Southampton Banter Archive July 29 2014

29 Jul 2014 22:28:01
Schneiderlin's tweet is what you get when lallana, lovren spit there dummys out and then get what they want double+ wages champions league football if they didn't let them get away with it in the first place then others wouldn't follow suite this will happen every single transfer window now but personally I think the board/owner already know this making out to the fans that it is the players that want to leave. I for one am not buying this ever once liars always liars! Kreuger and reed both sound like politicians and we all know what politicians are right?. liars can't be trusted!

I think we should stop judging the board and shouting accusations. After Krueger's interview today let's wait and see what happens, if MS gets his own way and the board go back on what they say then and only then is when we should start to call them liars. What has happened so far should be seen as a transitional stage, I don't think the board are looking to sell in my opinion just balancing the books. Hopefully now the board will stand firm with the players and tell them how it is. Let him cry like a baby, do what Liverhampton done with Suarez. We are expecting about 3 signings this week (touch wood) that is something to look forward to! Let's not be all doom and gloom. COYS!

{Ed003's Note - I think 'liars' is a bit strong as well the interview I heard he said every deal has to be taken on it's own merits but I do think it was a bit naive to make it seem spider and J rod will defo stay.}

Balancing the books HA! we were only 30. mil in debt.

Yes balancing the books. saving on expenses for other things off the pitch.

29 Jul 2014 21:02:56
Personally I am now fully behind the board no player is bigger than the club and the disrepect players have had for us is a disgrace except lambert shaw and chambers, happily take 30mill for Morgan, new team new start with no big ego's, no matter who runs out ill surrport them as always

I really can't make sense of his tweet, for starters it's meaning isn't actually all that clear as to what the hour refers too. The clearest suggestion is that he is being kept but I don't see how that really ruins his other 6 years, if he enjoyed himself and loves being at the club he should really continue doing so in the same vein if he stays. But I guess I am trying to apply logic to a situation where ego is the key driver.

The meaning is rather simple. He enjoyed us taking him to the top and now he wants to jump ship like the rat he is, alas he had a meeting that took an hour where he was told you ain't being sold like your mates. He then spat the dummy and will now be a problem in the dressing room.

29 Jul 2014 20:43:03
We'll the good news didn't take long to disappear as Morgan now demands out!!!! What is with these guys oh my friends aren't here no more I didn't get my bonus so all I have is my wages that every single fan would dream of having!!!!

29 Jul 2014 20:12:26
So despite the Chairman's words, Morgan still wants to leave. Tough I say. If players don't intend to honour contracts, don't sign them.

Maybe he has been offered double+ wages and feels the club lacks ambition considering the mass fire sale?

1. You need to look up the definition of fire sale.
2. He is contracted to SFC and Koeman wants him to stay. No club, whether they have or not, is permitted to make any contractual promises to any of our players.

29 Jul 2014 19:39:13
Has anyone seen Schneiderlin's tweet? what the hell Is going on? Is he trying to force a move?

29 Jul 2014 19:09:25
For the first time in months I feel a tad of optimism about next season, finally the board have been strong and said J Rod and Shneiderlin are both staying, FINALLY. What they said about transfer made sense to as we have got a premium for all players who have left. What he said about the remaining players and manager being here for the long term push towards Europe is good to here too, most exciting part has to be that we are close to "a few" deals, that could be more than the 3 reported. Rumoured to be a keeper, defender and attacker, who does everyone want?

Get a couple more midfielders in and put Megan into the under21s and leave him there we did it with Puncheon do it again

29 Jul 2014 16:39:52
GREAT news that spider and jrod are staying!! Now bring in some talent and get our team sorted please! Is like to see:
Will Buckley
Danny ings
Andros Townsend
Nathan Redmond
Leroy fer
Rojo
Van dijk
Forster
And another top striker
COYS!!

I'm also struggling to think of a good striker target for us, Ings would be good, but not the marque signing we want in that position and personally I'd rather Jordy Classie than Fer, agree with the rest of those targets though

29 Jul 2014 19:05:26
It will be interesting to see what reports there are tomorrow, probably that there both still leaving! I feel a lot more confident about the current situation, I see it as a transitional stage and balancing the books. Looking forward to seeing these 3 signings, Anyone/ed's got any news on that front?

29 Jul 2014 16:18:11
Southampton chairman Ralph Krueger says Morgan Schneiderlin & Jay Rodriguez will not be leaving the club

No dout that's another lie, we get a 27M bid for schniderlin and he'll be gone.

29 Jul 2014 18:02:45
We are used to weasel words from the board. Reading between the lines they will be off by January. He only said they would start the season nothing about finishing it

He did say they would start the season & maybe they will be sold in January but that`s 4 months on by which time we could be climbing the league & have some fantastic players in place, I believed him & was most happy with the comment about Saints NOT being sold.

COYS

29 Jul 2014 15:45:17
Ralph Krueger on talksport drive in between 4-7pm. Should be I nteresting indeed! SSn reporting could be 3 signings this week. A keeper, forward and defender. I've also sent Les a video of me doing keepy uppies in my back garden just incase he can't get the deals 'over the line' before the window shuts, just do he has an alternative.

LOL! - How many did you manage?

Hope u didn't make yourself look too good or you might end up at liverpool

I managed about 42. I went to do a few headers but ballsed it up and missed as my nut was already in Liverpool.

All hail anewhope

29 Jul 2014 14:51:32
All this doom and gloom will not lift until we see if we sign at least 5 quality players.

If we do this and avoid relegation we can then build? But why? Just as a feeder club to Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs etc?

What is the point of having a PL any more? There are only six clubs in the PL. The rest compete with each other to avoid the drop.

Can't see the point any longer. Football's soul has been ripped apart.

I suggest we support another sport which has not be ripped apart by Murdoch. How about Aussi Rules Football?

Totally agree there no point following football anymore unless like you say you support one of the top 5
Sky have killed football!!!

29 Jul 2014 12:39:40
Eds/ Southampton fans a Liverpool fan here before you tell me "todo one" I'm just interested in what's happening at your club.
Now we've had our bad owners in Hicks and Gillett but why does there seem to be a fire sale at your club. A club who last season had good, players and played some very good football. Are you massively in debt?
Surely if your current owner wanted to sell the club she would of kept all your best assets and not strip the club bare.
I've been to St Marys, enjoyed the games and atmoshphere so it would be a shame to see you struggle this season.

So can you tell me her reasoning or is the the million dollar question that no one can answer?

No massive debt a lot of theory's around on why, I think a lot of the players just demanded to leave but she could be making the club cash rich ready to sell, ready to buy club no debt +bank account new stadium new training ground amazing academy!whitch would you buy villa or saints?
Just my 2 pence worth

You have answered your own question, nobody really knows what's happening. Until the board come out and honestly explain why, everything is just speculation. I for one would like to think some money will be reinvested and that the sale of the players is simply in the intrest of the clubs future.

So far as some rumours seem to suggest this is part of long run planning by clearing debt and saving funds for stadium expansion to couple with the new administrative and marketing team and the new training ground to really grow the club off the pitch. Other rumours indicate a possible sale in the near future. Not easy to tell but I hope that it's all building for a bright future.

29 Jul 2014 15:19:13
ask les reed for the answer
but you will be told a pack of lies
forestsaint

29 Jul 2014 16:28:23
A "fire sale" is selling damaged goods at knock down prices. What would you call selling damaged goods at unbelievable prices?

Not sure myself but by Christmas I'm sure you will have thought of a phrase. (How's Adam doing? Not to worry, he is such an athlete he is in no need of a pre-season. LOL)

Shame about missing out on JayRod, but it is a bit too far north for his parrot.

Saint martin is that your biggest worry right now explaining that this is not actually a fire sale lol at the end of the day fire sale or not they sold a lot of our top players.

29 Jul 2014 11:36:50
Lifted from 'North Stand Chat' which is Brighton's fan forum.

Absolutely excellent read:

Thought I'd give you my perspective.

Katrina Liebherr is worth something like 3 billion euros. I fail to see why on earth she would be interested in 'asset stripping'. Her father bought SFC for the princely sum of £15 million plus £15 million of debt. He then put in another £20 million, and it appears a further £15 million since his untimely death. So a total investment by the Liebherrs of £65 million all told. Over the last three years - while KL has been the owner - the club has spent about £25 million turning Staplewood (the training ground) into one of the very, very best training centres in Europe. And that is not an exaggeration. It lacks nothing. Twelve pitches all with different types of turf to mimic the other Prem grounds etc.

Behind the scenes, she clearly did not get on with her father's choice of CEO. Cortese did a lot of good for SFC - taking us from league one to the Prem and being hard-nosed in the extreme. He was, however, not popular. Banning MLT from SMS was about the most stupid thing you could do. So, he was sent packing. Since then the amount of spending on non-football recruitment - such as PR, Marketing, Hospitality etc - has almost tripled. The club is investing heavily in 'promoting the brand'. The club recently recruited the former head of marketing for Apple UK. I would imagine that does not come cheap. All these things do not, in my mind at least, suggest an owner who is bailing on the club. But if she had decided to bail, why not just put the club up for sale. Selling SFC after finishing 8th in the Prem, with the academy we have and the squad would have been ridiculously easy. The club turned over £120 million plus last season and has no debt. The value of SFC would be north of £250m of any Arab's money. £65 million in, £250 million out. Good business.

KL has also been very upfront with the fans. She has stated in no uncertain terms that she wants to remain part of SFC and keep on building. She might be lying, but if she is then she is going about it in a very peculiar way.

So then what about the 'exodus' that the media are so quick to mention?

Lambert to Livepool, his boy-hood club for £4m. Lambo's best years are most definitely behind him. A club legend, and one day someone will make a film about him because his story and his success are extraordinary. He struggled to get 60 mins a game last season, but was still effective. He had two years left on his deal, and by letting him go to his boyhood club we earn his love and respect for ever. We purchased him from Rovers for £1m and look where he has got us. Well repaid the investment. We have replaced him with Pelle who was the Dutch first division's second top scorer last season, and over the last two seasons scores an average of 0. 85 goals per game. He is big, tall, and in every way an ideal replacement for Lambo. £12 million. Four year deal.

Lallana to Liverpool. Adam became a bit of a cock since playing for England. A shame really. Clatenburg may have been on to something. He made it totally clear to the board he was not going to play for SFC again. He rubbed up a lot of people the wrong way, even rudely refusing to at least have the courtesy to sit down with the new manager and talk about his future. He went for £25 million, and after Bournemouth's cut we get about £20 million. We bring in Dusan Tadic for £8.5 million, probably on lower wages too. He is a snap-in replacement for Lallana. Looks very, very neat.

Shaw to Untied for £30m + addons. There isn't a chairman alive who would have turned that down. That is not asset stripping. That is text-book good business. A quality Prem experienced left back would cost us no more than £10 million. £15 million max. And good as Shaw is, there is no way he is a thirty million pound player. But no worries, because there is this kid called Matt Targett, 18 years old. Plays left back and is every bit as good as Shaw was two years ago.

Lovren to Liverpool for £20m. We bought him for £8.5 million 13 months ago. Good player, no doubt but had an average second half of the season. He came back from the world cup and just plain refused to play for the Saints again. Massive ego. Head completely turned. What are we to do? Of course we sell! Twenty million is all about SFC mugging Liverpool, not KL asset stripping.

Chambers to Arsenal for £16m. The kid is good. No question. His is perhaps the most 'annoying' loss. I would have liked to have got another year out of him, but again sixteen million quid for a lad who has only played 20 odd games in the Prem is a lot of money. He is Arsenal's third most expensive player of all time. And his head was clearly turned too. I can't imagine what wages he is on.

If Schneiderlin and JRod go too, then there will be another £40 million at least. JRod is not irreplaceable. Schniederlin would be a loss, but if the figure of £25 million is correct then easily replaceable with clever scouting.

So confirmed we have sold £92 million and spent £20 million. We have £72 million burning a hole in the bank account, and that is before spending any of the £83 million in prize money we won last season. In each of the previous two seasons (when KL was the owner) we spent £30 million. SFC does not have a cash problem. We can now attract players by paying them more wages as well as higher fees. If we so wish. However, I actually don't want to see all that money spent a-la Spurs or QPR. This year we have six exceptional youngster coming into the first team setup. People have said that this years crop of youngsters is perhaps the best ever. I have followed them closely at games over the years and I can attest to that. Isgrove, Targett, Sinclair, Rowe, Reed, Turnbull, McQueen. These will be household names within two years. Probably because they will have been sold to the big clubs for stupid money. That is life.

Albion and SFC are two very similar clubs. Both in size, size of ground and catchment area of fans and talent. If Tony Bloom was offered the sort of money mentioned above for any Albion players he would do business. No question about it. Fans who sit around in La-La land dreaming of loyal players who will stick with the 'provincial' club over the Big Mega Club and commensurate Big Wage are delusional. Neither SFC, nor Albion will ever become a Big Club. We are what we are. There is no reason Albion can't join us in the Prem, and once your academy starts producing young talent their heads will be turned too and they will be off for the bright lights. But we will never be more than the 'best of the rest'. There is no reason to get upset about it. There are plenty of plastics in Southampton and Brighton who are from those respective towns but wear Big Club replica shirts and are probably really, really dull people.

What matters is can SFC put out a solid team who will play 100% and entertain the crowd? Yes, already we can. Can we put out a team which can maintain 8th position? Not yet, but £30-40 million of spending and no problem. Can we deepen the squad. Yes. Can we satisfy the dreamers and finish top four? No. Not even if we spent every penny of what has been a bonanza windfall.

I believe the club will bring in several more good quality players to strengthen an already good side. Talk of relegation is just nuts. Reality is that clubs our size will always be selling clubs. The trick is to get absolute top-dollar and SFC have done just that.

See y'all at the Amex on Thursday. Our next wave of youngsters will be on display ;)

{Ed001's Note - sorry but this is an utter crock of nonsense from someone with no idea how business works. For one, not only do you not receive any of the monies he is referring to as a lump sum, whether transfers or TV monies, but secondly you have large portions of it going out. Especially in transfers, where no club ever receives anything like the full transfer fee, no matter what the papers try and say. Secondly, you bring in the best off field staff you can when looking for a sale, as that makes the club more attractive to buyers, knowing you have the best people in place. Not that either are necessarily an indicator of a sale, I am not saying that, what I am saying is that anyone who thinks they indicate the club is not being sold is completely out of their depth. Also suggesting the club is debt free is not entirely true, there are payments to be made on the training ground, there are previous transfers which still require payments to be made etc.
I hope he is right though, because if the money is being brought in to invest off the pitch then that is great for the club's long term future. Personally, as a football fan, I would like to see more clubs use a higher proportion of their income to develop training facilities and youth academies, rather than spending it on big name players on high wages. The future of the game needs Southampton to bring the youngsters through.
But please forget this utter nonsense about 72m sat in the bank, it is simply fantasy.}

Well it offers a different perspective rather than all the doom and gloom currently filling our rumour pages, fan forum's etc. Just thought I'd share it as I admire the guy's optimism. What I don't understand is why Ronald Koeman would want to get mixed up in a club about to be stripped of it's assets then flogged to some consortium. I can't see it myself.

{Ed001's Note - have you not seen the state of the club he left? That is hardly a reason to be optimistic mate. He has nothing to lose by joining, the players get sold from underneath and he fails, everyone will say it was down to the players being sold. If he keeps the club in the Prem, his star will rise further. A top half finish and he will be on the fast track to the top. Whatever the outcome, he is either going to be proclaimed for doing so well or excused for the circumstances being beyond his control.}

Ed you really beat me to the points I was going to make there. Completely agree with Ed here.

So far as I can see Southampton are investing much more in off the field developments with the Academy looking stronger than ever and with the fantastic new training ground, could be a very bright future ahead after this rocky patch, long season or two maybe to come but with the right long term plans in place we could become a solid Premier league feature for a long while to come.

"Isgrove, Targett, Sinclair, Rowe, Reed, Turnbull, McQueen. These will be household names within two years. "

Only as the answer to the trivia question: "name seven young players Southampton wrongly thought could keep them in the Premier League. "

Targett and Reed might make it - in a couple of seasons. The others will disappear without a trace.

The best of Saints' academy have already established themselves in the first team: Shaw, Chambers, Ward-Prowse, Gallagher. There's nothing better waiting in the wings.

{Ed001's Note - Shaw was never rated as highly as Targett, it was pure luck that gave him a breakthrough ahead of him. I would think he is capable of the step up very easily. The issue is more about if the team around him is good enough.}

A good debate - I don't understnad the complexities of transfer and the money but RK coming in ios a genius move on his part as said by Ed he simply cannot fail. Even by finishing 17th his stock will rise.

29 Jul 2014 09:46:57
We are in for spuds left back Rose as he is unhappy at the Davies signing. Hope this is not true, would much prefer Rojo?

Also liverhampton are now sniffing around Clyne, after just selling Chambers if we sell Clyne then we are done!

Im not sure but it is seriously starting to look like KL wants out. We are selling everyone, spider and j rod could be gone by the end of today if you believe reports and if clyne was to go you would look in at the club and think we had just been relegated.

I actually don't think you would sell this many of your first team even if we had just been relegated. I have never seen anything like it in football!

What worries me is we don't seem to be fighting to keep the players! the signal I feel we are giving to all our players is simply if you say you want to leave we will let you go!

All the premier league clubs have cottoned on and are bidding for our players and they the spiral effect is going through the whole squad.

Enough all ready! the white flags are flying KL and Reed. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE give us a chance!!

Those in the know, realise that this is a fire sale by another name, except that we are getting good prices. So what does that tell you? Are the debts much higher than we have been told, what is the money being used for?
We have said yes to every approach, and this will continue. If this was my business and I was doing this, every one in my industry would be jumping to the obvious conclusion. unless I came out and explained my actions.

29 Jul 2014 10:35:08
We don't have a chance until they go

29 Jul 2014 08:44:28
about time there was an investigation by the
powers that be
to get an honest answer to exactly what is going on at saints
surely its in everybodys interest especially the
premier league
the way it is going saints won't have a team to play any matches this coming season
forestsaint

29 Jul 2014 06:30:57
Quote from a betting company on the internet after they had suspended bets on J-rod going to Spurs

"Schneiderlin and Rodriguez have been well backed to join Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham and there's little to suggest reinforcements are on the way, while Ronald Koeman's lack of Premier League experience is also cause for concern. "

For the rose tinted spectacle brigade. wake up and smell the coffee!

Never in premier league history has this type of offloading of first team players happened to a team that was progressing and had just had its best finish in the league. (that offloading quote will get abuse too lol)
Yes, I agree we have received good money for these players but I am 100% sure it will not be invested as Les says.
Agreed again that we have some debt to shift. That will leave us with around 70m to spend.
Some people are saying that we must take into account structured deals. not true!
As we won't receive all the money up front in our deals we will do the same likewise with any new purchases
Some people are saying we need to take into account wages. again not true. We have cleared potentially 7 players from the salary books. we have therefore 7 to fill (at the same rate)

My view and i'm guessing like everyone is that we will play predominantly with youth this year, and definitely use them as the second 11 or back ups.

The board will spend another 20m on first team players to keep us fans "happy"

My view is that the board think the club has peaked and are looking to sell it.
They will get far more money selling off the individual assets (that comment caused problems last time lol) and then sell the club as a whole in the near future.
That way they will be selling a profitable debt free club at the best price.
I said this a while ago. got shot down in flames but this is my opinion.
Discussion and contradiction is what this page is about. Just my thoughts. would be interested in others?

Hard to disagree my friend. Its up to them to prove us wrong!

29 Jul 2014 08:21:45
she is selling but leaving the cupboards bare
forestsaint

28 Jul 2014 22:26:35
Koeman brothers are set to resign on Wednesday. He was not told of these deals for Jay and Spider. He was promised all transfer money and that no further sales would be made unless he sanctioned it. The reality is Reed says how much after each call. Shame. Assuming thus is true I say get Adkins back! Should never have been sacked and would have remained loyal to us! Might also have learnt the premier league if given a chance and indeed was starting to!

Would be no surprise.

Why Wendesday and not, say, today?

29 Jul 2014 00:44:18
Has Les Reed been setup? Has RoKo been duped? Is Krueger a puppet? Its hard to imagine it could all be true but it sure looks and feels that way.

Is it Henry the mild mannered janitor? Could be!

Les says he knows what he is doing and we should trust The Board! Well there you are then, everything is ok.
Problem solved, the lunatics are in charge of the assylum, and they just might strike lucky.
Excuse me there is pig flying past my window, at least that's real!!!