Saint Charlie

Sure its a huge deal then after Cortese took so much flak for the commercial stuff.

Suprised people can't see that this is actually very likely? Was clear at the Awards dinner that he at the very least has a decision to make. A move to Liverpool means CL footy next season at a club famous around the world. Fairly clear Saints ambitions have been somewhat toned down so now is the right time for him to move. Can see him coming back one day though but would be hugely suprised if he is still here in September.

He will go this summer. Hopefully we will get a good price considering 25% goes to Bouremouth.

Quite possibly but its a different era now and Lallana is a different person who might want to test himself at the highest level he can.

Most likely so did he until his game found a new level which opened up new possibilities for him.

Adam Blackmore from Solent reckons AL will most likely go if/when Saints get a big offer. Can't argue with the rationale - stock is high, ambitious player and chance to move to a big club in the Champions League.

This comment is interesting because last night when talking to him about MP, Ralph was also keen to emphasise that its the players who actually get the results on the pitch and that we have a great group of players. Whilst this is completely true, it is notable how much improvement MP has gained from many players, certainly getting them to perform at a level above what they demonstrated under Adkins. I hope he doesn't underestimate how much impact a Manager has. FF - was Pochettino's situation specifically discussed at all?

Sounds good. From speaking to him for 5mins last night he is certainly positive and very approachable. So positive that I think he would be buzzing about next season even if Poch and 5 players went, which is all that worries me. If we keep MP then it will be fine. Anything else you can share?

Most of the media think Pochettino will go to Spurs.

Not exactly. They might not hand in a transfer request but if they indicated that actually they would like to go because they have had a massive offer elsewhere then I don't think the club would stand in their way.

Reed said we havent had offers and havent heard anything about outgoing player movement. Krueger said he has been "batting away phone calls".

Hopefully. He did say they were trying to keep the group together and that no players had asked to leave. But in his initial speech he said 8th place was "outstanding" and I think that is the issue. It is for Saints but not for some of the better players.

Ralph Kruger said last night he was "batting away the calls" which is quite different to what Reed said. As CL said, ball in Saints court. If they don't show the ambition then players and MP will go.

I think for Lallana he has a decision to make because his stock is possibly the highest now that it will ever be. Clearly Shaw will have plenty of time to move and join a CL team so there isnt such an urgency needed for him. Lallana might not get another chance to join one of the big boys and that is why he has a decision to make. At the end of the day if he has a concrete offer from a CL team and turns it down, that could be his chance of playing Champions League over. Not easy to know what to do. If he leaves it would be with a hugely heavy heart, but equally in a career surely he should strive to be the best he can and he could put himself in the running to win a PL title.

KL and Ralph were there til the end and KL seemed to be enjoying herself, saw a few fans chatting with her. None of the players were drinking, seemed like Cork, Lallana, Jos, Shaw, Chambers stayed the longest. Lambert also had a constant queue of people going to speak to him and was a top guy. To be honest all of them very approachable but some obviously more comfortable than others with the whole fan inferaction thing. Poch left shortly after the Awards which finished quite late anyway, but he and the other coaches made a quick dash to the exit despite people clearly wanting to shake his hand or whatever. Im sure he was in at Staplewood for 7 though. Oh and Krueger did mention the usual, that he has another year on his contract etc and seemed pretty confident with it all. Get the feeling from various chats last night that MP future is very key so rather than player rumours that is the one we should all be wanting to get sorted. Until that happens then there will be a lot of uncertainty although when asked about the Spurs thing Krueger did say it was "media driven".

As was part of this chat can confirm the above. "Batting calls away" is quite different from what Reed said. Ralph was great to chat to though, very honest and realistic. Said there is room for growth on the political/commercial side and recognised that MP "loves the lads" and likewise they love him. Overall great evening and good celebration of our top season. Thoughts/Perceptions from the evening: - Lallana is off. Not just the speech but also the body language the rest of the time - didnt befit someone who had just won four awards. Almost was like this made things harder for him. - Shaw should stay another year. He isn't as comfortable with all the limelight as others and could do with another year here, there is no rush for him. Also from seeing him tonight I struggle to imagine him thriving miles away from either his family, or people he knows well. - Chambers very confident and a credit to the club. - Yoshida trained today and fine for World Cup - Boruc has HUGE hands. - Whole infrastructure of club is superb, we had over 15 Eng Intls from U15s to Senior team. -A good source from the TG said that if MP stays then most of the players would. - MP basically left quickly after the ceremony concluded whilst fans still wanted pics with him, and disappointingly didn't speak publically at all - he is the Manager FFS...

Lallana would be the worst as he has a great history with the club and a player of his type and quality (plus attitude) is not replaceable. For me, Lallana leaving would signal the end of an era.

My Stokie oppo said no chance of that.

Reed on that Late Kickoff rubbish tonight as it happens.

I have loved it and will enjoy attending the Awards tomorrow...hopefully next season can be as much fun. If MP still in charge then it could be.

Have you not seen the comments from Fonte, Lambert, Clyne, Schneiderlin and Lallana then? The players want to know who the Manager will be in seem like they don't know for sure....so maybe he hasnt told them if he intends to stay or not. Of course they care, its their careers. Someone like Fonte has improved immeasurably under MP so think he will care if he stays or not. Manager is key to the future of some players and certainly the morale of playing staff.

I obviously don't think he will be here for decades but would certainly be frustrated if he isn't here next season. Which is, I am sure, the same as most fans. Just seems a shame that in our best season this stuff is all thats been in the press the last month or so.

Reed's rebuttal was great but he wasnt so strong re MP. He just said the club were comfortable with it. MP when asked has been evasive which if both parties know he will stay just seems pointless. No doubt that MP's comments or lack of have done more to fuel the speculation than dampen it. Which is odd, if he wants to stay that he is also happy to create uncertainty which the players are obviously feeling to. Why is that in the best interests of the club?

Why? Are you happy with the situation? The Spurs stuff has been rumbling on for two months and has created a lot of uncertainty. No need to wait til the end of the season to resolve, there never has been. If, and its obviously an if, Poch ends up leaving then Reed and Kruger's statements about being comfortable with the situation are laughable. Its not like the bargaining position of the club is low. If MP wants to stay then why not say it? If he doesn't then why not just say that and then instead of everyone moaning at the club they will know its not them, its MP. If they both are happy he will stay then why not, in a roundabout way, just say that. It would probably then have a knock on impact with players etc, who also seem to have no idea whats going on. Whole thing seems silly and has IMO lost us a bit of the feelgood factor that should go alongside the best PL season we have had. IMO that isn't overly stupid.

Not "announcing", but all this we are comfortable" is almost more tinpot, allowing another club to muscle in on our Manager. End of the day the club could make him decide now. If he won't commit to us then no point doing all this planning.