derry

Because they wouldn't stay not because we wanted to sell them. Adam threw his toys out of the pram when he thought we were holding it up. Shaw and Lambert for different reasons. Either way all except Lambert went for the money and I bet he did alright too.

I can see in that set up with that hypothetical squad, Van Dyk with Vlaar, Ings in a Rodriguez wide role and Ramirez behind Pelle.

I read into that, his agent had been tapped, however in retrospect unless it was the Gerrard/Lambert connection. No it seemed that had changed, trumped by the money. In the end the manager went anyway but then Koeman wasn't even given a chance by the players, who didn't follow Pochettino, but went for the money and status without the guarantee of being sure of playing. I wouldn't mind betting by November most of them won't even be starting.

It is all about money. Adam's father at MU game asked Weston 'if you were a young lad offered double the money what would you do?' nicely setting the scene. It had previously been said by him to me at the Everton game, Adam and the players were happy, that it was all about the manager staying, needed at least 3 new players, giving the manager the money to do that. Very critical of Reed. Two weeks later it was the money.

Look how that worked out, he really was the first to kick off about going.

I don't know why people think the players thought too hard about these moves. Their agents were tapped, the ridiculous money was put forward, the players grabbed at it with both hands. Schneiderlin and Rodriguez know what's on offer and they want their lottery win too. We should play the same game, up front no deal, name a ridiculous fee for both or nothing doing and unload them.

Just a little perspective, where exactly are we compared with the team that finished last season, Who have we lost. Lambert replaced by Pelle, Lallana replaced by Tadic, Shaw, Lovren, Chambers. Chambers was close to Clyne but a backup nonetheless. So we have left back and centre back still to be replaced hardly a meltdown. If we bring in 5/6 good players including a top class goalkeeper we will have a better squad than last year That doesn't look impossible to do especially if we bring in good footballers who know the game.

I presume his agent is more ****ed off as his lottery win postponed.

Of course this may be resolved by an offer we can't refuse.

He now knows the board's position.

I had actually accepted that he was going. I feel that we should sell Rodriguez as he isn't renewing with less than 2 years on his contract. I don't think we should back down but I do think we should replace them and just before Sept just let them go for £50m.

The board should now get on and do what they have set out, recruit good players to beef up the squad. If in that process an additional key midfielder and striker are recruited and MS and JR still want out get rid of them.

Now reporting the interview, both staying. Which means to me not allowed to leave.

If Schneiderlin and Rodriguez are staying that stabilises the midfield however there has to be question marks over Rodriguez. He is still a long way from playing. I've heard that he is looking at October, if that's the case, great. However knee injuries are not a guaranteed instant recovery, there are plenty of players that have had a tortuous recovery with setbacks and associated muscular strains, if that happens we may see very little of him this year. In the light of his contract ending the following season and the offered 5 year contract as yet unsigned it may time to cash in unless he signs.

Matter of interest regarding FFP. What would be the position if a mega billionaire eg Sheik of Qatar bought a football club, kept it strictly amateur, the Sheik bought out the players contracts, employed the players in Qatar for a company not related with the football club, allowed the players to play full time as amateurs and the football club paid no salaries? Fantasy I know, but what if?

It may well be that Koeman has identified Clyne as our right back. Chamber's agent aware of Arsenal's interest albeit as a reserve at a lot more money plus a hell of a lot more commission facilitated his player's move. I think this is a hell of a price for a reserve who may/may not get better. Personally I prefer Clyne at full back. This transfer has reduced at the moment cover at right back. Our record signing's fee is less than this reserve's fee.

Window box?

Rodriguez has to be priced at his peak value. So £30m is a decent ball park. Either that will kill it or Liverpool will end up paying something in that region. How valuable to us as a player. Sad to say for half the season no use at all. It is a serious injury which required surgery. Full fitness will take time. Even if he is ready to play the second half of the season often there are a procession of other compensatory injuries that occur, various pulls, reactions, even set backs in the knee itself that could limit appearances. It may be next season before he is available fully. IMO if a bid comes in that is £25m+ we should take it. Realistically his contract is running down, his new 5 year contract is unsigned which means to me we won't get another full season out of him as we would have to let him go next summer or risk a Bosman free the following year.

Is it anyone's fault that players are leaving. Without doubt yes. I know why Adam Lallana went he at least doubled his money. As for the others it doesn't take a genius to work out it is the insane money they are being offered. A footballer lives with the fact that he may get a career ending injury in his next game or training session. A short career so in the hard monetary world they are going to look out for number one and take the money. The people who decided that they would not pay stupid wages are the one's who are at fault and right they are. The inflated fees we have received for the players more than makes up for losing them. Of course they can be replaced and probably improved on. We now have to do that and cover the injury factor we suffered with last season. We may well come out of this summer stronger as a squad and wealthier with the transfer and Staplewood debt paid off. The transfer fees plus the TV money and other income will amount to better than £200m. With that we can bring in more good players. Tadic looks a cracking buy and Pelle isn't too shabby either.

He seemed pretty sensible to me. I wouldn't think he tried to influence him. I think from what he said it was very much down to the money. It did come over that LR wasn't respected and that from their point of view he wasn't much use.

To all those that are agonising at the moment there may well be a day of reckoning not that far away. Pochettino and especially Rogers are now under pressure. Lallana, Lambert, Lovren, and Shaw will find themselves under the biggest spotlight of their lives. Fail to deliver outstanding performances and they will suffer the consequences. A question will be answered, how much did the collective contribute to their performances and in the dog eat dog quest for top four will they cope. I for one am not convinced that their price is a true measure of their ability. Shaw is costly raw potential, if everything goes well MU's and England's left back for years to come. The others I'm not so sure.

It sounded from what was said that Liverpool had made their bid and unless we changed our position they were leaving it. Saints comment was bid was a long way short of valuation.

Sky, BBC South, Saints and Liverpool confirm tonight one bid turned down over three weeks ago and NO contact since.

Liverpool confirmed no contact to Sky at their training at Harvard Uni Boston. "It's now in Southampton's court" as their bid was turned down.

Lovren - No bids apart from one over three weeks ago which was nowhere near enough, turned down and haven't been in contact since, (sky from Swindon)