Saint86

I like the Irony in this post Adrian, keep it coming!

And yet, the difference between us and Arsenal is 19 goals (less than that if you consider games where they've won by more than 1 goal)... That equates approximately to less than half a goal more per match. Also, Lovren, lallana, shaw, chambers, Morgan, Wanyama, osvaldo, ramirez, clyne are all wanted by champions league level teams... Reading that BBC article and comparing cortese to the new board, it is abundantly clear how every new board member is inferior to him in every way shape and form. The irony is that the new board is probably on at least as much as him as well. They are on the verge of destroying our golden chance to break into something else. Where are the deals and contracts etc etc that were said to be taking place immediately after the season ended? All we've seen is a blind organisation with ambition far below what we had previously and lacking in the nuance to implement even that without jeopardising the clubs potential. They are slowly undoing everything Cortese created, and Kruger's major concern from chatting to the fanbase is that, "we want stripes"... I frankly would be far happier if the team played in pink and yellow stripes next season if we kept hold of the manager and players for another season and made a few more additions. Instead we have this ridiculous and weak worded PR war where they have been more intent on appeasing the fans with empty words, signing a new sponsor who can't afford to pay more than the last (calling it a perfect match for our ambition ), failing utterly on the kit front, and declaring the club have financial troubles despite the complete absence of truth in that statement, just to get one over on Cortese.

Um, don't want to burst your bubble, but Cortese increased their initial investment into something worth around £150m, a fivefold increase in five years. He also posted only a loss of 7.5m last season, and a massive increase in profits this year. So really, he wasn't relying on Katrina's Money and people need to stop beating him with that stick, you look like idiots.

This is exactly right guys, not matter what you said. He was our hard bastard and none of our youngsters would have gone unless it benefited the club and cortese's ambition. He may have been going to sell Lambert we don't know for sure, but if he was, then £6m-8m for him was great business. The new board have so far been pathetic since he's left, and are systematically undoing everything he set in place - worse comercial deals, no kit, undoing the youth set up, actively trying to break the team cohesion (they are being that retarded ), no evident ambition or plan... I hope they pull their fingers out, but so far I would much rather Cortese was still here than this lot.

Bring back Nigel

Is MoPo really that good a manager? If he is, then we only finished 8th? so on the basis that he's a quality manager (destined for the Tottenham or another top quality european club one day) that means he has overachieved with the players he has available... And if that is the case, then our players aren't "all that" and don't deserve the hype they are getting. but as a saints fan, I think that lallana this season is the best player we've had for a very long time and should walk into the England starting 11, and indeed all but maybe city or chelsea's midfields... Our first team as a whole is also very talented and exciting. Indeed, as we all know, the press have linked almost our entire team since january:- Shaw, Clyne, Chambers, Fonte, Lovren, cork, Morgan, Jayrod, adam, ramirez and Lambert... So which is it? Either we have a great first team with a bunch of players who should all be in the champions league, or MoPo isn't all that. I personally think we are being over hyped in both the manager and squad departments to a degree, we are 8th over the season, and that is about right tbh. ******** And as an aside, I know that people will shout "squad depth" from the rooftops, and it is obvious that all we need is a couple more players (GK, CB and ST) to really push for top 6. However, we do have an owner who clearly enjoys the club, healthy finances, and key players tied down for 4 years. The club can either chuck all that away (which I doubt is going to happen) or we'll be looking pretty next season (and the comments on match of the day will be about the rumoured fire sale which didn't happen!)

This!!!!!!!

So basically, do we take the gamble.... Refuse to sell any players, it gives us what 3 seasons to make it with this bunch, if we fail then in 3-4 seasons they all leave for next to nothing.... If we make it, many will resign? If we are seriously in danger of being gutted this summer, then I think that is the gamble the board should make.

This has been around for 2 weeks at least lol

If it wasn't Rickie, £6m-£8m for a 32 year old striker with 1.5 seasons of top flight footy under his belt and maybe 1 season left in him is fantastic business, you are aware of that right?

It has been repeatedly said that offers came in for other players, not least Lallana who has even said he had chances to leave for the premier league on at least 2 occasions on the way up, as well as "2" chances to join Liverpool since being in the premier league.

What Hans said was all PR guff as I said at the time. We are clearly not in financial trouble. What I can't figure out is the motive. Was it to discredit Cortese in favour of the new board? Or are the owners trying to pull the wool over our eyes whilst they offload a few assets and pocket the cash? Because clearly, Cortese knew exactly what he was doing with the owners cash... despite us all being told differently. He was given a budget, and turned a small intitial investment into what, a business worth in the region of £150m? The only other reason I can come up with, is that we are planning on spending this summer, and we are deliberately trying to seem poor... but then surely other clubs can see the figures for themselves...?? Another key point people seem to gloss over recently, they all respond to RK's comments and pointing to it meaning weakness, indecision and our likelihood of selling assets. But he is in charge of the commercial side, and Les Reed is in charge of the playing side, transfers, contracts etc etc... The only thing Les Reed has said is that he is very happy with the MoPo situation, and that enquiries for players will most likely be met with a firm "No"... I am secretly harbouring a small flicker of hope that this summer may prove to be a good one after all. But then that is the trouble with hope

Yup, family loan of £30m, transfer debt of £27m, loss last season of £7m... took me 10 seconds to come up with those numbers..... £64m

I'm sold on him because of how good a side Chile are, the fact that he has domestic club success and then brought that to the national squad, plus plays the same style football as Bielsa/mopo is enough for me. I don't think saints fans would welcome a change of style. And Chile are a very good footballing side without too many star players.

First actually post that interests me in this thread. A better choice than all the others for sure.

Um, Jones, Smalling, wellbeck and Rooney ....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27371960

Liverpool have bid for Lallana, BBC Radio Solent

Lallana won't leave. It would be suicide by the club to allow it. He has 4 years left on contract, club captain, living personification of the youth academy making up the first team and our best player. He is humble and loves the club, loves the new forest and his other half and young family are here. Yes Liverpool will pay him more dosh, but I don't think that is enough on its own for Adam and I don't think he will agitate for a move. With all of the above and at the age of 26 I can't see anyone paying us what we would want. I am worried mopo is off however. That said, surely someone with insider knowledge at the club would have leaked it¿ As for shaw, i'!m pegging him to stay, I think he is actually rather loyal and enjoys proving people wrong at saints. The only other real worry is Morgan and he would only go if Adam left IMHO. People say mopo is the key, but I think we could lose him and the team spirit of the players might still keep them together. Ultimately, KL is loving the club, we are in great shape on and off the field, RL is fiercley competitive and Let Reed knows his stuff. Between them they have to see we are on the verge of doing something special and hold all the cards with respect to player contracts. If they say no, the players will be staying... And why sell? So the question for the summer is will MoPo comit to the good ship Southampton, or have his head turned by Tottenham and a big pay check in 6months to a year when he gets sacked for achieving 4th like harry did. The only thing I do wonder on, mopo had key players sold from under him at espanyol and is perhaps anxious to avoid that again. Therefore I do hold some faith in the idea that if he gets those assurances from the board that it won't happen then he to will sign.

Stop quoting him, put him on ignore so the rest of us aren't subject to his ramblings. Also who is going for the last word, you or him?

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?49508-Transfers-(rumours)-thread/page15#.U2z2D_ldVWI

So, serious but hypothetical question... And lets ignore the fact that we'd rather neither of the following occur. Would you rather:- Lose Adam or Lose MoPo?

That's a tad controversial to say the least... On a match related note, will be watching Adam after the final whistle, will be obvious if its his last game I suspect.

It is a terrible idea. Literally a shambles. It will also devastate the lower league structure. Should not be brought in!

I believe the water represents the Solent, Test and Itchen; the tree then represents the New Forest and the common (which is a preserved bit of forest in the middle of the city...) The rest is obvious, if the above wasn't..