Transfer Rumours The Summer Transfer Rumour Thread 2016

Plays for Nice......Puel connection no doubt.

 

Centre Midfielder

 

Qui Seri, Seri... What ever will be, will be

The futures up to Les Reed(s)

 

In a midfield of midgets, he'd be the smallest.

 

Just what we need........

 

Guy is a tank though.

 

Tiger or septic?

 

I've only just checked back in ... Ignorance is bliss

 

French Judo athlete from the Olympics

 

Exactly I don't really understand the difference here between Jose and Rickie. Yes for Rickie it was his boyhood club but he also knew he would be a bench player whereas Jose knows he has a great chance to be first choice for one of the world elite clubs.

 

Is Lambert now "just a guy." What is the difference?

 

At the time we were in meltdown and everyone was leaving - from the chairman to the captain - at least Rickie had a decent reason (and wasn't going to be first choice for us either). We're now in Europe and looking for our captain, having been through this scenario previously, to steer us off the slightly rocky coastline into the continental adventure and stay true to his assertions about loyalty.

Added to which, we're a bigger club now than we were then, and pay bigger wages.

 

There's also only so many times this can happen before your niceness towards them breaks a little.

 

This may be a little simplistic but if we get in a good, younger, replacement for JF who has a good partnership with VVD and the defence doesn't suffer then Fonte loss won't hurt me and he'll still be a legend. If we miss him in a footballing sense (always going to miss someone like that around the club) then it will make me resent him a little more for leaving. Part of the reason RL is still a legend is that he hasn't been a success since leaving us. That's second nature.

EDIT: Sorry, I know - wrong thread

 

Personally, the degree of animus I feel is directly correlated with the remaining length of the player's contract. A younger player with a couple years or less remaining doesn't need to do much forcing...they're well within their rights to refuse a new deal, leaving the club with the decision of running down the deal or selling. That's not a horrible display of player power, in my eyes. Similarly, we aren't offering Fonte an extension; we're offering him a raise with no additional years, which is in effect a tacit acknowledgement that we expect his time as a top-level player to be reaching its end. Given that, I can't really be too upset if he's interested in seeing out those years somewhere else (particularly as Man U is probably more willing to pay for an extra year of his post-prime if truly interested).

Now, if some of the players we have just re-signed start pushing for a transfer next year, then my niceness will break down...just as I'll be well less than pleased if the board gives in. To date, most of our transfers have happened when the players held the cards. We'll see how things proceed when they don't.

 

IMO, we could have kept Lambert had we chosen. I'm not sure Lambert even asked out so much as we sold him. Or rather created a nice opportunity for him to go and then gave him a gentle nudge. I can't blame a guy for leaving if I'm not sure it was his choice.

Also, the manner of the exit. Lambert wasn't the team captain when he left. He wasn't making public "come get me" pleas. He wasn't out there saying he loved Saints in one paper and then sneaking away to talk about what an honor it would be to play for some other team. He wasn't agitating for more money, never claimed (or let leak the claim) that there was any sort of breach of trust. None of us knew Lambert was leaving until it happened.

 

I see a lot of similarities. Lambert was talismanic. He was vice captain. He WAS out there saying he loved Saints although not sneaking away to talk to others. He didn't have credible suitors pre the Liverpool option but like Jose had "smaller" or "similar" sized suitors. I am sure Jose will say (if he goes) in his interviews "I ow0e everything to Southampton" and like Lambert I will wish him all the best.

I still want Fonte to stay though.

 

I don't think Saints put up much effort to keep Lambert, so I see that as the difference. The club knew he was probably not going to be a guaranteed starter and was happy to let him have the move he desired. The low price showed how easy they made it for him. Binning a hero would have looked bad. The club need and want Fonte and no doubt are annoyed this has come from left field.

 

That's a Bijarre rumour......

 

I haven't got the oxygen to think of a witty reply.