Transfer Rumours Saints January Transfer Window Rumour Thread

Yes Fats, but I never seem to be any good at Bingo.


Edit: Sorry Fats, thought you said Mecca for a second there.

 

But what are our ambitions? If you ask Les, you'll get a different answer than if you ask Ralph; one has touted a series of five-year plans to reach Champions League, while the other has publicly suggested that it's a pipe dream. One tells the media that we're not a selling club, and finds the implication a little insulting; the other explicitly states that buying players to sell them is our model. One might almost come away with the impression that we don't really have a concrete plan for progression.

 

Do we totally suck?

 

One might come away with the conclusion that, ****it, let's just try and win our next three games.

 

My point is Schad (and my new peace treaty you made me sign is being tested by others, not you ) that we've been ambitious, shown ambition and progressed really well. We've just done it in a different way and this is the first season that results aren't bearing that out. It gets so boring that fans "give up" on us so quickly. We all bloody well know that we sell to buy and that's the way we have done it, yet we continue to moan about it.

 

Great night out though!

#rocknroll

 

Fats is off on one...

Go on Fats, mate, get the crowd on their feet and singing. Good luck with that...

 

please log in to view this image

 

If you were genuinely fishing, well done. You got me.

Never know with you though fella

 

I'm coming away from most games thinking to myself that we were the better team, we played better football, we made more chances, we controlled the game. When we start getting hammered from pillar to post then I will be more concerned. I don't think we are that far away, the results have been worse than the performances and we still have a good squad going forward. One or two signings could tie the whole thing together, but I don't think things are as terminal as some would suggest.

 

Partially because the team gives such conflicting messages about it. Until, well, yesterday, the dominant narrative was that we had sold players because our hand had been forced by circumstance...contracts were winding down, players were forcing their way out, etc. Extend contracts/buy less petulant players and the selling in volume would stop.

Perhaps now that Ralph has let the cat out of the bag the moaning will change a little; now that we know that it's in the plans that the likes of Virgil will be off as soon as the right money is proffered in the summer, we can readjust our mindset concerning the team.

 

Schad I don't see much change just because those words came out of Ralph's mouth. I don't things have changed, just the way the words have been put.

The bottom line to me is the fans want success now and all the time. Too few seem prepared to be patient (they say they do but don't behave like they do) or to accept that it is a sports business and 19 other teams are trying to stop you doing what you want to do. You can't guarantee progress or success, but just do what you think is the best way forward.

 

Vin

Thanks for your response.

I would suggest that the style of football and the results are two things that are worrying most Saints fans.

My understanding is that Sunderland do not have the finances to spend on strengthening their squad and this has been widely reported in the press. The squad has already been totally rebuilt by Moyes in the summer when they had a massive clear out.

Regarding the overhaul of the squad, there are plenty of players who are on long contracts and coupled with the summer signings, there are areas where there is depth in the squad. However there are positions that must be of concern. For starters, I wouldn't expect the two central defenders VVD and Fonte to be at Southampton come August and as Yoshida's has on his contract expires at the end of next season, I am unsure whether he will get an extension or whether we might cash our chips. I can't see Gardos being retained. The central defence will probably need to be totally re-built and is probably the biggest concern next season after the front line. If Saints cash in on Yoshida, we could need three new central defenders. I would also be intrigued to see who would get the captain's armband assuming VVD and Fonte are not at the club. At the moment, surely either Davis or Romeu would have to be favourites?

I think that Oriol Romeu will be in the last year of his contract next season too. For me, Romeu remains the one player we need to get a contract extension agreed. If he went, I would be extremely worried .We are not short of midfielders even if we eventually need to be thinking about finding a replacement for the exceptional Stephen Davis. Obviously, the full back situation is of little concern with Cedric contracted until 2019 and the squad not short of talent in this area so even if Martina was shipped out he would be unlikely to be replaced by an outside player . McQueen looks a really good prospect.

Regarding play makers I felt that Dusan Tadic looked markedly improved during the first few months under Puel. After his broken nose, he hasn't been the same, Tadic was contracted originally until 2018 and I don't know whether this has been extended. There is always the suspicion that players might be moved on to cash in rather than letting. Obviously Boufal and Redmond are going to be here next season.

Do you honestly believe that we are going to maintain the same forward line next season .? Even though Shane Long is contracted until 2020, it will be interesting to see if he will be retained. For me, he remains the most impressive of our front line but it is a surprise that he hasn't replicated last season's form. The forward line has been a problem all season and it is blatantly obvious that it needs a massive overhaul.

 

I think we should try and keep Yoshida....didn't he sign a new contract at the beginning of the season? If we don't keep him, we have to lay out good money to get a player even as good as him. That doesn't make sense.

 

Don't think he did.

 

Agree with what you are saying, just your last sentence I'm not sure about.

You say the moaners are well aware of our business model and yet continue to complain, but isn't that obvious? Just because they are aware of saints being ran that way doesn't mean they have to be happy about it.

By the way, I'm not voicing my own opinion on how the club is ran, in fact I consider myself far from a moaner. Just that the people that aren't happy don't have to agree with how we are ran. Even though there is plenty of evidence that it's working for us, they may think something else would be even better.

 

So Ian, Vin's comment that the team won't be overhauled has been translated by you as "we'll have the same frontline"... to use your language

 

Frustrated yes because my hard earned money is helping fund the dross I'm being delivered every other week and being a STH I'm entitled to have that opinion.
Short term minded....NO, I've like you had many years of supporting Saints so I will have my say and stick by what I believe in of which is lack of ambition, others may say different but I would respect that.

 

Think you are right, but I remember being surprised when his contract was extended...however, that was in January 2015!! Doesn't time fly.

 

I wish I hadn't used the word 'moan' to be honest.