Les Reed's statement in full

[Window Cleaner]

I am still not sure whether a player's agent can discuss a hypothetical move for that player to a club without having first cleared the possibility of that move with the actually club. You know like "if he wanted to move and his club were to be persuaded on it how much would you be willing to pay" sort of thing. Agents work in the periphery,maybe even with their client's specific knowledge.

[Colinjb]

The cynic in me is taking his words with a pinch of salt but i'm not going to let that cloud what is a clear, emphatic and encouraging statement. Interesting that it clarifies Reed's role in the transfer market, he does the legwork.

[Window Cleaner]

Really didn't like the change in tone and tombre in his voice when he said this. Particularly around the word 'truth'. Given the chance I would be asking some very pointed questions around this.

 

Communication is 55% non-verbal, 38% tone and only 7% words. Our bodies have an annoying habit of letting out more info than we want.

 

**** me I sound like a SWF conspiracy troll-machine.....!

 

Then again to be really specific he'd have to define the period in which there have been no enquiries or offers. I'm sure that we must have had at least 1 offer or enquiry in January.

[Batman]

I am still not sure whether a player's agent can discuss a hypothetical move for that player to a club without having first cleared the possibility of that move with the actually club. You know like "if he wanted to move and his club were to be persuaded on it how much would you be willing to pay" sort of thing. Agents work in the periphery,maybe even with their client's specific knowledge.

 

after reading both of The Secret Footballer's books. I would say that anything happens in football

[pap]

Really didn't like the change in tone and tombre in his voice when he said this. Particularly around the word 'truth'. Given the chance I would be asking some very pointed questions around this.

 

Communication is 55% non-verbal, 38% tone and only 7% words. Our bodies have an annoying habit of letting out more info than we want.

 

**** me I sound like a SWF conspiracy troll-machine.....!

 

Most of you are. 90% of main board content is people making up bóllocks about a football club.

 

Some of us operate on a wider scope

[CityRanger]

Pleased that the first wave of speculation/persuasion aimed at our talent has been rebuffed.

It's just the start though and will be a long summer for us fans.

There is a way to stop the speculation though and thats to hand out new and improved long term deals to the likes of Shaw, Lallana, Lovren, Chambers, Morgan and Jay Rod to reflect the increase in their value to the club.

[Saint_clark]

The most interesting part from me was at the very end a number of journalists confirmed that other clubs are briefing the press that they're going to sign our players' date=' [b']which Reed denied[/b].

 

Denied they're going to sign them or denied they're briefing the press?

[iansums]

So have we accepted bids for Shaw and Lallana or not?

[Window Cleaner]

Pleased that the first wave of speculation/persuasion aimed at our talent has been rebuffed.

It's just the start though and will be a long summer for us fans.

There is a way to stop the speculation though and thats to hand out new and improved long term deals to the likes of Shaw, Lallana, Lovren, Chambers, Morgan and Jay Rod to reflect the increase in their value to the club.

 

 

They're already all on long term deals, 3 years left at least 4 in some cases. The maximum length of contract is 5 years so there's no point in really tarting about to add 1 more year. The way to keep these core players is to persuade them that they'll be going forward with the club and that next season we'll be aiming for top 6, that means keeping Mauricio and adding decent players to the squad. Morgan spelt it out for us in the Echo 2 weeks back, it's what needs to happen and it no doubt will.

[Dig Dig]

So have we accepted bids for Shaw and Lallana or not?

 

Have you read the statement?

[FloridaMarlin]

I hope I'm not missing anything, but it doesn't appear to be on the club website.

 

Does that hint that it might not entirely be made with the club's sanction, it might not be an official statement and that Reed has decided to do this unilaterally?

 

If I was a cynical person, I would say Reed has done a good job in attempting to scent-mark out his territory. "I am responsible for transfers, I’m responsible for contract negotiations and all of those board level football matters that the club is involved in," he says.

 

Does MoPo know Reed has said this? Is the statement made with his blessing, because it does undermine MoPo's role somewhat.

 

Perhaps I am getting cynical and reading too much into it but this seems to be a statement aimed at KL as much as the fans.

[iansums]

Have you read the statement?

 

Have you heard of a sense of humour?

 

The statement couldn't have been any clearer. Well played Reed.

[sydneysaint17]

Very good statement to make. Has made it clear in my mind that the club wont be selling without very good reason. If the club were now to sell 4/5 first team players, it would completely undermine the new board of directors and send out the wrong message to fans, the players and other clubs.

 

We may well move on 1/2 players, for me the most likely candidates being Ramirez and Osvaldo, but I am now confident that it will be a positive summer and that we will come back in August with an improved squad. If they get a huge offer for Shaw then he might go, but Im sure the club will be aware that no matter how much money they receive for him, they wouldn't be able to attract someone of the same quality or potential. If they are serious about pushing onto the next level, which their statement would suggest (keeping best players, pochettino and improving squad), then they will be doing all they can to retain Shaw, Chambers, Lallana etc. Very positive and looking forward to seeing what the summer has in store!

[Matthew Le God]

I hope I'm not missing anything, but it doesn't appear to be on the club website. Does that hint that it might not entirely be made with the club's sanction, it might not be an official statement and that Reed has decided to do this unilaterally?

 

If I was a cynical person, I would say Reed has done a good job in attempting to scent-mark out his territory. "I am responsible for transfers, I’m responsible for contract negotiations and all of those board level football matters that the club is involved in," he says.

 

Does MoPo know Reed has said this? Is the statement made with his blessing, because it does undermine MoPo's role somewhat.

 

Perhaps I am getting cynical and reading too much into it but this seems to be a statement aimed at KL as much as the fans.

 

It is from a press conference on Southampton property moments before Pochettino faced the press; the club is well aware, arranged it and put it on their youtube channel! How does it undermine Pochettino's role?

 

Edited 25 April, 2014 by Matthew Le God

[CityRanger]

They're already all on long term deals, 3 years left at least 4 in some cases. The maximum length of contract is 5 years so there's no point in really tarting about to add 1 more year. The way to keep these core players is to persuade them that they'll be going forward with the club and that next season we'll be aiming for top 6, that means keeping Mauricio and adding decent players to the squad. Morgan spelt it out for us in the Echo 2 weeks back, it's what needs to happen and it no doubt will.

 

Yes I understand they are mostly on long term deals.

My point is that if they sign new deals now on improved terms the media speculation will stop.

[Saint_clark]

Very good statement to make. Has made it clear in my mind that the club wont be selling without very good reason. If the club were now to sell 4/5 first team players, it would completely undermine the new board of directors and send out the wrong message to fans, the players and other clubs.

 

We may well move on 1/2 players, for me the most likely candidates being Ramirez and Osvaldo, but I am now confident that it will be a positive summer and that we will come back in August with an improved squad. If they get a huge offer for Shaw then he might go, but Im sure the club will be aware that no matter how much money they receive for him, they wouldn't be able to attract someone of the same quality or potential. If they are serious about pushing onto the next level, which their statement would suggest (keeping best players, pochettino and improving squad), then they will be doing all they can to retain Shaw, Chambers, Lallana etc. Very positive and looking forward to seeing what the summer has in store!

 

I think it's still 50/50 if Shaw will go. All depends if someone is willing to pay £30million up front.

[St_Tel49]

Maybe that will shut up the looney few on the other threads . But I doubt it

They will read between the lines and find something.

[Window Cleaner]

Yes I understand they are mostly on long term deals.

My point is that if they sign new deals now on improved terms the media speculation will stop.

 

 

Media speculation will never stop, it's what they do. Should we up a players contractual terms they'll just say it's to screw more money out of potential buyers. Allowing players to negociate new contracts could also allow them to insert buy out clauses. I've no idea if any of our players have those but it may well be the case already.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Very welcome statement, categoric if slightly overdue. I think it was a bit much to expect supporters to start considering buying season tickets without some reassurances on the manager’s future and that has now been given. Although I still can't think why MP wants to wait until the end of an already dead rubber season.

 

What I would like to see next is a press conference with all those journos (inc ones from respected outlets) in attendance in front of the Saints fans and we can ask them why basically they made up a pack of lies. Has anyone got that Guardian reporter's contact details, the one who claimed the Shaw deal was virtually done? I would like to have a quiet word. No doubt they would claim Reed was lying.

[alpine_saint]

Very welcome statement, categoric if slightly overdue. I think it was a bit much to expect supporters to start considering buying season tickets without some reassurances on the manager’s future and that has now been given. Although I still can't think why MP wants to wait until the end of an already dead rubber season.

 

What I would like to see next is a press conference with all those journos (inc ones from respected outlets) in attendance in front of the Saints fans and we can ask them why basically they made up a pack of lies. Has anyone got that Guardian reporter's contact details, the one who claimed the Shaw deal was virtually done? I would like to have a quiet word. No doubt they would claim Reed was lying.

 

good post. Lets hope the bit I've highlighted wasnt the only reason for the statement's timing...

[CityRanger]

Media speculation will never stop, it's what they do. Should we up a players contractual terms they'll just say it's to screw more money out of potential buyers. Allowing players to negociate new contracts could also allow them to insert buy out clauses. I've no idea if any of our players have those but it may well be the case already.

 

Even the most p!ssed up lazy useless journos realise if a player has just signed a five yr deal he intends to stay for at least the first year ??

[KelvinsRightGlove]

Media speculation will never stop, it's what they do. Should we up a players contractual terms they'll just say it's to screw more money out of potential buyers. Allowing players to negociate new contracts could also allow them to insert buy out clauses. I've no idea if any of our players have those but it may well be the case already.

 

I remember a conversation I had with someone on here (sadly, I can't remember who it was) that was telling us about this time last season when Morgan had recently signed a new deal that this was him strengthening his hand for a move away. Now, if this contract was to include a very low buy out clause, I may have been inclined to agree. But there was little to suggest that was the case, and given the season he was having last year, it would have been utter madness.

 

I agree, nothing stops the media speculation. And players contracts, and time remaining will affect fans opinion most likely based on their disposition. Some will see it has strengthening the clubs hand, others the players. d

 

Basically, you're never going to keep everyone happy.

[Tom]

Que Luke Shaw handing in a transfer request and Saints saying "we did everything we could to keep him; we don't want players who don't want to bere" speech

[Window Cleaner]

I remember a conversation I had with someone on here (sadly, I can't remember who it was) that was telling us about this time last season when Morgan had recently signed a new deal that this was him strengthening his hand for a move away. Now, if this contract was to include a very low buy out clause, I may have been inclined to agree. But there was little to suggest that was the case, and given the season he was having last year, it would have been utter madness.

 

I agree, nothing stops the media speculation. And players contracts, and time remaining will affect fans opinion most likely based on their disposition. Some will see it has strengthening the clubs hand, others the players. d

 

Basically, you're never going to keep everyone happy.

 

 

Morgan signed up when, last Febuary I think because he was out of contract last summer, didn't stop Real Sociedad bidding 16 miilion euros for him though, didn't want to go there and Cortese turned them down, it's no secret, he talked about it in one of his fairly frequent French press interviews . What is fairly noticeble is the candour that he has in his fairly frequent interviews, always says what he thinks about most things, rarely evasive. Don't see that from many other Saints players, perhaps those that give interviews to the foreign press that I've not seen perhaps.

Edited 25 April, 2014 by Window Cleaner

[stevegrant]

Has anyone got that Guardian reporter's contact details, the one who claimed the Shaw deal was virtually done? I would like to have a quiet word. No doubt they would claim Reed was lying.

Jamie Jackson is the Guardian reporter, who is their Manchester football correspondent. He'll have been leaked the Shaw stuff by someone at Man United, probably someone very close to Ed Woodward, the CEO.

 

Cast your mind back a year ago, when Moyes and Woodward both started their new jobs. The press were reporting "done deal" on them signing - among others - Thiago Alcantara, Leighton Baines, Marouane Fellaini, Ander Herrera, Fabio Coentrao and Cesc Fabregas, and yet by the end of August, only one of those deals actually came to fruition, and even then they managed to make a complete pig's ear of it by paying £4m more than they needed to for Fellaini.

 

Woodward is desperate that he and the club aren't seen to be running around aimlessly without the faintest idea what they're doing (again), so they've used some sympathetic local hacks to plant stories about players they're interested in to make it look like they're already working on signings so they don't get left behind for the second year running.

 

I'm sure they've made contact with Shaw's agent and United have probably told him "we'd offer £100k a week" - that's the way transfers tend to work these days, there's very little mileage in clubs negotiating with another club for a player if that player's got no interest in joining them, so they'll make unofficial contact with the agent first (probably through another intermediary so they can claim plausible deniability if anyone ever called them up on it) to see if it's worth them pursuing. As a result, and assuming we can take Les Reed's word as the truth, if the club has not received any contact from Man United, it's entirely possible that Shaw's agent told them he wasn't interested.

[Saint Charlie]

Very welcome statement, categoric if slightly overdue. I think it was a bit much to expect supporters to start considering buying season tickets without some reassurances on the manager’s future and that has now been given. Although I still can't think why MP wants to wait until the end of an already dead rubber season.

 

What I would like to see next is a press conference with all those journos (inc ones from respected outlets) in attendance in front of the Saints fans and we can ask them why basically they made up a pack of lies. Has anyone got that Guardian reporter's contact details, the one who claimed the Shaw deal was virtually done? I would like to have a quiet word. No doubt they would claim Reed was lying.

 

On Twitter: @JamieJackson__

[Kingsland Red]

Very welcome statement, categoric if slightly overdue. I think it was a bit much to expect supporters to start considering buying season tickets without some reassurances on the manager’s future and that has now been given. Although I still can't think why MP wants to wait until the end of an already dead rubber season.

 

What I would like to see next is a press conference with all those journos (inc ones from respected outlets) in attendance in front of the Saints fans and we can ask them why basically they made up a pack of lies. Has anyone got that Guardian reporter's contact details, the one who claimed the Shaw deal was virtually done? I would like to have a quiet word. No doubt they would claim Reed was lying.

 

Agree with all that, but if you are a season ticket holder then you are addicted and are going nowhere, whatever division or ambition the club has.

Even in the days of the Dutch buffoons we all had season tickets.

[FloridaMarlin]

 

It is from a press conference on Southampton property moments before Pochettino faced the press; the club is well aware, arranged it and put it on their youtube channel! How does it undermine Pochettino's role?

 

 

Didn't see that, it's answered my question as to whether it was official and sanctioned by the club.

 

In his previous guises at other clubs, Les has been known to go off half-cock and do and say things off his own back.

 

I think it would undermine MoPo if he wasn't aware that Reed was spouting off that he (MoPo) was not in control of player acquisition.

[Grassmole]

The question is whether Reed is lying, or whether money-grabbing agents and press trying to sell stories are.

 

I know which I think is most likely. Speculation will never go away as we've got so much talent but it doesn't seem in KL's ethos to authorise lies, so despite the interest in our players it seems clear that no offers have been officially made. Get MoPo to sign and hopefully the rest will follow suit.

[Matthew Le God]

I think it would undermine MoPo if he wasn't aware that Reed was spouting off that he (MoPo) was not in control of player acquisition.

 

Very rare in modern top level football for a manager to have sole responsibility for transfers. Things are done by transfer committees of CEO's/chairman/head scouts/DOF's/managers.

[Jez]

As a result, and assuming we can take Les Reed's word as the truth, if the club has not received any contact from Man United, it's entirely possible that Shaw's agent told them he wasn't interested.

 

I like this theory a lot!

[Grassmole]

Just heard we're in contact with Fraser Forster's agent about a move this summer. Sounds great but I doubt it. Agents spout cr@p all the time and we can't assume its true just because Celtic haven't denied it. We have denied any contact has been made about our players so why believe one rumour and not another, particularly when our Director has made a balls out statement that nothing has happened, and will only happen if the club and manager want it to. If MoPo stays, he'll want Shaw, Lallana, Spiderman, Chambers, Lovren, JRod etc to stay.

 

Convince the manager, and he can convince the players. All aboard!!

[Saint Charlie]

The question is whether Reed is lying, or whether money-grabbing agents and press trying to sell stories are.

.

 

He obviously isn't lying. At the end of the day, he can't 100% guarentee that nobody will be sold, because you never know what might happen, someone could offer £50m for Shaw, or he might hand in a transfer request and refuse to play for us again.

 

What Reed has done is been honest about things as they stand now, with the facts as he sees them.

 

He was very clear, and it was a great statement - things might work out differently, but it has to boost the confidence of any Saints fan that whatever happens there is a plan, and a good level of organisation at the club.

 

Regarding MP, he seems a principled person, who could easily have walked when Cortese left, and I am sure he would not string the club and people like Reed along. Quite possibly Reed was instrumental in identifying MP alongside Cortese so I am sure MP has some kind of loyalty to him. I am sure he is still 100% committed to the job (and would be even if he knew he wasnt going to stay here because that is what he is like). He will appreciate being allowed to get on with managing, which you don't get at all clubs.

 

I liked that Reed spoke about improving the squad, so hopefully we have some things planned in that area too.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Really positive statement and one which I feel was long overdue, both from Reed and from the club. I willl certainly feel more likely to renew my ST now...OK, it is only words, but words from a Board member and if shown to be untrue, the trust from loyal supporters would be severely damaged. To basically hear that we're likely to see further improvement in the team we've been watching is extremely exciting - lets hope the summer provides everything it promises to deliver.

[Redbul]

I think that's worth highlighting... the fact that Les Reed himself came out and made the statement was a good bit of PR IMO.

 

I must have missed the bit where he said he'd come out....

[Saint Charlie]

Recent comments from Schneiderlin:

 

It’s important for the club, because it’s going to show the direction they want to take,” said Schneiderlin of the summer ahead. “(The direction) they want to take with the gaffer first, because there’s many players who want to play for the gaffer.

 

“There’s a lot of things that they have to do and then we’ll see.

 

“Of course, we don’t know what’s going to happen this summer, but Southampton can get a step forward, and that’s the main thing.

 

“The fans want it, the players want it, so we’re just going to see.

 

“We can’t do anything, because we’re (in the) background. We’re just going to wait and see what they’re going to do.

 

“But, of course, we want, I want, to be part of a team that is playing for the top five or top six places, and if they can’t do this then many players are going to be disappointed.”

 

Fonte:

 

“This possibly is one of the most important summers of this club,” he said.

 

“If you want to go and move forward and be better, of course they [the board] know what they have to do.

 

“But, if you want this club to go higher and better, I think, in my mind, there’s no doubt that we need to keep Mauricio for a long time.”

 

The 30-year-old added: “By keeping Mauricio, you probably keep the most important players.”

 

Perhaps Reed's comments help to clarify for some players:

 

There is not going to be a fire-sale, we want to keep all of our best players at the club and build for the future

 

Or maybe the key word is "want"?

[Olallana]

Was it a good statement?

Yes definitely.

 

Will it stop media speculating about transfers of our players?

No, not at all.

[sotonist]

Or maybe the key word is "want"?

you could infer that we want but can't.

 

a clearer word would have been intend.

[Tamesaint]

Is this the first time that Bazza the Skate hasn't had an opinion on a thread that has run for nearly 2 pages?

 

Or is he having the morning off cycling to Bury and Glasgow is deputising for him?

[Bearsy]

Is this the first time that Bazza the Skate hasn't had an opinion on a thread that has run for nearly 2 pages?

 

yeah spare a though for barry pls, he must be such butt-hurt right now I hope he's ok

[sotonist]

you could infer that we want but can't.

 

a clearer word would have been intend.

 

I just watced the video. There's enough use of the words intend and intention for me to feel positive about it.

[B Rabbit]

Being ultra cynical..the only thing i can pick up on is this:

 

We talk about that on daily basis and we are planning for the future and the long term future.

 

Long term future, progression, investment might be secured by selling 2 players for £55 million

 

Hopefully true to his word..and no one of importance is going and we are building and adding to the team.

[B Rabbit]

Bugg3r...text fail.

[ottery st mary]

I am trying to remember the poster calling me a liar/making things up?

 

Windows , Sanchez or was it Glasgow..........No not Glasgow..he is a nice poster.

[Solid Saint]

Yes.

 

Happy Clappers United 10 - Doom City Albion 0

(Glasgow Saint og. 1, Barry Sanchez og 12, Glasgow Saint og. 23, Barry Sanchez og 27, Barry Sanchez og 28, Glasgow Saint og. 45, Glasgow Saint og. 67, Barry Sanchez og 70, Glasgow Saint og. 78, Barry Sanchez og 90 )

 

Player of the Match: Les Reed

 

MWHAHAHA

[Chez]

I am still not sure whether a player's agent can discuss a hypothetical move for that player to a club without having first cleared the possibility of that move with the actually club. You know like "if he wanted to move and his club were to be persuaded on it how much would you be willing to pay" sort of thing. Agents work in the periphery,maybe even with their client's specific knowledge.

 

Doesn't the rule say a club can't speak to a contracted player without permission of the players club or does it say the player and his agent? I suspect the latter, if not the rule ain't worth diddly. I suspect the clubs nearly always call the agents first to sound them out before they ever contact the other club.

[fanimal]

We will, barring an apocalypse, be in the premier League next season, that is one fact; we will have 19 home games against the Top 7 above us and 9 below plus leicester, Burnley and TBA, second fact. We have been asked to pay slightly more soon for a season ticket to view those games, third fact; I for one will be renewing as I like watching Saints trying to win every game no matter who they are playing, fact 4. Whatever Les Reed says has no bearing on those facts, as I know in say 3 years time we will have different players against different opposition, as always. That is the magic of the game, always changing, but with one aim, to put the ball in the net and score at least one more than your opponent.

[Chez]

This is a pretty unequivocal statement. Glad I took the time to read the full version.

 

This is very reassuring; I tried to pick holes in it due to my tendency to be a bit paranoid, but couldnt.

 

My only comments are that I really hope he is fully in the loop, and a slight concern that this statement didnt come from Krueger. He may not be involved in the footballing side, but this has a commercial dimension too. Perhaps a co-penned statement would have been better.

 

Didn't Krueger already say pretty much the same thing last week - the club wouldn't and didn't need to sell? http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27058403

[sydneysaint17]

Im now thinking a lot more about who we will be bringing in, rather than whose going out.

[derry]

If desperate clubs want to sign players whose clubs don't want to sell and more importantly don't have to sell, they can forget 'valuation' fees. Any Southampton player that goes will cost an enormous premium and any Lallana type fee with the sell on fee will have to be settled on top by the buyer. It will be very difficult to buy our players because of their inflated fees.