Every player is a gamble, anything could happen that ends their career. Or they could turn out to be not as good as first thought. That's football.
Shaw will turn out to be an average player if he wants to go to Chelsea where he will play in the reserves and then on loan to some championship club. It will be better for him to stay at the club and gradually earn a plae in the starting XI and maybe in 3-5 years time he can leave for a lot of money (20-30m) and it will benefit him and the club,but I can't see Cortese thinking this way he will want to keep him at the club for 10-15 years like most of the academy stars. There is no point in going to a big club at his age,just stay at saints and play football not warm the bench for a big four club...Yes,he will get paid more,but he will be on good money at saints. 4m?Couldn't ask for a more derisory offer ever...put a 0 at the end and you might have him.
That's what I heard, but wondered if it was reduced because we got our asking price. Should have more faith in our leader's negotiating skills.
It is possible...sure that one of our players has a 40% sell on clause...Lallana I believe and we got him as a nipper.
We know that supporters outside of the club haven't the faintest idea of the ambition that is happening at SFC. Even our own supporters have taken long enough to actually quite believe the bus journey that is only just getting into its stride. The media are the media, and they just look the other way. You hear the ignorance every time there is a live match on the TV. Eventually, the commentator will point out that people really like their football down here. As if it was a surprise..! Recently, even Gordon Strachan had to remind the viewing public that Saints mean business, and that the fans were every bit as passionate as elsewhere. There was a time when Pompey were the dominant club. There's no arguing it - it was the case. But that was 60-80 years ago, and apart from a blip of a few years recently where they were on top again, the ranking has been restored to our side. In terms of absolute size, both clubs have been pretty small fry throughout their sporting existence, punching well above their financial weights. If we put aside the building of The Dell and Fratton Park to get both clubs on the sporting map, so to speak, it has only been in the last 11 years that Saints have dared to do anything lasting, by building St Marys, and even that was lacking in ambition. Many people thought so at the time, and our esteemed Chairman, The Don, issues enough hints and phrases for supporters to realise he thinks the same. Truthfully, the one club, from the South, to emerge into modern day football with real ambition and power is Southampton FC, and that has only started in the last three years. Ironically, what we can thank Lowe & Co for is building St Marys in the first place because, as Saints were about to sink without trace [Pinnacle laughingly aside] it became the little waving flag atop the mast of the club which shouted... don't let this ship go down. Pompey have none of that. To push the boat [out] metaphor further, Fratton Park is a ship where the hull is irretrievably holed and the sea-cocks have been opened, by the crew. It'll take a lot to rescue them. Perhaps too much.
But Arsenal paid big bucks, thats the difference. Although the price doesn't seem like a gamble now, he was unproven at the time, he'd never even played at Championship level as you know, so for Arsenal to spend what they did, they would not be held to ransom on a % of any future transfer (they are ruthlessly tight). Ten or 15% maybe, but I'd highly doubt 40%. Saying that, Nicola never ceases to amaze me.
The difference is that we held all the cards...Nicola decided that Oxo was no longer focussed on Saints (though he never let us down) and Arsenal were the eager suitors. As Nicola said Arsenal turned up mob handed, whilst he was sitting on his own. He told them what the deal was and they had a fixed time or the offer was off the table. However, the details were never made public, so the sell on clause which probably does exist could be anywhere between 20-40%. We'll never know if Oxo isn't sold.
I think it's both, though there's logic behind it. It's common sense not to want to sell, but Cortese has also made clear that he sees these raids as a slight against the team. Losing Chamberlain when we were in the Championship is one thing; losing Shaw now that we're in the Prem would be another matter entirely, and he's not going to let that happen, at any rational price Not that there isn't logic to it...we're projecting the image of a team that intends to take on the world, and such teams don't have their young talents poached.
someone mentioned before that wenger went to the meeting mob handed with lawyers and advisors, The Don was alone. When the meeting was done, The Don had the figure that he wanted plus 40% sell on clause and wenger was his new bitch
If we sign Buttner as a LB, Dan Harding should be more worried than Luke Shaw. Youngsters are aware that they rarely get anything on a plate for them and their chances tend to be earned on merit rather than being enforced. If Buttner does sign, Harding and Dickson will probably look for new clubs and good luck to them. If the youngsters really want to force their way to being valued squad members this season, they'll have a chance against some very good sides in pre-season. It's a big ask although they do at least have the chance here to test themselves alongside the first team, which they wouldn't get at Chelsea.
the club have to show the fans the full intentions of the club. the plan is to have 5-6 home grown players in the team (not squad, so at least 10 in the squad), this offer, if it ever was made, needs to be rejected firmly.
