mrfahaji

Very good point!

Don't know the ins and outs of it, but I think Payet's treatment was a little on the harsh side. If I recall correctly he wanted to go back to France because his family couldn't settle. In the end he went to Marseille - hardly a big step up - and took a pay cut. Of course, it's still poor refusing to play, letting yourself put on weight, and maybe he was angling for a move to someone like Chelsea or United instead. BUT if it really was the case that he wanted to return to his home country, it is a little more understandable than your standard "I'm ambitious" moves.

All excellent points in your earlier post, but I think on this specific topic you could also argue the opposite. Long had the season of his life, so was it realistic to expect him to reproduce it? Austin had questions over his injuries when we signed him. Rodriguez had been out for best part of 2 (?) years, was it realistic to assume he would rediscover his form from years gone by? I can see the reasoning from the club as to why it might have worked, but equally the majority of fans were concerned about how light we were in attack, or at least the risks associated with going with those three, and they were proved right.

I work with a Boro fan, he says Gibson is a Premier League player, and one of only two or three that met that criteria last season, but doesn't exactly rave about him. I think for the amount we'd have to pay for him, we could get a better player elsewhere.

Virgil van Dijk Didn't go on strike He wants us all to understand He's simply upset That the appropriate disciplinary protocols weren't met He's a stickler for rules, that van Dijk

Exactly. I've fantasised about a few less than savoury ideas, but not only would they be more fitting for an atmosphere you'd find at a Galatasaray-Fenerbache or River-Boca game, rather than the rippling murmurs of St Mary's, but also VVD would use something like that as an example of why he simply couldn't stay here any more. A chant might not be as extreme, but it would still have the same effect - weakening the clubs position and strengthening van Dijk's. And his agent's. A big banner saying "We forgive you Virgil, you're still welcome here" would probably be more effective, as gut wrenching as it might be to make it!

That works for me too! Just as long as we don't have "with regards" plastered across the top of the page. It may seem a trifling matter but it saddens me that 90% of people probably don't realise it's wrong...

After briefly skimming through the BBC article I made the mistake of reading Wright's comments and then some of the user comments. I find it unbelievable how pundits can be so bloody blinkered, and how people in general can be so detestable. The cretins on "have your say" make even the worst WUMs and trolls on here seem like coherent well rounded individuals...

If this is going to be a poll, let's have it as "with regard to" rather than "with regards" as "with regards" doesn't make sense in this context.

I don't think it's that much, is it?! I thought it was either a % of the selling price, or just a separate clause in the contract which means he is owed £x if he is sold at the club's behest. I have no idea really, but would be very surprised to learn that if your employer changed, your current employer would have to pay your entire contract.

Only once he's signed for someone else.

Ha, virtually what I have written in a post on the previous page. I am disappointed in Virgil himself, but the influence of agents in this day and age is really the thing I despise. Parasites.

Surely we can send him a copy of our pre-match song and he can listen to it on the plane? That's half the battle taken care of straight away.

Yep. He's been out for 7 months and people still want him, he'll still be a valuable asset next summer with zero playing time (if it comes to that, which I don't think it will), and it will send out a message - we are a club that is prepared to sell our players, but don't f*** with us!

Except if Chelsea were to offer £75m, we would accept it. I agree to 'not selling to Liverpool for any price', but we could hardly put that in a statement. But to be honest, if Liverpool gave us £100m, not sure we would be a "laughing stock", more that we did a number on them. It's only embarrassing if we let him go to Liverpool on their terms. That being said, I really hope he doesn't go there, no matter what!

I still don't think van Dijk would have a problem playing for us in September. Everything in football now is dictated by agents. They're desperate for him to move, so are advising him to do all this. Yeah, I'm sure if VVD could just turn up and play for anyone, it wouldn't be us, and he probably is feeling a little gutted about how things are going, but not to the extent that is being played out here. Ultimately, IF he was still here in September, his agent is going to realise him being in the reserves isn't good for anyone, and will instruct him to get back in the team.

Would be nice for us to put out a statement along the lines of: "Southampton Football Club can confirm that they have received a formal transfer request from Virgil van Dijk. While the club understand his desire to seek a new challenge away from the club, it should also be noted that he is currently under contract for 5 years, having agreed to a contract extension less than a year ago, and that such a contract was offered to him with the understanding and vision that he would continue to lead the team and club as captain for many years to come. We have made it clear to Virgil, and to any clubs with the intention of signing him, that we will consider any offers that meet with our valuation of a player we consider to be of an exceptional standard. We have also made it clear that not just for the interests of Southampton FC, but also as a matter of principle that will no doubt be shared by many clubs throughout the divisions, that we will not be pressured into making a sale by any outside forces, no matter what tactics they attempt to deploy, unless our criteria are met. We appreciate the good work Virgil has done in previous seasons and look forward to him continuing his excellent form into this year if he remains a Southampton player come September."

Should fit in well at Liverpool then.

The bit that makes me laugh (laugh = fill with rage) is the accusation of personal conversations being "leaked to the press". Because there has been no press speculation touting or encouraging his move away I don't think we need to feel 'aggrieved' at helping him regain his fitness, it is our responsibility as his employer, and it's also protecting the value of our asset. But of course, as just about everyone has alluded to, to sign a 6 year contract is a bit silly/greedy if you have your heart set on leaving. It has clearly been written by the agent, making sure they get all the right lingo in, such as 'disciplinary protocol'. I'm not sure who footballer's think they are kidding with their sob story of professional football being a short career. Yeah, a short career where you can earn more in a year than most earn in a lifetime, and guess what, when you retire from kicking a ball around for a few hours a week, you can always get another job for the next 20-30 years like everyone else if you're that hard up. Delusional self-entitled puppets, most of them.

The Gabonese Mané?

There was one game last season where I was impressed/surprised at Boufal's defensive work, think it may have been Liverpool away? He was shutting people down, tracking back etc. I think he's capable of it, but probably had a tendency to switch off/give up immediately after he's lost the ball.

Not if Rose is fit.

If this happens, it's good to know the club have identified the same key weakness/risk as virtually the entire fan base. Obviously we don't know how Lemina will pan out - we've all had high (as yet unfulfilled) hopes for Clasie and Hojbjerg after all - but the main thing is the club have done something to try to address it. This move will go a considerable way to me being satisfied with our approach this summer. Depends on who leaves, of course...

Club captain is very much the "milk monitor" of a football club. No-one respects it.

Boro fans at the game said Augsburg were a tidy outfit and the game was fairly even. Middlesbrough scored right near the end, but a draw would have been a much fairer reflection. Obviously even a draw vs Middlesbrough would not exactly be impressive, and doesn't offer much consolation for our result, but in terms of how much worse they were than Boro, it sounds like they weren't really.