Apparently after the way they came after PEH, Spurs are the last club we want to deal with. The same presumably applies with Ings.
Without wishing to state the absolute obvious, we do not have sell either Vesty or Ings this summer and a really good season could well see them both have a rethink on staying next year. That said, we would not turn down silly money (in excess of £25m and£30m respectively). That money could be used to get a proven goal scorer. It’s funny though - when we had our big dip in form in February, a lot of fans were saying that Ings was finished fitness wise and Vesty’s early season form was just a flash in the pan; we could no longer put up with his mistakes every game.
We could win the league and they both would still want to go if one of the bigger clubs in the league had interest in them
TBH I wouldn't be upset to see Vestie go, he had two bad seasons and a good couple of half seasons but certainly not hard to replace an average & very slow CB. Ings is a bigger challenge as for the half season he is fit, he is a great asset but he is injured or recovering more than he actually plays. Strikers are always ridiculously expensive to buy though
I’ll be honest, I won’t mind us selling Vesty. I know he’s improved and been solid at the back end of the season, but if we can make money on him to strengthen the squad, then I’d be happy with that. Ings though… that’s a different matter. But if he wants to go then bye
I'm not sure I could disagree any more than I do. Firstly, a good season for them would just improve the size and number of offers from other clubs which they're presented with. Secondly, a good season for them would add to their own internal belief and confidence that they are capable of playing at a higher level. Thirdly, regardless of how good a season we have, we'll still be Southampton. Even Leicester winning the title didn't stop Kante leaving immediately for Chelsea. If anything, I'd suggest them having a horror season is the most likely way of them staying (not that we would want that, for the sake of the team) - and even then I highly doubt they would stay.
I hear what you say and can see why you're thinking that way. If we were talking about quality players like JWP or Salisu I would find it easier to agree. But we're talking about an ageing and injury prone striker and a CB who still has a lot of game changing mistakes in his locker so whilst not saying you're wrong, I think it could go either way. I think despite the modern trend of knocking your own club on social media (not just some Saints fans) I think we have a lot going for us at Southampton. Good training facilities, a first class physio team to help overcome injuries, a manager who seems capable of improving just about any player who is prepared to listen and a stable management system through the club. It is what makes us an attractive proposition for a player looking for a stepping stone to better things: Hojbjerg, Mane, VVD and - most recently - Salisu who will undoubtedly move on in 2 or 3 years time.
More like 3 - when Tadic left. Almost doubling the time period for dramatic effect is pretty much the definition of hyperbole
We sold Mane and Pelle in summer 2016, as I recall. If anything, those two years under Puel and MP were far worse than the three years which you mention.
Some shifting of parameters there. You were talking about “chance creation” initially but your counter is the sale of two goal scorers? Not going to argue we were offensively blunt post 2016. But it isn’t quite the same thing
Isn’t the theory that they basically approached him in advance and whatever they did created a scenario where he had no interest in joining anyone else meaning no chance of a bidding war Are supposed to believe that only Spurs came in for him? I am sure there were rumours that at least Everton were interested as well and prepared to offer more
Don't most players have a preferred destination? I don't like Spurs but PEH let his ego rule his head in much the same way as Lovren and Lallana did.
I don’t really know what went on. But it was preferred to the extent that he would have waited an extra year to join them for free if we had rejected their offer and accepted a much higher one from elsewhere. That doesn’t really sound logical when you think that is it Spurs we are talking about her not Barcelona
