With whispers doing the rounds that Saints might turn to Ronald Koeman for their salvation, the big question is will Saints fans welcome him back ?

When Ronald Koeman left for Everton at the end of the 2015/16 season it was a big blow for Saints supporters, he had just led the club to it's best finish in over 30 years and there was a true feeling that we could establish ourselves as the 7th club in the Premier League.

But almost before the stands had been swept clean after the final home game against Crystal Palace that cemented that top six finish and another Europa League campaign, the media were full of news that Koeman was being courted by Everton and they would not take no for an answer.

This eventually proved the case with the Dutchman seemingly sacrificing his principles and indeed reneging on his recent statements that he intended to be at the club the following season when Everton made him one of the highest paid managers in the World let alone the Premier League and most would agree that every man has his price and from that viewpoint it is hard to blame Koeman for taking the money and running.

Certainly it seemed to be mainly about money rather than the merits of either Club, Koeman had led Saints to two finishes above the Toffee's and they were not in Europe, but apart from his own salary he was also being promised a massive war chest in the transfer market.

You felt from the start that Koeman and Everton were not a good fit, even at the press conference to unveil him he virtually admitted that he had expected to be at St Mary's for the coming season and had only joined because of the money, add to that was the fact he failed to make statements about Everton being a sleeping giant and the biggest club on Merseyside (shades of Ralph Krueger here) and he didn't exactly ingratiate himself to the Goodison faithful.

He had a good first season and took Everton to what was essentially their par place in the Premier League 7th, but that was not good enough for some and when Lukaku was sold and not replaced the writing was on the wall for Koeman especially as the club appeared to sign three players in the same position showing that perhaps Koeman was not completely in charge of transfers.

So Koeman was sacked and his dreams of managing Barcelona appear to be in tatters, but at Southampton he had found a club that suited him and the rumours are now growing stronger that he could be about to return and rebuild his reputation.

There are supposedly two main hurdles though and that is firstly his relationship with Les Reed and secondly would the fans accept him back ?

With regard to Reed, both are professionals and can probably work together again if only for the reason that both need to kick start their season again, Reed needs to bite the bullet and do what is best for the club and Koeman needs to get back into the game, you would hope that the events of two years ago would have seen lessons learnt.

The fans though are a different matter, but from those I have spoke to I am finding that the majority would welcome him back to the club, or at least be prepared to see him back.

When Koeman left it hurt because we all knew how good he was for this club, that if he had stayed then he had the potential to be the most successful manager in our history and the fact that he left us was a big blow.

But in life we have to get over hurt and for many the desperation to get rid of Mauricio Pellegrino might overcome their hatred of Ronald Koeman for leaving us.

Certainly for many of our more supporters who see a player or manager of a club leaving as nothing short of treason this would help to soften the blow.

For the majority of our supporters though, although they were hurt and angered for the manner of his departure, they can see the bigger picture, they can see why he would have left and understand why it was too good an offer financially to turn down, they can also see the need for a man of Koeman's stature to replace Pellegrino if the fans are to be placated and the reality is there aren't that many out there at the moment, so we perhaps need someone proven.

So would the majority of Saints supporters be willing to take Koeman back ?

In a recent poll we asked who Saints supporters would prefer to be Saints manager in January, only 15% said Pellegrino and the biggest vote was for Koeman with 35%, but that isnt a majority.

So wenow ask the question whether most Saints fans would welcome him back in our latest poll.

You can vote using the link below.

https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/members/!/polls/1939/would-yo

Photo: Action Images

SanMarco added 14:14 - Jan 16 What are these 'whispers' then? If RK thought we weren't ambitious enough two years ago he is hardly going to have changed his mind now. He needs a success in his next job and that would be far from guaranteed here. So it won't happen and as one or two above say going back rarely works anyway.
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steve73 added 14:16 - Jan 16 A resounding YES from me. I already think it's going to take something monumental to save us. Hurts a lot having to say that. But yes, I think he could do it.
3

Chesham_Saint added 14:18 - Jan 16 If I had a choice I’d d pick Martin O’Neill -Sunderland aside (and they really are shit) he’s had a great record in club football.
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schatfield added 14:24 - Jan 16 Articles like this don't really help things when we should be getting behind our manager and the team, not speculating on who should replace them.
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JGH added 14:36 - Jan 16 @SaintNick - to clarify, I'd love him back just can't see either side agreeing with me sadly...
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Keesie66 added 15:14 - Jan 16 Peter Bosz.... not RK..... what’s changed after RK left, he’d likely do a good job again and then leave again to Barca or other Spanish club.... we need the right manager for once who will stay with Saints for minimum 3 year period..... which PL manager currently built a successful team in only 1 or 2 years!!!???
2

Keesie66 added 15:24 - Jan 16 So Walcott of to Everton that’s no surprise considering all circumstances....
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Keesie66 added 15:31 - Jan 16 When RK was manager at Valencia I was in the Q behind him flying from Valencia to Eindhoven... in view and in sound of all to hear and see he literally ripped through his squad over his mobile phone.... people were astounded!!!! This typifies his ego, manner and lack of manners which is why he always leaves a club on a bad note.... and.... will never be Barca manager....

1

SaintBrock added 15:41 - Jan 16 There is no hope of that ever happening, too much water under too many bridges and too many fat egos in the way. Nobody will blink first. What you or I would like to happen is neither here nor there.
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saintjeff52 added 15:41 - Jan 16 Pintsizedsaint - The Epistle to the Apostle, that😄 Good Read, nonetheless. My view on Koeman is that getting him back is a ‘No Brainer’. We will be Relegated if we retain Pellegrino as Manager. Les, and the Club Spin On Koeman’s departure was not flattering to him. I was sorry to see him go. I was more than comfortable with his two years in the ‘Hot Seat’. I felt that he was the right Man for our Club. The Two disasters that followed him have been so disappointing. The Club should get him and his backup ‘Team’ NOW, whilst there’s still time to Save Our Season

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aceofthebase added 16:10 - Jan 16 pintsizedsaint You have a written a fair and comprehensive blog on Koeman. I wish I had the knowledge and understanding that you have. What beats me tho' is that many think he played a high pressing game when more often than not we sat back on our last line of defence and won games on the counter-attack.
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Jesus_02 added 16:38 - Jan 16 lol Cortese’s experiment... as if it failed :)
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AirFlorida added 16:59 - Jan 16 I doubt we could even get Paul Sturrock to walk into our mess!
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bstokesaint added 18:20 - Jan 16 Ace, Poch to his credit definitely brought us the high press game, but Koeman’s team was no less exciting and given the mass exodus (remember the empty training ground tweet?) to say the efforts of Poch were carried over is non-sensical (not you I appreciate). Both Poch and Koeman had a style. Now we are a nothing team. As one of the commentators said the other day “I couldn’t tell you what style of football Southampton play these days.” I could just about muster a blend of “spineless and unthreatening football combined with a plethora of pretty backwards and sideways passes with a grand finale of a late defensive howler.”

1

TeamCortese added 20:56 - Jan 16 pintsizedsaint: you're talking nonsense. I can summarise Koeman's managerial career (see the link below). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Koeman#Managerial_statistics The closer to 100% the better. I haven't got time for ifs and buts. I judge on their past record and for me Koeman's record is excellent. I want a winner to manage our club and that's exactly what Koeman is. My only reservation is whether he could work with Les Reed and co. This is highly unlikely and probably why he won't come. What concerns me most is Mr Gao and KL's ineptitude to fund our football club when it matters most! The whole situation's a mess.

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ExiledSupporter added 21:28 - Jan 16 Interesting article pint-sized, your scale of narrative is in sharp contrast to your nom de plume! I only count two suggestions from all the previous submissions as to who the new manager should be and none of them seem likely to want to take the risk with their career that joining a club plummeting towards the relegation pit would likely entail. So while RK may not be ideal (and who cares if he does piss off Tadic who needs to apply himself a great deal more consistently at present or is fractious with Reed (who wouldn't be?) he fits the bill better than anyone else we are in any way likely to get. Oh yes...and how many of our current first team squad even played under his gaze when he was here ( not Hoedt, Lemina, Hojberg, Redmond, Gabbiadini, Soufal, Bednarek, nor Stephens) so I am not sure about how disruptive his return would really be Get real, beggars can't be choosers (if there are really so few viable options available) ie candidates with PL experience, tactical flexibility, sophisticated game management and charisma, plus a good deal of self belief and a no nonsense approach. RK suits me well given our impoverished circumstances...all we seem to have is a load of money. Offer him a £1m bonus for avoiding relegation I say, that should grab his attention!

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Aussiejosh86 added 11:48 - Jan 17 We should go for eddie howe as our new manager
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underweststand added 17:11 - Jan 17 Koeman ?...well... IF both sides agreed to let bygones be bygones etc, and those who didn't like the K-man set-up.. kiss and made up, or leave - if they must-then it might work BUT if we attain the same degree of success as Before (when he was here) ...what's the scenario if another rich club comes a-calling and offers to double his wages? What then ? YES I know ..it's the great unanswered question, but following that thought...if he succeeds with us AGAIN..then he's almost sure to leave ..AGAIN.

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