derry

I would be surprised if all the interested parties haven't been in touch with Saints and been told forget it, it's a matter of principle, VVD isn't being sold, we are moving on and when we say not for sale that's what it means. Consequently, no bids. Even if they do try Saints will look absolutely stupid after the we are moving to a different level not selling the players we want to keep statement. The management know that the implications for VVD not having played for eight months already, now looking at not playing for another year will concentrate the mind.

For what it's worth, Sky reporting deal not completed but the player has had a medical so it sounds promising.

If he waits until the window closes I don't think we can put VVD unconditionally into the team. If the back four and especially the centre backs are keeping enough clean sheets by playing well, as far as I am concerned VVD can wait as back up until a vacancy exists through injury or loss of form. Then, the longer he is out of the team the better we are playing without him. I would take that. If we buy another centre back, which we need to, unless VVD gets a move, on he could well be sitting on the bench for a long time if we are doing well without him. Of course if it is proven that we need him, of course he should play. If he goes now the club are going to look really stupid.

I see Peachey has been tweeting that Krueger is saying that by not selling players we want to keep, we are making a statement to move to a different position in the pecking order. Moving from being a club that sells to being a club that wants to get the best out of the players by keeping them. Up to now although Krueger has been saying this since May and Reed went on Sky saying the same thing, everybody thinks we are a bolted on seller. This is a strategy to put us in the 'it doesn't matter what the agent or the player says we are not selling'. In future if we say it, we are more likely to be believed. I wouldn't mind betting that Chelsea and Man City believed Saints so haven't bid, but Liverpool were too arrogant and presumed too much. As Liverpool have been the most troublesome over the years it had to come.

He is probably sick and tired of the nauseating speculation, desperately fuelled by the ex Liverpool FC pundits and probably orchestrated in the background by the desperation of Saints firstly not dealing with them and sticking to the original statement that VVD will not be allowed to leave.

Sky reporting Man City bidding for Jonny Evans and Krueger saying We are not selling VVD.

Because of the quotes on here citing the attitude on RAWK I had a look at a few pages of today's posts. I find it difficult to understand why the fans have not grasped the fact that VVD is not going to Liverpool this year. Firstly why wouldn't we want to keep what we consider to be the best defender in the PL. We couldn't afford to buy him but he is contracted for another five years so we don't have to. Southampton are not going to sell VVD to Liverpool. For a start why would we want to strengthen one of the two clubs that we could possibly finish above. Especially as they could both be struggling to cope with the Thursday night Europa League if Liverpool don't qualify for the league stage of the Champions League. Secondly after the unscrupulous activities unsettling VVD which mirrored the Gerrard / Lambert connection, followed by Lallana and Lovren then Carraghers remarks to Clyne at a televised match Liverpool are not only hated by the Southampton fans they are hated by the Southampton management who matter. I think that with the PL awash with money we can pick and choose what we do. This is an ideal opportunity to teach the money bag clubs that they either do things properly or they won't be dealt with. If VVD sticks it out until next summer then fair play to him and let him go to the highest bidder. I can't see VVD, unless we accept a fantastic bid north of £75m from MC, Chelsea or MU or a foreign club, not starting to play again fairly shortly after Sept 1st. Most of this seems down to his agent trying to get a return on his new player already on a six year contract, I would hope he is also not welcome here. VD won't want to train and not play for nearly two years as he hasn't played since his injury. I can see it being sorted within three weeks. Whatever happens he won't be going to Liverpool. The longer they hold on to the hope the better, as they may not be able to strengthen their weak centre of defence if they leave it too late, and that would suit us fine.

WHU are now very high tempo and physical with it. I'd play Long up front to mix it and Austin with a free roll behind. Gabbiadini off the left and one from Boufal, Redmond, Tadic etc on the right with Lemina alongside Romeu in front of the back four. We might get a goal but with the usual attack we are looking at seven at home in the league without scoring. Doing the same thing time after time and expecting a different result is stupidity.

Whatever the view 60% possession with 29 shots and only 2 on target reflects badly on the players that are tasked with scoring our goals. We cannot afford to play with only one striker and three forwards who couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo. For those interested in statistics how many of Tadic and JWP's paltry totals are penalties or free kicks? Swansea had four attempts on goal and nothing on target. That was two points dropped.

The 6th home league game in a row without a goal, virtually the same players. Putting Redmond, Tadic and JWP with one striker is virtually certain to result in no goals unless a defender gets one. 60% possession with 29 shots, 2 on target, that is absolute rubbish. Several times the ball went across the goal area but none of the forwards had anticipated and made a run just ball watching. It is a fact, only Gabbiadini, Austin and Long will get on the end of things, JWP, Redmond, Tadic, Boufal, Davis do not have goal scoring instincts, they will get the odd goal but that is their limit, it doesn't matter how often they get into the box or shoot they will not get goals regularly. It is no good the manager going with this he has to come up with something different to make better use of those players that can get goals.

The board should be looking at this situation as a heaven sent opportunity to totally change the club's reputation as a selling club and get our supporters onside. Carry on stonewalling VVD and gobsmack all the gobby, knowall ex LFC pundits. If VVD is still here after September the supporters will be delighted that LFC have been royally stuffed. If VVD never plays again until 2018/19 I wouldn't think too many would care less. If he apologises, climbs down and gives his all, fair play to him and I'm sure everybody outside Liverpool will be delighted.

LFC have more to worry about if they don't get in a decent CB because SFC aren't going to sell VVD to them. If Coutinho goes they might not even be the best team in Liverpool at the end of the season. I wish them the best of luck, out of the Champions league and having to play Thursday nights and Sundays because of the Europa. Big matches for them in the next two weeks could kibosh their season altogether if they don't qualify. It will be interesting if there is still a standoff with Barcelona over Coutinho, as they won't want him cup tied, whether he plays or not will be an indication of the situation with the player. Might not have his head in the right place to play. Best if they keep on waiting for VVD until the end of the window, it would play right into everybody's hands.

I thought it was from Preston not Oldham. Wasn't it the midfielder that is now at Brighton that came from Oldham?

I think VVD has been badly advised. Nobody has bothered to look at the tenuous relationship between LFC and Saints because of the recent transfer history. Players were reluctantly sold after being unsettled. VVD is the straw that broke the camels back. Taking emotion out of it, of the top six clubs that we are trying to break into, LFC are probably the weakest. Why would we want to strengthen them when it is possible that their Champions League or possibly Europa League games could cause them problems in the League. Our target has to be strengthen midfield and centre back discarding VVD to anybody but LFC. Then target catching Everton, then LFC, both tied into European competition whilst we are not. We are not going to compete with Chelsea, MC or MU financially. Spurs are better than us at present whilst Arsenal could possibly be vulnerable but LFC could be the weak link. I think the club are doing absolutely the right thing. VVD may not get sold because his valuation isn't met or we just don't sell him. If he is, fine, if he isn't after Aug 31st it is a whole new ball game. The club will have put their foot down and everybody will be aware they are not going to be messed around. VVD/agent should be made aware that the Jan window is not an option whether he integrates successfully or not. Listening to Carragher and Redknapp last night the hypocrisy was expected but stlll unbelievable. SFC, a selling club, tapping up is usual, VVD will already have had discussions with the interested clubs, all the details will already have been agreed and will probably have even talked to the manager, sound familiar? Now we have the evidence confirmed from the inner circle. There is no way that we should even consider letting VVD go to LFC.

He is reported to have said that he wasn't feeling right to play.

Neymar has a 222m euro release clause. His father is his agent. PSG have to pay the release clause in full before he is released. Barcelona, Neymar and PSG are tied by the contract and provided the conditions are fulfilled Neymar can move. This is completely different to VVD who is trying to force a sale by an unwilling seller whilst indicating he is psychologically unable to motivate himself unless he gets his way. Make him put in a transfer request and provided he pays up the five years left on his contract and he pays all related agents fees with the transfer we will transfer his registration to LFC on receipt of £70m paid in full. That will make a few eyes water.

I don't think this is happening. SFC are going to look completely stupid. They stated yet again to Sky Sports News in midweek that he wasn't for sale. Pellegrino is going to look stupid as is Les Reed as both have gone public. £75m is a big fee but the history and the club's awareness of the fans antipathy to LFC could well stymie a deal.

He is digging a big hole for Liverpool. If he keeps on about going to Liverpool, aided and abetted by certain papers and Sky who reported he expected to go to Liverpool, then SFC issued a not for sale, LFC saying nothing has changed, now Jim White saying he is expected to join LFC, wheeling out Nigel Adkins to make a comment. The more this goes on the more it is obvious that there is collusion. How else could VVD expect to go to LFC if as long as SFC say he is not for sale LFC can't put in a bid without opening up a massive can of worms.

As I see it Liverpool want VVD, they can't bid as long as Saints say they won't sell him, otherwise they could be in deep transfer ban trouble. The only way VVD can join Liverpool is if the current non co-operation tactic wears the management down. Then Saints would have to contact Liverpool, if they hold firm Liverpool are stymied no matter what the agents and VVD want. In any event we should get in a replacement ASAP.

This sums up Ken completely, silky also comes to mind. RIP

The Libero became outdated when it was rumbled, some Italian managers then moved the libero (sweeper) in front of the defenders to allow them to be more playmaker and defender such as Desailly at AC Milan, hence the front sweeper which has now evolved into the defensive midfielder or even two. The popular formations being used today have mostly been around for half a century or more. Ramsey played 4-1-3-2 in the 1966 world cup as stated by Nobby Stiles in his book rather than the 4-3-3 popularly attributed. Stiles did however man mark Onega against Argentina and Eusebio against Portugal with Ball Charlton and Peters in midfield behind Hurst and Hunt. From Inverting the Pyramid by Jonathan Wilson. A history of football tactics.

Good move for Reed, now ship out Davis and JWP and bring in a couple of midfielders that can get some goals and provide a bit more than backwards and sideways.

The midfield has been a problem because it consists of Romeu plus four players that very occasionally get a goal. The midfield really should be Romeu plus one. Davis, JWP, Clasie and Hojbjerg are not goal scoring forwards and really only Hojbjerg has the physicality to play there. The three forwards or if you like attacking midfielders must form a goal threat. That means that only one of Tadic, Redmond or although I think he flatters to deceive, Boufal, should play at any one time. We really need a new goal scoring midfielder like Sigurdsson or play two from Gabbiadini, Austin, Long and Gallagher behind the striker. If Pellegrino is going to press from the front then there is no place for the lightweight non physical player and all the outfield players will need to be able to win the ball back and be able counter attack quickly rather than pass the ball around our back four.

He sounds like a very intelligent lad, speaks very good English.

Before Sky interviewed Reed they were quoting that Saints had told Pellegrino that none of our top players would be sold such as VVD specifically and eg Soares. In the interview the first question was that statement which Reed immediately confirmed those players would not be sold.