Personally think we are going to end up with a budget of around £100 mil (40 mil originally, 30 for shaw, 15 for lovren and about 10 for osvaldo, 4 for rickie) we won't spend anywhere near that amount though. Would be pretty surprised if we spent much more than the last couple of seasons, so around the 40 mil mark.
If we lose Shaw, Lovren and Osvaldo I can see us spending 50 odd mil. That's 2 defenders and 2 strikers to replace even before we think of stregthening the team.
To replace those players if they leave (to a decent standard), and also get in the already needed squad depth, surely we will need to be spending more than 40 mil?
Any deal with Cardiff should involve signing Daehli. Marshall had a great season, but the more shots you face, the more saves you make. He made a few mistakes last season, but had the opportunity to rectify those errors. This doesn't mean he is not a good goalkeeper, but I think valuations of £8m are a little wild. I think we could do better with that budget. This does fit with the clubs English ethos which I think it sees as a good marketing ploy. Because everyone loves the England team right?
Yes I'm with you there! Lallana is not 'worth' £30m. To anyone but the selling club. It's less realistic the caulker and Marshall!
Why is everyone assuming Lovren is gone? I would have thought he was a player that we definitely wouldn't want to lose...they can't just pack their bags and go, you know. As for the prices for Caulker and Marshall (if true), we will always have to pay high because a) Cardiff will want the best deal they can and b) we have clearly said we have money. If these are the players we want (or more accurately Les Reed wants), surely we have to go in high, blow others out of the water and get the players in quickly. We have lost players before by playing hard ball. We can't moan about the price being too high with the Lallana 'deal' drifting on...selling club set the acceptable fee.
Oh great, Saints fans focusing in a fee again. Jeez, if the players are on the scouting committees list, then they are what we want or need. Please don't let the few be the focus if the player and performance again. We are not even in the really big money league, but still the next big money league down and we will have some big fees. Accept that as the way of the premier league.
I think the fee is pretty relevant when discussing incoming transfers and our opinions on them. On this one I think £9m is too much for Marshall(assume 50/50 split). Because I don't think he is an automatic choice ahead of Boruc and I think we could get players of equal standing for a bit less. e.g. the Reading keeper McCarthy. I agree we shouldn't discuss a transfer fee when assessing a players performance (e.g. Ramirez debate) but surely we're allowed to say if we think value is too high or a bargain.
Of course, but I'm just readying myself rot the usual Saints fan reaction. I bet you now that next season any player who we pay a decent fee for will have at least one theead bemoaning their prrformances against their fee. A part of me also thinks that if there is a player we really think is right for us, then we get him, almost regardless of few. Take Adam. I'd be wondering how much Liverpool really wanted me if they won't go that extra mile. He's either the right player for them or he's not.
If we were to keep Lovren, I think Caulker would be our third-best CB. I prefer Fonte. I'm sure there are plenty of managers who would disagree with me though.
Obviously SKD will never play for us (or probably anyone else) again...hope he gets a decent role within the club.
Fonte and Caulker are probably around the same level so wouldn't be fussed who partnered Lovren if he stays.
I'm sure I read that Marshall had turned down Arsenal because he didn't want to sit on the bench, so I doubt he'd join us unless he had assurances that he would be first choice which is unlikely to happen. On signing McCarthy from Reading, I think they're in financial difficulties (had to sell Le Fondre to pay a tax bill), so we could possibly get a better deal.
If Caulker isn't even good enough to get in the England squad with such poor CB's then he's not worth that much. Van Dijk's a better option from Celtic.
My point is you cannot base a keepers (or defenders) ability on the back 5 as a whole. Marshall looks to be a great keeper. How many goals would lovren and boruc let in if they lined up with jos, fox and no properties holding midfielder. My only concern with a keeper is damaged confidence. But lets be honest boruc isnt going to be around forever, we will need a proper keeper ať some point, why not marshall?
