Has Cortese snookered himself?

[Barry Sanchez]

Do you actually enjoy following Saints FC?

 

You seem to want to pick holes in anything the club says or does, why is this?

 

Can't you just try and enjoy the ride.

 

Yes I love them.

 

Enjoy the ride? What sort of crap is that? We are going through a crap patch and out comes the happy sayings to keep us all chirpy, what next mints round the back of the bus? Lets concentrate of our football, our strikes, our defense, our need to sign defenders and a striker/winger, the need for honesty from our chairman ie spend a **** load to compete with the big boys, dont leave a manager to hang out and dry as the purchases you and Reed allowed did not work out.

 

These are all valid topics, enjoying the ride? I would rather talk and comment about it.

[shurlock]

No I am merely asking the question of how we are are going to achieve such a stupid notion without actually competing with and outbidding the actual top 4, I hope for nothing like that as it will never happen.

 

Well our current transfer spending, if extrapolated over the next few years, would suggest we are. Probably unsustainable but even if we rein it back to £15m a year (net) over the next 2-3 years, it would still put us up there with the big boys.

 

Obviously, we could be spunking that money on flops and busts but the ambition is there which is the essence of your challenge.

[trousers]

Do you actually enjoy following Saints FC?

 

You seem to want to pick holes in anything the club says or does, why is this?

 

Can't you just try and enjoy the ride.

 

We should count our blessings that the Saints Web Forum is the one and only internet football forum in the whole wide world that doesn't have any fans from rival clubs winding up the host fan base...

[Barry Sanchez]

right, I've worked it out then, if we're not good enough for the Champions League (which we obviously aren't) we might as well finish 9th or 11th or 13th and see if we can't put a few more of our young hopefuls on to the market in order to be able to buy ourselves some Champion's League players.

 

No we could take the Cup competitions seriously, I could trawl through and see lots of "fans" trying to justify that last balls up after Sunderland.

[Olallana]

Btw Barry, why is a Saints win over Sunderland one of the worst results you can remember......anything you want to reveal now??

 

http://www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/worst-sunderland-games-you-experienced.847098/page-6#post-16476373

[Dalek2003]

No we could take the Cup competitions seriously, I could trawl through and see lots of "fans" trying to justify that last balls up after Sunderland.

 

The 'balls up' against Sunderland was a clever tactical withdraw from a Mickey Mouse competition which would have proved a costly distraction from our small squad of effective players.

[Window Cleaner]

Well our current transfer spending, if extrapolated over the next few years, would suggest we are. Probably unsustainable but even if we rein it back to £15m a year (net) over the next 2-3 years, it would still put us up there with the big boys.

 

Obviously, we could be spunking that money on flops and busts but the ambition is there which is the essence of your challenge.

 

 

Come to think of it though for the 65 million we've spent in 18 months what have we got to show for it really (not to mention salarial mass that went with that spending).

 

JRod,Lovren,Victor and Clyne. so a bit less than half of it, all the rest is iffy and inconsistent at best. We really need to stop wasting money for little or no return..

[Barry Sanchez]

Well our current transfer spending, if extrapolated over the next few years, would suggest we are. Probably unsustainable but even if we rein it back to £15m a year (net) over the next 2-3 years, it would still put us up there with the big boys.

 

Obviously, we could be spunking that money on flops and busts but the ambition is there which is the essence of your challenge.

 

£15 Million a year is keeping up with the big boys? You think, probably £100 Million a season with wages. Thats 4/5/6 sides as well not solely 4, confident now?

 

No and neither am I or was I ever.

[Frank's cousin]

REPORTER: Can you stay in top 4?

PONCH: Why not? We want to keep on believing we can do well. We're on a positive run and the sky is the limit.

 

REPORTER: Can you stay in top 4?

PONCH: Lols! No!

 

Always enjoy the cut of you jib Bearsy, and with the last put down to the master of mong, Dune, BS (could there be a more appropriate set of initials?), there is no point in me responding to the clown.

 

my perspective is based on the simple premise that all top class players who end up costing a fortune, have to be nurtured somewhere. The Cortese perspective seems to be based on 1. Establishing a fast track to first team for those good enough so we as a club get the benefit of their talents before some inevitably do want to leave, and 2. Demonstrate enough ambition and provide a quality environment in which they do at least stay to realise their true potential with us... So we benefit from quality AND get their true value when they go

 

for me it's win win. The more the academy is acclaimed for the kids, the more we can attract. The clear path to first team means... The more we can attract, improving the odds of some real gems. In theory that should see year on year improvement.

 

Many suggest with good reason, that without the huge signings and huge wages we will not see European football. The Glass ceiling against clubs with bigger budgets. Personally, I like the fact that NC is more about what is possible than probable. Great things can be achieved with a team greater than the some of its parts. What we lack right now is depth... I suspect that the club want to increase that depth through the youth - but to date the bench lacks experience and we are still short, even with that potential in a couple of critical areas.

 

Timescale, before NC gets narked because we have not achieved his targets? None of us know what timescale he is working to. Media statements are about positive ideals, demonstrating ambition and refusing to fall in line with the establishment. An establishment driven by TV subscriptions and media pundits who like the status quo, as those sides have greater armchair audiences. I like the fact that we have a chairman who does not simply accept our 'place' as dictated by the media and is looking to challenge that perspective, rather than woo oryx just about survival, which is what is 'expected' of us by the establishment.

 

We have no idea whether it can work, either consistently or periodically, or ever.... But it's much more fun and enjoyable having a club with that attitude, than one just happy to survive and take the sky money.

[Barry Sanchez]

The 'balls up' against Sunderland was a clever tactical withdraw from a Mickey Mouse competition which would have proved a costly distraction from our small squad of effective players.

 

Why have we only got a small squad of effective players? On Cortese plans we have this season and the next to achieve European ambitions, are we going to spend mental in the summer?

[Dalek2003]

Why have we only got a small squad of effective players? On Cortese plans we have this season and the next to achieve European ambitions, are we going to spend mental in the summer?

 

I don't think NC is unrealistic about the team, I think talk of Europe was hype that he does not believe in this season. No, I think NC will be happy with a mid table finish.

 

I bet the real disappointment has been the lack of impact of Gaston and Osvaldo.

[Barry Sanchez]

Always enjoy the cut of you jib Bearsy, and with the last put down to the master of mong, Dune, BS (could there be a more appropriate set of initials?), there is no point in me responding to the clown.

 

my perspective is based on the simple premise that all top class players who end up costing a fortune, have to be nurtured somewhere. The Cortese perspective seems to be based on 1. Establishing a fast track to first team for those good enough so we as a club get the benefit of their talents before some inevitably do want to leave, and 2. Demonstrate enough ambition and provide a quality environment in which they do at least stay to realise their true potential with us... So we benefit from quality AND get their true value when they go

 

for me it's win win. The more the academy is acclaimed for the kids, the more we can attract. The clear path to first team means... The more we can attract, improving the odds of some real gems. In theory that should see year on year improvement.

 

Many suggest with good reason, that without the huge signings and huge wages we will not see European football. The Glass ceiling against clubs with bigger budgets. Personally, I like the fact that NC is more about what is possible than probable. Great things can be achieved with a team greater than the some of its parts. What we lack right now is depth... I suspect that the club want to increase that depth through the youth - but to date the bench lacks experience and we are still short, even with that potential in a couple of critical areas.

 

Timescale, before NC gets narked because we have not achieved his targets? None of us know what timescale he is working to. Media statements are about positive ideals, demonstrating ambition and refusing to fall in line with the establishment. An establishment driven by TV subscriptions and media pundits who like the status quo, as those sides have greater armchair audiences. I like the fact that we have a chairman who does not simply accept our 'place' as dictated by the media and is looking to challenge that perspective, rather than woo oryx just about survival, which is what is 'expected' of us by the establishment.

 

We have no idea whether it can work, either consistently or periodically, or ever.... But it's much more fun and enjoyable having a club with that attitude, than one just happy to survive and take the sky money.

 

Frank thats sentimental drivel if ever I have read it, we dont know where we are going but we are having a ball? Are we? Easily pleased Frank.

[Glasgow_Saint]

Come to think of it though for the 65 million we've spent in 18 months what have we got to show for it really (not to mention salarial mass that went with that spending).

 

JRod,Lovren,Victor and Clyne. so a bit less than half of it, all the rest is iffy and inconsistent at best. We really need to stop wasting money for little or no return..

 

We have a net spend of 66 million since we were promoted to the prem.

 

Only man u, man city and chelsea have a higher net spend

[Frank's cousin]

Frank thats sentimental drivel if ever I have read it, we dont know where we are going but we are having a ball? Are we? Easily pleased Frank.

 

If you don't get it, just shows you haven't got a clue about what being a fan is really about, whichever side you actually support. Then again you make that clear with every post you make.

 

...and you also demonstrated how thick you are by misinterpreting what was a very simple concept. It's not about us 'having a ball' or not. The point is that it's far better as a fan to have leadership that wants to challenge the established view of the clubs limitations, than one happy with year in survival.... But I was obviously doing you too great a survive as I thought the point would be easy for clueless f*ckwits to understand.

[Barry Sanchez]

We have a net spend of 66 million since we were promoted to the prem.

 

Only man u, man city and chelsea have a higher net spend

 

Net spend is not a true figure, the simple and best way is to simply see how much a team spends on players a season.

 

http://www.transferleague.co.uk/league-tables/transfer-league-table-last-five-seasons.html

[Glasgow_Saint]

Net spend is not a true figure, the simple and best way is to simply see how much a team spends on players a season.

 

http://www.transferleague.co.uk/league-tables/transfer-league-table-last-five-seasons.html

 

Everton and Newcastle

[Barry Sanchez]

If you don't get it, just shows you haven't got a clue about what being a fan is really about, whichever side you actually support. Then again you make that clear with every post you make.

 

...and you also demonstrated how thick you are by misinterpreting what was a very simple concept. It's not about us 'having a ball' or not. The point is that it's far better as a fan to have leadership that wants to challenge the established view of the clubs limitations, than one happy with year in survival.... But I was obviously doing you too great a survive as I thought the point would be easy for clueless f*ckwits to understand.

 

No Frank you simply dont get it, to actually challenge the established view you have to acutaually do that, you simply dont get it, how are we challenging in any way? Have we shaken to establishment to its core, are they saying that as Southampton are 9th we should start copying them? What exactly are we challenging?

Edited 2 January, 2014 by Barry Sanchez

[Barry Sanchez]

Everton and Newcastle

 

Everton have spent £63,000 in the last five years but they have had high loanee's on big wages, Pienaar, Barry and Lukaku, Spurs have spent £310,000 in the last 5 years.

[shurlock]

£15 Million a year is keeping up with the big boys? You think, probably £100 Million a season with wages. Thats 4/5/6 sides as well not solely 4, confident now?

 

No and neither am I or was I ever.

 

On net transfers it is - obviously this excludes wages which understate the outlays needed to compete with the big boys. But it's hardly like we're paying peanuts to Ramirez, Osvaldo, Wanyama et al either. If a club is spending a bundle on transfers, in most cases it's also walking the talk on wages.

 

Everyone largely agrees that trying to integrate too many new faces in too short a time is a recipe for disaster. So flushing out the deadwood of a championship squad will take one or two more windows.

 

It's also generally agreed that there is a premium to buying in January, so it becomes harder to compress this time frame as opposed to waiting till the summer.

 

The last thing that can be said is that we're trying to do things on the cheap - a much more valid criticism is whether we're getting a decent return on our investment.

 

Obviously you can take that up elsewhere...

Edited 2 January, 2014 by shurlock

[CB Fry]

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/premier-league/transferentwicklung/wettbewerb_GB1.html

http://www.transferleague.co.uk/league-tables/transfer-league-table-last-five-seasons.html

 

The discrepancies are presumably due to the different five year periods they cover (inc/ex. 2013/14)..

 

And they look at net rather than gross spend, that is, they take into account the fact that clubs also sell players.

 

Net spend is only relevant if we are talking about balancing the books. We're not, we're talking about competing "with the big boys" - your words.

 

So there are clubs, like Liverpool spending between 30-60m a season building their teams. And there is no sign that spending is going to reduce anytime soon. So what I said we need to do was right. Cheers for the info.

 

Laughable you think Saints will at some point get to a summer where they say "actually the squad is fine, no major signings needed for our push to the Champions League". It's just fairyland.

[Barry Sanchez]

On net transfers it is - obviously this excludes wages which understate the outlays needed to compete with the big boys. But it's hardly like we're paying peanuts to Ramirez, Osvaldo, Wanyama et al either.

 

Everyone largely agrees that trying to integrate too many new faces in too short a time is a recipe for disaster. So flushing out the deadwood of a championship squad will take one or two more windows.

 

It's also generally agreed that there is a premium to buying in January, so it becomes harder to compress this time frame as opposed to waiting till the summer.

 

The last thing that can be said is that we're trying to do things on the cheap - a much more valid criticism is whether we're getting a decent return on our investment.

 

Obviously you can take that up elsewhere...

 

The illusion has been cast by Cortese that we are the highest spenders or one of them in Europe but thats crap, net spend, the others have bought and sold highly (much much higher) than us for a long long time, the clappers and newer fans believed we had arrived in the big time, threads of how good we were and champions league and how ****e the League Cup is and a waste of time were put up and lapped up.

 

To even compete we will have to outbid Liverpool who are trying to get into the top 4, can you seriously, please look at that and really think, can you seriously ever see a player coming here before there?

 

No and thats it, its as simple as that.

[CB Fry]

No Frank you simply dont get it, to actually challenge the established view you have to acutaually do that, you simply dont get it, how are we challenging in any way? Have we shaken to establishment to its core, are they saying that as Southampton are 9th we should start copying them? What exactly are we challenging?

 

At the moment - mid table, possible cup run, influx of young players, a couple of expensive signings - we are basically as revolutionary as McClaren era Middlesbrough.

 

We're doing great and as well can be expected but let's lay off the football revolution bit.

[shurlock]

Come to think of it though for the 65 million we've spent in 18 months what have we got to show for it really (not to mention salarial mass that went with that spending).

 

JRod,Lovren,Victor and Clyne. so a bit less than half of it, all the rest is iffy and inconsistent at best. We really need to stop wasting money for little or no return..

 

That's the crux of the issue IMO, though am still unclear what a successful transfer policy looks like (as opposed to the aspirational strawman one invoked by some where a club gets it right 100% of the time).

 

Would be surprised if the most successful clubs in the transfer market get it right 60-70% of the time.

[Window Cleaner]

That's the crux of the issue IMO, though am still unclear what a successful transfer policy looks like (as opposed to the aspirational strawman one invoked by some where a club gets it right 100% of the time).

 

Would be surprised if the most successful clubs in the transfer market get it right 60-70% of the time.

 

 

For where they actually are today Newcastle have spent relatively little money, most of it provided by the **** Turpin sale of Carroll to Liverpool. We'll have to see if they're capable of maintaining their position with Coloccini out again and Cabaye will be sold to PSG when they get back from Doha. I think Debuchy took a straight red again yesterday so that may put him out for 4 games and he's a very important player for them. They're a bit like us, they have a team but no real squad depth although theirs might be a wee bit better than ours.

[Barry Sanchez]

That's the crux of the issue IMO, though am still unclear what a successful transfer policy looks like (as opposed to the aspirational strawman one invoked by some where a club gets it right 100% of the time).

 

Would be surprised if the most successful clubs in the transfer market get it right 60-70% of the time.

 

The big clubs can in some way absorb losses and crap transfers, we cant, our three large signings have been well 2 have been **** and the 3rd ok in my humble and he is injured.

As shown we cant absorb that until we have a quality squad and that will cost millions if we are going to do it(we are not) in Cortese 5 year plan, or has that conveniently been forgotten about?

[trousers]

Adam Blackmore ‏@bigadamsport

Solksjaer just quoted #saintsfc in Cardiff presser, saying "We have chance to do a Southampton and to push our way into top 8,9,10 clubs".

[CB Fry]

Adam Blackmore ‏@bigadamsport

Solksjaer just quoted #saintsfc in Cardiff presser, saying "We have chance to do a Southampton and to push our way into top 8,9,10 clubs".

 

Ninian Park sized mentality.

[Olallana]

How much a club has spent in 1,5 year is almost irrelevant since all clubs start from different positions so comparing those outlays to Liverpool and the likes is just plain stupid...

To rebuild a championship squad takes time, most people understand that while idiots don´t.

 

If anything should be looked at it´s squad value (though that is very estimated numbers but that´s the same for all teams then).

If you keep building a squad that has a higher market value for every year that usually means better players which usually ends up in better results.

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/premier-league/startseite/wettbewerb_GB1.html

 

Hull are the great over-achievers and Sunderland the under-achievers this year.

[Bearsy]

Adam Blackmore ‏@bigadamsport

Solksjaer just quoted #saintsfc in Cardiff presser, saying "We have chance to do a Southampton and to push our way into top 8,9,10 clubs".

 

the actual quote was "do a Swan- I mean a southampton!"

 

Nearly started welsh war on first day yo!

[shurlock]

Net spend is only relevant if we are talking about balancing the books. We're not, we're talking about competing "with the big boys" - your words.

 

So there are clubs, like Liverpool spending between 30-60m a season building their teams. And there is no sign that spending is going to reduce anytime soon. So what I said we need to do was right. Cheers for the info.

 

Laughable you think Saints will at some point get to a summer where they say "actually the squad is fine, no major signings needed for our push to the Champions League". It's just fairyland.

 

"Net spend is only relevant if we are talking about balancing the books" - did they teach you that at the Stoke City school of finance.

 

A mongboard classic for the ages.

 

Tell me how selling Torres to buy Suarez and Carroll worked again?

 

Where did I say that we would reach a point where we wouldn't have to strengthen at all? Does not buying Lovren or Wanyama mean that there are two less holes to plug for the foreseeable future mindful that there will always be churn and attrition in a squad?

Edited 2 January, 2014 by shurlock

[Window Cleaner]

the actual quote was "do a Swan- I mean a southampton!"

 

Nearly started welsh war on first day yo!

 

 

And look at Swansea now, among my relegation favourites, no Vorm, no Michu, no Dyer, another key player pulled up with something nasty looking yesterday.

[CB Fry]

How much a club has spent in 1,5 year is almost irrelevant since all clubs start from different positions so comparing those outlays to Liverpool and the likes is just plain stupid...

To rebuild a championship squad takes time, most people understand that while idiots don´t.

.

 

So are you saying Liverpool need to spend more than we do to get into the Champions League?

 

Explain that, I must be one of your idiots because I would have said Liverpool's starting point would be ahead of us. What with them finishing miles ahead of us for the last five seasons and stuff.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

For someone that harps on about the "Cult of Cortese", you sure do talk about him an awful lot.

 

You seem far more obsessed than most others Baz

[Bearsy]

And look at Swansea now, among my relegation favourites, no Vorm, no Michu, no Dyer, another key player pulled up with something nasty looking yesterday.

 

Are they doing bad? I hadn't really noticed i thought they was vaguely mid-table. I will put a bet down immediately on their relegation but if they stay up i will be homeless and will have to come and live with you in ur house.

[Window Cleaner]

Are they doing bad? I hadn't really noticed i thought they was vaguely mid-table. I will put a bet down immediately on their relegation but if they stay up i will be homeless and will have to come and live with you in ur house.

 

 

They're 4 points above 18th with a stack of bad injuries and Utd away next up.

[iansums]

They're 4 points above 18th with a stack of bad injuries and Utd away next up.

 

That should be an easy 3pts then.

[ALWAYS_SFC]

Good thread this...

 

Sensible posters trying to educate those who relish in nothing more than trying to wind others up

 

Give up chaps the wums will never give up

[DuncanRG]

Southampton are on course for their highest league finish in 11 years, possibly even 20-odd years, and their fourth successive season of climbing the pyramid.

 

I'm quite pleased personally

[Olallana]

So are you saying Liverpool need to spend more than we do to get into the Champions League?

 

Explain that, I must be one of your idiots because I would have said Liverpool's starting point would be ahead of us. What with them finishing miles ahead of us for the last five seasons and stuff.

 

Yeah you must be who cant see that Liverpool has a higher market value in their squad, ergo better players, ergo bigger chance reaching CL.

 

That´s also why it´s stupid for people saying that we have "outspent" Liverpool, which is only truth if you look at a very short space of time. (maybe the examples on the thread were Newcastle and Everton but the point is the same)

[CB Fry]

Yeah you must be who cant see that Liverpool has a higher market value in their squad, ergo better players, ergo bigger chance reaching CL.

 

That´s also why it´s stupid for people saying that we have "outspent" Liverpool, which is only truth if you look at a very short space of time. (maybe the examples on the thread were Newcastle and Everton but the point is the same)

 

So, to get into the Champions League we need to at least consistently match Liverpool's spending which is around 30-60m quid a year, yes?

 

Not spend 15m a year like Strawlock is suggesting?

[Barry Sanchez]

Southampton are on course for their highest league finish in 11 years, possibly even 20-odd years, and their fourth successive season of climbing the pyramid.

 

I'm quite pleased personally

 

Good for you, nice one.

[Barry Sanchez]

So, to get into the Champions League we need to at least consistently match Liverpool's spending which is around 30-60m quid a year, yes?

 

Not spend 15m a year like Strawlock is suggesting?

 

They wont answer these sorts of questions, it upsets their agenda, the relevance is all too much.

[shurlock]

So, to get into the Champions League we need to at least consistently match Liverpool's spending which is around 30-60m quid a year, yes?

 

Not spend 15m a year like Strawlock is suggesting?

 

You really don't understand the rather basic difference between gross and net spend do you.

 

My point is that we are playing catchup and overhauling a championship squad (noted at the outset), so we will be spending disproportionately more than others but that over time the amounts needed to compete will come down in line with others spending levels.

 

And that those amounts aren't anywhere near the the £30-40m (net) you suggest we will need to maintain indefinitely. Forever and ever. And ever.

Edited 2 January, 2014 by shurlock

[shurlock]

Yeah you must be who cant see that Liverpool has a higher market value in their squad, ergo better players, ergo bigger chance reaching CL.

 

That´s also why it´s stupid for people saying that we have "outspent" Liverpool, which is only truth if you look at a very short space of time. (maybe the examples on the thread were Newcastle and Everton but the point is the same)

 

The market value of a squad is an useful but crude indicator.

 

First it tends to discount the value of younger players who have no ready market value (something which probably counts against a teams built around youth).

 

Second while having a deep squad beyond the first XI is vital, it is questionable whether simply adding up the entire value of the squad of 25 -a fair number of whom will play little or no role during the course of a season- says much about the overall ability to compete.

Edited 2 January, 2014 by shurlock

[Window Cleaner]

The market value of a squad is an interesting but crude indicator.

 

First it tends to discount the value of younger players who have no ready market value (something which probably counts against a teams built around youth) and second while having a deep squad beyond the first XI is vital, it is questionable whether simply adding up the entire value of the squad of 25 -a fair number of whom will play little or no role during the course of a season- says much about the overall ability to compete.

 

 

The thing is we wanted Coutinho, he didn't want to play for us because Liverpool were in for him as well. Until our league position and thus the club's status improves to a point where we can compete with "top clubs" for the services of the best players then money is only relative. No WC hopeful in his right mind would want to come to Saints and play with garbage like Fox and Hooiveld so it's just a vicious circle.

[DuncanRG]

The thing is we wanted Coutinho, he didn't want to play for us because Liverpool were in for him as well. Until our league position and thus the club's status improves to a point where we can compete with "top clubs" for the services of the best players then money is only relative. No WC hopeful in his right mind would want to come to Saints and play with garbage like Fox and Hooiveld so it's just a vicious circle.

 

Besides the several who are already here, you mean.

[manina-pub]

Snooker loopy - come on Eileen?

[OttawaSaint]

Quite right. The 'Clappers' got carried away by the hype.

 

I would expect our first objective was to stay in the Premier league and if possible finish mid table. IMO we will finish about 14th, but with a brief flirtation with the bottom 3, and I think that would be cause for celebration.

 

There you have it folks!! You needn't read another Dalek post this season! This post will be repeated and recycled and rehashed to death, even when it gets to the stage that it will be mathematically impossible it will be "blah blah 14th IMO"...

[Window Cleaner]

Besides the several who are already here, you mean.

 

 

well I mean prospective players of course. Now there was a rumour going round just the other day that even SRL no longer wanted to play with Jos on a particular day. I really do believe that several players in our effective and for whom we have no obvious replacement are holding us back, we need to get shot of them at whatever price it takes. Name me one other PL club who'd have Fox in their squad or Jos either for that matter.

[DuncanRG]

Most teams in the bottom half, if I'm honest. It's far easier to tell with your own club, who you follow every day, but most teams have dodgy players in reserve. You've got to try and improve if you want to move up to the higher reaches but it really ain't the end of the world. I can guarantee that nobody considering a transfer to Southampton is arsed about the reserve left back.