A guy called Nick Brooke put this on facebook...I hope he doesn't mind me posting it here...because it is just plain common sense Relax peeps. So, we paid 3m for Austin 2 and a half years ago. During this time he scored 48 goals in 89 games. The club turned down 11m in the summer as they had ambition to get promoted back to the BPL at the expense of running his contract down. If we had of sold him in the summer most fans would be complaining we have no ambition to get back up. The club resisted and kept him allowing him to leave in the summer if he fired us up to the Premier League. Promotion worth in excess of 150m. Even if we had been promoted come May, lets be real, Charlie has outgrown us and has ambitions of playing for England. So........Instead of a testimonial remainder of the season for Charlie, as we look certain for mid table mediocricy, the club in my opinion have cashed in and taken what they can, making 1 million on him. (89 games service and 48 goals.) Lets move on. If we had been promoted this season I'm sure we would be saying what a great decision and strategy from the club. We have had Strikers before him and no doubt we'll have a new Striking hero soon. (Not sure if they're in the current crop of players mind !! ) We need to get back to playing our part especially at Loftus Rd, get behind the team and cheer as loud as you cam to make sure we achieve mid table. Even if you don't rate a currwnt player, do you think booing and calling for their head will fill them with confidence and improve their game. Its not just the players that need to improve, some of us as supporters need to raise our game !! Good luck to Charlie and thanks, always welcome in the bush. COYR'SSS
Yes we did, trying for £15 million when £12 million was on the table, so we've lost £8 million for a half season of his services, mostly injured. Good luck to Charlie though, Saints should be a good fit for him.
I hope so mate, 4 million sounds 2 or 3 too low unless he does have physical problems that are likely to continue to recur.
All this "we have lost 8m is bollocks we have got 4m for a bloke who has 6 months left on his contract, had no intention of being there next year, Leicester were the only club that put in a bid the board wanted more Charlie may not of wanted to go there anyway, 4m now or bigger all in the summer that's your choice take it or leave it
James Ward-Prowse scored a couple for Saints today. He is a fantastic dead ball specialist and Charllie will score bundles from his free-kicks and corners. Best wishes Charlie, you are a gentleman.
Newcastle did, personal terms were agreed, number 9 shirt promised. The only thing that stopped the move was that they wanted to drag it out in instalments and we insisted on lump sum. No one else came close
Thanks for the Goals Charlie, but I said bye to you weeks ago. Just strange that Southampton have signed an "Injured" player, Oh well........... Sad to see you go.
Whatever happened to the 9, 10 or anything up to £15 million recently? OK Of course he is out of contract in the Summer but £4 MILLION? It is unbelievable really!! Someone surely owes the fans a prompt and totally honest explanation for this latest Bombshell!
Sorry Keith but can we just keep this to one thread........ Have a read of the Austin Transfer thread where this has been discussed all afternoon.....apparently there is an explanation on the Offy Website.....
Just heard JFH post match interview. Said Charlie said 6 weeks ago he was staying and was in Jimmy's plans then yesterday he went into his office and said he wanted to go to Southampton. Jimmy said they (owners) could do nothing. Charlie wanted out. JFH said he wanted a striker before Austin left and now he needs 2. He has irons in the fire.
That's fair enough then....he wanted to go, why keep a player against his will? We get cash, Austin gets Premier League football......all move on..... Oh and we won today.......
This makes sense. Whilst 'tapping up' is illegal, we all know that it goes on. An agent representing Southampton will have most likely spoken to Charlie Austin's agent and informed them of the interest. It's one of the moves that the player probably would have crafted in June; so for Southampton to make the first move (assuming this did happen), it would have likely tipped the balance and leveraged a good deal for the player and his agent. The fee is largely irrelevant at that point; when the player wants to go, the club just have negotiate the best deal. Thankfully it wasn't Spurs as no doubt it would be us giving them £4m, given Daniel Levy's reputation as a 'shake his hand and count your fingers' character.
Irons or ins in the fire eh Ellers! Mmmm the guessing starts, Peterborough or Walsall strikers, bamford but I doubt gale.
