Fair enough. I wasn't aware of that. As DTLW says though, let's make judgements based on his performances ins Saints shirt.
Hi southamptonFCCroatia (imagine we may get more of you now), I will bow to your superior knowledge on this player as I am sure you have followed him way more than I have; infact I can only recall seeing him in a couple of games. My question is this though: is it really that nabs? Would a club like us spend 8.5m on someone who is going to potentially be a terrible signing? Pochettino was an international CB and seems to be good at spotting talent. I'm thinking (based on very little knowledge from watching him) that he could turn out to be a sensational signing. What we really need to make sure is that there is not a huge groan, the first time he makes a slight error. Please remember that even Messi makes mistakes.
He is only 24 and is still learning. CB's take longer to develop than strikers. He's one for the future. This lad, Forren, Maya, Clyne and Luke. A solid looking defence with the back up we have needed.
Probably would've. Fox wasn't exactly brilliant in the Championship. Bottom half Championship player who we could afford to carry because of his set pieces being very good.
We spent 12m on Ramirez, Around 4-5m each on Mayuka, Forren. We spent 6m on Rodriguez who is the only real silver lining on our big spending deals and that's based more on perceived potential rather than end product. we also spent big on Danny Fox in the championship. Since Pardew I don't think our spending habits have covered us with glory tbh. Clyne, Cork and Sharp have pretty much been the only unqualified successes at the respective levels we signed them.
Ramirez was a good value signing, even if it's just for the fact that we will easily be able to sell him for more than we bought him for.
are you an IFA? n.b. while he made a contribution in terms of goals scored, every year he contributes little, he's (a) keeping someone out of the team/squad and (b) costing us between 4 and 5 million pounds before NHI contributions. if we were to consider his contribution this season substandard, we need to get £16m for him before we're really on a profit. Next season £20m
Obviously the jury is still out on Forren (let's judge him when we've seen him in action) and Mayuka, but I've have seen enough of Ramirez to know that he will be a huge asset to us. As for Danny Fox, well he played enough of a part in our promotion (with assists) to have been worth the 2m we paid for him, obviously he is just back up now.
It's ironic that despite the PL being full of foreign quality, our best signings have all been from the UK. Although saying that, I have a feeling that Ramirez will finally come good next season and we'll be begging him to stay! On Lovren, even though Lyon fans don't rate him that much, he's only young and we aren't aiming to be in the CL... yet! I'm sure a lot of Man Utd fans don't rate Evra, but I wouldn't hesitate on buying him if he was available.
Ramirez has got the talent to do it. I'm not sure he's got the mentality to do it. The hissy fit at Bologna over the move and transparency over his motivation to join us give me no comfort. I'm with the Harding would have done as well bridgade. When he was asked to come back into the team mid season he was out of his depth, but I think he'd have coped better if he hadn't been discarded early on.
We're actually enormously fortunate to have stayed up given nearly all our signings turned out to be not ready yet. Davis, Clyne, and Boruc was it. Oh yeah and Maya eventually.
Is sotonist short for southampton pessimist? I want to slit my wrists now I realise what a pile of **** team I support!
I don't really think we can criticize our transfer policy. The money we spent, both in the Summer, and in the Winter transfer window was spent with the objective of keeping us in the Premier League whilst signing players with potential. Mission accomplished.
I think you're being a little short-sighted. Most signings aren't made with only the coming season in mind.
