Saint Fan CaM

Thing is though, we're talking about pro footballers in a job with no affiliation to the Company. Just the same as many, many other like you and me who work for a living. If you were offered twice as much money to move job, most people would move without much of a thought, especially if you knew your career would only last until your mid-30's at best. The problem lies not with the players, but with the environment they work in. Firstly that's the Premiership and it's cash. Secondly that's the culture and environment provided by the club and it's staff. Can't influence the Prem really, so it's down to the Club to create the conditions. Our top players are rejecting the condition post Cortese and Mopo. Simple.

What that could tell us is that either Saints Board...(a) is very sneaky and possibly underhand and/or (b) are way behind the curve when it comes to professional level appointments and realised late in the day that they were about to miss out on someone they think might do a good job?

If anyone thinks we will spend more than £25-30m this window, they're in cloud cuckoo land. Why do you think Koeman has been brought in if not to promote the youth into the 1st team?

Would prefer Forster myself, but Marshall would be a fine addition. What I really would like to know is why there's nothing from the club on either of these two supposed new staff members? Talk about chicken and egg!

Completely understand your feelings on this, but just for one second consider this. What if to move to the next level it was deemed deliberate and necessary to make changes to the squad? Admittedly losing Mopo was not ideal, however in Koeman we have a top, top Manager who should be able to bring further success. So without bleating on too much, what I would suggest to you is the same thing I'm telling myself - wait and see what players come in...wait and see what Koeman can do...wait and see what style of football we end up playing over the first 8 or 9 games...wait and see where we are at Christmas. Then and only then will we really be in a position to feel disenchanted if we're struggling near the foot of the table.

This. Saints would want £15m at least for JRod on the promise of his return to full fitness. Can't see any club being prepared to risk that much...JRod is not THAT special.

Mate, the 'Southampton way' died when Cortese left club. He created the conditions for that including hiring a General in Mopo to keep the players on-side. The clubs success was not down to individual players...it was down to the collective team from Cortese down. Now thats gone. Some players were not fully on board...they were marginalised. Now it's over...the project....a new way forward has to be found. You can either view it as an exciting opportunity to forge a new path to the top or a dangerous chasm. Hopefully news next week of Koemans replacements will dispell some trepidation.

Wonder whether that medical has gone well?

Yes and yes while that turned out wrong, there was some truth in the interest apparently. Other info is proving accurate so far.

Watch out for more leavers. Clyne doesn't want to be here for example (I'm told).

Excellent. Any player that stands up to sub-standard journos demands huge respect and should be warmly welcomed.

Exactly my point. Indeed this was exactly my point some months ago when I first was told about player departures. The key was not in the players themselves going, but in the club strategy going forwards. It's going to be different...whether it will be as good remains to be seen.

#itshappeningbutnotthewayweexpected Yup, if we lose Morgan...I.e. he's allowed to leave, then it will indicate the end of the project thats for sure.

No, not funny...quite embarrassingly sad.

I guess the positive spin is that the most influential players + the most expensive player needed to leave the club to allow Koeman to re-build his own team. It would make sense and the only real test will come at the end of the summer when the team walks out at Anfield. Then we'll see how competent this Board are at maintaining the momentum of the last 5 years.

While the club definately appears to be taking two steps back, changing ownership at this critical time would probably be a fatal blow to really put paid to any aspirations of greatness. #itshappenningbutnotthewaywexepected

Need to see some proper evidence of our interest like a definite offer before I get "excited" about Ings.

OK, a timely reminder #itshappeningbutnotasweexpected Posted that a little while back now - got shot down of course. Reed made some promises...so far economical with the truth at best. Does anyone REALLY think we're going to be spending £70m in this window? RK has been brought in because he likes working with youth. We could likely be seeing a lot more youngsters turn out against Liverpool than we dared imagine. Time will tell.

You're right. Speculation is ruining this forum. (-; The issue many have is with the failed strategy of keeping hold of our best home-grown players. Or was that actually not the strategy and we've been misguided in that belief?

I love this line about RK buying 3 top quality players...like he's off around the World with a briefcase stashed with money ready to snap up whoever he wants. RK will not be buying 3 players to replace Shaw, but even if he did they're likely to be of lesser quality to what we had. Or are you saying Luke was only worth £10m and we've mugged Utd?!

Re-read what you wrote - do you honestly think that's befitting of a moderator? If you're genuinely intrigued by my comment, do you not think a more polite approach might be suitable. After all, what I said was hardly inflammatory to anyone. So - is it really difficult to understand that Shaw's development has in part been funded by the supporters who purchase match tickets? That's not outlandish...it's plain simple fact.

I'm just one of those people who enjoy watching our best Academy players flourish - it was part of the 'dream'...the promise that we didn't have to sell our best players. Having £34m to spend on lesser players will not be as satisfying to be honest, although admittedly if Koeman does the business and delivers us to 7th or higher I guess I'll be feeling a bit better about it all!

Don't be a complete numpty - if you can't interpret my comment in that we've ALL contributed to Shaw's development, then you really are a sad individual. To be a moderator and try to score petty points pretty much sums up the level of intellect shown on this forum now. Incredible.

Can't buy-in team spirit. Can't buy-in what the Academy lads learn and take into the 1st team. I don't have a problem with Lambert going - he's done his tour of duty. Shaw is a different proposition entirely. We'll not replace these things with £34m. I hope Koeman is as good a Manager as his CV indicates he is.

Very disappointing regardless of the fee in my opinion. Yes he will earn a huge amount of money and play alongside some top players - but nothing can soften the blow of the harsh confirmation (once again) that Saints are a nothing more than a provincial little selling club, acting as a feeder to the so called 'big clubs'. I hate the fact that we're not able to keep hold of our young stars and have to revert to buying in lesser players. And no amount of money in the Saints coffers will detract from that feeling of disappointment - even if all of it is re-invested in new blood. The whole affair typifies to me why English football is in the sorry state it's in and will continue to be, all the while clubs like Saints who are on the brink of breaking the mould, have their squads broken apart by the foreign money-men controlling the Prem. I've contributed to Shaw's development - enjoyed his performances - nothing more to say really.