Saints are 'increasingly hopeful' on Victor Wanyama signing a new deal at St. Mary's

Not sure about this. We think of being a pro football er as being a dream job, and this is understandable. Over the years I've met a few players with brains (and lots without but we'll leave them out of the sample!) and they view what they do as "the job" and like all of us whinge and moan about the job in general and their bosses in particular.

I do accept that some players seem to put their overall satisfaction ahead of a an extra few grand a week - and Charlie Austin appears to be one of those. But then quite a number of us will have done that, albeit that the salary won't have been at these sort of levels.

 

Didn't Franny Benali turn down Real Madrid?

Well they signed Pepe, why not Franny

 

Nah. It was False Madrid.

#giveanoldjokeasecondchance (a favourite of yours, FLT, meme en franglais)

 

Assuming media reports have some element of truth (I know), look at Payet. Six months into a 5yr contract worth £75k pw, he appears be be demanding a revised contract with an additional £50k pw or he is off! Ummmmmm
I think players that play purely for cash greatly out number those that play to win things, enjoy the area, family settled etc

 

You certainly do get the globe trotting mercenaries. You may be right that these players who play only for cash out number the others who play for quality of life. However, I believe there is a misconception, among fans, that every quality player would be off at the first wave of an extra few quid.

 

The evidence overwhelmingly suggests this is no misconception.

Lallana
Lovren
Shaw
Lambert
Chambers
Clyne
Schneiderlin
Alderweireld

From one club in two seasons.

 

Not sure you can lump this lot together, and the reaction of the club, including the fans, reflects this. Toby was never our player, and used his season with us as a shop window. The relationship was symbiotic, so no complaints. We all thought Morgan deserved his stab at the big time, albeit the dream is going sour at the moment. Even the much criticised Adam went after silverware and CL football as well as a bigger pay cheque.

 

You're making a typical black and white football supporters assumption. In the same way I could point to Charlie Austin and say you're wrong. But I won't as clearly there are various types of player who are motivated by different drivers. Grey areas, not b/w.

Besides, the above group didn't all leave for money, and that Spurs player was never ours.

 

Yeah, you could point to one player to set against the eight listed above. But the evidence would still be overwhelming.

As for why they left, we'll have to disagree about their motives. But I will point to the following evidence; every one of the players I listed have increased their salaries massively. How many have won anything?

 

I agree that things haven't worked out for most of them, so they are left with just the money, but I am sure most left intending it would be a good career move. Money comes into it....as it would for us....but it would be reasonable to expect regular European football and cup and league success if you went to Man U, Liverpool or Arsenal (mmm, perhaps not the latter ). The league is just strange at the moment....but status quo could be just round the corner.

 

That's not the point though. The point is that not everyone plays football for the same reasons, hence the misconception.

 

Oh, let's hope not.

 

Absolutely agree......but just in case, Saints should establish themselves as a top club and be ready to sneer at the rest.

 

OK, I'll accept that amount of SQ.

 

I vote we don't sneer; just smile in a dignified but slightly smug manner.

 

I can do smug.

 

Even that story isn't as romantic as it sounds. Firstly he was off to be a second-choice goalkeeper at West Ham and, secondly, he only changed his mind when news of the takeover came out. Still a top lad though.

Apart from the money which is an obvious attraction you can still see why someone like Mane would want to play for Manchester United. When he was growing up I doubt he was fantasising about playing for Southampton. Probably Man Utd was the only English club he would have heard about. So you can understand why it would be a dream move. Which, of course, makes us more upset when someone like Lallana chooses to go.

 

Of course SKD only came back when the club was taken over....can't blame anyone for looking for another job when his employers are going bust. Nothing wrong with that....the important thing was that he came back to us in League 1 on -10.

 

I suppose he will certainly get to look at more of the stuff in cabinets, if that will suffice.

 

I know but it was as No 1 and who knows how the money compared. Even the great Tiss didn't stay out of 'loyalty'. He stayed because it suited him. He was unusual in many respects. I cannot really think of anyone who would stay anywhere simply because he thought that he owed the club his loyalty.

Take Vardy, for example, is it loyalty or the good sense to realise that he currently plays for a club that (possibly uniquely) suits his talents? He could go to a more glamorous club and spend the remainder of his career as a sub, albeit a well-paid one.

I agree its not always as simple as 'the money' but I think fans have a far different view of loyalty than players. Gary Lineker is another example. He is still very obviously a Leicester supporter but it didn't stop him leaving to pursue individual glory.