Matthew Le God

Can you seriously not see what is wrong with making sweeping generalisations?

QPR with a 45k seater stadium. You are averaging 17,025 in the Premier League at the moment and often don't sell out. Yes, I know tickets are expensive, but even so that doesn't suggest 45k is likely to be achievable. If you think QPR need a 45k stadium, how big do you think Saints could extend St Mary's who are currently averaging over 26,097 in the 2nd tier at the moment?

I think that is unlikely as it could easily be shown to be false by the club, would end up doing him more harm than good. No club announces on their website every staff appointment.

Bill Green had gone to Leicester City from Saints last January. Now a year later he is back!

Interesting, I'll have to add him again. Anyone with a Bristol City programme tell me exactly what it said?

So we now know Jakob Friis-Hansen actually joined Saints. http://www.bold.dk/nyt/Friis-Hansen-stoppet-i-Southampton Looking back to the original article his comments remain interesting... "The club is owned by the Liebherr family. They are incredibly rich and are aware that it will cost money. On short terms the goal is Premier League, but on the longer term they also want to play in the Champions League and be part of the top clubs in England. With their fortune backing them up they are about the fifth richest club in England, so it is realistic and there is a willingness to expand the academy, the facilities and the stadium if necessary." http://www.bold.dk/nyt/Friis-Hansen-skal-hjaelpe-Saints-i-PrL

So we know know he actually joined Saints. Looking back to the original article his comments remain interesting... "The club is owned by the Liebherr family. They are incredibly rich and are aware that it will cost money. On short terms the goal is Premier League, but on the longer term they also want to play in the Champions League and be part of the top clubs in England. With their fortune backing them up they are about the fifth richest club in England, so it is realistic and there is a willingness to expand the academy, the facilities and the stadium if necessary."

I doubt that has any bearing on things what so ever.

Cheers, useful info. Likely to have been responsible for spotting Steve De Ridder and the dutch keeper Robin Ruiter that Saints have been linked with you would think. Possibly many others that Saints now know about aswell.

"This" being what? A small printing firm letting people go?

What makes you think that? When the takeover happened it was announced as being a personal purchase by Markus Liebherr who "also owns and controls the Swiss-based Mali Group". "Also" being the key word. http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~1716797,00.html Even the club's website now says the owner is the "estate of Markus Liebherr", not the Mali Group. http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/companydetails/0,,10280,00.html

Adkins did in the summer, when he confirmed that Saints had a bid accepted for Sharp. Dean Saunders, John Ryan and Sean O'Driscoll have as well.

Have you considered that as the player is now training with the club and likely staying at a local hotel it is easier for them to just announce it in the way they did than attempt to cover it up? Journalists will see him when they film training each week and the public could see him around town or at the hotel.

I'd say the complete opposite, he is very good technically. It is this that has allowed him to compete against bigger players and get this far in his career.

Was the wink too subtle for you? Over 60,000 fans at St Mary's in the last two 2nd tier games btw, I'll give the safty wink another go...

Will be tricky for the upcoming January Transfer Window update, but will have to compare him with other Japanese strikers already in Europe that he is competing with to play for Japan. Then once I have seen him play this season I be able to give a better view for FM13.

That is against Australia. Most of their players play in England...

He is a winger, not a striker.

If Saints get promoted his salary rises from 15k p/w to 23k p/w according to this... http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1563532.html?cid=rssfeed&att=

As he is training with the club and probably staying at a local hotel until his work permit is resolved, it would be hard to keep it under wraps. So probably just easier to release a statement like they have.

Also mentioned by a moderator on talkceltic.net http://www.talkceltic.net/forum/showpost.php?p=2651532&postcount=54

He also has had time to brush up on his English or at least start lessons if this has been in the pipeline for a while.

Can you name them? Might link back to my Paris syndrome theory.

Unlikely we'll ever hear the price, as it will be undisclosed.

I remember seeing this in a QI episode. I wonder if it could become a problem... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6197921.stm "Many of the visitors come with a deeply romantic vision of Paris" Unlikely with Southampton. So maybe not!