CanadaSaint

Given his positioning for Mata's free kick, he was probably in the car park.

Some of the personal interpretations people are attaching to Krueger's recent comments are ridiculous. We never, never ever, intended to compete with the big boys in the transfer market - not under Cortese and not under Krueger, so why are some people viewing that comment as the end of an era? We've always said that we'd mix Academy-grown talent with shrewd acquisitions. The Academy side of the equation we've got right - more so than any other club. The side we've screwed up is the transfer side - some big money for some low-commitment talent, the very kind that doesn't fit our style. On the other hand, relatively cheap players have been vital for us. If players go this summer it won't be to balance the books, it will be because they want to go. Or possibly, in the case of Luke, because Pochettino and the management team feel that the resultant 25-30 million inflow (on top of the planned transfer budget) will buy us a much better all-round squad despite a quality decline at LB. Do people seriously believe that the intensely private Katharina has taken such a public profile with Saints because she doesn't care if it all goes backwards? I know it's a lot to ask but I think we all need to take a chill pill and see what unfolds, even if the early stages involve one or more of Lallana, Shaw, Schneiderlin, Lovren and Pochettino leaving.

Lallana for me because he has attributes you just can't teach. People far less biased than us see him as one of the most creative players England have selected in years. Schneiderlin is second because, while he's a tremendous talent, that section of our midfield requires players with superb fitness levels, an ability to tackle, an ability to "read" play, a willingness to create pass options by running off the ball, and the ability to hit crisp, shorter (often one touch) passes. That skill set is demanding but there are far more of that type of player around than Lallana types. Moreover, those are "coach-able" skills, as the improvement in Wanyama since the start of the season demonstrates. Steven Davis is nowhere a level one talent, but he fits extremely well into our midfield and the way Pochettino wants us to play. I'd hate to see Schneiderlin go but he's replaceable. Luke is third - not because I don't rate him (he's a fabulous talent) but because I think we can replace him (albeit with somewhat of a downgrade) and use the money to strengthen where we desperately need to strengthen. We can emerge from the Summer as an all-round better squad without him.

Perhaps Pochettino and the players are working to the same script - they all want to stay but only if A) Pochettino stays, B) all the key players stay, and C) there's decent money for squad strengthening. That's one side of what seems like an impasse, and uncertainty works in their favour when it comes to putting the pressure on the other side. Katharina and Krueger would very much like all of them to stay but they probably want to sell Shaw in order to make A) and C) happen. That's the other side of what seems like an impasse. But it's not really an impasse at all - at least yet, because those things can't really be resolved before the end of the season. Unfortunately, trying to sit in the middle is Les Reed, who might be more of a liability than an asset when it comes to big decision times like this.

I hope you're right - the thought also crossed my mind when I was trying to process the accelerating signals concerning Lallana. If this is a joint pressure tactic aimed at getting Pochettino tied up for the longer term and giving him a decent transfer budget, it's a somewhat dangerous but actually rather encouraging situation. In a lot of ways it makes perfect sense for them to stay together, and they must know that it's far from certain that the same people would enjoy similar success (never mind satisfaction) elsewhere.

Yeah, I think you are reading a little too much into it. J-Rod has been excellent this season but he was competing with some established international talent and would probably have been a certain (but late) cut. Still a tremendous accomplishment. Hodgson's saying it could happen to anyone, including shoo-ins. As for Lambert, he brings things to the table that Carroll couldn't bring in a million years - on and off the pitch; some of those things are "key imponderables" in the cauldron of a World Cup. I think he'll go.

Hodgson's frequent presence at our recent games suggests that one or two of our guys are right "on the bubble". Lallana's close to 100% to go in everyone's eyes, so that leaves Shaw and Lambert. Lambert offers so much more than Carroll and he's shown that in recent weeks; add to that the positive impact he'll bring to the dressing room (unlike Carroll), which is a key element at World Cup time, and I reckon he's at 80% now. Shaw has continued to show solid form and amazing maturity, which should push him up to 60% vs Cole; pressure from inside the FA to take some "players for the future" probably notches him up to 80% as well. I think all three will go; they'd be near-certainties if they were at bigger clubs. Like you, I think Corky offers a stamina, work rate and efficiency that would benefit the midfield (much more than several of the "easy" choices he's made up until now), and Clyne's display at the weekend can't have gone unnoticed. However, Hodgson hasn't included either of them in the build-up (which he probably now regrets) and he won't have the gonads to include either of them now. Other than that I agree with your squad.

The most troubling element for me is the major increase in speculation that Lallana is looking to move, because I'd always had him pegged as someone who was very keen to stay. Until now I've felt that most of the key members of the squad were reasonably committed, although Shaw was almost certain to leave. I was happy to accept that Pochettino was using brinkmanship to pressure Katharina and Ralph into coming out with the best possible salary and incentive package and - just as important to him - a significant transfer budget. But the increase in speculation surrounding Lallana is really starting to make me think that he knows something we don't know, and that this has resulted in more "come and get me" signals, whether or not we see them. Having said that, Pochettino is a smart man. While there's major appeal in going to one of the "big clubs", he's unlikely to do it if the key players in their squad are not the kind to play his kind of football. Few stack up better than us on that front. Something else he really likes, I suspect, is the ability to bring young players through who play football "his way", and - again - few clubs (if any) stack up better than us. With the salary and transfer budget issues resolved, he has more reasons to stay than to go. Pochettino is the key piece in this jigsaw of speculation because if he were to commit to us, most of the key players probably would as well. Until then the speculation will continue to run riot, which makes it all the more surprising that Katharina and Ralph haven't brought this to a head. The longer they allow it to remain up in the air, the harder it will be to resolve it if things go pear-shaped. Anxious times - all the more so because his decision could trigger a major exodus and a return to the scary drawing board.

Either that or we will.

It's going to be interesting but I'm sure that some key facts will play a big part: This management team inherited a transfer deficit that they made quite a big deal about. We don't know whether they did that to discredit Cortese or dampen fan expectations for the Summer. Probably both. Our success rate in bringing Academy players into the first team (and keeping them there because they're doing well) is far, far better than our track record for doing the same thing with high-price stars (who have largely fallen way below expectations and probably lost value). Hardworking players have fitted much better into Pochettino's system than high skill/lower-energy/often-fragile stars who usually cost a lot of money. The club has expressed its commitment to financial sustainability time and again. Ralph Krueger comes from a sport in which players are not sold to other clubs for cash; they are traded for comparable player value. Looking at all of that, I suspect that there will be a modest transfer budget and, while Pochettino "won't be forced to sell any players he doesn't want to sell", he'll have to sell someone (most likely Luke) if he wants a larger transfer budget. The big question for me is not how big the transfer budget is, but whether that will be acceptable to Pochettino.

It's quite striking when you watch the international games and see our guys alongside some talented kids from other clubs who are already too self-absorbed and petulant for their own good. We must have some amazing but largely anonymous people back there, working away every day at the academy. And I'm hoping that this side of the club is going to be a powerful force in convincing Pochettino that he doesn't really want to go anywhere else.

Couldn't agree more.

Don't disagree with most of that, but the attraction of playing at one of the big clubs must be powerful in their eyes - Schneiderlin must fancy his chances of replacing Arteta, Lovren must fancy his chances in either central spot at Liverpool or Man U, and Shaw must fancy his chances at pretty much any one of the Big Four (Liverpool included). And that appeal increases if Pochettino leaves us. Yes, we've had a good season but everything is relative. We haven't "won anything" (big in the eyes of players) and the manager at the heart of our progress (and theirs) is undecided about his future. If I was Krueger /Katharina, I'd recognize the vulnerability and do everything I can to sign Pochettino to a contract extension ASAP. That's the key piece in this jigsaw of rumour. At least until then, all the other pieces are in play.

But it's not just that, is it Steve? It's a combination of a hell of a lot of smoke. The big clubs desperately needing exactly the kind of players we have - and supposed competition between them; "if we don't get him, one of the others will". The resultant prospect of a huge pay increase. Media reports from some increasingly reliable sources. Their ability to play at Champions' League level and the unlikelihood that we can provide it in the forseeable future. The absence of many recent "I'm happy here and don't want to go" comments from key targets (probably other than Lallana). The uncertainty surrounding Pochettino. Lovren's short time here, which has prevented him from developing any real club loyalty. Schneiderlin's own comments. The usual, never-ending, out of sight bullsh*t from agents who make a load of money when their player moves. The list goes well beyond a post by one poster. Perhaps the biggest root cause is Pochettino's unwillingness to commit himself and the club's inability to change that. Early days I know, but not helpful given the interest in players that might stay if he does. Everything could change if we wrap MP up for another three years. I really hope he stays - not so much for the results (which have been rather patchy and should have been better) but because I love (most of) the football we play. So, I'm hoping they all stay but expecting three to go. And if it's out of our hands, which it largely is, my test of Katharina's commitment and the club's commitment doesn't pivot on whether we sell but on what we do with the ton of money we'll get for them. I'm quite hopeful that we could end up, for example, weaker at LB but stronger defensively. And hope is a big part of being a fan. For most of us anyway.

Pochettino really turned Schneiderlin into the very valuable player he is today - he was good before MP's arrival, excellent after. He fits well into MP's system and might not benefit by leaving. He can be replaced. Shaw is going to be a great but, frankly, in our situation I'd rather have the money and strengthen the squad. He'll go with my best wishes and hopefully he'll escape the infantile "If he leaves, screw him" mentality that comes from some on this forum. The FBs are crucial in MP's system so we'll need to buy well. I'd have been sickened at the thought of losing Lovren two or three months ago but he hasn't been quite the same player lately. He still needs to be replaced with real quality, becauser Fonte and Maya need a dominant CB alongside them or they struggle. Lallana we can't afford to lose, and I'd be shocked if we did.

This sort of thing is a fact of life for smaller clubs in the modern game but I don't get the automatic defeatist attitude. If Shaw and Schneiderlin go (and I'd bet on it being those two, with Lovren being the third pick) I'm sure we can use the hefty cash inflow to improve the squad above its current level. I don't think Lallana (the hardest to replace) will be going anywhere. However, I'll be more concerned if Pochettino goes as well.

Not really but I guess I'm not getting my point across. Look at it this way. If you somehow came into possession of a Ferrari worth 300,000 pounds and (much as you love it) decided you'd rather sell it and buy a nice Mercedes and have some much-needed house renovations done, that's a parallel to what I'm saying. Sure, Luke didn't cost us anything other than his development costs, but I'm suggesting that we have a number of needs, not all of which will be financed by our (likely) transfer budget. So, we might have to get by with a Mercedes instead of a Ferrari at LB, and use the left over money on other things we need. It's all part of living within our means.

We're tying our money up in assets, which amounts to the same thing as buying them. If someone is willing to pay 25-30 million for Shaw, that's how much we've got tied up in a LB.

Ralph Krueger said that we won't sell anyone that Pochettino wants to keep. However, it wouldn't surprise me at all if the unstated part is that he might have to sell one of the big names if he wants players beyond his transfer budget. As sad as I'd be to see it, I can see Shaw going. We'd never spend 25-30 million on a left back, and keeping him is little different to doing that. Dreaming out loud, if we were to do a deal with Chelsea that sent Luke to them and brought us Lakaku and Bertrand, I'd say that was a good piece of business for both clubs. When MP talks contract with Krueger, the sticking points will probably be things like this as much as his salary and incentives.

I'm not knocking poor players who don't play well. It's the talented ones that annoy me. Given his ability level, I thought Dimitar Berbatov was a disinterested, gutless disgrace when Fulham played at SMS.

Sure, this poor crossing/final ball weakens us offensively, and it's really frustrating that we've dominated so many teams but paid a price for failing to score/score enough when on top. Game after game. But the other angle is that it makes us defensively vulnerable, with Fonte and Lovren back-pedalling under pressure and hoping to delay an opposition counter-attack until cover gets back. I think we look better than we really are going forward because we commit our full backs so quickly and so wholeheartedly, but we also look worse defensively than we really are because our poor final ball makes us more vulnerable to counters with the FBs caught upfield. The absence of Jay Rod really compounds a problem that has been there all season. With Rickie in his golden years becoming more a build-up player than a striker, the lack of a final ball and a real finisher will cost us more points before the season's done. Doubtless, Pochettino is fully aware of that. I suspect that he didn't see Rickie as a regular starter in his system until he was called up by England, but then he couldn't really leave him out. And Osvaldo's meltdown removed any alternative options.

Pochettino is not stupid and he needs to make sure that this works for him on more levels than bigger pay check, bigger club etc. His teams play with a signature style and he needs certain kinds of player to make it work. I don't see an abundance of "his kind of player" at Tottenham (or many of the other "big" clubs for that matter), which means he'd have to bring players in. And, with the Bale money spent, that might not be easy at Spurs. I think he has also really enjoyed bringing younger players through at Southampton - something which, again, is not easy to replicate elsewhere. Sure, I fear losing MP in the summer but I don't think it's anything like a foregone conclusion.

While Katharina seems willing to handle the current transfer deficit, there's a conspicuous absence of any reference to funding for incoming transfers. Hofstetter's comment that "We are in a position where we do not have to sell any players Mauricio wants to keep” might have a an edge to it - that he might need to sell before he can buy, although the increase in TV money should help somewhat. In the upcoming negotiations with Pochettino, this issue may well be at least as important to him as his salary and incentives.

I'd be surprised if he ends up in the Italian squad. It's not just about form but also about living in and contributing to a close team environment over a period of longer than a month. His form isn't good and he has a well-known history of destroying team harmony rather than contributing to it. Having said that, he did contribute to our team harmony - by leaving at the request/demand of the other players. We'll be lucky if we get fifty pence on the pound for him.

It's probably harder to move from 8th to 6th or 7th in this division than it was to move from 14th to 8th - and there are two big "Ifs" in Roger's OP. I hope we'll keep Pochettino but I very much doubt that we'll keep Shaw - and I'm okay with that. As I said in another thread, if somebody were to suggest that we pay 25-30 million for a LB most of us would say they're nuts. There's very little difference between doing that and keeping Shaw. As sad as I'd be to see him go, the money we could get for him will help to fund the players we really do need. On the LB front, Bertrand in and Shaw out, for example, would be a step back but not a huge one. We don't need stars so much as players that fit Pochettino's style and are willing and able to hit the required fitness levels. And we need more than just a keeper, centre back and striker - for two reasons. Firstly, the thing that hurt us most this year (when we were really on a roll) was lack of depth when the injuries started to arrive; our biggest problems occurred when we lost Boruc and/or Schneiderlin and/or Lovren or Fonte. Secondly, this need is compounded by the fact that our most effective playing style (high intensity pressing when we don't have the ball and rapid off the ball movement when we do) makes harsh demands on individuals; our bench needs strengthening so that we can use that style in all games (we haven't this year) and maintain it for longer in each game. An inability to "put teams away" when we're on top has also hurt us this year - that's where Osvaldo was supposed to come in, but that went pear-shaped and left us with no time to react when it did. And silly individual errors at key times have also hurt us, but some of those have been caused by the very style that has made us successful - highly involved full backs pushing forward at every opportunity. With depth added, using players that fit Pochettino's style, I think that 5th-6th is quite attainable (and some of those players could well come from the Academy). Without that, I'd say that we're about where we should be. If Pochettino goes, all bets are off.