Fitzhugh Fella

Well I have shared it on my timeline and I see Dennis Bundy has also commented on it. There is nothing libellous on it just a bunch of his ex-playing colleagues saying Shearer knew all about it and for him to say he didn't now to be hypercritical

When Virgil signed his extension it took a lot of us by surprise as he still had many years to go but it was welcomed. At the time many said why would he commit himself to us for such a long time. Obviously his wages rose significantly but there is no way he would have allowed himself to be tied without a get out clause. That's just common sense (CB Fry apart). Now this news has emerged the worrying thing is that the get out figure of £25m is about half of what he is worth. I would bet a sizeable sum this is his agent's way of telling the world at large to start reaching for their wallets. Why CB should find that hilarious I don't know.

It was widely reported by credible sources (D Telegraph and Echo) that there WAS a release clause. Why you should find that hilarious and want to sack the board I don't know, but I really think you need to take a break from this forum because you are beginning to contradict yourself in the same post in an effort, presumably to be funny.

What happens if 3 clubs meet the release fee? Presumably a bidding war breaks out? So who gets the proceeds? Us or Virgil. Upon reflection it could be Virgil which is why he was prepared to sign an extension? If that's the scenario Reed has been caught with his pants down and the agent is hoisting the for sale board.

Yes very

Some interesting comments about Shearer on a Facebook account of one of Shearer's fellow youth team colleagues at the Dell.

To persuade him to commit to signing a long contract. I think this is a true story. However if two clubs start a bidding war we could get a lot more

All being said I would still have Puel as our manager than koeman

Rotation = a double edged sword - it gets results but consistency suffers.

Long is off his game but the rotation system is undermining players like him who need a good long run to find their form. (Excuse the pun)

Right now (admittedly with hindsight) I would rather have bought Benteke than Boufal in the summer.

Christ, wasn't being that cryptic. No I just think while rotation grinds you out results and is a necessary evil it does not give you consistency which is what we are lacking. We need to field our best team in December.

No more rotation after Thursday

The perfect response

South Today are stirring things and exaggerating. To say Dean Radford has foregone their anonymity to talk to them is crap because Radford blew his cover back in the 90s when this story broke. As far as I know no one at SFC covered anything up, there was a court case and as Florida Martin correctly states a man was found not guilty. There didn't appear much more the club could do, he no longer worked for the club but he remained the agent of one or two high profile players which left everyone feeling a bit uneasy. I don't think Saints are guilty of anything untoward over this case, which has been in the public domain for 20 years.

Now there's a person who is going to be rich one day

Let's just get this straight. Because I declined to be positive about our chances "all the time" I have no "semblance of being a fan"? OK not sure that is a fair comment but let's press on. Also I am - according to you - "100% negative". Well I am not sure that is valid either (check some of my posts out you might be pleasantly surprised). Yes I understand you are a optimistic fan who view people like me as some sort of traitor who should be shot at dawn, but please let's not get carried away. I have not taken a double page advert in the Echo predicting doom and gloom for our club. I have not sat next to Sally on her sofa and told BBC South viewers all is lost, nor have I walked the length of the High St with a sandwich board saying there is no point us turning up for the semi-finals and the end is nigh. The world is still turning, the players are not revolting because a "miserable old fart" somewhere in cyber space has dared to suggest we might not win. This is just a forum for view exchanging not a rallying centre for ultra uber fans. (Privately I reckon 80 per cent of people on here think we will probably get beat but dare not say it on here because of fears of being accused in the manner you have accused me. With the greatest of respect, I have merely expressed doubt that, despite our very enjoyable and praiseworthy win last night, we can overcome a very formidable Liverpool side who we struggled to contain a fortnight ago. I am truly sorry if I have ruined your day, I have obviously shattered something precious, your faith. My sincere apologies. And believe it or not I will be delighted if you are right and I am wrong and would love in the aftermath of a Saints victory to buy you a pint or three and show you I am a fan just like you who (probably because I am an old fart) tries to keep my feet a little firmer on the ground. It's an age thing, I think there was a time I was just like you, but in those days there were no forums.

Supporting your team is not being wildly optimistic on a forum. I give Saints positive supportive going to Europe three times this season and getting vocally behind them in games. That entitles me to vent my fears on a forum surely? If you don't like it go join a 100% happy clappy forum, that way you won't get offended.

That's what kills you

OK money where your mouth is I bet my 100 to your 20 we don't get to the Final. If you don't take me up that says in your heart you are writing it off too.

Calm down dear! Tis only a forum

Sorry to be such a killjoy especially after an excellent performance, but realism kicks in early with me, plus I find having low expectations helps when things go pear shape as they invariably do with us. I will be thrilled to be eating these words in Feb and looking forward to "Meltdown Trousers" digging this thread out in the Spring to gloat.

Great win but I am afraid it will all be in vain because taking the st Mary's game into consideration there is no way we will beat Liverpool over two legs.

I agree you need at least a bit of continuity. Now you know why I have given up on this tournament. Foreign managers are only concerned with the Premier League, must be something in their contracts.

But who is going to score for us? Genuine question.