Summer 2014 Transfer rumour thread

I think if we still managed to hold on to Adam we could do some work to repel the "selling club" label. If we lose him, Shaw and Morgan then it's an awful statement from the board, but just a one off £30m for Shaw deal (which is ridiculous money) wouldn't exactly be the end of it. If we're not going to be getting rid of the likes of Lallana and Schneiderlin then we should probably make a big song and dance about it to send out a message that we aren't a selling club, but that doesn't mean we won't capitalise on good deals.

 

If the reported £30m is true then that's not a 'few quid', that's genuine team-improving money. One player out doesn't equal selling club. Are Spurs a selling club for selling Bale? Arsenal for selling Fabregas? Sometimes players do move to better their careers and it doesn't mean everyone is going to leave. If we use that money wisely then it will be worthwhile. I'm not saying we will, but there's potential for good business here, in my opinion.

 

Selling Shaw means that the club would have weakened stupidly. To state the obvious, you now have a position to fill, previously occupied by a player who is becoming world class. Strengthening intelligently means that an equal player or players of similar potential has been located for less money. Now unless Targett is that player, it is unlikely Saints would find one. Other clubs aren't silly. If Saints come sniffing, they know they have talent in their squad. Shaw attracts other players of similar quality and age. He is more than the sum of his parts. At present, he represents the very core of what is happening at Southampton FC. Produce excellent young players, play them and keep them in a team of proper ambition**. And that is very attractive to young talented players.

**That little bit I need to be reassured about still. The action that SFC takes this summer will say a great deal about the direction the club intends to move in. Selling a player like Shaw would not be a reassurance for me.

 

I obviously didn't mean we'd strengthening the left-back spot by selling Shaw, I meant strengthening elsewhere. In my opinion sacrificing Shaw for a few better players elsewhere wouldn't be the end of the world, or devalue the club status. Of course that's no guarantee but it's possible Mauricio can find those players.

 

TBH (and I think Shaw is great) £30m is crazy money for a full back that can't get more than 10% of crosses into the danger area and who doesn't score goals. If Baines were 18 he would be worth £100m by that valuation. I think it's good business TBH and maybe Targett can cross better (and we know he can)

 

Arsenal have been a selling club for the past few years, yes. Not just for selling Fabregas, for selling Nasri, Clichy, Song, van Persie... how long have you got?

We haven't really sold anyone apart from Oxlade-Chamberlain since administration, but we're still finding that tag difficult to shift, and it's not going to go away if we sell Shaw.

 

One game of poor crosses and now he's a poor crosser.

 

If we were to sell three of our main valuable assets (Shaw, Lallana, Rodriguez, Schneiderlin, Lovren, Chambers) then I think we can wave goodbye to any realistic hopes of getting past 7th or 8th without the greatest recruitment drive in history. As long as we don't slip back to being perennial relegation battlers I won't be too gutted with just being a solid mid table team with a very good academy.

 

Yeah, Arsenal was a poor comparison actually

I do agree with you that it would be better to keep Shaw, I'm not saying we should sell him. And, without wanting to repeat myself, I just feel it wouldn't be the end of the world if we used the funds in the right way*. That's my opinion and I feel now we're just going round in circles, so let's agree to disagree.

Edit: *So long as we keep everyone else, I'm working on the assumption that Shaw is the only exit.

 

I disagree, he has the potential to become world class but in this moment in time Shaw is a good solid left back. If 30mil was offered then I would accept because I think if Shaw was 27 then he wouldn't be worth above 10 million at his current level. As Mr Saintly said, I would be happy for this if we invest the money intelligently. This is all hypothetical anyways.

I wouldn't want more than one of our star players to leave though, if they do I will looking at next season with pessimism.

 

But Shaw isn't 27...

 

Correct.

 

I Would sell Shaw for 30m in a heartbeat. He's a potentially brilliant player but at this stage it is just potential and providing we kept the others and reinvested the 30m i believe we'd be in a stronger position next season.

 

More likely JWP (best mate and voice of reason) told him how it could be interpreted.


Or he has just wrestled his phone off a mate.

 

I've dug up the original plan for the Mexico trip, as I think it may be back on the table.

http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/162652-Saint-Gaston!/page60?highlight=mexico

 

His crossing has always been pretty awful. If he can get it to a decent standard he actually might be worth £30m.

 

This is bigger than Mexico

 

If we get more than £20m for Shaw there can't be many complaints. As has been said before, he has *potential* to be world class & considering the world record for a full back is £28m, that's much more of a punt for buyer than seller. Can't begrudge any player wanting to go to a club more likely to offer champs league on triple pay...

Also, shaw is 'only' a left back. Losing lallana who is our captain and central to the majority of our forward play for around the same money would be much harder to take

 

People faking Chambers on facebook saying Pochettino is leaving. How ****ing sad.

 

When you can go past a full back simply by deciding that you are going past them and that's the end of it, you cause all manner of chaos and opportunities in the box regardless of your final ball. That's what Bale could do when he was a pup with us and it's already one of the things that Shaw can do. That's why he's a £30m player minimum. As for whether he or any other of our prized assets move on, what if they simply want to? Contracts are worth hee haw these days and to use Morgan as an example he's arguably been one of the finest midfielders in one of the finest leagues in the world for two years yet hasn't got a sniff of the French squad. Would your head be turned by Arsenal/Utd now? If one, two or three left, it would say more about the individuals' ambitions than our own board's.