Ken Tone

In the penalty area?

Renewed on the second day we could, but it is getting so bloody expensive that we did hesitate. I have to say that if AL goes, we will at first regret renewing, but I suspect that after c40years of regular football watching, we will soon get hooked again. Hope we don't sign too many jobbing mercenaries though if we have to replace several players. It's easier to really support players you've seen develop from youngsters.

It's not long since Adam Blackmore said he'd heard we'd rejected a £15 million bid for Lovren from Liverpool. (Though to be fair he also said he had no proof) i do not see there is any chance whatsoever of us selling him for £8million

After your invented quote on the Cortese interview thread, no one will ever take any of your posts seriously again.

pity the the author thinks the Liebherrs are Italian. Rather undermines the credibility of a positive story.

James Wilson as a make-weight in Shaw to Man U deal. let's unsettle some other club's promising youngsters.

Maybe he's waiting to see if Arsenal win the cup before he decides?

There's quite a difference between 'resigned' and 're-signed' !

But in effect all that means is that a player can't play for his new club till then. There's nothing to stop deals being agreed before then.

IF we don't need the money I don't see why we can't play hardball with AL and LS. They are both on *long* contracts and are not going to stop playing for the team for the next 4 years! It's not like the situation many clubs get in where the player only has a year left on contract and can sulk for a bit if not allowed to go. But the big question is the "IF" And of course the same contract length does not apply to MP.

One thing I remember from when Markus bought the club was that it was said that th nLiebherrs did not approve of borrowing. It stuck in my mind because I was amazed that any big company could work without borrowing. if that come t was true, I wonder if it explains some of the comments about our finances now that Katharina is properly on the scene. Maybe she is more unhappy with the outstanding transfer fees etc than most business people would be?

Whereas Levy's interest in MP is a state secret? It looks to me as if even the quality press really have no more idea than we do.

Still don't understand why spurs would be a very attractive job for MP. Yes they are a bigger club than us, but not so much bigger. Unlikely to be top 4. Not as big as Arsenal, Chelsea. Man U, Liverpool, Man City. Now if any of them came in for him....

£100,000 a week and a 5 year contract according to that Guardian article! That is just gobsmacking. How can an 18 year old even conceive of £ 5 million a year?

mimd you, if that article is to be believed, "Liverpool's main focus is likely to be on defensive players." personally i I think they,ll have their own problems resisting Real's bid for Suarez.

It's hardly a surprise after all the stage-managed leaks that Liverpool have reportedly made a bid. That does not necessarily mean that .saints will accept it, even if Adam is interested. when you look at the fees paid for the likes of Fellaini, Mata, and just about any unpronounceable foreigner at Chelsea, the price for one of of the top attacking players in one of the top leagues in the world should be close to £40 million, especially when you remember that Adam would be a 'home grown' member of a squad. I haven't seen the £20 million figure that others in this thread seem to have picked up on, but if that is the bid, it is too low. Have Liverpool got enough cash to afford him - unless they sell Suarez of course? in any event I would be gutted to see AL go. He is "our" players in a way that few others are. We've been through the tough times and the good times together. If he wants to go, then so be it, but it would be a shattering blow to the morale of the club ... players, manager, and supporters.

Particularly impressive given the speed he runs at !

And meanwhile the press are reporting that Man U has made an offer for a German left back instead http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/472687/Man-Utd-have-made-an-offer-Schalke-s-Sead-Kolasinac-braced-for-Old-Trafford-switch it seems to me that basically no one knows anything definite.

this

If we got £30 million, and were able to spend it all on new players, AND spent it wisely, we have a stronger team next year than this. However, our record in the transfer market recently is so poor that I doubt we'd spend it wisely. Let's face it of all the big buys we've made lately only Lovren has been a complete success. Even big Vic is arguably not as good as the player he was apparently bought to replace . Ramirez has been so so. And as for Osvaldo, Mayika, Forren....

"...come to seeSouthampton. You only come to see Southampton"

Have they seen any big expensive yachts on the Birmingham canals then?

it never stops mate. Nor will you ever stop worrying about them. My advice is from now on make it all *very* clear.... Is it a loan or a gift? How are you making things fair for your other children? And and definitely write it all down and get them to read and sign what you write. That may have little legal status but it will save any potentially nasty family arguments later on.

In all this speculation. Few seem to be discussing whether poch would want to go to Spurs. I am not naive enough to think he would stay with us if a big club came calling, but Spurs... .? ok, a bigger club than Saints, but not a top 4 club are they? Basically spurs are one of the PL''s "almost" clubs Why would he commit himself to them for the necessary 2 or 3 years rather than wait for Aresenal or Man U or a big foreign club in say 1 more year?

I still think them making it safely to the end of this season, then being relegated *next* season is even more fun.