Can we insert a clause, preventing him from playing for them on Feb 4th? Unless, of course, he has to leave his invisibility blanket behind, and concedes a couple of penalties. Seriously, Fonte has been a good CB, who overcame a very shaky start in the Premier League, to become a very consistent and reliable performer. He is not, in my eyes "a legend". Nor do I believe that there HAS to have been fault on the side of the board, to cause him to want to leave. As others have said, I support the team first, player second. It will always be that way, for me.
Thanks for that Saintlyhero. End of an era. Made me realise how many great players we've had over the last 7 years.
I'm going to ignore Fonte post-Euros and remember the many many good times. Loved his passion in a lot of those goals, long haired Fonte was a goal scoring machine! Jose Fonte Baby, Jose Fonte ooooh ohhhhhhh
I got nothing against him. He gave us a lot of good years, and was a fine captain on and off the pitch. Also, I don't believe Fonte won Euros and suddenly came back an asshole. I think there's a little spin coming from the club on that front. I just think it was an awkward situation. Fonte is getting old, and how long can he even stay in the first team? Sure, maybe we offered him a deal. But at the same time, most of us were saying we needed to bring in another DC to compete for his job. Also, VVD is our star now and so how long could Fonte keep the captaincy? I can see why he wasn't feeling the love. Hammond, Chaplow, Hooiveld... a lot of players in that video got dumped by Saints. Adkins, too. So if we are keeping track of loyalty I think Saints are probably in the deficit. Not that I blame Saints, either. It's a business. Fonte has a European championship, a hot wife, and is insanely rich so I don't feel bad for him. He handed in a formal transfer request and for the most part hasn't savaged the club publicly or anything. So whatever. Fonte I guess still wants to play and thinks he can stay at a certain level another few years. I don't think Saints agree, and that was going to lead to a difficult parting one way or the other.
I just don't see the sense in it, he was Mr Saints, idol for young fans, model pro and example of the underdog coming through. He got greedy and threw his toys out of the pram, if he just wound his neck in a bit and grafted he could then rightly earn status as a legend. If he's going because of the supposed fall out with Black, he could stand his ground and do the right thing for the club and help us get shot of him if he's the bad influence. Wet Spam can't offer him anything other than silly money and for that, he's lost my respect but I appreciate people will think differently.
Genuinely a bit sad that it's ending like this - but my, what a player and what a signing. I just wish he wasn't going to West Ham of all places. And under such a cloud too. Thanks for the memories, José.
I just watched the Goodbye Guly tribute again...now there was a player who I was sad to see leave the club. Not sad about Jose going.
