I don't remember Southampton being voted UK City of Culture either. 28 pages of comments from all you experts, and 99% of you were wrong and 100% wrong on the price. If I were a Saints fan I would have been very concerned with the way your club has been asset stripped during the close season. With that in mind signing Shane Long should be a very big plus for you after such a miserable close season seeing not only your manager leave but all your best players too.
Would Shane Long have got into Southampton's team last season? I was at your place when you put four past us in the opening half an hour and I thought and said at the time that you were by far the best footballing side we have come against. So what happened? Your manager goes and you've sold all your best players???? Hull first attempted to buy Shane Long in the first transfer window of last season for £6m. He couldn't get into Albions team at the time which alerted Steve Bruce. Long was at the Hull training ground having a medical when WBA pulled the plug on the deal with about 10 minutes remaining of the window. They were let down on the striker Chelsea loaned to Everton, instead of them. Laluko ?? Steve Clark the WBA manager was eventually sacked, Long was in and out of their team and eventually sold to City in the next window because WBA directors (not the manager) said the money was too good to turn down. He scored on his debut. Then we bought Jelavic and the two seemed to form a decent partnership. Hull despite being everyone's tip for relegation were never in the bottom three all season. It could be said that the Long and Jelavic partnership kept us relatively safe, which we were. He will be missed, but we have Tom Ince and they are very similar players. Ince cost us nothing because his fee has yet to be decided. I think the main reason behind this move is Mrs Long. Someone posted that she wants to as close to Reading as possible. As a Hull City supporter, £12.5m seems like a good days business to me.
I think most people are going to be 100% wrong on the fee as the exact nature and breakdown will not be fully disclosed. All I have seen on this thread is people musing as to what the breakdown might be. It is an internet forum - kind of the whole point. As for city of culture, in all honesty what parts won it the vote? I have only been there for work and did't really enjoy it (probably because it was November and January so not the best time to go). Going again soon and would like a more positive experience (sorry I realise I am now off topic)
He may have got in for Lambert towards to end. Lambert realistically needed replacing last season (hence the poorly thought out signing of Osvaldo). He would have definitely been useful as we ended the season with a knackered Lambert and rookie Gallagher. Are Hull going to be changing system for Tom Ince? I thought Hull player 3-5-2 a lot last season and I don't know how Ince fits with that? Or was the system changed last season or has it been changed in the summer?
I really hope that isn't the end of our transfer business. Still a winger short for me, and another CB if possible.
I admit perhaps it was the wrong choice of words. I've followed a club who have always sold their best player season on season. But never three or four in one window.From where I'm sitting it seems as though you've sold half a team! I'd be pissed off if my club had of done that. ... In answer to gregm88 and the UK City of Culture 2017. I can imagine people who believe all the stereotypical stuff that is written about the grim north and especially Hull will have found it quite a shock that Hull was awarded it. The city has changed dramatically over the last 20 years, there still a lot to do, but we seem to have found a new identity and I suppose a bit of confidence. The riverfront, marina, old town and old fruit market are the areas which seem to attract all the attention and are under going a big transformation and the city centre itself is being redeveloped. On the job front Hull has attracted Siemans who are to centre the biggest Green Energy complex in Europe in the city bringing with it 10,000 jobs. That's the political spin, not mine. There is a lot going on and Hull has always had an underground cultural scene, we don't shout about it like other cities, but it seems to be surfacing a lot more now. We seem to be attracting a lot more tourists and I'm sure you will see a difference when you visit.
There are still a few weeks left (which unfortunately also includes retaining players in that time as well). I too would like to see at least a winger and hopefully another CB to move Jos down the pecking order. But perhaps no one wants him on loan and his wages are considered too high for a 5th choice.... (this season is the last year of his deal I believe?) Hopefully the VVD potential transfer is linked to Celtic's champions league fate and they get dumped out before group stages one way or another
A guy has posted a photo of his Dad with Koeman tonight. Koeman confirmed Long's signing and apparently, Long is also there.
I suspect Long to take up the role that Osvaldo should have when he arrived 12 months ago. If he does better than the Italian (which lets face it, shouldn't be too difficult), then we'll be on to a winner.
