angelman

So be it. No need to be seen as bending over backwards and over paying. Why not meet half way at €10m = £8m

Out of interest, when looking at transfer fees how does a site like this - http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-southampton/transfers/verein/180/saison_id/2014 - get them? I did read the article someone posted up about "undisclosed" transfer fees.

Didn't Guan say that we would sign someone once they were knocked out of the WC? I presumed that he was referring to Belgium, as they were playing that night, but Netherlands might make more sense, although they are still to play one more time (and isn't it time that FIFA get rid of the 3rd place game?)

and...at the back end of last season he did put in some decent performances.

Might as well just use this link, or something similar: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2635286/Premier-League-transfers-Club-club-guide-Summer-2014-moves.html

All gone very quiet. Does that mean the deal is being done/finalised?

I renewed in May.

Not really. Whether it was NC or MP, neither are here and we have yet to offload Osvaldo. So I can't see how this in any way can be seen as convenient.

That is true. Apart from 1990 and 1966, we are (losing) quarter finalists at best, more like losers from the "round of 16". Why there is a thought that we are one of the power houses of world football, is anyone's guess. Actually, I do kno - it's part press, part for commercial reasons. Looking at world football, we do undeniably have one of the strongest leagues out there. If you use CL as evidence, there was a danger a few years back, that the semi-finals could be an all English affair. Since then, things have slightly changed, but in general I still think that overall we have the strongest league. The problem with Spain and Germany is that it is hugely dominated by 2 teams. So when we have our leagues full of foreign players, it seems all that we are doing is improving players for other countries But then there is a huge thing to add to that. Those improved players are proud to play for their country. I am not sure how many people you would find who would say the same about the English players. All they want to do is pick up their vast and ridiculous pay cheque. They're not going to disrespect the England shirt, but their priority is their club. Supporters of the big clubs are the same - they don't care how their players perform for country, just club, and as a whole the country is very much second to their clubs. Until this competition, it was impossible to say what supporters of smaller clubs felt about their players playing for England, as none were ever picked!! I like many Saints was immensely proud of what they/we had achieved - and then it all went Pete Tong. Before the Saints call ups, I wasn't too interested by the national side, because of the players' attitude to it all, and their continued dire performances.

"Don't", not "don't". Even though you are quoting, the first word should still have a capital letter, and maybe also the use of a comma.

Agree. It's also a bit like the Rickie Lambert argument....he was good in L1, surprised people in nPC and surprised people again in PL.

Liverpool were sniffing around. Who haven't they (and Spurs) sniffed around? It seems that every player in the world has been sniffed by Pool.

there are some who say it was Cortrese who signed him

I liked the honesty when asked whether he knew about our problems 5 years ago and the journey we've been on. Answer was no, just watched last season. Fair enough - better than making up some bull****.

That might be a goer. Although he's not as good looking as Lovren, Dusan can do the ladies, while Lovren seems more than OK giving the fellas an eye full.

I rather like the cheery disposition of Koeman. Rather different from the overly impersonal MP and his interpreter, and the happy clappy Adkins.

Sean Dyche has come out today and said Ings was not for sale. AFAIK no one has said anything in public about wanting him for quite a while now (or at least quite a while in footballing terms) so I suspect that there is action going on behind the scenes.

Nice one.

Nooo. I don't believe that. I can't believe that. We were told we lack ambition so it can't be true

Not wanting to be thought of as having sour grapes due to the situation that we currently have, but you wouldn't be rushing to pay £15/20/25m on him if just taking his WC performances.

I might have to join this Twitter thing. They might have to hurry up as there is a thunderstorm on the way, well at least I can hear it over Bournemouth/Wimbourne way, and wouldn't want it to ruin the photo session.

Don't let small minds convince you that your dreams are too big...... Hmmm. I love this from him, and see it as on par with Joey Barton's pearls of wisdom. 1) Shouldn't this be turned around a put back to him - Don't let small minds convince you that your dreams aren't big enough. 2) But looking at the pseudo intellectuality - you'd have to be fairly small minded to let someone else convince you that your dreams are too big. Guess that the irony is lost in the attempts to be deep and meaningful.

I know it's a different position, but £11m for McCormack puts things into perspective a bit and, while we all know that's a crazy price, it does reinforce our hand. If reports of £14m are true, then it justifies why it isn't acceptable. To be honest £18m vs McCormack still has a serious disparity. So twice what McCormack has gone for would be right. Having said that, it might also affect us if we are in for Ings (although I am guessing his contract might have less time on it).

If that is the case, then he seems to not have been overly wise by burning his bridges quite so early. I asked over on another thread whether with a bit of grovelling he could ever be taken back into the team. I think he probably could if Saints are very magnanimous about it, but it won't be easy, although honesty goes an awfully long way. But, I expect him to be elsewhere next season.

Interesting - do you (posters above) think that Lovren could be rehabilitated within the SFC family? Manning up and saying that you are sorry is a big thing to do and something that most people seem incapable of doing. I really don't want to bring the Lovren thread on to this one, but just asking how realistic that is. Would have Yoshida over Hooiveld.