UpweySaint

I will second that. Surely we could have held off on departures until we actually had more of our own signings over the line? I still think we have a lot to offer but make no mistake this puts out a bad image no matter what spin Reed and co try to put on it.

Jesus christ it is as if nobody on the board has even heard of the word NO. Just because a player says he wants to leave does not mean we have to bend over backwards to make his wishes come true. The club is meant to come first. No bedwetting, no pitchfork wielding. If Koeman only wants committed players or we need the money etc that is life but I am baffled why nobody has sat down and tried to convince Chambers that it was too soon for him to leave.

At a basic level that is right but it is more the manner in which Dejan has gone about things that has upset folk.

Act like a professional and make his feelings known privately as not to undermine the negotiating position of his employer which made his last 'dream' come true... He may earn mega bucks, win an fa cup or two with Liverpool and be proven as a top quality player but he will always be a classless pr*ck

Holding back judgement but the board really could do with something positive for the fans. Somebody said it elsewhere ...imagine a statement will be tagged on with the next signing. Honestly would not be shocked to see us announce a couple at once and let Koeman do the talking.

I find it strange. You suggested that if Celtic lose it would imply Van Dijk and Forster are not good enough or not "so great" as you put it.

Strange logic. Even the best players are on the losing side now and then. I imagine saint charlie's point is no champions league seriously damages celtic's negotiating position. The players no longer have the option have champions league football if they stay and celtic, because of the clubs financial realities, would be more inclined to entertain sensible offers should they miss out on qualification.

Bit of gallows humour! I'm a struggling optimist really

Call that negotiating? 1) Get Stevie to 'ave a word with his season ticket. 2) It will complain to the press and refuse to sit in his wallet claiming broken promises. 3) Wait a day or two. Leak your interest in his season ticket to every media outlet you can find. Ask Lawro et al to shout about how your wallet is much more suited to a season ticket of this calibre. 4) Offer 16k plus add ons based on absurd stipulations like his ticket folding itself into an origami swan for the national side. Make sure they know it is take it or leave it. Repeat step 3 as necessary.

I don't go in for all the doom and despair myself but even I can understand where the likes of Batman etc are coming from. Selling players to big clubs happens but Chambers, barely into the first team, and already wanting out to sit on Arsenal's bench seems odd to me. Let's face it, we aren't exactly short of money so, even if it is an apparently 'huge' offer I see no reason we should have to accept. Replacements are all well and good but try rebuilding nearly half a team over a few weeks of pre-season and you honestly cannot expect it to go well. I think it is perfectly fair to criticise the club if we feel they are making bad decisions and, though decent signings would cheer the mood, their will still be dismay at the way our bright young prospects have all been flogged so easily!

Second hand and the seller not even putting out a les reed 'not for sale' statement ... not exactly raising your price! Though I am sure one of the top six will throw you a few million if you attach a post-it alleging your ticket has links to our academy.

This really. A bit naive to think but perhaps it could work in partnership with some of the smaller devon sides? We work with a group, the best of the bunch come to us, we send those that have not made it their way. Who knows we may have missed a real late bloomer or simply a few who may make it at a decent level but not quite in the premiership .... Echo the sentiments about the first team squad needing attention but, it's that word of the moment, 'holistic' approach to a club. Whether or not you trust our first team will be in good shape come the end of the window (I do, others don't, opinions ...) I see no reason we should not also be seeking to develop other areas of the club - especially considering it is our academy,and the respective satellites, that have produced some of the best players we have seen in saints shirts (and, arguably, one of the world's best!).

Can we not do both? Gnabry could arguably offer competition for JRod's place alongside the likes of McQueen. Plenty of game time to be had to both develop our own and play Gnabry.

Not sure that one needed a question mark

And this needed a new thread why ...?

Yawn. Bore off.

A broken clock is right twice a day ... keep predicting a meltdown. Sure you will be smug when it happens ... dullard.

This. If posters want a p*ssing contest then take it elsewhere.

To have a different opinion is clearly somehow absurd and a rewrite of history ...Okay then. Shaw was not perfect. He had a good season (fantastic when you consider his age) but he, like all players has room to grow as a player. No question he has all the makings of a top class full back. Targett looks to be a different player with different strengths and weaknesses. He has not made his breakthrough as early and may not reach the same heights as Shaw but, then again, he might even be better. I hope he sees plenty of game time this year and, when he does make mistakes, we back him.

John Terry is slow as you like but one of the best cbs in the division last season. Not saying Caulker is directly comparable but he is strong in the air, can play out from the back and, as others has said, is a decent age for a cb (ie plenty of time to develop but enough under his belt to be in a decent first team such as ours). I like the fact he is English, adds a set piece threat, is a good age and the prices being banded about seem v cheap for a player of his potential.

"never ever works" then giving two examples of it working seems a bit silly don't you think? You, or I, don't know what is going on behind the scenes but our club always has, and always will, give more opportunities to our academy graduates than other teams. I hope that does not mean we will over-promote but, by the same token, I am happy to take the odd chance. In fact I am rather glad we do it and think it is our best chance of ever being a successful club. Besides we have signed two decent players. It is reasonable to assume we have other targets in the pipeline. If Clyne leaves it is worth remembering there could be many factors ie. him, the new manager, emergence of academy product etc.

Okay pedantic ... but come now, surely you agree that watching your own teams games you can't get to is a large part of the draw of sky/bt sport packages? Respect the fact it is simple marketing - potential utd and liverpool 'fans' are a bigger audience but the way it is split is likely to marginalise fans of the clubs not seeing much screentime.

And they wonder why people watch things illegally ... why on earth would a saints, hull, palace etc fan stump up for sky sports when we are on twice as it stands?

I get where you are coming from. If we were going in with him as our main goal threat alarm bells would ring. I think he can get goals from the bench and could be a decent third choice striker. Somebody like Pelle at the better end of their career would hopefully provide us with the immediate goal threat while allowing Gallagher to develop and eventually take over the role himself.

I don't get the assumption that Gallagher is not good enough. Looked decent at the end of the season, another pre-season under his belt. If Koeman has faith in him as a first team option then I do too. Would still like one, or two, strikers and a wide option (Redmond is top of my own list!)