Phil Thompson was really saying that you have to do the best deal for the club. In the past he's spoken almost as if we had no hope of keeping them...now it's more talking as if Saints will choose to sell players for the good of the club. It may well happen that Cortese will choose to sell a player that fans love in order to buy a player or players that the manager feels we need. It is a business after all.
Luke Shaw in today's programme: "I think people are starting to realise what sort of club Southampton is. We want to go places in next couple of years." "I've signed a contract at Southampton and I'm not even thinking about moving."
Bob Mills on Fighting Talk on 5Live this morning compared Southampton to a covers band as our style was imitative rather than the real thing. Christian O'Connell the presenter was so outraged he docked all his points. I imagine Christian, hailing from Winchester as he does, might just have a bit of a soft spot for Saints.
SAINTS: Boruc; Clyne, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw; Wanyama, Schneiderlin; Ward-Prowse, Lallana, Rodriguez; Lambert. BENCH: K. Davis, Chambers, Hooiveld, Cork, S. Davis, Osvaldo, Gallagher.
If Gaston hasn't left yet, the taxi is waiting. There may be a reason why he isn't picked today, but adding everything together his future is not promising at Saints.
Not particularly promising for Tadanari Lee either. All the best to Sam Gallagher though. Was very highly rated at Plymouth before his move to Saints, and has been impressive for us too.
Think most of us wanted Gaston to succeed...even though it looked a lost cause, may be talented, but he just doesn't fit. Nigel didn't use him much, but he had a chance to start afresh with Mauricio. I don't think he can play our pressing style or he doesn't want to...or perhaps he just isn't as good as other players at our club. May be better at another club.
I'm convinced Gaston has no future in Southampton. A good player, but somethimes things just don't work out. I like the lineup, hoping we could see a replay of the game against Fulham.
I consider that a spoiler Chilco! I have to listen to the podcast as my trade off for uninterrupted Saints time at the weekend is uninterrupted looking after my daughter at all other times!
I think Gaston lacks aggression and commitment, relative to the rest of the squad. He's a little too lightweight for Saints at this moment in time, and we don't play a style which suits his talent. You can't get every transfer right and his inability to perform doesn't make him a bad player. Obviously, the team will change styles from time to time, to suit the various oppositions in future, but you can't keep a player on the basis that maybe he'll suit Saints next season, or the season after. Either he adapts or I'm afraid Saints need to recoup some of their money.
