Baird of the land

No faith that exodus will stop at the 3 key players we've already lost. Think losing those 3 makes it virtually impossible to maintain the level we reached this season. The more that go the more chance it will be return to trying to retain prem status.

Yeah selling 3 of our best players(best case scenario now) is a pretty clear sign we're not going to competing to emulate last season, let alone push on.

Have to laugh at Reed's comment saying that this 'sends out a clear signal to other clubs wishing to bid for our players'. Yeah it sends out the signal Saints are open for selling to accepting any bid.

Agree 100%.

Very disappointing news once again. Appears we didn't even have resolve to stick to our asking price, let alone the notion of keeping our star players. So is it Lovren or Morgan next we'll flog. Would be funny if he fails the medical though.

If that happens Then watch him waltz out the door next summer based on shaw precedent, that'll be fun.

Indeed especially ironic after Luke's comments querying why more clubs don't give youngsters a chance like saints have done. Great give players opportunity, then they dart for the exit door at the first opportunity. Hardly encouraging taking the risk in the first place if that or only keeping mediocre players is all that can be looked forward too.

Maybe you are right and the next gem we produce we will be able to keep a few years longer. That's the only way the academy approach will work in a way where we aim to have any ambition other than avoiding relegation. I'm more worried than hopeful right now.

Sure Everton could get 30m for Barkley now. My opinion is that no fee is going to cover the loss of someone so talented. Also sends really bad signal that academy players can force their way out after one good season.

Obviously can't replace shaw with anyone of same quality. Best case scenario is getting someone competent or promising and that targett is competent academy player.

If spends the next 15 years as England's first choice left back as I expect then the fee will be a bargain. He's fantastic defensively and has so much potential as an attacking force. Given the vast swathes of money now in prem anything other than record fee would be sign of incompetence.

Disappointed if we've sold the extremely talented 18 yr old academy graduate so soon. Can't afford to sell anymore of first 11 if we are to have any sense of ambition. Worried about domino effect with lallana, lovren, Morgan and lack of new contracts yet for key players like fonte and cork. Still hoping decision to appoint Koeman was one of ambition and that stable doors will be slammed closed and players and other clubs told that no further sales will be happening this summer

Very disappointing if true. Not even a particularly good fee IMO. Bet he'll end up going for an absolute fortune in a couple of years if his attacking play improves. Really wanted us to keep hold of academy players for a couple of years rather than selling them the instant they have a good season.

Disagree on the 2nd. Excellent finish but Keeper has to stay big in that situation for me. Far more blame on centre backs of course.

Once again for me playing both Rooney and Sturridge looked idiotic. Rooney scored when moved up front but then while he was involved in the goal moving sturridge out wide made him far less effective. At some point england needs to learn to pick players for positions based on their suitability for that position rather than forcing big names into same lineup. Still they would have got at least a drawer with any kind of defence or keeper other than those that played last night. Next euros are perfect time to rebuild for world cup, don't pick anyone over 30 immediately.

I'd be disappointed if Barkley gets the nod again over lallana as first sub again.

Mccarthy's the one I'd like to see us sign.

Agree completely if someone offers a completely crazy high bid then sure it's understandable to deal. That to me seems the approach of an ambitious club. Selling at reasonable prices will likely lead to more bids and more unsettled players trying to force their way out. That way is the way of a feeder club with little ambition.

Still of view that we can't let players force a mass exodus from the club. Koeman's appointment is a good statement of intent and hopefully it will bring the playing staff back in line. After the loss of Lambert i really don't want to see the loss of any more than one other.

Drop Rooney and bring in ads. Then Rooney can be a good impact sub if needed off the bench rather than being artificially forced into lineup in a position that doesn't suit and stopping who suits that position from being on pitch.

Seems a good ambitious appointment. Now crossing my fingers hoping it works out as well as it seems it could.

2 weeks since he officially left. Krueger happily admitted the deal to let Potchettino go to spurs was done well before that and delay was getting legalities out of the way. Cortese learnt from Pardew situation and had a target lined up to replace Adkins beforehand. If it's sorted in the next few days i'll happily apologise for frustrated criticism but won't apologise for being unhappy that it is dragging on.

They've had bags of time since he left and by their own admission knew he'd left in reality weeks before(with just compo to be hammered out). Getting it released before media is solely interested in world cup would have been ideal. I just think it should have been sorted by now. The longer it goes the more it eats into our ability to pursue potential transfer targets & provides time for more of our star players to be unsettled enough to hand in transfer requests.

Well Lovren's broken cover. A race between Morgan and Wanyama for the next. Meanwhile Saints board are looking likely to be too incompetent to appoint a manager before world cup.

Glad to see sidwell stuff was likely agent inspired to aid his discussions with Stoke.