03 Sep 2016 21:47:07
Having read what Jose Fonte has stated about his commitment to SFC would you all agree that we have one of the finest players this club has seen in our history. A true professional that has totally dedicated everything to us and I personally feel proud to accept him into our hall of fame. He stands there along with Terry Paine, Mick Channon, Francis Benali, Matthew Le Tissier as a true legend at this great club of ours. Not at the top of the list but pretty close considering he joined us in League 1 and has been one of the main reasons we are where we are . I truly admire his dedication and let's face it players like him are a dying breed . Jose Fonte, the players player.


1.) 04 Sep 2016
04 Sep 2016 00:15:16
I thought it was a pretty feeble statement.


2.) 04 Sep 2016
04 Sep 2016 01:56:38
I'm sure he'll be gone in January. As much as I appreciate everything he has done for us, I'm not gullible enough to think his statement means he is committing his future to the club. Neither do I think for one minute that is what he wanted come the end of August. In fact I feel sorry for JosÄ—, he's really earnt his move to Utd but our failure or inability to buy at least one more CB has cost him his dream, for now at least.


3.) 04 Sep 2016
04 Sep 2016 03:10:43
lol ^ yet i'm sure if we had sold him you'd be lambasting the board and Les Reed in particular.


4.) 04 Sep 2016
04 Sep 2016 07:37:38
Sorry Chris but I think that Jose would have been off like an Exocet missile if allowed by the club. Underneath he is disappointed that a move didn't materialise for him. Still glad he's still with us as I rate him highly. I also disagree with your ' up there with Terry Paine etc., " Not at any time would I put him in the same bracket. Still I admire your post but Jose is not the only player that got us back where we are now. Sorry but it's my opinion as is yours. Just to remind people that last season we had 2 points after the first 3 games. Then 6 games in we beat Swansea and went on a 5 game unbeaten run. Then the rest is history. Not saying we'll do the same again but hey stop panicking peeps it's earl days. Keep the faith.


5.) 04 Sep 2016
04 Sep 2016 10:20:26
It's another Schneiderlin situation, I'm sure he'll do his best on the pitch but expect to see lots of backhanded comments to the press and on his Instagram.


6.) 04 Sep 2016
04 Sep 2016 10:47:36
Why does everybody decide they knew what Jose was thinking over the last few weeks . I have not seen or heard anything apart from media speculation about him actually wanting to leave . He is the only one left of the side that brought us from League 1 to where we are today . Now we can all say what we would have done in his position if the rumours coming out of Man U were true . I would rather believe the obvious integrity of the man and if he was faced with the dilemma of whether to move on recently believe that he decided to stay loyal to SFC which to me is admirable . I think that was the case ( my opinion ) and therefore to me personally it puts him right up there . Just a shame that no one thinks there is any loyalty left in the game but in this case I believe it still exists if only in this particular player . I believe that, can't prove it but then again none of us can see inside his head, pure speculation which is a million miles away from fact.


7.) 04 Sep 2016
04 Sep 2016 11:08:27
he was never actually faced with that dilemma though. If Utd had made a bid and the club had rejected it, I could maybe understand the comments he's been making (especially since we let Lambert go in a similar situation) . However, Utd never actually put a bid in for him, so for him to have his head turned on media speculation, to post dumb things on Instagram and make his unhappiness that his move to Utd never happened clear in the press just smacks of disrespect.

Yes, he's stayed loyal over the years but is it a Kelvin situation where he would/ has rejected offers from bigger clubs (at the time) or is it that no other club has wanted him and thus we've never seen his true colours?


8.) 04 Sep 2016
04 Sep 2016 12:28:35
I honestly believe that Jose's agent has come out the winner in this scenario. Got Jose a considerable pay rise ( therefore put money in the agents pocket) for the two years left on his contract. Considering the agent is the agent for Mourinho a bit of skullduggery went on.

Funny how no other club supposedly come in for Fonte suggests this went on. The one thing that bothered me was the delay in signing a new contract that was offered to him. Once again I maintain my statement that modern day footballers have no loyalty when it comes to money. It's a short career so I honestly don't blame them for chasing the cash.


9.) 04 Sep 2016
04 Sep 2016 14:40:21
The only reason I would have "lambasted the board" SSS, is if they hadn't replaced Jose! I refuse to believe he didn't want that move. He HAS stated that he would like to play CL football. He deserves it and I would be the first to congratulate him if he got such a move. I've learnt over the last thirty years that you have to read between the lines more often than not and its very easy to be naive. Love is blind as they say.
For once I agree with Welshgirl1 in that it is entirely possible that the agent may have stirred the pot a bit. I also agree with the rest of your posts on this thread.


10.) 04 Sep 2016
04 Sep 2016 19:48:30
We all think and quite rightfully so that Le Tissier was an amazing player and a one club man . However that was several years ago and the money in football has changed incredibly since he was playing . I don't know but if he was a player today do you think his head could have been turned by the big pay day? We'll never know but I think it could have been very likely.


11.) 04 Sep 2016
04 Sep 2016 19:59:45
didn't Le Tiss agree a move to spurs in 1990 (? ), had all but signed the contract when saints offered him similar money though?


12.) 04 Sep 2016
04 Sep 2016 20:42:07
That is true SSS but we are not talking about the crazy money that is happening today. Every player these days has their price, the introduction of these blood sucking agents has caused the problem. Why can't the player himself make the decision of who he wants to play for.


13.) 04 Sep 2016
04 Sep 2016 20:48:58
Matt was at a very different stage of his career in 1990 if that is true. Almost a decade difference in fact. Fonte has said he wants to play Champions League and win a trophy in this country as well as play in the next World Cup. I hope he gets to do all three and at least one of them with us but despite being an optimist I'm also a realist.


14.) 04 Sep 2016
04 Sep 2016 21:31:14
I think Jose Fonte secretly knows he is never going to be part of a Champions League winning team . You never know we might win the Europa Cup? On the other hand I could win the lottery, I think the odds would be similar. Still think he is one of the best players we have ever had though. He is a team leader which not many other clubs have.


15.) 05 Sep 2016
05 Sep 2016 11:05:17
Welshgirl1: I don't know where your getting that info from but Fonte has not signed a new contract, apparently he has agreed in principle and the contract will be signed after the transfer windows has closed. I have to wonder if he will actually sign a contract in the hope UTD would come in for him in January. Any thoughts Ed001?

{Ed001's Note - I fully expect the deal to be signed and it was Saints' asking price that reduced the interest, nothing to do with agents, it was purely down to his age.}


16.) 05 Sep 2016
05 Sep 2016 16:55:54
If that's the scenario saint Ben then no pay rise (and it won't be backdated) until January then. At a rough estimate then approximate. £720,000 down the pan. Les will be rubbing his hands in glee.

I strongly feel that the agent ( he represents both Jose's) was behind the scenes all the way down the line. Yes Fonte is getting on but the fee proposed by Man Utd was a joke and can't blame Saints for holding out for much more.


17.) 06 Sep 2016
06 Sep 2016 08:49:25
So if the asking price matched his age he'd probably be gone. "legend"

{Ed001's Note - how does that make him not a legend? At least he did stay, he could have gone long before now. Surely you should just be celebrating that you still have him?}


18.) 06 Sep 2016
06 Sep 2016 09:06:20
Cheers Ed001, so what was our asking price? for me I would have not had it any less than 15 million. Agreed Welshgirl.

{Ed001's Note - I don't know mate, I never ask for details like that because there are so many costs other than bare transfer fee involved. Not just all the possible add ons, but stuff like agent fees etc.}


19.) 06 Sep 2016
06 Sep 2016 14:05:17
It was the saints board that didn't let him go as they probably didn't have a replacement lined up and Utd probably didn't offer enough for a 30+ year old if Utd offered more and we had more time to sort a replacement then font would of been gone I was being sarcastic regarding him as a legend . I regard lambert more of a legend.


20.) 06 Sep 2016
06 Sep 2016 19:46:13
As far as I'm concerned everybody has a "legend " that they have fond memories of. My legend/ legends are now retired from the game. Mine personally is Le God - Matt le Tissier. As the Edoo1 posted we should be happy that Fonte is still at our club and hopefully till the end of this season. If he goes then good luck to him as his playing days at the top level are coming to an end.


21.) 07 Sep 2016
07 Sep 2016 00:27:04
I honestly believe that Jose can do a John Terry, supremely fit and a great reader of the game. You don't have to have a lot of pace to be a great player. Class can do it . As far as centre backs go Jose is as good as anybody in the PL . Age is just a number and he will be still be a top player in 2 seasons time . He will.


22.) 07 Sep 2016
07 Sep 2016 09:07:31
Terry Paine, Mick Channon, Matthew Le Tissier, Francis Benali are true Southampton legends but also not forgetting Markus Liebherr.


23.) 07 Sep 2016
07 Sep 2016 20:46:13
Amen to that post saint Ben. Markus saved us from extinction so I'll put Le God in second place in the legends table. Great result for the England U21's last night. JWP, Targett and Redmond all had a good game and came through unscathed. Onwards to Saturday and the Emirates - feeling good about the game and hopefully end the 29 year wait for an away win. COYR's.