Business is business. Get the players who want to leave/play champs league out early and re-invest again. We've got quite a deep squad in certain positions now, especially considering there's no europe this season. Any chance we could have Sakho and/or Gomez as part of the Van Dijk deal, and Ihenacho/Denayer as part of Bertrand (never happens but I can but dream....)?
Oh I agree what they say, but what they do sometimes does not just does not compute. In past statements reporters have accused them of being a selling club which they have fervently denied. They have in the past added "we are not a selling club". It doesn't matter what excuses you make for them fats........that is hardly the reputation we have currently got.
Should they answer that question with, "Yes, we are a selling club." ?? I'm not making excuses for them, I'm just putting an alternative view. We are right back on that circle... what do they do when a player wants to leave? Poster A: "Tell them they can't leave" Me: "Player sulks" Poster B: "no they won't they're professional people" And so on and so on. Just look back to last summer and the summer before and the one before that. Personally (and people won't like this) it's about people's unrealistic thoughts on what can be done.
No of course not...........and I agree it is an alternative view. Surely you will admit though that the reputation we have as a selling club, makes nonsense of their continuous statements we do not have to sell any player.
Agreed. What's more, the squad continues to improve as we make profit on certain players and bring in quality and depth in other positions, whilst all the time giving talented youngsters a clear path to the top. We have current internationals as back up in almost every position and, in my eyes, very obvious weaknesses that we can look to address during this transfer window too.
It's not about admitting that. I understand the club's business model. This means that we sign good players at good value, try to progress the team with them, improve them, increase their value, try to keep them happy here as long as possible, sell them at a good profit when the situation arises and it is clear they want to leave (or rarely when we want them to leave). We then do it again. It's going to happen again and again and again while the current ownership is in place. It's a good model and has worked well to date. This is why I defend the club and occasionally emoticon-0105-wink get arsey with other posters! Now, plane heading to runway. Catch you on the other side
Which Airport? Didn't see you........ have just taken off too.......Oh do tell me we are not on the same bloody plane .....
I am of the opinion that we will always be labelled a selling club, and somewhat deservedly so. You can take this in two ways: 1. It's a testament to our scouting department that we keep signing players who in a few seasons are attractive transfer targets for big teams and for many times the value we bought them for. There is no comparison between our ability to scout players and say Crystal Palace or West Ham's. They don't receive the same label because their players simply aren't as good or don't come with as much of an upside. Palace paid the same for van Aanholt as we paid for van Dijk! It's just crazy. Teams aren't going to be clambering over one another like a Black Friday sale to sign van Aanholt, however well he does. 2. The board are beginning to look like they haven't much say in the matter or much control. Contracts are growing increasingly worthless in terms of securing the services of a player and nothing greater highlights this than the van Dijk transfer, considering he signed a 6 year deal not that long ago! It isn't helping that RK and LR persistently tell the media and the fans that key players aren't leaving. That really does just make us all look silly. I always try to be a glass half full kind of guy but lately it has been difficult.
But these players generally leave for 'bigger' clubs who can promise champions league football. The long contracts really helps the club achieve a big tranfer fee. If outstanding players want to contribute 2/3 very good seasons to Southampton before testing themselves at a higher level (netting us a handsome profit in the meantime) then that's OK so long as we keep the majority together and re-invest with interest. The exceptions to all of this for me were Fonte and Pelle - who I think we could have put our foot down on and kept.
Until he wanted to leave, many people were predicting that Fonte had peaked and was on his way down....which he was because he went to West Ham. With clairvoyance (which fans have in abundance) Saints should have predicted that Virgil would be out for half the season after being scythed down by ferret face. I would have kept Pelle because you always need strikers....especially as Austin went on and got a serious injury.
Sorry Graziano, I know they want to make you the sixth highest player in the world, but we need you on our bench.
...we want you to lead the line for us in europe, honour your contract, stay in the international fold etc It's not all about money or far better players than Pelle would be off to China. We made very little effort to keep him in reality and made accepting the financial lure of China an easy decision for him. Younger players wanting a crack at the Champions League (plus the money) is very different to me than players leaving mid contract solely for megabucks in China (but essentially writing off their carer in the proccess).
Adam Blackmore @AdamBlackmore·7m BBC Radio Solent understands that #saintsfc are to report Liverpool to the Premier League over an illegal approach for Virgil Va Dijk
Simon Peach @SimonPeach·1m #SaintsFC have asked the Premier League to investigate an alleged illegal approach from #LFC for Virgil van Dijk, PA Sport understands
Simon Peach @SimonPeach·1m Those behind the scenes at #SaintsFC are understandably angered by situation & have yet to receive any contact from #LFC regarding Van Dijk
please log in to view this image BBC Sport @BBCSport Southampton will report Liverpool to the Premier League over an illegal approach for centre-back Virgil van Dijk
Given this http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor...erpool-accept-transfer-ban-following-12850944 Liverpool have to be very very careful.
If Liverpool get a transfer ban for this, then I will laugh and point at every Liverpool fan that gave me grief yesterday. In fact I'm doing well to currently resist the urge...
