Just had a look over on SaintsWeb about this Peter Schmeichel 'controversy'. Why are some of them getting their knickers in a twist...make a rude comment to your television set and move on is the normal response. He is a pundit giving an opinion (his job surely)...what he says has no effect on ManU, Lallana or Saints. Certainly no cause for anything as formal as a complaint...we'll get a reputation for being touchy.
It's just a knee jerk Fran. Anyone suggesting that one of our players might sign for a top team has to be abused on principle. What is more interesting is that last season we would have been advising against such a move as the likes of lallana and Shaw as they would not get a game and become bench fodder. Such is the progress that nobody would think that now! PS doesn't realise that this is not the high-water mark for Saints; we are aiming to be a contender and next season we could be- provided we keep the belief in the players. For the record, I don't believe we will lose any of our stars in the summer. That wouldn't fit with the plan at all. And yes, those twitter reactions do make us seem very sensitive souls!
Because pundits comments carry weight. One little comment on TV from a pundit has a huge affect. His big players play for big clubs comment had the combined effect of saying that Lallana is good enough to play for ManU [and therefore they ought to sign him - I believe he even said this] and too good to play for a smaller club like Southampton FC. That's disrespectful from a pundit who is supposed to be neutral, but quite obviously is promoting the idea of transferring players to his favoured club - not Man City, by the way. This idea that glamour clubs are at the top by some divine right is nonsense [If they are there by divine right then the rules need changing fast]. If smaller clubs, or a club like Southampton is to grow then they have to muscle their way into Europa or the Champions League. That is the obvious step forward. So when a pundit suggests that a club's best player [or players] should ditch their personal dream and jump on the glamour club bandwagon and become another mercenary, perhaps winning a trophy or two, then the real competition goes out of the game. This is small percentage stuff, but football is all about gaining an advantage. It's hard enough with a level playing field [excuse the pun], but when the bias is against the smaller club it becomes very much harder. Perhaps too hard for some clubs and supporters to see clearly what could be achieved. Then there is the pride in the club one supports. Clubs and supporters shouldn't just meekly take the backhanded insults from pundits, touch the forelock and take two steps back to find their place. They stick up for themselves and say who the hell do you think you are trying to put a ceiling on our potential..? And that's why they're a little hot under the collar on Saints Web. It doesn't happen often, but this time I agree with them.
Well said TSS, and interesting points. That got me all stirred up! I hope that Channonfodder is right, and we keep all our players in the summer, and don't indeed put a ceiling on what we could possibly achieve. We are so close I feel to being an excellent side, and I would just love it if we put egg on their glamorous faces.
Of all the players linked to other clubs, the only one I am sure is staying is Adam. He stuck with us in League 1, loves it here and has got picked for England (despite/because of playing for Southampton). As Rickie said recently, he is Mr Southampton and wears his heart on his sleeve.
Reference to the Racial fan report http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/1...-questioned-over-racist-behaviour-spurs-match
Sorry TSS, I have to disagree on this one. It's all water off a ducks back to me. PS is merely saying that as it stands, Southampton are not as big a club as Man U and Adam would stand more chance of trophies, champions league, etc. it's not disrespectful as we are not yet in that position. Doesn't he realise that we are going to be pushing for top 3 soon? No he doesn't. Should we be angry at his lack of judgement? I think not. He's a pundit. Do I think that his opinion would have any traction withAdam? No, and neither does it with me.
