Thats a fair point regarding the Silva settlement. Silva obviously rates the guy as well, so Everton are backing the manager. I seem to remember we did that once as well, paying well over the odds for a player the manager rated....
What's wrong with bringing in the best from abroad if it benefits SFC, if they come from Scotland, Wales or Ireland it isn't going to benefit England. SFC is a football club set up for the benefit of Southampton FC, not England.......
I think it's unlikely ever to open again in this way, for lets face it an average team to reach the final. That's Croatia now beneficiaries of that. Don't forget Croatia were even runners up to Iceland in the qualifiers. Iceland probably thinking what might have been.