Transfer Rumours The 2015 Summer Transfer Window Thread

[Pelletron]

Indeed. But thus far we've filled one position of need with ~4m worth of players, another with a loan, and we're apparently interested in a guy on a free to fill a third. I have no doubt that we'll have a couple substantial outlays, but up to this point we're proceeding very cautiously from a financial perspective.

I imagine most players of note and considerable excitement value will not commit to us until closer towards the end of the window, once bigger teams with those gaps fill them with other players. If Saints are after a higher value (talent value rather than £ value is what I mean, though they equate to the same thing) player, you can bet at least one team with a higher stature than us are too.

 

[Pelletron]

Oh, sorry I misunderstood you point. Yeah I agree with you there, but it will be rare for a player who is wanted by a bigger club wanting to stick around. Think the only real chance we would have is if we revamped our wage structure. People look at Everton as a good model for us to be following, and they rarely lose their better players to the bigger teams (off the top of my head I can only really remember Fellaini in recent years, probably be more that I've forgotten though). But I'd wager that they pay their big players a fair bit more than we do.

Yes, I think Everton's transfer model is something like low transfer fee/first refusal on unwanted Man U players + more money proportionately spent on wages. That's how they keep their players happy - it's certainly not through performance on the pitch over the last season.

 

[I Sorry I Ruined The Party]

I don't see Reed and JWP as direct replacements for Big Vic and Morgan, both are more in competition for Davis but are versatile.

Agree with you about JWP, but not about Reed. Reed seems like a DM/defensively-oriented midfielder to me. In fact, I thought his tackling/defense/off-the-ball effort were superb. The weak part of his game right now is his passing and dribbling.

 

[Pelletron]

It's all very laudable Saints doing all their transfer business quietly but sometimes I just wish they would just give us a little snippet to keep us going, especially after todays disappointment. Anything anywhere about a new CB -apart from Vlaar? After his display at St Marys I am hoping it's not him.

Apart from being an ultra-professional way to go about it, I am sure it pays to keep us (and everyone else) in the dark, as we have shown that we can't compete with the clubs above us when it comes to a straight choice between us and them - it would be pretty easy and relatively cheap for one of those clubs to take advantage of that position, and swoop for our targets to prevent us getting the right talent in that would enable us to compete. I know it is a problem facing all clubs, but I'm glad that we seem to be good at actually keeping our targets under wrap. West Ham got so frustrated in our promotion year that they had a transfer policy of buying any attacking player that clubs around them might vaguely want.

 

[mowgli]

I don't think Vlaar would be a bad signing. A lot raved about him last summer and one poor season at Villa should not cloud our judgment on a player if Koeman thinks he can get more out of him. That said, I don't think, at 30 yoa, he quite fits the general profile of saints signings. I reckon a rising star in the 24-25 age group is more likely.

 

[Pelletron]

This is called comeuppance or doing a Lovren. Don't know what is going on here, but Sterling's attitude is insulting to the club.

The fact he wants to actually leave Liverpool seems to have completely and utterly malfunctioned Brenda's system. I swear I saw him wobbling around aimlessly with electrical sparks and wires hanging out his back. He literally cannot understand, and it has blown a gaping hole in the matrix of logic and rationality he has spent his life constructing through his experiences in football. Towards the end of the season, he looked crazily dishevelled, lost games he shouldn't have, lost the ability to build proper sentences etc. So basically all looked normal, so nobody questioned anything - but the telltale sign was his shifty eyes darting about during interviews in even more manic fashion than usual. He cannot trust his own internal logic clock. He has lost himself, and consequently started work on conquering Europe's B-tournament by building a Frankenstein's monster made up of Southampton and Burnley contract rebels. He basically needs reprogramming, or some sort of logic patch to be applied, such as a player from a team above eighth place in the Prem expressing a desire to join them.

 

[Pelletron]

I notice Man City have been quiet so far this window.

Also, anyone know how Stoke feel about Nzonzi going? Was that against the fans' will, or with the fans' backing? Assumed he would be a key part of their team. Do other teams have meltdowns?

 

[Saintmagic]

Yes, I think Everton's transfer model is something like low transfer fee/first refusal on unwanted Man U players + more money proportionately spent on wages. That's how they keep their players happy - it's certainly not through performance on the pitch over the last season.

Yeah but I think it is fair to say that last season for them was a blip, based mainly on their efforts in the Europa League. Their performances/results after they got knocked out were pretty impressive. It is actually a large reason why I am not massively fussed about where we finish next year (provided we don't get relegated) as long as we do well in the Europa. For fans of clubs like Saints it doesn't matter hugely whether you finish 8th or 17th in the grand scheme of things, we still will be able to attract similar level of player and earn large sums just by being in the Premier League, but a long cup run would be great.

 

[St. Luigi Scrosoppi]

Would we have better luck retaining players and with new signings if we moved our stadium to somewhere in North London?

 

[st_brendy]

If we finish above Everton next season, we'll have had a very good season I suspect. With no EL football, they'll no doubt be back to challenging for a top seven place again. Coleman, Baines, Lukaku, Jagielka, Mirallas, Barkley, McCarthy, the emergence of Stones, the re-signing of Deulofeu. Decent.

An aging Howard and a lack of a third CB at present are the only real issues which I see there.

 

[- Doing The Lambert Walk]

Bravo, this man.

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[Craig smith]

Wouldn't want them to break the bank for anyone----sustainability is the key. We must have a lot of money, but it isn't only for spending on players. The club doesn't run without income. Our policy is about having a balanced team....we aren't a one man team with supporting cast (as we were in Tiss's day). Turning a profit on each player is also a good source of income, though they also try and keep players...it's not all about money.

Fran I'm sure it's not and you make some very good points and sensible ones at that,but there's only so long you can keep selling your best players and hope to sign replacements for cheap as chips and hope they come off so they can be sold to Liverpool a season later for big big money.
Our chairman said we are ready for European football what ever way the season finishes,but I'm afraid I think once Morgan goes there could be a fear of being weaker than last season.
My point of "breaking the bank" was almost a throw away comment,but it has to be said we argue about fees for our players and want the best prices(hence I think they gave Clyne away imo) 12.5m,but we need to speculate a little to keep progressing and staying in that 7th-10th league status.

 

[fran-MLs little camera]

I agree that we won't go on getting equally good players in if we lose too many each season, but changing a few a year is pretty normal in most clubs. I would say we must try to keep the team together, but I'm sure that is what the club try and do....they offer increases in wages to try and keep players like Clyne and Morgan, but in the end what can you do. It will be interesting to see how firm Liverpool are with Sterling....and they are richer than we are. Is there a point where keeping a disgruntled player just isn't worth it. I'm more worried about our ability to keep finding great managers...good ones are easy to find, but we are getting used to an exceptional one.

 

[Libby]

United want Sakho from WHU apparently. Also Van Persie in talks with Fenerbahce.

 

[Pelletron]

Yeah but I think it is fair to say that last season for them was a blip, based mainly on their efforts in the Europa League. Their performances/results after they got knocked out were pretty impressive. It is actually a large reason why I am not massively fussed about where we finish next year (provided we don't get relegated) as long as we do well in the Europa. For fans of clubs like Saints it doesn't matter hugely whether you finish 8th or 17th in the grand scheme of things, we still will be able to attract similar level of player and earn large sums just by being in the Premier League, but a long cup run would be great.

I can't figure out what is more important. Is it important to continue our momentum in the league, and keep qualifying for Europa, so even if we don't do that well in Europa, we continue the awareness-raising, and the experience of playing at that level for our young players? Or is it important to do as well as we can in the Europa (which could mean just getting a few wins in the group stages but still going out), even if it means finishing 15th in the league, and not getting another shot, and having to rebuild our league momentum over a number of seasons, and doubtless managerial and player changes? A tough choice.

 

[Brixham Saint]

I don't think Vlaar would be a bad signing. A lot raved about him last summer and one poor season at Villa should not cloud our judgment on a player if Koeman thinks he can get more out of him. That said, I don't think, at 30 yoa, he quite fits the general profile of saints signings. I reckon a rising star in the 24-25 age group is more likely.

He didn't have a pre season last year and suffered with several niggles. I would defo take him, but I don't think he will be coming to us as they will look for a younger CB to play with Jose.

 

[fran-MLs little camera]

Didn't someone report that we aren't interested in Vlaar. Simon Peach perhaps.

 

[Lff]

Double post.

 

[Osvaldorama]

I'm not saying that Vlaar isn't a decent centre back but he's not a footballing cb like Toby. As such I think we have better already at the club in Yoshida and Gardos. Yoshida had a decent season last year and I remember being very impressed by Gardos early on and thought he was unlucky to be replaced by Toby when he was.

What with them and the likes of Stephens coming through do we actually need another cb? I would much rather see the money go into one or two really good midfielders.

I would be worried if we are going into a season with Yoshida as first choice personally. I know he had a good season and improved last year, but he is really only good enough to be back up IMO.
Gardos and Stephens may step up, but it's a risk. I would like to see us spend the big bucks on a decent ball playing CB.

 

[Lff]

I would like to see us spend the big bucks on a decent ball playing CB.

Fair enough. That wouldn't be Vlaar though.