08 Aug 2014 15:25:57
Koeman and Fonte press conference at 3pm confirmed Fonte has signed 3 year extension and will be team captain this year, with Kelvin Davis remaining club captain.

Schneiderlin has been confirmed as making things "difficult", but Koeman is reiterating that he is staying. Schneiderlin will not be in the squad for Bayer Leverkusen game though as he is "not right not just physically but mentally".

Koeman wishes to have further signings for encouraging competition. Rojo was mentioned, as well as a player from Steaua Bucharest which I sadly missed. Koeman is otherwise being cagey about who he wants and how many more signings he wants to make.

1.) 08 Aug 2014
08 Aug 2014 15:50:30
Just seen the Steaua player is Florin Gardoș. If he is going for €6m that is not bad. Went to Steaua for about £132k in 2010 and has 2 years left on his current contract. Only thing is he is/was recovering from a muscular injury, so we shall see.

2.) 08 Aug 2014
Schneiderlin's off. Everyone knows it. Taider was brought in as his potential replacement.

Don't know why Saints are persisting with this farcical posturing - he's burned all his bridges. The Lallana/Lovren method to forcing a transfer. It worked for them and it'll work for him too. Saints can't have one of their highest earners and best players effectively on strike.

They need to get the best price possible for him and move on. Who cares if it makes Ralph Krueger look like a clown - since when has that bothered him?

Terrible way for Schneiderlin to end his association with Saints, but the club is more important than one self important, unprofessional, disrespectful individual.

3.) 08 Aug 2014
08 Aug 2014 16:30:32
Florin Gardos is the player looks decent and for a reported 4.5 mill. according to Romanian press already has signed - He broke a players leg on European debut - Watch out Lovren and Lallana!

4.) 08 Aug 2014
He will remain cagey. We still need a Major signing for credibility purposes.

Anyone any news about Forster?

5.) 08 Aug 2014
08 Aug 2014 16:49:22
We have?!?! Well that one snuck in quietly. Any of my far more learned fellow posters able to share knowledge?

6.) 08 Aug 2014
08 Aug 2014 16:58:59
Just read about what rons saying with regards to spider. That says to me he is incredibly frustrated with the player who is, in effect having a tantrum.

Spider is an excellent player and we are where we are partly because of him.
If he is that determined to cause problems then he has no place with us. A player who doesn't not want to play will never give his all to the team. Get rid of the child and bring in someone who wants to be here.

7.) 08 Aug 2014
That question was asked very quietly, I replayed that several times. I think he was talking about Florin Gardos (CB for Steaua București) but I can't be sure. Still, quite a reassuring press conference, would have been happier if they'd announced Cork with a new contract as well but can't have it all my way.

8.) 08 Aug 2014
Although it would be another great player leaving, I have to say that I tend to agree that he is better off elsewhere if his heart isn't at Saints. Having said that, we should insist on a huge transfer fee which can be reinvested in the squad as Koeman sees fit. IF Schneiderlin is sold.

9.) 08 Aug 2014
I honestly believe Schneiderlin will stay. The Club has seriously put itself out on a limb in explicitly stating that he will stay. on several occasions. Far more unequivocal than Reed's vague April press conference where he said bids "will probably be met with a no" and Krueger's end of season interview where he said "transactions will happen".

10.) 08 Aug 2014
08 Aug 2014 18:18:32
I know the board are trying to save face by saying Schneiderlin is not for sale but why flog a dead horse. Get the money from his sale to whoever and move on. You know my feelings on getting Vlaar, we need to get some proper experience at the back. Talk of this Romanian coming in but can't see that being the answer. People say Vlaar is too old at 29 which I think is crazy, he is at his prime. Look at John Terry etc. if you stay fit and Vlaar is, he could give us 3 - 4 years of top quality stability at the heart of our defence.

11.) 08 Aug 2014
08 Aug 2014 18:32:54
Really like Morgan and what he has done at Saints. BUT he has done pretty well out of Saints as well, and his situation is VERY different to players like Shaw where we were paid our valuation for the player. Morgan seems to think Saints should accept less than 50% of their valuation to assist him, and his agent, to cash in, and also leave little time to find a proper replacement.
He has been told what the situation is. If he refuses to accept it then let him spend a season on the side-lines and not receiving any income other than his basic ie. no winning bonuses etc., and of course any reduction in his basic for failing to train etc.

The club has to be firm on this otherwise it will be anarchy and any player offered more money will seek to ignore their contract.

12.) 08 Aug 2014
Qwertyell is quite obviously spiders agent, he will do as he's told he will be made an example of to the younger players and when he gets left out of the next france squad he will start playing for his shirt like a man

13.) 08 Aug 2014
Bang on saint martin. we look like a push over and if we need to make an example of someone to let players know a contract is just that then so be.

14.) 08 Aug 2014
Prehaps we should take Daniel Agger off liverpool as he can't wait to leave! :P

15.) 08 Aug 2014
If as it looks SFC want to make use of spider as an example to anyone else doing a Lallana/Lovren hissy fit, I suggest he be loaded out to Bristol City or the like. he'll never play for France again then!

16.) 08 Aug 2014
08 Aug 2014 20:57:25
Schneiderlin is on strike. bloody disgusting behaviour from a professional who's very well paid. you sir are a complete joke. Sell him, not fit to wear the shirt imo

17.) 08 Aug 2014
What's the point keeping someone against their will? That's what our Ice Hockey Coach Chairman said and if Spuds offered £20m does a Saint Martin think we're going to get £40m for Spider?

18.) 08 Aug 2014
Been saying for weeks that we have to take a very hard line with this young man. He is sulking, and we cannot give in to this behaviour. Come on Saints be strong. I thought Spider was better than this!

19.) 08 Aug 2014
This is it though. spuds offered 10. only real reason why he hasn't been sold.

20.) 08 Aug 2014
We shouldn't have put up with any of this behaviour. cortese wouldn't have nor would i.

21.) 08 Aug 2014
08 Aug 2014 22:58:36
The board don't seem to be able to win with some people. The number of calls for them to stop selling at all costs seems to have turned to why are they keeping someone who doesn't want to stay. I'd take the money, but then KL would be accused of stuffing her mattress.
I think they are proving that they do want to improve the squad but that doesn't mean they have to spend every penny they've brought in.

22.) 08 Aug 2014
This is absolutely the greatest news for the future of our club. At some point, we have to be strong enough to say NO in order to progress. If that time has come now, the congratulations to all Saints fans.

Morgan will play. Once the deadline passes, he will realize his only way to stay in the French national side is to do well on the pitch for Southampton. Problem solved.

23.) 09 Aug 2014
I'm glad we are showing some backbone not selling anymore players, Shneiderlin will have to deal with it, we're not selling him for the £10m Spurs bid, if they bid £20m then fair enough, if we were to get in Classie to replace him I wouldn't be too dissapointed, at least we'd know everyone at the club wants to be there, but I hope he changes his mind as he's one of the last of our players who have made the journey from league 1

24.) 09 Aug 2014
Whatever happens with Morgan Schneiderlin, we fans need to remember this is Ronald Koeman's Saints. Some players will leave. He wants to build his team. Every manager does. He has already stated there will be more new signings. Forster and the lad from Steau Bucharest look like at least putting pressure on the first team's current incumbents and they are negotiating for a World Cup finalist

25.) 09 Aug 2014
09 Aug 2014 09:09:14
Saint Dez- my understanding is that Saints valuation for Morgan is around £27m and Spuds have offered around £10m. Now, these figures may not be totally accurate but I believe are not too far out. Do we really want to be seen not only as a selling club but even worse, as one who gives away their best players?
Whilst this is part of the issue, the biggest factor IMO is that at some point the club had to say there is a timescale beyond which it will not sell core players. If not, late sales of players without adequate time to replace them could seriously erode RKs ability to keep the club going forward. Spuds and Morgan have had plenty of time to negotiate with Saints and I have no sympathy for the fact they haven't utilised it and Saints have said-"no more".

26.) 09 Aug 2014
Agree Armstrong. You know I would love to have been a fly on the wall when cortese announced his resignation to the squad and MoPo.

We would have lost some players I am sure to 'bigger' but apart from the alleged non payment of bonuses to the players (wonder if it was ever agreed with owner)? there is a feeling here of someone who has put the boot in with players because they did not get their way with the club.