david in sweden

Armstrong (3 caps) played ONCE for Middlesboro before moving ..and was capped twice more when with Saints (1982-84), although neutrals might say that he was worth more than that in his prime. (Rather like Jimmy Melia before him) , David Armstrong was prematurely bald in his early twenties and tended to look much older than his years. Ironic that nowadays shaven-headed players are not uncommon at all - giving rise to the " tough-look".

well........as it happens Mick played 45 times for England and scored 21 goals (whilst with Saints) and only once after his move to Man.City (June 1977). That was effectively the end of his International career.

surely all these statements about not selling players (which is inevitable given time ) .....were meant to placate MP and try to keep him at SMS....that said... it didn't work. With a new manager on the horizon he surely would not be looking to build a team and plan it around Rickie Lambert... In time RL would have been a regular on the bench and given way to a new name. Had it not been for Rickie's England career blossoming last Autumn, we wouldn't even be discussing the matter, BR wouldn't have bid for him and he'd still be on his way out this season ..or next.. The truth of the matter is that Rickie 's international career is just starting .....at at an age when many others are in decline. The " new manager " doesn't have to worry about ....what to do with Rickie....and will make his own team choices without the fear of upsetting many fans, by having to plan without / around him. In some ways, it's a sensible decision and a win-win situation. We'd all expected RL to stay until the (eventual) nightmare ending of his wonderful Saints career, whereas now he will have a dream ending by playing for his home club in a squad that is very promising and will plaay CL next season. Considering the great service RL has given to Saints ....who amongst us would deny him that ?. Now that MP has gone...we will build the squad on those who want to stay and play..the others (who don't want to) are best out of it...albeit for £30 million ....or a free transfer.

pre season ......will be a good chance for the new squad to get to know each other... ....My first ironic laugh will be..... if we get Spurs at home for our first game next season ......

nicely worded. Wish I'd thought of it myself . but i might add. you'll find out that managing a team of " egotistical over-paid superstars " in a club that (now) has a long history of not winning lots of trophies isn't the same as purring sweet-nothings to our Academy graduates. However, in the long run you'll come out OK. ... because even getting sacked at New Year ....will mean a very nice pay-off on the remaining 4½ years of your contract. But ..for old times' sake) ....I'll say.... Good luck - you may need a lot of it.

My take ; 1- Even pretentions to becoming a top four club takes big investment....and a lot of top class follow-up signings to sustain it. Maybe KL didn't realise that when NC was so secretive about activites? 2- more income is required all the time. Getting 30k gates at SMS may look impressive to us, but doesn't compare with income from crowds at Old Trafford ..and even Newcastle. Big money signings cost money to maintain. £40K /week salaries mean £2 million year +tax . £20K doesn't sound much in the Prem but it's still a million a year cost. Multiply that by a dozen and you see how dependent we are on TV money. 3- I don't think it's reached that point. She's still getting used to the club (after NC leaving) but looking at my comments in point 2, I'd say she's taking a serious look at our ongoing running costs. Promises to keep players that MP wanted were right -at the time - but since he jumped ship we need to re-evaluate. Lambert transfer to LFC, though sad, is a win-win situation. Shaw/ Lallana inevitable. 4- Someone define struggle for me, please. I grew up with Saints being " a middling top club" ....for 27 seasons. IMO- don't expect top half placement in the coming season, but if the new manager does his job well enough maybe..in 2 years. The " Euro dream " was Cortese's vision, and we were happy to bathe in the glory of that vision - in reality it was never really " on " even with MP's squad. 5- Lots of fans still see football in the light of "their club" - but many clubs wouldn't still exist if it weren't for people like Abrahamovic, Sheikh " whats-his-name" and the Glazers....and even the Liebherrs who invest their " lunch money" in something else - as a diversion to ordinary business life. I think there is a lot of business acumen in the new Board members - but not a lot of football " nous" . On the face of it, a lot seems to hang on Les Reed - who will either emerge as hero or villian by August.

The original statement talked about " keeping players that Pochettino wanted " was obviously an attempt to persuade MP to stay, but....as soon as he jumped ship ...the whole situation changed ... It was open season for clubs to come in with bids. I was not alone at the surprise about LFC bidding for RL but we know they really want Lallana .....and RL is the £4 million carrot. Our " new manager " will be planning for the future ...and then even RL might find it difficult to get off the bench if we are trying to form a " strike force " with new players. Of course there are two camps on the RL transfer issue....one would see him continuing as long as possible - until he is taken to the bench in a wheelchair ..... whereas £4 million (PLUS the mysterious ADD-ONS) could amount to a lot more in the next two years....surely a good deal for a 32 y.o. and a dream move for Rickie - which few of us would begrudge him. of course existing contracts will be honoured - exactly as those were for Tommy Forecast, Jonno Forte and Lee Barnard....except in their cases there were no takers. If we don't want players to go - then they stay..even if they are unhappy about it. The coming week will define whether Les Reed is the shrewd negotiator we hope for, or a disaster waiting to happen. The bottom line is who wants to hold on to an unhappy player....when (as often quoted) we know that every player has a price.

THIS ! ...well said Kraken. If we sign the " right manager" then he'll know who he wants and they'll be money available if Ramirez and /or Osvaldo move on ....even without the suggested Lallana /Shaw deals .

..but does he speak English?

of course another factor is that Bristol Rovers have a 25% share of that £4 million transfer fee ....now that they have been relegated to the Conference....

and ...." . no players will leave if Pochettino wants them "......looks to have a different interpretation now - doesn't it ?

what are the odds for a Euro qualification place under a new manager ?...........

....feel much the same. Was beginning to get used to the idea that Shaw and Lallana would eventually move on - but the Rickie sensation came as a bit of a shock. It's not the money of course.......£4 mill. doesn't sound much compared to the £20 plus millions being bandied about for Shaw and Lallana, but it was the " emotional attachment" that everyone has formed for RL and his success story from " Beetroot factory to Brazil " that caught everyone's imagination that is hard to swallow. Still, I won't deny Rickie his moment(s) of glory. He's earned them all. Everyone thought at 32 he was already " past the sell-by date " for Prem.strikers ....and for him the light at the end of the tunnel must surely have resembled being blinded by the oncoming headlights.... No!.... times change, managers and squads, too. Now we must wait and see who remains after the mad stampede for the exits, and then let the new manager build his squad of loyal players. It won't be hard for me to continue enjoying Rickie Lambert as a Liverpool player (I've always liked them since the Shankly days of Euro football in the 60's)...but the thought of some of our other players moving to ....."Spuds".....or even Man.Utd. hurts far more ! P:S: suddenly there was a deja-vu feeling that recalled that when Ron Davies left in 1973. 7 years and 153 goals, but we all knew it was ineveitable that a 31 y.o. couldn't cut it forever at the top level.....but there was a sort of sadness all the same.

...........it's then that the gallant White Night ....Sir Nicola Cortese comes riding to the rescue........NO.. I can't take that....

Mmmm...what are the odds that we qualify for Europe under the new manager?

Mmm........records get broken all the time - don't they?

One lives in hope.... perhaps .......Mauricio Pochettino will sign him:lol:....we need a payback for the Tommy Forecast deal.

....i don't think anyone expects to get another RL for £4 million, although several sites have quoted £8-10 million there is surely a lot more money in the pot. His replacement ....will probably be someone about 10 years younger........

sad news for Saints fans, but he's done well for us, and tbh I don't begrudge him the chance......especially as it's Liverpool. I find it less upsetting than the thought of some of the others might be going to the likes of Tottenham and Man.U.

Absolutely. They are under contract, too. and should be held to it Find the right replacement for MP and carry on regardless.. .....over to you Les.

I hope there is a clause in the agreement that they can't buy any of our first teamers.......

I always have had.......

Well said......my sense of humour, too:lol:

if that's the case then expect an announcement ASAP.if not someone lost the plot if we have to go out and advertise and have another 2-3 weeks delay or longer with the World Cup ongoing.

.......and in the midst of all this.....Dodd and Williams got the boot also ?....... very strange. If MP is going / has left already .....was it really necessary to get rid of them, too ?