Southampton

[sandman]

They reserve the prerogative to say no to any offers when players are under contract with them, they are destroying themselves and so get exactly what they deserve.

Nobody is up in arms about FFP now, they are basically proving that they value money over football and fans but because it is a selling club rather than a buying club then nobody cares.

So they might have the right for saying not for sale but I think we know in reality it's seldom as simple as that. With this in mind I wouldn't agree they are necessarily getting what they deserve unless the chairman just wants to cash in of course and has no intention of keeping the squad together.

If players are in demand and desperate to take their careers to the next level they usually get what they want. It will be like a disease at the club, as one goes another will decide it's right for them and as long as bigger clubs are sniffing around then the desire to follow in the footsteps of a team mate is difficult to resist. The agent has plenty to gain here as well of course.

If they felt they had to sell a few of thier better players to balance the books then fair enough, but to lose seven players, mostly their best players shows that they are happy to cash in at the expense of football.

[Beefymcfc]

When another club comes to you and offers you 'Istree, ie. quadruples your wages and more, how can you resist?

Take Luke Shaw for instance, probably on no more than 15 grand a week at Southampton then is offered in excess of 100 grand. Would you say know?

[mr_nool]

Maybe Southampton could be a good loan move for Guidetti? They seem to be very light up front, so he should get some game time.
Pelle really filled Guidetti's boots when John left Feyenoord, so it would also be interesting to see them compete for that spot at the Saints.

[Ted Hughes]

They reserve the prerogative to say no to any offers when players are under contract with them, they are destroying themselves and so get exactly what they deserve.

Nobody is up in arms about FFP now, they are basically proving that they value money over football and fans but because it is a selling club rather than a buying club then nobody cares.

So they might have the right for saying not for sale but I think we know in reality it's seldom as simple as that. With this in mind I wouldn't agree they are necessarily getting what they deserve unless the chairman just wants to cash in of course and has no intention of keeping the squad together.

If players are in demand and desperate to take their careers to the next level they usually get what they want. It will be like a disease at the club, as one goes another will decide it's right for them and as long as bigger clubs are sniffing around then the desire to follow in the footsteps of a team mate is difficult to resist. The agent has plenty to gain here as well of course.

If they felt they had to sell a few of thier better players to balance the books then fair enough, but to lose seven players, mostly their best players shows that they are happy to cash in at the expense of football.

You don't know what these kids have in their contracts though.

Everyone says 'isn't it wonderful how they have built this side from homegrown players' but the 'homegrown players' may have contracts which require huge pay rises when they make the move from being reserves or lower league players, to established Premier League players.Then they may have release clauses built in. Then the agents tell the usual clubs, who do things the 'right way' & off they go.

For Southampton, the choice may well be to sell, or push up the wage bill & break the Premier League FFP restrictions.

This is what it's designed for.

[blues2win]

Or are the owners fattening up the club preparatory to selling? God knows what Koeman makes of all this. He knew he'd lose some players but the numbers are incredible. How can you prepare a squad for the upcoming season in that atmosphere?

[Ted Hughes]

Or are the owners fattening up the club preparatory to selling? God knows what Koeman makes of all this. He knew he'd lose some players but the numbers are incredible. How can you prepare a squad for the upcoming season in that atmosphere?

It could be both.

But to take the example further; which of Everton's best young players will they be able to keep long term if they keep performing ?

I'll guess zero.

[Slim]

He had to know coming in what the story was.

And the players have WAY too much power these days, refuse to sell him and strikes and transfer requests aren't even seen as extreme measures any more.

[Nigels Tackle]

Or are the owners fattening up the club preparatory to selling? God knows what Koeman makes of all this. He knew he'd lose some players but the numbers are incredible. How can you prepare a squad for the upcoming season in that atmosphere?

southampton - england's first football factory?

[sheblue]

they haven't spent too much of all this money they are getting, makes you wonder.

[phips]

according to some papers they could come in for Rodwell

[Nigels Tackle]

according to some papers they could come in for Rodwell

£9m would be great
for £15m the can have micah too
and £25m garcia as well

[phips]

given the players that they lost over summer they're doing remarkably well.
and to think, people thought they were relegation candidates. Koeman has brought in some good replacements. Tadic and Forster in particular look great.

[MilnersJaw]

I like how they have lost half their squad and their manager yet are still winning games.

[Tokyo Blue]

I like how they have lost half their squad and their manager yet are still winning games.

Indeed. I really hope they stay above the dippers all season.

[phips]

very, very impressive

[zuricity]

Maybe Southampton could be a good loan move for Guidetti? They seem to be very light up front, so he should get some game time.
Pelle really filled Guidetti's boots when John left Feyenoord, so it would also be interesting to see them compete for that spot at the Saints.

Love your english black humour.... :-)

[Camebro]

Hands up I had them hovering above relegation at the start of the season. If they keep the bin dippers and the scum out of the top four, it will be a good season indeed!

[mr_nool]

Maybe Southampton could be a good loan move for Guidetti? They seem to be very light up front, so he should get some game time.
Pelle really filled Guidetti's boots when John left Feyenoord, so it would also be interesting to see them compete for that spot at the Saints.

Love your english black humour.... :-)

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
I hate the internet.

[Nigels Tackle]

I like how they have lost half their squad and their manager yet are still winning games.

how did their old manager get on today?

[DoomMerchant]

I like how they have lost half their squad and their manager yet are still winning games.

how did their old manager get on today?

Kuncredibly well I heard.

Cheers