saintstan

Taking in to account Monk's update, I find it hard to know how we don't really know how far along Toby's negotiations are with Spurs? Surely if Ronald gets on as well with him as we think he would contact him and get a "we've practically agreed a deal" or "I've already signed etc" I know Ronald is trying to manage the team/is away on tour, but if we want Toby that badly then I really find it hard to comprimise that someone hasn't spoken to Toby or Vic directly and that, if they had, they would then be 'cloak and dagger' with Saints and risk wasting our time and effort if it was all completed with Spurs!? We just seem to be peeing in the wind.

I think Van Dijk is a sensible option - but is he really any different to Gardos? (i.e. fairly young, with some decent experience but who will need serious coaching and development from both the Club and Jose Fonte etc. to adapt to the Premier League)? I've actually seen him play for Celtic and he is a big, physical presence who is good in the air and good with the ball at his feet. He isn't necessarily quick though (not that Toby was either). For me they need someone experienced - who has played in a top league for a couple of seasons. When I state the above, I don't mean Ron Vlaar...

I'm disappointed like others that it appears Toby is off to Spurs. Genuinely one of the best CB's I've seen Saints play with in 30 years watching them. But its not what disappoints me the most. Toby can do how he likes and, if Spurs have since come in for him and he feels thats the move him/his wife want (i.e. to London), then thats his prerogative I guess. There is no loyalty in football any more, everyone knows that. Whether we've messed up, Levy has been ruthless when negotiating with AM to make sure we've had communication cut off by them, whether AM have just played games for their own financial benefit or whether it is a mixture of all of these, what disappoints me the most is again Saints will somehow be made to look like the bad guys/petty in the media for trying to kick up a stink against a 'bigger' club. I'm proud that our Club is run astutely and, whilst I admit sometimes we don't play hardball like we could do (on or off the pitch), I'd not want to become a Club that continually works underhandedly and unethically just to benefit themselves. Thats not the morals with which our Club has ever been run and I don't think it ever should be. Football is about winning - I get that - but we showed last season we can win by doing things the right way. The honest way. Compared to the old regime (Cortese etc.) I trust Reed, Rogers and Wilson - who are clearly the main negotiators - to act in the best interests of our Club - even if that means we occasionally lose out on something, or someone, we really want. But I also trust Ronald and his team to get the best out of the players that are left when the serious games arrive in pre-season/Premier League. Ultimately I for one will be glad when Toby finally signs on the dotted line somewhere and all this chaos of the past couple of weeks is over. Yes, I think it'll be Spurs but as long as we have genuinely done all we can to secure him, and done in the right way by sticking to our principles, then I can't blame Saints for anything in this situation. The minority of bedwetters will bed-wet but the rest of us will look forward to getting behind the Club in what hopefully will be another enjoyable season.