Weston Saint

In my opinion the OP is a complete over reaction. The season was only completed a week ago and the Chairman has already said planning is under way. You do not release ongoing discussions. You complete the business plan and then say what you are going to do. At present we have a First Team Coach, Team Captain and one of our brightest prospects splashed all over the media. What does the club do? Tell us they are staying no matter what and kill off their ambition to better themselves. We all know contracts are worthless in football. It appears the Under 18 coaches are being released from their contracts. Is that not the start of the planning? Is it compensation negotiations are underway delaying the release. Are we going to alert every club as to our targets for strengthening the team? I seem to recall some on here complaining that Norwich last season did their business early and snapped up some good players! Need I say more. Sit back, relax and see what unfolds over the next two months. We cannot influence what, where or when during that time.

I suggest you look at my posts on this subject.

I have to try to be responsible here and say have not spoken to anyone close since the last game of the season but I think Lallana will move on to higher things and he can only do that by signing for one of the Champions League qualifiers. Liverpool are definite favourites. I also think the Shaw rumours are so strong he will be off as well. So three go to the world cup and only one comes back to us! I think Pochettino is the most likely to stay but the owner is going to have to work very hard to convince him and let him have most of the money from the above to strengthen.

I woke up to this quote from Adam Blackmore and as he is highly respected by the Lallana family there may be something in it but it would not have come from Adam or his father because of what I posted yesterday. The club has said no official bid when the Chairman spoke yesterday. Are they being economical with the truth? As much as I also like Adam Blackmore as a journalist & broadcaster I am going to stick with what I have been told. However, I think there is no doubt a bid will come in and it will be interesting to see how the club deal with it. If Lallana and/or Shaw go it will be because they are impatient for the next level now. We know they are ready. It would be nice if they stay but if they go it does not make us a selling club any more that Spurs, Arsenal or many other top European clubs who fail to hold onto their talent. I would be more concerned with our future path if some of our yet undeveloped talent is sold on.

You utter prat. He was not.

No it is not! I am just fed up with the numpty posters on here who ruin every thread with the idiotic postings. This is not the site it was. As at 2.30 this afternoon his father has heard of no contact. I think he would know before the rumour merchants don,t you? Will he go? If you were player at the hight of your skill, picked for England and a chance to earn a lot more with a top four club playing Championship League what would you do? I am still fairly confident but would not want to stop him putting his skills to test at a higher level!

There is no doubt to reach the next level we need it increase our income substantially. We have had a good pay off this season but so has everyone else in the Premier and for me it will just mean increased (inflated) transfer fees and wages. We need to increase our commercial income not only at home but also abroad. Cortese developed the "Southampton way" on the pitch but little else. The new team of Directors have inherited that higher profile and it up to them to capitalise outside the club. I am cautiously optimistic like Duncan. They look a focused team. Fair play rules may restrict our transfers and there is no doubt there is better value in British players but will they, as additions to the squad, have enough flair and skill to lift us to the next level? We may have to sell to improve but at the same time that will weaken what we already have. A catch 22 situation faced by all but the top 5 or 6 established teams with high overseas exposure and income. For me, I hope next season is a chance to consolidate with the same Manager and Players with some additions to expand our small squad. 7th or 8th next season with the same flair of play will suite me. We have a brand. Let's not dilute it next season.

Interesting quote on PPrune (an aviation forum) posted from someone in Western Australia. This comment in relation to someone else posting that even if the military know something they would certainly comment without details

Reed was Cortese's appointment at the start. Cortese demands only the best out of his team and many others, including 2 Managers have been moved on but Reed stayed and now appears to have been given a vote of confidence from the present regime. He helped oversee our clubs rise from bottom of Div 1 to 8th in the Premier. He may only be behind the scene but he has an important role to play.

Do not need to.

Many are talking or asking about signing up the Manager on a long contract. He has already indicated he has another year left and is happy with the situation. In my opinion and listening to others who know more it is not about money in his pocket. He is happy with his remuneration. It is about what money is available to strengthen the team in the summer. Let him have £40m at his disposal to get two or three good additions and that will say more about the clubs ambitions than anything else. If we keep the present influential players and add a few more and if the Manager maintains his performance then a new contract will automatically follow. This is a young guy who has plenty of time here to progress and look for that big job four or five years from now. May be we will be that big club then!

I am not concerned

Why were 2 of Aston Villa coaching staff suspended mid week? They were part of the coaching team bought in by Lambert but according to Pat Murphy, BBC, Lambert approved of the suspension. Now the Observer story about a top club!!!!! Or may be it is unrelated. They were accused of creating a poisonous atmosphere at the club but they have been with Lambert for many years!

That's better, 5 wickets down for 8 runs. Abbott with a 5 for... All out for 304

At 70/1 in 21 overs you have to say it was another poor decision!

The wicket is green and has a bit of pace and movement. Providing the bowlers bowl a good line they should take wickets. Not my opinion but that of the head groundsman Nigel. Coles looked our best bowler yesterday. Balcombe will struggle to get into the side on his present performance but we should have our overseas player joining up now. On batting Adams looked good, Smith steady and Ervine was sublime from the moment he came to the wicket. Balcombe supported Ervine well. Personally I was happy with our batting yesterday but very disappointed by our bowling.

I spoke to West Stand about this. Totally different situation as you say. West Stand knew that in his own air situation his one fear was they would have to come down in the water and he knew no one would have survived. That is why he and his team tried everything to keep it in the air and get the engines going again. There was no other option.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/11100833.Flight__brought_down_deliberately__says_hero_pilot_BA_flight/

The plane flew for 8 hours which is just about its full endurance. The team investigating the Boeing 777’s disappearance believe no malfunction or fire was capable of causing the aircraft’s unusual flight or the disabling of its communications system before it veered wildly off course on a seven-hour silent flight into the sea. An analysis of the flight’s routing, signalling and communications shows that it was flown “in a rational way”. Investigators believe “this has been a deliberate act by someone on board who had to have had the detailed knowledge to do what was done ... Nothing is emerging that points to motive.” Looking like suicide but still baffling. Who? The Pilot or Co-Pilot and why did one not stop the other!

With West Stand identity now know I will bow out of this thread. Sorry if I got a bit heated. I knew who he was and his sources but it was not my place to disclose his identity. I have no idea what happened and have no technical knowledge but I have him one side and Derry the other at all home matches so some it must rub off!!

Sarcasm seems to be your strength. When you can turn that into a skill to save lives you might have some merit like West Stand.

This man does not misinterpret. Not on matters such as this. Nor from his source. He is an expert in the field of aviation. I trust his judgement and interpretation over those commenting on here.

Let me just say that West Stand is correct in what he says. I am not going to go into detail but Whitey Grandad, whatever you might pick up on the internet is less than West Stand knows for certain. I have my sources as Derry will know. Let us just leave it there.

I know the Eric I am talking about. He is not the one that frequents Dubai drinking holes with dubious people.

I sit next to Eric at St Marys. He is a normal human of a sort......