Southampton Banter Archive February 04 2014

 

Use our rumours form to send us soutthampton transfer rumours.


(single word yields best result)

04 Feb 2014 19:45:25
I know this May seem a bit far off but, if we are to attempt to break into Champo league footy, we are going to need to make one MAJOR signing. By major signing, I mean someone who is going to cost us more than 20 mil but will be worth it. Like Di Maria. I know it will take lots of persuading to get someone of that ability to play for a top ten prem club but it would help us massively

Believable0 Unbelievable0

Can I just ask, we're you a Saints fan when we were in league one?
Have to ask because I'm just grateful we're not bankrupt and are mid table in the premier league with a realistic chance of a decent cup run.
If Manchester United with all there global allure and massive income are struggling to make the top four you should take a reality pill or change clubs. COYR

Agree0 Disagree0

^ barring a couple of players, Manchester United are full of ageing players who are becoming average at best and the players they have invested in haven't lived up to expectation (buttner for example) they're also in a huge amount of debt, whilst they do make a lot of money they still owe millions.

with the exception of Boruc and Lambert our oldest player in our 'first 11' is 26 and seemingly getting better every week, as with the rest of our players, it feels like we're turning out 18 year old players of exceptional quality almost every week so if we can keep this squad together with a couple of huge signings (obviously take our time over the course of a couple of seasons to get them) then it's possible we can become a real force, and a real force to stay, we're not in debt and we've made a profit every quarter since promotion and this profit is getting bigger and bigger as we become more well known around the world, we easily have one of the top 5 academies in Europe, possibly the best and most advanced training facilities in England atleast and probably the brightest young manager around - there's no reason why this club can't become a huge force in world football, it will take a lot and people will need to stop moaning about every little thing and actually get behind the team, everyone on their feet shouting as loud as they can, but it could in theory happen, only time will tell if it becomes a reality

Agree0 Disagree0

And yes, I was a fan when we were in League One, been to almost every home game and most local and London away games, and a few long trips a season since 2003 (when I was 13) (not OP but I thought I should throw that out there)

Agree0 Disagree0

You just forgot to mention that you're dilussional

Agree0 Disagree0

'You just forgot to mention that you're dilussional'

So, three current England internationals (10 overall), five 18/19 year olds who are only going to get better, three of them could already walk into pretty much any prem team. A seemingly endless line of youth players who are incredible already and only going to improve. there's 3 players who aren't young enough to keep improving and will probably be on the decline soon and those are the players we're suggesting get replaced by big name signings (Fonte - in the summer, Boruc - in a season or two, Lambert - probably the end of next season) if we replace those players with better ones and keep the rest of the squad, there's no reason why we can't.

Agree0 Disagree0

Fonte has improved so much this season and is easily worth his place in the squad. I accept the idea of losing Hooiveld soon but Fonte is a very level headed player who has been vital for us. Even if we bring in someone new in the summer I would love us to have Fonte and in fact Yoshida around as options.

The 'delusional' comment is absolutely ridiculous. There is a reason for the excitement around Southampton football club right now and that is the production of top English talents. The FA are delighted to have so many players coming through to add to England's future options as well as us having plenty of very good mid-twenties players who they can look up to and work with.

Agree0 Disagree0

Davis is 29 and Fonte is 30 so our oldest player in our 'first 11' with the exception of Boruc and Lambert is not 26 lol. Also Di Maria to saints that's just ridiculous delusion

Agree0 Disagree0

We will lose Hooiveld, but if we're not buying someone at least as good as Lovren (someone as good as Lovren would replace Fonte) then we'll just be going backwards. Fonte is a great defender and it'd be harsh on him but that's the price of moving forward.

The youth players coming through are fantastic, Shaw, Chambers and JWP could easily walk into any other prem teams starting line-up, Gallagher and Reed could be there also (not seen enough first team game time from them to say) and the ones who've yet to be promoted are said to be just as good. And it's not as if they look good in a useless team, they look good in a team full of international players.

with a fully fit squad I wouldn't put Davis in our 'first 11' missing out Fonte was a typo

Agree0 Disagree0

This is bloody ridiculous, Shaw is the best of the bunch and you can't honestly say he'd walk into "most other premiership teams". Chambers wouldn't be first choice in my Saints team (Clyne) and JWP can't get in the Saints team full stop. Who the other two are I do not know?
But hey I'll jump on the daft bandwagon. we'll beat City next year to the premiership, win champions league the following season with a team made up entirely of academy players beating Bayern in the final 8-0 and parade the trophy at our new 85,000 seater stadium called the Cortese arena (he's come back by the way)
support our team, derr that's what I say

Agree0 Disagree0

Well they obviously meant in the long distance future, we have some of the best young players around and are one of the best clubs at developing them, we have money to spend a great manager and a lot of ambition, 14th-9th maybe higher this season, I think we should be aiming top 6 next year or at least Europe if we miss out this year and then keeping raising our ambitions and if we do splash out the cash on a player would rather Lukaku as he's proven in the prem and if you look at the impact he's had at Everton and West Brom he could make a real difference to us, next year a Cb, striker, keeper and wide player are needed. Some will come from the academy others will be signed we will keep improving due to the youth in our team so why not be ambitious and look to playing champions league football in years time as personally between us Man U, Everton, Newcastle, Tottenham and Liverpool there's not that much now, Man U will get worse due to an aging team, Everton will really miss Lukaku next season and Newcastle are already missing Cabaye and Tottenham clearly miss Bale and overspent this summer on inadequate replacements, so I honestly think if we had better depth and more options across the attacking areas of midefield we could be up there COYR!

Agree0 Disagree0

So many delusional fan's, how can anyone say our kids will walk into other teams and aiming for 4th, bar shaw who though does seem a bit of a sick note who else?? Chambers needs another season but does look good, jwp can't get in our side, he will be good but lacks sonething, Gallagher untried sheer emotion/adrenalin would ve geared him on through yeovil/arsenal games, they will all get a chance as we won't buy untill ownership/future sorted, summer could be bye bye liebers / shaw/mopo then who knows so let's be happy where we are and hunt down 7th which could result in Europe and make the most of a fantastic season amid troubles, imagine saints v napoli (lol prob get smashed) but what a moment similar to pompey playing ac Milan few yrs back, what saints fan wouldn't want that

Agree0 Disagree0

I could not agree more, at last the voice of reason!

Agree0 Disagree0

04 Feb 2014 18:42:59
I think our target this season should still be 7th even though it's a big ask, we can't just say it's ok to finish 9th then all the motivation to win games would go as we're 7 clear of 10th and we would be pushing for anything whilst we're only 2 behind 8th (which I hope we will be next weekend as Newcastle have Chelsea and we have Stoke) and only 5 behind an inconsistant Man Utd, so for me we have to aim for 7th, but realistically I think we will come 8th but that doesn't mean we can't push for it and then who knows, maybe we can do it. We had a good window in selling players who don't regularly feature and somehow get Osvaldo out on loan with an option to buy of around 19m which would somehow give us a profit on him though I'm not sure how his value has increased since joining us. Looking into the summer window I think we'll probably have another couple of youth players step up and playing more regularly like Gallagher and maybe Taggart and hopefully an AM/Winger like Isgrove/Rowe/Sinclair. Hopefully we'll emulated our last summer window by signing 2-3 quality player (whilst being more careful who will sign) I'd like a keeper as Davies will probably retire and I think Fraser Forster would be quality and would give Boruc some competition for places, then another CB as I think we have a quality CB in Lovren and Fonte and Yoshida are looking solid to but someone like Steven Caulker would be quality as let's face it Cardiff will probably go down and he's young with a lot of potential or maybe someone left footed who could play the ball out like Kjaer. Then if none if the kids step up to play in a wide AM position we should look to sign someone, maybe Ince if he does well with his loan to Palace or Victor Moses would be quality or possibly go for getting Chamberlin back because if Arsenal have a fully fit midfield I doubt he'll be playing much. Then looking upfront someone young like Danny Ings would be class or maybe be a bit more ambitious and go for Lukaku if he still can't get into the Chelsea team, god knows how he isn't a regular for them but if we could get him it would be unbelievable! And ofcourse we should keep all the youth players we have, thoughts?

Believable0 Unbelievable0

I think you`re overthinking it.

Agree0 Disagree0

04 Feb 2014 11:24:28
Does anyone else think that Luke Shaw is more and more likely to be on the plane to Brazil. Granted his form has been great this season but more importantly Ashley Cole isn't getting a game and Roy said he would only pick players playing regularly for their club.

Don't think he would start in front of Baines but think he would be picked in front of Gibbs.

Odds on 4 saints making the flight?

Believable0 Unbelievable0

Shaw could be, he's probably better than Cole at this point

Chambers/Clyne could be in with a shout too if Walker or Johnson gets injured I think

Agree0 Disagree0

Personally I'd rather start Clyne or Chambers over Walker or Johnson, if you think about it Clyne/Chambers would probably be third choice RB behind those two and Shaw must be at leats 4th choice LB behind Baines, Cole and Gibbs, Lallana should start IMO, with Ricky and Jay on the bench at least

Agree0 Disagree0

Roy was at Fulham game and Yeovil so he is watching us our English players very closely.

Agree0 Disagree0

If I was Woy my England team would be:
Hart, Clyne, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines, Lampard, Gerrard, Lallana, J-Rod, Lambert, Sturridge

I'd play the Southampton boys together as they know how each other plays, and if they're all in form with Sturridge in the form he is, that front four could be unstoppable imo

Subs: Ruddy, Walker, Jones, Smalling, Shaw, Wilshere, Henderson, Barkley, Ox, Townsend, Rooney, Defoe

Agree0 Disagree0

No Rooney?
I just give in.

Agree0 Disagree0

Rooney is extremely overrated, he scores a few but he's never done anything at international level really

Agree0 Disagree0

You cannot have the ageing Lampard and Gerrard in the same team especially in the heat of brazil, need young energetic players. If the team was selected now for our first game I would have
Hart
Clyne Jageilka Cahill Cole
Wiltshire Cork
Lallana Rooney Ox
Lambert

Cole is there as he is still the best defensively and his international experience will be needed in brazil, Lambert is there due to we are definitely to be hoofing a hell of a lot against better teams like Italy and Uruguay so will need someone to hold the ball up

Subs (Foster, Baines, Caulker, Jones, Gerrard, Lampard, Henderson, Barkley A. Johnson, Welbeck, Sturridge)

Agree0 Disagree0

Jack Cork is not for England, don't think he would fit in to the midfield properly. I would have either Gerrard or Lampard and pair them up with Wilshire.

I completely agree about the right back slot. Clyne is, so far as I can tell, better than Walker and Johnson as well as more consistent. Chambers is also giving Clyne a run for his money.

However, in my view, Shaw is not good enough to win the left back slot. He is a similar standard to Clyne and Chambers (perhaps slightly better) but England is swimming in left backs right now and I would take Baines and Gibbs this time around.

As far as our current England trio are concerned, Lambert and Lallana should go, Rodriguez is not ready yet. Lambert and Lallana really add something to the game for England with Lambert's goalscoring as well as his through balls and Lallana just has two great feet. However Rodriguez still needs to gain consistency and work on his finishing before he is really a good enough option.

Agree0 Disagree0

J-Rod is the 2nd highest English goal scorer (joint 6th overall, 4 behind Sturridge) I think it'd be foolish to completely over look him

Agree0 Disagree0

Lampard is 64 years old, he'll do great in the 130 degrees temperatures.

Agree0 Disagree0

99. 99999% of the football world think Rooney is too good for Saints and Wayne and his agent certainly think so but some of our fans think he's overrated. These are the same people I guess who thought Osvaldo would come good and deserves patience.
OMG

Agree0 Disagree0

My England XI

Foster
Clyne
Cahill
Terry
Shaw
Schneiderlin
Carrick
Oxlade-Chamberlain
Lallana
Rodriguez
Lambert

Agree0 Disagree0

Foster?
No Rooney?
And a frenchman?

Speechless

Agree0 Disagree0

Great selection above, only three players with a hope in hell of making the plane: Cahill, Carrick and Lallana.
Talk about blind love.

Agree0 Disagree0

My England squad (and for me England always comes before club so won't show much bias here)

Hart
Ben Foster
Butland

Richards
Clyne
Cole
Baines
Terry (surely he'll return if asked)
Jagielka
Dawson
Cahill
(Curtis Davies or Caulker if Terry doesn't return)

Gerrard (captain)
Carrick
Wilshere
Barkley
Oxlade-Chamberlain
Lallana
Townsend
Adam Johnson (just ahead of the likes of Lennon and Sterling)

Rooney
Sturridge
Lambert
Rodriguez


(I'd pick Shaw if either Cole or Baines got injured though, but to be fair, those guys are more deserved of their place and more established, reliable. I'd pick Shaw every time as of next season though)

Starting XI:
Hart
Richards Jags Terry Cole
Gerrard Carrick
Lallana Wilshere Ox-Chamberlain
Rooney
(subs on: Townsend for pace instead of Carrick, Lambert for target man and goals if required that extra push)

Saint Etienne

Agree0 Disagree0

04 Feb 2014 01:17:05
Assuming Juve eventually buy Osvaldo for the rumoured 19m Euro, we could realistically have 50m pounds available to spend in the transfer window if past spending is anything to go by.

I would have thought a CB, striker and AM would be our main targets, and perhaps some better back up in the GK position.

Thoughts?

Believable0 Unbelievable0

No point in buying back up, that's just going backwards. Buy better than what we have and use what we have as back up

Astori would be a good shout at CB what about Cahill? if Zouma is first choice there next season it might make him available. Caulker would be good too or Chester from Hull Tigers (LOL)

I don't think we need an AM with Lallana, Ramirez, Lambert, J-Rod, JWP and Davis already there and interchanging between AM and an out and out striker. Isgrove, Rowe and Sinclair will be in the squad too so we should be good in AM

Lets see what happens with Gallagher and Osvaldo first, if Gallagher does well and if it's possible for Osvaldo to still be a Southampton player then we won't need to buy in. If not sell Osvaldo and buy someone, Shane Long would probably be best

Agree0 Disagree0

Jack Rodwell anyone?

Agree0 Disagree0

Every move since Christmas points to the club being for sale this year. Not necessarily a problem for the future as a new backer could take the club to the next level, but until that is sorted I can't see any certainty over the future of the manager and the current players. New signings will be the last item for consideration, so IMO we should not get excited about that until the club ownership is sorted.

Agree0 Disagree0

^ yup, I think she's just waiting 'til the end of the season incase we sneak Europe, we'd be worth more then

Agree0 Disagree0

Re Jack Rodwell, anyone but Saints.
Overrated, injury prone, give it a rest.

As for £50m to spend, no way, we've spent all the money, why do think Cortese has gone. Academy players better be up to scratch or we're going to struggle.

And even if we did have a few quid to spend would you trust Poch to spend it wisely? Ossie? Vic?

Agree0 Disagree0

I believe that our January window was very successful. What? I hear some people say. Let me explain.

By removing a few of the peripheral players along with Osvaldo, we have freed up approximately £150,000 per week.

We have approximately 6 months until any new players come in, and a potential windfall of £19,000,000. This will mean we'll have approximately £4m from wage savings, plus the £19m from the sale of Dani, along with additional revenues from TV etc.

Potentially we could go into the coming summer with a transfer chest in excess of £55m, yet spend no more that we have over the last couple of years.

While I can't see us spending that kind of cash, it's good to know that we could do so easily without breaking the bank.

Secondly, I think Saints have a nice problem in that they are developing a good crop of young players, still to be tried at Premier League level. Sooner or later we'll run out of room for all the kids, but it's a great problem to have

Agree0 Disagree0

Can't you see that was the plan, cut wages to save money (Cortese leaving wasn't a coincidence). We're not saving up for a big spending spree, Cortese left because someone above him said "stop spending and cut costs or else".

Agree0 Disagree0

^ We're fine for money. Stop being so negative.

Before January we were spending around %60 of our turnover on wages, which obviously has gone down. We've made a large profit every quarter since being promoted

ML left the club a lot of money when he died, Cortese invested that wisely, in high interest accounts and took loans to finance the running of the club (high wages in League One and the Championship) and the training ground.

ML original chest was around £30mil, after Cortese had invested it we had around £50-60 mil when we arrived in the Prem. The money we were given after promotion went towards paying off those loans (as well as 20% of the profit we make). We didn't spend all of that transfer buget and that's just the first year, we gained some more money for finishing 14th. Which, as we've proven we're a club who make consistent profits, went mostly towards transfers (75% transfers 25% invested for the club). That left us with about 40mil for transfers for this season. That's without the extra 10-15 mil that KL injected during the summer. We spent 30, that leaves us with about 20mil left.

so, at this point, we're a club that consistently makes a profit, with around 20mil in the coffers, we haven't run out of money and as someone else has said, we didn't buy as we're in no danger of being relegated and we probably won't make Europe even with some signings, this season is perfect to give some of our youngsters game time. It's not a cost cutting measure.

^This is all assuming KL has no further interest in the club, maybe she'll invest some more money into the club if she's to stay, maybe she already has invested more for the summer, mayber she'll sell it to Cortese and we'll be in an even better position.

Agree0 Disagree0

There has ben a suggestion in the past that there could be a time when KL does not want to keep financing the club on her own and another "owner" could be brought in alongside.
Still see this as the likely outcome. Trust it happens sooner than later otherwise the summer will be lost in terms of moving the club forward.

Agree0 Disagree0

Cortese went simply because katerina had enough of his expenditure and beleiving saints was his, all she wanted was to reign him in, he didn't like that, example, new years day hiring private jet from Switzerland to here but not going to chelsea game then flying back again at a cool £12k each way all paid for on expenses

Agree0 Disagree0

I would suggest the NC haters just remember that NC RESIGNED, and that KL regretted the fact he did so.

But then, they have never let the facts get in the way of a whinge!

Agree0 Disagree0

Whilst we'd all like to see a BIG name signed up in the summer, I would be disappointed if we signed a player that would not fit the Saints mould aka Osvaldo or similar. We'd all like to see a hard working goal scrorer that the existing squad will get on with and not rock the boat.

The best 'signings' of the summer to come will be to keep the players we already have and to steadily keep introducing the development squad players for game time and experience. Will we keep Luke, Calum, Nathaniel, JWP etc. I sinerely hope so!

I for one ould only start to worry if our current squad start disappearing other than the obvious non-starters.

Wwe've done some sensible business recently. Wanyama will improve, Yoshida is showing some form and he is still young, Gaston was starting to show some signs. I'd love Corky to stay.

And above all, we can do nothing about MoPo rumours being linked elsewhere, but keep doing what we're doing, stop dropping stupid points (Villa, Norwich, Sunderland etc) and we will find ourselves pushing for top six.

Just get behind the team, stop worrying and let's make sure our friends and familiy fill St Mary's EVERY week and give the boys the 12th man.

I for one am loving it. The atmosphere at Fulham was superb as is often is the case away and is what we need to do to do our bit.

COYR. Let's push on for a Europa place. Even 8th could make it this year. Then we can look at where we are.

Agree0 Disagree0

7th is lowest u can possibly finish and get europa league depending on other cup outcomes

Agree0 Disagree0

1 through 4 is champions league, 5/6 are Europa 7th if one of the teams who finish in Europe wins the FA/Carling cup. 8th is possible but Everton and Utd would have to win either the FA or Carling cup each

Agree0 Disagree0

Only 5th is Europa through the league unless a cup is won by a team finishing in a European position am I right ed?

Agree0 Disagree0

{Ed002's Note - Right. So if Manchester City win the League Cup then 6th is available. If the FA Cup winners and runners-up (if applicable) have already qualified, then another slot opens up.}