Transfer Rumours The Summer Transfer Rumour Thread 2016

Has he asked Saint permission to go though?

 

And then you'd just berate the board for sitting in silence whilst all this happened instead, no? Just can't win really.

 

Don't know, but you can tell the situation is hotting up.

 

Completely agree. Redmond is an infinitely more attractive player, and fits our profile way more.

 

They don't need to sit in silence, just be realistic. It's an article that they fed to one of our pet journos, and all of those things were meant to show how confident and strong our board are, and if Mane sells for 30m, exactly none of them will have come to pass. Want to feed to journos that you're confident that X, Y and Z will happen because you already have those deals in place ("Saints expect to get at least 30m for Mane", with a bid of such in place, as an example), or make more oblique statements that you're confident that any sales will be to our benefit? Perfect. But don't make declarative statements on speculation, and then wonder why people aren't wholly convinced that you have everything under control.

 

You will notice that Les Reed did that interview....there was no way Ralph was going to get caught out twice like that.

 

Nah. I'm with Schad on this.

You look like cocky idiots when you are all "We didn't even bother to meet about Koeman's offer, and we sell no one" and then in a matter of weeks it all unravels.

I'm not too upset with the actual turn of events, as I don't think we could keep Mane if he wants to go, and I wouldn't make the promises to Koeman that Everton did. I also believe (or at least hope) that the club wasn't caught out like that and internally were more realistic about all of this, with prices in mind and contingency plans, etc.

But we have been caught speaking loudly while wielding a small stick, and it isn't the first time.

 

Does it really matter?

 

Back of one of the papers this morning... Koeman after Morgan. Please Morgan, not with him.

 

Sure. If Mane and Wanyama both get sold at below the price we had claimed a couple weeks ago was the minimum we'd take, it's a nice way of telling the vultures not to be put off chasing our players if we throw out a big price tag.

 

Great, then let's keep the negativity driving along. It's good for us all.

Bottom line is, that if a club is interested in our players they'll make an approach to the player/agent to find out interest and then they'll approach the club and try it on. The club say sod off and the player gets rattled. The game begins.

I think the club making the statements are trying to put people off, but they can't control it if it doesn't put other clubs off. At least they've tried.

It's pointless moaning about the board making statements. It's not a treaty signed in blood! They are just trying to do what is in the best interest of the club, but still some fans criticise, when it didn't really matter if they make the statement or not. There's always a flip side. Always.

They say nothing, the vultures may think they're weak and worried. There is always another way of looking at it, but by moaning about the board, that just creates a flow of negativity that will gather momentum and grow.

I just don't see the point.

 

This

Plus, if we block players from moving on continuously we will get a reputation for blocking players careers and not get them in the first place. It is a very fine line that has to be walked. Sometimes we have to accept that unlike dogs at Christmas a player is not for life.

 

One of the golden rules of media training is to never say anything that could come back and bite you on the arse. Don't be specific when vague will do. When vague won't cut it, just be honest even if that honest answer doesn't quite answer the question. We do seem to have failed quite badly at this over the last few years. I wouldn't be too critical though as everything else seems to be fine and dandy but as far as close-season pressers go, I think it's clear that Nostradamus isn't on our payroll.

 

What Les's interview showed was how confident he was that Koeman would sign. We could only work out what RK was going to do by interview snippets, but Les saw him every day....that means he was seriously misled. Adam Blackmore was hurt personally by the fact that he'd been taken in when he had looked Koeman straight in the eye. I think we can let Les off that one. The manager leaving is a game changer.

 

I agree, so to summarise my understanding of your post it sounds like you agree with me... It doesn't really matter?

 

Lukaku off to the Gunners l see; substitute replacement for Vardy? Bit of a blow for RK if true; hope he does not use the proceeds to buy Morgan from Utd.... that would be very sad news.

 

Be nice for Spider to come back here....but never going to happen. Sometimes players return, but this is too soon. He may be tempted by Everton

 

I was merely pointing out that both Ralph last year (or the year before) and Les this year have possibly been guilty of being a little too bullish in their predictions. It's hard to argue against that regardless of your support for the board.

 

Although despite all the disasters we have still continued our upward march, and continued to break records. The board has to be credited with that too, don't forget.

 

Yes they've been bullish. No real issue with that. I've never heard any leader stand up and say anything other than everything's going to be alright.