Summer 2013 Transfer Rumour Thread - Mk4

Good old Sky Sports.

"We don't actually have any big transfer news but instead of telling you what the other clubs are up to, we'll just keep reporting on Bale and Rooney turning up for training..."

 

Has that appeared in print, been spoken by an announcer, or invented by you..?

 

Have a guess.

 

Can't understand why Billy Sharp was shipped out so quickly last season and being cast into the abyss this pre-season.

He still has the attributes that no other player on the Saints fringes or youth team have, being a magnet for the ball in the box. Seager & Sinclair are probably the nearest to achieving that, but probably too early to have them near the Saints 1st team bench.

I'd have no qualms about having Billy on the bench, but sadly I feel he's had his bridges burnt at Saints and I'm not sure the club is helping him either stay or find a new club. Said a few weeks ago that a couple of players were fed up of hearing nothing from the club about their future when they knew via their agents that other clubs were interested, Billy was one of these, Deano the other. Both in limbo, when they deserve a bit more respect from SFC.

 

Agree CBK. Fine if they are not wanted now but they deserve to be treated with respect.

 

100% agree. Without both Deano and Billy we probably wouldn't have got promoted. They deserve to be treated with respect, even if they have no future here.

 

If we don't sign anyone else and if he's prepared to sit on the bench I think Sharp is capable of playing a (relatively small) role for us this season.

If we don't want him at all then it's in the club's interests to be fairly proactive in trying to get rid of him.

 

Sigh, are we still on this one? Billy was a good goal poacher in the NPC but the general consensus is that he just doesn't have what it takes at this level. As mentioned elsewhere getting scrapped opportunistic goals is considerably easier in the NPC than the prem. We play with 1 striker and he won't displace SRL. He is too slow, not good enough in the air and not particularly good with the ball at his feet. So where would he fit in? I would also question whether he has the endurance to play the high pressing game. We need the subs to replace knackered mids and unfortunately I don't think Billy + sub + dying minutes of game = goals. Im sure MP and the board have considered this and I trust their judgement.

Lets not forget he only joined us when promotion looked a dead certain not at the start of the season, would he have come to us to stay in the NPC? Also how many high scoring championship strikers have the same success at the highest level?

I did feel bad for him initially but he has had a season for reality to kick in and should be looking for a good NPC team to continue his career with, not whining about being left out of pre-season.

 

I wouldn't exactly say we haven't treated them with disrespect, its a results driven business. Just because they played well at a lower level it does not mean they have a god given right to play in the prem. It may seem unfair but the old addage "you need one team to get to the premiership and another to stay there" is in part true. If the first team coach does not think they are up to it then it is their decision. They take the fall if it goes wrong. Would you rather stick with the sameteam ando down? Would you rather see Billy bundle half chances, miss penalties and win nothing in the air?

 

What we all need is some actual transfer rumours

 

Yes I do think our first 11 is top6 quality. Your argument is not valid against my argument though. Last year we finished 14th but we didn't play our best 11 (or 9+wanyama/Lovren.)

I am saying our first 11 is capable of Top6. So a team that played Fox in half the games along with Fonte, Hooiveld, Davis for a large amount of games could never challenge top6.

I do think we could've done better than 14th though.

 

Not saints related, but heard from someone reliable that villa have net nuremburgs release clause for kiyotake

 

I apologise for stating an opinion that may have been discussed exhaustively in the past without me being aware of it.

Where is he "whining"? I think he's been remarkably restrained.

It's his life & profession and he'd quite like to know whats going on with it. He's been told he's not wanted here, so I'm sure he accepted that as its part of the business of being a footballer. Trouble is, that was 6 weeks ago and nothing has happened in the meantime. I very much doubt its because no clubs have enquired or offered, so are Saints dragging their feet?

He's within his rights to speak pubically about it, partly because I'm sure he's frustrated, plus if it gets in the media, doesn't harm reminding a few clubs that he's available.

As for his first team opportunities, considering the squad we have, if I was wanting a goal with 15mins to go, I'd rather have Billy on the bench than Makuka or Guly for that role.

 

Mayuka Wigan rumour is now in the Daily Star. Must be true then

 

I agree with you but I would love it - just love it - if Billy proved us all wrong and fought his way back into the side

 

On another matter, we are now linked with Seydou Doumbia (CSKA Moscow)

 

Source?

 

Won me the 2017 African Cup.

 

I think we ended up closer to relegation than eighth though, and I won't expect to beat all of Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City either. Mind you I wouldn't expect to be beaten by teams in relagation position

 

Rele candidates are typically who we lose to.