Saint Nicolae!

Maybe, I'd like one but not essential.

Mane, Pelle out

Boufal, Redmond in.

Jayrod didn't really play last year, so we are about status quo. Yes, I would like another one, but not essential and to say another one if Jay goes is possibly overload.

I'm talking player numbers here, not like for like player.

 

Pretty sure Becali actually does. This is after all the guy who once said of his critics "I piss in their arse cracks".

 

Yes, I agree. But now we're are in danger of going around in circles. Because what I'm saying is, we might have done better had we not signed the new ones, and stuck with the old ones, or, had we just been a little more selective over those we let go (it was obvious we had to sell Shaw etc). And we could have still brought some new ones in. Our best signings have all been less than 10 million. I know this is all in hindsight, but I had a bad feeling at the time that we sold Clyne, and look at the trouble we've had since. We only made 6 million from that deal (considering we had to replace him). I think we would agree that having a top class full back for a whole season is worth losing 6 million for. I also still think it was wrong to sell Chambers. The Mane selling quite simply fills me with dread. I know he is gonna score 20+ plus goals this season, and create god knows how many more, and Liverpool will finish top 4.

 

Interesting point, Black. Hard to quantify....keeping players should mean we didn't have to 'reset' most seasons and possibly could have done even better than we did, but we have got good replacements and realistically could we have done much better than we did? I think the worse losses were early on when we were trying to find our feet, though by now some may have moved on anyway. We've lost good players, but have good players. Given the chance, which players would everyone swap back.

 

Chambers: asked to go and wouldn't take no for a answer, so we had to sell.

Clyne: wouldn't sign a new deal. Made up he wanted to stay and was only on £10k a week here and we wouldn't up it so went to Liverpool on £25k a week... ( I can't remember if that is right amount, will have to ask his trainer again. But he was bullshitting about being on very low wages for a Prem player. Then said the club wouldn't didn't want him, so signed for Liverpool for low wages as well).

Mane: Would never had came here if he knew we wouldn't sell him on.

Shaw: Could have gone before he actually even played a first team game. But Cortese got him to sign a deal and stay a year, so the club got a lot of money.

Lallana: well...

Lovren: Burnt his bridges and was a total dick head behind the scenes. He had to be sold as he was causing too many problems.

Morgan: would have had a meltdown about not being allowed to leave. But got calmed down and stayed one more season.

Wanyama: Has probably the dodgiest agent in footy. He kept playing the club looking interested in signing a new deal until he knew he had other interest.

It's ok to say the club could have done it differently. But then you are forgetting the player factor completely. You can't have one without the other.

 

I think the club does the best it can with the cards dealt. They have shown they can stand firm (at least for a further season) if needs must, but don't stop every move (if the deal is right) because you then end up with a team of pissed off players and the end of team spirit. Better to have a team of contented players (for now) with an injection of new players (motivated by enthusiasm for their new club and wanting to do well, even if just seeking a move down the line). I think they are doing a pretty good job....could they have got more money here, paid less money there....possibly, but there are 2 parties in every deal, so not everything will be in our favour. Pragmatism and compromise...not exciting words, but good for business.

 

I agree with the top half of your post entirely.

If the bottom half about Mane is right then Liverpool/Klopp are better than us and he was right to go. My reason for saying that: he didn't do that with us.

 

A lot of these are just excuses Beefy. It's admirable to defend the club, but you have to admit there have been mistakes.

Chambers: He was a youth player, how - if what you say is true - does our board allow themselves to be bullied by a kid. I don't buy it.

Clyne: Could have offered him more wages. He was well worth it. Plus he would have had the power to demand higher wages/signing on fee when he became a free agent.

Mane: I definitely am not buying that. He didn't want to sign for a Premier League club without that reassurance. Sorry to doubt you Beefy, but I need hard evidence on this one. And you think the money was good that we got for him?

Shaw: Well played Saints.

Lallana/Lovren/Morgan/Wanyama: I agree not much could have been done.

 

I thought you said let's move on to avoid the circling round

Hard to do that isn't it? Take a leave out of my book and just let things go...

 

Chambers: has a agent and that agent has a team helping him out. You have to remember when dealing with a player you aren't dealing with just one person.

Clyne: he was quite clearly bullshitting and wanted to leave.

Mane: Listen to his first interview or all the quotes in the papers. Mane and his agent quite clearly saw us as a stepping stone.

So nope not really excuses.

 

3 juicy points today will help with that!

 

Well, still sounds pretty dubious to me. But anyway let's forget it.

 

Talking about numbers I've made no secret that I was hoping for a striker anyway. All Summer I've been told we have plenty including Jay as one of those. If he leaves then we need another imo.

 

I think you guys have gone a bit off topic here. I skipped to the end to find out if Nicolae Stanciu we a definite no now, and a yes for Sofiane Boufal.

It does fill me with dread when ever I hear "breaking their transfer record to sign" these days. We will never be able to hold on to players that are lured by high paying teams, e.g. teams that work at a loss, or have rich benefactors or income.

 

Anderlecht getting closer

LAST HOUR! Belgians arrived after Stanciu ! Becali announces negotiations at the palace : "I give 10 million! "

Gigi Becali announces negotiations with Anderlecht for Nicolae Stanciu!

Becali refused the initial offer of 7 million euros, but the Belgians insisted to meet with Steaua owner, today at 13:00. Belgians would be willing to provide 9 million, but ask Becali 10 million. Chances are the two sides to understand in this afternoon.


"I told them to come in from 13:00. I understand that 7-8 million offer with bonuses would result in 9 million. I told them not to come, he does not give you this money. They insisted we meet to negotiate. I expect to 13:00, to see what will be. Exactly the same situation was with Alex Chipciu. they provided first and climbed 1.5 million offer. eventually they sent me offer 3 million with bonuses. He was negotiating a month ", said Becali, Digi, also stipulating that has other options for tens team:" Did you think that if there were other offers, remains I like bathos? if you give 10 million at the end of the day Stanciu is theirs. "

 

I think that you underestimate the power of bigger clubs. If the player wants to go, you can only do so much. If they won't sign a new deal like Wanyama and Clyne, you move on. Mane kicked up a fuss and went on strike at his old club to get a move to us, and most likely would have done the same. Modern football for you.

 

I'm secretly beginning to love Gigi Becali.

 

A bit like our Nicola?

 

Stanciu might be good enough to seize a starting spot, or at least one in the rotation and if so it would be worthwhile to sign him. Someone else would likely get squeezed out, though. So it depends how much faith Puel has in the present players. As you said, it would be nice but not essential.

But IMO, we should still look to bring someone in regardless. Because even if we can't get a player who will challenge for a spot immediately, it's a great situation for a young, developing player. We have 6 Europa matches this season, and if they are eligible that player could get 4 JPT matches. Plus FA and League Cup. Add in a few PL starts and some bench appearances and that is a decent amount of action for a 20 year old while at the same time giving Saints some depth in case of injury and during congested periods of the schedule.

And I think with the money we have, and the unique opportunity available to stash away a player and still get them a decent amount of matches we really need to take advantage if possible. They would essentially be replacing Juanmi, who ended up with no role because we stunk it up in Cup play and there was no JPT/EFL option, but who could have been useful if we hadn't (and had he perhaps performed better when given a chance).

 

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Gigi Becali in his palace, where Anderlecht are still in negotiations over Stanciu. Steaua manager has indicated that Nicolae will be happy to remain at the club until January, should no agreement be made