UpweySaint

Don't worry Liverpool will have to trade us first pick in the draft! We can have the pick of the college soccer system! Fan - f'in - tastic!

Have to say I would be devastated to lose Lambert - honestly thought he would see out his premiership career with us and still think he has plenty to offer! Either way bleacher report has speculated the bid for Lambert may be tied to the Lallana sell-on fee ... "It’s possible—and this is purely speculation—that Liverpool could be sweetening the pot for Southampton regarding Lallana by not only acquiring Lambert, but also paying above market value for him." I have posted a link for the full article below. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2079908-theres-more-to-liverpools-lambert-move-than-an-honest-interest-in-the-striker

Wow I hope you don't take that attitude in your on working life ... The club employs him. The club pays his wage. Cortese was the head of the company ... now he's not ... does not change a thing as far as the players should be concerned. I respect he has opinions and may seek pastures new but I see no reason why such views and desires cannot be expressed privately with the board. Not only is that the best way to do things it gives them both a chance to put their views across and, in the case of the board, seek to alleviate his concerns.

http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/sports/2014/05/28/wanyama-decries-mauricio-exit/ Obviously I cannot guarantee the piece to be factual but, if the BBC are prepared to run with it, I would be surprised if it was complete tosh ... Either way I fancy our media dept could do with telling players what happens in the club stays in the club, Wanayama is well within reason to have concerns but, imo, it is not his place to be publicising them especially when they are critical of the board who, support them or not, pay the chaps wages.

The BBC has quoted Wanayama giving capital sport an interview ... Victor Wanyama believes Southampton's owners should have tried harder to keep manager Mauricio Pochettino, with the midfielder conceding his departure to Tottenham is a "big blow". "I learnt a lot from him, he taught me more and that's why I have grown as a player and there is a big difference compared to when I was at Celtic," Wanyama, who was signed for £12.5m by the Argentine, was reported to have said on Capital Sports. "He played a big role in my career development. "I wanted him to remain because he had the passion for the club and I think the owners should not have let him go because the team can do better next season." Two points for me; 1) How does Wanayama know how much the board tried to keep hold of MP? Nobody knows what they did, if anything, to try and keep him. May have offered him the world and he still bolted for all we, or Wanayama, know. 2) The amount of interviews our players seem to be giving worries me. The content is rarely positive and we should have a tighter grip on this surely?!?

Just because they have said they expect him to stay publicly does not mean they are naive enough to have not considered a 'plan b' should he leave which, speculation aside, is always a possibility in football these days. They may, or may not, have to next man waiting to walk in the door but I would be surprised if they did not have a list of candidates and/or credentials needed for any potential new man.

Random name to throw in but Paco Jemez ... can honestly say I hadn't considered him until seeing his name in the long list of bookie odds. Plays attacking possession based football, Has had a decent season with Rayo in la Liga, Within our reach of realistic targets (has hinted he wants out), Managed to get Rayo, with the leagues smallest budget, half way up the table (with our side he may do all right) Admittedly rather left-field but thought I would throw the name in.

People complain the board aren't "football people" then complain when we are linked with a football person ... can't really win eh! Honestly no point taking it to death as it is just a rumour but I am open minded to Arena advising the board - has good knowledge of the sport and may offer interesting perspective on a wide variety of topics.

Wow! Actually find myself agreeing with your post. Nail on the head.

Got this weeks lotto numbers too? Honestly people 'think' he might stay because we simply do not know (that includes you). Your opinion is he will leave, you may be right ... may also be wrong. Plenty of reasons for Shaw to stay with us - at least for the immediate future - so it's not beyond the realms of possibility he may yet stay. Besides I find it hard to imagine he would join a club without knowing who the manager will be - it happens but is v rare! At this stage in his career he needs a manager who has faith in him and can help him develop.

Not sure he is the style of player we need but he may come good one day, if the price was right and he was considered to be a good fit for us (the whole saints mentality) wouldn't say no. Though I would rather Redmond as said by others on the thread. Off topic but calum mcmanaman at Wigan has looked decent lately, maybe a tad inconsistent but still young and he is the sort of player I enjoy watching. Similar to Redmond v effective at taking men on, has a respectable cross and a powerful shot.

If we had to, yes. However his stock is still relatively high in Italy, Spain and I imagine teams would be willing to take a punt - I would fancy we could see something closer to the ten mark if we get any other interest, still a quality player just a nightmare to get his head straight!

All this 'part-time fan' 'true fan' stuff is bull. Owning a season ticket does not automatically make you more of a fan. What it likely means is that you live close enough and have enough income that it can be considered an acceptable expense. Just for a hypothetical a hardcore fan may live abroad and commute in for a dozen games over a season and any opportunity they can take - I don't see this would make them any less of a fan! I don't believe season ticket holders buddies should be entitled to things more than paying customers, nonsense to me. Should there still be leftovers after offering to previous attenders of x amount of matches these excess (not that there would be any for utd) could then be held for season ticket holders + 1s over those who have previously not attended.

To say he has failed is plain wrong imo. Has he made mistakes? sure, managers everywhere make mistakes. In hindsight would we have played a different team vs Sunderland (may not have even mattered our luck against them!) or used to Osvaldo money differently? Probably, but that's just it, hindsight. I think most would agree we have made real strides this season in developing a style of play, pushing through our academy talent, our players (and our club in turn) gaining widespread recognition including national call ups, being in pursuit of tying our best ever finish and coming through what could have been a very turbulent time with NC's departure in relatively good shape. Mistakes have been made, problems have been found but, short of maybe the likes of Ancelotti, MP looks like a decent bet to improve us next year too.

I would like to think we could accommodate both in the side due to their versatility. Though both are arguably strongest at RB Chambers can, apparently, play effectively as a CB or a holding midfielder while Clyne has proved himself able on either flank while it has been suggested, of course greater coaching minds would know, that he could be pushed into a right midfield role should we ever play with more traditional width in the middle. As far players out honestly, who knows! Barry and the usual suspects predict meltdown gleefully (shocked!) but it honestly depends on the board and MP. I see us keeping Ramirez, has looked better since January and imo offers something others don't, but offloading the likes of Guly, Jos, Sharp, Forte while Yoshida may seek a move for more first team football. Shaw I think we have one more year with. He may move on eventually but we all know he still has rough edges to smooth out that he's better doing with us as a guaranteed starter. Lallana I hope, honestly don't know, will stay. He lives and breathes saints and could well come to be thought of in the same light as MLT. Morgan again we all know - if the board back MP and he pushes us on will stay, if not, he may seek pastures new.

He played a blinder against us!

Somebody was, can't be sure if it was our lot or theirs, either way it's disgraceful.

Harsh. Moyles has slimmed down. Besides, as a leeds fan, imagine he would keep us on hold to see if McDermott if given the old heave-ho by Massimo Cellino.

The Everton point is a good one. I would also suggest Swansea as an example, they took De Guzman on loan with an option to sign and he's been a decent player without them having to break the bank before deciding what he can do for them. The one thing I picked up from Morgan's comments were about improving the team, didn't exactly say these have to be high profile signings. If we are to assume three or four signings we need not necessarily spend big on all of them, free transfers are always an option.

Saints fans in Weymouth I can shed some light. Going back a few years, to when I first went to a game, there was a very well-run supporters travel club. A great way to bring our club to new fans. That and there is the shambles that is Weymouth football club, genuinely been so badly run they get the occasional mention alongside the likes of PFC. You find a good few choose to support Bournemouth, ourselves or the occasional London club (v rare to meet a Portsmouth fan!). Just a side note on Poole - despite the relatively decent potential for a football club the presence of numerous teams around the same level in the area and Bournemouth being literally on their doorstep Poole lacks one side to get behind, hence the locals often look elsewhere. For many choosing Bournemouth just is not an option. (many reasons including the whole Bournemouth moving counties issue). Hope that helps a little!

Wow. Don't take that as the view of all saints fans. Tan owns the business but a football club is a little more than that. He certainly doesn't OWN the fans nor do they owe him - he certainly has not run the club for their benefit, it's been a vanity project from day one. There's an assumption the Cardiff fan 'loved it' but, unless you know him personally, not sure you could really know that. He could have been sat at home wishing Cardiff were run by a bunch of fans and scraping to build something over a long period of time.

To be fair I think he has been victim of the merry go round at fulham too. Seen him play some decent stuff and rare a dutch international with roma on his cv to be tosh. He may well be a good shout if price and wages are right, same for Adler as somebody mentioned above, he looks a real commanding presence and would be something of a coup.

Steklenberg (though fulham are a strange case for sure) has found his place in the first team taken by stockdale recently. If he's still the class keeper he has looked beforehand fulham may well be willing to cash in and put stockdale in.

I do like Lindegaard at Utd. 28(or close to that I think!) is a good age for a keeper, he has decent experience, speaks the language (important he can communicate and command a defence) and could challenge Boruc without expecting to be no1 without contest. That and his contract is up, I believe I read somewhere, so he would be a decent freebie allowing us to spend what, if any, money is available elsewhere (think we're all in agreement CB is priority).

Similar boat, I usually get between three and six all on my customer number as we go up in a group and it would be bizarre to book all the tickets separately if you all want to sit together. Maybe they will clarify their position on this or somebody will chase up an answer I would imagine.