I never complained about a lack of news during Cortese's era. No news meant there was nothing to tell. One actually knew more than one knows now.
Just listened to Kreuger's interview (thanks, Puck). I think we are in good hands, but in my opinion 'doing things that are best for Saints' may include selling players (for the right price) to finance the debt and provide funds to get replacements and extra players in. Don't like it, but none of us can argue that the Leihberrs haven't made a massive investment here and I'd still rather remain in Katharina's hands. The board want us to stabilise so we can progress...the talk is still there about progressing. The exact same thing will probably have happened even if Cortese stayed...after all he had no more money than the present board had. He borrowed last year...would it have made sense to borrow more again this year? The reckoning always comes...KL just decided to step in now. Still trying to come to terms with Ralph's style though...he smooths things out with a lot of words (not all essential)...a lot of communication that tells you little. However, I trust him not to do an outright lie, but can fudge with the best of them. I think he may be a man who is too reasonable...agrees with MP to wait until the end of the season before talks and doesn't see the need for panic (also a la Mauricio), when probably what Mauricio wanted was a firm commitment....like giving a woman her space to make a decision when she really wants you to say you love her.
ahhh...I just thought that meant going on a relationship break The trouble with interviews such as this is that unless he can give guarantees then there is nothing positive he can say and sadly the fact he can't guarantee we will not sell Shaw or Lallana means that he just waffles about doing the best for the club. We all want to hear not for sale and with four years left on their contracts that's a reasonable announcement to make. From a PR perspective that chucks the ball firmly in the players court and we would know as fans that any departures would be player driven. At the moment it looks like the club would not be adverse to selling our prized assets.
Why do people hang on to the "years left on a contract..." If a player has had his head turned, unfortunately that more often than not results in them leaving. I hope I am wrong, but my reading of the situation is that Adam is aware of Liverpool's interest; the idea is quite exciting/tempting for him; he has been torn between loyalty and being comfortable at Saints and playing in Champions League next season in front of better crowds than we have, oh and the small matter of a big salary increase. I am not saying he is causing a major problem, but he may have sat down with Les and said, "Look, this is a bloody good opportunity for me, how we make this work so it is good for all parties." This sort of thing does happen and saying he is "under contract" is just sticking heads in sand as to what happens in the real football world. I hope he stays and I hope I have read it wrong, but RK had his chance yesterday to make that clear and he didn't.
The contract means we have leverage though. If he only had a year left we'd have to decide whether to sell cheaply or lose him for nothing in a year. As it is, we can hold out for a good price (or say we haven't had a good enough offer, sorry, you're staying until we do).
Of course PTF, but so many people seem to think the contract means we just say "no" and it won't work like that (in a lot of cases) and from what has been said publicly, I believe that is where we are at with Lallana; he has an opportunity to take a step up and wants to take it (albeit with a heavy heart) and the club will now try and get the best deal. Holding out for a good price is different to saying he is not for sale. There is of course the subjective point of what is a good price. There, I hope the club involve the fans I still hope I am wrong.
Nothing to suggest Lallana has decided he must leave. Even if he has, he won't rock the boat, like Baines last year - he even put in a transfer request and still happily stayed. Not always a case of "player wants out therefore we have no choice".
No-one has said 'must leave'. If you go back to my earlier reply, I gave a fairly simple possibility as to what may be happening. I haven't said that "player wants out therefore we have no choice," PTF, nowhere, I am simply trying to offer an area between black and white. Can you not see that there may be a grey area here? Despite all the contract situation, the club saying "no offers" etc, I am at the point now (following RK interview) that I am falling on the side of believing there is something in this and the conversations RK talked about, have been happening with him, Lallana and Saints and Liverpool. How do you know he won't rock the boat? I agree that I don't think he would, but I couldn't say he wouldn't. I don't know him and I don't know if he wants that progressive move and if he does, how much he wants it. I'll repeat again, I hope I am wrong.
Regardless of whether Lallana would rock the boat, even under Cortese the club hasn't shown any real inclination to keep players who want to leave.
Mmm, I believe he fought quite hard to keep the OX and I can't believe we have had no enquiries in our rise to where we are now.
Getting an enquiry is a very different thing to a player saying he wants to leave. I imagine he tried to convince Ox to stay but couldn't. The point is that if Lallana (or Shaw or whoever) decides they want to leave then we probably aren't going to force them to stay.
He might need a bit of enthusiasm...you can be too easy going and amenable. Can be misinterpreted as indifference.
God you're naive. There is no grey on not606. It is the best of times, it is the worst of times, with nothing inbetween. Vin
Yes I can perceive sarcasm perfectly well thanks. That's how I know that despite him saying he thinks FLT is naive, he actually agrees with his accusation that my argument is only black or white, which is what I am responding to when I say there is plenty of grey (in my argument). If you take in the context you'll understand the meaning.
