angelman

But you failed to say why it was nonsense. Do you have any thoughts as to why or is it just some throw away line? Why do you want teams that we want to rival to do well?

How many constitutes an exodus?

Sure - the winners next year will earn €100m (plus ticket money) But as for losing a CL place - so what? Listen to everyone on here and we're never going to make it anyway, so what difference does it make?

Why is it nonsense?

He obviously doesn't realise that every time another club wins a trophy or does well in CL, that they get even more money and make it even harder for us to compete against them. Me, I want every English club to lose every European game they play in. If we want to compete with them (some think we never will be able to do so, which might well be true) then it is common sense that they do not gain an EVEN larger financial advantage over us. Now if Morgan went to Juve, I would be "happier" for him to win trophies if it meant an English team didn't (with of course the exception of Saints). But the only English team I want him to win trophies with is Southampton. As Millbrook said, it's the Sky generation who like watching the big English teams succeed in Europe and dominate the domestic league. But what they seemingly don't realise is that it is to the detriment of the team that they supposedly support.

You know what, I want him to win titles with Saints, and I really couldn't give two hoots about other clubs and their playing staff. I look at it from the point of view of the club. And what nonsense is that he has done most for Saints. You make it sound like it is a one way thing. What have Saints done for him? Do you consider that? But yes, of course if we sell him we will be well compensated and put the money to (hopefully) good use, but that is something different. No his reasoning are perfectly clear. He doesn't want or doesn't think that Southampton can be in the Champions League nor pay him an even more obscene wage than he already gets, nor offer the opportunities that he can get ready made at a bigger club. I do sometimes question the ambitions of players and wonder whether it is misplaced (ok - this is a bit tongue in cheek). Tell me - what is more ambitious - to get into the CL with Southampton or with Arsenal/Man Utd? Now if you had loyalty (and I hate to use that word, as football is a job and very few are prepared to play all their career with a club like us) to Southampton then the former and I am well aware that this is written with my Saints tinted glasses on (blame MLT for showing us that it can happen!!). But if you were born in Alsace, why would you have any loyalty towards Southampton?

Agree....Reed would probably be a better option with what we currently and just a shame that he lacks a bit of height (although that never held Scholes back, although he wasn't so defensive). However, if we sell MS, we'll buy a replacement.

It was too high, but better than his replacement. £12m for 4 years is better than £10m for 3 years yet I don't hear people saying Hull over paid for Hernandez, which they did.

£15m only because he is English otherwise £6m?? So how does that stack up against Gaston? Yes, being English is a reason that is going to add a bit to his price. But more importantly he can show he can score goals in the PL and that is more important. You can take a risk like Abel Hernandez at Hull for £10m who returned 4 goals. Or £6m on another player - sometimes it's hit, sometimes it's miss. But Austin, you sort of know what you are getting. As for £6m, times have sure moved on. With the new TV deal, and all that money swilling around, a decent striker in contract is NEVER going to go for £6m.

Why do you wish all our best players all the best when they push to leave? Where is your ambition? I want him to stay and help us be top 4. It might not be realistic but that is my hope and unless you try and win the competition, I can't see much point just being in it to finish mid table at best. You on the other hand seem to accept that we have reached as far as we have gone and are OK with all our best players leaving.

Russia are going to keep it. If anyone thinks that FIFA are going to **** off Putin...... Come to that, the money that the Qataris have in the game would be missed by certain people (supposedly why France and Spain voted for Blatter), so I am not wholly sure that it will get taken from them either.

Would people be happy to let him go on a free? Obviously we want to get something for him, but if no one took him, we would be liable for his £2.5m or a bit less wage while not ever playing him. Same with Gaston.

Oh come off it, he has an agent for that, doesn't he, not that we have been in any doubt that he sees his future elsewhere. Would be amusing to see the club refuse to sell.

No. Still, more importantly who on earth is going to take him off our hands?

If it was rhetorical, why ask it in the first place? Very strange as obviously I hadn't spotted the Mirror story just above.

I don't know why you bother supporting Southampton as you clearly have no ambition what so ever.

Why do these people post photos of themselves on holiday? Are they just narcissists or is their some other reason?

Why ask such a stupid question? Or was it rhetorical?

Ah but when you translate from French to English, and just leave an "e" out, maybe that it is OK. Pouvez vous écrire en français?

OMFG http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3110574/Dani-Osvaldo-sent-Southampton-Boca-Juniors-refuse-buy-striker.html Damn, damn, damn.

That's why there's no point getting over excited about things. Also, as I have absolutely no input what so ever into who the club sells/signs, much better to be pragmatic about things and just kick back and see what's what. The only choice I have is to renew my ST or not (which I did a long time back) and then whether to use it or not.

What surprises me is that he has only named 2 world cups. I would have thought that they were all mired in corruption and that no WC would be awarded without a bribe or two.

Plea bargain? Upcoming trip to USA?? He couldn't really escape that one. Maybe Qatar are getting tired of being sullied with the association to corruption.

Caught the tale end.....talking about Benteke and Lukaku

I don't see it as a disaster, but maybe an opportunity. Sure, would be great if we could hold on to him, but if not, we gain £1.5m and Atletico gain a shed load more than the £6.8m they would have got selling to us. One thing, as mentioned, that people are not taking into account is his wage. He is on a reported €5m a year at Madrid, something that they can't sustain and we possibly would be unwilling to do. Both Chelsea and Spurs would be able to accommodate him at that level. So the opportunity....other big foreign clubs might see, presuming he is sold elsewhere for say £15m, how much we have increased his value. I guess a bit like what also happened with Lovren's value. They then might be willing to enter similar arrangements, where we get them free/cheap/paid for a season's loan in order to put them in the shop window for other clubs to come in and buy at higher prices.