Think we'd be wise not to sell. I personally can't help but feel that the very negative reaction to this season includes some pent up frustration at the clubs transfer policy over the last three years. The atmosphere around the club needs to be improved upon and this would go a long way. I think this transfer business is more embarrassing for Liverpool than Southampton.
Equally we need to be in one of the following two situations (in my opinion) for the coming season: 1) If Puel stays - he needs to be building on this season's squad, not rebuilding again. This gives him the best possible chance of succeeding, or at least being judged fairly. 2) If Puel is replaced - then surely the best way of attracting the best possible manager is to be able to say to them 'we are keeping the likes of Van Dijk', or at the very least 'we have kept him for now - it's your choice whether he stays or whether you sell to raise more transfer funds'.
It was when we finished above them. I'm pretty sure they're content to be embarrassed at a two-points-per-match pace, however.
I would like Saints to keep VVD as an indication that we have turned a corner and are able to keep our best players. I'd also like to be 8 stone. We are at a level where we can keep a certain standard of player...a good player at a middling price will stay here if we want to keep him, but there is a price that we can't resist. It's pure economics. We are financially sound, but it's as if you owned a nice modern detached house worth 300K outright with a painting by Turner hanging on the wall. You may not strictly need the money, but it makes no sense having such an expensive asset (that could get damaged) when you could buy a few decent paintings and have change. And we have coped without him....we aren't exactly shipping goals...it's just that the odd goal let in is catastrophic when you can't score. I will admit it is the other more attacking side of his game that we may have missed.
http://sportwitness.co.uk/newcastle-offered-e12m-e3m-bonuses-southampton-beat-end-week/ Saints set to offer €20m by end of this week for Semedo.
Why do you have paintings of an ex England manager? Oh Turner, not Turnip (RIP - Graham, love you really)
See on Twitter that Van Dijk to Liverpool is gathering pace. Just makes me sigh and think "what is the point anymore"
Stuff in the media gets a life of its own...so little point in worrying. Saints remain whoever moves on.
If Liverpool are offering £200k pw then Chelsea will be able to outbid that without batting an eye (also City/United). A number of clubs are looking desperate to buy VVD so lets hope Les adopts the Spurs view of selling players.....put the price up until only one is left or they all refuse to spend it in which case he stays with another four years left on his contract Win/Win situation
Well if the scores of Celtic fans I know are a reasonable barometer of the entire fanbase, no it isn't. They take great pride in having unearthed talent that perfomed well for them, turned them a healthy profit and gives them some interest in the PL. I suspect that may be different if they actually had a challenge from anyone else up here but as things stand, they could sell their entire first team, replace it, and still win the league by a country mile.
Looks like he's cut from the same cloth skills-wise as Van Dijk. Good on the ball, excellent at reading play and very good physically. Only just turned 23. Just signed a new deal effectively so Sporting can force a high price.
Haven't read the article, but does it mention a release clause? The top Portuguese team rarely sell their better players for anything less than the release clause
Wiki says - On 9 March he signed a new contract until 2022, with a release clause being set at €45 million
