Wouldn't be devastated if we took the money. It'd just bum me out a little if we had fewer academy graduates in the team next season; it'd feel like we're going backwards on a big part of the Liebherr/Cortese plan. Also having to replace half a squad in one window isn't ideal.
It wont be 1/2 the squad. Lets just get the manager in and then see what happens. We may lose another couple but they could be inspired to stay by the new appointment.
People saying he is only 18 and could wait a year or 2 need to consider that every month/couple of months/season there is a new "in" player. At the moment it is Shaw. What are the chances that the big teams go through this summer without signing a LB when basically all of them need one as one of their top priorities? This time next year or in 2 years they might not want Shaw. He may have a couple of average/poor seasons and his chance has gone. He may stay at a similar level to how he is now and then people will be questioning just how much potential he really has. The fact that it looks like Utd are seriously interested in him NOW means that he has to strongly consider it NOW and weigh up taking the chance to go and be (probably) the starting left back for one of the biggest clubs in the world and I can't really see how anyone could blame him for going. The opportunity to move to a club like that does not turn up every day.
Replacing Lambert, Lallana and Shaw (if it comes to it) would be replacing the heart of last season's team. It's doable, but I fear it would make next season a year of gelling and consolidation.
How is a team like southampton supposed to push on when everytime a good player comes through ,they leave. Bit disheartning
If he asked to leave on the last game of the season, At least it puts to bed the myth that our players would have stayed if Poch had stayed.
Yes was just going to post the same thing. Much as we all loved him I think we all knew that he wasnt going to play every game next season.
I have a bet on us finishing 11th. With the players going(or asking to go) it will be a harder season.
You sell yuor star players for large fees and (hopefully) replace them with a few players who can push the club forward and, again hopefully, you get to a position where the star players are happy to stay as the club has progressed to a level they want to be at. This is obvioulsy ideal scenario/dream world but it is what the clubs outside the top 6 have to try and do as it is impossible to progress to the top level unless you spend loads of money in a short space of time
A positive for me is that the teams below us last season looked pretty crap. Can't see Newcastle getting back into European contention for a while, West Ham have stuck with Sam, Palace and Hull got as high as they're going to get, Swansea are making terrible signings, Lerner's given up on Villa, Stoke just don't have the players to get any higher. At this rate we could be worse than last season and still be comfortably in the top half. I'm sure West Ham and Villa will be mid-table again, and Sunderland might have a better season, but I can't see us becoming worse than those three.
I think we have to get into Europe with smart signings. Our best players and graduates will want to stick with Saints if we're playing in Europe. Until then we need to buy players who can get us there.
Someone on the DE thread has said that when Luke made the statement, he was a victim of a few too many sherbets, and was obliged to apologise to Kat afterwards for his behaviour, seems logical, youngsters and alchohol are a bad combination.
