Southampton linked to Philip Coutinho as well as Davide Astori

Philipe Coutinho Philipe Coutinho

SAINTS could be set for a £20m double raid on Italian football to land Davide Astori and Philipe Coutinho.

Saints have been long linked to Astori, the Cagliari centre half who is also being courted by Liverpool, in a deal worth about £10m which the club are hoping to wrap up quickly.

Now sources in Italy are adamant that Saints are also pushing to seal a £10m deal for Inter Milan’s 20-yearold Brazilian Coutinho.

The attacking midfielder was once being hailed as one of Brazil’s hottest young talents, and has featured for the full national team.

However, following a €4m move from Vasco de Gama, Coutinho has struggled to hold down a place in the Inter first team.

The Italian giants are understood to be prepared to listen to January offers for players who are not regularly involved in the first team after discussions took place yesterday afternoon between the club’s owner and president Massimo Moratti and manager Andrea Stramaccioni.

Inter are under pressure to take action over their squad after a 3-0 defeat to Udinese at the weekend left them nine points off the pace in Serie A at the halfway point in the season. They are expected to move players on to create cash for others to come in and one surplus to requirements could be Coutinho.

Though Saints have plenty of creative talent already at the club the chance to land a young player with bags of ability is obviously proving tempting, especially with Adam Lallana missing with a knee injury.

Coutinho started his career at Vasco before the big money move to Inter in 2010.

He settled in fairly well making 13 Serie A appearances and playing six Champions League games in his first season at the club, which yielded one goal.

However, in 2011/12 he found it far harder to break into the side and in January 2012 was loaned to Spanish side Espanyol for the remainder of the season, scoring five goals in 16 appearances.

Coutinho returned to Inter in the summer but has found himself behind Antonio Cassano in the pecking order at the San Siro and has started just three Serie A games this season with a further seven appearances off the bench, bagging one goal.

He has been more active in the Europa League as Inter make changes to their regular first team, starting seven games this season and making two sub appearances, scoring twice.

Saints’ relegation rivals, and opponents this weekend, Aston Villa, are reportedly also interested in Coutinho and Liverpool have also stepped up their efforts to try and tempt Astori to Anfield.

The Reds are also interested in Coutinho, according to reports in the national press.

They are said to have offered £7m, but that is some way short of Cagliari’s valuation which leaves the door open for Saints to steal in with a higher offer and get a deal done quickly.

Saints’ need for a centre half has only intensified after Jose Fonte was stretchered off in the 5-1 defeat to Chelsea with the club currently assessing the extent of the injury.

Comments(273)

saintlysoul says...
6:42am Tue 8 Jan 13

Pleased to read that a least Saints are considering to buy players but do we really need to go abroad? These two players clearly have no experience in the Premier League and I'm concerned that Saints are going to make another mistake in paying good money for untested foreign players. Why can't they get seasoned Premier League players with experience of this league who are prepared for the dog fight ahead in attempting to remain in the best league in the world?

Norwegian Saint says...
6:44am Tue 8 Jan 13

Very rare if it is true, hope it is but not holding my breath. NC likes doing business behind closed doors. Remember Buttner saying he was coming to us... then he ended up at some back street joint up north!

I feel the worst news this season (apart from Lalanas injury) was the fact NA said we are not getting a keeper. Just feel this could be a disasterous decision.

COYS!

Just another reader says...
7:07am Tue 8 Jan 13

saintlysoul wrote:
Pleased to read that a least Saints are considering to buy players but do we really need to go abroad? These two players clearly have no experience in the Premier League and I'm concerned that Saints are going to make another mistake in paying good money for untested foreign players. Why can't they get seasoned Premier League players with experience of this league who are prepared for the dog fight ahead in attempting to remain in the best league in the world?
I'm sure the likes of arsenal and man utd will take that advice! Where do you think the likes of van persie, Ronaldo etc have come from? If these players are half as good as is claimed they will be a huge asset to the club and will grace our league. I would love to see our team full of English talent but it simply isn't there, so lets embrace whatever and whoever can keep us in the prem and push on next season.

COYR!!!

Velleity says...
7:07am Tue 8 Jan 13

One thing I'm not planning on doing is what I did in August, namely taking a view on whom we may or may not sign.

One of the great (and yet frustrating to many) things about Saints is that we never seem to comment about speculation, so all we see is a hotch-potch of guesswork.

We'll doubtless sign some players. I'm sure that NA may well have noticed that we need some depth in the squad.

*After* we have signed them, I'll take an interest in them. I'm not having another month like August again, when I wasted hours looking up players who were never to become part of our team.

SFCSaint says...
7:11am Tue 8 Jan 13

two great quality players will be a massive statement of intent if we get them one a full italy international wanted by Inter milan and Napoli and the other a young kid who is going to be one of the best players in the world in the future and already plays for inter due to his mass of talent I think its brilliant we are competing with clubs like this as we are going to have to accept now that the majority of our signings are going to be from Serie A Ii have a feeling these Italian clubs will be hearing a lot more from us

Tirau Dan says...
7:18am Tue 8 Jan 13

What do the Italian club fans say in the Echo equivalent over there? Hey if we go for talent of this calibre it's okay by me... I'm grateful to have a club and will support Saints til I die. Only One Nigel Adkins and very much Only One Nicola Cortese.. who deserves his name sung loud and proud!!

InCortesewetrust says...
7:56am Tue 8 Jan 13

Just another reader wrote:
saintlysoul wrote: Pleased to read that a least Saints are considering to buy players but do we really need to go abroad? These two players clearly have no experience in the Premier League and I'm concerned that Saints are going to make another mistake in paying good money for untested foreign players. Why can't they get seasoned Premier League players with experience of this league who are prepared for the dog fight ahead in attempting to remain in the best league in the world?
I'm sure the likes of arsenal and man utd will take that advice! Where do you think the likes of van persie, Ronaldo etc have come from? If these players are half as good as is claimed they will be a huge asset to the club and will grace our league. I would love to see our team full of English talent but it simply isn't there, so lets embrace whatever and whoever can keep us in the prem and push on next season. COYR!!!
Drogba & van horse head never had prem experience either. BIG disappointments they turned out to be,

Little Hitler says...
7:57am Tue 8 Jan 13

Tirau Dan wrote:
What do the Italian club fans say in the Echo equivalent over there? Hey if we go for talent of this calibre it's okay by me... I'm grateful to have a club and will support Saints til I die. Only One Nigel Adkins and very much Only One Nicola Cortese.. who deserves his name sung loud and proud!!
Agree TBH, we're in safe hands so let the guys at the top do their business and support whatever decisions they make.

Believe me, they won't need us to tell them if they've failed as it will be plainly obvious to them.

Slightly better support for the team could make the difference during the run in. I'm quietly confident!

Clever Dick says...
7:58am Tue 8 Jan 13

Tirau Dan wrote:
What do the Italian club fans say in the Echo equivalent over there? Hey if we go for talent of this calibre it's okay by me... I'm grateful to have a club and will support Saints til I die. Only One Nigel Adkins and very much Only One Nicola Cortese.. who deserves his name sung loud and proud!!
Couldn't agree more. Those two have brought us from near oblivion to a £200 million pound set up in just 2 seasons. It's an unbeeeeeelievable achievement. I for one would even forgive them if the worst were to happen, They are both on very steep learning curves and we are still in the mix. Can't believe the impatience and short memories of some fans.

SaintinCanada says...
8:01am Tue 8 Jan 13

Couldn't sleep tonight (2 am here).

Wonderful topic for discussion here, hopefully some nice/intersting thoughts to come. Because of "time-zones" I find myself as one of the erlier posters for a change. So here is MY rant.

I don't care about the "other lot" down the M27 but I do feel sorry for their genuine supporters. I don't think that discussion of PFC belongs here.


Nobody "owns this site"....it is a fun thing to be part of. Does anyone want to read more about "bankrupt -cheating - history - shed - bigger crowds - orange faces....etc"

I think that by now it has all been said.

A little bit of creativity would be nice.....coupled with some good humour, perhaps some insight prompting, thought-provoking replies.

No folks - you will look below this post, and scroll, quote after quote-quote-quote-qu
ote, over maybe two or three self-important dimwits (with a two-word reply) who think that the rest of us are interested in that.... rather than the topic that we are all invited to discuss.

STID

Rising_Son says...
8:14am Tue 8 Jan 13

saintlysoul wrote:
Pleased to read that a least Saints are considering to buy players but do we really need to go abroad? These two players clearly have no experience in the Premier League and I'm concerned that Saints are going to make another mistake in paying good money for untested foreign players. Why can't they get seasoned Premier League players with experience of this league who are prepared for the dog fight ahead in attempting to remain in the best league in the world?
I see our resident xenophobe is up early.

Rising_Son says...
8:21am Tue 8 Jan 13

One question I have about this is: why is a player that was originally signed €4m and can't get into the team now worth £10m? Surely, we should be able to get him cheaper than that.

MGRA says...
8:28am Tue 8 Jan 13

Rising_Son wrote:
One question I have about this is: why is a player that was originally signed €4m and can't get into the team now worth £10m? Surely, we should be able to get him cheaper than that.
now that Fonte is knackered, their asking price would have automatically gone up £2m.... Also remember that its only really the Prem and La Liga that have stupid transfer prices.. the rest of Europe generally have much lower transfer costs....Foreign clubs know about the SKY money obviously and want their slice for signings....

Rising_Son says...
8:33am Tue 8 Jan 13

MGRA wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
One question I have about this is: why is a player that was originally signed €4m and can't get into the team now worth £10m? Surely, we should be able to get him cheaper than that.
now that Fonte is knackered, their asking price would have automatically gone up £2m.... Also remember that its only really the Prem and La Liga that have stupid transfer prices.. the rest of Europe generally have much lower transfer costs....Foreign clubs know about the SKY money obviously and want their slice for signings....
But €4m + £2m still isn't even close to £10m.

costa gaz says...
8:35am Tue 8 Jan 13

Apparently two decent players, but I'll wait until they have signed before I get too excited.

mbetts says...
8:37am Tue 8 Jan 13

Rising_Son wrote:
MGRA wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
One question I have about this is: why is a player that was originally signed €4m and can't get into the team now worth £10m? Surely, we should be able to get him cheaper than that.
now that Fonte is knackered, their asking price would have automatically gone up £2m.... Also remember that its only really the Prem and La Liga that have stupid transfer prices.. the rest of Europe generally have much lower transfer costs....Foreign clubs know about the SKY money obviously and want their slice for signings....
But €4m + £2m still isn't even close to £10m.
I think it might be a bit of creative journalism, there's no way on earth Saints would pay silly money for anybody, not Cortese's style, if we get them it'll be for a fair price which we'll find out about in a year or so's time when they finally release the accounts.

Seedhouse the Unrepentant says...
8:42am Tue 8 Jan 13

SEVEN

Ross123 says...
8:47am Tue 8 Jan 13

Rising_Son wrote:
One question I have about this is: why is a player that was originally signed €4m and can't get into the team now worth £10m? Surely, we should be able to get him cheaper than that.
great point! ps, could also save some money for butland!! wishful thinking

ps, please pay kelv in goal saturday!

any other keeper then we will lose!

like a cup final the villa game! and wigan!

worthing_saint says...
8:51am Tue 8 Jan 13

Follow this guy on twitter:

@tancredipalmeri

he was the guy that very early on reported we were bidding for Gaston (and look how that turned out).

This time around he has stated quite clearly that Saints have met the asking price for Astori and it's now just about personal terms.

Seedhouse the Unrepentant says...
8:54am Tue 8 Jan 13

Rising_Son wrote:
MGRA wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
One question I have about this is: why is a player that was originally signed €4m and can't get into the team now worth £10m? Surely, we should be able to get him cheaper than that.
now that Fonte is knackered, their asking price would have automatically gone up £2m.... Also remember that its only really the Prem and La Liga that have stupid transfer prices.. the rest of Europe generally have much lower transfer costs....Foreign clubs know about the SKY money obviously and want their slice for signings....
But €4m + £2m still isn't even close to £10m.
He's an attacking midfielder and isn't a replacement for Fonte. It does seem strange that if he cost €4m and can't get in the team that he could be considered worth more than that. They are the ones who have announced they are going to sell off their surplus players so it's an equal position between buyer and seller. It's not another Gaston situation.

If we bought a player who then couldn't make the team I think we'd worry about getting our money back let alone making a profit.

Ross123 says...
8:54am Tue 8 Jan 13

coutinho looks mint!
another creative star.

we got lallana, ramirez and hopefully this guy will add to that!

maybe we can drop guly then! lol

play video

http://www.mirror.co
.uk/sport/football/t
ransfer-news/southam
pton-look-at-coutinh
o-and-davide-astori-
1523048

OSPREYSAINT says...
8:55am Tue 8 Jan 13

saintlysoul wrote:
Pleased to read that a least Saints are considering to buy players but do we really need to go abroad? These two players clearly have no experience in the Premier League and I'm concerned that Saints are going to make another mistake in paying good money for untested foreign players. Why can't they get seasoned Premier League players with experience of this league who are prepared for the dog fight ahead in attempting to remain in the best league in the world?
If you have some spare time I suggest that you make a list of all of the players in the Senior Squads of the other 19 teams, study them carefully and decide which of them are currently bench warmers wanting to be starters, narrow it down to the ones that with a bit of TLC would do a job for us in the Premier and post the results on here,

MGRA says...
8:57am Tue 8 Jan 13

mbetts wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
MGRA wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
One question I have about this is: why is a player that was originally signed €4m and can't get into the team now worth £10m? Surely, we should be able to get him cheaper than that.
now that Fonte is knackered, their asking price would have automatically gone up £2m.... Also remember that its only really the Prem and La Liga that have stupid transfer prices.. the rest of Europe generally have much lower transfer costs....Foreign clubs know about the SKY money obviously and want their slice for signings....
But €4m + £2m still isn't even close to £10m.
I think it might be a bit of creative journalism, there's no way on earth Saints would pay silly money for anybody, not Cortese's style, if we get them it'll be for a fair price which we'll find out about in a year or so's time when they finally release the accounts.
well if you believe the crud about gaston only being used for home games and a "few" away games then we already have paid "silly" money for someone... I happen to think its all bluff and he is still not 100% fit but if the official line is correct then 12M for a part time player was madness imo....

St.Yorkie says...
9:00am Tue 8 Jan 13

Seeds count down reminds me of the twelve days of Christmas...perhaps we should have started a song for the 12-days of January for the blue few down the road...

"On the twelfth day before our demise the Saints fans sent to me..."

I know we are already at the seventh day but perhaps the wit and humour asked for from Canada could be shown here today?

Anyway back to these blokes from Italy - only one question. Are they Southampton players that meet with the club ethics?

And before those idiots start talking about drunk drivers, wife batterers, cheating on their wives, etc. I mean the right mentality and up for the fight ahead? Too many so called great players have come here off the back of highly inflated fees only to disappoint!

Alicesdad says...
9:01am Tue 8 Jan 13

I'll believe it when I see it. It does all sound good but when you reflect on some of the summer rumours and how they turned out I can't get excited about this stuff any more.

The most amusing and interesting post so far was Seedhouse with SEVEN .. that's something else that won't come to much.. just further delay and endless prevarication ... there is too much debt down there for that to be sorted out quickly. Creditors will hang on forever. It will be years you mark my words.

But anyway .... Best of luck to Nige and Nicola with their hunt for our next players. At least we can afford to buy some.

MGRA says...
9:07am Tue 8 Jan 13

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Pleased to read that a least Saints are considering to buy players but do we really need to go abroad? These two players clearly have no experience in the Premier League and I'm concerned that Saints are going to make another mistake in paying good money for untested foreign players. Why can't they get seasoned Premier League players with experience of this league who are prepared for the dog fight ahead in attempting to remain in the best league in the world?
If you have some spare time I suggest that you make a list of all of the players in the Senior Squads of the other 19 teams, study them carefully and decide which of them are currently bench warmers wanting to be starters, narrow it down to the ones that with a bit of TLC would do a job for us in the Premier and post the results on here,
I think the real situation is somewhere in between. The trouble is availability. There are quite a few players from the Prem we could do with, and who would maybe want to play for Saints, but the problem is the asking prices... Saints can only gamble so much assuming the coffers-door is now shut from the estate of ML... Also for me Nigel does not have the experience ( yet ) to be able to get the best out of all players and knit together a team/squad that is producing the best football possible. Of course time will make him a better manager and hence the conundrum... we are currently walking a fine line and survival is all that matters this season so if we can get a couple of Italian players on reasonable money plus an automatic £6-7M sell on if we go down then I don't think we would have taken too much of a step backwards. All teams get injuries towards the run-in and it could well be saints depth of squad that sees us home.

swesaint says...
9:12am Tue 8 Jan 13

saintlysoul wrote:
Pleased to read that a least Saints are considering to buy players but do we really need to go abroad? These two players clearly have no experience in the Premier League and I'm concerned that Saints are going to make another mistake in paying good money for untested foreign players. Why can't they get seasoned Premier League players with experience of this league who are prepared for the dog fight ahead in attempting to remain in the best league in the world?
Most seasoned premier league players are not ready for a dogfight, usually ready for another payday.

franiow says...
9:15am Tue 8 Jan 13

I am wondering if the price goes up when Saints come into town. If it's Saints, it must be 10 million. Final price will depend on how much they want to sell and if we are the only team in town.

Hate this waiting..let's hope we buy one soon.

St Retford says...
9:16am Tue 8 Jan 13

GOALAZO!

If any Saints fans see reason to moan about this then they're mentally ill. Seriously, have a word with yourselves.

franiow says...
9:16am Tue 8 Jan 13

I am wondering if the price goes up when Saints come into town. If it's Saints, it must be 10 million. Final price will depend on how much they want to sell and if we are the only team in town.

Hate this waiting..let's hope we buy one soon.

Seedhouse the Unrepentant says...
9:19am Tue 8 Jan 13

And now, the end is here
And so they face the final curtain
Chainrai, he'll say it clear
He'll state his case, of which he’s certain
He’s lived a life that's full
He’s travelled each and every highway
And more, much more than this, he’ll do it his way

Fans, they had a Few
But then again, too Few to mention
They did not do, what they had to do, without exemption
He planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this, they did it his way

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When they bit off more than they could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
He ate it up and spat it out
He faced it all and he stood tall and did it his way

We loved, we laughed and cried
We had our fill, at their losing
And now, as tears subside, we find it all so amusing
To think they did all that
And may we say, not in a sly way,
"Oh, no, oh, no, not us, they did it his way"

For what is a skunt, what has he got?
If not a club, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels are now the words of one who kneels
The record shows they took the blows and did it his way!

Yes, it was his way

MGRA says...
9:22am Tue 8 Jan 13

franiow wrote:
I am wondering if the price goes up when Saints come into town. If it's Saints, it must be 10 million. Final price will depend on how much they want to sell and if we are the only team in town.

Hate this waiting..let's hope we buy one soon.
for any bottom 6 club the price goes up...... for any club with injury problems increasing the urgency to buy the price goes up....... but if you do the maths, an extra 3M for a player(s) is worth it if our league status is secured...... if NC has any sense there will be huge survival bonuses offered as well as automatic relegation-off-you-g
o clauses...

SaintMax says...
9:37am Tue 8 Jan 13

Both these two signings have been all over the Italian web press the last few days.
I click on this link 100 times per day as opposed to just the odd 50 on thi site

http://www.newsnow.c
o.uk/h/Sport/Footbal
l/Premier+League/Sou
thampton

SaintMax says...
9:38am Tue 8 Jan 13

Flippin eck he looks like a young Kevin Keegan too!!

OSPREYSAINT says...
9:42am Tue 8 Jan 13

MGRA wrote:
mbetts wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
MGRA wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
One question I have about this is: why is a player that was originally signed €4m and can't get into the team now worth £10m? Surely, we should be able to get him cheaper than that.
now that Fonte is knackered, their asking price would have automatically gone up £2m.... Also remember that its only really the Prem and La Liga that have stupid transfer prices.. the rest of Europe generally have much lower transfer costs....Foreign clubs know about the SKY money obviously and want their slice for signings....
But €4m + £2m still isn't even close to £10m.
I think it might be a bit of creative journalism, there's no way on earth Saints would pay silly money for anybody, not Cortese's style, if we get them it'll be for a fair price which we'll find out about in a year or so's time when they finally release the accounts.
well if you believe the crud about gaston only being used for home games and a "few" away games then we already have paid "silly" money for someone... I happen to think its all bluff and he is still not 100% fit but if the official line is correct then 12M for a part time player was madness imo....
.. however you have no more idea than the rest of us, speculate all you like, the truth is out there, but we may never know for sure.

St Retford says...
9:42am Tue 8 Jan 13

Seedy, that's beautiful but you do know next week's court hearing is only to set a date for another court case further down the road?

It does, however, mean they'll most likely enjoy a whole year in administration which will cause all manner of headaches for them, but it still won't be the end. I think what'll happen is the administrators will cut costs and get rid of players until they're bumping along at the foot of League 1 even without the 10 points deduction and the whole sorry shitstorm will just wither and die through its own irrelevance as even its fans decide it's not worth saving (which, in effect, they've kind of already done anyway).

MEANWHILE, we're lining up two amazing players from Serie A so, you know, it's not all bad news.

St Retford says...
9:44am Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintMax wrote:
Flippin eck he looks like a young Kevin Keegan too!!
He looks like one of One Direction.

(Which, obviously, is amazing)

SaintMax says...
9:48am Tue 8 Jan 13

St Retford wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
Flippin eck he looks like a young Kevin Keegan too!!
He looks like one of One Direction.

(Which, obviously, is amazing)
Which one, the dark brooding one with shirt black curly hair who supports Inter?

magnette says...
9:49am Tue 8 Jan 13

Come on Echo Headline writer...surely it's not a £20m Italian Mission but a £20m Italian Job?

...and the players will be joining "The Saints' Preservation Society"!

Seedhouse the Unrepentant says...
9:49am Tue 8 Jan 13

St Retford wrote:
Seedy, that's beautiful but you do know next week's court hearing is only to set a date for another court case further down the road?

It does, however, mean they'll most likely enjoy a whole year in administration which will cause all manner of headaches for them, but it still won't be the end. I think what'll happen is the administrators will cut costs and get rid of players until they're bumping along at the foot of League 1 even without the 10 points deduction and the whole sorry shitstorm will just wither and die through its own irrelevance as even its fans decide it's not worth saving (which, in effect, they've kind of already done anyway).

MEANWHILE, we're lining up two amazing players from Serie A so, you know, it's not all bad news.
Thank you. It took alot of effort and three spliffs to reach that level of creativity :)

I do realise the situation but I'm in it for the longterm, I'm no quitter. I don't want a quick and final solution, we need more, much more than that...

Yes they look handy, let's hope we sign them. Another attacking midfielder to add to our collection. If only we'd sign a keeper, only having four concerns me.

Dickosfc says...
9:54am Tue 8 Jan 13

St Retford wrote:
GOALAZO! If any Saints fans see reason to moan about this then they're mentally ill. Seriously, have a word with yourselves.
Spot on mate!! People banging on about Premier League experience makes me laugh. Michu didn't have any experience and he's been rubbish isn't he! Only the league's top scorer. As stated above, how many premier league standard bench warmers are out there and don't go on about Lescott and Dawson because they have both said they're staying put. These guys would be cracking in my opinion. Obviously the inflated price tags are a gamble but I'm not doubting Astori would do a job for us.

Seedhouse the Unrepentant says...
9:56am Tue 8 Jan 13

Dickosfc wrote:
St Retford wrote:
GOALAZO! If any Saints fans see reason to moan about this then they're mentally ill. Seriously, have a word with yourselves.
Spot on mate!! People banging on about Premier League experience makes me laugh. Michu didn't have any experience and he's been rubbish isn't he! Only the league's top scorer. As stated above, how many premier league standard bench warmers are out there and don't go on about Lescott and Dawson because they have both said they're staying put. These guys would be cracking in my opinion. Obviously the inflated price tags are a gamble but I'm not doubting Astori would do a job for us.
We were in for Michu until Swansea signed him for £2m.

Two bloody million!!! That's good business.

St Retford says...
9:58am Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintMax wrote:
St Retford wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
Flippin eck he looks like a young Kevin Keegan too!!
He looks like one of One Direction.

(Which, obviously, is amazing)
Which one, the dark brooding one with shirt black curly hair who supports Inter?
Harry, I believe his name is.

AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES US BEAUTIFUL - UH - UH - OH etc.

(I bloody love having a five-year-old daughter - they have amazing taste in music.)

kent141 says...
10:02am Tue 8 Jan 13

Clubs take one look at Nigel and add a few million to the transfer fees straight away...

SaintMax says...
10:04am Tue 8 Jan 13

St Retford wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
St Retford wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
Flippin eck he looks like a young Kevin Keegan too!!
He looks like one of One Direction.

(Which, obviously, is amazing)
Which one, the dark brooding one with shirt black curly hair who supports Inter?
Harry, I believe his name is.

AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES US BEAUTIFUL - UH - UH - OH etc.

(I bloody love having a five-year-old daughter - they have amazing taste in music.)
You hit that high note effortlessly St Ret.. I too have the album on repeat in the car due to 3 kids under 8 ( and my guilty pleasure..)

SaintMax says...
10:05am Tue 8 Jan 13

kent141 wrote:
Clubs take one look at Nigel and add a few million to the transfer fees straight away...
Think you will find that if its an English or Russian club the zeros get added.
Well done though Kent that was almost constructive input.

St Retford says...
10:16am Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintMax wrote:
St Retford wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
St Retford wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
Flippin eck he looks like a young Kevin Keegan too!!
He looks like one of One Direction.

(Which, obviously, is amazing)
Which one, the dark brooding one with shirt black curly hair who supports Inter?
Harry, I believe his name is.

AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES US BEAUTIFUL - UH - UH - OH etc.

(I bloody love having a five-year-old daughter - they have amazing taste in music.)
You hit that high note effortlessly St Ret.. I too have the album on repeat in the car due to 3 kids under 8 ( and my guilty pleasure..)
Enjoy it while it lasts. Pre-teenage children listen to music because they love it - after that it becomes a fashion accessory and it'll be all 'cool' stuff that they don't actually like but use as a fashion accessory so you can expect all Joy Division t-shirts and Sonic Youth on vinyl that they can't actually play because they don't have a record player.

:(

Strasbourg Saint says...
10:21am Tue 8 Jan 13

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
And now, the end is here
And so they face the final curtain
Chainrai, he'll say it clear
He'll state his case, of which he’s certain
He’s lived a life that's full
He’s travelled each and every highway
And more, much more than this, he’ll do it his way

Fans, they had a Few
But then again, too Few to mention
They did not do, what they had to do, without exemption
He planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this, they did it his way

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When they bit off more than they could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
He ate it up and spat it out
He faced it all and he stood tall and did it his way

We loved, we laughed and cried
We had our fill, at their losing
And now, as tears subside, we find it all so amusing
To think they did all that
And may we say, not in a sly way,
"Oh, no, oh, no, not us, they did it his way"

For what is a skunt, what has he got?
If not a club, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels are now the words of one who kneels
The record shows they took the blows and did it his way!

Yes, it was his way
Nice!

The Beatles were ahead of their time when they penned:

'And in the end, the cups you bought were equal to your days in court.'

.... but you really need George's gritty guitar and Ringo's drum solo before the words just to add to the necessary, long-drawn-out tension.

Dickosfc says...
10:29am Tue 8 Jan 13

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
Dickosfc wrote:
St Retford wrote: GOALAZO! If any Saints fans see reason to moan about this then they're mentally ill. Seriously, have a word with yourselves.
Spot on mate!! People banging on about Premier League experience makes me laugh. Michu didn't have any experience and he's been rubbish isn't he! Only the league's top scorer. As stated above, how many premier league standard bench warmers are out there and don't go on about Lescott and Dawson because they have both said they're staying put. These guys would be cracking in my opinion. Obviously the inflated price tags are a gamble but I'm not doubting Astori would do a job for us.
We were in for Michu until Swansea signed him for £2m. Two bloody million!!! That's good business.
Tell me about it. He's gotta be the buy of the season.

hates the skates says...
10:32am Tue 8 Jan 13

we aint going to get any of these players because N C is to arogant when it comes to these transfer dealings its all his way or no way, which is why this will drag on all month and then at 10-midnight on the 31-1 were panic buy and end up with worse players than we have already got a shambolic side for the next 10 games and our fellow relegation strugglers will have the edge over us because they have done their buisness early, i was hoping N C would of learned this in the summer, it appears not. its ok when we were signing players from bristol rovers, mk dons, exeter etc. he could bully them into signing on his terms. its a different proposition when you are dealing with top flight sides who wont be bullied, thats why we wont get any of these players and on 31st watch this space...............
.................. i hope i eat my words cause i would love to have these here!!!!!!

right back in the bar says...
10:36am Tue 8 Jan 13

Dickosfc wrote:
Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
Dickosfc wrote:
St Retford wrote: GOALAZO! If any Saints fans see reason to moan about this then they're mentally ill. Seriously, have a word with yourselves.
Spot on mate!! People banging on about Premier League experience makes me laugh. Michu didn't have any experience and he's been rubbish isn't he! Only the league's top scorer. As stated above, how many premier league standard bench warmers are out there and don't go on about Lescott and Dawson because they have both said they're staying put. These guys would be cracking in my opinion. Obviously the inflated price tags are a gamble but I'm not doubting Astori would do a job for us.
We were in for Michu until Swansea signed him for £2m. Two bloody million!!! That's good business.
Tell me about it. He's gotta be the buy of the season.
Astori is a must and I believe we will get him. As for the Brazilian - we don't need another number 10 we already have 2. We need a winger and striker to play along side RL.

St Retford says...
10:37am Tue 8 Jan 13

hates the skates wrote:
we aint going to get any of these players because N C is to arogant when it comes to these transfer dealings its all his way or no way, which is why this will drag on all month and then at 10-midnight on the 31-1 were panic buy and end up with worse players than we have already got a shambolic side for the next 10 games and our fellow relegation strugglers will have the edge over us because they have done their buisness early, i was hoping N C would of learned this in the summer, it appears not. its ok when we were signing players from bristol rovers, mk dons, exeter etc. he could bully them into signing on his terms. its a different proposition when you are dealing with top flight sides who wont be bullied, thats why we wont get any of these players and on 31st watch this space...............

.................. i hope i eat my words cause i would love to have these here!!!!!!
Yeah, that's EXACTLY what happened with Gaston, isn't it? We were so close to signing him but Nicola ruined everything...

SaintMax says...
10:39am Tue 8 Jan 13

hates the skates wrote:
we aint going to get any of these players because N C is to arogant when it comes to these transfer dealings its all his way or no way, which is why this will drag on all month and then at 10-midnight on the 31-1 were panic buy and end up with worse players than we have already got a shambolic side for the next 10 games and our fellow relegation strugglers will have the edge over us because they have done their buisness early, i was hoping N C would of learned this in the summer, it appears not. its ok when we were signing players from bristol rovers, mk dons, exeter etc. he could bully them into signing on his terms. its a different proposition when you are dealing with top flight sides who wont be bullied, thats why we wont get any of these players and on 31st watch this space...............

.................. i hope i eat my words cause i would love to have these here!!!!!!
Hope you do too.
Makes sense going into the Italian market as its Nicolas home turf, there are several clubs in financial dire straights, the EPL is a big draw to play in..
I also believe they would build in the same £6m sell on clause Gaston has if we go down.
I reckon it's just Ts and Cs now..

SaintMax says...
10:47am Tue 8 Jan 13

right back in the bar wrote:
Dickosfc wrote:
Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
Dickosfc wrote:
St Retford wrote: GOALAZO! If any Saints fans see reason to moan about this then they're mentally ill. Seriously, have a word with yourselves.
Spot on mate!! People banging on about Premier League experience makes me laugh. Michu didn't have any experience and he's been rubbish isn't he! Only the league's top scorer. As stated above, how many premier league standard bench warmers are out there and don't go on about Lescott and Dawson because they have both said they're staying put. These guys would be cracking in my opinion. Obviously the inflated price tags are a gamble but I'm not doubting Astori would do a job for us.
We were in for Michu until Swansea signed him for £2m. Two bloody million!!! That's good business.
Tell me about it. He's gotta be the buy of the season.
Astori is a must and I believe we will get him. As for the Brazilian - we don't need another number 10 we already have 2. We need a winger and striker to play along side RL.
Does make you think what there thought process is behind buying this sort of player?
I'd have preferred a midfield general AKA Kean in his day if anything.
Perhaps they have been tipped off that this bloke is the next best thing and too good to miss out on.

saintsdan says...
10:52am Tue 8 Jan 13

After reading many of these rants , you wouldnt think this is a place for saints fans. If NC does buy the players you want or not support your team! If your just going to moan about everything that happens then southampton fc does not need your support!

Confucious says...
10:52am Tue 8 Jan 13

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
St Retford wrote:
Seedy, that's beautiful but you do know next week's court hearing is only to set a date for another court case further down the road?

It does, however, mean they'll most likely enjoy a whole year in administration which will cause all manner of headaches for them, but it still won't be the end. I think what'll happen is the administrators will cut costs and get rid of players until they're bumping along at the foot of League 1 even without the 10 points deduction and the whole sorry shitstorm will just wither and die through its own irrelevance as even its fans decide it's not worth saving (which, in effect, they've kind of already done anyway).

MEANWHILE, we're lining up two amazing players from Serie A so, you know, it's not all bad news.
Thank you. It took alot of effort and three spliffs to reach that level of creativity :)

I do realise the situation but I'm in it for the longterm, I'm no quitter. I don't want a quick and final solution, we need more, much more than that...

Yes they look handy, let's hope we sign them. Another attacking midfielder to add to our collection. If only we'd sign a keeper, only having four concerns me.
A lawyer chum of mine says the concluding verdict can only follow the consummation of the of the culminating determination - and that can't happen before the final decree has closure as a result of the expiry of the ruling order and subsequent verdict on the expiring denouement that will trigger the termination finding.

I'm writing a song about this called "I love you darlin' more than a final adjudication", but I'm struggling a bit with it for some reason.

I think many on here are underestimating the attractions of Southampton to these young Serie A players. Nearly all the women in Italy have got moustaches. I couldn't settle there at all. It was like living in a foreign country.

However, there's a chef at the Cavalieri Hilton who is an absolutely amazing juggler with pizzas. He can spin them round on the tip of one finger and then toss them eight feet through the air straight onto a plate.

He would be great in goal.

Saintian1885 says...
10:52am Tue 8 Jan 13

Go to saints sky sports page and u will see that we still have not agreed a deal for astori. We are 4 million off the asking price. This will be another gaston type deal where it will drag on and on. I would love saints to sign him but i am not getting excited. Our transfer activity in the summer was dreadfull (gaston excluded) and i would imagine this month will be no different. If this astori is as good as people say we should pay the 12m. Class players cost double figures and we will not get them on the cheap.

Charlie_SaintsFC says...
10:57am Tue 8 Jan 13

I can't believe some fans on here think we have paid too much for Gaston and think that it has been a waste of money. He is 22 years old, he has played for Uruguay and is a very very talented footballer. He has had his 'dead-leg' problems but if he is committed to our club and is fit, think of how good he could become. From what I have seen from him, he has been good, maybe not up to the price tag; yet, but he has been good. When we have bought better players in, he will get better because obviously when you are playing with a better standard of players, you will find it easier and play better. If NA and NC can bring in these players it will add depth, which we do not have at the moment. I trust every decision that NA and NC will make, they know what they are doing and we all have to trust them. Have faith, and can people stop being so negative about everything. COYR!

Seedhouse the Unrepentant says...
10:59am Tue 8 Jan 13

Saintian1885 wrote:
Go to saints sky sports page and u will see that we still have not agreed a deal for astori. We are 4 million off the asking price. This will be another gaston type deal where it will drag on and on. I would love saints to sign him but i am not getting excited. Our transfer activity in the summer was dreadfull (gaston excluded) and i would imagine this month will be no different. If this astori is as good as people say we should pay the 12m. Class players cost double figures and we will not get them on the cheap.
Michu £2m.

SaintMax says...
11:00am Tue 8 Jan 13

Saintian1885 wrote:
Go to saints sky sports page and u will see that we still have not agreed a deal for astori. We are 4 million off the asking price. This will be another gaston type deal where it will drag on and on. I would love saints to sign him but i am not getting excited. Our transfer activity in the summer was dreadfull (gaston excluded) and i would imagine this month will be no different. If this astori is as good as people say we should pay the 12m. Class players cost double figures and we will not get them on the cheap.
Whilst I agree that we got burnt last summer (not due to the sun!) I think NA/NC have learnt their lesson, and should do all we can to secure this bloke.
But.... £12m for a centreback is a lot of money. Chelsea payed Bolton £7m for Gary Cahill last January which puts Astoris valuation into perspective. I reckon we have tabled £9.5m and both clubs will settle on £10,750,327 pence.
..ish

billythesaint says...
11:02am Tue 8 Jan 13

Exciting to be linked with these players when only a couple of years ago we were in serious danger of going out of existence (like our fishy neighbours).
Gaston is a real class player on his day but we need more stars around him and seriously need better central defenders. Yes, ticket prices will go up eventually but I want to watch good football with some superstars on that SMS pitch! Looking forward to seeing who we get and pushing up the league. We don't want players who are 'up for a dogfight,' we need players with class and ability to get us in mid table this season and Europe the next.

SaintMax says...
11:05am Tue 8 Jan 13

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
Saintian1885 wrote:
Go to saints sky sports page and u will see that we still have not agreed a deal for astori. We are 4 million off the asking price. This will be another gaston type deal where it will drag on and on. I would love saints to sign him but i am not getting excited. Our transfer activity in the summer was dreadfull (gaston excluded) and i would imagine this month will be no different. If this astori is as good as people say we should pay the 12m. Class players cost double figures and we will not get them on the cheap.
Michu £2m.
I better which ever scout suggested Michu is currently smoking a fat one..

up saints says...
11:12am Tue 8 Jan 13

interesting chat above i would just settle for a decent keeper not sure who

St Retford says...
11:14am Tue 8 Jan 13

The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.

SaintJD says...
11:15am Tue 8 Jan 13

The Brazilian guy sounds exciting, but surely more of a summer signing.

Let's get the defence and keeper sorted and then, if we still have the cash, get him in too, but the other areas must be sorted first.

While I love all the 'Saints are signing exciting players, be positive' talk, this is looking like a repeat of the summer.

How about we secure our Premier League survival and then spend the TV money on flair players in the summer when our defence is fixed and settled?

Building from the back is the sure fire way to good attacking football.

Spending big money on Brazilian flair would be madness IMO.

We will get our money back on these young players, but only if we are in a situation to sell them on our terms.

Sorry to be a realist, but if we get relegated do you think Gaston and this Brazilian guy will 1) want to stay or 2) be suited to that division?

If the defence and keeper are sorted first great.

Fact: we have a good enough range of attacking midfielders and strikers to ensure safety, as shown by our impressive goals for record.

Fact: we do not, by any means, have a good enough defence to ensure safety, even when taking into account our great improvements in recent weeks, as shown by our goals conceded stats.

Fact: we are playing great football, have some great players, a great style and forward thinking ethos, a manager who has worked miracles with a patched up back five and a supportive chairman. Would be a massive shame if we go down having failed to address our blatantly obvious record for silly defensive errors, costing us results time and again.

MGRA says...
11:18am Tue 8 Jan 13

St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....

OSPREYSAINT says...
11:19am Tue 8 Jan 13

kent141 wrote:
Clubs take one look at Nigel and add a few million to the transfer fees straight away...
Your problems dwarf ours what are you going to do to redress them?

MGRA says...
11:20am Tue 8 Jan 13

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
mbetts wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
MGRA wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
One question I have about this is: why is a player that was originally signed €4m and can't get into the team now worth £10m? Surely, we should be able to get him cheaper than that.
now that Fonte is knackered, their asking price would have automatically gone up £2m.... Also remember that its only really the Prem and La Liga that have stupid transfer prices.. the rest of Europe generally have much lower transfer costs....Foreign clubs know about the SKY money obviously and want their slice for signings....
But €4m + £2m still isn't even close to £10m.
I think it might be a bit of creative journalism, there's no way on earth Saints would pay silly money for anybody, not Cortese's style, if we get them it'll be for a fair price which we'll find out about in a year or so's time when they finally release the accounts.
well if you believe the crud about gaston only being used for home games and a "few" away games then we already have paid "silly" money for someone... I happen to think its all bluff and he is still not 100% fit but if the official line is correct then 12M for a part time player was madness imo....
.. however you have no more idea than the rest of us, speculate all you like, the truth is out there, but we may never know for sure.
I knew he wasn't fit when others thought he was... or were told he was....

SaintMax says...
11:22am Tue 8 Jan 13

St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Completely agree on Gaston. For people to say at this early stage it was a waste of money is daft.
Having him will make it easier to attract others (Astori, Coutinho etc).

Hey perhaps NA and NC have been looking at the Chelsea's Arsenals and Man City's and think we need a midfield player in the mould of Mata, Wiltshire, Silva... Also Barca are full of small skill full technical players.

Therefore Coutinho isn't such a bad idea..

OSPREYSAINT says...
11:22am Tue 8 Jan 13

MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!

up saints says...
11:23am Tue 8 Jan 13

i thought michu was closer to 5mil must be getting mixed up with someone else we could offer 4 mil

SaintMax says...
11:31am Tue 8 Jan 13

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..

St Retford says...
11:33am Tue 8 Jan 13

MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
Well then maybe that's exactly why we set up our mysterious offshore finance "facility"?

El Santo says...
11:36am Tue 8 Jan 13

Rising_Son wrote:
One question I have about this is: why is a player that was originally signed €4m and can't get into the team now worth £10m? Surely, we should be able to get him cheaper than that.
Yes! That was going to be exactly my point! How is this player now more valuable!!???
And, if we are wiling to spend £10m...why not hire a guy like the Betis midfielder, Benyat? That is a guy we would need, and he is playing day in day out, making his team better. Besides, it is known that Spanish players adapt really good to the UK... much better than South-american ones.

kent141 says...
11:39am Tue 8 Jan 13

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
kent141 wrote:
Clubs take one look at Nigel and add a few million to the transfer fees straight away...
Your problems dwarf ours what are you going to do to redress them?
Ask J7 to redress the dwarf as he stripped him off quicker than Nigel running to the tanning salon for a top up..

MGRA says...
11:40am Tue 8 Jan 13

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
Nicola knows who Cagliari owe money too so that will come in handy...

skiptonsaint says...
11:42am Tue 8 Jan 13

Think this shows it must be bad news on adam if true.

Also shows we hve clearly stepped up a league with our ability to spend

Even if we did go down i think it shows we would have the finances to not have to sell everyone although cant see gaston and any other 10m players staying

I think what we need is to get some bargins in out transfer policy as well

Think we have paid top money for all put recent signings but i guess clubs know we have a few quid

Still amazing to be readin this even if it doesnt happen when you think of where we were two years ago

St Retford says...
11:44am Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
Innit. I reckon Nicola is a born businessman who got into football precisely because he wanted to get to do things like this. I reckon he gets his kicks from negotiating deals, and the higher the stakes the more fun these things are for him. This stuff is a game for him in exactly the same way banging goals in is a game for Rickie.

SaintJD says...
11:46am Tue 8 Jan 13

Comparing the Michu signing to Ramirez is a bit unfair. For all the Michu's out there there are loads who didn't make it. Virtually every manager in the Premier League is wishing they'd spotted him.

Alan Pardew has certainly had a good run on signings as well and seems their scouting network is pretty good.

That said, there are also loads of very expensive prospects that haven't delivered as well.

For me it's all about having the right person in that scouting role - go out, recruit them for good money and it will save you a lot of money on players in the future.

It's a bit like a formula 1 team investing in top drivers, but not spending a much smaller outlay to get Adrian Newey to design the car.

I'd say that, by and large, the quality of our major signings has been pretty good so far though, bar Lee and Mayuka based on lack of appearances.

J Rod will, I think, develop into a very good player indeed if we can get to play him more regularly, but a difficult balancing act, could almost do with a season banging them in for fun in the Championship.

OSPREYSAINT says...
11:49am Tue 8 Jan 13

St Retford wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
Innit. I reckon Nicola is a born businessman who got into football precisely because he wanted to get to do things like this. I reckon he gets his kicks from negotiating deals, and the higher the stakes the more fun these things are for him. This stuff is a game for him in exactly the same way banging goals in is a game for Rickie.
As a Saints supporter he is as nervous as the rest of us, his reactions are well documented, hard nosed businesman he might be, but a wimp when it comes to watching the team perform.

SaintMax says...
11:49am Tue 8 Jan 13

St Retford wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
Innit. I reckon Nicola is a born businessman who got into football precisely because he wanted to get to do things like this. I reckon he gets his kicks from negotiating deals, and the higher the stakes the more fun these things are for him. This stuff is a game for him in exactly the same way banging goals in is a game for Rickie.
I bet he is a focker across the negotiating table!

OSPREYSAINT says...
11:50am Tue 8 Jan 13

kent141 wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
kent141 wrote:
Clubs take one look at Nigel and add a few million to the transfer fees straight away...
Your problems dwarf ours what are you going to do to redress them?
Ask J7 to redress the dwarf as he stripped him off quicker than Nigel running to the tanning salon for a top up..
Are telling me that you only watched voyeur style? Pull the other one.

St Retford says...
11:57am Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintMax wrote:
St Retford wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
Innit. I reckon Nicola is a born businessman who got into football precisely because he wanted to get to do things like this. I reckon he gets his kicks from negotiating deals, and the higher the stakes the more fun these things are for him. This stuff is a game for him in exactly the same way banging goals in is a game for Rickie.
I bet he is a focker across the negotiating table!
Aye - I'm glad he's on our side!

kent141 says...
11:58am Tue 8 Jan 13

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
kent141 wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
kent141 wrote:
Clubs take one look at Nigel and add a few million to the transfer fees straight away...
Your problems dwarf ours what are you going to do to redress them?
Ask J7 to redress the dwarf as he stripped him off quicker than Nigel running to the tanning salon for a top up..
Are telling me that you only watched voyeur style? Pull the other one.
Not my scene at all so i had a couple of quick Shorts there and then went to the pub.

MGRA says...
11:59am Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.

SaintMax says...
12:05pm Tue 8 Jan 13

MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)

Seedhouse the Unrepentant says...
12:06pm Tue 8 Jan 13

St Retford wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
Well then maybe that's exactly why we set up our mysterious offshore finance "facility"?
Precisely. Instead of paying the club on the drip we pay the loan back on the drip.

If the clubs are desperate for the cash and need it all up front surely that will be reflected in the price?

Seedhouse the Unrepentant says...
12:11pm Tue 8 Jan 13

When is Channers next in the UK? I need a photo of me with him to complete the full set with the one of me handing Birch £1 and the fake sheik one from The Sun.

Velleity says...
12:13pm Tue 8 Jan 13

MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
mbetts wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
MGRA wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
One question I have about this is: why is a player that was originally signed €4m and can't get into the team now worth £10m? Surely, we should be able to get him cheaper than that.
now that Fonte is knackered, their asking price would have automatically gone up £2m.... Also remember that its only really the Prem and La Liga that have stupid transfer prices.. the rest of Europe generally have much lower transfer costs....Foreign clubs know about the SKY money obviously and want their slice for signings....
But €4m + £2m still isn't even close to £10m.
I think it might be a bit of creative journalism, there's no way on earth Saints would pay silly money for anybody, not Cortese's style, if we get them it'll be for a fair price which we'll find out about in a year or so's time when they finally release the accounts.
well if you believe the crud about gaston only being used for home games and a "few" away games then we already have paid "silly" money for someone... I happen to think its all bluff and he is still not 100% fit but if the official line is correct then 12M for a part time player was madness imo....
.. however you have no more idea than the rest of us, speculate all you like, the truth is out there, but we may never know for sure.
I knew he wasn't fit when others thought he was... or were told he was....
MGRA, you know what, I'm worried that you actually believe what you're typing. You really do think you know far more about his fitness than the physios, the management team (headed by an ex-physio in NA) and the medical team who have been able to assess him (with fitness tests, scans and other assessments) non-stop since his injury. By *guessing* what had happened to him you've somehow managed to know far better than that lot.

And your implication in other posts that he's still carrying the injury is probably supported by the fact that he only managed two goals against Arsenal last week.

Look, you made a silly throw-away comment that he wouldn't be back before December and you seem to feel forced to defend it even though it's all looking a bit silly. Frankly, you're looking like a politician defending an utterly discredited policy. Be a man, admit you were utterly wrong and move on.

If it helps, mistakes I've publicly admitted to on here: I hated Guly and now rate him highly; I didn't see the point of Jack Cork until he went missing; I detested Artur Boruc after his first two games yet I'd now pick him out of the three we have. See; not hard, really.

Do move on and drop the scratched record impression...

SaintMax says...
12:20pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Velleity wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
mbetts wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
MGRA wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
One question I have about this is: why is a player that was originally signed €4m and can't get into the team now worth £10m? Surely, we should be able to get him cheaper than that.
now that Fonte is knackered, their asking price would have automatically gone up £2m.... Also remember that its only really the Prem and La Liga that have stupid transfer prices.. the rest of Europe generally have much lower transfer costs....Foreign clubs know about the SKY money obviously and want their slice for signings....
But €4m + £2m still isn't even close to £10m.
I think it might be a bit of creative journalism, there's no way on earth Saints would pay silly money for anybody, not Cortese's style, if we get them it'll be for a fair price which we'll find out about in a year or so's time when they finally release the accounts.
well if you believe the crud about gaston only being used for home games and a "few" away games then we already have paid "silly" money for someone... I happen to think its all bluff and he is still not 100% fit but if the official line is correct then 12M for a part time player was madness imo....
.. however you have no more idea than the rest of us, speculate all you like, the truth is out there, but we may never know for sure.
I knew he wasn't fit when others thought he was... or were told he was....
MGRA, you know what, I'm worried that you actually believe what you're typing. You really do think you know far more about his fitness than the physios, the management team (headed by an ex-physio in NA) and the medical team who have been able to assess him (with fitness tests, scans and other assessments) non-stop since his injury. By *guessing* what had happened to him you've somehow managed to know far better than that lot.

And your implication in other posts that he's still carrying the injury is probably supported by the fact that he only managed two goals against Arsenal last week.

Look, you made a silly throw-away comment that he wouldn't be back before December and you seem to feel forced to defend it even though it's all looking a bit silly. Frankly, you're looking like a politician defending an utterly discredited policy. Be a man, admit you were utterly wrong and move on.

If it helps, mistakes I've publicly admitted to on here: I hated Guly and now rate him highly; I didn't see the point of Jack Cork until he went missing; I detested Artur Boruc after his first two games yet I'd now pick him out of the three we have. See; not hard, really.

Do move on and drop the scratched record impression...
If we are doing confessions I'm Spartacus.

St Retford says...
12:23pm Tue 8 Jan 13

I once nicked a jigsaw blade from B&Q because the queue was, like, really long and I couldn't be doing with it. I'm sorry.

SaintJD says...
12:27pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.

kent141 says...
12:27pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintMax wrote:
Velleity wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
mbetts wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
MGRA wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
One question I have about this is: why is a player that was originally signed €4m and can't get into the team now worth £10m? Surely, we should be able to get him cheaper than that.
now that Fonte is knackered, their asking price would have automatically gone up £2m.... Also remember that its only really the Prem and La Liga that have stupid transfer prices.. the rest of Europe generally have much lower transfer costs....Foreign clubs know about the SKY money obviously and want their slice for signings....
But €4m + £2m still isn't even close to £10m.
I think it might be a bit of creative journalism, there's no way on earth Saints would pay silly money for anybody, not Cortese's style, if we get them it'll be for a fair price which we'll find out about in a year or so's time when they finally release the accounts.
well if you believe the crud about gaston only being used for home games and a "few" away games then we already have paid "silly" money for someone... I happen to think its all bluff and he is still not 100% fit but if the official line is correct then 12M for a part time player was madness imo....
.. however you have no more idea than the rest of us, speculate all you like, the truth is out there, but we may never know for sure.
I knew he wasn't fit when others thought he was... or were told he was....
MGRA, you know what, I'm worried that you actually believe what you're typing. You really do think you know far more about his fitness than the physios, the management team (headed by an ex-physio in NA) and the medical team who have been able to assess him (with fitness tests, scans and other assessments) non-stop since his injury. By *guessing* what had happened to him you've somehow managed to know far better than that lot.

And your implication in other posts that he's still carrying the injury is probably supported by the fact that he only managed two goals against Arsenal last week.

Look, you made a silly throw-away comment that he wouldn't be back before December and you seem to feel forced to defend it even though it's all looking a bit silly. Frankly, you're looking like a politician defending an utterly discredited policy. Be a man, admit you were utterly wrong and move on.

If it helps, mistakes I've publicly admitted to on here: I hated Guly and now rate him highly; I didn't see the point of Jack Cork until he went missing; I detested Artur Boruc after his first two games yet I'd now pick him out of the three we have. See; not hard, really.

Do move on and drop the scratched record impression...
If we are doing confessions I'm Spartacus.
Youre not that saints fan who dressed up as Spartacus for the away game at Brighton and dident come back for three days are you ?

St Retford says...
12:29pm Tue 8 Jan 13

kent141 wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
Velleity wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
mbetts wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
MGRA wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
One question I have about this is: why is a player that was originally signed €4m and can't get into the team now worth £10m? Surely, we should be able to get him cheaper than that.
now that Fonte is knackered, their asking price would have automatically gone up £2m.... Also remember that its only really the Prem and La Liga that have stupid transfer prices.. the rest of Europe generally have much lower transfer costs....Foreign clubs know about the SKY money obviously and want their slice for signings....
But €4m + £2m still isn't even close to £10m.
I think it might be a bit of creative journalism, there's no way on earth Saints would pay silly money for anybody, not Cortese's style, if we get them it'll be for a fair price which we'll find out about in a year or so's time when they finally release the accounts.
well if you believe the crud about gaston only being used for home games and a "few" away games then we already have paid "silly" money for someone... I happen to think its all bluff and he is still not 100% fit but if the official line is correct then 12M for a part time player was madness imo....
.. however you have no more idea than the rest of us, speculate all you like, the truth is out there, but we may never know for sure.
I knew he wasn't fit when others thought he was... or were told he was....
MGRA, you know what, I'm worried that you actually believe what you're typing. You really do think you know far more about his fitness than the physios, the management team (headed by an ex-physio in NA) and the medical team who have been able to assess him (with fitness tests, scans and other assessments) non-stop since his injury. By *guessing* what had happened to him you've somehow managed to know far better than that lot.

And your implication in other posts that he's still carrying the injury is probably supported by the fact that he only managed two goals against Arsenal last week.

Look, you made a silly throw-away comment that he wouldn't be back before December and you seem to feel forced to defend it even though it's all looking a bit silly. Frankly, you're looking like a politician defending an utterly discredited policy. Be a man, admit you were utterly wrong and move on.

If it helps, mistakes I've publicly admitted to on here: I hated Guly and now rate him highly; I didn't see the point of Jack Cork until he went missing; I detested Artur Boruc after his first two games yet I'd now pick him out of the three we have. See; not hard, really.

Do move on and drop the scratched record impression...
If we are doing confessions I'm Spartacus.
Youre not that saints fan who dressed up as Spartacus for the away game at Brighton and dident come back for three days are you ?
BECOSE EVERY1 IN BRIGHTON IS GAYE!!!! DO YOU SEEE!!!!EVELEN

kent141 says...
12:37pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Retfords blown a fuse about something.

St Retford says...
12:39pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Something something blew a fuse in your mum last night something something.

Now be away with you you witless skunt.

kent141 says...
12:44pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Poor old Retford, he wasent that bright anyway.....

boilerman says...
12:46pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Rising_Son wrote:
One question I have about this is: why is a player that was originally signed €4m and can't get into the team now worth £10m? Surely, we should be able to get him cheaper than that.
Good point, I was thinking the same.
Have we not learned our lesson after paying too much for Gaston and Rodriguez?

SO50 Saint says...
12:52pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Too much for Gaston really makes me laugh. The bloke is class he is a match winner and will be vital for us in the 2nd half of the season when we play the better teams at home. With his age as well I would believe we paid the going rate for what is a class attacking midfielder especially when you look at clubs like Liverpools spending. Sturridge or Gaston I know who I would rather have and he currently plays his football at SMS

OSPREYSAINT says...
12:59pm Tue 8 Jan 13

kent141 wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
kent141 wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
kent141 wrote:
Clubs take one look at Nigel and add a few million to the transfer fees straight away...
Your problems dwarf ours what are you going to do to redress them?
Ask J7 to redress the dwarf as he stripped him off quicker than Nigel running to the tanning salon for a top up..
Are telling me that you only watched voyeur style? Pull the other one.
Not my scene at all so i had a couple of quick Shorts there and then went to the pub.
Under age drinking is a criminal offence.

SaintMark says...
1:03pm Tue 8 Jan 13

kent141 wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
kent141 wrote:
Clubs take one look at Nigel and add a few million to the transfer fees straight away...
Your problems dwarf ours what are you going to do to redress them?
Ask J7 to redress the dwarf as he stripped him off quicker than Nigel running to the tanning salon for a top up..
Trying to work out what sort of twisted, sister fiddling, granny muggng, fish abusing weirdo you are!?
Was that really the best you can do? Tanning salon!? Go away little boy before you get cought using the schools computer. You'll get detention and be home late. Daddy wont like that will he. ;)

OSPREYSAINT says...
1:10pm Tue 8 Jan 13

kent141 wrote:
Poor old Retford, he wasent that bright anyway.....
Did you know that there is no e in wasn't?

MGRA says...
1:10pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
I was proved right on Gaston, he was not fit when he returned ( in fact a million miles away from fitness ) and my source on that one was spot on as usual. The fact he played whilst injured just makes Saints foolish in some peoples opinion. Regards business networks, a mate of mine happens to be involved directly with the champions league sponsorship events and was telling me just how stuffed some of the Italian clubs are.... his particular company was asked to pay up front in September for all colateral sponsorship issues for 2 certain clubs and they politely refused. He also explained that some of the creditors are not financial instutions and under Italian law some of them have greater rights to claw back their "investments"....

OSPREYSAINT says...
1:10pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Did you know there is no e in didn't.

OSPREYSAINT says...
1:16pm Tue 8 Jan 13

MGRA wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
I was proved right on Gaston, he was not fit when he returned ( in fact a million miles away from fitness ) and my source on that one was spot on as usual. The fact he played whilst injured just makes Saints foolish in some peoples opinion. Regards business networks, a mate of mine happens to be involved directly with the champions league sponsorship events and was telling me just how stuffed some of the Italian clubs are.... his particular company was asked to pay up front in September for all colateral sponsorship issues for 2 certain clubs and they politely refused. He also explained that some of the creditors are not financial instutions and under Italian law some of them have greater rights to claw back their "investments"....
You are incorrect, Rambo was physically fit when he returned, not match fit, for obvious reasons, his present injury is on the other leg and was picked up in the Arsenal game. No one has disputed that some Italian Clubs are financially strapped, that's why it make sense to approach them for players, but NC will not be taken for a mug, and does not suffer fools gladly. He will fight for the best deal, if that is not fairly available he will walk away.

MGRA says...
1:22pm Tue 8 Jan 13

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
I was proved right on Gaston, he was not fit when he returned ( in fact a million miles away from fitness ) and my source on that one was spot on as usual. The fact he played whilst injured just makes Saints foolish in some peoples opinion. Regards business networks, a mate of mine happens to be involved directly with the champions league sponsorship events and was telling me just how stuffed some of the Italian clubs are.... his particular company was asked to pay up front in September for all colateral sponsorship issues for 2 certain clubs and they politely refused. He also explained that some of the creditors are not financial instutions and under Italian law some of them have greater rights to claw back their "investments"....
You are incorrect, Rambo was physically fit when he returned, not match fit, for obvious reasons, his present injury is on the other leg and was picked up in the Arsenal game. No one has disputed that some Italian Clubs are financially strapped, that's why it make sense to approach them for players, but NC will not be taken for a mug, and does not suffer fools gladly. He will fight for the best deal, if that is not fairly available he will walk away.
No I am correct. He was not fit to start a game. Anyone who knows a jot about football realised that after 5 minutes. People took my "prediction" literally. I obviously mean't "shouldn't" rather than "won't" but if people get pleasure out of clinging onto semantics then thats great for them. It does not change biology and the spin of the Earth.

mack chinnon says...
1:26pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintJD wrote:
Comparing the Michu signing to Ramirez is a bit unfair. For all the Michu's out there there are loads who didn't make it. Virtually every manager in the Premier League is wishing they'd spotted him.

Alan Pardew has certainly had a good run on signings as well and seems their scouting network is pretty good.

That said, there are also loads of very expensive prospects that haven't delivered as well.

For me it's all about having the right person in that scouting role - go out, recruit them for good money and it will save you a lot of money on players in the future.

It's a bit like a formula 1 team investing in top drivers, but not spending a much smaller outlay to get Adrian Newey to design the car.

I'd say that, by and large, the quality of our major signings has been pretty good so far though, bar Lee and Mayuka based on lack of appearances.

J Rod will, I think, develop into a very good player indeed if we can get to play him more regularly, but a difficult balancing act, could almost do with a season banging them in for fun in the Championship.
Hows Jadi doing? Its all gone quiet over there.

randre says...
1:31pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
And now, the end is here
And so they face the final curtain
Chainrai, he'll say it clear
He'll state his case, of which he’s certain
He’s lived a life that's full
He’s travelled each and every highway
And more, much more than this, he’ll do it his way

Fans, they had a Few
But then again, too Few to mention
They did not do, what they had to do, without exemption
He planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this, they did it his way

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When they bit off more than they could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
He ate it up and spat it out
He faced it all and he stood tall and did it his way

We loved, we laughed and cried
We had our fill, at their losing
And now, as tears subside, we find it all so amusing
To think they did all that
And may we say, not in a sly way,
"Oh, no, oh, no, not us, they did it his way"

For what is a skunt, what has he got?
If not a club, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels are now the words of one who kneels
The record shows they took the blows and did it his way!

Yes, it was his way
Absolutely brilliant.

OSPREYSAINT says...
1:33pm Tue 8 Jan 13

MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
I was proved right on Gaston, he was not fit when he returned ( in fact a million miles away from fitness ) and my source on that one was spot on as usual. The fact he played whilst injured just makes Saints foolish in some peoples opinion. Regards business networks, a mate of mine happens to be involved directly with the champions league sponsorship events and was telling me just how stuffed some of the Italian clubs are.... his particular company was asked to pay up front in September for all colateral sponsorship issues for 2 certain clubs and they politely refused. He also explained that some of the creditors are not financial instutions and under Italian law some of them have greater rights to claw back their "investments"....
You are incorrect, Rambo was physically fit when he returned, not match fit, for obvious reasons, his present injury is on the other leg and was picked up in the Arsenal game. No one has disputed that some Italian Clubs are financially strapped, that's why it make sense to approach them for players, but NC will not be taken for a mug, and does not suffer fools gladly. He will fight for the best deal, if that is not fairly available he will walk away.
No I am correct. He was not fit to start a game. Anyone who knows a jot about football realised that after 5 minutes. People took my "prediction" literally. I obviously mean't "shouldn't" rather than "won't" but if people get pleasure out of clinging onto semantics then thats great for them. It does not change biology and the spin of the Earth.
Are you saying that they were after another payment from Injury Lawyers For You? I cannot imagine a Club forcing a £12m investment to play if he wasn't fit to do so. However I have been told I know nothing about football so like Rambo I haven't a leg to stand on

MGRA says...
1:50pm Tue 8 Jan 13

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
I was proved right on Gaston, he was not fit when he returned ( in fact a million miles away from fitness ) and my source on that one was spot on as usual. The fact he played whilst injured just makes Saints foolish in some peoples opinion. Regards business networks, a mate of mine happens to be involved directly with the champions league sponsorship events and was telling me just how stuffed some of the Italian clubs are.... his particular company was asked to pay up front in September for all colateral sponsorship issues for 2 certain clubs and they politely refused. He also explained that some of the creditors are not financial instutions and under Italian law some of them have greater rights to claw back their "investments"....
You are incorrect, Rambo was physically fit when he returned, not match fit, for obvious reasons, his present injury is on the other leg and was picked up in the Arsenal game. No one has disputed that some Italian Clubs are financially strapped, that's why it make sense to approach them for players, but NC will not be taken for a mug, and does not suffer fools gladly. He will fight for the best deal, if that is not fairly available he will walk away.
No I am correct. He was not fit to start a game. Anyone who knows a jot about football realised that after 5 minutes. People took my "prediction" literally. I obviously mean't "shouldn't" rather than "won't" but if people get pleasure out of clinging onto semantics then thats great for them. It does not change biology and the spin of the Earth.
Are you saying that they were after another payment from Injury Lawyers For You? I cannot imagine a Club forcing a £12m investment to play if he wasn't fit to do so. However I have been told I know nothing about football so like Rambo I haven't a leg to stand on
I am of the opinion it was amateurish to rush him back and play him in that game. Footballers are the most suseptible to secondary injury and recovery retardation with that sort of injury. Rugby players for instance had a simply code for severe dead leg recovery and the timescale for them is usually 3-4 weeks. Many use the ice-knee90degree-tra
in method that has worked well for decades. Footballers on the other hand are more prone to other muscles protecting the injury due to the nature of the game and its common for footballers who return too soon following deadlegs, hairline fractures and muscle tears to go onto get secondary problems, hamstrings being one. Barca and other European clubs use a technique called "intra-muscular electrotherapy" to speed up recovery. Its something I had once on an injury and this technique can accurately measure nerve-repair in such injuries. I have heard that many top flight English clubs are not as thorough in this area.

Confucious says...
1:52pm Tue 8 Jan 13

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
I was proved right on Gaston, he was not fit when he returned ( in fact a million miles away from fitness ) and my source on that one was spot on as usual. The fact he played whilst injured just makes Saints foolish in some peoples opinion. Regards business networks, a mate of mine happens to be involved directly with the champions league sponsorship events and was telling me just how stuffed some of the Italian clubs are.... his particular company was asked to pay up front in September for all colateral sponsorship issues for 2 certain clubs and they politely refused. He also explained that some of the creditors are not financial instutions and under Italian law some of them have greater rights to claw back their "investments"....
You are incorrect, Rambo was physically fit when he returned, not match fit, for obvious reasons, his present injury is on the other leg and was picked up in the Arsenal game. No one has disputed that some Italian Clubs are financially strapped, that's why it make sense to approach them for players, but NC will not be taken for a mug, and does not suffer fools gladly. He will fight for the best deal, if that is not fairly available he will walk away.
No I am correct. He was not fit to start a game. Anyone who knows a jot about football realised that after 5 minutes. People took my "prediction" literally. I obviously mean't "shouldn't" rather than "won't" but if people get pleasure out of clinging onto semantics then thats great for them. It does not change biology and the spin of the Earth.
Are you saying that they were after another payment from Injury Lawyers For You? I cannot imagine a Club forcing a £12m investment to play if he wasn't fit to do so. However I have been told I know nothing about football so like Rambo I haven't a leg to stand on
The problem is almost certainly with the club doctor. I e mailed him after Christmas for advice as I was feeling very bloated. He told me I needed to clear my system out and should sit on a big piece of cheese and swallow a mouse.

This actually made me a lot worse.

Full marks for replying though. Nigel just pinches all my ideas with no acknowledgement at all.

oldsaintsfan says...
1:52pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Great - always love to see good players signing for/linked to Saints. I do worry about the clubs long term finances though when multiple fees of 10m+ are being quoted - hopefully this is media exaggeration. Oh well and hopefully Fonte’s injury is not as bad as feared etc. Villa will be one of my 6-8 away games this season - looking forward to it and hopefully we can nick a win!

oldsaintsfan says...
1:53pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Great - always love to see good players signing for/linked to Saints. I do worry about the clubs long term finances though when multiple fees of 10m+ are being quoted - hopefully this is media exaggeration. Oh well and hopefully Fonte’s injury is not as bad as feared etc. Villa will be one of my 6-8 away games this season - looking forward to it and hopefully we can nick a win!

OSPREYSAINT says...
1:56pm Tue 8 Jan 13

MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
I was proved right on Gaston, he was not fit when he returned ( in fact a million miles away from fitness ) and my source on that one was spot on as usual. The fact he played whilst injured just makes Saints foolish in some peoples opinion. Regards business networks, a mate of mine happens to be involved directly with the champions league sponsorship events and was telling me just how stuffed some of the Italian clubs are.... his particular company was asked to pay up front in September for all colateral sponsorship issues for 2 certain clubs and they politely refused. He also explained that some of the creditors are not financial instutions and under Italian law some of them have greater rights to claw back their "investments"....
You are incorrect, Rambo was physically fit when he returned, not match fit, for obvious reasons, his present injury is on the other leg and was picked up in the Arsenal game. No one has disputed that some Italian Clubs are financially strapped, that's why it make sense to approach them for players, but NC will not be taken for a mug, and does not suffer fools gladly. He will fight for the best deal, if that is not fairly available he will walk away.
No I am correct. He was not fit to start a game. Anyone who knows a jot about football realised that after 5 minutes. People took my "prediction" literally. I obviously mean't "shouldn't" rather than "won't" but if people get pleasure out of clinging onto semantics then thats great for them. It does not change biology and the spin of the Earth.
Are you saying that they were after another payment from Injury Lawyers For You? I cannot imagine a Club forcing a £12m investment to play if he wasn't fit to do so. However I have been told I know nothing about football so like Rambo I haven't a leg to stand on
I am of the opinion it was amateurish to rush him back and play him in that game. Footballers are the most suseptible to secondary injury and recovery retardation with that sort of injury. Rugby players for instance had a simply code for severe dead leg recovery and the timescale for them is usually 3-4 weeks. Many use the ice-knee90degree-tra

in method that has worked well for decades. Footballers on the other hand are more prone to other muscles protecting the injury due to the nature of the game and its common for footballers who return too soon following deadlegs, hairline fractures and muscle tears to go onto get secondary problems, hamstrings being one. Barca and other European clubs use a technique called "intra-muscular electrotherapy" to speed up recovery. Its something I had once on an injury and this technique can accurately measure nerve-repair in such injuries. I have heard that many top flight English clubs are not as thorough in this area.
That's better it's just your opinion, not fact.

Nicole23 says...
1:57pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Thread being hogged by Ospreysaint boring everyone to death as usual

Beer Monster says...
1:58pm Tue 8 Jan 13

http://www.thesun.co
.uk/sol/homepage/spo
rt/football/4732416/
Portsmouth-FC-2013-c
alendar-has-just-thr
ee-current-players.h
tml

SaintJD says...
2:02pm Tue 8 Jan 13

mack chinnon wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
Comparing the Michu signing to Ramirez is a bit unfair. For all the Michu's out there there are loads who didn't make it. Virtually every manager in the Premier League is wishing they'd spotted him.

Alan Pardew has certainly had a good run on signings as well and seems their scouting network is pretty good.

That said, there are also loads of very expensive prospects that haven't delivered as well.

For me it's all about having the right person in that scouting role - go out, recruit them for good money and it will save you a lot of money on players in the future.

It's a bit like a formula 1 team investing in top drivers, but not spending a much smaller outlay to get Adrian Newey to design the car.

I'd say that, by and large, the quality of our major signings has been pretty good so far though, bar Lee and Mayuka based on lack of appearances.

J Rod will, I think, develop into a very good player indeed if we can get to play him more regularly, but a difficult balancing act, could almost do with a season banging them in for fun in the Championship.
Hows Jadi doing? Its all gone quiet over there.
Wha?

St Retford says...
2:05pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Beer Monster wrote:
http://www.thesun.co

.uk/sol/homepage/spo

rt/football/4732416/

Portsmouth-FC-2013-c

alendar-has-just-thr

ee-current-players.h

tml
No training ground, no players, no fans, no money. Even poor old David Connolly has a haunted look on his face whenever he puts on a Pompey shirt.

":("

Strasbourg Saint says...
2:06pm Tue 8 Jan 13

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
I was proved right on Gaston, he was not fit when he returned ( in fact a million miles away from fitness ) and my source on that one was spot on as usual. The fact he played whilst injured just makes Saints foolish in some peoples opinion. Regards business networks, a mate of mine happens to be involved directly with the champions league sponsorship events and was telling me just how stuffed some of the Italian clubs are.... his particular company was asked to pay up front in September for all colateral sponsorship issues for 2 certain clubs and they politely refused. He also explained that some of the creditors are not financial instutions and under Italian law some of them have greater rights to claw back their "investments"....
You are incorrect, Rambo was physically fit when he returned, not match fit, for obvious reasons, his present injury is on the other leg and was picked up in the Arsenal game. No one has disputed that some Italian Clubs are financially strapped, that's why it make sense to approach them for players, but NC will not be taken for a mug, and does not suffer fools gladly. He will fight for the best deal, if that is not fairly available he will walk away.
No I am correct. He was not fit to start a game. Anyone who knows a jot about football realised that after 5 minutes. People took my "prediction" literally. I obviously mean't "shouldn't" rather than "won't" but if people get pleasure out of clinging onto semantics then thats great for them. It does not change biology and the spin of the Earth.
Are you saying that they were after another payment from Injury Lawyers For You? I cannot imagine a Club forcing a £12m investment to play if he wasn't fit to do so. However I have been told I know nothing about football so like Rambo I haven't a leg to stand on
Well, this is all a lot more interesting than yesterday's tit-for-tat drose with Kuntyboy but I think it's now run its course. MGRA won't budge because 'he's right' and those of us who think differently will never accept that because 'he's wrong'.

'shouldn't' or 'won't'? Well, model verb usage is somewhat weird really. I have a lot of difficulty explaining to the French that 'must' is a strong obligation, whereas 'have to' is generally a bit softer. Then I tell them about this fantastic footballer who scored shedloads of great goals a few years ago - 'You MUST watch Le Tissier's best goals on You Tube.'

Well, most of them think it's their homework and they'll get b0ll0cked if they aren't able to describe how Le Tiss jinxed his way past four Blackburn players before passing the ball 40 yards past Tim Flowers into the top corner. Then I explain that the use of MUST is a wee bit stupid, especially when I add that the negatives are completely different.

Anyway, let's accept that Ramirez or anyone else SHOULDN'T play when it COULD worsen things for the player and/or club .

For what it's worth, on this thread, when he's not trying to defend his stance on Ramirez, and given that he hasn't so far called those who take a different point of view 'idiots', he's made some interesting points about Italian Football's financial poo!

Perhaps EUFA could start a new league for all the teams who won't survive the current crisis. They could call it the 'Europa Premier-in-the-sh!t League. Any ideas as to who could be among the founding members?

OSPREYSAINT says...
2:09pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Nicole23 wrote:
Thread being hogged by Ospreysaint boring everyone to death as usual
Perhaps you may have something interesting to add to the thread, it would make a change.

OSPREYSAINT says...
2:12pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Confucious wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
I was proved right on Gaston, he was not fit when he returned ( in fact a million miles away from fitness ) and my source on that one was spot on as usual. The fact he played whilst injured just makes Saints foolish in some peoples opinion. Regards business networks, a mate of mine happens to be involved directly with the champions league sponsorship events and was telling me just how stuffed some of the Italian clubs are.... his particular company was asked to pay up front in September for all colateral sponsorship issues for 2 certain clubs and they politely refused. He also explained that some of the creditors are not financial instutions and under Italian law some of them have greater rights to claw back their "investments"....
You are incorrect, Rambo was physically fit when he returned, not match fit, for obvious reasons, his present injury is on the other leg and was picked up in the Arsenal game. No one has disputed that some Italian Clubs are financially strapped, that's why it make sense to approach them for players, but NC will not be taken for a mug, and does not suffer fools gladly. He will fight for the best deal, if that is not fairly available he will walk away.
No I am correct. He was not fit to start a game. Anyone who knows a jot about football realised that after 5 minutes. People took my "prediction" literally. I obviously mean't "shouldn't" rather than "won't" but if people get pleasure out of clinging onto semantics then thats great for them. It does not change biology and the spin of the Earth.
Are you saying that they were after another payment from Injury Lawyers For You? I cannot imagine a Club forcing a £12m investment to play if he wasn't fit to do so. However I have been told I know nothing about football so like Rambo I haven't a leg to stand on
The problem is almost certainly with the club doctor. I e mailed him after Christmas for advice as I was feeling very bloated. He told me I needed to clear my system out and should sit on a big piece of cheese and swallow a mouse.

This actually made me a lot worse.

Full marks for replying though. Nigel just pinches all my ideas with no acknowledgement at all.
You should be careful about the choice of cheese to sit on though, some can be quite messy. You should copyright those ideas before you send them.

MGRA says...
2:15pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Strasbourg Saint wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
I was proved right on Gaston, he was not fit when he returned ( in fact a million miles away from fitness ) and my source on that one was spot on as usual. The fact he played whilst injured just makes Saints foolish in some peoples opinion. Regards business networks, a mate of mine happens to be involved directly with the champions league sponsorship events and was telling me just how stuffed some of the Italian clubs are.... his particular company was asked to pay up front in September for all colateral sponsorship issues for 2 certain clubs and they politely refused. He also explained that some of the creditors are not financial instutions and under Italian law some of them have greater rights to claw back their "investments"....
You are incorrect, Rambo was physically fit when he returned, not match fit, for obvious reasons, his present injury is on the other leg and was picked up in the Arsenal game. No one has disputed that some Italian Clubs are financially strapped, that's why it make sense to approach them for players, but NC will not be taken for a mug, and does not suffer fools gladly. He will fight for the best deal, if that is not fairly available he will walk away.
No I am correct. He was not fit to start a game. Anyone who knows a jot about football realised that after 5 minutes. People took my "prediction" literally. I obviously mean't "shouldn't" rather than "won't" but if people get pleasure out of clinging onto semantics then thats great for them. It does not change biology and the spin of the Earth.
Are you saying that they were after another payment from Injury Lawyers For You? I cannot imagine a Club forcing a £12m investment to play if he wasn't fit to do so. However I have been told I know nothing about football so like Rambo I haven't a leg to stand on
Well, this is all a lot more interesting than yesterday's tit-for-tat drose with Kuntyboy but I think it's now run its course. MGRA won't budge because 'he's right' and those of us who think differently will never accept that because 'he's wrong'.

'shouldn't' or 'won't'? Well, model verb usage is somewhat weird really. I have a lot of difficulty explaining to the French that 'must' is a strong obligation, whereas 'have to' is generally a bit softer. Then I tell them about this fantastic footballer who scored shedloads of great goals a few years ago - 'You MUST watch Le Tissier's best goals on You Tube.'

Well, most of them think it's their homework and they'll get b0ll0cked if they aren't able to describe how Le Tiss jinxed his way past four Blackburn players before passing the ball 40 yards past Tim Flowers into the top corner. Then I explain that the use of MUST is a wee bit stupid, especially when I add that the negatives are completely different.

Anyway, let's accept that Ramirez or anyone else SHOULDN'T play when it COULD worsen things for the player and/or club .

For what it's worth, on this thread, when he's not trying to defend his stance on Ramirez, and given that he hasn't so far called those who take a different point of view 'idiots', he's made some interesting points about Italian Football's financial poo!

Perhaps EUFA could start a new league for all the teams who won't survive the current crisis. They could call it the 'Europa Premier-in-the-sh!t League. Any ideas as to who could be among the founding members?
I was wrong in that he played but I am convinced I am right in that he was not fit to. so shall we end it there !? Regards 'idiots' , many people say anyone that pays £40 to watch professional footballers played by people on £50,000 a week is an 'idiot' by the very definition of the word ;o) And back to italy, there are two clubs in Italy on the brink of extinction but my buddy-in-the-know won't tell details other than they have 3 months to find about 80 million euros...

SaintMax says...
2:19pm Tue 8 Jan 13

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
Confucious wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
I was proved right on Gaston, he was not fit when he returned ( in fact a million miles away from fitness ) and my source on that one was spot on as usual. The fact he played whilst injured just makes Saints foolish in some peoples opinion. Regards business networks, a mate of mine happens to be involved directly with the champions league sponsorship events and was telling me just how stuffed some of the Italian clubs are.... his particular company was asked to pay up front in September for all colateral sponsorship issues for 2 certain clubs and they politely refused. He also explained that some of the creditors are not financial instutions and under Italian law some of them have greater rights to claw back their "investments"....
You are incorrect, Rambo was physically fit when he returned, not match fit, for obvious reasons, his present injury is on the other leg and was picked up in the Arsenal game. No one has disputed that some Italian Clubs are financially strapped, that's why it make sense to approach them for players, but NC will not be taken for a mug, and does not suffer fools gladly. He will fight for the best deal, if that is not fairly available he will walk away.
No I am correct. He was not fit to start a game. Anyone who knows a jot about football realised that after 5 minutes. People took my "prediction" literally. I obviously mean't "shouldn't" rather than "won't" but if people get pleasure out of clinging onto semantics then thats great for them. It does not change biology and the spin of the Earth.
Are you saying that they were after another payment from Injury Lawyers For You? I cannot imagine a Club forcing a £12m investment to play if he wasn't fit to do so. However I have been told I know nothing about football so like Rambo I haven't a leg to stand on
The problem is almost certainly with the club doctor. I e mailed him after Christmas for advice as I was feeling very bloated. He told me I needed to clear my system out and should sit on a big piece of cheese and swallow a mouse.

This actually made me a lot worse.

Full marks for replying though. Nigel just pinches all my ideas with no acknowledgement at all.
You should be careful about the choice of cheese to sit on though, some can be quite messy. You should copyright those ideas before you send them.
before we get off this topic can you confirm whether the cheese needs to be inserted simultaneoulsy while swallowing the mouse?
MGRA any views?

OSPREYSAINT says...
2:22pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
Confucious wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
I was proved right on Gaston, he was not fit when he returned ( in fact a million miles away from fitness ) and my source on that one was spot on as usual. The fact he played whilst injured just makes Saints foolish in some peoples opinion. Regards business networks, a mate of mine happens to be involved directly with the champions league sponsorship events and was telling me just how stuffed some of the Italian clubs are.... his particular company was asked to pay up front in September for all colateral sponsorship issues for 2 certain clubs and they politely refused. He also explained that some of the creditors are not financial instutions and under Italian law some of them have greater rights to claw back their "investments"....
You are incorrect, Rambo was physically fit when he returned, not match fit, for obvious reasons, his present injury is on the other leg and was picked up in the Arsenal game. No one has disputed that some Italian Clubs are financially strapped, that's why it make sense to approach them for players, but NC will not be taken for a mug, and does not suffer fools gladly. He will fight for the best deal, if that is not fairly available he will walk away.
No I am correct. He was not fit to start a game. Anyone who knows a jot about football realised that after 5 minutes. People took my "prediction" literally. I obviously mean't "shouldn't" rather than "won't" but if people get pleasure out of clinging onto semantics then thats great for them. It does not change biology and the spin of the Earth.
Are you saying that they were after another payment from Injury Lawyers For You? I cannot imagine a Club forcing a £12m investment to play if he wasn't fit to do so. However I have been told I know nothing about football so like Rambo I haven't a leg to stand on
The problem is almost certainly with the club doctor. I e mailed him after Christmas for advice as I was feeling very bloated. He told me I needed to clear my system out and should sit on a big piece of cheese and swallow a mouse.

This actually made me a lot worse.

Full marks for replying though. Nigel just pinches all my ideas with no acknowledgement at all.
You should be careful about the choice of cheese to sit on though, some can be quite messy. You should copyright those ideas before you send them.
before we get off this topic can you confirm whether the cheese needs to be inserted simultaneoulsy while swallowing the mouse?
MGRA any views?
He won't give edam.

SaintMax says...
2:25pm Tue 8 Jan 13

MGRA wrote:
Strasbourg Saint wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
I was proved right on Gaston, he was not fit when he returned ( in fact a million miles away from fitness ) and my source on that one was spot on as usual. The fact he played whilst injured just makes Saints foolish in some peoples opinion. Regards business networks, a mate of mine happens to be involved directly with the champions league sponsorship events and was telling me just how stuffed some of the Italian clubs are.... his particular company was asked to pay up front in September for all colateral sponsorship issues for 2 certain clubs and they politely refused. He also explained that some of the creditors are not financial instutions and under Italian law some of them have greater rights to claw back their "investments"....
You are incorrect, Rambo was physically fit when he returned, not match fit, for obvious reasons, his present injury is on the other leg and was picked up in the Arsenal game. No one has disputed that some Italian Clubs are financially strapped, that's why it make sense to approach them for players, but NC will not be taken for a mug, and does not suffer fools gladly. He will fight for the best deal, if that is not fairly available he will walk away.
No I am correct. He was not fit to start a game. Anyone who knows a jot about football realised that after 5 minutes. People took my "prediction" literally. I obviously mean't "shouldn't" rather than "won't" but if people get pleasure out of clinging onto semantics then thats great for them. It does not change biology and the spin of the Earth.
Are you saying that they were after another payment from Injury Lawyers For You? I cannot imagine a Club forcing a £12m investment to play if he wasn't fit to do so. However I have been told I know nothing about football so like Rambo I haven't a leg to stand on
Well, this is all a lot more interesting than yesterday's tit-for-tat drose with Kuntyboy but I think it's now run its course. MGRA won't budge because 'he's right' and those of us who think differently will never accept that because 'he's wrong'.

'shouldn't' or 'won't'? Well, model verb usage is somewhat weird really. I have a lot of difficulty explaining to the French that 'must' is a strong obligation, whereas 'have to' is generally a bit softer. Then I tell them about this fantastic footballer who scored shedloads of great goals a few years ago - 'You MUST watch Le Tissier's best goals on You Tube.'

Well, most of them think it's their homework and they'll get b0ll0cked if they aren't able to describe how Le Tiss jinxed his way past four Blackburn players before passing the ball 40 yards past Tim Flowers into the top corner. Then I explain that the use of MUST is a wee bit stupid, especially when I add that the negatives are completely different.

Anyway, let's accept that Ramirez or anyone else SHOULDN'T play when it COULD worsen things for the player and/or club .

For what it's worth, on this thread, when he's not trying to defend his stance on Ramirez, and given that he hasn't so far called those who take a different point of view 'idiots', he's made some interesting points about Italian Football's financial poo!

Perhaps EUFA could start a new league for all the teams who won't survive the current crisis. They could call it the 'Europa Premier-in-the-sh!t League. Any ideas as to who could be among the founding members?
I was wrong in that he played but I am convinced I am right in that he was not fit to. so shall we end it there !? Regards 'idiots' , many people say anyone that pays £40 to watch professional footballers played by people on £50,000 a week is an 'idiot' by the very definition of the word ;o) And back to italy, there are two clubs in Italy on the brink of extinction but my buddy-in-the-know won't tell details other than they have 3 months to find about 80 million euros...
with all due respect, if your buddy-in-the-know knows about two clubs on the brink of extinction it wouldnt be that hard to find out? Perhaps the Italian 'Companieso Houso' would have their latest figures.
Surely telling you isnt going to push them over the edge?
Its all pasta joke if you ask me.

MGRA says...
2:30pm Tue 8 Jan 13

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
I was proved right on Gaston, he was not fit when he returned ( in fact a million miles away from fitness ) and my source on that one was spot on as usual. The fact he played whilst injured just makes Saints foolish in some peoples opinion. Regards business networks, a mate of mine happens to be involved directly with the champions league sponsorship events and was telling me just how stuffed some of the Italian clubs are.... his particular company was asked to pay up front in September for all colateral sponsorship issues for 2 certain clubs and they politely refused. He also explained that some of the creditors are not financial instutions and under Italian law some of them have greater rights to claw back their "investments"....
You are incorrect, Rambo was physically fit when he returned, not match fit, for obvious reasons, his present injury is on the other leg and was picked up in the Arsenal game. No one has disputed that some Italian Clubs are financially strapped, that's why it make sense to approach them for players, but NC will not be taken for a mug, and does not suffer fools gladly. He will fight for the best deal, if that is not fairly available he will walk away.
No I am correct. He was not fit to start a game. Anyone who knows a jot about football realised that after 5 minutes. People took my "prediction" literally. I obviously mean't "shouldn't" rather than "won't" but if people get pleasure out of clinging onto semantics then thats great for them. It does not change biology and the spin of the Earth.
Are you saying that they were after another payment from Injury Lawyers For You? I cannot imagine a Club forcing a £12m investment to play if he wasn't fit to do so. However I have been told I know nothing about football so like Rambo I haven't a leg to stand on
I am of the opinion it was amateurish to rush him back and play him in that game. Footballers are the most suseptible to secondary injury and recovery retardation with that sort of injury. Rugby players for instance had a simply code for severe dead leg recovery and the timescale for them is usually 3-4 weeks. Many use the ice-knee90degree-tra


in method that has worked well for decades. Footballers on the other hand are more prone to other muscles protecting the injury due to the nature of the game and its common for footballers who return too soon following deadlegs, hairline fractures and muscle tears to go onto get secondary problems, hamstrings being one. Barca and other European clubs use a technique called "intra-muscular electrotherapy" to speed up recovery. Its something I had once on an injury and this technique can accurately measure nerve-repair in such injuries. I have heard that many top flight English clubs are not as thorough in this area.
That's better it's just your opinion, not fact.
no its not my opinion, its from one of the South's leading experts in that field. There is always the possiblility he was a liar though... ;0)

MGRA says...
2:35pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
Strasbourg Saint wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
I was proved right on Gaston, he was not fit when he returned ( in fact a million miles away from fitness ) and my source on that one was spot on as usual. The fact he played whilst injured just makes Saints foolish in some peoples opinion. Regards business networks, a mate of mine happens to be involved directly with the champions league sponsorship events and was telling me just how stuffed some of the Italian clubs are.... his particular company was asked to pay up front in September for all colateral sponsorship issues for 2 certain clubs and they politely refused. He also explained that some of the creditors are not financial instutions and under Italian law some of them have greater rights to claw back their "investments"....
You are incorrect, Rambo was physically fit when he returned, not match fit, for obvious reasons, his present injury is on the other leg and was picked up in the Arsenal game. No one has disputed that some Italian Clubs are financially strapped, that's why it make sense to approach them for players, but NC will not be taken for a mug, and does not suffer fools gladly. He will fight for the best deal, if that is not fairly available he will walk away.
No I am correct. He was not fit to start a game. Anyone who knows a jot about football realised that after 5 minutes. People took my "prediction" literally. I obviously mean't "shouldn't" rather than "won't" but if people get pleasure out of clinging onto semantics then thats great for them. It does not change biology and the spin of the Earth.
Are you saying that they were after another payment from Injury Lawyers For You? I cannot imagine a Club forcing a £12m investment to play if he wasn't fit to do so. However I have been told I know nothing about football so like Rambo I haven't a leg to stand on
Well, this is all a lot more interesting than yesterday's tit-for-tat drose with Kuntyboy but I think it's now run its course. MGRA won't budge because 'he's right' and those of us who think differently will never accept that because 'he's wrong'.

'shouldn't' or 'won't'? Well, model verb usage is somewhat weird really. I have a lot of difficulty explaining to the French that 'must' is a strong obligation, whereas 'have to' is generally a bit softer. Then I tell them about this fantastic footballer who scored shedloads of great goals a few years ago - 'You MUST watch Le Tissier's best goals on You Tube.'

Well, most of them think it's their homework and they'll get b0ll0cked if they aren't able to describe how Le Tiss jinxed his way past four Blackburn players before passing the ball 40 yards past Tim Flowers into the top corner. Then I explain that the use of MUST is a wee bit stupid, especially when I add that the negatives are completely different.

Anyway, let's accept that Ramirez or anyone else SHOULDN'T play when it COULD worsen things for the player and/or club .

For what it's worth, on this thread, when he's not trying to defend his stance on Ramirez, and given that he hasn't so far called those who take a different point of view 'idiots', he's made some interesting points about Italian Football's financial poo!

Perhaps EUFA could start a new league for all the teams who won't survive the current crisis. They could call it the 'Europa Premier-in-the-sh!t League. Any ideas as to who could be among the founding members?
I was wrong in that he played but I am convinced I am right in that he was not fit to. so shall we end it there !? Regards 'idiots' , many people say anyone that pays £40 to watch professional footballers played by people on £50,000 a week is an 'idiot' by the very definition of the word ;o) And back to italy, there are two clubs in Italy on the brink of extinction but my buddy-in-the-know won't tell details other than they have 3 months to find about 80 million euros...
with all due respect, if your buddy-in-the-know knows about two clubs on the brink of extinction it wouldnt be that hard to find out? Perhaps the Italian 'Companieso Houso' would have their latest figures.
Surely telling you isnt going to push them over the edge?
Its all pasta joke if you ask me.
no I mean't he won't tell me the details about his company and the "dynamic" as he put it.... yes of course its easy to find out if you are interested in any public domain info.... personally I can't be bothered, generally Italian football is doomed in its present state and thats about as deep as I am interested other than of course the obvious knock-ons for us trying to buy player(s).

SaintMax says...
2:36pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Jusr read that AC Milan may highjack the Astori deal and sign him up.

Strasbourg Saint says...
2:45pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintMax wrote:
Jusr read that AC Milan may highjack the Astori deal and sign him up.
Then it'll come down to how hot his WAG is. He'd be mad to sign for Berlusconi if she's going to attract his outstreched 'welcome'.

MGRA says...
2:52pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintMax wrote:
Jusr read that AC Milan may highjack the Astori deal and sign him up.
AC Milan spoke to Cagliari last week about him so said talk radio... if he goes there he won't get regular first team football. I hope he does not like getting paid a lot for sitting chewing gum in a dug out.

SaintMax says...
2:53pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Strasbourg Saint wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
Jusr read that AC Milan may highjack the Astori deal and sign him up.
Then it'll come down to how hot his WAG is. He'd be mad to sign for Berlusconi if she's going to attract his outstreched 'welcome'.
oustreched, overused, very shrivelled but somehow still capable.

mack chinnon says...
2:58pm Tue 8 Jan 13

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
I was proved right on Gaston, he was not fit when he returned ( in fact a million miles away from fitness ) and my source on that one was spot on as usual. The fact he played whilst injured just makes Saints foolish in some peoples opinion. Regards business networks, a mate of mine happens to be involved directly with the champions league sponsorship events and was telling me just how stuffed some of the Italian clubs are.... his particular company was asked to pay up front in September for all colateral sponsorship issues for 2 certain clubs and they politely refused. He also explained that some of the creditors are not financial instutions and under Italian law some of them have greater rights to claw back their "investments"....
You are incorrect, Rambo was physically fit when he returned, not match fit, for obvious reasons, his present injury is on the other leg and was picked up in the Arsenal game. No one has disputed that some Italian Clubs are financially strapped, that's why it make sense to approach them for players, but NC will not be taken for a mug, and does not suffer fools gladly. He will fight for the best deal, if that is not fairly available he will walk away.
No I am correct. He was not fit to start a game. Anyone who knows a jot about football realised that after 5 minutes. People took my "prediction" literally. I obviously mean't "shouldn't" rather than "won't" but if people get pleasure out of clinging onto semantics then thats great for them. It does not change biology and the spin of the Earth.
Are you saying that they were after another payment from Injury Lawyers For You? I cannot imagine a Club forcing a £12m investment to play if he wasn't fit to do so. However I have been told I know nothing about football so like Rambo I haven't a leg to stand on
I am of the opinion it was amateurish to rush him back and play him in that game. Footballers are the most suseptible to secondary injury and recovery retardation with that sort of injury. Rugby players for instance had a simply code for severe dead leg recovery and the timescale for them is usually 3-4 weeks. Many use the ice-knee90degree-tra


in method that has worked well for decades. Footballers on the other hand are more prone to other muscles protecting the injury due to the nature of the game and its common for footballers who return too soon following deadlegs, hairline fractures and muscle tears to go onto get secondary problems, hamstrings being one. Barca and other European clubs use a technique called "intra-muscular electrotherapy" to speed up recovery. Its something I had once on an injury and this technique can accurately measure nerve-repair in such injuries. I have heard that many top flight English clubs are not as thorough in this area.
That's better it's just your opinion, not fact.
Get a room you two.

adscm says...
3:01pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Rising_Son wrote:
MGRA wrote:
Rising_Son wrote: One question I have about this is: why is a player that was originally signed €4m and can't get into the team now worth £10m? Surely, we should be able to get him cheaper than that.
now that Fonte is knackered, their asking price would have automatically gone up £2m.... Also remember that its only really the Prem and La Liga that have stupid transfer prices.. the rest of Europe generally have much lower transfer costs....Foreign clubs know about the SKY money obviously and want their slice for signings....
But €4m + £2m still isn't even close to £10m.
If only one club is interested in signing a player then they may still only be worth £4 to £6 million.

But if more than one club wants him, the price goes up - basic sale and demand!

And let's be honest here, if we bid exactly the same price as Liverpool, in this example, which team is the player most likely to choose?

Therefore, for the like of Saints to sign this quality of player we need to bid more to entice the selling club to at least persuade the player to talk to us.

The same principal (of offering more) probably applies when talking wages with the player/agent etc.

Hence why he may now be worth up to £10 million.

Strasbourg Saint says...
3:06pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintMax wrote:
Strasbourg Saint wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
Jusr read that AC Milan may highjack the Astori deal and sign him up.
Then it'll come down to how hot his WAG is. He'd be mad to sign for Berlusconi if she's going to attract his outstreched 'welcome'.
oustreched, overused, very shrivelled but somehow still capable.
That's the Italians for you!

MGRA says...
3:24pm Tue 8 Jan 13

adscm wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
MGRA wrote:
Rising_Son wrote: One question I have about this is: why is a player that was originally signed €4m and can't get into the team now worth £10m? Surely, we should be able to get him cheaper than that.
now that Fonte is knackered, their asking price would have automatically gone up £2m.... Also remember that its only really the Prem and La Liga that have stupid transfer prices.. the rest of Europe generally have much lower transfer costs....Foreign clubs know about the SKY money obviously and want their slice for signings....
But €4m + £2m still isn't even close to £10m.
If only one club is interested in signing a player then they may still only be worth £4 to £6 million.

But if more than one club wants him, the price goes up - basic sale and demand!

And let's be honest here, if we bid exactly the same price as Liverpool, in this example, which team is the player most likely to choose?

Therefore, for the like of Saints to sign this quality of player we need to bid more to entice the selling club to at least persuade the player to talk to us.

The same principal (of offering more) probably applies when talking wages with the player/agent etc.

Hence why he may now be worth up to £10 million.
a big problem ( and possibly a deal breaker for him ) would be , say if he considered a £10m deal with Saints insisting on a £6.5m sale minimum upon relegation should that happen,,, well,,, if he had a nagging doubt that he was not worth £6.5m let alone £10m then he could find himself stranded in the championship with buying himself out of the contract his only escape.... and Saints would be totally mad to pay £10m with just an open release clause if relegation happened so that won't happen.... So if this does go through, hats off to the Don....

kent141 says...
3:25pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintMark wrote:
kent141 wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
kent141 wrote:
Clubs take one look at Nigel and add a few million to the transfer fees straight away...
Your problems dwarf ours what are you going to do to redress them?
Ask J7 to redress the dwarf as he stripped him off quicker than Nigel running to the tanning salon for a top up..
Trying to work out what sort of twisted, sister fiddling, granny muggng, fish abusing weirdo you are!?
Was that really the best you can do? Tanning salon!? Go away little boy before you get cought using the schools computer. You'll get detention and be home late. Daddy wont like that will he. ;)
You must be related to Retford... ;0)

Confucious says...
3:36pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
Confucious wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
I was proved right on Gaston, he was not fit when he returned ( in fact a million miles away from fitness ) and my source on that one was spot on as usual. The fact he played whilst injured just makes Saints foolish in some peoples opinion. Regards business networks, a mate of mine happens to be involved directly with the champions league sponsorship events and was telling me just how stuffed some of the Italian clubs are.... his particular company was asked to pay up front in September for all colateral sponsorship issues for 2 certain clubs and they politely refused. He also explained that some of the creditors are not financial instutions and under Italian law some of them have greater rights to claw back their "investments"....
You are incorrect, Rambo was physically fit when he returned, not match fit, for obvious reasons, his present injury is on the other leg and was picked up in the Arsenal game. No one has disputed that some Italian Clubs are financially strapped, that's why it make sense to approach them for players, but NC will not be taken for a mug, and does not suffer fools gladly. He will fight for the best deal, if that is not fairly available he will walk away.
No I am correct. He was not fit to start a game. Anyone who knows a jot about football realised that after 5 minutes. People took my "prediction" literally. I obviously mean't "shouldn't" rather than "won't" but if people get pleasure out of clinging onto semantics then thats great for them. It does not change biology and the spin of the Earth.
Are you saying that they were after another payment from Injury Lawyers For You? I cannot imagine a Club forcing a £12m investment to play if he wasn't fit to do so. However I have been told I know nothing about football so like Rambo I haven't a leg to stand on
The problem is almost certainly with the club doctor. I e mailed him after Christmas for advice as I was feeling very bloated. He told me I needed to clear my system out and should sit on a big piece of cheese and swallow a mouse.

This actually made me a lot worse.

Full marks for replying though. Nigel just pinches all my ideas with no acknowledgement at all.
You should be careful about the choice of cheese to sit on though, some can be quite messy. You should copyright those ideas before you send them.
before we get off this topic can you confirm whether the cheese needs to be inserted simultaneoulsy while swallowing the mouse?
MGRA any views?
Don't be tempted MGRA. These people are trying to make a sensible thread silly.

They are the same ones who said that players' bodies are made up of 98% water and therefore they could drown if they had a big glass of water at half time. And I know for a fact that one of them got his poor old auntie to have colonic irrigation because he was hoping he might find some old jewellery.

When Gaston first got his dead leg, they were on here talking about how flamingos go to sleep on one leg - simply refusing to acknowledge my point that a sleeping leg is not the same as a dead leg and that Gaston is genetically so far removed from the flamingo that the point is completely irrelevant anyway.

Sometimes I despair at the inanity on here.

mack chinnon says...
3:49pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintJD wrote:
mack chinnon wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
Comparing the Michu signing to Ramirez is a bit unfair. For all the Michu's out there there are loads who didn't make it. Virtually every manager in the Premier League is wishing they'd spotted him.

Alan Pardew has certainly had a good run on signings as well and seems their scouting network is pretty good.

That said, there are also loads of very expensive prospects that haven't delivered as well.

For me it's all about having the right person in that scouting role - go out, recruit them for good money and it will save you a lot of money on players in the future.

It's a bit like a formula 1 team investing in top drivers, but not spending a much smaller outlay to get Adrian Newey to design the car.

I'd say that, by and large, the quality of our major signings has been pretty good so far though, bar Lee and Mayuka based on lack of appearances.

J Rod will, I think, develop into a very good player indeed if we can get to play him more regularly, but a difficult balancing act, could almost do with a season banging them in for fun in the Championship.
Hows Jadi doing? Its all gone quiet over there.
Wha?
He is our East African scout.I expect him to be busy during the A.C.N.

Strasbourg Saint says...
3:54pm Tue 8 Jan 13

I see that 'out of favour Leicester midfielder' Neil Danns has joined Huddersfield on loan. I remember some people thought he'd be the answer to our midfield. (I never really had an opinion because I'd not seen much of him).

Anyway, unlike Michu, this doesn't now seem to be one that got away.

But it's a reminder of our progress, isn't it? Neil Danns or Gaston Ramirez? Not hard, is it?

Five Trophies Between Us says...
4:05pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Velleity wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
mbetts wrote:
Rising_Son wrote:
MGRA wrote:
Rising_Son wrote: One question I have about this is: why is a player that was originally signed €4m and can't get into the team now worth £10m? Surely, we should be able to get him cheaper than that.
now that Fonte is knackered, their asking price would have automatically gone up £2m.... Also remember that its only really the Prem and La Liga that have stupid transfer prices.. the rest of Europe generally have much lower transfer costs....Foreign clubs know about the SKY money obviously and want their slice for signings....
But €4m + £2m still isn't even close to £10m.
I think it might be a bit of creative journalism, there's no way on earth Saints would pay silly money for anybody, not Cortese's style, if we get them it'll be for a fair price which we'll find out about in a year or so's time when they finally release the accounts.
well if you believe the crud about gaston only being used for home games and a "few" away games then we already have paid "silly" money for someone... I happen to think its all bluff and he is still not 100% fit but if the official line is correct then 12M for a part time player was madness imo....
.. however you have no more idea than the rest of us, speculate all you like, the truth is out there, but we may never know for sure.
I knew he wasn't fit when others thought he was... or were told he was....
MGRA, you know what, I'm worried that you actually believe what you're typing. You really do think you know far more about his fitness than the physios, the management team (headed by an ex-physio in NA) and the medical team who have been able to assess him (with fitness tests, scans and other assessments) non-stop since his injury. By *guessing* what had happened to him you've somehow managed to know far better than that lot. And your implication in other posts that he's still carrying the injury is probably supported by the fact that he only managed two goals against Arsenal last week. Look, you made a silly throw-away comment that he wouldn't be back before December and you seem to feel forced to defend it even though it's all looking a bit silly. Frankly, you're looking like a politician defending an utterly discredited policy. Be a man, admit you were utterly wrong and move on. If it helps, mistakes I've publicly admitted to on here: I hated Guly and now rate him highly; I didn't see the point of Jack Cork until he went missing; I detested Artur Boruc after his first two games yet I'd now pick him out of the three we have. See; not hard, really. Do move on and drop the scratched record impression...
do u know what. u are completely wrong.

Five Trophies Between Us says...
4:06pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Velleity wrote:
One thing I'm not planning on doing is what I did in August, namely taking a view on whom we may or may not sign. One of the great (and yet frustrating to many) things about Saints is that we never seem to comment about speculation, so all we see is a hotch-potch of guesswork. We'll doubtless sign some players. I'm sure that NA may well have noticed that we need some depth in the squad. *After* we have signed them, I'll take an interest in them. I'm not having another month like August again, when I wasted hours looking up players who were never to become part of our team.
do u know what. u are completely wrong.

Five Trophies Between Us says...
4:10pm Tue 8 Jan 13

needed an experienced goalie = we wont bother. needed an experienced PL defender to get up 2 speed asap = we will go 2 italy 2 get one. adkins = clueless

onlyme444444 says...
4:15pm Tue 8 Jan 13

I reckon we will end up loaning Boyata from Man City as they brought him back but from FC Twente and want to loan him out again.

Velleity says...
4:22pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Five Trophies Between Us wrote:
needed an experienced goalie = we wont bother. needed an experienced PL defender to get up 2 speed asap = we will go 2 italy 2 get one. adkins = clueless
You know what, you're completely right.

St Retford says...
4:26pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Five Trophies Between Us wrote:
needed an experienced goalie = we wont bother. needed an experienced PL defender to get up 2 speed asap = we will go 2 italy 2 get one. adkins = clueless
Thanks for joining in. Sadly, we're not going to be able to extend your contract here so you're free to pursue other interests.

Still, you're used to this sort of thing.

SaintJD says...
5:01pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Anyone think Fulham would part with Bret Hangeland? Maybe worth asking the question. 31, but age wouldn't be an issue in that case and they are discussing a new deal at the moment.

That said, I just want some quick and easy deals now. No mucking about like the Astori deal.

We do not need Champions League standard defenders.

It's like we're looking to jump from Championship level players to potential World-class (potentially equalling expensive but unproven in England) without bothering to look in between.

Didn't see West Ham spending a huge amount on their defence, but there is no doubting what they did buy will most likely keep them up this season.

They are way worse than us in all other departments, but Reid, Collins and Jääskeläinen have made them nicely solid without any big outlay.

I disagree with their policy of buying old, tried and tested in the likes of Joe Cole and attacking areas, but central defence and goal is a totally different thing.

It isn't rocket science and I simply don't believe the players aren't out there. Sunderland, Stoke, Villa, Everton, Fulham, Liverpool and Swansea have squad keepers and defenders that are better than our back up players, but that's just at first glance. Why can't we just do what other clubs do and go in for them?

Velleity says...
5:03pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
It's OK to say "Let it go", but MRSA the medical expert was the one who brought the subject into this thread (8:57am). He also brought it into a thread last night about Jose Fonte for some indecipherable reason. It's a bit of an obsession for the poor lad.

If he stops bringing it up, we'll probably forget it one day.

saintsdan says...
5:06pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Love how people slag off NC and NA short memories just a few years ago we were bottom of league one now were in the prem! Saints need supporters not moaners get behind your team or get lost!

OSPREYSAINT says...
5:06pm Tue 8 Jan 13

mack chinnon wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
I was proved right on Gaston, he was not fit when he returned ( in fact a million miles away from fitness ) and my source on that one was spot on as usual. The fact he played whilst injured just makes Saints foolish in some peoples opinion. Regards business networks, a mate of mine happens to be involved directly with the champions league sponsorship events and was telling me just how stuffed some of the Italian clubs are.... his particular company was asked to pay up front in September for all colateral sponsorship issues for 2 certain clubs and they politely refused. He also explained that some of the creditors are not financial instutions and under Italian law some of them have greater rights to claw back their "investments"....
You are incorrect, Rambo was physically fit when he returned, not match fit, for obvious reasons, his present injury is on the other leg and was picked up in the Arsenal game. No one has disputed that some Italian Clubs are financially strapped, that's why it make sense to approach them for players, but NC will not be taken for a mug, and does not suffer fools gladly. He will fight for the best deal, if that is not fairly available he will walk away.
No I am correct. He was not fit to start a game. Anyone who knows a jot about football realised that after 5 minutes. People took my "prediction" literally. I obviously mean't "shouldn't" rather than "won't" but if people get pleasure out of clinging onto semantics then thats great for them. It does not change biology and the spin of the Earth.
Are you saying that they were after another payment from Injury Lawyers For You? I cannot imagine a Club forcing a £12m investment to play if he wasn't fit to do so. However I have been told I know nothing about football so like Rambo I haven't a leg to stand on
I am of the opinion it was amateurish to rush him back and play him in that game. Footballers are the most suseptible to secondary injury and recovery retardation with that sort of injury. Rugby players for instance had a simply code for severe dead leg recovery and the timescale for them is usually 3-4 weeks. Many use the ice-knee90degree-tra



in method that has worked well for decades. Footballers on the other hand are more prone to other muscles protecting the injury due to the nature of the game and its common for footballers who return too soon following deadlegs, hairline fractures and muscle tears to go onto get secondary problems, hamstrings being one. Barca and other European clubs use a technique called "intra-muscular electrotherapy" to speed up recovery. Its something I had once on an injury and this technique can accurately measure nerve-repair in such injuries. I have heard that many top flight English clubs are not as thorough in this area.
That's better it's just your opinion, not fact.
Get a room you two.
I have a house, don't need a room thanks.

OSPREYSAINT says...
5:08pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Five Trophies Between Us wrote:
needed an experienced goalie = we wont bother. needed an experienced PL defender to get up 2 speed asap = we will go 2 italy 2 get one. adkins = clueless
Needed sensible posters = 5trop clueless

right back in the bar says...
5:12pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Liam Bridcutt and that Buckley kid - would love to poach them from that knob-end Poyet

kent141 says...
5:13pm Tue 8 Jan 13

saintsdan wrote:
Love how people slag off NC and NA short memories just a few years ago we were bottom of league one now were in the prem! Saints need supporters not moaners get behind your team or get lost!
Thats 15000 off the attendance then....

OSPREYSAINT says...
5:21pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Confucious wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
Confucious wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
I was proved right on Gaston, he was not fit when he returned ( in fact a million miles away from fitness ) and my source on that one was spot on as usual. The fact he played whilst injured just makes Saints foolish in some peoples opinion. Regards business networks, a mate of mine happens to be involved directly with the champions league sponsorship events and was telling me just how stuffed some of the Italian clubs are.... his particular company was asked to pay up front in September for all colateral sponsorship issues for 2 certain clubs and they politely refused. He also explained that some of the creditors are not financial instutions and under Italian law some of them have greater rights to claw back their "investments"....
You are incorrect, Rambo was physically fit when he returned, not match fit, for obvious reasons, his present injury is on the other leg and was picked up in the Arsenal game. No one has disputed that some Italian Clubs are financially strapped, that's why it make sense to approach them for players, but NC will not be taken for a mug, and does not suffer fools gladly. He will fight for the best deal, if that is not fairly available he will walk away.
No I am correct. He was not fit to start a game. Anyone who knows a jot about football realised that after 5 minutes. People took my "prediction" literally. I obviously mean't "shouldn't" rather than "won't" but if people get pleasure out of clinging onto semantics then thats great for them. It does not change biology and the spin of the Earth.
Are you saying that they were after another payment from Injury Lawyers For You? I cannot imagine a Club forcing a £12m investment to play if he wasn't fit to do so. However I have been told I know nothing about football so like Rambo I haven't a leg to stand on
The problem is almost certainly with the club doctor. I e mailed him after Christmas for advice as I was feeling very bloated. He told me I needed to clear my system out and should sit on a big piece of cheese and swallow a mouse.

This actually made me a lot worse.

Full marks for replying though. Nigel just pinches all my ideas with no acknowledgement at all.
You should be careful about the choice of cheese to sit on though, some can be quite messy. You should copyright those ideas before you send them.
before we get off this topic can you confirm whether the cheese needs to be inserted simultaneoulsy while swallowing the mouse?
MGRA any views?
Don't be tempted MGRA. These people are trying to make a sensible thread silly.

They are the same ones who said that players' bodies are made up of 98% water and therefore they could drown if they had a big glass of water at half time. And I know for a fact that one of them got his poor old auntie to have colonic irrigation because he was hoping he might find some old jewellery.

When Gaston first got his dead leg, they were on here talking about how flamingos go to sleep on one leg - simply refusing to acknowledge my point that a sleeping leg is not the same as a dead leg and that Gaston is genetically so far removed from the flamingo that the point is completely irrelevant anyway.

Sometimes I despair at the inanity on here.
Seems that ananity is better than boring, I have said enough for today.

SaintJD says...
5:27pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Velleity wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
It's OK to say "Let it go", but MRSA the medical expert was the one who brought the subject into this thread (8:57am). He also brought it into a thread last night about Jose Fonte for some indecipherable reason. It's a bit of an obsession for the poor lad.

If he stops bringing it up, we'll probably forget it one day.
Yeah, to be fair to me I did stand up for him before realising quite how obsessed he was with the idea that he wasn't wrong. I've learnt my lesson.

saintsdan says...
5:28pm Tue 8 Jan 13

kent141 wrote:
saintsdan wrote:
Love how people slag off NC and NA short memories just a few years ago we were bottom of league one now were in the prem! Saints need supporters not moaners get behind your team or get lost!
Thats 15000 off the attendance then....
Your proberly right and that is a sad thing, i believe you should support your team no mater what happens!

kent141 says...
5:28pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Strasbourg Saint wrote:
I see that 'out of favour Leicester midfielder' Neil Danns has joined Huddersfield on loan. I remember some people thought he'd be the answer to our midfield. (I never really had an opinion because I'd not seen much of him).

Anyway, unlike Michu, this doesn't now seem to be one that got away.

But it's a reminder of our progress, isn't it? Neil Danns or Gaston Ramirez? Not hard, is it?
Danns wins hands down.....£12m for a injury prone lightweight speaks for itself..

SaintJD says...
5:37pm Tue 8 Jan 13

saintsdan wrote:
Love how people slag off NC and NA short memories just a few years ago we were bottom of league one now were in the prem! Saints need supporters not moaners get behind your team or get lost!
I think you can count maybe one or two people on here that slag off NC and NA, the vast, vast majority don't.

They've done a brilliant job, but we do need a couple of cheap defenders and a keeper.

It's obvious, it's been obvious for months and now I hope and trust they go and bring them in before we lose too many more points.

I'm over the moon that we've got to this point of the season still with a real chance of being safe, even comfortably safe.

That's an amazing effort for me, especially because we've stuck by our manager and ethos and haven't shown signs of panic.

Would be a real shame if that whole programme was de-railed because we don't get the basics right, but I'm sure they will. Let's face it, everyone on here, and in the media and probably in football knows where we need to strengthen this window and I'm sure NA and NC know better than anyone, whatever they may say to manage team morale in interviews.

slugger says...
5:50pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintJD wrote:
saintsdan wrote:
Love how people slag off NC and NA short memories just a few years ago we were bottom of league one now were in the prem! Saints need supporters not moaners get behind your team or get lost!
I think you can count maybe one or two people on here that slag off NC and NA, the vast, vast majority don't.

They've done a brilliant job, but we do need a couple of cheap defenders and a keeper.

It's obvious, it's been obvious for months and now I hope and trust they go and bring them in before we lose too many more points.

I'm over the moon that we've got to this point of the season still with a real chance of being safe, even comfortably safe.

That's an amazing effort for me, especially because we've stuck by our manager and ethos and haven't shown signs of panic.

Would be a real shame if that whole programme was de-railed because we don't get the basics right, but I'm sure they will. Let's face it, everyone on here, and in the media and probably in football knows where we need to strengthen this window and I'm sure NA and NC know better than anyone, whatever they may say to manage team morale in interviews.
Couldn't agree more with both of you ......... as an aside , could people not just quote after quote after quote please ........ it's tedious .

Baddesley Bill says...
5:54pm Tue 8 Jan 13

There's a price for anything I know, but £20m sounds like too much to me. I suspect NC will be hard-nosed on price (quite right too).

In other news, Villa away is sold out COYR

MGRA says...
6:01pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintJD wrote:
Velleity wrote:
SaintJD wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
MGRA wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
MGRA wrote:
St Retford wrote:
The thing with Gaston is that he has the potential to be a far better player than Michu is by the time he gets to his age, and that was reflected in the transfer fee.

But he also served a double function as a marquee signing who said to the world "We are Southampton and we mean business" which should - fingers crossed - make it far easier to sign the likes of Astori.

Nicola is a shrewd negotiator though and he won't rush a deal through just for the sake of it - he'll do what's right for this football club.
Nicola will have to face up to the reality with regards buying in Italy right now... and that is most Italian clubs need cash NOW, not installments, staged payments or sell-on premiums.... Its this that will halt proceedings I fear. I am pretty sure if a player wants to play for us the wages won't be a stumbling block....
A bit dodgy telling NC what he has to do, unless you fancy horses, the head part that is!
I also think that Nicola isn't as wet behind the negotiating ears as you suggest MGRA. footballing ones yes, but not business ones.

Which suggests he has four ears, two pairs and I'm starting to post like Confuscious..
I am not saying he is wet behind the ears, I am just pointing out something many may have missed... that is the fact that the Italians won't be interested in elastic deals,,, it will be cash up front on most if not all of the deal. Or there won't be a deal. The only ace he may have over others is through contacts he may have access to with information with allows him to massage certain 3rd parties to allow a bit of movement. Italian clubs are in dire straits.
Interestibg point MGRA. I thought you were our medical expert, whereas you also have a penchant for business.

:0)
Let it go guys. It's the new year, time to forget the odd comment made last October. He wouldn't have had to defend it as much if he hadn't had so many people jumping on it.

Anyway, even the so called medical experts said John Terry would be back mid December and I can't remember them apologising for that diagnosis.
It's OK to say "Let it go", but MRSA the medical expert was the one who brought the subject into this thread (8:57am). He also brought it into a thread last night about Jose Fonte for some indecipherable reason. It's a bit of an obsession for the poor lad.

If he stops bringing it up, we'll probably forget it one day.
Yeah, to be fair to me I did stand up for him before realising quite how obsessed he was with the idea that he wasn't wrong. I've learnt my lesson.
so now your part of the cozy club ! bravo to you ! Its what its all about on here,,, pick on one word to prove a point, throw logic out of the window, ignore the evidence in front of you own eyes and feel great about yourself. Its what the internet is great for. But then again its not seeing the wood-for-the-trees often in footy.... otherwise attendances would drop like a stone. Slavish pack mentality will help you in bucket loads on here and all those who spent to travel to West Ham and thought Gaston played a blinder and was match-fit got what they wanted out of the experience and I dare say had a jolly good laugh at my expense, which is sooper. As is the fact that people seem happy with the semi-official line that the £12m player is only going to be a part timer for us !? Its part of the rich soup that is footy....where kids get ejected from the family enclosure for supporting Arsenal and harmless blue flares attract more attention than threats of violence in the stand. None of it makes sense.... so go enjoy yourself with your new word-smith friends... I am sure I will provide much ammunition in the future for you to exploit !! :-)

warrens 76 says...
6:06pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Spend to save??? hard to escape the need..HOWEVER to spend or not to spend...

I Consider the issues are more a team problem than any individuals... yes even Guly's eff ups are not alone...stop panicking, start playing, up the tempo, rush the opposition, see fear in their eye's not our's...then we have the solution..possession
, possession and possession..speed of thought..the ability is within the squad....bring it aaaaaghtt.


This is training ground stuff not transfer window stuff...

...forget 20 millions of new talent..try getting ours to think right and play right...

...if you panic you lose...so don't panic quite simple..

..PLAY AS YOU ARE CAPABLE NOT AS THE PRESSURE DICTATES..

..sorry about the capitals, I borrowed Red army's computer.

SO50 Saint says...
6:06pm Tue 8 Jan 13

where kids get ejected from the family enclosure for supporting Arsenal

Did that really happen?? I'm all for it if they are adults but kids is another matter

slugger says...
6:07pm Tue 8 Jan 13

MGRA , get off of your high horse ....... you WERE wrong about Gaston's return and are now just expressing an opinnion (a wrong one in my view) in an effort to save face ....... let it go FFS !

saintlysoul says...
6:14pm Tue 8 Jan 13

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
Five Trophies Between Us wrote:
needed an experienced goalie = we wont bother. needed an experienced PL defender to get up 2 speed asap = we will go 2 italy 2 get one. adkins = clueless
Needed sensible posters = 5trop clueless
I don't think NA is clueless I bet the first he knew of this was when he saw it in the DE. similar to when Guly arrived at the training ground at Marchwood and when asked by the security staff what he wanted he announced he was reporting for training. He was taken down to Alan Pardew who was told he had arrived and Pardew knew nothing about Guly having been signed!!! I think this is actually all paper talk. IMO NC doesn't have the money to purchase new players and you'll find he will probably be seeking short term loan deals on English players. That's the reality. As they say time will tell!

SaintMax says...
6:23pm Tue 8 Jan 13

warrens 76 wrote:
Spend to save??? hard to escape the need..HOWEVER to spend or not to spend...

I Consider the issues are more a team problem than any individuals... yes even Guly's eff ups are not alone...stop panicking, start playing, up the tempo, rush the opposition, see fear in their eye's not our's...then we have the solution..possession

, possession and possession..speed of thought..the ability is within the squad....bring it aaaaaghtt.


This is training ground stuff not transfer window stuff...

...forget 20 millions of new talent..try getting ours to think right and play right...

...if you panic you lose...so don't panic quite simple..

..PLAY AS YOU ARE CAPABLE NOT AS THE PRESSURE DICTATES..

..sorry about the capitals, I borrowed Red army's computer.
So having a £200 million transfer budget like for example Man City didn't help them to win the league for the first time in 50 years?

Was just down to not panicking and they possessed more?

MGRA says...
6:24pm Tue 8 Jan 13

slugger wrote:
MGRA , get off of your high horse ....... you WERE wrong about Gaston's return and are now just expressing an opinnion (a wrong one in my view) in an effort to save face ....... let it go FFS !
ah yes , I just have to wait until someone else snipes and does not "let it go" and then I have to "let it go".... got it !! internet-pack-mental
ity.... roger, message recieved....

MGRA says...
6:26pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SO50 Saint wrote:
where kids get ejected from the family enclosure for supporting Arsenal

Did that really happen?? I'm all for it if they are adults but kids is another matter
family of three, an arsenal academy kid and his mum and dad from Ringwood. The club told them when they bought the tickets they could sit in the family enclosure, but when Arsenal equalised and he celebrated, he was threatened by Saints "fans" in the family enclosure and the brave Stewards ejected the three of them....

SaintMax says...
6:27pm Tue 8 Jan 13

slugger wrote:
MGRA , get off of your high horse ....... you WERE wrong about Gaston's return and are now just expressing an opinnion (a wrong one in my view) in an effort to save face ....... let it go FFS !
My Mrs and her mother never admit they may have been wrong too.

Hey, all their names begin with M!..

Mrs, Mother, MGRA!

SO50 Saint says...
6:30pm Tue 8 Jan 13

family of three, an arsenal academy kid and his mum and dad from Ringwood. The club told them when they bought the tickets they could sit in the family enclosure, but when Arsenal equalised and he celebrated, he was threatened by Saints "fans" in the family enclosure and the brave Stewards ejected the three of them....”

That's society today unfortunately very sad though that this would happen in the family enclosure.

Snebs says...
6:35pm Tue 8 Jan 13

how about Ramsey on loan from Arsenal?

warrens 76 says...
6:37pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintMax wrote:
warrens 76 wrote:
Spend to save??? hard to escape the need..HOWEVER to spend or not to spend...

I Consider the issues are more a team problem than any individuals... yes even Guly's eff ups are not alone...stop panicking, start playing, up the tempo, rush the opposition, see fear in their eye's not our's...then we have the solution..possession


, possession and possession..speed of thought..the ability is within the squad....bring it aaaaaghtt.


This is training ground stuff not transfer window stuff...

...forget 20 millions of new talent..try getting ours to think right and play right...

...if you panic you lose...so don't panic quite simple..

..PLAY AS YOU ARE CAPABLE NOT AS THE PRESSURE DICTATES..

..sorry about the capitals, I borrowed Red army's computer.
So having a £200 million transfer budget like for example Man City didn't help them to win the league for the first time in 50 years?

Was just down to not panicking and they possessed more?
Max...work with me here..we have lost again and again from bottling or 5hitting it..the fact we take the lead 'shows' we can do it..pressure we cannot handle..not arguing with you, just telling you!

MGRA says...
6:38pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SO50 Saint wrote:
family of three, an arsenal academy kid and his mum and dad from Ringwood. The club told them when they bought the tickets they could sit in the family enclosure, but when Arsenal equalised and he celebrated, he was threatened by Saints "fans" in the family enclosure and the brave Stewards ejected the three of them....”

That's society today unfortunately very sad though that this would happen in the family enclosure.
just cowardly stewarding... I have been to about 100 games over the years in the family enclosure and there has often been kids and their parents in their supporting the other team. Thats the whole point of a "Family" enclosure for most clubs.... maybe along with the bimbo-programme sellers came a new generation of clueless stewards...

SO50 Saint says...
6:40pm Tue 8 Jan 13

just cowardly stewarding... I have been to about 100 games over the years in the family enclosure and there has often been kids and their parents in their supporting the other team. Thats the whole point of a "Family" enclosure for most clubs.... maybe along with the bimbo-programme sellers came a new generation of clueless stewards...”

I do remember when sitiing in Junior Saints at the Dell other teams used to have fans who would come down IIRC. To be honest I quite like the new stewards after a few beers it's nice to have a nice bird offering you a programme that your not interested in purchasing.

saintlysoul says...
6:42pm Tue 8 Jan 13

MGRA wrote:
SO50 Saint wrote:
family of three, an arsenal academy kid and his mum and dad from Ringwood. The club told them when they bought the tickets they could sit in the family enclosure, but when Arsenal equalised and he celebrated, he was threatened by Saints "fans" in the family enclosure and the brave Stewards ejected the three of them....”

That's society today unfortunately very sad though that this would happen in the family enclosure.
just cowardly stewarding... I have been to about 100 games over the years in the family enclosure and there has often been kids and their parents in their supporting the other team. Thats the whole point of a "Family" enclosure for most clubs.... maybe along with the bimbo-programme sellers came a new generation of clueless stewards...
Bimbo programme sellers - they're gorgeous!!!!!!

warrens 76 says...
6:42pm Tue 8 Jan 13

MGRA wrote:
SO50 Saint wrote:
family of three, an arsenal academy kid and his mum and dad from Ringwood. The club told them when they bought the tickets they could sit in the family enclosure, but when Arsenal equalised and he celebrated, he was threatened by Saints "fans" in the family enclosure and the brave Stewards ejected the three of them....”

That's society today unfortunately very sad though that this would happen in the family enclosure.
just cowardly stewarding... I have been to about 100 games over the years in the family enclosure and there has often been kids and their parents in their supporting the other team. Thats the whole point of a "Family" enclosure for most clubs.... maybe along with the bimbo-programme sellers came a new generation of clueless stewards...
Yes..Stewards, ah the 21st century car park jobsworths who actually 'believe' they are saving life and limb..clueless and an indictment of the world we live in..they take the silver they must take the blame..there is virtually no risk in a modern stadium, except in their mind.

MGRA says...
6:42pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SO50 Saint wrote:
just cowardly stewarding... I have been to about 100 games over the years in the family enclosure and there has often been kids and their parents in their supporting the other team. Thats the whole point of a "Family" enclosure for most clubs.... maybe along with the bimbo-programme sellers came a new generation of clueless stewards...”

I do remember when sitiing in Junior Saints at the Dell other teams used to have fans who would come down IIRC. To be honest I quite like the new stewards after a few beers it's nice to have a nice bird offering you a programme that your not interested in purchasing.
yes thats quite a philosophical way of looking at it....

slugger says...
6:43pm Tue 8 Jan 13

MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
MGRA , get off of your high horse ....... you WERE wrong about Gaston's return and are now just expressing an opinnion (a wrong one in my view) in an effort to save face ....... let it go FFS !
ah yes , I just have to wait until someone else snipes and does not "let it go" and then I have to "let it go".... got it !! internet-pack-mental

ity.... roger, message recieved....
I promise not to mention it again if you do .

SO50 Saint says...
6:48pm Tue 8 Jan 13

yes thats quite a philosophical way of looking at it....”

First time someones ever called me philosophical I meant programme sellers by the way not stewards. Although at the back of block 41 where I stand the stewards are usually pretty sound as long as no-one stands in the aisles. The Phil Brown lookalike has been there for years

warrens 76 says...
6:49pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Snebs wrote:
how about Ramsey on loan from Arsenal?
Alf?

MGRA says...
6:54pm Tue 8 Jan 13

slugger wrote:
MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
MGRA , get off of your high horse ....... you WERE wrong about Gaston's return and are now just expressing an opinnion (a wrong one in my view) in an effort to save face ....... let it go FFS !
ah yes , I just have to wait until someone else snipes and does not "let it go" and then I have to "let it go".... got it !! internet-pack-mental


ity.... roger, message recieved....
I promise not to mention it again if you do .
a done deal.. I will even extend that to "let it go" even if someone else " does not let it go" and posts a snipe.... I have ( just about ) enough self control... now back to Transfers... NC should be able to pull this off, I can not entertain the thought that he is just part of ramp-up-the-price game....

saintlysoul says...
6:58pm Tue 8 Jan 13

MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
MGRA , get off of your high horse ....... you WERE wrong about Gaston's return and are now just expressing an opinnion (a wrong one in my view) in an effort to save face ....... let it go FFS !
ah yes , I just have to wait until someone else snipes and does not "let it go" and then I have to "let it go".... got it !! internet-pack-mental



ity.... roger, message recieved....
I promise not to mention it again if you do .
a done deal.. I will even extend that to "let it go" even if someone else " does not let it go" and posts a snipe.... I have ( just about ) enough self control... now back to Transfers... NC should be able to pull this off, I can not entertain the thought that he is just part of ramp-up-the-price game....
NC won't 'pull this off' there's no money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

slugger says...
7:01pm Tue 8 Jan 13

MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
MGRA , get off of your high horse ....... you WERE wrong about Gaston's return and are now just expressing an opinnion (a wrong one in my view) in an effort to save face ....... let it go FFS !
ah yes , I just have to wait until someone else snipes and does not "let it go" and then I have to "let it go".... got it !! internet-pack-mental



ity.... roger, message recieved....
I promise not to mention it again if you do .
a done deal.. I will even extend that to "let it go" even if someone else " does not let it go" and posts a snipe.... I have ( just about ) enough self control... now back to Transfers... NC should be able to pull this off, I can not entertain the thought that he is just part of ramp-up-the-price game....
I believe that is part of it , Nicola won't be ripped off though (imo) and i'm with him all the way .......... i do wonder whether an ageing , experienced and fit defender would be a better short term option .

slugger says...
7:03pm Tue 8 Jan 13

saintlysoul wrote:
MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
MGRA , get off of your high horse ....... you WERE wrong about Gaston's return and are now just expressing an opinnion (a wrong one in my view) in an effort to save face ....... let it go FFS !
ah yes , I just have to wait until someone else snipes and does not "let it go" and then I have to "let it go".... got it !! internet-pack-mental




ity.... roger, message recieved....
I promise not to mention it again if you do .
a done deal.. I will even extend that to "let it go" even if someone else " does not let it go" and posts a snipe.... I have ( just about ) enough self control... now back to Transfers... NC should be able to pull this off, I can not entertain the thought that he is just part of ramp-up-the-price game....
NC won't 'pull this off' there's no money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On what evidence do you base this theory ?

SO50 Saint says...
7:04pm Tue 8 Jan 13

I agree with you Slugger defo need that and the other 2 would be excellent to. I don't buy into there's no money full houses etc

saintlysoul says...
7:07pm Tue 8 Jan 13

slugger wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
MGRA , get off of your high horse ....... you WERE wrong about Gaston's return and are now just expressing an opinnion (a wrong one in my view) in an effort to save face ....... let it go FFS !
ah yes , I just have to wait until someone else snipes and does not "let it go" and then I have to "let it go".... got it !! internet-pack-mental





ity.... roger, message recieved....
I promise not to mention it again if you do .
a done deal.. I will even extend that to "let it go" even if someone else " does not let it go" and posts a snipe.... I have ( just about ) enough self control... now back to Transfers... NC should be able to pull this off, I can not entertain the thought that he is just part of ramp-up-the-price game....
NC won't 'pull this off' there's no money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On what evidence do you base this theory ?
As they say 'a little bird told me' and a very reliable one - time will tell. The relationship between NC and NA is poor at the moment indeed strained. I wouldn't be surprised if NA will be on his way. That would be a shame.

SO50 Saint says...
7:09pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Was that one of the programme sellers saintly?

slugger says...
7:10pm Tue 8 Jan 13

saintlysoul wrote:
slugger wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
MGRA , get off of your high horse ....... you WERE wrong about Gaston's return and are now just expressing an opinnion (a wrong one in my view) in an effort to save face ....... let it go FFS !
ah yes , I just have to wait until someone else snipes and does not "let it go" and then I have to "let it go".... got it !! internet-pack-mental






ity.... roger, message recieved....
I promise not to mention it again if you do .
a done deal.. I will even extend that to "let it go" even if someone else " does not let it go" and posts a snipe.... I have ( just about ) enough self control... now back to Transfers... NC should be able to pull this off, I can not entertain the thought that he is just part of ramp-up-the-price game....
NC won't 'pull this off' there's no money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On what evidence do you base this theory ?
As they say 'a little bird told me' and a very reliable one - time will tell. The relationship between NC and NA is poor at the moment indeed strained. I wouldn't be surprised if NA will be on his way. That would be a shame.
Oh , "the little bird" told you ..... you don't fool me skunt !

Baddesley Bill says...
7:14pm Tue 8 Jan 13

saintlysoul wrote:
slugger wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
MGRA , get off of your high horse ....... you WERE wrong about Gaston's return and are now just expressing an opinnion (a wrong one in my view) in an effort to save face ....... let it go FFS !
ah yes , I just have to wait until someone else snipes and does not "let it go" and then I have to "let it go".... got it !! internet-pack-mental






ity.... roger, message recieved....
I promise not to mention it again if you do .
a done deal.. I will even extend that to "let it go" even if someone else " does not let it go" and posts a snipe.... I have ( just about ) enough self control... now back to Transfers... NC should be able to pull this off, I can not entertain the thought that he is just part of ramp-up-the-price game....
NC won't 'pull this off' there's no money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On what evidence do you base this theory ?
As they say 'a little bird told me' and a very reliable one - time will tell. The relationship between NC and NA is poor at the moment indeed strained. I wouldn't be surprised if NA will be on his way. That would be a shame.
I have little doubt that the relationship between NA and NC gets a little strained....so does mine between me and my boss on occaisions!

Not so sure on the "no money" theory though...offers appear to have been made which suggests to me that there will be some player investment.

saintlysoul says...
7:17pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!

Five Trophies Between Us says...
7:22pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Velleity wrote:
Five Trophies Between Us wrote: needed an experienced goalie = we wont bother. needed an experienced PL defender to get up 2 speed asap = we will go 2 italy 2 get one. adkins = clueless
You know what, you're completely right.
do u know what. u are completely wrong

Five Trophies Between Us says...
7:24pm Tue 8 Jan 13

St Retford wrote:
Five Trophies Between Us wrote: needed an experienced goalie = we wont bother. needed an experienced PL defender to get up 2 speed asap = we will go 2 italy 2 get one. adkins = clueless
Thanks for joining in. Sadly, we're not going to be able to extend your contract here so you're free to pursue other interests. Still, you're used to this sort of thing.
ur not a witty 1 r u?

slugger says...
7:24pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Saintlysoul , i have a long memory , i get objectionable when i smell a rotten smell .

Five Trophies Between Us says...
7:25pm Tue 8 Jan 13

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
Five Trophies Between Us wrote: needed an experienced goalie = we wont bother. needed an experienced PL defender to get up 2 speed asap = we will go 2 italy 2 get one. adkins = clueless
Needed sensible posters = 5trop clueless
not needed = stroppy gramps

Baddesley Bill says...
7:26pm Tue 8 Jan 13

saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?

Five Trophies Between Us says...
7:27pm Tue 8 Jan 13

saintlysoul wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
Five Trophies Between Us wrote: needed an experienced goalie = we wont bother. needed an experienced PL defender to get up 2 speed asap = we will go 2 italy 2 get one. adkins = clueless
Needed sensible posters = 5trop clueless
I don't think NA is clueless I bet the first he knew of this was when he saw it in the DE. similar to when Guly arrived at the training ground at Marchwood and when asked by the security staff what he wanted he announced he was reporting for training. He was taken down to Alan Pardew who was told he had arrived and Pardew knew nothing about Guly having been signed!!! I think this is actually all paper talk. IMO NC doesn't have the money to purchase new players and you'll find he will probably be seeking short term loan deals on English players. That's the reality. As they say time will tell!
on the goalie front he is clueless

SO50 Saint says...
7:27pm Tue 8 Jan 13

FTBU any big signings coming in to Pompey this month at all? Have you ever been on the ride at Alton Towers the one that goes straight down think it is called Ovlivion. I have heard they are re-naming it Portsmouth after the last few years

saintlysoul says...
7:32pm Tue 8 Jan 13

slugger wrote:
Saintlysoul , i have a long memory , i get objectionable when i smell a rotten smell .
Slugger you don't need to be objectionable your posts are informative and at times witty. All I'm doing is sharing what I've been told. I've no reason to disbelieve what I've been told. I'd like to think its wrong but I don't think it is. It's depressing to think that there won't be any big signings in January and that the chairman and manager are 'strained'. It's unfair on the fans for the DE to write this speculative inaccurate clap trap when it has no substance. It's only effect is to raise fans expectations unfairly. Now if you think I've some ulterior motive in writing this and that I'm a Portsmouth supporter then fine you're entitled to that view but just don't say I didn't tell you come February.

slugger says...
7:33pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SO50 Saint wrote:
FTBU any big signings coming in to Pompey this month at all? Have you ever been on the ride at Alton Towers the one that goes straight down think it is called Ovlivion. I have heard they are re-naming it Portsmouth after the last few years
LOL ...... they can keep their trophy's and history , we're too busy planning our future ....... how much money do the Liebherr's actually have ? ....... it brings a tear to my eye every time i remind myself !

SaintMax says...
7:36pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SO50 Saint wrote:
FTBU any big signings coming in to Pompey this month at all? Have you ever been on the ride at Alton Towers the one that goes straight down think it is called Ovlivion. I have heard they are re-naming it Portsmouth after the last few years
I've heard there could be a big signing at Fratton Park this month. Rumour has it they are after Razor Ruddock.. Have you seen him in his pants on celeb BBrother?

SO50 Saint says...
7:36pm Tue 8 Jan 13

I think the reason a lot of people disagree with you saintly is reading through what the story is actually about on this page. If we had no money we would not be linked to anyone much like the likes of Reading and other premiership clubs are

Baddesley Bill says...
7:38pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Five Trophies Between Us wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
OSPREYSAINT wrote:
Five Trophies Between Us wrote: needed an experienced goalie = we wont bother. needed an experienced PL defender to get up 2 speed asap = we will go 2 italy 2 get one. adkins = clueless
Needed sensible posters = 5trop clueless
I don't think NA is clueless I bet the first he knew of this was when he saw it in the DE. similar to when Guly arrived at the training ground at Marchwood and when asked by the security staff what he wanted he announced he was reporting for training. He was taken down to Alan Pardew who was told he had arrived and Pardew knew nothing about Guly having been signed!!! I think this is actually all paper talk. IMO NC doesn't have the money to purchase new players and you'll find he will probably be seeking short term loan deals on English players. That's the reality. As they say time will tell!
on the goalie front he is clueless
I hope he's bought his Pompey calender...apparentl
y there's only three left (players on it.. that is!!!) :O)

Five Trophies Between Us says...
7:38pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SO50 Saint wrote:
FTBU any big signings coming in to Pompey this month at all? Have you ever been on the ride at Alton Towers the one that goes straight down think it is called Ovlivion. I have heard they are re-naming it Portsmouth after the last few years
is the chapel stand named so cos it is so quiet? how sad 4 u that chelsea boys were laughing at ur quiet fans. haha

Velleity says...
7:39pm Tue 8 Jan 13

warrens 76 wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
warrens 76 wrote:
Spend to save??? hard to escape the need..HOWEVER to spend or not to spend...

I Consider the issues are more a team problem than any individuals... yes even Guly's eff ups are not alone...stop panicking, start playing, up the tempo, rush the opposition, see fear in their eye's not our's...then we have the solution..possession



, possession and possession..speed of thought..the ability is within the squad....bring it aaaaaghtt.


This is training ground stuff not transfer window stuff...

...forget 20 millions of new talent..try getting ours to think right and play right...

...if you panic you lose...so don't panic quite simple..

..PLAY AS YOU ARE CAPABLE NOT AS THE PRESSURE DICTATES..

..sorry about the capitals, I borrowed Red army's computer.
So having a £200 million transfer budget like for example Man City didn't help them to win the league for the first time in 50 years?

Was just down to not panicking and they possessed more?
Max...work with me here..we have lost again and again from bottling or 5hitting it..the fact we take the lead 'shows' we can do it..pressure we cannot handle..not arguing with you, just telling you!
I've mentioned this before and I'm growing to believe it more and more: for two seasons running, the form for many matches was "Turn up, go two ahead, relax".

Even last season, if we ended up only one goal ahead more than half way through the game, panic would set in. Instead of carrying on withthe tactics that had set us in the lead, the team would be flapping all over.

So, warrens76, I'm led to agree with you - some work on just keeping up normal service when we're winning might work wonders.

Clive Woodward said the same thing when he managed England to the World Cup - just keep playing as planned whatever the scoreline.

SO50 Saint says...
7:42pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Yea thats a real shame FTBU I didn't go myself saving up for more important games than FA Cup 3rd round games remind me how did you get on in the 3rd round sorry forgot you played Walsall on Friday and the away support was so pathetic it was unbelievable. That for me summed your club up the fans have given in time for the court case to happen and good night PFC. From what I have heard on Saturday it wasn't a great atmosphere but it doesn't help when out main stand goes to the away side. Spose it must be hard down Fratton now when more away fans are there than home fans

saintlysoul says...
7:43pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SO50 Saint wrote:
I think the reason a lot of people disagree with you saintly is reading through what the story is actually about on this page. If we had no money we would not be linked to anyone much like the likes of Reading and other premiership clubs are
Why does anyone actually believe what the DE says about Saints the club has no relationship working or otherwise with the paper as NC won't allow it hence why at its highest its speculation and at its lowest just plain inaccurate rubbish!!!

Velleity says...
7:45pm Tue 8 Jan 13

saintlysoul wrote:
MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
MGRA , get off of your high horse ....... you WERE wrong about Gaston's return and are now just expressing an opinnion (a wrong one in my view) in an effort to save face ....... let it go FFS !
ah yes , I just have to wait until someone else snipes and does not "let it go" and then I have to "let it go".... got it !! internet-pack-mental




ity.... roger, message recieved....
I promise not to mention it again if you do .
a done deal.. I will even extend that to "let it go" even if someone else " does not let it go" and posts a snipe.... I have ( just about ) enough self control... now back to Transfers... NC should be able to pull this off, I can not entertain the thought that he is just part of ramp-up-the-price game....
NC won't 'pull this off' there's no money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You've said "there's no money" twice in this thread.

Is there any basis for that?

SO50 Saint says...
7:46pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Why does anyone actually believe what the DE says about Saints the club has no relationship working or otherwise with the paper as NC won't allow it hence why at its highest its speculation and at its lowest just plain inaccurate rubbish!!!”

Try SSN also reporting on the same story well Astori anyway. Well they were when I left for work earlier

saintlysoul says...
7:47pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Velleity wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
MGRA , get off of your high horse ....... you WERE wrong about Gaston's return and are now just expressing an opinnion (a wrong one in my view) in an effort to save face ....... let it go FFS !
ah yes , I just have to wait until someone else snipes and does not "let it go" and then I have to "let it go".... got it !! internet-pack-mental





ity.... roger, message recieved....
I promise not to mention it again if you do .
a done deal.. I will even extend that to "let it go" even if someone else " does not let it go" and posts a snipe.... I have ( just about ) enough self control... now back to Transfers... NC should be able to pull this off, I can not entertain the thought that he is just part of ramp-up-the-price game....
NC won't 'pull this off' there's no money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You've said "there's no money" twice in this thread.

Is there any basis for that?
See what I've posted in response to Slugger!

Five Trophies Between Us says...
7:47pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Velleity wrote:
warrens 76 wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
warrens 76 wrote: Spend to save??? hard to escape the need..HOWEVER to spend or not to spend... I Consider the issues are more a team problem than any individuals... yes even Guly's eff ups are not alone...stop panicking, start playing, up the tempo, rush the opposition, see fear in their eye's not our's...then we have the solution..possession , possession and possession..speed of thought..the ability is within the squad....bring it aaaaaghtt. This is training ground stuff not transfer window stuff... ...forget 20 millions of new talent..try getting ours to think right and play right... ...if you panic you lose...so don't panic quite simple.. ..PLAY AS YOU ARE CAPABLE NOT AS THE PRESSURE DICTATES.. ..sorry about the capitals, I borrowed Red army's computer.
So having a £200 million transfer budget like for example Man City didn't help them to win the league for the first time in 50 years? Was just down to not panicking and they possessed more?
Max...work with me here..we have lost again and again from bottling or 5hitting it..the fact we take the lead 'shows' we can do it..pressure we cannot handle..not arguing with you, just telling you!
I've mentioned this before and I'm growing to believe it more and more: for two seasons running, the form for many matches was "Turn up, go two ahead, relax". Even last season, if we ended up only one goal ahead more than half way through the game, panic would set in. Instead of carrying on withthe tactics that had set us in the lead, the team would be flapping all over. So, warrens76, I'm led to agree with you - some work on just keeping up normal service when we're winning might work wonders. Clive Woodward said the same thing when he managed England to the World Cup - just keep playing as planned whatever the scoreline.
do u know what. u are completely wrong

SaintMax says...
7:48pm Tue 8 Jan 13

warrens 76 wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
warrens 76 wrote:
Spend to save??? hard to escape the need..HOWEVER to spend or not to spend...

I Consider the issues are more a team problem than any individuals... yes even Guly's eff ups are not alone...stop panicking, start playing, up the tempo, rush the opposition, see fear in their eye's not our's...then we have the solution..possession



, possession and possession..speed of thought..the ability is within the squad....bring it aaaaaghtt.


This is training ground stuff not transfer window stuff...

...forget 20 millions of new talent..try getting ours to think right and play right...

...if you panic you lose...so don't panic quite simple..

..PLAY AS YOU ARE CAPABLE NOT AS THE PRESSURE DICTATES..

..sorry about the capitals, I borrowed Red army's computer.
So having a £200 million transfer budget like for example Man City didn't help them to win the league for the first time in 50 years?

Was just down to not panicking and they possessed more?
Max...work with me here..we have lost again and again from bottling or 5hitting it..the fact we take the lead 'shows' we can do it..pressure we cannot handle..not arguing with you, just telling you!
Yes I agree with you to an extent Warren but we need a couple of players who play like that naturally for the rest to be influenced.
I think we need a midfield general or playmaker...someone who dictates the pace of the game and whether heads are up or down.
Pirlo, Xavi, even Wiltshire dictate the modern day game, whereas Kean, Souness, Case back in the day.
And you have to invest to get that as we don't currently have it.

slugger says...
7:48pm Tue 8 Jan 13

saintlysoul wrote:
SO50 Saint wrote:
I think the reason a lot of people disagree with you saintly is reading through what the story is actually about on this page. If we had no money we would not be linked to anyone much like the likes of Reading and other premiership clubs are
Why does anyone actually believe what the DE says about Saints the club has no relationship working or otherwise with the paper as NC won't allow it hence why at its highest its speculation and at its lowest just plain inaccurate rubbish!!!
These stories don't come from the Daily Echo (durrr) , they are copied from Italian football websites , inaccurate or not it isn't the Echo sleuths that uncovered it .

Baddesley Bill says...
7:48pm Tue 8 Jan 13

saintlysoul wrote:
SO50 Saint wrote:
I think the reason a lot of people disagree with you saintly is reading through what the story is actually about on this page. If we had no money we would not be linked to anyone much like the likes of Reading and other premiership clubs are
Why does anyone actually believe what the DE says about Saints the club has no relationship working or otherwise with the paper as NC won't allow it hence why at its highest its speculation and at its lowest just plain inaccurate rubbish!!!
If you think these stories are sourced by the DE...then you really are foolish!

warrens 76 says...
7:49pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Five Trophies Between Us wrote:
Velleity wrote:
Five Trophies Between Us wrote: needed an experienced goalie = we wont bother. needed an experienced PL defender to get up 2 speed asap = we will go 2 italy 2 get one. adkins = clueless
You know what, you're completely right.
do u know what. u are completely wrong
It's not fair 5T I have lived and enjoyed our last 50 years of mainly top divi status...earned cup wins etc...

Were do YOUR memories come from..unless you are 80+

saintlysoul says...
7:50pm Tue 8 Jan 13

slugger wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
SO50 Saint wrote:
I think the reason a lot of people disagree with you saintly is reading through what the story is actually about on this page. If we had no money we would not be linked to anyone much like the likes of Reading and other premiership clubs are
Why does anyone actually believe what the DE says about Saints the club has no relationship working or otherwise with the paper as NC won't allow it hence why at its highest its speculation and at its lowest just plain inaccurate rubbish!!!
These stories don't come from the Daily Echo (durrr) , they are copied from Italian football websites , inaccurate or not it isn't the Echo sleuths that uncovered it .
That comment is actually inaccurate.

saintlysoul says...
7:51pm Tue 8 Jan 13

The article says 'now sources in Italy' what sources. They're not named or identified. It's rubbish!

Baddesley Bill says...
7:51pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?

rocketone says...
7:56pm Tue 8 Jan 13

To all those posters who compare our transfer dealings with other clubs, Reading have bought a player from Crawley. No other clubs were chasing him.
Saints are after 2 players of international standard.
I think hangeland would be a good 2nd addition along with Astori and then we have 5 CB's fighting for 2 places. Or do a Chelsea and put one of them in midfield. Never thought they would need to do that with the amount of world class midfielders they sign each season! And posters on here question about signing 1 more midfielder, always have 2 players for each position and rotate.

Five Trophies Between Us says...
7:56pm Tue 8 Jan 13

warrens 76 wrote:
Five Trophies Between Us wrote:
Velleity wrote:
Five Trophies Between Us wrote: needed an experienced goalie = we wont bother. needed an experienced PL defender to get up 2 speed asap = we will go 2 italy 2 get one. adkins = clueless
You know what, you're completely right.
do u know what. u are completely wrong
It's not fair 5T I have lived and enjoyed our last 50 years of mainly top divi status...earned cup wins etc... Were do YOUR memories come from..unless you are 80+
more than you gramps

MGRA says...
8:03pm Tue 8 Jan 13

slugger wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
SO50 Saint wrote:
I think the reason a lot of people disagree with you saintly is reading through what the story is actually about on this page. If we had no money we would not be linked to anyone much like the likes of Reading and other premiership clubs are
Why does anyone actually believe what the DE says about Saints the club has no relationship working or otherwise with the paper as NC won't allow it hence why at its highest its speculation and at its lowest just plain inaccurate rubbish!!!
These stories don't come from the Daily Echo (durrr) , they are copied from Italian football websites , inaccurate or not it isn't the Echo sleuths that uncovered it .
sure... the Italian agents of these player work 24-7 to ramp the price/their cut for the player... the parasites, err, sorry I mean't agents have a job to do and want to create as much mirage as possible. In this case Saints do have one ace up their sleeve and that is they will have to insist on an upper limit escape price in the case of relegation.... we can but wait but the info is sound. Fingers crossed....

warrens 76 says...
8:09pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintMax wrote:
SO50 Saint wrote:
FTBU any big signings coming in to Pompey this month at all? Have you ever been on the ride at Alton Towers the one that goes straight down think it is called Ovlivion. I have heard they are re-naming it Portsmouth after the last few years
I've heard there could be a big signing at Fratton Park this month. Rumour has it they are after Razor Ruddock.. Have you seen him in his pants on celeb BBrother?
My old man did füuck all in his pants...

Velleity says...
8:43pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?
I'll happily double up on the bet; I'm even happy to specify that we'll spend in excess of £4M before the end of January.

Want to take it on? If you believe your sources telling you there's no money, saintlysoul, you'd be foolish not to take the bet.

saintlysoul says...
9:06pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Velleity wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?
I'll happily double up on the bet; I'm even happy to specify that we'll spend in excess of £4M before the end of January.

Want to take it on? If you believe your sources telling you there's no money, saintlysoul, you'd be foolish not to take the bet.
I can't bet on this as it would be tantamount to 'insider dealing' trust me there is no money!!!!

slugger says...
9:16pm Tue 8 Jan 13

saintlysoul wrote:
Velleity wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?
I'll happily double up on the bet; I'm even happy to specify that we'll spend in excess of £4M before the end of January.

Want to take it on? If you believe your sources telling you there's no money, saintlysoul, you'd be foolish not to take the bet.
I can't bet on this as it would be tantamount to 'insider dealing' trust me there is no money!!!!
LOL ..... "insider dealing" .... yeah , right .... if i had a pound for every poster that was "in the know" ...........

SaintMax says...
9:20pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Velleity wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?
I'll happily double up on the bet; I'm even happy to specify that we'll spend in excess of £4M before the end of January.

Want to take it on? If you believe your sources telling you there's no money, saintlysoul, you'd be foolish not to take the bet.
IMO you are lining yourself up to look a dikc if saints do spend big and uve claimed on here u have sources who say we won't spend anything.
He should throw in an 'IMO', or 'I reckon'.

OSPREYSAINT says...
9:21pm Tue 8 Jan 13

saintlysoul wrote:
Velleity wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?
I'll happily double up on the bet; I'm even happy to specify that we'll spend in excess of £4M before the end of January.

Want to take it on? If you believe your sources telling you there's no money, saintlysoul, you'd be foolish not to take the bet.
I can't bet on this as it would be tantamount to 'insider dealing' trust me there is no money!!!!
Trust you? Trust me Villa are going to baying for blood Saturday they are 0 2 to Bradford tonight.

saintlysoul says...
9:24pm Tue 8 Jan 13

slugger wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Velleity wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?
I'll happily double up on the bet; I'm even happy to specify that we'll spend in excess of £4M before the end of January.

Want to take it on? If you believe your sources telling you there's no money, saintlysoul, you'd be foolish not to take the bet.
I can't bet on this as it would be tantamount to 'insider dealing' trust me there is no money!!!!
LOL ..... "insider dealing" .... yeah , right .... if i had a pound for every poster that was "in the know" ...........
Slugger if only you knew..........

MGRA says...
9:25pm Tue 8 Jan 13

slugger wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Velleity wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?
I'll happily double up on the bet; I'm even happy to specify that we'll spend in excess of £4M before the end of January.

Want to take it on? If you believe your sources telling you there's no money, saintlysoul, you'd be foolish not to take the bet.
I can't bet on this as it would be tantamount to 'insider dealing' trust me there is no money!!!!
LOL ..... "insider dealing" .... yeah , right .... if i had a pound for every poster that was "in the know" ...........
you would have £4 ?

saintlysoul says...
9:25pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintMax wrote:
Velleity wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?
I'll happily double up on the bet; I'm even happy to specify that we'll spend in excess of £4M before the end of January.

Want to take it on? If you believe your sources telling you there's no money, saintlysoul, you'd be foolish not to take the bet.
IMO you are lining yourself up to look a dikc if saints do spend big and uve claimed on here u have sources who say we won't spend anything.
He should throw in an 'IMO', or 'I reckon'.
Just wait and see!

saintlysoul says...
9:26pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintMax wrote:
Velleity wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?
I'll happily double up on the bet; I'm even happy to specify that we'll spend in excess of £4M before the end of January.

Want to take it on? If you believe your sources telling you there's no money, saintlysoul, you'd be foolish not to take the bet.
IMO you are lining yourself up to look a dikc if saints do spend big and uve claimed on here u have sources who say we won't spend anything.
He should throw in an 'IMO', or 'I reckon'.
What's a dike?

OSPREYSAINT says...
9:26pm Tue 8 Jan 13

1 2 now 8 minutes to go

MGRA says...
9:31pm Tue 8 Jan 13

saintlysoul wrote:
slugger wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Velleity wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?
I'll happily double up on the bet; I'm even happy to specify that we'll spend in excess of £4M before the end of January.

Want to take it on? If you believe your sources telling you there's no money, saintlysoul, you'd be foolish not to take the bet.
I can't bet on this as it would be tantamount to 'insider dealing' trust me there is no money!!!!
LOL ..... "insider dealing" .... yeah , right .... if i had a pound for every poster that was "in the know" ...........
Slugger if only you knew..........
My bestest source for football info is hilarious in that he has a job that most people would consider "a rubbish job" , he is a quiet unassuming bloke. Yet, by the very nature of his job he gets to hear very very confidential stuff about a certain club and I just happen to have a common interest outside of football and have the odd beer with this guy.... he has told me many many things "that will happen" and only once has he failed on his crystal ball gazing... this is no "high-power" networker, this guy is joe bloggs but people forget that people know people who know stuff.... the fact he still has a job tends to suggests he share only with those he trusts not to blab and hence I do take seriously your suggestions of being "in the know"

SaintMax says...
9:31pm Tue 8 Jan 13

saintlysoul wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
Velleity wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?
I'll happily double up on the bet; I'm even happy to specify that we'll spend in excess of £4M before the end of January.

Want to take it on? If you believe your sources telling you there's no money, saintlysoul, you'd be foolish not to take the bet.
IMO you are lining yourself up to look a dikc if saints do spend big and uve claimed on here u have sources who say we won't spend anything.
He should throw in an 'IMO', or 'I reckon'.
Just wait and see!
I think u are full of shlt and that's my opinion, not from any of my sources. There's too much talk of saints being in advanced talks on various high value players for absolutely nothing to happen.
Just wait and see!

OSPREYSAINT says...
9:32pm Tue 8 Jan 13

3 1 Bradford

slugger says...
9:33pm Tue 8 Jan 13

MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Velleity wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?
I'll happily double up on the bet; I'm even happy to specify that we'll spend in excess of £4M before the end of January.

Want to take it on? If you believe your sources telling you there's no money, saintlysoul, you'd be foolish not to take the bet.
I can't bet on this as it would be tantamount to 'insider dealing' trust me there is no money!!!!
LOL ..... "insider dealing" .... yeah , right .... if i had a pound for every poster that was "in the know" ...........
you would have £4 ?
4 grand more like ....... i admit to doing myself to see what reaction i get ....... nobody on here knows jack !

Baddesley Bill says...
9:35pm Tue 8 Jan 13

saintlysoul wrote:
Velleity wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?
I'll happily double up on the bet; I'm even happy to specify that we'll spend in excess of £4M before the end of January.

Want to take it on? If you believe your sources telling you there's no money, saintlysoul, you'd be foolish not to take the bet.
I can't bet on this as it would be tantamount to 'insider dealing' trust me there is no money!!!!
Oh dear...this isn't exactly the murky world of insider dealing Saintlysoul...just a couple of real fans making your remarks on here look very very silly.

Take the bet if you stand by your words.

saintlysoul says...
9:36pm Tue 8 Jan 13

SaintMax wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
Velleity wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?
I'll happily double up on the bet; I'm even happy to specify that we'll spend in excess of £4M before the end of January.

Want to take it on? If you believe your sources telling you there's no money, saintlysoul, you'd be foolish not to take the bet.
IMO you are lining yourself up to look a dikc if saints do spend big and uve claimed on here u have sources who say we won't spend anything.
He should throw in an 'IMO', or 'I reckon'.
Just wait and see!
I think u are full of shlt and that's my opinion, not from any of my sources. There's too much talk of saints being in advanced talks on various high value players for absolutely nothing to happen.
Just wait and see!
Talk from whom?

saintlysoul says...
9:37pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Velleity wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?
I'll happily double up on the bet; I'm even happy to specify that we'll spend in excess of £4M before the end of January.

Want to take it on? If you believe your sources telling you there's no money, saintlysoul, you'd be foolish not to take the bet.
I can't bet on this as it would be tantamount to 'insider dealing' trust me there is no money!!!!
Oh dear...this isn't exactly the murky world of insider dealing Saintlysoul...just a couple of real fans making your remarks on here look very very silly.

Take the bet if you stand by your words.
1st February !

OSPREYSAINT says...
9:40pm Tue 8 Jan 13

3 1 ft Villa will have something to prove against us now. Hope their morale is shot.

slugger says...
9:41pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Well done Bradford !

mack chinnon says...
9:42pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Come on County.

SaintMax says...
9:50pm Tue 8 Jan 13

saintlysoul wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
SaintMax wrote:
Velleity wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?
I'll happily double up on the bet; I'm even happy to specify that we'll spend in excess of £4M before the end of January.

Want to take it on? If you believe your sources telling you there's no money, saintlysoul, you'd be foolish not to take the bet.
IMO you are lining yourself up to look a dikc if saints do spend big and uve claimed on here u have sources who say we won't spend anything.
He should throw in an 'IMO', or 'I reckon'.
Just wait and see!
I think u are full of shlt and that's my opinion, not from any of my sources. There's too much talk of saints being in advanced talks on various high value players for absolutely nothing to happen.
Just wait and see!
Talk from whom?
Saintsoul this is one of the websites that collects stories from across the web/press and its the sort of place DE use as the basis for their stories.. I reckon;

http://www.newsnow.c
o.uk/h/Sport/Footbal
l/Premier+League/Sou
thampton

Baddesley Bill says...
9:54pm Tue 8 Jan 13

saintlysoul wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Velleity wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?
I'll happily double up on the bet; I'm even happy to specify that we'll spend in excess of £4M before the end of January.

Want to take it on? If you believe your sources telling you there's no money, saintlysoul, you'd be foolish not to take the bet.
I can't bet on this as it would be tantamount to 'insider dealing' trust me there is no money!!!!
Oh dear...this isn't exactly the murky world of insider dealing Saintlysoul...just a couple of real fans making your remarks on here look very very silly.

Take the bet if you stand by your words.
1st February !
Is that a bet...or just another cop out?

...we need to be specific on this Saintlysoul.

MGRA says...
9:55pm Tue 8 Jan 13

slugger wrote:
MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Velleity wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?
I'll happily double up on the bet; I'm even happy to specify that we'll spend in excess of £4M before the end of January.

Want to take it on? If you believe your sources telling you there's no money, saintlysoul, you'd be foolish not to take the bet.
I can't bet on this as it would be tantamount to 'insider dealing' trust me there is no money!!!!
LOL ..... "insider dealing" .... yeah , right .... if i had a pound for every poster that was "in the know" ...........
you would have £4 ?
4 grand more like ....... i admit to doing myself to see what reaction i get ....... nobody on here knows jack !
you will probably think this is total **** then but here goes.... about 12ish years ago I was fulfilling a contract at the house of the then portsmouth F.C. manager. It was a saturday morning, about 11:00am. The meeting concluded and the guy told me something "in confidence" that was going to happen at the club by the end of the day. As I left the house, there was an old guy hosing down a 4x4 and he whispered to me "no chance, he's got that totally wrong, it will get called off before nighfall"..... The guy who was cleaning the car as it turned out knew more than the manager of the football club.... for reasons that I understood a few years later by accident but thats another story, the point being, the guy in the know that time knew more than the first team manager.

Velleity says...
9:56pm Tue 8 Jan 13

saintlysoul wrote:
Velleity wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?
I'll happily double up on the bet; I'm even happy to specify that we'll spend in excess of £4M before the end of January.

Want to take it on? If you believe your sources telling you there's no money, saintlysoul, you'd be foolish not to take the bet.
I can't bet on this as it would be tantamount to 'insider dealing' trust me there is no money!!!!
"Insider dealing" - getting two mugs (Me and Bill) to give money to charity?

Clearly you have no confidence whatsoever in your claim. Wrap it up how you want but that's it.

OSPREYSAINT says...
10:04pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Newcastle away game has been moved to Sunday 24th February a 1:30 pm kick off, that rules that one out for me.

slugger says...
10:05pm Tue 8 Jan 13

MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Velleity wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?
I'll happily double up on the bet; I'm even happy to specify that we'll spend in excess of £4M before the end of January.

Want to take it on? If you believe your sources telling you there's no money, saintlysoul, you'd be foolish not to take the bet.
I can't bet on this as it would be tantamount to 'insider dealing' trust me there is no money!!!!
LOL ..... "insider dealing" .... yeah , right .... if i had a pound for every poster that was "in the know" ...........
you would have £4 ?
4 grand more like ....... i admit to doing myself to see what reaction i get ....... nobody on here knows jack !
you will probably think this is total **** then but here goes.... about 12ish years ago I was fulfilling a contract at the house of the then portsmouth F.C. manager. It was a saturday morning, about 11:00am. The meeting concluded and the guy told me something "in confidence" that was going to happen at the club by the end of the day. As I left the house, there was an old guy hosing down a 4x4 and he whispered to me "no chance, he's got that totally wrong, it will get called off before nighfall"..... The guy who was cleaning the car as it turned out knew more than the manager of the football club.... for reasons that I understood a few years later by accident but thats another story, the point being, the guy in the know that time knew more than the first team manager.
The closest i ever came was when i fitted Jason Dodds' new boiler (when Glenn Hoddle was in charge) , i asked how come results had picked up latley ...... he said "it's the Gaffer , he's really into fitness" ........ true that .

OSPREYSAINT says...
10:08pm Tue 8 Jan 13

MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
MGRA wrote:
slugger wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Velleity wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)
We sign a player in January...you donate £50 to the Saints foundation....and prove it...deal?
Helloooooooo....I assume you missed my offer...you want to take the bet?
I'll happily double up on the bet; I'm even happy to specify that we'll spend in excess of £4M before the end of January.

Want to take it on? If you believe your sources telling you there's no money, saintlysoul, you'd be foolish not to take the bet.
I can't bet on this as it would be tantamount to 'insider dealing' trust me there is no money!!!!
LOL ..... "insider dealing" .... yeah , right .... if i had a pound for every poster that was "in the know" ...........
you would have £4 ?
4 grand more like ....... i admit to doing myself to see what reaction i get ....... nobody on here knows jack !
you will probably think this is total **** then but here goes.... about 12ish years ago I was fulfilling a contract at the house of the then portsmouth F.C. manager. It was a saturday morning, about 11:00am. The meeting concluded and the guy told me something "in confidence" that was going to happen at the club by the end of the day. As I left the house, there was an old guy hosing down a 4x4 and he whispered to me "no chance, he's got that totally wrong, it will get called off before nighfall"..... The guy who was cleaning the car as it turned out knew more than the manager of the football club.... for reasons that I understood a few years later by accident but thats another story, the point being, the guy in the know that time knew more than the first team manager.
The moral of this story is not to believe everthing you hear, especially if they are as gullible as you.

F Fan says...
10:08pm Tue 8 Jan 13

MGRA wrote:
SO50 Saint wrote:
family of three, an arsenal academy kid and his mum and dad from Ringwood. The club told them when they bought the tickets they could sit in the family enclosure, but when Arsenal equalised and he celebrated, he was threatened by Saints "fans" in the family enclosure and the brave Stewards ejected the three of them....”

That's society today unfortunately very sad though that this would happen in the family enclosure.
just cowardly stewarding... I have been to about 100 games over the years in the family enclosure and there has often been kids and their parents in their supporting the other team. Thats the whole point of a "Family" enclosure for most clubs.... maybe along with the bimbo-programme sellers came a new generation of clueless stewards...
Sexist prat

hates the skates says...
10:10pm Tue 8 Jan 13

St Retford wrote:
hates the skates wrote:
we aint going to get any of these players because N C is to arogant when it comes to these transfer dealings its all his way or no way, which is why this will drag on all month and then at 10-midnight on the 31-1 were panic buy and end up with worse players than we have already got a shambolic side for the next 10 games and our fellow relegation strugglers will have the edge over us because they have done their buisness early, i was hoping N C would of learned this in the summer, it appears not. its ok when we were signing players from bristol rovers, mk dons, exeter etc. he could bully them into signing on his terms. its a different proposition when you are dealing with top flight sides who wont be bullied, thats why we wont get any of these players and on 31st watch this space...............


.................. i hope i eat my words cause i would love to have these here!!!!!!
Yeah, that's EXACTLY what happened with Gaston, isn't it? We were so close to signing him but Nicola ruined everything...
go back to the book you were reading all last summer!! funny how people remember what they want, ill jolt your MEMORY shall i? alexander butner? jake butland? michu? scott5 dans? matty phillips? need me to go on???

OSPREYSAINT says...
10:12pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Velleity wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Velleity wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
Baddesley Bill wrote:
saintlysoul wrote:
Slugger I know you're rude but there's no need to be offensive. What say we re-visit this topic on the 1st February after there has been no big signings in January and you may then like to re-consider your position. Not for the first time you become offensive and objectionable when you hear something you don't like. Probably you've inhaled too much gas dear boy!
I'll take a £50 charitable bet on that with you Saintlysoul (I'm doing well on such bets...just ask ghk!)