MarkSFC

Grazianno....Would you want....do we need....would he come back....???!!!

Ok, I'll bite....what have you heard today?!

That's not actually tweaking it though, its merely spending more than previously which is going to happen anyway over the next few years because of the market demands. The tweak is spending that amount NOW on an established player with little resale but immense contribution value to the present. It is not a trashing, its a business (and sporting) decision in the here and now. Big difference.

Business models get tweaked as the market(s) change. Flexible and fluid businesses allow for that and succeed because they recognise the need, time and type of adaptation they have to implement. So for that reason I would not discount us buying a player for 30-40m. In my humble opinion GS is about as good a player as we can get who already knows and has performed exceptionally and consistently in the PL. If CP are happy to spend 30m on Benteke we should be happy to spend 40m on GS!! Because of the strength of our collective squad in terms of quality and contract length we have the financial capability to make a one-off signing of this type. Last summer was more about quantity of incoming because of the Europa League, but this summer is very much about getting quality in the form of 2 or maybe 3 players. AM and DM being the main two for me, although I think a CB who is clearly the partner for VVD would be the cherry on the icing if we were able to bring in GS and a decent DM. I would rather see and it would make better sense for just this window that we spend 60-70 (gross) on 2 excellent players than the same on 5-6. It would certainly be a change in tact but the market is determining it.

Interesting. Like.

Bullies don't like it when people stand up to them and the world then sees them for what they really are.

45m plus the Ox perhaps.

it would appear likely that the manager will play with 2 dm/holding midfielders so unless Clasie or Hoijberg improve significantly I think this area is the glaring gap to be filled, especially if Romeu gets injured we will look light there. The fact they were happy to let Reed go does perhaps suggest they are after someone. Other than that, if no one else goes and no one else comes in, it would be ok but not great. We would be relying upon 4-5 players stepping up from their performances last season which is possible - Stephens, JWP, Redmond, and Boufal. If Gabbi and Austin play to their potential then we should be in for a decent season. I'd still prefer a CB who is going to come straight in alongside VVD (I've thought he would stay this season for months) but we will see.

lazy mad up links.....all 3 have just sold a striker...

If the only player we signed this summer (an no one leaves) was Gylfi and it cost 40-50m I could live with that!! It would send a very positive message out...

You're correct that is our model but missing one very important aspect.....timing. It is NOT develop as quickly as possible and sell as quickly as possible, otherwise they would not of gone down the route of 4,5, & 6 year contracts. Yes, the length of contract helps to increase the selling price but also it extends the time the core of the team is together and slows down the rate of change. But you keep thinking in headlines my friend like the rest of the world.

football, Saints, and this forum is no place for humour.......you should hang your head in shame at even suggesting it.

That's an interesting statement / assumption. You're correct it is easy to give someone a chance to play but there is a difference between developing by playing and being coached/developed outside of competitive play. Puel was dubbed as a coach and as much as I am quite pleased with the change, you cannot always see the effects of training ground coaching immediately. How measure the effect is tricky and in this case only those who saw his training ground coaching will know for sure.

And your point is......

Football is passion and love for your club and if you just happen to feel entertained well there's a bonus going to a match is not aboit entertainment it's about the experience good or bad. Anyone who goes to a game with entertainment as their number one reason does not have an emotional attachment to either team. Plastics in other words.

Thanks for saying!

My thoughts exactly. We are in danger of becoming the new Arsenal but at a level below in that we concentrate too much on potential and forget about improving the now.

40m not enough in today's market so I will add in the 15m for Jrod! Sigurdsson 25m Chalobah 10-12m Sakho 20m

Ever sold a house without telling people how much you want.....you add 10-20% on and then you ****ing negotiate............its not wise to make assumptions about people you do not know. That's very kind of you to say it but I'm sure I'm no more special than you. I guess you're lucky we are doing this online.

True, I did!! That's aside he still comes across poorly and weak to me. I never find him very sincere. Do you think the decision to get rid of Puel was solely his decision? I don't. It will of been a group decision by Kruger, him et al, and I suspect he was convinced rather than convincing them. But when you put yourself out there as the clubs main spokesman you need to sound far more in control, sincere, confident, believable and motivational than he ever does. Time for retirement....

You miss my point totally, that's not what I am saying. Players and Managers have come and gone in order to take the club forward and Reed has overseen that. NOW is the time for Reed to be succeeded to help us progress further. True leaders know when its time to move on.

Its very easy to selectively pick and choose his words, and that's how the press spins things. As far as I make out the intention is not to sell anyone except those who it is best for both parties, so open season. I would rather he said one of two things.....1) yeah we will sell X,Y, and or Z if we get these amounts for them; or 2) we categorically will not sell X,Y, and Z. He has not stemmed possible rumour-mongering and his words are open to any interpretation. Poor leadership. What's worse is that when you listen to him saying those words I get the impression that even he does not believe himself. He stutters, and does not come across at all confident. Poor leadership. He does himself no favours and has the arrogant attitude displayed by so many of our politicians, saying what he perceives to be what people want to see but also towing the party line, without actually saying anything. Poor leadership. I've never been more sure that he has to stand down and appoint his successor.....because he must have a list of who that will be in his master succession plan?!

You can add Sims to that group. I would be pleased with Iheanacho plus one more and sell Long and obviously Jrod.

He isn't but we would still need another anyway. Both him and Christensen?!!

Rather there than Scouseville. 45-50m plus Ake and Baker please.