Return to 1997 SPRING Index
At the time of my previous report, drafted back in the mists of November 1996, The Saints were riding the crest of a wave. Following a string of impressive performances with results to match, Graeme Souness picked up October's Manager of the Month Award and was being hailed as the New Messiah not least in these pages. I welcomed him with open arms and distanced myself from the misgivings about his appointment printed in the pre-season issue.
(yes, yes - I remember - the typist)
Unfortunately these were the hopelessly optimistic ramblings of a deluded fan, all too willing to believe the future was bright, but 'Oh, how they flattered to deceive.'
(Steady on old man. Worse things happen at sea etc. etc. - the typist who would also like to point out that she said any team beaten by Wycombe Wanderers were not worth it and sell all shares. I don't like to say I told you so BUT I did)
The Coca-Cola Cup win away at Lincoln was my signing off point last time around. the results since have been alarmingly bad -apart from league wins against Derby County, Middlesborough and Oxford United. In the Coca-Cola Cup, which briefly offered hope of success with a quarter final meeting with lowly Stockport County of the Nationwide, Second Division, this dramatic loss of form has seen the team slump to the foot of the premiership.
Although the Saints can claim a certain degree of misfortune; Chris Woods' broken leg, Jason Dodds' long term injury and Dave Bessants' mistake which handed Liverpool a barely deserved victory at the Dell in December. Many of the results have been humiliating! The heavy 7-1 defeat by Everton at Goodison Park, being dumped out of both the Domestic Cup Competitions by teams Lower Divisions Reading and Stockport in the F.A. and Coca-Cola Cups respectively and to cap it all on Valentines Day losing 2-0 to Brentford, contemporaries of Stockport. This was an unimportant but nonetheless dispiriting friendly at Griffin Park. This was a match arranged due to three weeks of inactivity in the premiership.
(Darling - don't go on being humiliated. It's only a
game. Why not change sides sweetie - and report on some winners? You'll feel so much better... The typist)I shan't dwell too much on these performances on the pitch because as a welcome distraction, plenty has been occurring in the boardroom and court room to grip our attention. But before I digress, let's get up to date with the playing staff, Dave Bessant's gaffe against Liverpool prompted Souness to sign Mark Taylor from Barnet where he, no doubt, trained with ex England keeper Ray Clemonce. Taylor appears to have settled in well and had usurped Bessant as first choice between the posts. Apart from Taylor all player transfers have been outgoing; Frankie Bennett, Neil Heaney, Graham Potter and most concerning the sale to Bradford City of Gordon Watson, leaving virtually no cover in attack should Egil Ostenstad be injured or suspended.
My advice to Souness is : Sell Van Gobbel, clearly out of his depth in the Hustle and Bustle of the English Premiership, abandon the three centre back defence, reverting to a flat back four and pray that Jason Dodd continues his recovery. (He played a full 90 minutes at Brentford) and is re-instated where he performs best in the back four.
Thankfully we can now leave behind the troubled scenes from the pitch and delve into the relative calm of business dealings and courtroom wrangling.
(hmmm... the typist quietly minding her own business as always)
In December Southampton became the latest football club to join the stock market, following a reverse take over by Secure Retirements - a Bristol based property development and healthcare company with stock exchange listing. Thus a new company, Southampton Leisure Holdings was created. An injection of £3,000,000 from the Bristol Company was promised to strengthen the squad. However, to date it seems only the Board of Directors has benefited from this Union. They became paper millionaires overnight, following the bullish activity in club share dealing in September. Club supporters await a return in investment on the field.
A further example of the less sporting side to football can be found in the crown court at Winchester. Ex Saints goalkeeper, Bruce Grobellar amongst others is accused of match fixing while on the payroll of a Malaysian betting syndicate. I was surprised that the prosecution, following their video search for evidence of Bruce's blunders don't show the 2-1 away defeat at Ipswich Town a couple of seasons back. Whether or not the defendants are cleared, English football has been seen to be tainted with corruption.
Deception on and off the pitch sums up my feelings over this period. This is further exemplified again with the hysterically written tabloid sports columns following Italy's win in the Word Cup qualifier at Wembley in February. The sports hacks unjustly crucified Matthew le Tissier. The England manager, Glen Hoddle, a practising Christian has so far stood by his much criticised 'Saint' and will , I hope resurrect his England career.
Drop in again for the end of season report.
(Any one for Cricket? - the typist)