Giordano

I think 20m euros is the going rate for this kind of player - a current Italian or Brazil International number 9 - though I agree a younger player (ie Damiao) might have more resale value. As for his temperament - well I don't expect that type of number 9 to be a shrinking violet so expect fireworks occasionally. Rickie is a different case altogether. If you pay less you are getting what you pay for. This bloke isn't about potential - he scores goals - In Italy and in Spain. Its not like they are way easier to score in than over here you know - unless you are Messi or Ronaldo.... If we don't get one of these 20m efforts I would not be surprised to see an under 21 international striker with the requisite physical and technical characteristics signed from the recent euro's or an under 20 from the recent WC....

I think it will be difficult for him. MP seems to have faith in his formation / playing style. That requires a certain type of forward player. We are looking at that certain type of forward player in Damiao and Osvaldo and possibly others. Mayuka does not appear to have those characteristics. He seems to be a younger Billy Sharp basically. If MP is as tough on his playing beliefs as i think he might be then Mayuka will be 4th choice...if that. Consider Barcelona. They might be 1-nil down in injury time but it is very very rare indeed that they will hoof it into the box. In the old fashioned footy tactical way of thinking Mayuka is an extra "option" player - his pace and goal instinct with 5 minutes to go when defenders tire might be considered useful. In the modern thinking footy though MP will just keep going in our southampton way believing ultimately it will work- not that we abandon the style of play and put Mayuka on and play it long into the gaps for him to get first too... Im ambivalent about it...i do want him to have a chance but cant see happening unless we get injuries or loss of form and results - which i don't want us to get..

I hope so. Great player. Strong character. I like him.:-). Here is the video. http://www.corrieredellosport.it/video/calcio/serie_a/roma/2013/07/15-68151/Nuovo+duro+confronto+tra+Osvaldo+e+i+tifosi The fan is talking in a fairly strong roman accent, thankfully its the only one I really know (and speak) myself so translation should be 100%. Paraphrased : Fan says - "can i tell you something", osvaldo comes closer,..."you really don't get it do you here in Rome?, You could have been the emperor here..." (for Roma fans it means being the boss player - the leader)...meanwhile osvaldo is listening intently and says "its you that's misunderstood".....to which the guy and a few others behind him and to the side (in outraged manner) reply- "it's us that gives you our support, its us that's got it wrong and don't get it?"( rhetorically speaking)....He carries on signing autographs, but without looking at them he says " i scored 200 goals wtf do you want?" (that's also kind of rhetorical in rome to speak like that and he uses roman slang nicely and its not as bad as you might think - but all the same its a no-no with your loyal supporters to say that anyway.....more people asking to shake his hand as he walks off.. As i've said previously...unlikely to stay at Roma...but will he join a club like saints? And could we cope with him? I Hope yes to both questions. PS of course he did'nt score 200 goals for Roma- but that just highlights the rhetorical/hyperbolic nature of his retort- its for a real roman fans ear - not for anglo-saxons, part time supporters foreigners etc who might get a bit more outraged it came out of the mouth of SRL for instance...its not really that comparable...

I'd be delighted for billy if he got he chance at Celtic. Those who think he should play championship instead of champions league, who should be hoping to get promoted or play offs instead of a league and cup double in scotland need to wake up. He would be loved there by millions of fans worldwide plus score lots- and get paid too. whats not to like? If he gets the chance I'm sure he'd grab it with both hands.

Osvaldo is going to leave Roma for sure. Today on gazzetta calcio mercato is revealing news on how he threatened to take on the Roma fans abusing him during a training session one at a time....some of the things Italian ultras can get away with at the training sessions is incredible- big banners saying he lacks respect, shouts that he is a traitor and crybaby, shouts to totti to tell osvaldo he should go etc.... Not a cat in hells chance he will stay at Roma after that. I think it was yesterday's morning training session at 9.45am so after they were done there I reckon osvaldo would be VERY incentivised to leave ..... Exactly like sporting director Sabattini unwittingly revealed he wanted him to be in that taped phone thing to the radio station where he failed to put he phone down and was overheard discussing the transfer policy( or was that a set-up?) If Spalletti can convince him to go to Russia good luck to him.....I hope MoPo has got the pull of being his ex coach plus the EPL plus loads of cash to balance it out..... Despite what they call the contestations in Rome over him ( basically harsh criticism by ultras) he is a top player. You usually don't get to play number 9 for Italy if you"re a muppet. Or score the goals he's scored in both seria A and La Liga. Has got something of the Batistuta about him for me - and what a great player he was.... In any case the player has got big balls ( or big ego- or both) to stand up to the abuse like that ... Interesting psyche. Ps he trained alone in the gym for the afternoon training session yesterday ( wisely) because of a calf injury ( convenient) and the article still suggests zenit is his destination as he is not interested in Southampton. I think the bit about having turned us down is reversible - he knows about as much as most Italians know about Southampton - which is not much. A bit of a sales job from MP and NC could be all that it takes....plus maybe he WAS shown around the other day...........

The not away from home absence of width in attack due to lack of fb overlaps was due to saints being under pressure losing possession and the fb's forced into holding more defensive positions. I hope by strengthening our MF with VW we might have more latitude to attack from deep if usual DM,s can cover better.

The not away from home absence of width in attack due to lack of fb overlaps was due to being under pressure lising possession and the fb's holding defensive positions. I hope by strengthening our MF with VW we might have more latitude to attack from deep if usual DM,s can cover better.

Yup super saint. Cant see Napoli not paying the fee...but just how persuasive cm can NC be...still think Osvaldo is more likely cos of the MP connection ...but that's got little chance too....the way its going its not inconceivable that a new striker comes into saints out of the radar/equation at present...

The one i want is the striker. SRL is our leader but we definitely need another bomber. Absolute priority. Going into the season with just SRL - or Jrod as the alternate - ( i do not consider mayuka as the same type of attacking player) is inadequate for the way we propose to play in the EPL.

Osvaldo agent flying to Europe to meet zenit apparently. BUT the latest latest hint coming out of Italy is the revealing comment that the player apparently prefers the Premier League..... Of the possible Premier league teams looking ( and able to afford him) id think that if Man City wanted him he'd go in a flash, ditto Chelsea arsenal and spurs....but there are good reasons why none of those will want / have him, which leaves Saints as the only gig in town.....; 1. Man city just got rid of not just one Italian bad boy in balotelli but Tevez as well- I think pellegrini and he owners might just prefer a less problematic striker who can reliably deliver without too much coddling....osvaldo is not a "guarantee" player like higuain or soldado might be for instance...much higher risk reward ratio-- though possibly more upside. 2.Arsenal dont usually buy " characters" like him especially Italians. He's not their "type". 3.Chelsea have to get rid of a few forwards before they might take him. Unload Ba unload Torres then maybe- bu not all together- they need swop or sell. A Ba/ osvaldo swop is a possible plus cash from Chelsea... 4. Spurs are more possible of the main four I'd say but there silence suggests the manager doesn't fancy him, if they like Damiao then they must like osvaldo- can only be manager does not want that guy in his squad. I don't think Everton or west ham or teams like that will have him so IF Osvaldo wants to play EPL then Saints is THE option. An easy decision really. Definitely a marquee signing... Fingers crossed....but I'm sure we have others lined up if he doesn't come off...

These days maybe so - he is getting on a bit - but look at his goal scoring and assist record in Seria A- one of the toughest if not the toughest leagues to be a striker in....in technical terms he was simply outstanding. he has no pace yet you cannot get the ball of him and he can score from anywhere. A almost genius footballer actually for me. I only say that of very few players...at present only Pirlo Iniesta Messi Ronaldo and zlatan qualify as genius players for me today. Bale is making s good case - but come back when you've done it at least 5 years in a row and at international level too Gareth..:-)

Totti is like MLT, bobby stokes, mick channon ron davies and SRL rolled into one for roma fans.

Latest update from brazil...the inter president (guy called Giovanni Luigi) seems quite the big mouth...now slagging off the napoli bid with an interview on Radio Crc saying nobody has contacted him from Napoli officially and as far as hes concerned Damiao will probably stay another year...its laughable posturing/negotiating...the guys a buffoon...i can see why spurs dropped out...from calciomercatoweb... Reading between the lines he says - I need belly tickled first before you can get Damiao but trying to keep face with his own supporters..

My understanding is that there are two problems at present : 1. That Internacional only own 70% of Damiao, and 2. there was an issue with his image rights. The solution being suggested is to up his basic salary and for Napoli to pay more for the signature so that Inter could satisfy the 30% element themselves. I think he will end up at Napoli myself. They can't sell Cavani and replace him with a nobody or a medium level forward- the Neapolitan fans will go mad, it needs to be a top notch International number 9 replacement not a wannabee - and Damiao is perfect for that plus they looking at cesar in goal as well plus they got another brazilian so it all fits.... The only way we get this guy is if we overpay and Napoli pull out, cant see either happening.

hmm...it gets ever murkier....Apparently Zenit have matched our offer - 20m euros plus 4million euros salary (77,000euros pw...) but he does not want to go that north....and from last week we heard he was not all that excited about sfc (apparently) but with this latest calciomercato article today the translation suggests in the final lines that the Roma management, in particular Sporting Director Sabatini are pushing him to accept the Saints offer... http://www.corrieredellosport.it/calcio/calcio_mercato/2013/07/12-328007/Calciomercato+Roma%3A+Zenit+pressing+Osvaldo La dirigenza, con Sabatini in prima fila, sta convincendo l'attaccante ad Per approfondire accettare la proposta del Southampton, club della Premier League. Anche gli inglesi hanno messo sul tavolo 20 milioni di euro. The Directors, starting with Sabattini first of all, are trying to convince the striker to accept southamptons, (the premier league club), offer. They too have put 20-m euros on the table. I suspect the directors are pushing him to join us its because our payment terms are clearer than the russians...or Nicola knows them somehow...;-), or they are incentivised somehow..

He's a wide striker, not the " bomber" they need to replace Cavani. I think it's astonishing we are even remotely in the market for the next " Cavani". This is world class stuff. Two years ago we were playing League 1. Now we are looking at guys who are top top strikers. The current young Brazilian international number 9 , a current Italian international young number 9, these are not rubbish players from rubbish international teams.... It would not surprise me to see a young Spanish international number 9 in the next round of possibles, or German, or Dutch.....

Nice post if true. Thank you OP. What the internet was invented for.

News from Il Romanista is of two out of three exits - two from de rossi, marquinos and osvaldo are going...its http://www.ilromanista.it no news on video or passengers atm...;-).. Well this has further brightened up a sunny thursday afternoon has'nt it playmates. And cheers Col for kicking it all off btw... This is Osvaldo from the pics taken..anyone recognise him at SMS today? Pic number 12 btw. http://www.corrieredellosport.it/foto/calcio/serie_a/roma/2013/07/11-67894_0/Roma%2C+ecco+le+nuove+maglie+da+gioco

I have a cousin works at Fiumicino airport (direct to Southampton).....a little passenger roster check may be in in order...:-) Am asking my sister too. Lives in central rome, in a big roma supporting zone...they will know exact time the vid was taken...

Calciomercato have got a video posted today but not date stamped in which Roma players get their new season shirts. Osvaldo is there. It looks like morning so it is conceivable Osvaldo took a quick 3.5 hour flight Rome to Soton then a car to SMS if the video was taken earlier today at Trigoria (rome training camp) ....but I doubt it very much. IF Osvaldo (or Lamela) was shown around an hour or so ago it is not impossible but tight. Would love to establish time the vid was taken though....Incidentally business class round trip is around £1,600. That's quite an expensive Stadium tour :-).

Good bloke, Good player. Always tried his best for Saints. Will be an excellent signing for Millwall - and they will love him there as they like that type of player. Be captain i reckon.

I don't have a problem with the article. As someone else put it very succinctly - apologies if I don't credit you - but facts are that we're a mid sized provincial club with wealthy backers, currently in the EPl and not in Celtic's class for support, and probably never will be. We would give them a good game home and away i reckon and it would be close but history and support - Hartson is right. TBF only a handful of GB clubs are though - Rangers, Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal...that's it i reckon.

Calciomercato Italy now suggest that Napoli are close, again, to replacing Cavani with Damiao. Suggests its a done deal if Napoli pay 25m euros and give player 2.5m euros pa. They previously offered 20m and 2m wages. Inference being this is the finessing of the deal...interesting we are in the bidding for the next Cavani isn't it in their eyes at least....

Reliable Italian reports saying napoli 18m euro bid rejected and what is more the internacional president says they not need to sell Damiao and they won't put a price on him either. Says he will be playing WC in 2014 for sure. From an interview from something called lancenet on microphone....Either playing extreme hardball or.....we can all just more on.....

I a real Diamond perhaps? Leandro Damiao.