david in sweden

Mmmm, curiouser and curiouser... ......." The People understtnds that Southampton made a bid ..." (who's phone have they been ta**ing?)

Agree with all those Badger and they were my era and so I recall them well. of course, (as with a previous discussion about today's "actual value of money) Rory Delaps £4 million would be closer to £6 mill nowadays. ..the £60K we paid for Ron Davies in 1966 was a club record at that time, and so the Jimmy Gabriel fee ( £42,500 in August 67) was also a sizeable deal in those days.) The idea of " writing off " players when they are past 30 - even in those days - was subject to error. Coming from Arsenal when he was 31 Alan Ball gave us great service until he was almost 36.... and then made a return again for a season two years later. The others you mention (McGrath and Case), though different generations gave equally good service in their time - and we're well worth the investment (although the £30 K we paid for those two had less value in later years) - if you are purely comparing the financial aspect. Both continued to play (at a lower level until they were almost 40) and were indeed very good players on their day. However, MOST of the BEST, we've had cost ..NOTHING. Though they were spread out over a period of almost 40 years ... Terry Paine, John Sydenham, Martin Chivers, Mick Channon, Nick Holmes, Steve Williams, Bobby Stokes, Steve Moran... and MLT all signed for nothing....and managed almost 3,500 games between them ! sad to say, some of our biggest buys weren't so successful and are highly forgetable...except for the size of the fees we paid out.

I didn't re-print all that Alpine, but it made impressive reading. You are obviously a very well-organised and resourceful person well-versed in the business world. Good that you had the right sort of help...perhaps like Wade Garrett you work for a European company who are used moving people around. Did you speak any German ? ..or does your employer use English as a company language? I have worked with a number of people from Japanese /Korean organisation and the general standard of communication was poor to say the least. In Lee's case..someone hinted on here that he'd been over in the Autumn and met NA...so it's not a deal someone dreamed up overnight. Maybe..it is taking time, and he has a lot of goodbyes to say, as others here have suggested...(who knows ?) No-one seems to have considered the simple fact that Lee has been told..." we'll let you know as soon as your work permit has been approved and we know you can come ..get yourself organised and let us know when you are ready ..and we'll book a flight "! That sounds more humane to me ..I just don't know why some people on here are ready to dish the deal because they expect him to be match-fit and upto date on our playing pattern - by Monday night!

Quite true, Alpine. I know of at least two such organisations in Sweden, but can you tell us about the ease with which YOU moved to Austria ..whenever that was ?

I wouldn't want to employ anyone with that sort of "curse" on their CV ..some of our fans would never let him live it down . besides, you can't say to any player ..don't play for Pompey, because you might come to play for us..ONE DAY in the future.!

I think the answer to this query is the one I have highlighted above. Sounds like you work for an international organisation ? - I have done so myself in the past, and most efficient ones organise things quite well and set up housing / hotel accomodation. School for the children (I didn't have mine - then). Language and cultural education for the (employee) AND his wife / partner - or whatever...and a whole lot more "settling-in" tips. Although Saints' had a goodly selection of foreign imports - think Ivan Golac was the first major one - a lot of that background has disappeared, (some of it into the grave) and this is the first time THIS club administration has "employed " someone from such a different culture. Mr.Lee maybe a smart, even intelligent individual - (not as we have seen, a prime qualification for a footballer), but I don't think it a primary concern to have him fly in on Monday and have him lacing up his boots in the taxi on the way to SMS. He should have the time he needs to leave his "old life " behind and adapt to the new. IF.... I was NA - I'd even have him on the bench for the first couple of games ....and not " panic play " him straight away.

This was a period even more traumatic than the later "appointments". In retrospect,losing Strachan (despite his shortcomings) was disaster. I believe that Sturrock had indeed lost it (for a number of reasons previously discussed) but forcing Wigley to take over was even worse. There had to be some sort of continuity, and the arrival of Sturrock saw the departure of a number of "behind the scenes " faces and Steve Wigley..(IMO a good coach in his own right who had the respect of the clubs junior players ) - was suddenly asked to become manager to an already struggling and dis-oriented side. What did we expect? .. even very experienced managers don't always turn things around so suddenly.

right now... ..when we are considering increased bids of one two or even three million - for other players... I say cut our losses and get shot of him. One bad apple .... etc, etc,

lot of good points adrians, and I agree it's often the case that Scottish imports have trouble settling into the English game. Different style of play, bit more physical in the Scottish games maybe, a little less (what we sometimes call skill)...etc, However, the one point that occurs to me is that Hooper has played most of his (hitherto successful career start) - in England and continues to do so In Scotland. The idea of selling Hooper obviously bring out the Celtic fans anger, in much the same way if we were selling Lambert ! The scenario goes something like this....... Their club tries to keep the fans happy by saying "we don't want to sell our best players" (whilst their bankers are saying ...what are you going to do about this overdraft of yours ?). The manager tows the party line and say what a valauble asset the player is, and that he is staying put ... and the player doesn't want to put himself in bad with the fans, and mouths off about how much he wants to be a ****** player, and how great the club is. SO FAR .....no problems, until the club gets an offer "they can't refuse " and "reluctantly" agrees to sell - whilst the player is quietly considering if he really wants to swap the two-horse race in the Scottish Prem. in order to play in the best league in the World (i.e. the ENGLISH Premiership). ...and with a possible salary increase of 300% in 6 months time ? Everyone can see a win-win situation - except the Celtic fans !

I guess it depends on how you react to your boss, and the sort of relationship you have with him. It's down to the chemistry between the two of them. over several decades.. I've had bosses who've been friendly and helpful, like an older brother .. and one who was like.. BIG BROTHER !

... .guess that's the answer then. If we do succeed in signing him... hopes it works. I wasn't sure if anyone had actually seen him play very much?

anyway, you guys ....this thread is actually about Jordon Rhodes - isn't it ? read an item somewhere that we had a £3 million bid pushed back, and now we are returning with a higher bid (£5 million?)..having lost out on the Hooper deal..(if indeed we have).....is Rhodes that good?. There's a lot of difference between scoring against mediochre L1 sides and being a prospective Premiership striker....

A well-reasoned arguement - and one that I agree with, unfortunately I don't think Puncheon is on the same wavelength as you. As someone once said ..picking a fight with your boss might give you some satisfaction.. but it's like shi**ing on your own doorstep !

if we have to go the whole course with Forecast before his time is out , we can do the same with JP ..neither will have a career left by then. I think this whole mess is very sad, there are tens of thousands of us who give our right arm to wear a Saints shirt in a competitive game!

I really didn't know what I could write on this thread... except that ..I don't know why we have a 'keeper on our books ....who isn't good enough for a Conference side ?

....also "we're trying to do everything privately and behind the scenes....it was Celtic who made public our interest.." Nigel Adkins Interesting that it might sound like Cortese drew back ...and didn't made the Third Bid everyone was expecting ...? He does like to keep his cards close to his chest, and not go public on deals..whilst Celtic try to drive up the eventual selling price.? Punishment to Celtic sounds like... ." we're going to spend on someone anyway, but if you can't keep confidences on a deal.. then *ukc U. We'll go elsewhere.

to get some form, fitness and playing time under his belt ?. I don't think we can afford to "nurse him along" in our first team until he gets his goalscoring ability back to CCC standard - not at present.

Hands up all those who think the Hooper saga - isn't over yet ?

...perhaps that's because Paul Wotton has returned to his spiritual home (park) - Plymouth Argyle.

Agreed . Very true. How are the mighty fallen. Seems like " the spirit of the NOTW " hasn't died with it. Be sure to kick a man when he's down ! I was equally disgusted at the media coverage (and abuse on this site ) that Claus Lunderkvam got after his personal problems. - someone who gave valiant service to the club, and spilt his blood (on more a few occasion) for the cause. ..and why are we so shocked when we read about Gazza, Gary Speed and Dean Windass? In most ordinary careers...you can do a job for a lifetime. In Football... one bad injury and it's finished! JB will get his 3 match suspension.. and hopefully (for him) start over again, because when his time has gone - thats it ! ....whilst the rest of us can continue until we're 65.

Many years ago, I did live out of a suitcase for almost 3 months - the fact that I wasn't on the equivalent of 20K a week - (if you think he's going to get that much) - is irrelevant. If you're not familiar with the city you're moving to - let alone the country - (I've done that, too)...and it takes some degree of adjustment. Sure.. he's going to get used to his team mates sooner rather than later, but in his free time ...? Do you suggest we encourage some of the lads to drag him around to some of the less salubrious night-spots in So'ton ? .or just give him the address of some of the sushi bars in town? I know he's supposed to have basic English, but his previous overseas trips have most likely been with his team mates all speaking Japanese. This is more than just an experiment. We are not desperate to play him (although I'm sure many of us are eager to see him play.). Be patient.

I think that some people are over-reacting ....a little. This isn't about someone signing from another (European country) either. There are some similarities between EU countries but this guy is moving halfway around the world and needs to get his life in order beforehand. He's not likely to be returning to Japan so often - whereas anyone living in Europe can get on a plane and be there in 2 (max)...3 hours. Tokyo is a bit further away. What would you say to him if you were NA. "OK Lee, now we've got your permit approved you've got two weeks to get your life in order, and pack your boots - you'll be playing Monday!" Forget all that jet-lag nonsense, we'll have a taxi waiting for you at Heathrow! " That's a perfect recipe for disaster. For some people (who seem not to rate him - even before he's kicked a ball)..anything less than a hat-trick on his debut will condemn him as a poor buy. It's not as if we are desperate to play him on Monday. The last two games - without Lambert - haven't been too bad either - have they? I think NA will keep more or less the same side... maybe introduce Lee to the crowd at SMS (in his best suit).. and then get on with the game. Lee will get enough chances when the time comes and he has properly settled in. (look at it another way ...your boss says OK you...here is your work permit and flight tickets - be on the plane to Tokyo in 10 days.)

If you are a conspiracy theorist then you'll say we are just taking a breather in the Hooper deal..and will come back later. and Nicola Cortese is going to offer them a deal they CAN'T refuse ...OR .... it's the end of the line on this one ... so who's next ?

I don't know about the rest of you, but one thing that really pi**es me off is the idea that some egotistical types in the second tier of the Prem...even the top of the CCC - think that because some ill-informed journo' tries to link us with one such side, we should all get in a hot flush, because their name is mentioned in the same breath as ours, and open the safe door, drive out the moths and take their paltry millions in exchange for our best talent. Every player has a price... so they say, but few clubs ever come near the real valuation of some of our stars. Once such a story is aired, clubs think they can come to SMS and expect to kidnap players from our dressing room, with promises of fame and glory (usually in a struggling side at the bottom end of the Prem). By the end of the month, Puncheon maybe glad he didn't get signed by QPR who look to be on their way down, despite Sparky's late intervention. It is, of course, meant to destabilise the club, the fan base and create a greed factor in a player, who might otherwise be quite happy to be in the club. To all such clubs, and their " lackeys" in the media, I say *UKC U, fellas. Take your invisible millions and use them for toilet paper instead. (There ! - now I feel better)