Said on the other thread I think he wanted United move in Summer. Didn't happen and relations gone downhill since. Still think not playing in EL royally pissed him off too.
We played 6 games in the Europa League. Apart from once when he was injured, it cannot be a coincidence that he wasn't selected. I suspect Les told Puel to only play him if we were desperate....needed to have him not cup tied if we had to sell him.
West Ham ... West ****ing Ham. Hardly a step up is it? I could (slightly) understand it if it was a United, or a City, but it's West Ham. Its a sideways move. Plus I don't like the way he's acted since the summer. Gone wayyyyy down in my books.
Well most people have pretty much accepted that both sides could have handled it better... can '**** himself' too? Imo, he's gone about it pretty much the right way, not slagged off the club or refused to play. Handed in an official request so he doesnt get to claim his 'loyalty' bonus. It's clear (to me, at least), that there's been a huge breakdown in the relationship between club and player for reasons we will probably never find out fully. The club he's gone to is irellevant. During this time he's continued to show the fans/club respect. I suggest you do the same to him as he's most certainly bloody earned it.
Thing is, Saints won't sell him utility we have a replacement and we have just had a bid rejected for Sakho. Which means we are still looking for that replacement.
He may have been a loyal servant. But he has let us down at a time when we need him most. He may have handed in a transfer request but he has put himself in a position where the manager cannot select him. If this is due to a falling out then he is not behaving as a professional. As long as the club have not breached his contract then he should be playing. I don't know the ins and outs but I would suspend him on no pay.
Hold on, regardless of where, what do we get? That's the question? 10m? A bag of McCoys? Jellied eels? In terms of Jose. What a shame if true. Bad call old bean.
I wish people with at least some semblance of a brain cell (which I believe Jose has, as far as footballers go) would realise that sometimes you make a call that isn't quite right, particularly in the heat of a (Euro Cup) moment, but that it's actually okay to go back on that and admit you may have been wrong. In fact, it says more of you as a human to do so. Stubbornness, particularly in the face of reality, is a crap trait really.
He'll get more money Saints ain't going no where fast at the moment. Personally I don't think West Ham are going anywhere further but he has got a new agent who probably wants to get a cut of something from his client Fonte has enough credit in the bank to still be a saints legend once he has retired. As long as he departs with dignity in the next few days of course
So he gets 10k or whatever a week more for two years on an already otherworldly salary. Y'know. So what.
I know it's not Chinese level life changing salaries, but it still will be more and even 10k a week is half mill a year for doing the same job. I know your original point was about him being stubborn and doubling down instead of moving on from the missed opportunity of going to Man U, but on current evidence this is not really a terrible move for him. As long as he remembers to respect the Southampton supporters and separates us from any potential grievance he has with the club hierarchy, then it's just thank you and goodbye.
Yeah, I agree. I just think it's a poorly judged move when all is taken into account. I personally just want it dealt with swiftly now, and we move on. Just a bit of a shame really, but no hard feelings. I just think he's been lead up a garden path.
Agree it's a shame the relationship with the club has tumbled so far. Like most on here - I have no clue what has caused it or who to blame and, frankly, it's now irrelevant. If we take the example above of an additional 10K a week playing for another team on the same level for two years (which is about the limit of his playing career) puts an additional 1M in his pension pot... there is a level of common sense in that decision.
Kind of. But kind of not when you consider how much is essentially in that pot anyhow (plus he's bright enough to have a media career in Portugal/England afterwards).
We do not know his personal circumstances and his future aspirations outside of football - there is a lot of supposition on this site - I would add that as my own professional career, whilst not close to the end as such, is a hand-fall (hopefully) away - it puts into perspective what is beyond for you and your family. Obviously we have differing lifestyles but you live to your relative means and want to maintain what you have. I work in the UAE and if I was offered tomorrow a job that added 10-15% wage increase - my first thought would be how much of that could I put away before I retire.
Puel did indicate in an interview last night that Fonte could possibly be moving on within the next couple of days. Also hinted that Stephens could be ready to move up to take Fonte's place in the squad?
Would be good to see Stephens progress into the first team squad - does anyone have any information regarding his progress/performance? Would be interesting to get some feedback from some of you. As I recall we poached him from Plymouth (?) a few years back and was seen as a future star.
