Haha! Amazing you've recognised him instantly for the exact same thing. Every other tweet was about "the board". He was talking about them the way a Jedi talks about the dark side. He obviously hasn't been around for the last seven years.
I know Higgins... The guy loves himself and has been on Xfactor. He also use to like slapping women about.
Well even if others aren't, I'm pretty sad about it. Not because it's Fonte per se, but because it's the last of the league 1 team gone Possibly the last group of players I'll have an emotional attachment to, and the team who have given me my favourite 2 seasons* as a fan too. *could change this season
This is a sad way to go. How much money do these players think they need? It gets to a point where it's just pure greed and nothing to do with looking after your family.
Fonte hasn't had a full career on top wages but I've seen it suggested he's going to get £75k a week at West Ham and I'm sure someone on here (maybe Beefy?) suggested he was on at least £70k at Saints. If that's true then I don't really see wages being that important (unless Saints want him to take a pay cut if they extend his deal?). If the main reason for the move really is an extra £5k a week that's... well, not something to be proud of.
I just think he burnt his bridges trying to force through his move to a big club, that didn't happen, but there's no going back for him so will just go anywhere.
Well we did appoint an ex-pompey boss! I think we will sort a replacement but hopefully before Fonte leaves.
From BBC - Let's hear more from West Ham manager Slaven Bilic, linked with a move for Southampton defender Jose Fonte, who has asked for a transfer, but has denied claims the Portugal international has already had a medical. "Not a medical," the steely Croatian insisted. "Look, I said a few times already I'm not going to talk about names. We are not looking for big numbers as I have strong belief in our qualities now in the dressing room, but we need one or two players. "Are any deals close? Close is very relative in football. Many times something that looks close doesn't happen. And sometimes something that looks distant suddenly happens. But in 24 hours, hopefully."
I don't go on the daily echo site much, as it scares me; but i saw this comment on there and I think it's solid gold: "I've a brilliant idea, let's keep Jose by paying him £70,000 per week or £3,640,000 per annum. Please check my maths but, using round figures, based on 20 home games a season, with an average gate of 30,000, increasing admission prices by just £6.00, would pay the whole of his wages in full!! I'm sure the fans on the quoted average UK salary of £28,000 pa, which I think is overstated, who have to work two and a half years to earn what Jose would get in a week, would be delighted to cough up the extra. Or do my figures just demonstrate how bl**dy ridiculous football is, I'm really sorry Jose is currently getting such a raw deal, he may only be getting miserable £2m p.a. and naturally feels hard done by and forced to leave. My heart bleeds for the greedy bast*rd."
Good point. I saw a 2 and half year deal mentioned, which is the same as the year extension Les Reed said Fonte's been offered here, but if they're giving him a longer contract than that it makes more sense.
Thought it was a year extension? West ham will be 3 years from the end of the his season, so actually a 3 and a half year deal. I think it's a case of relationships breaking down here and leaving is the his he easiest way out.
£75k is also the basic wage. He will get better bonuses at West Ham. His contract atm is to 2018, we offered him a year extension making it 2019. But as you say his contract at West Ham will be 2020. So a 37yr old on around 100k with bonuses... Not Paul Hart though. The story still makes me laugh, how wrong they got it.
Before the Euros, Fonte was always Mr. Southampton. Vocally positive about the club, he was a pillar of stability through numerous meltdowns over the last few years. Has playing for Portugal and winning the Euros really changed him to the point that he wants to leave so desperately just for a bit more money and for no other reason. Seems very odd to me.
Same thing really - the new contract from last summer would've been 3 years (this season, next season and the new year extension) as it would've also included a pay rise.
Telegraph now reporting Fonte to West Ham, so must be nearly done. Also WBA local newspaper saying they've lost out on Fonte, as he has agreed to join West Ham, after WBA had agreed a deal with Southampton.
