The best example of that was when Man City bought James Milner for £26m (+ Stephen Ireland), the same day that Real Madrid bought Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira for less money combined.
Reminds me of taarabt. cant wait to see him in action............................. de ridder to score v pompey!!
That's the benefit of the Murdoch empire pushing all that money into the Premier League. The trouble is, you and I end up paying for it all.
Just so long as he doesn't have the same attitude as Taarabt. Don't really want another Puncheon situation on our hands in 18 months time.
This is what he had to say to the Dutch newspaper "Voetbal International": (Google translated) "This is a great step, a childhood dream, "says Knight, who signed for three years at the club from the Championship. "Playing in England has always been a wish of mine. And then also at Southampton, a club with a great history. A club with the caliber of the Premier League, and that they hope to play next season. "There are an average of 28,000 fans watching the home games, while the opening match against Leeds United have been sold out with 33,000 spectators. Everything here breathes football, very special. I'm already aangehad my shirt, number 33, because number 11 was already forgiven. I wanted a plural and it worked." .........Hhmmm 28, 000!? Not quite, last season it was more or less 22,000 and this season it will more likely be 25 0000....and the leeds game goes on sell monday so how can it be sold out!? ""I calmly waited, also out of respect for De Graafschap. My manager Martin Ophuizen has kept me calm, I am grateful. This is the logical step. In the Netherlands I made ​​a name as a player, England's next challenge." The manager had this to say "For De Graafschap it is a financially attractive deal" .....Looks like we might have paid over the odds to get him as there were many clubs chasing him. Anyway, looks like a very talented player and really wants to be at this club which is the most important thing. If AOC and Puncheon want to leave then we should let them go (for the right price) and wish them the best...We want players like de ridder who have desire to play for us. If we keep players that don´t want to be at Saints then it will only effect the team spirit. Norwich had consecutive promotions without spending much in the transfer market because they had good team spirit and a good manager (like us). As far as I am concerned AOC and Punch can do one. De ridder is ambitious and talented and I think he will be a hit.
I want to see this video Cortese has done for future players. De Ridder said that it was the selling point of the deal. I think its a very clever thing for the Chairman to do espcially if a player like De Ridder knows not to much about Southampton. Well Done NC!!
Thanks Dan........you pre-empted my next question. Never heard of the guy so does that mean we are just waiting for a CB signature?
I wouldn't have thought we are talking over £4m (the Delap fee) are we? Undisclosed normally means there is adds on/clauses so would expect a reasonable fee and then more if we get promoted/sell on fee etc.
Even though the standard of Belgium football is not up to the standards of England. English clubs have proved tham gems can be found. De Ridder, Felliani, Radzinski etc..
Doesn't mean chambos off but this guy looks class! Again it's a win win keep chambo we keep a good player and him and De Ridder can play it off for the space in the team, let him go and we get a handsome fee because cortese won't be exploited and we get this guy on the wing!
Hear hear! Not a glimmer of a rumour until half an hour before it's on the OS; outstanding stuff signor Cortese. Two fingers up at the rumour mongering ****e tabloids
