It really is ridiculous what is happening there. I can't think of a recent precedent of a team who has done well and then just had the guts ripped out of it like they have and it might not be finished yet. Though I'm sure I'm just not remembering it happening before. It's making the Harry/King/Modric/Bale/VDV exodus look like a bit of light Spring cleaning. Certainly expect it to affect Saints more negatively than it did us (sort of - though the gap between 4th and 6th might be just as far as 8th and wherever the Hell Saints might find themselves next year).
The Saints have hit a "perfect storm" of misfortune. First off they have owners who look like they will ditch at the first vaguely decent financial offer. Then partly because of that instability + offers from bigger clubs, the manager and players who gave them such a good season in 2013/14 are leaving. They don't deserve that.
Much will depend on their owners and their vision, as lets not feel too sorry for Saints, as to finish as the best club outside the big 7 doesn't take much investment, there is no reason they can't match their top 8 finish in the next two years if they make the right signings as they have sold Shaw, Lallana, Lovren and Lambert for near to 80 million and Chambers may go for 16 million, so close to 100 million. If the money is invested wisely then they can build a good team. But do their owners want to invest and build a new team, or are they looking to make proift and move on? that isn't clear yet. They still have youngsters who can come in and replace players, Clyne is a decent right back, Ward Prowse is still there. 4 key signings and they can build again. Just concern is Koeman nearly relegated a team that had Silva, Mata and Villa so he could be a train wreck if he isn't up to premier league management.
Their owner is a girl who inherited daddys' club and appears to have decided she'd rather have the money. A cautionary tale if Oligarsky croaks it and any of his wives/daughters end up owning Chelsky.
My boss is a Saints fan and is rightly upset at all the departures, but thinks that Koeman will get in decent replacements. However a season of re-assembling is more likely and a bottom half scrap looking over their shoulders at the trapdoor.
I don't see what half decent player will want to move there after watching them sell the whole first team
A young one who wants to play for the likes of Utd or Arsenal? Playing for Koeman might be enough for some - perhaps he will raid the Dutch league who want to come to England.
If Saints go down then they have no1 blame but themselves. Selling Shaw and Lallana is understandable and you could argue that letting Lambert joining his home town club was unavoidable too but to be selling Lovren and Chambers too is ridiculous. Yes they have got decent money for them but they will lose more than all that if they get relegated as there is such a financial different between playing in the PL and the Championship. I feel for their fans.
Yeah I think the Eredivisie is their best bet to find talent who are of equal or near equal talent to what they sold, though naturally it's also a huge risk if the players don't (and some likely won't) adapt immediately. They've already raided the Eredivisie for Tadic and Pelle, two of the league's best last season. Players like de Vrij (a player I'd have here to be honest), Wijnaldum, Willems, Clasie are all good players who I think Soton could attract to the club - though may have to be generous with wages towards a couple - and all of those can become arguably as good as the players they've sold or at least reach a respectable level if given time.
Exactly. They can buy similarly skilled players for less money provided they can pull off the trick of integrating them into the team
Koeman using the Eredivisie would make sense. We know Ajax academy players have the basic playing competence expected. And less of a culture shock IMHO (language, climate etc) than going to a southern Med nation. And no doubt financial expectations would be satisfied too.
Koeman has to do what Laudrup done at Swansea. Laudrup signed a bunch of players that came in and done a job straight away, finding a star in Michu and the superbly named Chico. They have already started by signing Pele!
I was looking for the tottenham hotspur transfer window thread. Could anyone be kind enough to point me in the right direction ?
Well the media are claiming that we're on the verge of signing Schneiderlin and Rodriguez, so you're nearly in the right place, Rob! No talk of fees yet, so it all seems a bit vague to me. Not sure how much of an upgrade either would be on what we've already got, either.
I agree, I think what we have is as good and possibly even better but someone on my Twitter made a valid point that Poch knows and trusts these players and therefore I think it's quite pivotal for Poch not only to be backed in the market but to be backed for the players he really does want, both "Jay rod" and Schneiderlin excelled under him so if he feels that they can make a valid contribution and improvement on the squad then I trust his judgement. A shame though as it will spell the end for at least 1 midfielder (likely Sandro ), possibly 2 (Dembele?) and also one of our wingers (Chadli/ Lennon/ Townsend) as I don't think Jay rod will be signed as an out-an-out striker to compete with Ade, Soldado and Kane.
Rumours saying the deal for the pair will be around £28m-£30m, which is quite weird seeing as just the other day Soton were saying Schneiderlin wouldn't go for anything less than £27m himself... Unless Levy has pulled off a superb coup and got Rodriguez for a mil!? Lol. Seriously speaking though I think circa £30m for the pair is about right as I'd value both around the £15m mark each, Schneiderlin is solid if not spectacular and Rodriguez enjoyed a great season last year though done little in his first.
Which means in reality that these dickheads on TWITter are spouting their usual bulls**t about being ITK. Any chance they see to pounce on a rumour and they take it. We aren't signing either player and certainty not at the fees being quoted!
Only the fee's are being guessed Bossman, both are looking very likely to sign mate: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28534458
