in the best interest of the club to part company with Mauricio Pochettino.

With the new season drawing ever closer, Liebherr understood that having everyone on the same page when the players reported back for pre season would be essential if the club were to maintain their Premier League status.

According to sources from within the club, Liebherr has already got her ideal candidate lined up ready to take the reigns at St. Mary's.

WELCOME OWEN

http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/harry_griffiths1/media/26_zps61e5eeaf.jpg.html
We are happy to announce that the man to take our club forward is former England international Owen Hargreaves.

Although this may be his first job in management, he brings with him a vast amount of knowledge and experience from throughout the game.

Even though the later stage of his career was hampered by injuries Owen enjoyed successful periods at Bayern Munich, Manchester United & Manchester City. Alongside this he became an integral part of the English national side managing to win himself 42 caps.

The Chairman has been quoted saying "What drew us to Owen was that instead of sitting back and collecting his pay check for last few years of his playing career, he actively sort after coaching experience by completing his Continental Pro Licence and learning from one of the all time greats Sir Alex Ferguson"

In his first press conference Owen promised the fans his style of football would not disappoint and that he can't wait to get to work with what is a very exciting young squad.

Lets hope with this pulsating news that The Saints, Can Go Marching ON!

1

Hargreaves Announces First Signing

On only his second day in the job, Owen Hargreaves greeted the press and announced he had reached an agreement for what would be his first ever signing as a manager.

Hargreaves raised himself from his desk, turned to his right hand side and pointed towards the door before saying…

"I am very pleased to welcome the newest member of Southampton Football Club & new Assistant Manager, Mr Ray Wilkins."

http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/harry_griffiths1/media/Ray-Wilkins-Football-Expert-Opinion_2744967_zps34d94301.jpg.html

The excitement around this appointment is understandable. Wilkins brings with him more than 40 years of footballing experience at the highest level as both a coach and a player.

Hargreaves went on to say that…

"Every manager needs that support system next to him and as I may lack some experience as a manager, having someone like Ray to learn off and to take some of the strain will greatly benefit the club."

Hargreaves ended the press conference by stating that he'd hope Wilkins would emulate what Mike Phelan did for Manchester United for many years.

http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/harry_griffiths1/media/image_zpsc71a1fa5.jpg.html

Squad Review & Tactics

All in all, this squad is ok. There is a lot of quality but at the same time there are a lot of players I'd rather see the back of. These issues will be addressed over preseason as I begin to implement the Footballing Culture that I want the club to live and die by.

Key Players

Dejan Lovren

http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/harry_griffiths1/media/ScreenShot2014-08-07at003246_zps5d33f5d5.png.html

A defensive unit who leads by example despite his relative youth.

Luke Shaw

http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/harry_griffiths1/media/ScreenShot2014-08-07at003242_zps8f0e11dd.png.html
A young attacking full back who has all the potential to emulate former Saint, Gareth Bale.

Adam Lallana

http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/harry_griffiths1/media/ScreenShot2014-08-07at003302_zps11bb25d7.png.html

The focal point in the middle of the pitch. If we are to achieve anything this season it will be through his moments of genius.

Tactics

This was a contentious decision. Where we lack strength in depth is at the back of park. We have players who 4 seasons ago were playing Sky Bet League 1. This doesn't mean they are not good enough, this just means they need extra care and protection when it comes to the grind of Premier League football.

So with this I have decided to play 3-5-2, I say that as both of my wing backs in all honesty will be dedicating more time to bombing up and down their flanks than worrying about where the defensive offside line is.

http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/harry_griffiths1/media/ScreenShot2014-08-07at004505_zpsa9442f07.png.html


Right now, with the current squad of players I possess, I can't play this formation. It would be football suicide. So with that somewhat morbid note, watch this space for news of incoming transfers and preseason results.

Owen.

Transfer Update

As the Premier League season creeps ever closer Owen Hargreaves has meticulously chopped the axe on many long serving Saint’s players who were deemed surplus to requirement.

Out

http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/harry_griffiths1/media/ScreenShot2014-08-07at175104_zpsc195bc42.png.html

A lot of the above could have been predicted but the biggest name to have received the chop is that of Polish Goalkeeper Artur Boruc, who was allowed to leave on a free as no bids were forthcoming.

In

A busy summer indeed, lets take a quick look at who came in to bolster our squad.

Yann Sommer

http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/harry_griffiths1/media/ScreenShot2014-08-07at174047_zps2e112cc4.png.html

First in was the Swiss Shot Stopper Yann Sommer. Having excelled for Basel over the past 3 seasons in the Champions League, Hargreaves believed it was finally time for him to take a step up and join Southampton in the Premier League.

Danny Batth

http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/harry_griffiths1/media/ScreenShot2014-08-07at173919_zpsdf047b96.png.html

This young English centre back has made a name for himself in the the lower leagues of English football. If he can stay fit maybe he can become a fully fledged Top Flight player.

Adam Forshaw

http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/harry_griffiths1/media/ScreenShot2014-08-07at173957_zpsd3b776a7.png.html

Another young Englishman. He will fight for a position in central midfield with the likes of Ward-Prowse. The thing that drew Hargreaves to Adam was his positional flexibility on the pitch.

Peter Crouch

http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/harry_griffiths1/media/ScreenShot2014-08-07at174019_zps4f4be0be.png.html

The big man returns! Despite previously playing for south coast rivals Portsmouth Crouch has been welcomed back with open arms. The reasoning for buying him is for the hope that he can ease the workload on Rickie Lambert and also tutor young striker Sam Gallagher.

John Flanagan

http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/harry_griffiths1/media/ScreenShot2014-08-07at173940_zpsd5826884.png.html

Having managed to snap up this Liverpool youngster on loan his primary role will be to deputise Luke Shaw at left wing back.

http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/harry_griffiths1/media/image_zpsc71a1fa5.jpg.html

Pre Season & August

July and Early August was a breeze. Everything seemed to be going our way. The lads seemed to be enjoying the system and it showed in our results. The creative freedom it was gave to our wing backs put it on a plate for whomever was upfront.

http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/harry_griffiths1/media/ScreenShot2014-08-07at174342_zps195bd2da.png.html

From the results and performances you could say we had a perfect pre season and it carried on into the regular season. Beating Everton away 1-0 ,thanks to a Rickie Lambert goal, was the perfect way to start the season.

However thats where the cheer ended as you can see from the games which followed.

http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/harry_griffiths1/media/ScreenShot2014-08-07at212609_zpsfca51ddb.png.html

Partially down to inexperience in our squad and partially down to naivety on my own part. This was justified in the Sunderland game, 2-0 up and went on to lose 2-3. Such slip ups as they are truly unacceptable however it leaves us comfortably in mid table after two games.

The Rotherham game mainly down to playing youngsters and the small matter that on penalties we lost 22-23!! Never before have I seen a penalty shootout go for so long, mainly because i played for England and we never went past 4!

I have now learnt a lot about myself, squad & tactics in competitive games. Sure to say i’ll take this what I learn into September with the small matter of my former employer Manchester City next.

Player Of The Month

Rickie Lambert with 3 goals in 2 games (BPL).

http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/harry_griffiths1/media/ScreenShot2014-08-07at214958_zps5e6988a9.png.html