Premier League Thread

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...tml?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Martin Samuel caught a fair bit of flak from that piece he wrote a few days ago it seems.

Personally that first article wasn't in any attacking or negative towards the saints. It was redundant however as his point basically was 'Saints would struggle if they keep having transfer windows like the last one' which to me seems rather obvious.

 

And he was right when he said that fans were running scared when our players were being sold...it is only in retrospect that we are supporting the board and owner. His article was pointing out that we can't rely on a good outcome every time, but I don't think this will happen again. Saints got a fright this time...I can't see the board thinking that this is a good way to run a football club. From now on, I'm sure we will return to 1-2 out, 1-2 in.

 

I don't think anyone would argue with what Samuel was saying in terms of FFP nor a practice of selling every season. It was purely the way he insinuated that it was the board's plan all along and that they planned to continue in that vein that is the most disagreeable part.

yes we did need to sell. we were close to hitting the FFP barrier and were faced with not being able to increase wages to keep players as well as having to linger on with a small squad. Thats why this summer happened and it should be a one off.

As for the Sugar Daddy comments regarding Liebherr. lol. Adkins got us to the Prem sepnding net £3m. Is that buying your way to the Prem?

What Martin Samuel needs to get into his head is that the board aren't thinking this at all. They did not plan this and it is not a policy however when you are faced with player mutiny and the FFP limit they had to deal with the problem and they have done well. Yes it is due to FFP but to suggest the board have this plan to sell season on season (in any way more than other clubs do) then he is way off the mark. This summer was a one off that has been dealt with very well.

p.s. Targett is a Saints fan and will stay

 

Van Gaal says United have only one fit CB for West Ham match. Shame. Should have spent more on defence, shouldn't he?

 

Also, part of Samuel's point was that Saints were seemingly willing to part with these players as if it was a preferred option. If Southampton FC had their preference, I'm sure every single key player, with the possible exception of Lambert, would still be at the club. The difference between the so-called fire-sale and the so-called exodus, is that the former is led by the club, and the latter is led by the players involved. There eventually came the point where Schneiderlin said that he wanted to leave, simply because even he thought by then that Saints were giving up on their ambitions, but that he wanted to do it with respect and dignity, and that he would not force a move. Lallana, Lovren and Chambers all forced their moves by various means. Shaw went because £31.5M is stupid money for a LB who clearly isn't worth that yet [and SFC aren't idiots], and Lambert went because his star was on the wane. That scenario, even now, seems to be ignored by Samuel and the rest of the newspaper vultures.

The fact that Morgan has said categorically, that he is now fully focussed on playing for Southampton, in what seems to be until Southampton FC and him decide that it's time for a mutual parting [I question whether he'll sign an extension of his contract], appears to be neither here nor there within the media rags. Apparently, Arsenal have to challenge Spurs for his signature in January, we're told [in other articles]. It's still not about him being a Saints player, or if he might possibly leave in the distant future, it's about which London club he will sign for in a few months time. This is gross arrogance beyond belief. It's no wonder Saints supporters get annoyed. The media practically sells Saints players before a ball has been kicked. No doubt Tadic, Pelle and Mane have all been earmarked by the top clubs and that they'll be gone by January also, no doubt with the willing assistance of SFC, where they'll just find some other fabulous unknowns and/or unearth another gem or two from the Academy.

Either Martin Samuel and his colleagues in media have secret insight and information into Southampton FC, that none of the club's supporters are party too, or they haven't been taking a blind bit of notice to what has actually been happening and who the motivators are behind all the moves and ambitions. Regrettably it seems Saints could be hamstrung by FFP, when they actually have an owner who could have decided to buy success if she fancied, but they are doing it the right way instead. No new rules need be written for them [unlike Man City] because there is a way through the mine-field providing a club is clever enough and managed well enough. And some of the media are intelligent enough to realise this.

 

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/9489418/wenger:-tottenham-game-is-special

At 5:00, Mr Wenger says something I never thought I'd hear.

 

I tried to listen to that, but something went wrong with the video link. All that happened was Wenger saying "Southampton have to be considered one of the top teams in the Premier League"

I'll try again later when my speakers are fixed

 

That's exactly what he said. So, after his... they are miracle workers at Southampton... statement earlier in the week, I guess we have an admirer.

 

and I thought there must have been something wrong with my PC

 

"one of"

Such a backhanded compliment!

 

Wenger has often paid us compliments...the greatest of which is taking our players I think he sees us as playing like his own team.

 

I think he could spare that kind of compliment.

 

Mike Ashley is quoted, by The Independent, as saying...

"If we lose on Monday, Pardew is gone. I've had enough. He's dead. Finished."


His lawyers insist it was just a joke...

 

Pardew will never need to work again.

 

Yes Barry! Crunch that twat.

 

That should have been a penalty, and Barry should be off.

 

Both teams should have had a penalty IMO.

 

Howard denies Lallana with great save.

 

Did you see today's interview with Twatbeard in The Guardian? Likely to make you dislike him more - http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/sep/26/liverpool-everton-adam-lallana-merseyside-derby

 

So close to an own goal!