With Ronald Koeman having agreed to join Everton on Tuesday, Southampton must once again prepare for a turbulent summer of ins and outs at St. Mary’s.
The shock deal left many Saints flummoxed as to why their beloved manager would move to the Toffees, who finished 11th last season, when on the South Coast the Dutchman had secured a place in the Europa League group stage.
Still the deal is done and now Saints’ fans must take stock and asses what Koeman’s departure means for their club.
It will be a pivotal summer at St. Mary’s Stadium, who will again be tested to reproduce the successful overhauls of the past two years after losing key figures at the club.
Perhaps they’ll be able to pull off yet another rise from the ashes, certainly an outcome you’d be foolish not to consider after the last few years.
Perhaps they won’t.
Still, here’s a look at 2 pros and 2 cons for the Saints.
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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE 2 PROS AND 2 CONS FOR RONALD KOEMAN LEAVING SOUTHAMPTON
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PRO 1: YOUTH WILL GET A CHANCE
Southampton have a history of producing young players of the up-most of quality with the likes of Alan Shearer, Matt Le Tissier and the world’s most expensive player, Gareth Bale all having graduated from their esteemed academy.
However, under Ronald Koeman this tradition was somewhat ignored. The only two young players who were really given a chance under the new Everton boss were Matt Targett and James Ward-Prowse, who had been introduced into the first team setup by Mauricio Pochettino and Nigel Adkins respectively.
With a new manager now set to come in Saints could look to someone who will once again look to their academy and is prepared to blood the youth in the first team.
PRO 2: SOME WILL BE GLAD TO SEE HIM GO
There are some players in the Southampton camp that Koeman has clashed with during his time at St. Mary’s.
Earlier this season it was reported that a rift had emerged between Koeman and Serbian play-maker, Dusan Tadic.
Koeman was never afraid to show the Serbian exactly what he thought of him and often left him to sit on the bench for long spells of the season.
Whomever replaces the 55-year old would do well to spark a healthy relationship with the fiery Serb as he has the ability and drive to be a key asset to any Premier League side.
CON 1: STABILITY
In Koeman, the Saints had a manager who offered real defensive stability, over two seasons his side conceded and average of just below one goal per Premier League game.
Solid structure and good organisation are the hallmarks of a Ronald Koeman team, he demands it, and it will be hard for the club to find a replacement who is so well adept to getting such performances out of their teams.
CON 2: AMBITION
The major con though could be concern towards the ambition of the club. The Southampton board have often made statements that reiterated their desire to do things the ‘Southampton Way’, that they are somewhat different to those around them in the Premier League.
The board believe that they can still garner success and press on towards the top four and the Champions League whilst maintaining the self-sufficient ‘Southampton Way’.
The worry here would be that whilst it is something Saints fans should be proud of, this policy may no longer be the way to success in modern day football and to progress, at some point you will have to pay.
The board’s decision not to give Mauricio Pochettino the money he was asking for, before he left for Tottenham, was vindicated in the appointment of Koeman and the following success.
Only time will tell if the board’s reluctance to show the former Valencia coach the ambition he was asking for in terms of a transfer budget and new contract, will follow the same path as with Koeman’s predecessor.
