Crazy Diamond

As I've mentioned before, his wages are apparently £15,000 a week. If he wants to keep that level of pay he'll not really have a lot of choice in what Club he plays for. It's a lot of money.

I never disputed that. Yes they have a lot of power. I said that if a player wants to sign for a club that has expressed an interest, an agent cannot turn round and say no just because they feel like it. And they can't. If they attempted to, there's not a lot to stop the player then sacking that agent and getting someone that will negotiate properly and not try and stall or prevent the deal.

Indeed. I'm worried though, because according to this forum, prospective Southampton players outnumber the amount of flats for rent/sale in the area.

Excuse me? Before you go around accusing people of being naive I'd watch your own statements first. I speak to agents, players and coaches all the time - I'm paid to do so and it is how I make a living. I suggest you shouldn't be so naive as to imagine that as a football correspondent I don't know what I'm talking about.

Do we? If we want to sign a player and that player is interested, an agent can't just go "No. I don't like Southampton so we're not dealing with them". It's the player's choice.

I remember when I submitted an article on FourFourTwo about Aquilani possibly going to Liverpool, his page changed within about two minutes. Luckily for me, the transfer did materialise. Anyway that's bound to be someone who's read this thread. In fact... Was it you by any chance?

Funny reading peoples responses to Saints tweet. Relax guys very non specific comment just word round the agent campfire A hasty retreat. Clearly doesn't want to associate himself with the comment anymore. 'Just word round the agent campfire'. Utter tripe.

Not as straightforward a question as it seems but if I had to choose, West Ham. Early signs for them are encouraging but they've lost a lot more players than they've signed and still need to sell to buy. Any team that gets promoted this season from the Championship needs to have one of the best seasons in their history - as I outlined in another thread, it's one hell of a division this time around, big clubs + big budgets = big expectations. Still not able to ascertain Cork's new club by the way folks. Not entirely helpful I admit!

And post 586 was so much better? Hmm. As for 'faster route to the Prem' I'm not sure that would matter to a man who - if he has signed for a Championship club as I have been informed this evening - had Premier League offers. Swansea were apparently very keen and I dare say he would have started a lot of games for them.

This only fuels the whole paranoia regarding transfers this summer. It really needs to stop. One minute its praise for Adkins and Cortese for delivering Championship football as they said they would, the next it's 'we're not going to sign anyone, what are they doing?'. Make up your minds, doubters. My advice would be to sit back and wait. It's not as if we're the only club not to sign anyone this summer. There are LOADS of them. It's not even July yet!

If I had to make an educated guess, I would say West Ham. They've shed Ba and Da Costa in the past week or so, high earners, so they've generated money and the wage bill has gone down meaning they can afford the asking price and his wages. The Mirror said we were offering £15,000 a week wages.

My source is an agent. I do not know if that is HIS agent. Given the thread that has just begun regarding comments by agents it's rather ironic I realise! I sincerely hope no one gets too excited or disappointed - things are never as simple as they seem.

I don't have that information unfortunately - nor do I know when an official announcement will be made. I shall persevere however.

I think this comment has been taken out of proportion to be quite honest. Typical alarmist overreaction that some people seem to enjoy acting out. Agents are there to tout players to anyone who will listen. They are PAID to do so. I suspect it's a case of an agent phoning someone at the Club and saying; "I've got XYZ here, fancies a Championship club down south. Would you be interested?" and our reply is "No". Why is it no? Because we decide our targets ourselves (utilising our ever expanding scouting network) and if we want a player, WE will make the move for him. We won't bite at a suggestion just because it's been offered to us. Perhaps we've rebuffed a fair few, and small wonder. Everyone knows we've got money and are ambitious. We are probably a prime target for agents. People need to relax and have a bit of faith.

I've just been told that a Championship club has secured his services.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who is bored of that.

Really can't stand the bloke. Makes listening to cricket even more of a chore than usual. He was the best player in the world, according to... Him.

Oh well. The bloke actually allows Barry Fry to dictate something he's invested millions in. His judgement isn't really the best.

It is not an odd comment. I am quite frankly sick of kick-off times being moved. For all you know it could stop me going. If I want your opinion on my attendance at games, I'll be sure to ask, thanks.

Yet another of our fixtures on the opening day is being televised. I really wish they'd give it a rest. That's three seasons in a row now, our first Championship fixture was televised (Wolves, 2005) too.

No, I am not. I am simply saying that Bullard would be a better loan signing despite his cost than the majority of loan signings we have had in previous seasons. Correct.

Think I'd rather spend 300k on a (fully fit and in form) Bullard than someone like Nicolas Bignall or Danny N'Guessan.

On the subject of Cotterill, I once heard he actually supports us. Is that true?

In that two seasons a lot has changed elsewhere though. Cardiff and Leicester have got huge investment for example.

It's quite interesting how much emphasis people are putting on new signings. No pressure then, scouting network...