Saint Charlie

We could sign 7 players, have a worse first team and still no real depth in key areas.

Of course he looks a good prospect and I havent seen much of him, but when I have he is clearly no Shaw. MLT said the club believe him to be a "better option" than Shaw. I'm sorry, but I can't believe that. Shaw is a phenomenon. The idea we have someone 60 days younger than him who has more potential yet achieved nothing near what Shaw has is just a bit odd and that kind of hype not what Targett needs. Likewise anyone who says Gallagher will replace Lambert.

Looks class. Heading to Liverpool apparently.

See that in the last week Martinez and Coleman have signed new deals at Everton whilst Barkley has said he isn't going anywhere and loves the club. Fair play to them.

And the fact we had virtually no chance of a win when Hooiveld or Gazzaniga played.

Lallana will go if Liverpool pay what we have asked for which they may well do. Lovren has been the subject of offers and has handed in a transfer request. Of we get offered double what we paid last year Inwould think that represents a good deal for someone who wants to leave.

MLT knows more than Targett does pal. He is a better option than Shaw apparently. The same Shaw who has been wanted by the top sides since 14, played 60 pl games and two full Intl caps still aged 18. If he is better then Targett on course to be the best LB ever.

Same reason Shaw has gone, Lambert has gone and Lallana and Lovren will go - because they want to for various reasons, CL, trophies, money etc. Of course only of we get a suitable offer. But that may well come.

The club bit was correct, but an interesting point that MS was "relatively unknown". I wouldnt say that is the case in the PL, certainly no less than a Sissoko really. Deschamps barely even watched him til end of this season despite 18 months of quality form against top teams. Certainly any player in the PL who plays in a decent team shouldnt be relatively unknown to his national Manager. Hardly a leap to suggest if he played for a bigger club he would have played for France earlier, and he may feel the lacknof European footy will count against him being able to really compete for a start.

Will be a bit of pressure on him to join a team in Europe I would have thought. Deschamps comments were interesting on MS playing for a "less high profile club". Think he barely watched him til the last weeks of the season. I think he would probably not force anything, but if the rumoured interest from the likes of Arsenal is true then he would possibly see it as the ideal time to go, with his star firmly on the rise.

Agree 100%. Targett in danger of being hyped to levels he has little chance of reaching. If he were that good surely given our young player culture he might have got a cup start last season.

Says "so called firesale". Its a media term thats been used all summer. I think the comments in the rest of the post show that my opinion isnt that its a firesale, but that we are not really able to fend off CL interest. Seems people don't like talking about players going and choose to label it wumming and betwetting etc, whereas the reality is that we are losing players, and will likely lose 4-5 key ones this summer. No harm discussing it, will certainly have much more of an impact than whether the kit is branded or not.

They may, rightly or wrongly feel that we didnt have enough to push for top 6 with MP, Shaw, Lovren and Lallana so might feel we have even less chance without them. Not saying thats the case, and I dont think those players will go, but you couldnt blame them for being a bit deflated by it all.

MLT: If our leadership think Targett is a better option than Shaw then they are barking mad. As are you if you believe that. If Bale is on another planet to Shaw then Shaw is in another universe compared to Targett. The one thing Targett doesnt need is people comparing him to Shaw, a 50 PL app phenomenon aged 18, who is about to become the world's most expensive teenager. Targett is nowhere near that level, which is of course nothing to be ashamed about.

This thread obviously isn't wumming. Its talking about what is happening with Saints. If you don't like the topic don't read it, but there are quite a number of sensible responses which is good. Outgoing players is an important topic this summer and my OP was totally serious and well reasoned if you bother to read it.

Tadic a direct Lallana replacement? Hopefully a Gaston replacement. Im a big fan of the Gast's ability but he just isnt suited to the PL.

No way Chambers will go IMO although will be interesting to see what happens with him and Clyne. IMO we arent really a big enough team and those players are too good for one to be on the bench so I am hoping Koeman can slot Chambers in to a CB position or midfield, as Clyne slightly ahead as a RB for me. If I was either of them and was sat on the bench for Saints I would start getting itchy feet. Clyne IMO would have made the WC squad had he played every week last season.

Fee is almost irrelevant, its how it is constructed and how likely the add ons are to be achieved that is important.

Before anyone starts talking about bedwetting, the facts are that this summer we have lost MP, Shaw and Lambert all of whom were hugely influential and all of whom have moved to bigger clubs. So, the question is...in your opinion how many more will leave SMS in window? My opinion: Sadly I think Lovren and Lallana will almost certainly go (when transfer requests are made/talked about it rarely ends well), and probably Schneiderlin who will want to boost his appeal for the French team and will feel its a kind of end of an era at Saints and a good time to move on having had a great run here. Thats 5 players who would have left for bigger clubs if I am right, which pretty much would consistute the mass exodus the media have speculated would happen. Not much SFC can realistically do if they all move to traditional CL type teams having played in the WC so I am not blaming the Board or any player, it happens and its how we react and replace that is important. Anyway, whats everyone else's thoughts on the total number of key players that will go (i.e excluding Osvaldo, Ramirez, Hooiveld etc)? Confirmed exits this summer: 6 Pochettino (Spurs), Lambert (Liverpool), Shaw (Man Utd), Lallana (Liverpool), Lovren (Liverpool), Chambers (Arsenal)

Agree. Amazing how as soon as players or Managers leave people diminish their abilities. Only the other day someone said Walcott hasnt really kicked on since leaving Saints.

I do think once he goes it will be interesting to see the stance on Lallana, Lovren and Schneiderlin. It could be viewed as start of the firesale having lost the Manager and two of our best players, or hopefully the Board can somehow persuade those others to stay.

Its not just replacing. Its making sure that whoever comes in is good enough to do the job from day one, especially with how the fixtures have fallen. Must admit, it would be nice for the club to maybe comment that they have agreed a fee with Utd, especially seeing as it is out there now.

He is class. He will be class there. Might not play every game this season but they arent spending 30m for him to be a sub. Why does this forum downplay people once they leave or are about to leave. Was the same with MP. Was lauded one minute then now people are already lowering their opinions of him. Shaw is phenomenal.

I would say we can only find out if its a good deal if we ever know what the deal actually is. Certainly a very good signing for Man Utd and I would think we have done fairly well financially from it.

Viking won't like this. More Blackmore twaddle. Hope he issues an apology to Blackmore for defamation once the move goes through. Reality is its been pretty obvious this move has been in the offing for a while.