So this summer is something different to what we are used to. There is always something to keep the fans interested whether it be administration, relegation, promotion, new owners, new managers or a complete exodus of players southampton fans never seem to have boring summers. This time its different though we had just had a great season we had numerous international players at the world cup and everything was set, so what happened? Is the answer as simple as Nicola and Mauriccio leaving or is there a different angle to look at this. Remember in the past if you played for Southampton you were overlooked at international level, hence we lost players looking to better themselves on a world scale however this year the players we have already lost and the players being rumoured to leave were all at the world cup.So these players represented their countrys in the biggest tournament having played for Southampton. My question is then why would they all want to leave immediately having been part of one of the greatest Southampton teams ever, a team that with a little bit more investment was looking good to mount a serious challenge for europe, this group of players had the chance to be involved in something really special but not one of them seems to want that. Is it as simple as money? is instant european football a valid reason or are they chasing fame?
It's the beards. Lord twatbeard and Rickie didn't have nearly as good a beard as Jos and Shaw didn't have one at all so they ****ed off.
Nicola leaving is a big factor, I'm sure, if only for the fact that it felt like the end of an era, and thus was an apt time for players to feel like starting a new chapter.
Yeah i'm guessing that is a massive factor, its pretty poor from the new management set up though to let things get this out of control, and still it does only seem to be the internationals at the club that are pushing for transfers.
I think it is quite simple. Even with Cortese's power of persuasion I doubt any of the players truly believed that we were going to be able to reach CL and even Europa being an massive outside chance. Yes they repeated the message but I doubt they ever thought we would have had the season we had even. So with most of them towing the company line and happy to stay for a while I would guess that their stock was so high this summer that instead of leaving next season or the season after they had to do it now (in their minds) because they may never get the same opportunities again. If next season we finished say 12th, a couple of players didn't hit this season's heights and the knock on meaning that others that were still playing well didn't look as good they might not have had the same big clubs coming in for them. Either way I think they are pretty much just deciding they have to leave now or they may have less options available if they wait. If they came out and said it rather than all the 'behind the scenes' garb then it would be much easier to accept. As it is they are like the whispering office bitching that gets you the sack.
I'm pretty sure all these players were never serious about playing for Southampton in the champions league yet they all signed long contracts last season. I know with NC and MP leaving the players might look at other options but surely the management and people in control should of sat them down and explained to them that nothing has changed and they are expected to continue as normal. I can understand 1 or 2 rocking the boat but it looks like 6 or 7 are pushing for transfers, how is that right?
I'm with Imps. It's a short career amnd they are cashing in at what they see is the right time. So far its been great business for us both Luke and Adam being sold at massive prices. Lets see where we are in 6 weeks before we go into meltdown. Ron can build something great.
Oh i'm far from melt down, like you say we should still be in a very good position, i'm just concerned that in the space of 2 months we could possibly lose 5 or 6 of our main players and i've never seen that from any club before. Regardless of money and who we bring in thats is not a good way to run a football team.
I have pretty much accepted our level now and realise we are just a stepping stone. The thing is that is the exact impression we are giving out to the football world so it seems a future of new managers and new team every 1 or 2 season's. Big Ron to be spurs manager next season anyone?
I think the players did believe a lot of the hype about getting to the CL, but after a good season (that fizzled out in the middle) and MP and NC leaving the doubts stepped in. This coincided with the adulation they got, followed by international call ups. They decided that now was the time to move. Forget all the self justifying hints about broken promises and loss of ambition at the club....to me that doesn't seem to have changed. The only thing is a more realistic time scale, which doesn't suit some players.
I disagree with Kitch there. I haven't accepted our level. I just didn't ever think Cortese's vision and timescale was that realistic and I don't think the players did either. I'm pretty sure they signed those long contracts fully thinking that in a couple of years they would move on but then all of a sudden their stock was raised to a height that even an 18 year old may never reach again (or at least it would risky to assume so.) Just think of the difference from a year ago: Lallana - A Year ago - Promising player, good on occasions but maybe struggling to cope with PL level. Even Saints fans questioning if he is worth more than £15m Now - In the PL team of the year, top 6 for player of the year, grudgingly sold for £25m Shaw - A year ago - Promising youngster with loads of potential. One season in the Prem looks like he could go far. Talk of him being sold for £10m Now - Seen as potentially world class, nominated for young player of the year. World record transfer for a defender and teenager. Lovren - A year ago - Promising player but has had ups and downs, Previous club wanted him out and lots of doubts about him. Now - Seen as one of the best defenders in the PL. In demand by big clubs not just PL but also abroad. Morgan - Has always been good but the last season just clarified that the first season was no fluke and may have pushed his value (as seen by other clubs) from the £15m region to £25m. You can add to that list Rodriguez, Cork, Clyne, Chambers. Their stock has all risen substantially last season. We will be fighting offers for all of these too.
We have always been a stepping stone, under NC things changed slightly, yes Ox left but he was a teenager who had only ever played league 1 football. We as fans believed that the european dream was possible, i would have still believed that dream if NC was still here. He's not we move on whether that be upward or downward remains to be seen.
What just like that? No words said by NC? No negative slant on why he went? He left, MP left, it all crumbled. I was an NC fan but I can not accept that he didn't start this with some negativity, whether direct to the players or via MP and Mp then became the main negative head, but he played a part. I can't see that he just picked up his Mont Blanc pen and left quietly. I don't buy that our best 6 players coincidently thought it was the end of an era and looked to leave.
There's nothing coincidental about it. A chairman leaving is always going to feel like the end of an era, regardless of whether he leaves quietly or not.
I think we all pretty much agree that NC and MP leaving shattered our dreams and those of a lot of the players. Having had one good season and mixing with the other internationals who earn megabucks compared with Saints wage structure, they (& their agents) saw an opportunity to grab some of the fur tune that can be earned playing for on of the big six clubs. All this crap about CL football is a myth and one pedalled to avoid saying I am chasing a massive salary. Not playing CL doesn't preclude a player from playing international football as we have seen this WC so its all down to MONEY! I can't blame them as I would do the same but please be honest about it and stop all these boring soundbites guys
So a chairman leaves and a large group if players just think its time to go? I don't see that. I could accept players turning round in October looking for a January move. Because they've had the new manager in and they don't like the 'new club'. You would wait and see first.
Yeah, why not? If they'd already had it in their minds that they wanted to be at top clubs one day, but weren't sure when, that might have just been a convenient moment to say "might as well be now". Cortese set goals for years down the line. That was a big part of the way he managed the club, and the players would no doubt have been motivated by those goals. When he left it probably felt like their futures had been blown wide open.
I just don't see it like that. Unless they were given a new vision at that point that they didn't like.
