Abso...bloody...lutely! How can anyone not see this as a priority? We are one broken finger from Gazza playing half a season....I'm going for a lie down!
I'm not claiming to know better than the board, but here's some ideas: you're being naive if you can't see that these deals (Lallana & Shaw) have been in the pipeline for months. With the knowledge of these two massive departures, why was Lambert allowed to leave for sentimental reasons? Dejan's transfer request could also be publically rejected as a statement of intent. (Even if he still leaves we would still be seen as stronger by making the player the fall guy). We just seem to have portrayed an image of being bent over at every turn, and public opinion plays quite a big role in the calibre of players we will attract. I am patient and will wait and see what happens, but I definitely think people are right to question some of their decisions. When you spend as much money as I have following the club, I am allowed to have a vent when they take such massive gamble.
Well if we are playing a team full of gay players we may be ok with Gazza in goal. He can put his looks to good use.
I'm being naive? When I was saying about Shaw and Lallana leaving months ago. Look in the transfer threads me and DTLW and SaintJoey were getting moaned at for saying it. A few of you just go all depressed and negative as **** so can't see anything can come good out of it.
Usually it is the clubs that get relegated who tend to leave in the volume that is being predicted. (Assuming Lovren and Morgan both get sold.) I like the idea of capturing Ings from Burnley but just hope that the kind of players we bring fit the "Southampton" model as opposed to being risky buys who are likely to throw their rattle out of the pram. We don't want any more Osvaldos even if he was technically very talented.
I'm still over the moon that we seem to have secured Ramires from Chelsea going by Ian's last few posts. Delighted about that, quality addition to midfield to replace Morgan.........
I agree with this post 100% and it sums up my opinion of what is going on. The fate of the club was ensured as soon as Cortese was packed off and the whole house of cards was allowed to tumble down when, had he been still at the helm, we wouldn't have been talking about these three players being allowed to leave but who would be added to the squad to replace those who had disappointed and who would be the next reserve player to break in to the full squad. The current board has proved niave and whilst we will never match either of the Manchester CLub or the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal, I felt we had acquired a culture that did not necessary kow-tow to the bids from the so-called bigger clubs. Under Cortese I couldn't have seen us yo-yoing between the Championship and EPL as he was confident enough to make controversial decisions that were in the club's best interest.
Apologies for that and the Gallagher error. Odd how everyone tries to avoid using Morgan's surname on this board too!!
It's not a problem Ian - I think we have greater issues to consider than erratic spelling. It just tickled me that the incorrect spelling was affording us an entirely different, rather superior player. Oh were that it were true......
I think the problems at QPR & Spurs stemmed from the squads being too big. QPR had a team which got them promoted and then went and bought a whole new side on huge wages(mercenaries) and the manager struggled to pick a first choice XI. Spurs sold one player and got in six and didn't seem to think about how they would play together and a lot of them all wanted to play in the same position. Even if we buy 8 players they're all going to be in and around the 1st team picture. It's still going to be tough to gel the players and we know every transfer is unlikely to work out, but If we plan who we want to bring in and Ronald has an idea as to how each player will fit then we stand a better chance than the QPR example
It's not true they can't do anything. They can say to the player 'Listen, you're not leaving and that's final. So you can either get on with your business or you can rot in the reserves for next couple of years, see if we care.' A player might try to force a move, but if the board stand firm, the player will eventually accept the situation. I remember Modrić refused to train whe Levy wouldn't let him leave for Madrid, but he eventually caved and rejoined the team (He was transfered the next year). And other players would see there's no messing aroung with the board guys.
If you can get a good deal for a player that doesn't want to be here you get it. You can't take the risk that players will just get on with their job if they don't get their way. Shaw was a great deal for us, Lallana will be a good deal for a player that started bitching about moving. Lovren if he continues will be the same as Lovren and Morgan has already started to hint at wanting his way.
And you can risk selling the spine of your team? Ok, I can accept we sold Lambert for sentimental reasons. Lallana and Shaw were indeed great deals. But that's more than enough. Selling anyone else is a huge gamble, the way I see it. You'll have to replace the main players, the ones who made the difference last season, with new players who may or may not be successful (look at Osvaldo and Gaston, that's 25M for a very slight contribution on the pitch). These new player will be expected to make an immediate impact on the team, they won't have time to adapt to new surroundings, new team and different style of football in the EPL. If they end up struggling to adapt, you're in serious trouble. No Lambert and Lallana to save you. This is not a pesimistic view, it's a rather realistic possibility. So we already sold three important players. We're making a risk selling more of them. The board should try to reason with Lovren and Schneiderlin and for instance, say 'Sorry, Schniederlin and Lovren, you have to stay. We're pulling the plug on every outgoing transfer. We're already lost three important player and we cannot afford to risk losing you. We can make a deal, stay another season and then we'll let you go if you really want'.
All three sales have been for decent money and it's likely we're going to double our money on Lovren. Schneiderlin has made comments in the media but I have not seen a strong rumour of any genuine interest yet and no offers mooted. I would prefer the club to stay firm on these two(even if it means promising moves next season) as we have plenty to change upfront
As I said how do you know we haven't said that? And yet the players still moan? You can not have a disruptive player around a dressing room that needs rebuilding. I'm not saying it isn't a gamble I am saying in most cases it is the right thing to do. You can not keep disruptive players here that can cause even more unsettling crap. We have had that when Cortese left with Pochettino. We then had it when Pochettino left. There comes a time when you have to think **** it, it's worth a risk to get rid of the unhappy disruptive players and start with a clean slate and bring in players that want to be here. It's a risk but worth a try.
