I'll repeat this video. And before anyone says, that was ages ago, it isn't ancient history. It was made late last year. He's happy. Go and find some other player, at another club, to pick on speculators: [video=youtube;GG1GERe6M8o]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG1GERe6M8o[/video]
I hope not for many reasons. The main one is the message it gives to other youngsters; that all you are is a commodity to be traded if the price is right. If we want to attract the cream of this countries young players we need to show that we will nurture them as footballers who will then have an opportunity for a successful career at Southampton.
Amazing how he changes during that video from stepping out shyly when being introduced to the crowd at SMS to the more assured person being interviewed. I suppose it shows that people change and his views may be different when offers are actually made, rather than just being talked about, but I don't think he is ready for a move yet. He is happy and settled and learning all the time here...other players before him have had set backs when they move. Like the picture of our 5 youth players, including Luke, JWP, Chambers, Turnbull and Reed, which was promoted as our golden generation at the time.
I can see Jos going, and probably to join up with Adkins at Reading to team. Jos was a rock in the Championship, and I think we'll always be grateful to him, but he's not so hot in the Prem. Presuming we move Chambers sideways in central defence and put Clyne out on the right, we'll still want some cover. We know both Clyne and Chambers can play RB, so there's cover for that position, provided someone else can slot into central defence. Promotion from the academy is the best bet, but thrusting a young player into a Prem match is always going to be a bit of an ask, not that it proved too much for Shaw or Chambers. Maybe we should use the rest of the season to give some game-time to some of our young up-and-comers.
I think Yoshida will stay, but Jos will go. Turnbull isn't quite there yet, in my opinion, but I suppose Saints will be brave, like they usually are, and give him his chance.
Chambers got his chance because of Clyne injury and looked how well that turned out. Must say a trainee CB is more worrying than a RB, but you have to start sometime.
I'm sure, for which reason, why Saints are a little more hesitant about giving Turnbull a go. He's been in the 1st team squad for a season though, so he's being introduced slowly. Hopefully, he'll make the necessary step up. Don't rule out Chambers at CB either. Then again, don't rule him out in midfield.
If the kind of figures being thrown about are accurate I'd be very tempted to sell. On the basis of reinvestment of course. 25-30mil is a lot for a left back his age, regardless of talent.
Still don't get some of you on here. Remember the Southampton Way? Which paragraph contained the words, "As soon an Acadamy graduate becomes really good and sought after, we will sell him and use the money to buy another couple of others, probably foreign mercenaries. This is in line with the wisdom gained from playing FM on the X-Box." We have a quality, potentially world class player. If he wants away then it's difficult to keep him. If he is happy here then why would we not want to keep him?
If we can keep this team together, we could become a superb side with a few more players (and some of those may well be from the Academy as well). I don't think KL will put enough money in to buy us success in the usual way (known as the Man City, Chelsea way), but we could be a unique side if the NC/ML plan is persisted with (aka the Southampton way). I think Katharina is buying into this in her father's memory.
For me if he's not really pushing for a move then there's no way I would even consider selling him unless it's truly silly money, which in today's game £25-30m isn't. Partly because whilst in theory we can replace him with the same or greater amount of quality with that money, I'd rather have the proven quantity than entering the lottery of the transfer market. Secondly because if we really want to continue progress from here then we just simply can't sell our best players, I really think that makes a huge difference on and off the pitch.
Possibly in memory of her father, but it also happens to be a sensible and sustainable way to run the business that is Southampton FC. It's not an unwillingness to spend a fortune on players due to a lack of ambition; spending stupid money goes against the project's principles.
We're doomed, we're doomed I'm certain he is staying...there is no sign he's not. We have a Luke Shaw...could we afford him if we didn't...no...so we want to keep him.
Yup, this the bit I find amusing. We sell Luke, then buy someone "just as good" and a proven striker with the change? Riiggghhttt....
