25 Apr 2017 08:32:56
I really do hope saints will stand firm and NOT sell the family jewels again not least because anyone we try to buy get an over inflated price with a massive sell on percentage clause because they know we can't KEEP anyone and they can have another bite of the cherry when we do sell, we must finance celtics transfers with all the sell ons they get or exspect to get.
Let's stop the rot for once and make them all honour the contracts they signed last season.

1.) 25 Apr 2017
25 Apr 2017 11:45:08
Love your optimism but we all know that ain't going to happen, we'll all still be there though and the board know it too, so glad we've got 40 points I think we've got one hell of a run in except stoke which should be a dead rubber and a party atmosphere ( hopefully)

2.) 25 Apr 2017
25 Apr 2017 13:43:26
The top 4 clubs can offer wages up to £200k a week - a bit more in a few exceptional cases. Saints top out at around £75 / 80k.

There is no standing firm in front of that pay differential.

We need to be a conveyor belt for the most promising £10m players in Europe - so they can triple / quadruple their wages after 2 or 3 seasons and make us £20 - £40 million as a sell on fee.

Thats the model mate - it works.

If we blocked VVD from leaving for example, then the next VVD will head for Stoke or Bournemouth or Newcastle.

If Everton do block Lukaku from leaving - and hold his contract that's the end of their high quality transfer flow - and all contracts they sign after will have way lower sell / break clauses.

We are a car showroom of high performance ferraris, lambourginis and a few cheaper BMW M5s. Everything is for sale - everything can be re-stocked.

If you hold contracts then the rot really will set in after 2 or 3 seasons. Just be happy we are 9th in the Prem.

3.) 26 Apr 2017
26 Apr 2017 08:07:59
Wow if you're happy to be a no where mid season team with an ( wohey we get to watch Manchester United at St Marys next week ) attitude they good luck to you I want more for our club we can't build an sustain a team when you sell the heart of it every year let the big teams find their own jems they buy the league it's about time someone broke that cycle.

4.) 26 Apr 2017
26 Apr 2017 08:20:39
Forget contracts, they're not worth the paper they're written on when it comes to holding players. They demonstrate the club's value of a player and help when it comes to negotiating a transfer fee. To all posters put yourself in this position, in your job, whatever it is, you're paid £x. Then a competitor company comes along and says "we've noticed how good you are at your job, would like you to join us, do exactly the same work but we'll pay you 3x your current salary and by the way we're a global firm whereas you're current company are big in the U. K. but aren't big on the world stage". Now how many of you, realistically, would turn round and say "thanks for the offer but I'll stay where I am because I'm loyal to the company". I would be of like a shot if I received that sort of offer and I'd be willing to bet that most other people would as well. Why should footballers be any different?

5.) 26 Apr 2017
26 Apr 2017 11:49:21
StMarks - Leicester broke the cycle last year and pushed all the way to win the league and get through in the Champions League as well. Look at the table today - apart from Spurs - does it look at all familiar?

I know what you would like to happen in your dreams - but actually look what has happened each season and review the evidence. The fact is we are an upper mid table club now - we attract high quality talent - add value and sell them.

Remember the days of going to Wimbledon and winning on the last day / kick of the season "we are staying up" - what international quality players did we attract in those days. We had a few but they all moved on - got sold even then - apart from MLT. We were very lucky for a few seasons but the luck ran out and we went into administration and then ended up in Div 1 or 3 or whatever you want to call it.

"No where mid-season team" - how about Highly Competitive, High Quality Football Playing second tier club.

6.) 26 Apr 2017
26 Apr 2017 13:34:52
Been a saints fan for forty years all I'm saying is it's not the fans game anymore they know we'll keep coming in the hope of a Leicester and promise no fire sale but know the players have all the power so will go, the only difference is we don't get muggrd off anymore, at some point we have to be ambitious, players will stop coming knowing are best players won't hang around ( unlike the fans)