Katharina Liebherr and Ralph Krueger have both been very vocal after Sunday's cup final and it is positive news for Saints supporters.

On Sunday night the playing staff and their families stayed in London for a dinner hosted by Katharina Liebherr after which in a speech to them she outlined the fact that she and the club board saw reaching the League Cup Final as a springboard that would end with the 41 year trophy drought finally being over.

She further outlined that she saw any future partnership with investors as something that would only happen if it would benefit the club and that it would not be allowed to jeapordise the club's progress.

Ralph Krueger also spoke and he reiterated Ms Liebherr's sentiments and further expanded that the club wanted to keep this squad intact this summer and further expand it to one that could truly push on next season and win a trophy.

“We would like to keep this group together,” he said.

“We don’t want to do what we did in the last three summers every year. We would like to move away from that and we feel confident this summer will be a lot quieter in Southampton and we can keep the core of this team moving forward for a few years.”

These sentiments from Krueger were also repeated the next day on a national radio interview and it is what Saints fans who have become fed up with three consecutive summers of upheaval want to hear.

But why should this summer be any different ?

The answer is that now Saints finally have a squad on long term contracts, back in 2014 the club were caught out by circumstance and then the following two summers saw them have to sell players on because they were coming to the final year of their contracts.

But that is now not the case, in the main it is a squad that has bought into the vision of the current board and is not left over from the former Chairman Nicola Cortese.

The onus is now not so much on having to sell players to bring in further money for squad development, but on keeping the squad together and improving it with a couple of key additions in the coming summer.

This has always been the way forward as seen by the board, however they have not been in control of their own destiny and now they have.

Too many supporters these days want instant success and the moment something goes a little astray they start to panic, the Saints board has not done that, it has quietly got on with doing things in a certain way and accepted that it can only change things within it's power.

Of course there will be players move on, as they will at any football club, one thing that can't change is that there are six club's out there with more money than the rest and can afford to pay a lot more to entice players away, but we can't change that, however we can now manage it a lot better than we were able to over the past three years.

Reaching the League Cup Final is a culmination of three years hard work at St Mary's and it has cemented Saints as being a club that is seen as being a top ten challenger for a European place and as we saw on Sunday one of the domestic cups.

Although we did not bring the cup home, what we did bring home was the pride of the club and the fact that we have had three good seasons of progress.

We now have to aim for a top ten finish in the Premier League, that is totally within our grasp, indeed we win our game in hand we go up to 9th.

Sadly perhaps 8th is the highest we can now reach, Everton in 7th are 14 points ahead and that is a big gap to overcome, but the three places behind Everton are well within our capabilities.

If we can manage that then that will be the first time as a club that we have finished in the top ten for four seasons running, that is progress and given the issues we have had this season a top ten finish and runners up in the League Cup final is satisfying, if someone has predicted that back in June 2014 we would have thought they were mad.

So it is good to hear that the club still have ambition, now the supporters need to do so as well, the addition of Manolo Gabbiadini was another inspired signing and perhaps the missing link in the way that Claude Puel wants to play, sign a quality central defender in the transfer window and we could be a true force next season.

Photo: Action Images

helpineedsomebody added 11:20 - Feb 28 1 this seasons epl money 300 million pounds per season 2 upgrade st Mary's 3 link the train station to St Mary's for the away fans 4 ticket prices to come down 20pounds per game kids go free 5 please get rid of the gas tanks 6 your father gave you this fantastic football club now please give some thing to the fans
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SonicBoom added 12:51 - Feb 28 Help I need somebody. You do need somebody - a shrink.
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helpineedsomebody added 13:03 - Feb 28 7 put a retractable roof on as well 8 what do the clubs do with all this new money from the new TV deal 3year deal 9.2 billion pounds
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BoondockSaint added 14:14 - Feb 28 I'd like it if they were a bit more vocal this past few months explaining: Why we didn't use last year's finish as a "springboard"? Why did we weaken ourselves and strengthen a competitor? Why was Koeman allowed to leave? Why did could we not land a big name manager, who would in turn attract better players? Why did we not sign the two stikers and CB we have needed since last summer? A little more communication would be nice.

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SaintNick added 15:43 - Feb 28 Boondock We have used last season as a springboard, we reached our first major cup final for 14 years and are well placed for a top 10 finish. We weakened ourselves as we still had too many players entering the last two years of their deals, also we had a good offer from a competitor. Koeman could not be stopped leaving he was being offered too much money that we could not compete with. Landing big name managers is not the way we are progressing, just who is a big name manager anyway, usually someone who specialises in going to big clubs and spending big money but not really getting thr rewards. We have not actually needed two strikers, we have only needed one who fitted the way we want to play, now we have 7 striking options, at least two will leave in the summer. I really dont know why we did not sign a cb that was a mistake Why more communication, why should the club bother after all every time they do say something someone just uses it as a stick to beat them with

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halftimeorange added 16:03 - Feb 28 I have thought for some months that we have the nucleus of a decent team with strength in a number of positions and a lot of young players who have yet to reach their peak. JWP showed he does have talent in the EPL final and he just needs to show it more often. Nathan Redmond likewise but he needs to calm down and stop blaming everyone else. I think having a real goal poacher alongside in Gabbiadini will help him. Hobjberg is another who gives everything but is rather wayward however, that could well change as he matures. The goalkeeping lapses need to disappear but they might well do if Van Dijk stays and Caceres shows his old form. We have, with the two regular backs and Romeu, potentially a rock solid defence. So, what will we need? A workhorse replacement for Steven Davis and a playmaker in the manner of Lallana. Josh Sims might well fill the latter role. I think the future looks rosier than ever if this squad sticks together.

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SanMarco added 16:41 - Feb 28 Even an old cynic like me thought it was sweet seeing Kat kiss the lads at the end there so I hope this isn't just a bit of post-Wembley exuberance from the powers-that-be. Boondock's pin in the balloon convinces me though - until I see concrete evidence to the contrary. Nick says the long contracts will make a difference - I am sure they will but will it just be to the price of departees.....kerching.....

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SaintBrock added 16:48 - Feb 28 It is not difficult to imagine Katherina Liebherr's feelings as she stood in the 'royal box' on Sunday, with the bittersweet reminders of her very proud Dad standing there in his red & white scarf with a beaming smile photographing Dean Hammond receiving the JPT Cup just a few short years ago. If she shed a bucket load of tears on Sunday afternoon who would blame her. At the end of the day at heart she is just a little girl who lost her Dad far too soon in life. With that in mind but unable to find salvation in winning an even better Cup for her Dad perhaps there and then she resolved to do everything in her power to win the thing for him next time, hence the rousing speeches and newly found resolve. I hope she means it and it was not just an emotional reaction to the events of the day. The one thing I fear right now is that our club is sold to a bunch of soul-less non-entities from a far flung land who care even less about our football club than my neighbours cocker spaniel.

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highfield49 added 17:13 - Feb 28 Maybe I'm just dreaming but I can actually envisage some quality additions to the squad in the summer and a best ever season next year with another Wembley final. I suspect JayRod, Steve Davis, and Jack Stephens, plus a few fringe players, might be moved on. Sensible offers for Long, Yoshi and Forster might be given consideration as well. Simply put I think we're ready to move on to the next level with a really strong nucleus of top flight players. None of those I've mentioned are irreplaceable, great servants to the club but unable to up their game in the future sad to say.

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SaintBrock added 18:08 - Feb 28 I think you are just dreaming, a couple in a couple out no more although hopefully no less. Jay Rod seems to want out and a few lads like Isgrove and maybe Hesketh may be moved along with non-show Gardos to make way for younger lads from the U23's. Davis,no way. He's the best option we have alongside Romeu as DMF and team captain. He has a couple more years in him yet. Stephens is another of Les' poster boys and won't be going anywhere or until at least Jason MacCarthy comes of age in the lower leagues. He's doing well and has an authority and confidence that Stephens doesn't seem to possess. We seem to be OK up front now and if Carceras stays, the back line with a returning VvD looks solid Yoshi and the kids to back them up. The only question marks surround Forster or a new GK (enough said elsewhere) and a possible new AMF as neither Clasie or Hojberg seem to have stepped up to the plate.

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SaintBrock added 18:09 - Feb 28 PS. Charlie Austin has suddenly become an enigma, he doesn't really fit anywhere in Puel's fast running flowing style of football and is not in the same class as Gabbiadini so his future here looks bleak indeed.
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SanMarco added 19:15 - Feb 28 Charlie Who?
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rjh added 19:49 - Feb 28 Need to keep our full backs. They are absolutely crucial going forward ( literally and metaphorically). They are class.
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BoondockSaint added 20:46 - Feb 28 Hi Nick I know we can't have everything, but it seems like we used the success of last year to "springboard" down into the depths of the table. We lost a top manager, a top player, didn't replace them, lost a load of games to inferior teams, and now we are supposed to say, "This is great! It's going according to plan! With a little luck, dare I say it? We could finish 4 positions lower on the table than last year!"? We only needed one striker? What one player would we get to score the 23 goals that Mane and Pelle produced last year? Why sell our top player to a team that is in direct competition with us? Sell to a top 3 team or one in a foreign league-any loss in money would be made back by the tv and bonus money from finishing the same or higher and his performance for them wouldn't have little or no effect on us. Ok, Koeman leaves, but why can't we attract a big name manager-you would think they would be fighting each other for it: stable, up and coming club, growing a world wide fan base because of our success, a hands-off owner, a place where they could build something. Yet they all count themselves out......hell, Rafa is willing to toil in the depths of the Championship with erratic owner! What's wrong with us? I ignore all talk of "contracts" in football. 1, 5, 10 year, they mean absolutely nothing. I don't remember any communication from the board except when they wanted to slag Fonte. Anyway, actions speak louder than words so we will see if they really mean this. Take care, I know we differ a lot Nick, but I do appreciate the work you do on this site.

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luffy22 added 23:10 - Feb 28 Getting dicked 5-0 at home in the FA cup is not spring boarding, that still hurts - a lot, The best competition in the world and that happened to us. That s_hit we had to put up in the Europa cup was not spring boarding, ok we beat inter and in time the result will be all thats remembered, but a penalty and an own goal, we never would have scored from open play. The humiliation we have had in some league games this season is really a kick in the teeth when I have paid good hard earned money to go and watch. Someone talked about fast flowing football, that boring tippy tappy s_hit we play in our own half is not attacking free flowing football, and there was plenty of that tippy happy s_hit in the first half on Sunday. still I had a great day on Sunday, but a good season is not based on one brilliant day out, and as remeo said in his after match comments, 'their is no pride in coming second' and he's right, we are the losers. Sides like us once every 20-30 years we have chances like we did this year, cup finals and european football won't happen again for a long time. its over now, but it will live long in the memory, of the season, where if we had a better manager we could have done something special. but hay ho, us suckers will pay again next season keeping hope the dream will happen.

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SanMarco added 23:37 - Feb 28 Totally pedantic point Luffy - we missed the penalty vs Inter - it was a VVD goal + the og.
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NigD added 09:09 - Mar 1 Luffy. Why do you bother going to watch the Saints? It must be so painful for you? Were Poch or Koeman well known top managers? We have made so many inspired signings at all staffing levels. I truly believe Claude Puel is another. Our passing play is as good as any team. This has been highlighted by the addition of a goal scorer. At last! Once the centre of defence is 'normalised' I believe we can match any team in our league. I have enjoyed the challenges this season and think we will have a great season next year. If VVD stays as looks increasingly likely. His Twitter and Instagram does indicate his love of the club. I think we will have good times ahead. Another Cup final is now more likely than ever. Now we have the taste.

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highfield49 added 09:12 - Mar 1 Discussion forums are designed for discussion and it's always good to read the differing opinions on where the team is heading. My view is that the performance level has changed dramatically recently with JWP, Redmond and Tadic all hitting new levels of confidence. As much as I'm a huge fan of Steven Davis and his contribution to the club I can't envisage his legs being able to carry him at the same level for much longer and I'd hate to see him getting stick from supporters if he starts to fade. Also let's not forget that it was only the last few weeks of last season and an incredible increase in points won that saved us from mid table mediocrity. We need three points this weekend to set the ball rolling again and maybe, just maybe get back into Europe.

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SaintBrock added 15:33 - Mar 1 Luffy, let's bet real. The FACup? the EFLCup? What's the difference? There isn't any, they are contested by the same teams and in the later stages that means the same best teams. The finals are at Wembley, so winning one or the other carries about the same amount of prestige. Puel was right to concentrate on one and forget the other as success in both would have meant even more problems for his depleted squad lessening the chances of doing well in even one of them. No logic in being sentimental about one cup and dissing the other these days. having two cups just gives clubs like us a better chance at silverware and fans certainly weren't complaining that it was "only" and ersatz cup.

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