I feel Sorry for you. You just don't understand the story do you. You know the last person sat there on prom night waiting for the top boys to ask for a dance.... then the spotty geek walks towards you after all the other girls got the hot dates.
Extremely disappointed in Jose...........all this talk of 8 million for a player who had maybe 5 years still at peek (ok a slight exaggeration perhaps).....He was worth more to the team, playing for us. More and More am I convinced of Saints lack of ambition. Sorry we didn't need the 8 million...we needed the player more!! Come on Saints sort your bloody selves out.......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In recent years he has clearly been second fiddle to Virgil, Toby and Judas Lovren. Need Virgil as Captain with a brief to galvanise us and use Fonte's departure as the kick up the bum we need.
Blinkered and one sided. Sorry mate, but it takes two to tango. Mr Fonte is not blameless here, so you can't just lay the blame solely at the club's door. Yes I'm sure there has been some stubbornness from the club, but it appears Fonte kicked it all off and it always takes two to tango. Season ends - all smiles and records Jose goes to Euros under new agent Jose comes back a winner Jose gets told he could be at united Jose forgets how to smile at the fans Jose wants to leave Les says no Les stays stubborn Les says don't play him Europa Les says if you want out, hand in your request Both play a part Maybe, maybe not for any of the above, but come on Beddy it's getting a bit tiresome when every time the club either won't be bullied by a player or won't invest mega millions, that is translated as "lack of ambition." Time to change that tune. We know how the club want to be run and they want to get as far as they can, running the club that way.
Well, we will have to agree to disagree mate...........Sadly it will take a lot more than words to get me on the "we are an ambitious club" Forum. My trouble is I have supported Saints for so long, I have heard all the rhetoric before, but actions for me always speak louder than words. That doesn't mean I will not support them far from it. Hell though while we have had our euphoria but we have had more disappointments in my view.
Ok but I think, judging by above post, that you are now mixing eras. You can't blend in what you've heard over the years from previous leadership with current. As for actions, what actions? I keep hearin this but nobody ever gives proposed actions other than: 1. Don't sell players - er, sorry that happens if a player won't sign a new deal, or they go for free 2. Spend loads - well the club have stated a gazillion times how they want to run the club. It isn't that way. I'm not actually sure what some fans think ambition is anymore. Perhaps Man Utd and Man City have no ambition anymore, or perhaps they too are having not such a good season. (Although our lack of ambition cries seem to happen whether it's a good season or not)
I wish him well. I am grateful for his service, particularly after the exodus summer when he first was given the captaincy. He wanted a longer contract and both him and the club seem happy enough with the deal. All the green biro on this thread is incomprehensible to me.
Can't agree with this. If his heart wasn't in it, he was not worth more to us than the money. And I don't see the lack of ambition. I agree with Fats that this is the plan, has always been the plan and they want us to get as high up the league as possible, sticking to it.
Ok I'll get me coat......I know where I'm not wanted...............Still disappointed though...........
I will take this at face value and not a wind up. It's true, we have finished above you and enjoyed more good times than you over the last few years. Bigger club? Not going to open that hornet's nest, but yes WHU are bigger. Bigger (free) stadium, wider fanbase, in London, history etc. However, we aren't some tinpot club to be fair. Still I think a strange move for him. Seven good years here, potential to be a true legend, grew with us. Not annoyed at him, just think he has made a bad decision - not knocking WHU, but seems odd to have a sideways move at the end of his career.
Me too. So disappointed with all this. Funny thing is though, I agree with virtually all of above (apart from wishing him well; sorry can't) which I suppose tells a story in itself. Whatever happened though, I do think a compromise with our offer of 2.5 yrs & a pay increase should have been enough & I have to blame Jose the most.
1. Actions.................When a player has more than two years left on his contract...and he is playing day in day out, is by far a good player, Why sell him. Other teams say a player is not for sale under similar circumstances, and won't sell ...... no matter the bid, why should we?? We allow ourselves to be bullied far too much by the so called bigger clubs....that has to end. Occasionally we have to speculate to accumulate by bringing in the established experienced players. With very few exceptions have teams maintained a top 6 or 8 finish with out doing so. the stated aim of the club. 2. Spend loads.........No I am not advocating that. I am not suggesting boom and bust. However there has been opportunities to bring in the established players with out going over the top. We do not seem to be able to do that.
This is a good discussion Beddy. Thanks for replying to the question; a lot of people don't. 1. I still believe that we only sell a player when it is clear they won't sign a new deal. Do you think the alternative of keeping then until they go on a free is sensible practise? We made Morgan, Clyne and Vic stay until their final year and then sold them before they reached zero value. All but Vic at a huge profit. 2. Is there evidence that there has been opportunities to sign established players? Signing "established" players is what QPR and Harry Redknapp do - no thanks. Back to the policy again - our policy is not to sign established players but sign players at a good value we can nurture in our way (mostly), so here I don't see the pint of people confining to get frustrated about when it is generally known that is not what we do. It's a bit like moaning that traffic lights go red sometimes. I know I keep being repetitive myself over time, and I'll carry on while I see people not quite understanding the way we do it (or maybe not, not understanding, but complaining about it).
With the exception of Mane, who was always going to be irreplaceable, I'd say we've done pretty well with the replacements.
But if you had a 7-10 year carrier wouldn't you want to earn as much as you could. Live in luxury for the rest of your life without having to work another day. And leave your kids a sizable inheritance?
Fonte may claim that he was being professional, but he was like a spectre at the feast, so better to let him go. Sad way to finish his time here, but overall he has done well for us through some of our best years. Wish him best as a person, but not as a player because WHU is too close to us in the league.
