angelman

I know it sounds like sour grapes, but I have to agree with you, although it should be said that he is still young and has plenty of time to learn. While it was noticeable all season, it was against Utd that it irked me most, when he tried a number of times to cross with the outside of his left foot.

Ah, Student seems to be banned now!

That's a maybe. I do find this strange though...... http://blog.paddypower.com/2014/06/26/paul-scholes-exclusive-why-premier-league-clubs-that-buy-average-foreign-players-are-killing-englands-world-cup-dreams/?AFF_ID=16562 Why would Scholes, who I presume still is ITK about what goes on at Man U write this very specific figure? Your info, well, you come across as having an agenda so I take that into account.

Guardian £27m Mail/Sky/Telegraph £30m Express/Mirror/Sun £33m Scholes/Indy £34m Star £36m ie they don't know what the agreement is for.

Who to believe???? I know who I want to believe.

Agree. Mirror says £33m, Others £27m-£34m. Scholes said £34m was far too much, so let's go with the higher figure. People are going on and on about him being left back for 15 years for Utd. But, while of course you take into account potential, you can't sell a player on what he is going to be doing in 15 years time. People are saying didn't RK ant to keep him. I am sure that he did, but a) the deal seems to have been in place way before he took on the job b) he is not stupid and while loosing a great prospect, he knows how football works and has the funds available to replace.

Intersting that none of them used their right foot Can he use both feet, or does the academy only teach left backs to use their left foot?

There is a lot of bed-wetting going on. Some Saints fans - we are going to have to sign 6 or 7 players and they are never going to gel and we are going to get relegated. Some Man Utd fans - we are going to have to sign 6 or 7 players. Bring it on. We're going to win the title. Guess we will always be considered small time if we have that sort of attitude.

Interesting. Maybe it will be leaked on to a forum as to what the amount was (Guan where are you???????). I am not sure whether it will be possible in the long run, to keep it confidential as it should show up in the accounts. Also, unlike Liverpool's attempts at putting in target related pay offs, I can imagine that we might have included some with Shaw/Utd. Mirror's article starts "The Reds and Southampton have agreed a £33m fee for the left-back - making him the most expensive teenager in the world game"

Maybe, but we are still building as a club. A few years back, we couldn't resist anyone who came knocking. Now we can play hardball a bit. Whose to say in a couple of years time, we won't be able to hold on to players? And what exactly is the point of having a top rated academy? I think that it is always to produce players that some you sell, some you keep. Of course you want to keep the best, but if someone is going to offer so much that accepting it might mean you can strengthen the rest of the team, then I think that that is more than acceptable. What message does that send? Well, parents might be more prepared to enrol their kids with us in the first place. While we signed away the sell on clause with Bale, I still think that his reputation of having been through our academy holds us in very good stead, and is worth more to SFC than the sell on clause.

If this, if that. You can't plan 15 years ahead. He might have an injury next week and never play again.

It is worth remembering that it is likely to be the highest fee ever paid for a teenager. If that isn't a good fee then I am not sure whet is.

We supposedly have this amazing academy that produces amazing players. Who is to say that someone else isn't in the pipeline who might be even better? The one thing that always amazed me about Shaw, was his physique. For an 18yo he was very well developed - hope he hasn't grown too quickly at too young an age.

I actually think that the disappointment is not that. They were happy to sign their contracts, have one good season, and then all want to **** off at the first opportunity. While the money side of things is welcome (and too much, but given his age maybe OK), and while I don't blame him for wanting to leave, it does reinforce the empty platitudes that football players deliver.

Now tell me if I am wrong, but didn't he have a shot against Costa Rica with his right foot?

Actually, apart from Real, Barca and Bayern, I am not sure there would be any others. Even ManC. ManU, PSG, Chelsea etc would cash in. But it is a bit rhetorical as 18yo players don't get the chance at those clubs.

Apart from reportedly saying he wanted to leave at the final whistle on 11th May. A little bit too hasty - but then again it might not be true.

Can't be a journo with such poor mastery of the English language

It's not immature at all. Just part of football banter. Personally I hope that the grass is greener for him, but sadly that isn't always the case. My biggest concern for him is staying fit, and I hope his body can maintain things. Also hope that the money doesn't ruin him. Apart from that, I hope that we sign a decent replacement, one who can use both feet.

Right - just asked him. He looked at me blankly - I could see him thinking "WTF are you on about?" He didn't understand the question as he has no concept of designer badges or who makes which shirt - as I thought. If he did, then I would be deeply upset as I might interpret it (rightly or wrongly) as the first steps down the path of materialism.

He's got 2 Saints shirts...... Admiral 1977 Patrick 1980-83 He prefer's the Patrick one, but I'll go and ask him if he knows who made these shirts (my old ones).

the only problem I see is that we in turn might be asked to pay over the odds given that we have a well publicised kitty

As i said earlier, I feel that this is to engineer a move. Ajax - bite = move to Liverpool Liverpool vs Chelsea - bite = tried to move to Madrid but didn't come off. This last one and talk about a move to Barca.......coincidence? Maybe.

They mentioned this on the radio this morning. The buy out clause was going up to €40m on 1st July, so they had to act quickly. The player has to pay it, so you are right, Man U have to pay him to pay it off. The problem then apparently is that he might be liable to income tax. If this is the case, then Man U would have to pay that as well, which makes it rather more expensive. I am sure someone can give more accurate details.

1) You seem to not want to advance the business by keeping the best staff 2) We as fans are well aware of what is going on and what we post here, is not what we know is reality, well at least not in my case. It is escapist. 3) I may be stupid, but at least I know when to use "to" and "too" and feel that people who don't are stupid.