This was one reason I was opposed to us paying that amount all along. Ok, I get the fact that it's one big wodge of money going round like pass the parcel amongst the rich clubs, but once you show that you're willing to pay over the odds you get taken to the cleaners every time. Either you pay the inflated price or you don't get your man. I'm interested in football, not Monopoly.
I'm not saying that you're wrong in how this works, I'm saying that the whole process is wrong and you don't fix it by saying that's just how it is. Something has to change as once again money is ruining the game. Agents are the big problem.
Since when has this bothered anyone? Contracts these days are for nothing more than making sure you get a good price when you sell.
I've no problem with clubs trying to protect their assets, it's just the way an astronomical figure is plucked out of the air these days because they know most of the time someone will cough up. As I said earlier, when I heard the £50m price tag on VvD weeks ago I thought it was crazy - constant repetition of it hasn't changed my mind.
As I said earlier, if we had bid and they turned us down and then announced what they want I think we would have walked away anyway.
sure but its not LFC's job nor southamptons job to fix it. Nor is it the premier league. frankly what is occurring is naivety at LFC in the form of michael "i don't know what i'm doing" edwards and jurgen "i'm a coach" klopp contacted a player in the same way as any club outside England would do and southampton decided to use the premier league rules the reality is they can do what they did on van dijk with salah with total immunity. the sad fact is theres to much of a gravy train for fifia and uefa to stop this happening. The simple rules of the game are: 1. Contracts are contracts. you are legally obliged to fulfil one. 2. Rules outside that are private football rules and have zero standing legally really. If I want to head hunt a persons in a job you go contact them. quite simple .There is a little rule about timing to talk to someone. a good example of this is Joel Matip. He was talked to virtually form the time Klopp was appointed and announced his signing on a free very early in that january. was there a complaint NOPE Mcmanaman did the same to us. any grounds to complain ... nope the fact is the only difference here is southampton didn't want to sell cos they know where they are going if they do.. down the pan. they have prob been the ones leaking higher after higher fees to put people off and as saints fans point out... they have a contract so don't need to sell the FEAR is van dijk will pull a lovren next, refuse to play.. or slap in transfer request etc etc.. once city and cheslea were not showing real interest that left LFCto offer the 40 odd mil and southampton then lose power. By complaining southampton have got a weak LFC recruitment staff to pony up a no interest line which means van dijk as the play for them and not pull that lovren move. thats all well and good but as I said next guy along won't be so quick to sign up. Its like this: southampton are not man utd. they can't afford to pull a de gea stunt cos they can't offer the mad wages or euope etc etc. they are not even spurs who pulled that modric ****e. I'm fairly sure a deal will have to be done at some point quietly with van dijk now to ensure he plays his best for 12 months or whatever so he gets a move to wherever next year... but remember this is costing the player massive money. he is on about 65k a week and so is looking at about 130k a week loss.. over 12 months only thats 6.75mil (before tax) the player could be very sore and his agent WILL be very sore. I think he will end up at city before the end of this window. btw.. saints signed him for 13mil, gave him a new deal 8 months later and a pay rise under koeman and then koeman ****ed off. Maybe the player already felt jipped... who knows
IMo there was prob several additions to the fee by media those of us watching saw that their current (and soon to be ex) manager was sent out to say not for sale before the season ended. thats why when jimmy was talking fees etc etc I was thinking its safe just to play the game with jimmy for fun cos i felt no way southampto nwere selling at that.
Nope, career progression is a big part of players decisions, and PL club can give them relatively massive wages Southampton just told everyone they better start demanding release clauses if they want to join them or sign an extension
Let's be clear, the last thing Southampton wanted was an apology They wanted an extra £25m, not for us to walk away They got schooled
nearly true they are useful to the player when injured like sturridge. Contracts are honoured when players are like sturrdige or balotelli and are powerful legal documents and commitments in both ways They are also... well... exactly what you say. You pay a guy to have him for a while when he's young enough to be of high value. In other words if a player thinks what you've said he is very naive and his agent is too. De gea the prime example. His league cup and Europa league medals are great... but when real delivered la liga and CL.. and now he's stuck again with no option but to stay... well that contract better pony up the dough and he will have to be satisfied with the super cup given utd won't be able to win the major trophy that is the charity sheild next year ofr me Van dijk was delighted to get an offer and didn't expect clubs in top 4 to want him that quick. southampton knew exactly what they were doing putting a 6 year deal under his nose as it assured them of mega bucks for anyone to sign him If i were him i'd be seriously questioning my agent cos the deal he signed was stupid and the dealing with LFC were clearly done badly.
So if they find a player from lets say Le Harve in France and they offer him PL wages, this player is going to start making demands? Nah, not happening. Now in the case of VVD signing a new contract with Southampton while he is clearly one of the best players in the league and not having a release clause, yes that is naive and maybe the players at Southampton who are attracting attention from other clubs will from now on look to insert a buy out clause.
Maybe. Journos have to write something and the more sensational the better. I rarely get involved in the transfer discussions because we never know what the truth is. I'm definitely in the wait-for-the-lean camp.
yup that really was a silly comment. LFC cannot deny that the whole strategy for the summer just got flushed and lfc won't have the squad they need next season now.
No we didn't win anything, but we lost nothing either since he was being priced at more we were willing to pay anyway
deffo... its just when you get bored enough.. well you have to invent a game or two to play. The will he won't he was a nice friendly one that the clubs just ruined. I need a new game.
