So, based on that, is there a top team, in the Premier League, that would want him next season, or will he need to lower his own expectations and/or move abroad? (Or sign the new contract?)
Yes. Which isn't to say that they don't have to take it into consideration (having our ability to comply relying on player sales would be problematic), but there's absolutely no chance that our ability to sign players this year or last is/was in any way hindered.
Arsenal are reportedly signing Elneny from Basel, considerably cheaper as well (which would suit Wenger) so that door may now be closing. Spurs, IMO, would only need him as a backup player now, as their current midfield players are more versatile than Vic.
When? This month or the summer? We expect him to go in the summer due to his contract running out and us having no chance of getting his agent to accept our new offer
But then he has to get it. Vic isn't mobile enough for any of the top teams IMPO. Notwithstanding football is mad and so no logic applies, Victor is no 120k a week player and is currently playing like a 12k a week player. If he wants the money he has to produce. There still seems to be a lot of knee-jerk going on here. Lets see what happens in our next 3 games. Watershed moment in this season.
Ah, well that's different then Your picture offers some help here, If Mane goes we should sign Idris Elba, he could win us games just by being that cool. Mrs S would be very happy too
I'm fine with that, last year of contract, plenty of time to source a replacement and a small profit on sale Additionally if he doesn't perk his ideas up, we won't overly miss him especially if we play more of Romeo and Harrison in the mean time
I know that Blogs like HITC are not a reliable source of information but they are reporting that Bayern are sniffing around Mane, is it purely my opinion having watched him for a couple of seasons, but I don't think he is anywhere good enough for top European rated clubs? My views are backed up by the stats too......are these big clubs really seeing something I am not. In a poor Saints team he is exciting, fast and direct but with little end product
I would go as far as to say that in recent games Mane has been positively poor. I know that he always has looked disinterested during games before suddenly exploding into action, but recently he's being doing the disinterested bit without the exploding bit. He has the ability to be something special. When he puts his mind into it he is virtually unplayable and last season, at least he would track back and do his bit defensively too. Right now though I'm just not seeing it. Maybe his head is elsewhere.........
For what its worth my view at the moment is that it would not be a huge loss if we sold both Mane and Wanyama, given the way they are playing (Wanyama v Arsenal aside). BUT - only if we spend the money on proper replacements and only if we can put a positive spin on the situation so that it doesn't look like us not being able to hold on to our best players. Both these are critical, a) because we need decent players to win matches (obvious); and b) we have to send out the right messages to the remaining players. Who knows, maybe the other players would actually be glad to see the back of them.
Id actually be inclined to agree with you on this one, Mane is currently and hasnt recently been bang in form in front of goal and doesnt add a lot else rather than a threat of the unknown. Vic has been running hot and cold and his overall efforts are lukewarm at best-not scoring for over a year and his efforts potentially being one of the things that are upsetting the balance of the team. We have options currently, not loads granted, but with the money in our back pockets, we have options as well. I agree too about the statement from the club to go with the potential sales. Although the standard line has been trotted out before, we need to make it clear that we are not a club that accepts players that will only play for a season. I accept we are a stepping stone club currently, but a message like this would help in attracting potential but also send a message to the youngsters that their paths are not going to be blocked unnecessarily.
Am also happy with that, but the problem with this model now seems to be the accelerated turnaround and the impact on the team. Mane has barely been here a season and a half; Lovren was only one season - and if every spell here is going to end this acrimoniously, unsettling the team, and sending results into a downward spiral, it is really bad news for the club. A single player cannot, at all these bi-seasonal critical junctures, be allowed to effectively down tools, unsettle everyone, and affect results. We have two or three of these per season, and I'd say the black box should stop signing these types of players if this is the outcome.
Agree - it will set a massive precedent - that Saints are not only a selling club in the summer, but also in mid-season too. We won't lose any money on either player by not selling now, so they need to start playing or face getting cut from the shop window display. An apt metaphor, as both seem to have the brains, manners, and team ethic of a mannequin, if the rumours are true.
