Adam Blackmore on Twitter: "To answer 2 questions in one - I think a number of #saintsfc players will go, not because board are keen to sell, because they are unhappy" "As I've said previously those players are unhappy in their eyes at lack of communication & treatment from those above them" "it will come out in wash once we can talk properly about it & things aren't at sensitive stage" Asked if relationship with the board was repairable: "no, not with some of the players who've told me how angry they are" On new deals for Fonte and Cork: "no news on those new deals - that's part of group unhappiness - players not spoken to by end of season" When asked if Rickie was unhappy: "yes, denied move in Jan to W Ham on big money" Asked what the chances were of both Adam and Dejan going to Liverpool: "big" When someone suggested they go and speak to the powers that be: "if he let's you through the door & answers your calls .........." When someone said if Reed is the issue they need to go to Katharina/Krueger: "maybe they think they've tried & maybe you're right - bit this is a good honest bunch of lads who've never been a problem" What a mess... DTLW
Part of the reason why people are saying "Cortese was willing to sell Rickie to Wham in January" as a criticism has confused me. It was for a lot more money than we've managed to get, and also if he wanted to go.....well.....perhaps Nicola (correctly) thought it was time to move him on at that price and under those circumstances (and may have had a replacement in mind). I don't take that as a criticism. The above unfortunately rather rings true to me. It joins the dots anyhow.
Yes. And the lack of communicated direction from higher up/lack of trust in what's being said. Again though, let's wait and see.
Reed isn't popular with the players at all, never has been and probably never will be. They just have very little respect for him.
It really does seem like the players and the board are on completely different wave lengths. The board are dismissing talk of transfers away, without consulting the players themselves. It is concerning that so many seem to want away now, because like Adam Blackmore said there, they are a really good set of lads.
Yep. All of this matches up with what we've seen and heard coming from the club, and the assumptions we've made from that.. I know a lot of people distrust Blackmore, but it all makes perfect sense so I don't have any trouble disbelieving him.
If this is true, not even talking to players who are expecting new contract talks is beyond amateur. It is in fact the kind of thing that could not just rock the boat but capsize it.
Seems like he's a good behind-the-scenes right-hand-man for a good chairman, but probably not the guy you want running point alongside an empty suit like Krueger.
Cortese was unusually close with the players. But they liked Nicola, a lot. He was ambitious, ballsy and a bit flash - he appealed to them. Reed lacks the charisma and leadership of Cortese. Nicola was the boss and kept Reed in check, now who is? Erm, no one, seemingly. Krueger is wheeled out to talk every now and then, Gareth Rogers is CEO and we've heard hardly a peep and Katharina isn't in the country. That leaves Les, and the players simply cannot get on side with him.
well we've simply got nobody on the players' side now. cortese gone, the pochettino posse, and reed and hunter saw off the last of their allies in the U18s setup. kreuger apparently has failed to replace that.
Agreed. If Lambert leaving was the only thing that had happened this summer then, sad as it is, I don't think most would be concerned. It's the combination of rumours about player sales, comments from players that suggest they're unhappy, the departure of the manager and the apparent lack of real direction and leadership that are the real concerns. Lambert going is sad but is really just the trigger that's released the build up of discontent.
