He clearly had no suitors who would fulfil European football, though, and likely realised that. And yes, of course there are plenty of exceptions - you and me, for example, believe ourselves to be so; even Messi took a pay cut to try to stay at Barcelona - but as a general rule of laissez-faire economics, people are rational beings who make decisions which maximise their self-interest. I didn't say anyone's sole motivation is money, as there are obviously other considerations, but I am pretty sure if Saints offered me a chance to work for them for half my current salary, I wouldn't leave my job. I can't, because I have a mortgage, dependants, and plenty of other financial commitments I'm tied to. Danny I'm sure would have preferred to satisfy his need to play in Europe at a different club to Villa - that type of move would comes with the benefit of going to a bigger club who pay more money. Players can easily pass off a move like that as driven purely by the experience. If I had to guess, I would say he was trying to satisfice his objectives - ie. settled for a less than optimal outcome (ie. no European football atm, but possibly slightly better chance of European football than he saw with Saints), but more money and bigger name club in the overall history of football. Did he weigh up the options of: signing a new contract and playing out his last few years with no European football at Southampton or doing exactly the same at Villa but with a better pay package? Was he happy to stay and then go on a free next season and packet even more money as a signing on fee, but Southampton encouraged him to move to Villa due to the money being difficult to resist for an injury-prone and almost out of contract player? We don't know which of those - if any - are what happened, but there are decisions motivated by money for one or more parties in each one. Whether or not any of these are the true scenario, it's still fine to make a decision for money if you are not going to be worse off. It is actually the rational thing to do.
Not that strange imo. That is how capitalist society works. He has a job, and he wants to go where he can maximise one of a number of objectives, which have been prioritised in his head. As mentioned in a previous reply, some of those priorities couldn't be achieved or weren't on offer (European football isn't yet available, but maybe will be; playing alongside Jack Grealish is not available), but some - one of which was more money - probably were. Playing the same game in the same league but for lots more money was in all likelihood a motivation. Not saying there's no exceptions - there will be millions - but saying people are motivated by money isn't too outlandish a claim. Otherwise all jobs would be paid the same. Not a very romantic view of football, and not how I think of football on a daily basis either - my own responses are much more emotional - but I just wanted to point out in the scheme of things, football is a job and he has decided to go and get paid better elsewhere - as Ronald Koeman did when he left for Everton, for example - at a club of basically the same level, and I don't think we can really judge players too harshly for that (unless they're complete mercenaries or don't give us their best efforts on the pitch). It's all really a tangled emotional knot - we all judged and hated Dejan and Adam for going to Liverpool, and they achieved what they all wanted there (CL and PL titles) - that can be seen as following ambition rather than money. I somehow feel quite positive about Mane and VVD, even though they did the same, yet I can't stand Adam or Dejan. Mane did seem quite mercenary too, but was clearly an amazing player and quite honest about his ambitions, so I perceived him as deserving. Adam was still kissing the badge on his chest before he left, and Dejan I saw as us having saved his career, so felt he owed us more. VVD was quite clearly the best defender in the PL, but Adam and Dejan were in my view getting ideas above their station. I feel completely differently about players who essentially all did the same thing. And equally, I am happy for Ings to make his own decisions, whatever the motivation, and I feel positive towards him.
I don't think we sell JWP this summer even if someone offered silly money like £40m/50m. He has a long contract, value only going to increase and would very likely not kick up a fuss if we asked for one more year. Look at Grealish, his value last year was probably £40m/£50m but he gave them 1 more year and ended up going for double.
But if they offer Saints £40-£45M I can see that being accepted! In my opinion it should be £65-£70M.
Surely if they are buying to get into Europe then £50/60 mil would be on the cards for Jwp. I can’t see Saints being tempted to rid for much less.
Not sure about this one... Guardian report was a throwaway line in their story about Ings moving to Villa. "Southampton concluded the bid for Ings was too good to turn down but are adamant that James Ward-Prowse, for whom Leicester have made an offer, will not be sold." I know it is a bit cliché to bash the Guardian for their mistakes, but it is entirely possible they meant Villa rather than Leicester. Regardless, they also say we are adamant that he won't be sold. Non-story in my opinion. Until he goes for £40m. Then it is meltdown o'clock.
If we sell JWP for £40-45m then it’s time to burn St Mary’s down. He is probably worth £50m in his own right, but then add his actual value to Saints and the damage his sale could do (as it would be a complete gamble given our transfer record) then it becomes £70m+ to me.
I think Semmens is aware he can't authorise a sale for JWP this summer for the simple reason that the odds of relegation would be slashed in half. He's simply too valuable to sell with 4 years left on his contract.
No chance we accept 45mill for him this window. If we need funds, there's far more chance we sell Vestergaard.
A few years back the top 4 were trying to rip us apart mainly in the form of liverpool. Now the mid to upper mid table teams west ham leicester villa are trying. Shows how susceptible we are at the moment without any investment. Lets hope jwp's head doesnt get turned.
A real shame because a few years ago we were part of that waiting pack behind the then "top 6". The Adkins, Poch & koeman years really were great.
If a half decent offer comes in for Vestergaard I think we sell him this summer too, but don't think we sell JWP this summer unless a really stupidly high bid comes in.
