JackanorySFC

Jesus, £100k a week? We can't compete anywhere near that IMO. Crazy money. I know for a fact he wants to stay and was told he wasn't for sale by the club, however £30m + £100k a week will be hard to turn around for a 18yr old kid, however I reckon he'll be worth £50m in 3-4 years. Still think there's a chance he'll stay a little longer though, no denying huge fee or not it will be a blow to the make up of the side and our Academy project. Maybe Martin Samuel was right after all? Even at £30 and all the records that fee will break, United will have a bargain if he stays there for 10 years ala Rooney btw.

IMO no chance it will be Sunseeker, completely the wrong target market for them and in my dealings with them they suffer from assumptions they are a far bigger business than they actually are (thanks mainly to a canny tie in with the Bond franchise). Their marketing budget is not particularly big, they do it all in house too (well they used to, managed by the then owner's daughter). Not sure of their situation now Rob B has fully sold up to the Chinese however, but I'd seriously doubt they would be a main headline sponsor for a Premier League football team. My guess would be Nestle, UBS or Credit Suisse. All large, Swiss businesses with well known, volume consumer products and all companies name checked by Ralph Kruger when mentioning businesses he has close ties with in his interview last week.

For me in block 2 it's about £1.50 more per game. An increase of 3.6% (more than double inflation). I'll be renewing as will the other 5 I go with. Recognise we need to be self funding, love the way we play as well, if we sat back/ played long ball etc I wouldn't renew. ST also helps with away and cup tickets. Home results (not performances) have been disappointing, can only get better next season! Sign me up mush....

I said I think he's a superb footballer, and I stand by that. Guilty of being a tad romantic when it comes to champagne footballers, give me a swaggering attacking midfielder that makes a few mistakes trying to do the impossible/ improbable over a snarling "Get. It. Forwaaaard" CM. Probably due to being brought up in an age of watching dour Branfoot sides with the odd smattering of genius from Le God, Ekelund, Pahars, Berkovich and the little French left footer that used to turn around 360degrees all the time. Don't get me wrong, you need road sweepers and violinists but the violinists like Gaston are what makes me pay to watch football and be entertained. Personal choice and all that.

Shaw has been told he is not for sale, which suits him and his family as he doesn't want to leave. Don't know about the others but think if Shaw isn't for sale, Morgan, Lallana, Lovren etc have no chance of going. I hope Gaston stays, think he's superb personally. All down to who Poch wants at the club in 2014/15 and, of course, if he is here himself! Again, nothing to suggest otherwise inside the club. May I just say well done to the OP for such an original thread btw.

Went there last month. Amazing City. We stayed in Galata, right by the Tower in a seriously cool Apartment that was great value thanks to http://www.airbnb.com and the current exchange rate making Turkey one of the best value places in the world for a Brit' to visit. Wouldn't bother with the "Asian side" other than a nice boat trip over there there's not a lot to see and do that side of the Bosporus. We did the Cisterns, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Archaeological Museum. I thought the Grand Bizarre wasn't all that great, far better value for bags, Jewellery (in other words with your missus like I was) etc in the lanes that lead downhill from the GB to the Spice Market. Proper hectic but far better than the GB IMO. Walk over Galata Bridge at least once, has 2 tiers, top tier covered by fishermen bottom completely taken up by (overpriced) bars and restaurants. The "coolest" place we went to in terms of bars/ restaurants was Besiktas. Only a fiver in a cab from Taksim (via a mental downhill road that wraps around the building site for the new Besiktas stadium, it's going to be quality) and worth a mooch if you like a beer. Galata also good, is the Music/ Creative area with decent bars etc. On the point of bars, they aren't easy to find as most eateries open during the day don't serve alcohol. For a pair of soaks like me and my missus this was frustrating! Stay away from Taksim, big concrete square with nothing about it, no reason whatsoever for it to be a Tourist destination from what we saw. Exchange your money out there if you havn't all ready, better rates. It's seriously hilly (every road's like Mousehole Lane ffs), but get a tram pass as that is great value. As SM says, get to a match if possible, Galatasary or Besiktas I'd say (got a soft spot for the latter after speaking to a few of their fans), Fenerbache the Muslim side over there.

I personally think the most interesting thing from the brief conversations I had is the feedback from the England get togethers. The fact it's more a case of players from other clubs asking about life at Saints, Poch, Youth team integration etc than our lads getting poached/ tapped up by players from the bigger clubs (which they were joking before hand was the opposite of what they were expecting). Obviously they'll all want to play Champions League football, but right now international recognition is a massive thing. Underestimate the morale between the players at your peril, Lovren really important to squad too apparently, especially the defenders, bit of a loon really (to someone like me that is happy with doing what I have to do and not a lot more in my working life anyway) demands perfection and 100% commitment in training, really took to Fonte when finding out they were going to be 1st choice CB's and took time to get to know him on and off the pitch. personally thing Chambers will partner him next season, has huge potential with the right support which I think he'll get, especially with Poch being an ex International CB himself. This summer will be interesting anyway, hope I'm right as I think our squad will only get better year on year.

Because I had dinner with said player (and more importantly his Dad) 2 weeks ago and, not surprisingly, the subject of X players good mate a Luke Shaw and his future came up (before the poppadoms arrived). He loves it here, the parents of these lads are tight, the club provide brilliant backing (big credit to NC there but transition smooth apparently), they get to play, international recognition and massive financial incentives based on a wide range of criteria (not goals/ assists/ clean sheets but tackles, metres run etc). Moral sky high and our lads coming back from England duty with others asking about life at Saints, not the other way around. As said before, other clubs interested. They'd be stupid not to be. But right now the lads think they can push us further next year and the squad will get better with experience. No one wants to leave. However, there's always a however... Every clubs a selling club. If someone offers stupid, and I mean stupid, money for any player the club will listen. As would any club in the world. But on the subject of the players and their parents wanting them to leave, nah. That's rubbish.

That is completely wrong. Luke and his family want him to stay at Saints for a few years yet. The club don't want to sell either. Unless RM/ Citeh offer huge money (£50m) he will be here next September. Relax, he is playing every week with his mates he grew up with, he is getting England recognition and the best possible back room facilities/ support in the UK. He and his family know this, they know there's no rush and Saints will be a big part of getting him to fulfil his potential. Other clubs will try and unsettle him by letting the media know they are interested (newspapers don't invent these stories, sorry to break that to some of you), however big difference between clubs wanting him and what Luke/ Saints want. Source? Fellow player that's known Luke since they were 9.

Sorry everyone, but I've been around advertising and sponsorship to know there's only one thing that matters - revenue. Luxury brands have no more money than volume brands, football doesn't cater to luxury anyway, aspirational maybe at a push but not luxury. I'd suggest Cunard/ P&O/ Princess are a no as Carnival's CEO is a big Pompey fan. Club sponsorship is vanity, despite Sponsorship sales teams desperately using buzz feeds and reach numbers they've got from god knows where, it's impossible to quantify! It's all about the money! Although I am surprised that before now we haven't used the family connections and tapped into Liebherr consumer goods (fridges etc)?

This. "Loose lips sink ships". Never **** on your own, got a problem with someone? Deal with it in house, OB can't ever be trusted.

Anti Safe Standing advocates look increasing like luddites, Jesus I just watched Dion Dublin make a complete fool of himself on that clip (cheers for posting that btw) what a moron, how is he even on the BBC, saw him pitchside recently where he looked equally clueless. Hate to say it, but I smell a whiff of positive discrimination him even getting that gig. Anyone that has been to Germany will know it's a complete no brainer, allows fans to choose between sitting and standing, gets more paying people in at (hopefully) lower costs. I like Dan Walker as well, hearding cats in that piece though. The Hillsborough analogy is an insult to the victims, their families and the investigation that proved the reasons for that disaster were South Yorks OB, fencing and a ground without a safety certificate.

Ah, the old Junior Saints days! Sat on the benches in the lower East stand "hot dogs, sausage rolls, come on Saints score some goals"! That was my vantage point for one of our thrashings of Liverpool, they were wearing the grey Candy kit and I was briefly on TV behind Hanson as he took his throw in. Must have worn out the video tape back replaying that over and over (it was a rare live game on MOTD I think)! Still got my certificates and birthday cards at my Mums somewhere, signed by Chris Nicholl and Le God. Good question re do they still do it? I'd hope so anyway.

To be fair there is no doubt that Cortese created an environment that the players absolutely loved. From the small amount I know there was a lot of uncertainty when he left as the players genuinely had a bond with him and respected his judgement in terms of recruiting the best staff and building the best facilities to help the players progress. You have to appreciate Premier League footballers (and a lot further down the Pyramid to be fair) are incredibly ambitious and self confident, they had a Boss that reflected those attributes and, whether we appreciate that or not, they thought he was the nuts! However, KL done a superb job steadying the ship, we got through January and now Ralph seems to be coming across very well and, most importantly, the players are still getting the same levels of TLC they were getting before. No sign of a melt down at all! Poch is a huge part of that of course, but he needs the support from different areas of the club. So far so good, I don't see any reason why that will change. A new contract for Poch will probably signal no sales (minus those surplus to Poch's requirements) and be absolutely huge. I don't think we'll sell anyone Poch isn't happy to lose this summer. No player wants to leave, especially the young lads that have been together since 8 years old. With the new TV deal, even the cost of the training ground will be more than covered. Our players have low basic salary's (amongst the lowest average in the Prem apparently), heavily incentivised that with bonuses bring it up to a very competitive level (Cortese's idea, and common sense really, don't know why more clubs do it?). A lot of clubs offer goal/ appearance/ win/ clean sheet money, but we link to loads of key areas apparently. Complicated but lucrative if players perform well. This season is a success to the players will earn good money (provided they play, Gaston for example, will not have earned anywhere near what is reported his salary is as he hasn't started often). When the finances are published (March usually so hopefully soon?) that will tell us a lot. Re the original OP. Simple, we have a crop of young English players that are getting a huge amount of attention. Chelasea, for example, seem to have a policy of hoovering up young talent and farming out on loan to stop competitors. Gallagher (and his parents) know it would be a crazy move for him and the Club (Reed in particular) know he'll be worth way more than £5m simply by keeping him around his mates, playing and retaining the bond they've created coming through the ranks together.

Good news on jobs this morning. Personally resigned to level of higher rate tax not being raised from the current level so hoping that businesses get a higher entry level to NI payments and point at Tax entry band is raised from £10,000 to £10,500. Fags and booze will get hit, as always. Right to buy will be extended (a rubbish policy that has inflated house prices above their true value. Ask any mortgage broker, if you want a new house you'll need a higher deposit, almost like buying a car - depreciates as son as it leaves the forecourt! Austerity will continue and the economy will hopefully keep improving. I can see decent improvements at my work anyway. Response from Labour interesting. Balls came across as right idiot last time, completely unprepared for Osborne, stuttering and shambollic really. Must improve this time, Labour are of course on dodgy ground when it comes to the economy and they need all the gravitas they can get! I'm someone that has voted for Labour and the Tories btw. Hate all this partisan b*******t. Still have an open mind for 2015 and future elections as always. Keep 'em on their toes I say.

McCarthy already is a CB I believe? He is certainly seen as a leader inside the club, very large personality by all accounts(clue in the surname for any Southampton residents)! Would like to keep hold of Chambers, if true Arsenal made an enquiry then I doff my hat to them in a way. Whilst all the hype is around Shaw Arsenal would be bidding for someone that potentially offers far better value for money. Chambers has slipped under the radar a little and, in my opinion, has just as much potential as Shaw. Loves bombing forward, looks up before crossing, strong in the tackle and superb in the air. To be pushing Clyne as much as he is at his age is phenomenal when you consider how highly Clyne was/ is rated. An absolute diamond.

I personally want to thank the moron OP for bringing this thread to my attention and reminding me why I and many others no longer donate a fiver a year to be more of a part of this site. Nice one.

Chelsea by a long way. Liverpool good, but Suarez the man difference. Have to doff my cap to Swansea, played brilliantly at SMS and we worked hard for the 3 points. Worst Norwich or Fulham Luckiest/ most rope a dope deffo Villa. Spurs not far behind. Most boring, West Ham. Came for nil nil and got it, well done. If that's the future of football say goodbye to TV money,

Apparently zero chance of long haul, Poch won't have it in a WC summer. Rightly so IMO. I'm predicting Spain again with a glamour tie at the end (Barca v Saints, La Macia vs The Lodge:))

Luke wants to stay and the club have no intention of selling him. Source? Family member in his age group at the club. Relax everyone, we're going to see Shaw develop at Saints over the next few seasons. He recognises he can improve a lot and Southampton provide the best environment for that. Seriously guys, don't underestimate the high moral at the club now. Behind the scenes the work the Club are doing to turn the Lodge/ Staplewood etc into our own "La Macia" with a family feel is incredibly important. Apparently on England duty it's more a case of others asking about life at SFC than the other way round. Personally I predict he'll leave after Euro '16 for big money to whoever he wants to go to (his commitment to us will be rewarded with us helping him move to the right club, not necessarily the one that pays the most and not necessarily Chelsea) unless we are in the Champions League ourselves.

Massive improvement. Took me a minute to work out there are only 1060 seats left for Saturday's game so looks like a sell out (or very close to it). Also, and this was my biggest bugbear with the online ticket site, you can actually choose seats in block 2!!!! Bizarrely before you could only view blocks 1 & 3, a pain for a block 2 ST holder like me that needs extras near me for mates/ family etc. Top effort Saints!

Lovren is 24 (a baby in CB terms) and Wanyama is 22. How old are you to consider these players "not what I would call young", 12? No offence kid but leave grown up chat to the adults eh, or if you've actually left school at least do some research before spouting complete nonsense. Unless you are one of these weird breed of "WUM's" that seem to be infesting this site. Pathetic weirdos with nowt better to do than spend hours on internet forums coming up with internet personas to make up for their lack of real life social skills and human interaction. No sane Saints fan can have watched that video and come up what you've said whilst keeping a straight face. Up the Saints.

Don't worry, he doesn't want to go, I know that for a fact. Will 100% be here in September unless we get a stupid, Balesque bid for him from abroad, the same with Lallana (who also is keen to stay). Feel free to save this post etc.

First time I've seem Reed interviewed/ part of a round table discussion like this. Have to say I was pleasantly impressed, articulate, knowledgeable and persuasive in his arguments. A really good ambassador for Southampton FC and our philosophy. I was won over by his arguments re loaning out players, and that is as a family member (on my missus' side) of one of our current U21 squad that prob' won't make it. He and his parents agree SFC is the best place for him, not just on the pitch but off it. If he doesn't make it as a player the club have said they will support him through Uni' to become a physio. According to his Mum and Dad there aren't any other clubs that would do that. He would rather try and make it as a Southampton player along with his mates that have already made it or are almost there, than go to a lower league club with inferior facilities, medical team, playing style and all whilst away from his family/ lodge. This group of lads have been together since little kids, Southampton have created an environment that the players, staff and Management are all clearly positive about and want to succeed. With this in mind, and what my guy in the U21's has told me, means there is no chance we will sell Chambers/ Shaw, JWP, Lallana etc unless KL wants the money. They don't want to go. Les Reed deserves credit for his part in that, not something I thought I'd say a few years ago but hey, we all make mistakes and need to admit when we are wrong. Up the Saints!

They genuinely will never learn will they? Isn't this summer the last of their parachute payments as well? **** or bust time I reckon! http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26513845?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter