Lallana's Left Peg

I'd trust him with the Football Development Centre. I'm absolutely ****ting myself at him being the leading light in naming a successor, transfers, and contract negotiations. And he may well be a few weeks away from being made to look a right plonker if any players leave.

Here is why it smarts a little: 1. Who on earth is qualified at our club to name a successor? 2. It provides the perfect catalyst for players to seek to move - rather than state how good the club is they want to join, they can point to Saints lacking ambition and unable to keep Pochettino etc. 3. We get into just about the best shape we've been in my lifetime and it feels like it could come to a spectacularly abrupt end (it was a fun journey back up though) 4. It is a sobering and numbing reminder that no club really is ever going to break the mould in the Premier League unless there is more player and Manager loyalty

I wouldn't necessarily question his commitment because he chose not to sign his new deal when it was offered. It would be fair to suggest he would have more leverage in the summer so it wouldn't have been sensible for him to. But we're now in the summer and he has the leverage he needs - so what is the issue now with it being resolved one way or another? I've suggested my concerns in previous posts - I feel it would be more likely for those to be the issues than any Turkish suggested purely because the ones Turkish suggested are those that can be resolved in house between both parties. The ones I've suggested involve third parties (clubs signing our players and clubs wanting our Manager) so the longer this goes on the worse it feels and why it leads me back to my original statement that Saints are looking a little silly.

Stalling signing a new deal having been offered one months before the season ended - that more consistent for you? And yes it could be for any one of a number of reasons, but I would suggest that if it was for any that you suggested that they could be resolved very quickly. They are easy to sort out to get a yes or no and we move on. Unless you think they are complicated issues that would cause all this uncertainty?

I said I don't know the reason in a previous post. I've speculated as to why I think it may be. I do know he has been offered a deal - well before the season ended as well. That is a 100% fact. Now it could well be that they have been negotiating off the back of that offer for the last few weeks. It could be that the terms are acceptable but at a professional level Pochettino has some concerns. I don't know. But if you are offered a new contract in any line of work - and we can assume it is on improved terms - and you don't sign it, something is up, no?

Do you think it is a comforting situation? I personally find it uneasy that our Manager (who appears important for player retention - rightly or wrongly) is uncertain about something and that is preventing him committing. It doesn't sit well.

They could convince the players for a start...

He has been sitting on a new contract for months. I know that much is fact. I do not know why he hasn't signed it - I can only speculate as to the reasons why but the two I suggested don't seem far fetched to me. Why do you think he hasn't signed it? I will speculate it is because he is unsure of the Boards ability to follow up their public statements and / or he fancies joining a different club. For me, both are fair reasons but why aren't Saints seeking to address the issue and convince him this is the place to stay regardless of other factors?

Because we can't convince our Manager to sign a new contract as he waits on better offers and / or the Board to deliver on their intention that no player will be sold that they want to keep. Neither are a strong look.

I think it can go either way but I do feel Saints are being made to look a little silly and that doesn't feel too good.

Of course, people reacting like this is exactly what they want. They do not care for the journalistic integrity of what they publish. They do not care whether it has any insight. They do not care if they think it is right or wrong. They just want to sell papers and / or get people talking. Which is exactly what has happened. Never ceases to amaze me how people fall for it every time.

There is no way Pochettino being allowed to talk to Spurs could be kept a secret. No way.

If he has been given permission it would be in the news.

Do people really think Pochettino would just casually turn up to Spurs' training ground for talks? Even if he did want to be a naughty boy, I'd trust both he, his advisors, and Spurs would find a far more discreet way to talk - and most definitely not somewhere like Spurs' training ground.

Back in the Championship promotion season the Derby fans cracked out the 'We saw you crying in the playoffs' chant which raised a smile and a clap from the Saints fans. Be nice to get them in the cup so we can reciprocate it next season

I think JWP has a lot of qualities, but the big question mark for me is what position will he settle on? He may never settle on a position and have a good career, but would he ever be a first choice starter because of it?

Echo suggested Les Reed was behind the decision. Les Reed hasn't taken too long to take advantage of his profile and responsibilities has he?

https://twitter.com/AlexHoliga

Gaston's face just doesn't fit in Pochettino's system. I like him as a player but he needs a game played at a slower pace and with a bit more forward movement ahead of him. Lallana should be replaced with a new signing. I've no idea who.

At that price it is worth it if Pochettino stays - maybe not if we have a new Manager.

At a time when marginal gains will mean a lot to Saints selling two of your best players is regressive. Nonetheless, pragmatically speaking if there is no more money to keep the progress going then it is inevitable the best players will leave. My concern is more around our ability to replace them. As I have said before, no club has a record better than 50/50 in the transfer market and we aren't any different. Now it looks like we'll have to replace at least two important players and there is a 50% chance of us getting it right. I don't like those odds...

As I have said in another thread then, why are we pandering to him so much? We are coming off like his little *****. Are we not bigger than any one individual?

My issues aren't to do with selling players, as if Shaw and Lallana knew Man Utd and Liverpool wanted them I don't think Cortese's presence could stop them. My issue is the uncertainty around Pochettino (I think Cortese would handle the situation much better) and of massive concern are the reports from Adam Blackmore that the players don't know what is going on - that should be setting massive alarm bells going off. It suggests to me that there isn't a plan. So we're about to sell two of our best players and there isn't a plan. Is no-one else concerned about this!?!

Adam Blackmore has been interacting with fans all morning on twitter. Massively concerned that players don't know what is going on or what the plan is. No wonder none of them appear keen to want to commit to stay.

Adam Blackmore ‏@bigadamsport · 16 mins Coz I keep getting asked & haven't replied - don't shoot the messenger & all that - here's what I think of situation at #saintsfc >>> Adam Blackmore ‏@bigadamsport · 14 mins > The club will struggle to keep Lallana & Shaw as we know - and I was told Liverpool made a firm bid for Lovren of 15M which was rejected Adam Blackmore ‏@bigadamsport · 13 mins But I've no proof of that - I think hesitation over Poch is due to Daniel Levy , who may well be waiting to see if he can lure a 'big' name Adam Blackmore ‏@bigadamsport · 12 mins But my biggest worry re Poch is that #saintsfc board have let him to hold all the cards & I'd like club to be positive & say it how it is Adam Blackmore ‏@bigadamsport · 12 mins A number of #saintsfc players feel they can't get answers they want off those in boardroom - that's what they've told me Adam Blackmore ‏@bigadamsport · 11 mins And the timing of the Williams/Dodd exit was a pr disaster of the highest order at worst possible time - did the board not think of that?