Southampton Banter Archive July 16 2014

16 Jul 2014 20:47:48
When you look at the Team that we have left, it is still an exciting prospect for us all this year. Ronald Koeman will have a better idea of what he needs after tomorrows game and Mondays game at Swindon.

He will also see what the temperament of Lovren and Schneiderlin by next week and can only really start spending once he has boxed this off.

Lovren is best off gone now, I think RK is cleaver. when Liverhampton find that we are not for taking a quick deal at Circa £20 million and that for another £5 million they can have their man, the deal will happen. Saints can then re-invest say £10 million on Caulker,, use say £5 million to increase the wages of those that we want to keep (Hopefully Schneiderin - Cork - Fonte - Ward Prowse - Clyne - Chambers and a host of youngsters McQueen - Targett - Turnball - Gallagher - Reed and Sims plus of course Tadic and Pelle. Still leaves us with a £10 Million surplus to buy Redmond who is just what we need to replace Puncheon.

Of course that will still leave £30 - 40 million to let Ronald invest in 3-4 little gems.

So when you look at that. we are in a good place, great Owner - Strong Board - Fantastic Manager - Great Academy and a support system for our army of Youth. Looking forward to using my Season Ticket. :-)

Love your attitude . not liking the doom n gloom posters.

Caulker would not be an adequate replacement for Lovren. Nowhere near.

Caulker and Fonte at CB next season would be a major downgrade on Lovren and Fonte.

17 Jul 2014 10:16:23
As I have said before the player that caught my eye in the WC was Ron Vlaar and he has all the credentials to join us. Been the player at Villa that literally kept them up last year with his tremendous never say die attitude and brilliant last line defending. Just what we want a polished professional footballer who seems to still want to be playing the game as a sport and not just turning up week in week out just for the money. I think he would make a superb captain and probably be available considering Villa's financial situation. We can pay cash and to struggling clubs cash is King. He is of course Dutch which might help RK negotiate. Just interested in what other people think.

Totally agree, I think Vlaar would be a great signing however I have seen a few reports suggesting Villa are looking to tie him down on a new contract.

Thanks Callum I'm pleased you agree but just seen that Harry (Al Capone) Redknapp is after him. God help us.

I would imagine that Redknapp sees him as a back up if he can't secure caulker maybe?

One thing QPR can offer him which we can't is a wage that only really should go to the best players in the world. It's amazing they haven't had to deal with FFP regulations yet.

^ qpr will have to deal with them this season

Well said Phil but as you know anything The Godfather gets involved in is usually pretty dodgy.

16 Jul 2014 18:43:37
60 million in transfer fees plus whatever the board promised and so far we have signed 2 players. We were told we could expect some marquee signings and s far rumours only of middle of the table players. No one that has excited me. However I do have faith that Tadic and Pelle will do well for us

Very glass half empty viewpoint. Tadic and Pelle are good additions and there is plenty of time for more to come. Also the papers will link us with who they see as at our level, it doesn't make the links players we genuinely hold interest in.

As a rule, assume papers know nothing and the links are all false until official saints release a statement or Ed tells us what's going on. To be honest the average poster on here probably has as much information as the papers.

Great points, Saintphil, there is still a long time left in the transfer window and the squad are still in Belgium, there's no reason to panic. More players will sign soon.

I'm sure that Koeman wanted to have a good look at the players before finalizing any other targets. He seemed pleasantly surprised by several of the kids coming through, and I'm sure that there are a few who are capable of stepping up, like McQueen, Targett etc.

It's still early days. I guess we'll just have to be a little patient.

He does seen to have faith in the young players, which is great to see, but I hope he surrounds them with experience and proven talent. I don't want to see us like Villa last season with a very young inexperienced squad who does "ok. "

16 Jul 2014 11:55:19
Steven Fletcher - I really think he's a rickie lambert type player. old fashioned striker, eye for goal, could come cheap, in his prime, great header of the ball. could easily bag 15 goals for saints.
anyone else agree?

16 Jul 2014 09:09:01
A Hoensbroek player asked Lovren if he was going to LFC - he apparently laughed and winked in response. You could read anything in to that, but thought I'd post it!

16 Jul 2014 11:50:29
you also said JWP was off to west ham for £7mill. so don't think so

I said that I had heard that West Ham had made a bid of £7m for him, not that he was off.

Tom Maas was the Hoensbroek player who asked Lovren - just saying.

16 Jul 2014 02:01:01
Having just watched Jose F interviewed, am I the only one that thought it was so obvious he was digging at the new manager in support of the Argie??
when asked did he ever meet RK. no he was sacked before I arrived!!
when asked about the RK's training/playing style.
similar to previous, why change?
Jose F. you are lucky to still be in the first team. show some respect for the new manager. he makes MP look like a ball boy when comparing achievements!

I think you're the only one. Fonte said that Koeman was got the sack at Benfica before Fonte had a chance to meet him. That just seems like the truth. It's simply ridiculous to read a dig at the manager into what Fonte said.

Having a dig at the new manager? From that interview? I know some saints fans are paranoid, but that is something else! Not every little interview is a huge drama!