That's hardly a ringing endoresment to keep either. We need a bit of a spring-clean (suppose that should read summer-clean) with a new manager on the way and trade up on some players who struggle to be effective at even our current level. While both add depth to the squad they are both completely lack quality to make a tangible difference when on the pitch.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...erpool-transfer-news-southampton-mor-10640292 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
We always beat them them recruiting players, that's why they pay the "Saints Scout Tax" when buying them off us 2 yrs later.
I think a loan move for anyone would be odd (unless it has an option to buy). I know Mor is very highly rated but would we really be willing to give him a large amount of game time when we could just go and buy someone to play there for us? It is not like we haven't got any cash. This summer will be interesting (apart from new owners, new manager and the usual "OMG EVERYONE IS LEAVING") as the board really will have to adjust their pricing strategy and I am interested to see how they deal with that. Before I think that they have outbid bigger sides to get their man from smaller leagues. Bidding slightly more than the other interested clubs to mean that we are the only ones the selling club wants to deal with, that has usually been around the £10 - £15m range. Now other PL clubs aren't going to bat an eyelid at those fees so for us to continue to outbid them you probably are looking at close to, if not actually, double what we were paying.
He actually has some uses in that he will chase down everything and I can imagine defenders hate playing against him, he will help win the ball back high up the pitch which creates better opportunities for the team. Rodriguez, unfortunately due to injury, will never get back to where he was (or more specifically will take a long time for him to do so, which is something football clubs don't have time to wait on). As I said previously I am not adverse to getting rid of both if there is interest. Would be quite happy to go into next season with Gabbiadini/Austin/new striker/Gallagher as the options, but from the sounds of it from Beefy Rodriguez is staying, I guess Long may be off. Also a lot depends on the new manager if he wants to play 2 up top regularly then the numbers needed change.
This is why I said "usually". Those two were January stop-gaps though. A bit different to taking a youngster for a season. I'm not saying there's no chance this will happen but it's not how Saints usually do business. Of course with a takeover imminent our transfer activity may be done differently this year.
