The only reason I wouldn't give Jay 10/10 would be the two he missed (one very hard, and only made possible by his quick feet). At last, Lambert has a strike partner. The rest I'd give no less than 8, and like others thought the full backs and keeper looked impressive, while Cork and Morgan simply bossed the game.
I see on MOTD2, Lawrenson lazily said "one of the top clubs will come in for Shaw before next season". I'm beginning to think he does it just to annoy. His big club bias seems to blinker him to the point where even if he makes a fool of himself, [Ramirez will not go to Southampton] it doesn't make him think twice. Well if he is right, Cortese needs to price Shaw so high that it puts everyone, bar the idiotic, off the idea. You simply don't sell your best players if you want to succeed in competition.
I hate the assumption made that a 'big side' just have to beckon. Southampton is the best place for a young player...Shaw has been given an opportunity to develop and is part of something big right here. Not saying he will be here for ever...rarely happens these days...but the days of our players leaving as soon as they are out of nappies is over.
He was excellent, though overshadowed by a few other players. Tough to choose when the whole team plays so well isn't it?
So do I. In order to become successful you have to keep your best players. In order to achieve, so-called big club status you have to be successful on a regular basis. It rightly goes then that in order to become one of the elite you don't sell your best players as soon as one of them comes calling.
He is almost certainly right. That's not to say we'll actually accept an offer, but I'd be very surprised if Chelsea didn't at least enquire. Sir Alex probably has his eyes on him as well. Paul Merson, who was watching the Liverpool game on SSN, said he'd be very surprised if Shaw is still with us next season, which is more insulting. I definitely expect clubs to contact us about Shaw, but I don't expect us to sell him,
Chelsea will probably be looked for a new lb to take over the reins from Cole soon too. That could be an interesting proposition for Shaw. Although he'd not get the initial game time that he does here, he would be training with one of the most celebrated English lbs in recent times. And there's the fact that he's a Chelsea fan. I liked that Pochettino said about keeping young players feet on the ground and not to praise them too much, keep them learning etc. That is particularly the case with Shaw who doesn't seem the brightest of young lads and has the distractions of the England set up, where most of the U21s are from the 'Big clubs'. Still, I have no doubts that we will do everything we can to keep him and turn down big offers if it comes to it.
I've almost already resigned myself to us losing Shaw, unless we make some serious process next season then he's simply going to be too good for us. Either because he'll be so good that he will draw the kind of big offers that we would accept, or because his head will be turned and we will just have to end up selling him for a decent but not great amount. Who knows though, maybe he will be very loyal and that combined with Cortese's resolve will see us be able to keep hold of him, that would just be swell.
Well at least you have us keeping him next season. The pundits have us selling him before next season starts. I reiterate, if you sell your best players, especially when you don't need the money, you will not become more successful as a team or club. In which case, what is the bloody point of it all..? I don't want to support a club that's a plucky loser for the rest of my life, especially when this owner promises that won't be the case.
I think we should now be competitive and have a good chance of holding onto our players, however I think Shaw has the potential to be truly special so regardless of our ambition and financial backing it could be just too much to ask. I believe he could be among the best left-backs in the world as soon as the next few years, if we're finishing around 7th-10th it's just not practical to believe we can keep hold of him. It's achievable to aim to keep hold of the majority of our players and at least put up a fight to get our money's worth for any that do go, but it's just not feasible for us to be able to lock down all of our best players unless we make remarkable progress or they show great loyalty. I don't expect to see an exodus, but if big clubs start sniffing around some of our better young things and have the money to back it up, I wouldn't be surprised to see one or two go, which would be a shame but not a disaster.
Shaw will get a nice contract in the summer and be with us for a couple of years. Could be longer than that if we progress as well as Cortese wants. It's bad enough that the media think of us as Old Southampton, but us fans have to start thinking bigger than that.
I'd put Clyne as our MOTM. Even though he as a right back is not in a position to score screamers, or pull off cat-like saves, he literally had a perfect game, everything he did was right and he did not put a single foot wrong. He couldn't really have done any more to add to his performance. Him and Shaw are so exciting as full backs, they will both be world-class players in 5 years time or so, I have no doubt. Add to them Cork, Schneiderlin, Lallana, Rodriguez, Ramirez etc and we have an incredible team to move forward with.
Unfortunately everyone has a price. I think it would take crazy money to give up any of our young starters which is good. If someone wants to break their bank and talk to NC that is fine with me. NC is business and I would expect him to make a nice deal for us. I would not like to see them get the thought in their head that they will have better opportunities elsewhere and request a transfer. NC wants us up near the top in a couple of years and if we get there we will be the buying club instead of a seller.
Well done Fran. Exactly the right attitude, and I bet it's Cortese's too. Actually, no that's probably not true. Cortese is scouting way up ahead and we have to run fast just to keep the distance constant. You're certainly not one of the stragglers, as far as I'm concerned, though.
If we survive this season I genuinely see no reason that anyone will leave who is not surplus to requirements. In the case of Shaw if we maintain our premier league status then I don't think he should leave until he is 20-21. He still has lots to learn and the top clubs are unforgiving places.
The team have been happy over the last few years and have really bought into MP's style and NC's plans. Many of them are getting chances that they may not have got elsewhere....don't see many wanting out (if any). Nicola is handing out longer contracts (presumably with better money). A strong finish to this season and we may see Mauricio getting a longer contract...unless Nicola is fed up with the pay offs!!
