So it was a slow start to the summer anyway, with our search for a new manager preceeding everything following Roberto Martinez's sacking in May. It was obvious that new owner Farhad Moshiri's new investment was going to be telling this summer, when the names linked with us were the likes of De Boer and Emery, rather than Alan Curbishley and Tim Sherwood, but we actually got our first choice man in Southampton's Ronald Koeman, to much hilarity and Southampton heads falling off. With the level of manager available to us (enough ambition to turn our nose up at the likes of Mark Hughes, but not in Europe and not exactly able to attract the likes of Mourinho and Simeone) Koeman to me always looked the best option. Relatively experienced, having managed in 4 different countries, Holland, Portugal, Spain and England, has won things not just as a manager but won pretty much everything as a player, so brings a winning mentality we havent seen at this club in decades. The fact he does come from another Premier League club, where he did a very good job, means he also has experience and know how of the Premier League and will know the kinds of players to go for who will do well here.
He also brings a reputation. Already there is talk of Lukaku and Stones staying, despite big money offers from elsewhere, as we now dont just have a lot of money (coupled with the new TV deal of course) but we have a manager who carries a lot of respect around Europe. It's still a bit jaw dropping seeing us linked with signing the likes of Juan Mata and Axel Witsel rather than the old days of being linked with Alan Smith and Robbie Savage all summer!
The players not involved in international tournaments this summer all reported back to pre season training yesterday, and so far our first game will be a Barnsley on July 23rd.
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