I think it was tongue in cheek r.e. nobody going anywhere, not selling players etc............and then they're gone.
Aside from the first few games of the season, I think Fonte has looked very assured and solid and been one of the better performers in the side. Not sure why we would strip Fonte of his captaincy, all the players must be aware of how he felt already, so if he is a leader and organiser why change things. Southampton seem to be drifting a little at the moment and we need to ensure that we stabilise the situation and make sure that we do not leave ourselves short.
Well I can't deny I am disappointed but he is footballer so I really shouldn't be. Why do I keep falling for this I love the club crap? Thanks for your efforts up to summer 2016 Jose but I won't be wishing you luck - nor will I be booing you.
Don't think he has done much wrong tbh. He's probably unhappy under puel, no Europe action etc. If he isn't happy with new terms he is entitled not to sign, we're not privy to the details.
The shirt name curse strikes again. Everytime I decide to get a name on the back of my jersey they bloody leave! Sorry guys, you can blame this one on me.
What a truly sorry state of affairs. Neither player or club will come out of this (whatever "this" is) with any kudos. I am personally inclined to point the finger at the club for allowing the issue to reach a point where it gains yellow banner status on Murdoch TV. How hard would it have been to address behind the scenes? Especially for a true club legend. And before anyone feels the need to plant the red and white flag in defence of SFC with sentiments such as "we don't know what's really going on" and "the board have done brilliantly to date" the fact is that this is discontent manifest. And it's discontent that we've all known about for months, ergo the board knew way before we did. If he wanted away he should already be away. This is nothing more than a smelly distraction in a rotation based stinker of a season.
*sticks red and white defence flag in the ground* And if the club had let him go in the summer to be the 4th top player to leave in that pre-season, there would have been a charge laid straight at the feet of the club for not being strong enough, always selling our best players and not being good enough. Do you really want the club letting every player that wants to leave, leave? That is what we have spent four years complaining about. The club have at last started showing some balls. They did it with Vic, Morgan and allegedly Mane last January. Long may they continue trying to be tough at least. Sorry Bovril, I normally like your posts, but this one stinks. So unfair on the club. (in my humble opinion). I am very grateful to Fonte (as I posted at the very start here), but legend or not, no player can be allowed to click their fingers or just nod to their agent to get an instant move. The club were 100% right to not let him go in the summer.
Genuinely sad that a player of his standing would end his time here like this. Farewell Fonte. Thanks for all the clean sheets. Thanks for fooling Liverpool that lovren was a better player. Hope you live to regret going out like this.
This is very different though. He is after all our captain and, to most (including me) a club legend/hero/poster boy. It's simply amateur hour to allow a situation to escalate to this extent. We've had months to resolve it and clearly have not. That is beyond poor when you consider how destabilising it can be, will be and probably has been.
I have a feeling it comes down to the rumoured sale of the Saints and the potential lack of communication between the owner and the board. They very well might of wanted to offer Jose a vastly improved deal but trying to acquire the funds could of been the hurdle ( also suggesting why we are looking to loan in the window rather than buy). It's hard for Kath to justify or feel the need to invest anymore spending into the club (transfers, major wages and contract disputes) when it's already attracting big money buyers due to its facilities and established premiership status. Many committed owners would be more than happy to immortalise their aging club legends with stupid and lengthy contracts way beyond their worth to keep the fans and the players happy. Saying all that though, maybe someone should let her know that we become substantially less valuable when we're not in the bloody premiership.
Presumably his agent has a club lined up for him, before he handed in the request. He`s been a great Saints player, but I`d have sold him in the summer if we had a replacement. Thanks for the memories Jose - my favourite being scoring v Coventry the day we got promoted.
But Reed said that after Fonte got back from the Euro's, just like Cedric, he was offered a substantial pay rise and an additional year on his current contract (which runs out in 18 months). He turned that offer down multiple times.
I agree with your sentiment apart from it being "beyond poor". With all due respect to you, you haven't given a possible way of dealing with it other than to say we should have let him go - and I and probably 31,000 other Saints fans would have been up in arms if our skipper had become the fourth player leaving in August. What could the club have done? Offer him a new extension? They did that twice and he turned it down Offer him a rise? they did that and he said "no" Now all that has happened is he has asked for a move. I genuinely can't think of anything else the club could have done, however I am happy to hear any suggestions. *none of this is being sarcastic, genuinely would listen to other options
Its like, people don't get that he has had his head turned. Winning the euro's with guys like Ronaldo has changed him. The club does not have a case to answer. I was quite harsh in the summer about Jose, because it upset me. He blanked us, when he should have shared his glory. His silence when Utd circled, his hiding when the new gaffer was struggling.....he should have been putting the fires out, not starting them. Not my chosen captain, felt like a different person returned to us. Anyone trying to beat the club with this stick needs to have a bit of a think about it.
People have to make their minds up....the club has to stay firm and stop players leaving, but at the same time they should let people go as soon as they ask. Which? They got another season out of Mane and Wanyama...who then left with the club fully aware they are going. Jose sprung his change of mind on them....so they said no. Now he has made it formal....which cuts down on his share of the transfer fee. The clubs position is still that the deal has to suit us...though I am expecting him to leave. His head was turned when he played for Portugal....he changed his agent who told him he could do better. Bit alarming that Virgil has also changed his agent....though he will have to wait longer.
