07 Aug 2017 17:14:06
VVD handed in a transfer request, now let's get rid and bring in a quality replacement. Thank god for that.


1.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 17:45:28
The more I look into this with virgil the more it really pisses me off. A, why sign a 6 year deal last summer if he wanted out a year later. B, why be appointed team captain in feb if for "the last 6 months" he has been looking for a move. C, why bitter about being fined 2 weeks wages when he hasn't played since feb and "wasnt in the right mindset" to take part in pre season. If we all weren't in the right frame of mind for work. then we get sent home unpaid! And finally, he "wants to win honours" then why have his heart set on liverpool. seriously man.


2.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 18:42:06
I will give you three simple answers Lukeyboy . 1. Money . 2. Money. 3. Money ( this time for the money grabbing, spineless, stab your grandmother in the back agent ) .


3.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 18:56:29
We should still stand strong. Just because he's handed in a transfer request doesn't mean he will go. A number of top class players have tried and the club's refused to accept.
And Liverpool still can't make a bid until we accept and allow him to talk to clubs. But another clubs can bid.
If you do sell, obviously anyone other than them.


4.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 19:01:55
"I would like Southampton to consider the interest in me from top clubs should it still exist, " he said.

Van Dijk added: "I have been left frustrated by the club's position that I am not for sale and am disappointed that enquiries from multiple top clubs have been consistently rebuffed.

YOU SIGNED A SIX YEAR CONTRACT . that's why the club says you are not for sale .

As a proud professional I am insulted by the suggestion that it was me who refused to train and so feel it is important to point out the true version of events

Proud Professional? then grow up, get your mind straight and get back out their with your team mates!


5.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 19:11:32
Yeah but they just handed saints an extra £7,000,000 by handing in an OFFICIAL transfer request and giving up his ( joke ) loyalty bonus so good riddance to bad rubbish keep him till Xmas then dump him for as much as we can get.


6.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 19:12:19
Agree with all you have said, but I'd imagine (and feel free to correct me Ed) that when VVD signed the deal he had an understanding with the club regarding his sale, given that he knew he was likely in line for a big move soon. By signing the deal both he and the club would make more money from this transfer, so that's probably why he signed it and I empathise with him to an extent if this was the case.

Still, no excuse for his lack of class in then trying to enforce that agreement if it existed. If it didn't, then his behaviour is truly shameful.

Only thing I don't agree with is you saying we shouldn't sell him to Liverpool. Understand why you said it, but is the principle really worth taking less money if Liverpool are willing to pay notably more? Can see both sides of it but I'd say take the highest offer if you're going to sell.


7.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 19:27:36
i was also wondering from the clubs prospective. Surely if what virgil is saying is true, then the club were aware of him wanting out this summer. Then why appoint him team captain when so many others are more deserving. Maybe i'm thinking a bit too old school but to me a captain of the team should be a leader who sets the example and is proud to wear the shirt. Not a great example he is setting for others.


8.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 19:28:07
Rich- I do agree, keep him until next window then do business with clubs that might want to take a player that throws his dummy out of the pram when things don't go his way. He is a Very good player BUT
we can get 3 more Very good players in now, with the money we will get. We had to do without him for half of last season, so we can do again, I would like to see another CB come in very quickly, plus another forward in case we go back to my preferred system, 2 up front.


9.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 20:04:14
I feel this could actually be quite detrimental in a couple of ways. The question asked is absolutely spot on. why would he sign the extension, become captain if within 6 months his wish was for a new challenge. Was he sold on a promise of something? Also as has been the case before saints are able to attract a certain caliber of player as a bit of a stepping stone and players will or could see this as a bit of a grey mark? Now if this is the club embarking on a new stance then great I'm all for it but is that going to be the case .?


10.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 20:17:21
Agree on the 2 up front g. smith - what happened to good old-fashioned strike partnerships. I think Gabbi could excel with the right player alongside him as well.


11.) 07 Aug 2017
07 Aug 2017 20:42:50
I think we've gone too far with this to back down now, got to stay strong to show our intent of actually building a squad and being pushovers.


12.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 00:51:53
Making a killing on a player we paid 4 - 5 times less than his current value and who doesn't want to play for us is just plain common sense. That is not backing down it is just simply great business. We really just need to move on .


13.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 06:29:10
Personally don't care where he goes as long as we get the best price for him. Plus I wouldn't actually mind if we kept him for a year and let him rot in the reserves. If the quotes are true then he really has no class. Gibson would be my first choice replacement. Get him in alongside Stephens.
Still think we need to trim away some of the dead wood in the squad. We are overloaded with "nearly good" midfielders, plus Long needs to move on too.


14.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 07:06:39
LFC fan here, I come in peace. I'm not here to gloat (not your regular LFC fan probably I know), but just wondered what your opinions are on the player generally. I know prices for players this window are inflated, but is he better than Fonte do you think? Unfortunately every club (even Barca) are finding it difficult to hang onto and even sign players this summer. By the way, Southampton are a great club IMO, not convinced by MP being your new manager but I hope you have a good season whatever happens!


15.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 07:24:09
I think this VVD thing could lead to a situation. M Pel was told by the club as part of his incoming that the big players won't be sold. If VVD goes, how do you think that would leave the relationship between manager and club? Straight away having the carpet pulled from under his feet.


16.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 07:30:22
I don't even think LFC will necessarily sign him by the way, just a query for your opinions of the quality of the player, if any. Thanks.


17.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 07:46:34
I'd rather have two or three hungry for game time players than one over paid, arrogant bad apple!

Ship him out to anyone but LFC and get on with the season

It's all very boring now.


18.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 07:59:56
Olrish - VVD is a class player and the best we've had since we came into the Prem. As much as his recent actions have soured things, I think he is a genuinely world class CB who combines excellent poise and skill on the ball with physical dominance and great instincts.


19.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 08:12:20
Agree 123, he has the ability to become one of the best as long as he stays focused, and he can finish too. I think he is one of the best centre halfs I've ever seen at st Mary's. including Claus.


20.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 09:32:02
Appreciate the info. guys, thanks.
What can Liverpool do to re-build the relationship with Saints?
We have taken a few players from you when you looked to be going places I know, but this happens to us as well.
The tapping up incident, while wrong obviously, I hope is a new beginning now for us and genuinely hope we repair the damage done.
If we were to offer an over the top cash plus player exchange deal, would that mend anything do you feel?
I think it'd be a mistake from both ends if we didn't fix this 100%.
Who knows, one day we might have a player or players that you desperately need or vice versa obviously.

{Ed002's Note - From Southampton's perspective they would like Liverpool and Klopp charged for this and subsequently banned from making transfers for a year or two. What they don't need is condescending posts from people like you.}


21.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 10:55:40
In reply to our Liverpool friend I think toby aldeverield is the better defender but vvd better coming out with the ball, toby would probably get you more goals over the season.


22.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 13:56:40
I don't think we can back down, as it will send a message to the rest of our squad that if they want to leave all they have to do is throw a big tantrum, I'd rather keep at this point, just to prove a point.


23.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 14:52:07
Legit question for the Southampton fans, not attempting to be condescending at all thanks.
I was asking with 100% sincerity.
My question still stands.
I wish none of this ever happened, not all LFC or our fans are to blame and I'd never rub anyone's nose in it.
You maybe should see the best in people, not the worst.
I understand you can't decipher my meaning from a text, but I can promise I am not attempting to be condescending, my apologies to anyone if that's what was taken from the above, I genuinely want it to be resolved. Please don't assume all LFC fans are the same, I understand you take abuse off of Muppets behind the scenes here but I'm not here for that bud.


24.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 15:04:41
Thanks to all who replied, I genuinely hope LFC sorts this out and makes things right with your club however we can.
You lot have a great club down there and if it means anything, I'm genuinely sorry we have done this, you deserve better than that.
I whope that you are compensated financially at least.
Good luck this season.


25.) 09 Aug 2017
09 Aug 2017 00:45:14
tell me ed002 what makes olrish rev 1 comments condescesending everybody taps up players from other clubs one way or the other. VVD wants to aspire to bigger things that southampton cannot provide. really. it is just unfortunate that your club is more or less a stepping stone to other top clubs and more unfortunately that tapping up players from other clubs has become a normal norm. punish klopp and liverpool really! We all knew that was never going to happen. The fact is that tapping or no tapping up southampton would not want to sell him anyway so stop making it as if this was the reason why they do not want to sell him to liverpool in the first place.

{Ed002's Note - What Klopp and Liverpool have done is not the norm. Liverpool as you know are bottom of the pile in European football for unprofessional behavior and making illegal approaches. People like you think it is OK to unsettle professional players who are contracted to other teams and turn them in to damaged goods. You think it OK for Liverpool to screw up the career of a 2 year old boy and plunge his parents in to debt whilst lying to the investigation and trying to persuade the boy's parents to lie. You no doubt are proud of the ban that Liverpool are currently serving and the pending court case. You are a person who clearly knows nothing of the game.}


26.) 09 Aug 2017
09 Aug 2017 12:22:48
Ed, fair play on the honesty. Although I didn't read Olrish message as being anything but genuine, your comments are spot on IMO, especially in response to Lallana20.

The biggest offenders here are the powers that be, that continually allow Liverpool to act in this way. I am sure there are teams that have been hammered for less.

Re VVD, I understand the point about money paid to him and the comparison if the average joe was offered more they would go, but this is different because of the money they earn.

I think us fans would understand more if all concerned acted appropriately, including the player and LFC.

It is a little naive to say "he signed a 6 year deal, so why does he want to leave". Personally, as a business - if we can get 60-70 million, I say sell him and get a couple of hungry players in, who have potential to sell on and keep to the model.

Great site by the way!