Transfer Rumours Saint Caspar!

True, it’s a complicated thing to get your head around, I guess you always need to sell especially when relegated. I personally think last season accounts will show maybe a very small loss, and with the zero loss from the championship season accounts, it puts us in a better position than the last season when relegated. Wages that year were around £70 million compared to around £55 million last year etc.
With £110 million plus the projected sales of Aribo, Edozie, Smallbone to be done yet, it would hopefully put us in a stronger position if promoted this season, to be able to go out and strengthen with bigger purchases in key positions, rather than trying to build a squad with £70 million gross spend as per last season.

 

I know. I had kind of convinced myself after the comment by Still after the Norwich game that Fernandes would stay. But now reading rumours of his behaviour (if true) and the replacements being lined up, I’m in a better place . And to be fair I had just woke up after a late night to see the news that he was of to West Ham, so initial reaction.

 

I personally thought we had a chance of keeping Fernandes because a) I didn't get the impression that he was the type of player that would kick off if we told him no. b) I was under the impression we would try and keep one of them and that that chosen player was Fernandes c) because he has/d 4 years on his contract so we weren't stuck in a corner over him. d) I thought we would only sell for an overinflated fee.

I'm sure lots of people feel the same. I also think it's perfectly fair for people to be pissed off about it, particularly when the news breaks and in the subsequent days that follow. SR have not earned our trust, quite the opposite. Even if you say there are different people in charge of transfers and squad management now. They haven't earned our trust yet either. Even if you think they should get a blank slate, the circumstances that precede this new team means they'll get a very short rope with many. And whether it's judging too quickly or not, the first signings that we have made don't look like they are immediately improving the first team. Which is obviously going to put peoples backs up, particularly when we do then sell our star players too.

As I say, I'm going to reserve judgement on the window until it's closed. But I really am not surprised nor do I blame people for getting worked up about it as it happens.

 

Plus I don’t think any of us are used to having a Football Director, who maybe, just maybe, knows what he’s doing??

 

Players of the quality of Dibling? Our 19 year old academy graduate who only played a little bit good for a quarter of a season and then disappeared and then downed tools? Is it not a major concern that a player like that is desperate to get out the door? And Fernandes who was the best player in an absolutely terrible team who we could only keep for one season?

So what you’re essentially saying is if a player shows even a little bit of class and consistency for more than a quarter of a season, we should just resign ourselves to the fact that we will sell them at the next opportunity? Do you realise how terrible that sounds? What the **** is there to get excited about for a club that works like that. If Azaz comes in and have an incredible season should we just accept now that he will be sold next Summer as that’s just what happens at Southampton FC? How do you not see that it’s a symptom of our terribly low status that a player doesn’t even have to prove themselves consistently to push a move now? That they can just play well for 15 games and push their way out and we just have to nod our heads and go “well they’re too good for us”.

 

Having done some more research on Jander, I'm really excited about this signing.

 

So hopefully not so much of a joke now?

 

I literally know nothing about him. I'll judge the signing on how he performs for us.

 

I don’t understand why people are still saying that if we sold one of Dibling or Fernandes we would keep the other.
Unless someone can point us to a direct quote from the club, confirming that we would only sell one of them, then it seems to be just an urban myth put forward by someone who was projecting their hopes and not the reality of the situation. And, as I see it, the club has been very clear that every player has his price.
As much as I wanted us to keep Matty, I think we have probably got a good price, likewise with Dibling and the reality is that both are still fairly unproven at Premier League level.
Both had good moments in games, but neither are yet at the level where they will dominate, imo.
We now seem to be on the verge of signing players who are at a high level for the league we are now in and 2 of the players are known to be game changers/winners which makes them preferable, in many ways, to what we have lost.

 

It was sort of a myth based off of someone coming up with a number we’d need to make off of sales and I think some comments from the club about our financial position

So I think some assumed our early sales + one of the two big ones would be enough to mean financially we could keep one. Not necessarily that we would. Especially with the 100% profit on Dibling. But he should have been the one with a higher chance of staying. Half a good season. Local. Academy player. Younger. Previous bad move. Doesn’t have one of the most ruthless agents in the game. Etc

 

Yep, until he's played at least 15 games in this country he's very much an unknown quantity. We have had plenty of overseas players that failed to fit in as well as plenty that have done well.

 

Well no, that's not what I'm saying. Although (for the millionth time) unless you're PSG or Real/Barca that model is true of any club in the world, let alone one that has just been relegated to a lower league.

If Dibling is only a little bit good, then surely you're delighted that we've sold him for multiple millions? That's good business for someone who disappeared and downed tools, no?

You're making a really confusing comment. Would you rather we had kept two players that didn't want to be here, and were only a little bit good, than buy in players that are very proven at this level and want to play here (at least for the time being)?

 

The model of selling some of your best is a model adopted all around the world, one or two of your best and then keeping a squad, your best who have usually had a chance to display their greatness for a season or two. We sell literally anyone good who has hit a bit of good form. That’s a massive difference.

My point isn’t that they were a little bit good, my point is that we never had them play consistently good for us, at least when you look back at players like Mane, Pelle, VVD, Lambert, Lallana and god knows how many others from that era, they actually played very well for us for a while so it was very clear they were gone because their quality was so clear. We don’t even get to that point now. Dibling’s quality was not undeniable, neither was Fernandes and it would have nice to keep them here to build that quality so that when we did sell them they were at least at their peak in terms of profit and performance but they’ve pushed their way out after being just okay.

It’s already hard enough to build something when you’re constantly selling your best but now we’re just selling anyone that might be very good based on vibes and promises. Like I said if this is the model then what are you actually excited about with this football club? Why get excited for any signing when if they play well they will literally be sold next summer.

 

I repeat.

Neither of them wanted to be here. Fernandes travelled to West Ham without permission. That's how much he didn't want to be here.

Would you rather force them to stay and play half arsed, or would you rather use (half) the money to buy three players that are of proven quality who want to be here.

It feels like you're angry at the way football is (which is entirely fair), but you're directing your anger at the club (which is less so).

 

I’m not angry at the way football is I’m angry at the club and the way we’ve let ourselves fall so far that seemingly no player wants to play for us. When was the last time you heard a player want to stay? Why is everyone who is just good trying so hard to leave? Maybe it’s because we have fostered a culture over 10 years where players expect to leave once they are good? We have absolutely no leaders in the team and no stalwarts and anyone who plays well is immediately looking for a move on. How is that normal? He’s a on a 4 year ****ing deal. It’s not like we are screwing him over by expecting him to stay with us, he signed the damn contract.

 

1. Apart from all the ones signing for us
2. Because unless you are a boyhood Saints fan, then playing for Southampton is not the pinnacle of your career ambition

 

I'll take good, young players i.e. VVD, Mane, Lavia, Fernandes etc over players that won't leave, because that means they're not very good. As Laces said, you have every right to be angry at the way football is nowadays but I'm not sure what else you can do about it.

 

You’re making out that this is peculiar to us though? Every club in the world faces this!

For goodness sake, West Brom just sold their best player to a divisional rival for £10m…

 

Well that is clearly nonsense. Unless you're Real Madrid, ambitious and talented players will want to leave. The issue is not replacing them properly. This time SR haven't made that mistake.

 

Yes, apart from Real Madrid.