Saint Fan CaM

The whole saga is sickening to be honest. At the root of it though is an employee who decided it was in HIS best interest to sign a four year contract with the club. He should be having a stiff conversation with agent for not explaining clearly enough to him that four years might actually mean four years if his employer wished to hold him to those terms. The Board have done the right thing by protecting the clubs interests it would seem and Lallana needs to back down and concentrate on the WC - a lovely prize gained from being a Saints player.

Some honest to goodness ITK good news would be very welcome indeed.

Don't feel bitter - his employer effectively changed so he couldn't stay. Says something about the new Board though. Just hope we have enough to give them a tougher test than this season and can get a win. Certainly the team should know how to go about beating his Spurs side.

So let's start with the assumption that the rag got this £50m figure from the Board at Saints. Not an outlandish suggestion right? However 48 hours ago (roughly) the Board were found out to be economical with the truth regarding player sales before a Manager was brought in, so should we believe (a) that Koeman is anywhere near being appointed and (b) that any appointment will be given £50m to play with? I don't think so and I'll tell you why I think this story is bull...the Manager does not choose the players or spend the money at this football club. Not only that, but it would not be in the best interests of the club to divulge that kind of information to the press. Nah, sorry to dampen the spirits, but this is pure speculation.

And therein lies the difference. Suarez and Sterling have not handed in transfer requests have they? They're happy where they are. It can't be about SFC or it's supporters for some of these players - if there's any allegiance it's to the likes of Cortese and Mopo - once they're gone the pack tumbles. Not tying players to their contracts = never breaking into the top 6-7 of the Prem. We've tasted some success in our terms this last season - we've mixed it with the big dogs - now is not the time to roll-over and have our corporate belly tickled! This is where Krueger and Reed will start to earn their corn - it's not too late...stick to £30m...make the circling dogs wince a bit at the very least.

OP is living in la la fairy-tale land. There are players who would prefer to be elsewhere who have been playing with us all season to a high standard because they are professionals who play football for a living (e.g. Clyne). The real issue is whether we have a decent manager/coach to get the most out of each player and organise the team well. That will only happen if the Board can convince the right person that this is a progressive club to work at. And THAT my friends is where the BIG question mark lies at the moment - every day that passes without appointing a new head coach/manager contributes to a sign that there's something wrong at SMS.

I can see McLaren being a shoe-in due to his connections with Reed and the England set-up. I will be seriously concerned if we appoint him or Gross.

This completely.

I don't think the impetus to sell is coming from the Board. It's the players that WANT to leave. The glue is coming loose and has been for some time now...many months. The Board have a significant problem convincing the squad that the next project is worthwhile.

See, I don't get this. Were Spurs relegated? I think they finished higher than us right?

No, you've misunderstood completely...not uncommon for many on here with one dimensional minds. I'm not bitter about Lambert - as I said, he's scored many important goals, but I don't feel the need to swoon over a player that doesn't have Saints blood running through him. Those players are few and far between - they're the real legends. Lambert despite his goal tally has nailed his colours to the mast and turned his back on Saints. Why should I wish him luck playing for a rival team FFS?!

Yep thanks for the goals. No thanks for leaving the club and supporters that gave you Prem wages and an England cap, for leaving to go to a club that ditched you all those years ago because you were not good enough. Sorry, but you're not in the same league as MLT, Ron Davies, Mick Channon or even Kelvin Davies - they're more deserved of the label 'legend' IMO. But it's my fault....I must have misunderstood the phrase "I want to end my career here".

Finishing 8th - playing great football - seeing the first signs of real youth talent coming through into the 1st team. I think most supporters would expect enhancements in all aspects of the club from that great foundation, however it seems there's some serious unravelling of elements of the playing/coaching parts of the club while an expensive PR man and Marketing guru come in to sell the merits of the club! They've got an uphill task trying to promote a club that now appears to be in decline with a Chairman who is extremely economical with his facts.

If we were able to keep Lallana and Shaw and sign a couple of top forwards I would be much more easy about seeing Lambert get his 'dream move'. Fact is, this is not just about Lambert in most fans eyes - it's about the systematic watering down of the experienced talent in the 1st team to raise funds to pay for a top heavy Board of Directors including a new Marketing genius. It FEELS like Lowe all over again - not investing enough in the 1st team - and we all know where that leads.

Oh boy...amazing how an apparently steady ship over the last 5 years suddenly turns out to be a complete ship-wreck in a matter of just days. I cannot believe that Reed has not contributed in some way to the success of the club, however I keep falling back to the fact that under Cortese the club was efficiently well run with everyone singing off the same song-sheet. In a matter of a few weeks it's turned into some kind of freak show.

If we lost Lambert and kept Lallana and Shaw I would be 'happier' TBH.

Feels like we've turned full circle back to the days of Lowe...pay for a more expensive ST to watch a depleted squad full of nippers. Who knows, it might turn out to be better than that...much better...but right now I'm not feeling it.

#itshappeningbutnotthewayweexpected Yup, true enough...this Board are really playing a blinder. Ralph...the new Lowe?

Great season for us and I hope he stays, but too early to tell if he's worthy of captaincy perhaps?

Has a definite ring of possibility to it, but hopefully the Board would not take a chance on this guy.

Joy of joys. Let's hope the Board are more ambitious eh?

Shaw. Was told Lallana has put in a transfer request however it seems there might a stumbling block - perhaps Ralph blocked it.

It's pretty easy to feel bad about his lack of loyalty, but let's face it very few in football nowadays will show it and we just don't know what the other side of the story was. My feeling is that had Cortese still been here, Mopo would too. So I'll not be booing...I'll not be cheering either...disrespectful indifference is the name of the game.

Well that's a relief. Mind you, could be someone even worse I guess.

Has anything been said about his coaching staff going with him? (Sorry if it's been posted already somewhere - can't find anything).