[Albion] Why do the detractors throw 'doing a Southampton' around willy-nilly?

[Stat Brother]

Recently I've heard numerous talking heads show their concerns about t'Albion's business model eventually going the same way as Southampton's.

I know you'll find this hard to believe but looking at their last 10 years of transfers, that turns out to be a load of lazy halfarsed bollox.

Like pretty much every other EPL club they've had one big payday, VVD.
But beyond that all they've been try to do is turn £20m signings into £40m sales, over the course of 2 years.

Something they've been particularly shite at.

Southampton Completed Transfers, Done Deals & Signings in 2024/2025

Overview of all transfers of club Southampton, incoming & outgoing, from the season 2024/2025. Including transfer fees, free transfers and loan deals.

www.footballtransfers.com

It's funny how a narrative sticks.

 

[Lurchy]

There’s also some drawing comparisons to Leicester… “you’re only a bad window away from a relegation battle”.

It’s lazy journalism churned out with very little research, but gives them something to talk about.

 

[Mackenzie]

Southampton and Leicester’s chairmen both died, that’s what screwed them up.

 

[Springal]

But has any ‘new’ club really established themselves as a consistent European / top 10 team in the last decade or so? Of course there’s reasons and we are different but history tells us it’s incredibly difficult

 

[The Fits]

When Poch was in charge they had a very similar model with a good and exciting manager. It is a lesson for us imho. Without billions we are vulnerable. BUT Bloom is different. We are one bad summer away from being a Southampton but it won't happen..

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

Recently I've heard numerous talking heads show their concerns about t'Albion's business model eventually going the same way as Southampton's.

I know you'll find this hard to believe but looking at their last 10 years of transfers, that turns out to be a load of lazy halfarsed bollox.

Like pretty much every other EPL club they've had one big payday, VVD.
But beyond that all they've been try to do is turn £20m signings into £40m sales, over the course of 2 years.

Something they've been particularly shite at.

Southampton Completed Transfers, Done Deals & Signings in 2024/2025

Overview of all transfers of club Southampton, incoming & outgoing, from the season 2024/2025. Including transfer fees, free transfers and loan deals.

www.footballtransfers.com

It's funny how a narrative sticks.

If you look at my history on here, you’ll see I’ve been banging on about this for years, every time this comes up. The comparison to the scummers is just total lazy bollocks.

We’re a brilliantly run club and have been for years with a fan in charge who has no intention of going anywhere. They’ve been rudderless for 10 years and have problems from top to bottom.

 

[ConfusedGloryHunter]

Because in recent history the financial power of a handful of clubs has created a de facto closed shop. Teams with less money rise and then get ripped apart. It is unimaginable to anyone that there is any other possible outcome.

I believe Bloom might have other ideas, but then if I didn't I'd be severely depressed by the looming transfer window already. Seems we will be lucky to have enough players to start a game come September if all the weighing up and planned swooping is to be believed.

 

[Stat Brother]

If you look at my history on here, you’ll see I’ve been banging on about this for years, every time this comes up. The comparison to the scummers is just total lazy bollocks.

We’re a brilliantly run club and have been for years with a fan in charge who has no intention of going anywhere. They’ve been rudderless for 10 years and have problems from top to bottom.

Even at face value their transfer dealings has been poor.

Aside from VVD even their big money sales 'only' show £20m profit as none are home grown and are just doubling up.

Mane to Liverpool for 'only' £40m 2 years after buying him for £20m is somewhat typical.

It would make sense if they had an academy kid or two, who goes on to fetch £50m, but there's nothing even close to that.

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

Even at face value their transfer dealings has been poor.

Aside from VVD even their big money sales 'only' show £20m profit as none are home grown and are just doubling up.

Mane to Liverpool for 'only' £40m 2 years after buying him for £20m is somewhat typical.

It would make sense if they had an academy kid or two, who goes on to fetch £50m, but there's nothing even close to that.

The irony is they did have a £50 million academy kid during this time - Benjamin White!

 

[Zeus]

Whilst we are doing things incredibly well if we lost Tony heaven forbid, like Southampton and Leicester lost their owner, then we would be in very scary territory.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Whilst we are doing things incredibly well if we lost Tony heaven forbid, like Southampton and Leicester lost their owner, then we would be in very scary territory.

In would step his brother/son with the business still in place and we carry on.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

Because there aren't many precedents of a relative minnow rising to the top

 

[Lurchy]

But has any ‘new’ club really established themselves as a consistent European / top 10 team in the last decade or so? Of course there’s reasons and we are different but history tells us it’s incredibly difficult

A few. Atalanta and RB Leipzig are two examples.

 

[Springal]

A few. Atalanta and RB Leipzig are two examples.

PL ?

 

[Zeus]

In would step his brother/son with the business still in place and we carry on.

But do they, or will they, have anywhere near the same business acumen and leadership skills? Far from certain. Let’s hope we never have to find out.

 

[Stat Brother]

TBH I'm a little uneasy about how this thread about Southampton's middling to poor transfer activity showing no sign of resembling our own, has rapidly morphed into Mr Bloom's mortality.

Any chance that conversation can be had elsewhere?

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

TBH I'm a little uneasy about how this thread about Southampton's middling to poor transfer activity showing no sign of resembling our own, has rapidly morphed into Mr Bloom's mortality.

Any chance that conversation can be had elsewhere?

I'm not sure there's a great deal to expand on from the premise that Southampton are shit and so are most football "journalists".
It's like talking about how the sky is blue.

 

[Stat Brother]

I'm not sure there's a great deal to expand on from the premise that Southampton are shit and so are most football "journalists".
It's like talking about how the sky is blue.

Firm but fair.

 

[Guinness Boy]

. We are one bad summer away from being a Southampton

No, that's exactly the sort of lazy rhetoric this thread debunks.

Of course, your definition of "bad summer" and mine might differ. If you meant De Zerbi leaving, Bloom losing all his money and Barber being caught out in a tabloid sting while all of our players were sold for a fiver I'd agree.

But if you mean Caicedo and MacAllister leaving that's not a bad summer. Replacements either already here or in the pipeline. Might not be as good, of course, but still should leave our squad stronger than, say, Palace's, and with the best coach in the division to inspire them.