21 Jul 2014 09:47:23
Betting suspended on Lovren now moving to Liverpool. Morgan being linked again to both Arsenal and Spurs.
4 weeks until our opening game.

We need this sorted out quickly. We are becoming a laughing stock with our fire sale.

I've been one of the most optimistic people on these pages but now am really starting to get concerned.

We will have a good 11 no doubt but we will not have any strength in depth and will get caught out as soon as any injuries or suspensions hit.

Plus it takes time to get a player to gel in the squad so please Saints board don't leave any buys until the very last minute for the sake of a couple of 100k.

1.) 21 Jul 2014
21 Jul 2014 10:11:11
Have got to say I'm feeling similarly. I must say I ignore the media. But. Its testing my nerves that with 4 weeks to go we are still missing some key players and the media are convinced that everyone including kit men are leaving which always has the potential of unnerving potential players.
I still think that da do ron ron is the right man and I think the two we have bought have potential.

2.) 21 Jul 2014
Players we are interested in I hope are good players. These players I expect will attract a lot of interest from other clubs. The more clubs interested I believe the longer these transfers will take to go through.
My only concern is maybe we are playing too much by the book. Maybe we should use the media to our advantage, like other teams do, like Liverpool have done to us regarding lallana and lovren. Would they have been so willing to join Liverpool, had they not declared their interest so publicly?

3.) 21 Jul 2014
Cyprussaint:Totaly agree! I know we will get shot gone on her for saying it but everyone needs to wake up and smell the coffee!

LAmbert, then Shaw, lallanna. now probably Lovren then spider.

Im worried about JRod not signing a new contract!! just spent £130 on a shirt for me and my daughter with JRod on the back!!

Sort it out Les Reed, stop selling our team off!! People can say no fire sale but that is what is happening! does not matter the reasons why these players are going, the fact is they are!

Spend the bloody money and quickly!

4.) 21 Jul 2014
"fire sale" it is not. I think we Saints fans need a a little perspective here. I agree the lack of postive news is gut wrenching as is the seemingly dessimation of our wonderful team from last season but I remain positive.
I agree with others that it is increasingly obvious that "something" has occured behind the scenes to make so many players appear disgruntled with Saints. To be honest, i'm really not that interrested in what it is or isnt. The reality is, there are arguments for & against the "new style" board, either of which are convenintly forgotten whichever side of the fence you stand.
Firstly, let's look at the media impact on us this summer. It is fair to say they are loving every single minute of negative news from our club because it makes their job very easy in what is traditionally a very quiet period. I'm under no illusions that this will continue until they are satisfied we are having a nightmare season. The reality is, we are still getting more negative headlines than Blackpool who truly are in "meltdown".
Onto the players & probably the part where i'll get the most disagreements but i'll say it as I see it. I think we all love Rickie to bits for his time & contribution at Saints so probably the one player that has left with his reputation intact & we have banked a decent fee for a 32yr old. However, Lallana & I won't go into detail about the badge kissing etc, but I still recall most of us moaning about his lack of impact during our return to the premier league. I even recall hearing some fans suggesting he wasnt up to PL standards. In my view, yes he is a decent player but he has had literally one good season in the PL which incidentally he was also playing for a WC place so probably upped his game. Fair play to him for moving for more money etc but we have imo taken liverpoo to the cleaners on his fee.
Lovren - still not confirmed he is going yet but if he does, its hardly a surprise after his recent comments is it? My view on this - yes he did a great job for us & I honestly thought he would be with us for a few years but like Lallana, he has had only one good season in the PL. If he was that good then Lyon would have kept him but they let him go. Again, the reports are £16m up front plus add ons. That is a result for us & again we are taking Liverpoo's cash like candy. Easy money to reinvest in future quality.
Morgan - again, we don't know if he's coming or going but now it appears Lovren is confirmed you can bet your house on it the press will turn their attention to Morgan & won't be happy until he's gone. My view - if he stays, fantastic. If he goes, I'm not too bothered as it will only confirm that we are in a rebuilding phase & Koeman can mould the squad into his own rather than inherited players. Yes, I may have to revise my expectations for the season but I truly believe that even with the departures we are still not relegation material & might just need a consoldation season to se us through. On the other hand, I still beleive that we are going to surprise a few people this season & do better than people expect.
One last thought - perhaps, just perhaps, there is a bigger goal/ project in mind that we have to go thorugh this phase to reach. Look at Man city & over the past 6 years the chopping & changing thy have had to do in their squad. People forget that their current stable squad was once being torn apart & rebuilt practiacally every transfer window. Ok, so we don't have that sort of money to invest but sometimes you have to take 1 step back to take 2 steps forward & I still believe this is what is happening.
Keep the faith fellow Saints!

5.) 21 Jul 2014
^i agree

We have also generate huge funds but in don't see the point in just 'splashing the cash' because we can. It may take 2 or 3 transfer windows for the right players to become available, and I genuinely believe we still have a squad as strong as the start of last year (and getting stronger as the young develops)

Having said that, if Morgan goes that would be a blow!

6.) 21 Jul 2014
Steveo98: i'm sorry but you say firesale not! the reasons the players have been sold are irelevent, they have gone!

The media said there would be a fire sale and that is what has happened, the core / spine of our team has been ripped out!!

you say Lovren is not that good otherwise Lyon would not of sold him? so are you saying lallanna is no good and that's why we let him leave? NO!!

The selling needs to stop now and I suggest we make a marque signing or 2 to stop the rot!

Koeman is the man and he was sold to us as being able to attract some big name players!! let's see it then.

Also look at what we are spending on the replacement players! we was told the money going from player sales would go straight to Koeman to buy new players!

Well I don't see the evidence! I don't see us spending more than 40 mill tops! how much have we generated from players sales???

STOP SELLING REED!! and start buying some big name quality otherwise Lovren is one of many that will be leaving!

7.) 21 Jul 2014
21 Jul 2014 10:58:54
Somebody said it yesterday that experienced players are necessary at a time of crisis. Let's face it that is exactly what we have happening to us and it's not fair to expect a group of talented youngsters to cope in the toughest league in the world. If we sign a few older players and survive comfortably in the PL the financial outlay would be peanuts in the overall advantage we would get in PL payments and Sky revenue if we remain in a strong position in the league. Koeman is a very experienced and sensible guy who will use his knowledge to bring in the right players for the here and now. The experience some of these players will bring will also bring the younger lads on leaps and bounds.

8.) 21 Jul 2014
JMSAINT: what if spider goes now and that is highly likely as he said himself we need to do well in the transfer market otherwise he does not see his future with us!

the you have the likes of JROD! Wanyamma, Gaston. If JRod does not sign a new contract then that will tell us everything we need to know.

Im not saying blow all the money we have made but why not purchase some decent quality names? around the 20 mill mark, some one like benteke would be good, a good decent high calibre name and I think would be work around 18 mill! that's the sort of signings we need!

9.) 21 Jul 2014
Already posted this but relevant to this too. I don't actually think most fans are negative as such, more worried as saints needed to strengthen before players were sold. I posted some time ago that players would be leaving and would look to youth in addition to some signings for around the 20 million mark in total but with lovern and possible others going now (lovern at the time had no wish to leave) that figure should go up. I am not going into what I have heard in recent weeks as you just get slated by the minority but I am afraid that everyone has their price and the stance from Reed that all in coming transfer fees will be reinvested is not accurate.

10.) 21 Jul 2014
The problem with the sale of players is that we have been completely out of control regarding who has left.

That's not necessarily the state of affairs at the club, but of the League and world of Football. How can a club of any size, or name, crack the top 6 when 5-6 players of top 6 quality can just leave because they are wanted by another club. Would a transfer request be made if an offer from a big club hadn't come in?

Top 6 sides can click their fingers and the player is theirs. They have the power because of the financial fair play and they use it. I blame the FA for this. But they will do nothing. We will continue to blood young talent and we probably won't see them past their 21st birthdays, eventually we will run out of talent and be regular relegation candidates again.

I do not blame Les Reed either, he really is powerless to stop them. The only thing I can see he has got completely wrong, was keeping Pochettino when he wouldn't sign a contract. I feel he unsettled things for us and should have gone when a new manager could have worked with players outside of a transfer window.

11.) 21 Jul 2014
^ I reply with respect to a fellow Saints fan. A firesale by defintion is selling stuff at a discounted level to get rid i. e a liquidation sale in a store. This is the complete opposite of what is occuring. In fact if Lovren goes then we are in the region of £80m better off (cash wise). I truly understand a lot of fans frustration with the sales but I was merely offering an alternative viewpoint.
The media only reported a "firesale" due to being fed information from inside the club, probably from those wishing to force a move.
I was not suggesting Lovren or Lallana aren't good. They are. However I was pointing out the fact they have both only had one good season in the PL. I could have suggested people take a closer look at Lallanas assists & goals from the 2nd half the season & we might actually start to see why we weren't too bothered about letting him go. (& for good money!). Also very few question why he was continually subbed after 70ish mins most games. AS for Lovren, he wasnt quite the same defensive "rock" after his injury either.
I also don't buy into the theory of Les Reed being to blame. RL went to his boyhood club & we are not the type of club to deny him this opportuntiy in the twilight of his career. Shaw we sold for completely stupid amount of money & already have a replacement - maybe not as good but has the potential to be.
The next two, & I speak as if he has gone already but have publicly "forced" moves. Is that Les Reeds fault? Not at all. This actually suggests to me that the club & in particular Les Reed have played hard ball big time behind the scenes thus forcing these players into extreme actions to get their way. Even then, we have got decent money but what was the club supposed to do, make them "rot" in the reserves? That would be awesome for team morale wouldn't it?.
Marquee signings - just wait & see. The club are obviously feeding smoke screens into the media with the obvious players but I am confident we are working on big deals behind the scenes. But on that note, the last marquee signing has hardly been wonderful for the club.
Transfer kitty - please bear in mind that the reported £35m plus all revenue from sales to be reinvested is spread across not only transfer fees but wages, signing on fees, agent fees etc etc. so we are not going to see £80m ish splashed on players this transfer window.
As for Morgan, my own opinion is that he is caught between a rock & a hard place currently. Having seen the goings on with the other players he obviously doenst want to commit nor publicly declare he wants a move. If he stays he becomes a fan legend for sticking with us, go to anyone other than Arsenal or abroad & he is a panto villain like the rest.
Jayrod still has 3 years on his current contract so why would it be obvious he wants a move? He doesn't need to sign & could still be with us another 3years. Please remember, when Cortese was here, it was reported that after 40ish appearances he would offer JR a contract extension, perhaps the club are getting round to honouring these promises next up is Corks & Fontes contracts?

12.) 21 Jul 2014
I agree we need a couple more good experienced players, but I would hope the manager and board are already on this (if this scouting system is all its cracked up to be!)
i just don't understand the clamor to bring in 4/5/6 new players immediately when as of yet we have only lost 3
(and I understand we want to be progressing and improving the squad but I think that needs to be done with time and the right players)

would love benteke tho!

13.) 21 Jul 2014
I agree with stevo completely, but I think that's the clear opinion of optimistic saints fans.
I understand why people disagree as well. I just think koeman has a too good of a rep to join a saints team he doesn't believe could be successful with the players talked about leaving.

14.) 21 Jul 2014
21 Jul 2014 14:38:07
Steve098 and Saintsmiff you can come and stand next to me. Being the eternal optimist, I find it depressing to see all the negative comments. Some are ludicrous, as if they have an insight into all the goings on in the boardroom.
Even if we lose Jayrod, Schneiderlin and Lovren, we still have the nucleus of a decent squad, and a squad that will fight. We have a 20 man scouting team that is continuously monitoring players. I am certain that the correct procedures are being taken to bring in new players, behind the scenes and in their own time. Just because we don't know, doesn't mean it is not happening. We also have a great bunch of youngsters champing at the bit to prove themselves. There ar eone or two players who will possibly take this opportunity to shine, Ramirez, Mayuka?

Hey I truly do not know how we will do this season, but I have enough faith in the surviving squad and the professional board we have, that we will survive with style. We just don't know, but as usual for a Saints fan it's going to be emotional.

I'm buzzing for the new season!

15.) 21 Jul 2014
Personally I thinkthat we have a strong enough first team to get to january, even if sneiderlin and lovren leave, our main signings other than pelle and tadic will probably be on the last day of thee transfer window as people know how much money we have to spend and will try and hold us to ransom and then let them go at the last second, I hope we don't do a liverpool and but grossly ovepriced players, i'd rather play our academy players and what first teamers we have left than pay too much for a player because it will only be a couple of positions anyway so far I make the starting team

boruc

clyne fonte yoshida targett

davis cork wardprowse

tadicic pelle jrod

mcqueen wanyama reed hoiveld davis sharp mayuka

id say that's strong enough till jan?

16.) 21 Jul 2014
Wow wow wow, people chill. First this is only football! Second I have never read a comment by steve098 and agreed before as from memory it's only ever about ings! (Sorry if I have the wrong person)

Let's have a think back to where we were just a few years ago, yes it's not ideal that players are leaving but we are a premiership team. Lambert and Lallana have been replaced - yes I know that they aren't proven in prem but then again neither were lambert and Lallana two years ago - and heard tadic looks amazing and pelle knows where goal is.

Target (please allow for poor spelling on his name!) looks like he has huge future. Lovern will be replaced with at least one centre back, while the chances are he will be replaced with two surely making us stronger.

If Morgan goes this is where I'm different to most fans it won't bother me, yes I know he's a top player but I'm a massive cork fan plus think its time for jwp to get some starts under his belt as top talent. Also reed looks top draw so playing will only make him better plus we get approx 20 million in the kitty for perhaps a back up left back. Another forward and second choice keeper.

Personally I'm loving it and think in 18 months we will be a lot better / stronger for it - in the meantime the players who want to be at saints can continue to grow and improve and easy top 12 finish next season and well that's decent in my book with so many leaving.

Still can't believe I agree with steve098!!

Cheers Piicky

17.) 22 Jul 2014
You lost me at "its only football"

18.) 22 Jul 2014
S1. defence is very very weak
Also Jayrod won't be back for the start of the season.
As I mentioned before any injuries or suspensions and we are in trouble.

19.) 22 Jul 2014
Well said stgibbs

20.) 22 Jul 2014
I was wondering myself how stevo managed to write all that himself without one mention of Ings? ;)