I certainly didn't mind either. PTF did the best job at calming other people down, but there were a few of us who didn't go into meltdown.
I was devastated...loved Nigel. Thought Nicola had lost the plot. However, I certainly didn't want to antagonise Nicola (who I considered essential), so prepared to wait and see. Helped that Mauricio was easy on the eyes....girls can be shallow too . That Everton game was like a revelation...how we didn't win 4-0, I will never know. Mind you, Mauricio should have taken that as a warning of what was to come.
Putting sentimentality aside - would losing Adam and Luke be the end of the world? Having read this forum all year most peoples opinion has been that yes we have a great first 11 but no back-up so when someones injured our form drops off dramatically. Assuming any sales money would be re-invested, selling Luke for 30m would buy 2 very good left backs, selling Adam for 30m would buy 2 very good forwards / attacking midfielders. We've never spent that much money on one player! Any great players will go to the giants of football end of. Instead of a decimated team we will have a great team with great back-up!
+ a good back-up keeper http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/topics/southampton-to-hold-talks-with-sunderland-goalkeeper
Looks like an ugly Dejan. I think what we need is news of a player coming in....anybody would do, just so we have something to talk about other than transfers out.
You also said "P.s. Should we lose Nigel and get a foreign manager, can he at least speak English? Mancini drives me mad for one". Crystal ball or what?
Ah, but didn't know about the beloved David who is leaving us Turned out that it is better to have a translator than to have someone stumble through English.
My comment on Pochs appointment = "I am a Southampton supporter I will support them whatever, I loved Nigel, but have to back the new guy unless he proves that he isn't what we want." Has he proved the point yet?
I agree with Dan that some of us did not go off the deep end when Nigel was fired. When I re-read the thread concerned, there was no panic from me certainly. I always take the view that I don't know all the particulars and what was said, by whom, etc. the same applies if, say, Luke is sold. No panic, just wait and see how it all pans out. I also take the present regime at face value. They say no firesale. That's good enough for me at present.
I suppose when considering how MC might deal with situation of a player leaving we should remember the Puncheon situation. Try telling him that contracts aren't worth the paper that they are printed on! I can't imagine any of our players doing a Kenwyne Jones and they didn't cost us anything really. NC may have simply said no to all enquiries, but isn't that what Les Reed stated anyway?
I think all the nicey nicey stuff is a mask for his one and only intent with this interview which is: If I was still at Southampton no players would leave.' Trouble is if someone does leave then it will be a 'This wouldn't have happened under Cortese' but how does anyone know that. They would probably still have left no matter what he is saying here. It's purely an ego thing with him saying 'I am better at this than them' and 'When I said something and people took notice'. The only plus I get is if his 'spin' actually makes Shaw, Lallana and Poch stay. I doubt that though. They are either staying or going no matter who the board / Chairman is.
Cortese may have rubbished all phone calls etc about players, but what if Man United came calling with £30 million and Shaw asked if he could leave? Didn't Chamberlain do the exact same thing? And off he went. It's all well and good being able to talk the talk when you're not in charge any more, but with the success of our young squad this year Cortese would of found it alot tougher to keep the squad together then he thinks imo.
I don't necessarily agree. Both Lallana and Shaw made pleas through the media as the end of the season approached that the board would need to match the ambition of the players and coaching staff to keep the team together. A couple weeks later, it appears that one or both are off. There are really only two possible ways one gets from point A to B there; either they weren't terribly honest in those proclamations, or the board isn't doing a particularly good job of reassuring anyone about their intentions.
If they go, I'm going with "they weren't terribly honest in those proclamations." Seriously. It's been two weeks. Supposedly Lallana asked out before the season even finished. Did they expect a massive transfer in already? What exactly was the board supposed to show them in terms of ambition? "Match my ambition" means "I want a new contract." It has nothing to do with board intentions, other than their intent to give the player in question loads more money.
It's not that simple. I'm pretty sure Fonte has said the same thing about ambition that Shaw and Lallana did and he's not been linked with a move. In fact, he's one of the most likely to lose his place!
Of course Fonte says it. Everyone says it. Who doesn't want a raise? They'd all love the club to match their ambition, but you know what? They can't worry about it. They're just going to go out and focus on their game and give 100% and see how things work out. There's no reason the team can't win if a few things go their way.
