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31 Jul 2014 22:17:00
Koeman is saying he hopes to have two or three more signings done by this weekend following the win over Brighton. Heard the team was playing well and so any further signings can only be a great bonus. Seeing how we do against Bayer Leverkusen will truly show where we stand for the coming season. Hope the signings are completed in time for that, let alone for the Liverpool game.
31 Jul 2014 19:29:57
They are saying we are going in for henandes please plz please let this be true really would love him to be our star player he would get y game n that's all he wants!
31 Jul 2014 20:49:13
hernandes turned saints down as part of the shaw
deal as he wanted a bigger clud and saints were
a step down
forestsaint
No Ramirez or Schneiderlin in the squad & Cork didn't start and we've completely bossed a team who'll easily finish top half of the championship. Couple of decent additions (Forster, van Dijk, Redmond/Sinclair/Depay/Boetius?) and I reckon we'll have a real team for this season.
Question is though, Cork deserves a place in the team but Wanyama will end up being pretty integral to how we play and JWP & Davis have been in great form so far, so who would you drop for Cork to make the team?
Ive not heard of him saying this although I do think he is taken by the idear of playing for inter . such a shame because its a bargin if we could persuade him . let's hope so
I'd start Cork over Davies, but it's not an issue as I'm sure they will rotate
We are going to have to rotate players. keep a spine but rotate. All teams are like that and most professionals understand. I think Cork just got a little peeved early last year when it looked like he was going to warm the bench non stop. Hopefully this won't be the case.
Him and Wanyama suit playing against different teams.
But for Lallana though. I hope he took a nice padded cushion as I think he'll be sitting down for a long time
31 Jul 2014 18:02:08
I thought 3 signings were due by the end of this week? I presume a signing is not a loan deal?
If we can, t attract a couple of big names then we won, t attract lesser players either. The Board are cutting it fine but let's give them a few more days, before everyone has gone to Liverhampton and Arsenal. No way should any player be allowed to go to Spurs!
I suspect they count a loan signing as a signing to be honest.
2 this weekend says Koeman
31 Jul 2014 15:57:13
Wilfred Bony is the extra man we need up front, he would be great for saints and get us the added goals we need!. Along with another c/b and attacking midfielder and the job's done. C'MON you saints board do the job!
I still think we need 2 more strikers, 2 cb's and a lb.
If we can get Rojo then he can play l/b. or c/b, but yes your right we are a little short at c/b unless they decide to bring in one of the younger one's
The priority and making a real statement is to get Bony and at 20 mill he's a steal. He will make our team and is always dangerous in or outside the box. let's get him and get going you saints board!
31 Jul 2014 20:34:08
Liverpool after Bony
01 Aug 2014 06:57:32
imho Gudetti, if City will sell, would be a fantastic signing, RoKo can get the best from him, with a few games under his belt he should regain his Feyenoord form
31 Jul 2014 15:57:10
I was told on Monday that Saints has made an enquirey to Free agent Tomazs Kuszczak after he left Brighton at the end of last season but thankfully have not followed this up - probably another loan / free optiion would not sit well with a lot of fans as this would be quantity rather than quality.
My frustration with the loan signing of Bertrand is that I understand the loan was rushed through to appease the fans as I understand initial contact was made early Monday but saints bulked at the 10M asking price hence the loan. I guess the frustrations stem from all the big talk throughout pre season and end of last season and yet we seem to be leaving it very late. If the pair from Celtic does not materialise we could end up feeling underwhelmed.
I think maybe it's a loan to see how well Matty Targett comes on this season and whether he can step up to 1st choice by the end of it. If he can, we don't need a £10m left-back sat on the bench.
Dantheman1610. Why are you slagging off KL? Do you not realise the key issues? Our 'star' players that have left have had their heads turned by the 'bigger' teams, significantly more money - which due to FFP we can't pay, & CL opportunities. Lambert, Shaw & Chambers aside. You should get behind the new management team and only judge them on results. COYR's!
Leggdad - I agree to a point. So why make all these statements about players not being sold and money will be reinvested?
I think it's an attempt to appease the fans which on a large scale backfired somewhat. To be honest I don't see why we would spend a full £90million+ on new players, frankly based on what we've got a few more relatively 'big money' signings would be enough in my view. Save the rest for further club developments to build up to big club status, stadium, market the club overseas, that sort of thing.
31 Jul 2014 15:39:09
A bid of £11m from the St Mary's club has already been rejected, with Sporting reportedly holding out for a fee of £16m.
Com'on Koeman Sign him up!
31 Jul 2014 14:19:47
Does anybody know if the Brighton game is being streamed anywhere?
31 Jul 2014 13:40:29
I can't bare this site anymore no wonder ed left bickering slagging off signings etc Bertrand is a good player who has a cl winners medal and has something to prove, u can't expect target to play every single game in his first proper season, deluded people, loan deal is ideal if he is pants send him back if he is class buy him! Some fans need to get real with who they expect to sign, everton ah be slowly built up to where they are loaning players etc last few years now they are looking to kick on whitch is exactly the way you have to do it if you are part of the sky super 6 getting every helping hand they can offer extra tv money adverts pushing through the media etc maybe we should chuck every penny in for a couple of signings and go bust again and tumble down the divisions or worse club gone all together
If Everton have a good season there be next for a bit of what we've got this year!
31 Jul 2014 20:36:10
Everton are established and a bigger club
I agree over Bertrand, I can't see the issue he's a solid signing and gives us depth at lb now
31 Jul 2014 12:51:49
Everyone of you guys should read this and give the owner, chairman and everyone else involved a break. It is not them. It is the players. The quarrelling between fans is almost unbearable on here, and I hope this will make many of you see sense and realise that the club are powerless, and that it is the player not the owner at fault.
http://www.espnfc.com/blog/espn-fc-united-blog/68/post/1964442/southampton-exodus-simply-and-sadly-shows-submission-to-footballs-hierarchy
Good link and an interesting read.
31 Jul 2014 11:53:22
Thought we weren't going to rush in and panic sign players well y does the Bertrand deal feel like that's exactly what we've done as this guy is average at best hence y mourinho played a right back in his place at left back all season not the type of signing I was looking for a bit worried
31 Jul 2014 12:15:32
Have your no knowledge of Targett??
What do you expect? Perhaps we should sign a world class left back just to make certain that Targett never gets his chance, now that Shaw has gone? What is the point of our academy then?
I am really worried about the state of the NHS in Hampshire. All the happy pills must be going somewhere else.
Well then y sign Bertrand at all if we're going to play targett because he's clearly not as good as Shaw was seeing as Shaw was thrown in at the deep end and y were we playing a rb at the Times when Shaw got injured last year if this targetts so good
Shaw was thrown in the deep end when Targett was out and we all know the Fox situation. Shaw was the only possibly replacement at the right time and played well so stuck.
31 Jul 2014 14:54:34
Shaw and Targett were both coming through the system and one got injured. The other continued to show promise and was given his chance in the first team. Apart from initial problems with cramp he played well and stuck. Of course an injury to Targett sets his development back a little, but now he can continue to progress.
Oh well, I suppose we should have gone and bought that fat kid from Utd! We have the money, so why not!
Maybe when we bring in the best part of £100,000,000 and no there is not too many zeros there and us as fans get told it's all going to b reinvested as well as the original transfer budget koeman was given we should expect signings not loans and pretty decent signings as well or maybe we should roll over and let another owner take advantage of our youth system and rake the money in while keeping fans like yourself with no ambition happy with average loans and signings to accommodate the decent players leaving. Ok sorry I'll roll over and watch it all happen again
NOT FOR 1 SECOND WILL I!!
31 Jul 2014 19:08:32
Suggest you untwist them dantheman and explain why Saints should spend money on a LB when we have a lad in that position who is suggested will be as good, if not better than Shaw? Plus, if Rojo is signed he can, and does, play LB.
I would much prefer the funds (and they are NOT £100m) to be spent on players to fill other positions where the need is greater. We are not playing in Europe so do not need to sign players for every position as if we are.
Bertrand is likely to cost £10m and you want to sign someone better! Why?
"Our youth system" is vastly subsidised by the owners money so don't start talking about ambition as if it is totally separate to how much she is willing (OR ABLE-FFP) to spend. Equally, "our" youth system will cease to function if players like Targett are blocked out of the 1st team.
Shaw-decent player left. Targett-decent player still with us. A loan for this position is no accommodation.
Your memory obviously isn't that great dan, Mourinho also played a RB infront of Ashley Cole. And wasn't Bertrand at Villa for the last half of the season?
3 signings are ameant to be signed soon, don't really get your problem with signing a quality proven player like Bertrand, everyone seems to overate big money foreign imports and forget which signings have been more successful? J Rod, Clyne and Davis or Osvaldo, Ramirez, Lovren, Wanyama, Yoshida. I'd say out of them Lovren and Wanyama have been good signings for us and that all 3 English players have been successful
31 Jul 2014 10:21:16
Can't believe Wilfred bony buy out clause is only 20 million (complete no brainer let's get him ) get Forster now that geltic got stuffed in qualifier by some polish guff and maybe take their Dutch defender 2 but I hope he's better than the geltic result last night shows
31 Jul 2014 10:54:32
I'm with you on Bony a bargain at that sort of money. Would virtually complete the team for me if we also got Rojo
I know we've got a lot of money burning in the board's pocket at the moment, but I really don't think we'll ever spend anywhere near £20million on a player in my lifetime (hopefully plenty of it to go!) I think the amount we spent on Ramirez, Osvaldo and Wanyama (all around £12m) will be the ceiling.
31 Jul 2014 09:35:13
So with celtic all but out of the champions league now, surely this is fantastic news for us? I see champions league as the only hurdle in securing forster and van dijk. Now that hurdles gone, nothings stopping us from pursuing them further! COYR!
31 Jul 2014 10:23:08
Other more stable clubs will be in for van dijk would you come to club that sells five to ten of its best players
If I was a young cb saints would be my first choice. Garunteed 1st team football in the prem. with Ronald koeman as your manager.
Sorry about these comments ed07 you would think saints fans would have a bit more respect seeing what has just happened at are club! good luck in the second round hope you can do it!
{Ed007's Note - Thanks.}
31 Jul 2014 09:15:43
By the looks of it the Rojo deal may still be on. If he comes in he'll probably be playing centre back, or maybe he plays left back and then when Koeman wants 5 at the back Rojo goes into centre back and Bertrand covers as a left wing back? Or am I just being optimistic?
31 Jul 2014 10:24:08
Simply just can't see us stumping up 16mill hope I'm wrong
Your not being optimistic!
Your being very optimistic!
Lol
31 Jul 2014 09:02:01
Now it might be just me but having just watched the interview with Bertrand on you tube, he doesn't appear to me to be overly excited about joining us.
Saying the right things but a real lack of excitement in his voice as opposed to Pelle and Tadic.
Loads of references to his twitter account but nothing from him on that either.
Maybe he is just a quiet person.
Stay calm and support the Saints
No not just you! the lad looks very dejected!
and just giving the interviewer Lip service nothing more! His body language speaks volumes?
Not a happy chappie!
Some people are never happy. smile lads
31 Jul 2014 07:40:28
Just read that 16 mil is needed for rojo. do we have that in the bank?
Also read that lovren forced to train with kids due to visa issue (shame). Perhaps it is more to do with feeling at home around dummies and prams?!
31 Jul 2014 17:53:47
just read saints have offered 12 million
says it all really
some other club will offer more and get him
forestsaint
31 Jul 2014 05:58:00
Celtic lose 4-1, now they need to win 3-0 or 5-1 at home on the 6th to progress in the CL. Fraiser had a good game even though he let in 4!
without the CL Celtic should be more likely to sell.
Also BBC news says Rojo would be 16 million, IMHO that would be a great price for a player that has been a FM favourite of mine, not seen him play much other than the world cup, but then I had him in my dream team too, one of my better choices (Lallana you will NEVER be chosen again).
Could be set for some good signings before the Prem kicks off ☺
30 Jul 2014 22:07:05
How's this for a theory:
Cortese started out last season by telling Saints' players (and new signings) that they are to get to a Champions League position and they will receive bonuses for performances. Lovren, Wanyama and Osvaldo would have all signed on with this notion and possibly Ramírez and Rodriguez the year before.
During the course of last season though, Cortese left. My thought is he was telling the board they have to keep spending money if they are to get to a Champions League spot and that is why he was spending lots and incurring debt with the intention of paying it off over a few years. However the board felt that this is not sustainable business. Though that may be the way Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea etc work they have the commercial backing with a large fan base around the world; which we sadly do not have (yet).
The thing with Cortese leaving is he was the head of the ambitious drive to Champions League that the players and Pochettino were sold on. Though the board would like to get to Champions League as well, they cannot do it as fast as Cortese wanted. The drain on funds would ruin the financial integrity the club has been building since Liebherr bought the club. Pochettino saw this was going to happen and, though Cortese asked him to stay to finish the season at least, he knew the board were not going to push for Champions League as the following season's objective. So although he was offered a new contract he stalled to allow Tottenham to offer him a contract; which would include European football.
I am pleased with Saints bringing in Koeman though. He is a straightforward manager with a track-record of successfully working with teams like Feyenoord who lose their best players and bring through the youngsters. With his current run of friendlies I am content but I think we will see more signings come through to help bolster the line-ups.
Why are the main players all going though? Surely Koeman would want them to stay and would encourage them to stay? Of course he does and he has been doing that. The truth is the players now feel bigger than the club's readjusted objectives and their agents are stirring it up in the background to get them better deals. Saints knew they were losing Lambert, Lallana and Shaw. Lambert was genuine with his approach though. Why did he go for £4m? Because West Ham put a bid of £10m in the January window. He wanted to go that window but Saints asked him to see the season through and if his boyhood club came calling we would let him go. I expect there to be other instalments on top of the £4m for how many performances he has with Liverpool, but they are still cheapskates. I say they are cheapskates because of the way they got Lallana. While on England duty the players were exposed to top league players who are on better wages that Saints cannot offer. In a sense Lallana and Shaw were tapped-up by the other players to go and play for Liverpool and Man Utd. So when we first rejected the initial offers for both players they then said they wanted to go. We cannot meet the wage demands that the top clubs would offer, but if that wasn't the case we would have got more money from the sales if Lallana and Shaw said they wanted to stay. Then again if they wanted to stay we would not have sold them anyway and they would still be part of this team. Still, we have now seen that Lallana is now out for a few months and Shaw has been told he is not fit enough, so the transfers seem to be very worth our while now.
What of the other players that have gone? Lovren deliberately stirred up trouble because he knew he could be on better wages (possible double what we have him on currently) and so it was worth him forcing a move. Chambers had said he did not feel his future lay at Saints and knew Arsenal were going to come in for him. Again, they were willing to offer better wages despite him being young and not completing a full season with Saints. Good business for us again.
Why have Saints put premium prices on the players? Surely that would encourage teams to come in for them despite that? In part yes that is probably what Saints are doing. We were not going to let our players go for pennies but neither did we want clubs to completely look away as it allows Saints to wipe the slate clean of those players that were on the contracts Cortese set up for Champions League objective and therefore did not want to play with us anymore. Koeman is involved 100% and I think his style is "you're either with me or you're out" and more signings will be made.
Ramírez is unlikely to go, hence why we have not heard many, if any, rumours about him leaving. This is because he is already on good wages, he now has the chance to start every game now Lallana has left and it is not worth his while pushing for a move to another club where, though he may get a little improvement on his wages, he may not start any games. Osvaldo will go; not because he wouldn't work under Koeman but because he has not had a happy time here and so Koeman is OK for him to go for the right deal. Schneiderlin and Rodriguez are to be the core of our team (apparently) because they were the better performers out of the Saints' line-ups. However now Schneiderlin has had a twitter outburst it remains to be seen whether this is now the case. He is also said to have been involved in a bust-up this morning with two other senior players at the training ground today, which is not good for morale. We shall see how that develops.
Liebherr is not selling the club. She wouldn't have sold the club before the exodus as they club had debts outstanding that would deter potential buyers. In the same way she would still not sell the club in its current condition as the main assets are the players. Though we are making a profit on our sales the value of the club has gone down. Also Liebherr and the board cannot justify moving all that money to their own pockets so I believe their statement of reinvesting into the team is genuine. Some of the funds will go towards new wage deals, the payment of the training ground and paying off the outstanding transfer debt Cortese incurred during his time at Saints.
When Krueger says be patient I believe he really means be patient: Champions League is unlikely to happen this year and maybe for a few years more, but gradually they will be in the financial position to push for it, but right now we do not have the global brand and commercial backing to support this move.
Patience in the transfer market can be very tense as well; we cannot sell Champions League as a way to bring in players. It has never been our style to bring in household names anyway; not since we miraculously brought Keegan and co to Saints all those years ago. Our style is to bring in foreign players who play well and in the style we want from clubs that are not part of the big three leagues: the PL, Bundesliga or La Liga: Tadić and Pellè were in the team of the year in the Eredivisie as an example. Our strategy is to give these players the step-up and give them a chance to prove they are worth more than the money we pay for them with the possible intention of cashing in on them for double to quadruple their worth to the "big" clubs. Our young English stars are now profit-makers as well. Long are the Lowe days gone where he would take off the Bale sell-on fee for a quick buck. Making £60m plus on three academy players who cost us very little in comparison to develop is seriously good business. Families are now pushing more and more of their youngsters to the Saints Academy because they have seen that we give them a start in the senior side and it could mean decent career-starters in a money-making league.
Krueger has said three signings should be confirmed this week. I, like any other Saints fan, hope this happens with possibly more to come. However I do like the look of Pellè and I feel he is already better than Lambert in that same role (if that is blasphemy on our hero I am sorry, but Pellè's hold-up play is superb and he seems faster). More is to come from Tadić but with Ramírez I can see that becoming a deadly. Out of the youngsters starting I think Isgrove, McQueen, Reed and Targett are looking very good and I wish them well in fighting for their starts in the line-up.
This is long-winded, and most of it is made up of theories, but that is how I believe the situation is and I think that though we are off the boil on the Champions League front I do not believe it is doom and gloom as most of the Saints fans make it out to be. This also brings up a lot of talking points that I am sure people want to chip in on.
'Champions League is unlikely to happen this year' - understatement of the century. We will be lucky to get top half this season.
31 Jul 2014 18:48:34
Agree with you 100% Saint90. I think that all of this is a necessary part of the development of Saints from "provincial" club to "European" club. There comes a point where your team is almost good enough to compete for a top 6 place, we were almost there. Now our "star" players have proven that they have what it takes the "big" teams come sniffing.
IF ANY SAINTS FAN TELLS ME THEY WOULD NOT SWITCH WHERE THEY WORK IF THEY GOT TRIPLE PAY & A MILLION CASH I WOULD LAUGH IN THEIR FACE!!
It goes like this;
look after yourself
look after your family
look after your friends
look after your people.
Cheers