NC's top 4 dream...

[aintforever]

It does appear that Cortese did miss-sell a dream to the players and we have been left in a bit of a sticky situation. CL qualification was a realistic ambition as long as the money was there - which it obviously wasn't.

 

If we can buy wisely and stay up next season we will be in a very strong position going forward though so it's hard to criticise the Don too much. I expect the only way we could attract the likes of Lovren was to convince them we are going to be the next Chelsea.

[ToreSF]

One thing is for sure: the premier league needs to change. How long will fans of every club apart from 5-6 accept that their team will never have a realistic chance of a making top 4?

[Junior Mullet]

sorry but you are missing a huge chunk of what all this was about - whoosh over the head of those who have become so obsessed with the 'realities' of the modern game, they have lost all sense of what it means to have aspiration....

 

First up, do YOU really think players could be sold a scam? That Cortese sat them down and they all of a sudden believed he would take them to the promised land? Seriously do you think they have not seen what the premier league is all about these last 20 years?

 

Secondly, is there some new rule made up by the zealots of realism, that states fans can no longer have hope, have dreams and that in doing so they need to be laughedat ? Football used to always be about dreams, supporting about a collective spirit and and a unity that together more was achievable than individually...

 

Sure the odds of everything coming together in such a way so that top four was possible without huge capital investment are minuscule.... But so what? The fact that there was a collective belief amongst the side that we were NOT yet at our full potential yet finished 8th, is a huge positive. The fact that this belief and unity, drive, promoting youth, good coaching etc was seeing results showed a lot of folks what was possible if we we put our mind to it. Cortese was not some innovative guru, no NEW ideas, why even Lowe had the same approach to save money, - he was about obsessive details , small advances, and advantages that collectively gave us a improved chance of more consistent performances.. It was ALL about an attitude to be better than we were - improve and progress and not be limited by the rather limited imagination and negativity that the media, others in football and by the looks of things plenty of fans seem he'll bent on spouting. A positive attitude, spirit and belief that we can be better.... Tell me that is such a bad thing?

 

the current board are not getting flack because of KLs investment choices - I have always stated since Lowe's day that we should never rely on owners gifting huge wedges of cash to the club... And she is entitled to her own management of the finances. However, I would suggest that it was NOT some pipe dream of CL that was shattered, but that we lost that driving force when we lost Cortese, then MO, Shaw, Lallana, and our talisman in Lambert.. Plus who ever else will go.

 

No the grief they board get is not about money, but because when took 5 years to build and and delivered 5 years of progress, has taken 5 minutes to dismantle - and whilst players agents and even Cortese and MP are partly to blame, as with Lowe, the buck stops with those in control... Or are they only responsible for the the good things like stripes?

 

Now,we may see a new start, a new era of progress under KL and RK.. Great if we do, but why the need to start again from scratch? One thing is clear to anyone who knows their football. That side of held together would have been even better this year with maybe only another decent CB to add and some LB cover... And that is the biggest shame in all this. Our board gets flack because for whatever reason, we won't ever see how good we could have been... Because it was under their watch this all happened... Where it might have taken us is not the point, others around us will also improve, but it would have been nice to see.... Given that for a club of our size, getting a crop of talent together like that is not going to happen that often....

 

Good post. Having watched most games last season we were just a few good signings (goalie, cb and striker) away from being a very very good team.

 

Who would have thought Liverpool would have been so close to winning the title this year? Who would have thought Athletico could have broken the big two monopoly in Spain following a similar plan to the one offered by cortese?

 

How sad and how disappointing we can't keep hold of our best talent any more. I can't get excited about the academy now. It feels like a farm once again, as it was back in Lowe's day.

[Cascadia Saint]

NC's Top 4 Dreams:

 

1) The One Where He Is Tall Enough To Ride Nemesis At Thorpe Park

2) The One Where He Is Mr.Spoon And He Goes To Button Moon. Button Moon. Be Back Soon.

3) The One Where He Breaks Into Benali's House And Does A Shit In His Swimming Pool

4) The One Where MLG Comes To Him Crying To Beg Forgiveness & They Have Homosex & It Is So Wrong But Also Sooo Right

 

We have a winner.

 

Lock the thread now pls.

[SarniaSaint]

I keep on seeing that this 'dream' is being blamed as a reason that the players want to leave.

 

Personally I think it's ridiculous that

 

(a) Anyone believed that top 4 was a realistic ambition based on the fact that we were being financed by KL and not ML as previously.

(b) That the players believed Cortese. If this was the case should they not have negotiated release clauses into their contracts if we didn't get European football?

 

Personally I think it is a convenient excuse for the fans to beat the new board with, as they don't feel they can invest as much as Cortese wanted to. The real enemy here is Cortese who has misled the players and got them to believe in an unrelaistic dream. He was well aware of the money KL wanted to invest last Summer, yet sold this dream to Osvaldo, Lovren et al.

 

I feel really sorry for this board. Never have I known a football board have to deal with such a difficult climate (Cortese's influence, Pochettino's influence, pathetically selfish players, kit **** up from NC etc). Fingers crossed they can get through this and bring in adequate replacements.

 

This

[SarniaSaint]

Football players are, on the whole, thick retards. It's little wonder they believed his crap.

 

and this

[TwoPints]

NC's Top 4 Dreams:

 

1) The One Where He Is Tall Enough To Ride Nemesis At Thorpe Park

2) The One Where He Is Mr.Spoon And He Goes To Button Moon. Button Moon. Be Back Soon.

3) The One Where He Breaks Into Benali's House And Does A Shit In His Swimming Pool

4) The One Where MLG Comes To Him Crying To Beg Forgiveness & They Have Homosex & It Is So Wrong But Also Sooo Right

I assuming that dream 4 came with spiders the size of dinner plates?

[whoateallthepies]

Good post. Having watched most games last season we were just a few good signings (goalie, cb and striker) away from being a very very good team.

 

Who would have thought Liverpool would have been so close to winning the title this year? Who would have thought Athletico could have broken the big two monopoly in Spain following a similar plan to the one offered by cortese?

 

How sad and how disappointing we can't keep hold of our best talent any more. I can't get excited about the academy now. It feels like a farm once again, as it was back in Lowe's day.

 

Football, like life, is all about ambition. If someone's ambition in life is to leave school at 16, get a low paid job, hire a cheap flat and own a cheap car, good for them. People like Cortese don't subscribe to that attitude and some Saints fans don't either. If you want to believe we were never going to reach the CL that's your position on life/football and you are welcome to it. Some of us know that ambition and drive and belief are the life blood of success. Just ask any Olympic gold medal winner, anyone who summits Everest, anyone like Richard Branson. Not the "we were never going to achieve that" losers attitude for them. You receive back what you put in. The current board are receiving lots of money because they are putting in place a scaled down policy, lacking in ambition. Good luck to them. To put it bluntly, they are scared. Scared of where going that extra mile might have taken them, scared that it just might have failed. Easier and safer to aim for mediocrity in life and flog the family silver while you're at it. It's their club and they are entitled to do with it as they please. Cortese however, subscribed to a different ethos. People like that are rarely popular but then again they don't give a s**t whether they are popular or not. They are there to succeed. ML saw that in him, that's why he gave him the job. So now are back to being a club run by people who have no knowledge of football and little ambition. Ring any bells? Cheap flat and cheap car here we come. It's a life of sorts.

[CB Fry]

Football, like life, is all about ambition. If someone's ambition in life is to leave school at 16, get a low paid job, hire a cheap flat and own a cheap car, good for them. People like Cortese don't subscribe to that attitude and some Saints fans don't either. If you want to believe we were never going to reach the CL that's your position on life/football and you are welcome to it. Some of us know that ambition and drive and belief are the life blood of success. Just ask any Olympic gold medal winner, anyone who summits Everest, anyone like Richard Branson. Not the "we were never going to achieve that" losers attitude for them. You receive back what you put in. The current board are receiving lots of money because they are putting in place a scaled down policy, lacking in ambition. Good luck to them. To put it bluntly, they are scared. Scared of where going that extra mile might have taken them, scared that it just might have failed. Easier and safer to aim for mediocrity in life and flog the family silver while you're at it. It's their club and they are entitled to do with it as they please. Cortese however, subscribed to a different ethos. People like that are rarely popular but then again they don't give a s**t whether they are popular or not. They are there to succeed. ML saw that in him, that's why he gave him the job. So now are back to being a club run by people who have no knowledge of football and little ambition. Ring any bells? Cheap flat and cheap car here we come. It's a life of sorts.

Cortese was so driven he walked out on his project in January.

[Turkish]

It's good to see another reference to climbing Everest, we've not had one of those for a while.

 

So for the ambitious posters amongst us, how are we to fund this ambition? How are we to match the £100k a week Lallana is meant to be on at Liverpool and the £160k a week Shaw is rumoured to be on?

 

It's easy to post on a computer about the club lacking ambition and if only we were more like richard Branson, but where is the money coming from to make this ambition real? One thing is for sure, with commercial income Lower than Watford, cortese wasn't planning on funding it through sponsorship deals.

[Lord Duckhunter]

Did Peter Risdale live in a cheap flat and drive a cheap car?

[buctootim]

Football, like life, is all about ambition. If someone's ambition in life is to leave school at 16, get a low paid job, hire a cheap flat and own a cheap car, good for them. People like Cortese don't subscribe to that attitude and some Saints fans don't either. If you want to believe we were never going to reach the CL that's your position on life/football and you are welcome to it. Some of us know that ambition and drive and belief are the life blood of success. Just ask any Olympic gold medal winner, anyone who summits Everest, anyone like Richard Branson. Not the "we were never going to achieve that" losers attitude for them. You receive back what you put in. The current board are receiving lots of money because they are putting in place a scaled down policy, lacking in ambition. Good luck to them. To put it bluntly, they are scared. Scared of where going that extra mile might have taken them, scared that it just might have failed. Easier and safer to aim for mediocrity in life and flog the family silver while you're at it. It's their club and they are entitled to do with it as they please. Cortese however, subscribed to a different ethos. People like that are rarely popular but then again they don't give a s**t whether they are popular or not. They are there to succeed. ML saw that in him, that's why he gave him the job. So now are back to being a club run by people who have no knowledge of football and little ambition. Ring any bells? Cheap flat and cheap car here we come. It's a life of sorts.

 

Dream harder and be ambitious. Thats all it takes. It doesn't depend on shed loads of other peoples money, filling your massive stadium each week or worldwide brands, no sir.

 

Turnover 2012/13

£363m Manchester United

£283m Arsenal

£271m Manchester City

£260m Chelsea

£72m Southampton.

[View From The Top]

Football, like life, is all about ambition. If someone's ambition in life is to leave school at 16, get a low paid job, hire a cheap flat and own a cheap car, good for them. People like Cortese don't subscribe to that attitude and some Saints fans don't either. If you want to believe we were never going to reach the CL that's your position on life/football and you are welcome to it. Some of us know that ambition and drive and belief are the life blood of success. Just ask any Olympic gold medal winner, anyone who summits Everest, anyone like Richard Branson. Not the "we were never going to achieve that" losers attitude for them. You receive back what you put in. The current board are receiving lots of money because they are putting in place a scaled down policy, lacking in ambition. Good luck to them. To put it bluntly, they are scared. Scared of where going that extra mile might have taken them, scared that it just might have failed. Easier and safer to aim for mediocrity in life and flog the family silver while you're at it. It's their club and they are entitled to do with it as they please. Cortese however, subscribed to a different ethos. People like that are rarely popular but then again they don't give a s**t whether they are popular or not. They are there to succeed. ML saw that in him, that's why he gave him the job. So now are back to being a club run by people who have no knowledge of football and little ambition. Ring any bells? Cheap flat and cheap car here we come. It's a life of sorts.

 

What an utter, utter pile of sh*te.

[View From The Top]

Dream harder and be ambitious. Thats all it takes. It doesn't depend on shed loads of other peoples money, filling your massive stadium each week or worldwide brands, no sir.

 

Turnover 2012/13

£363m Manchester United

£283m Arsenal

£271m Manchester City

£260m Chelsea

£72m Southampton.

 

No, no, no. It just takes dreams and ambitions. Money has nothing at all to do it, only dreams and ambitions. Dreams and ambitions or you're a loser.

[CB Fry]

No, no, no. It just takes dreams and ambitions. Money has nothing at all to do it, only dreams and ambitions. Dreams and ambitions or you're a loser.

If Cortese was still here with his Richard Branson style dreams, ambition and vision there is absolutely no way on earth Adam Lallana would want to double his wages and play in the Champions League and no way Shaw would want £100k plus a week to play for the biggest club in the world.

 

And they'd all stay, with no pay rise, no nothing. They'd all stay on the same money because they believed in the vision and stuff about Everest or something. That is what would have definitely definitely happened oh god oh god why did Cortese have to leave.

[lloydie]

I think the issue mainly is to do with the nature of the premier league. Any real signs of ambition (Hull are ok as they didnt really aim to play the nice looking stuff that the big clubs want) if you're not one if the big boys, will see you torn to pieces at the first oppurtunity. Like iccarus, we flew too close to the sun(8th apparently), and got majorly fûcking burned!!

[CB Fry]

...and let's remember dreams and ambition is all wonderful and that, but not if you are, say, Luke Shaw.

 

Because Luke Shaw should not be ambitious to play for the biggest football club in the world for over a hundred grand a week.

 

The Richard Branson thing to do would be to stay at mid table provincial team playing in front of 30k people. Yep, that's the ambition he should be showing.

 

Luke Shaw: forget climbing Everest and stay exactly where you are.

[Pastor Patrón]

I think the issue mainly is to do with the nature of the premier league. Any real signs of ambition (Hull are ok as they didnt really aim to play the nice looking stuff that the big clubs want) if you're not one if the big boys, will see you torn to pieces at the first oppurtunity. Like iccarus, we flew too close to the sun(8th apparently), and got majorly fûcking burned!!

 

That's complete ********, Everton finished above us and aren't being torn apart. Stop being overdramatic, the Premier League isn't some Illuminati conspiracy sh#t.

[Saint Without a Halo]

sorry but you are missing a huge chunk of what all this was about - whoosh over the head of those who have become so obsessed with the 'realities' of the modern game, they have lost all sense of what it means to have aspiration....

 

First up, do YOU really think players could be sold a scam? That Cortese sat them down and they all of a sudden believed he would take them to the promised land? Seriously do you think they have not seen what the premier league is all about these last 20 years?

 

Secondly, is there some new rule made up by the zealots of realism, that states fans can no longer have hope, have dreams and that in doing so they need to be laughedat ? Football used to always be about dreams, supporting about a collective spirit and and a unity that together more was achievable than individually...

 

Sure the odds of everything coming together in such a way so that top four was possible without huge capital investment are minuscule.... But so what? The fact that there was a collective belief amongst the side that we were NOT yet at our full potential yet finished 8th, is a huge positive. The fact that this belief and unity, drive, promoting youth, good coaching etc was seeing results showed a lot of folks what was possible if we we put our mind to it. Cortese was not some innovative guru, no NEW ideas, why even Lowe had the same approach to save money, - he was about obsessive details , small advances, and advantages that collectively gave us a improved chance of more consistent performances.. It was ALL about an attitude to be better than we were - improve and progress and not be limited by the rather limited imagination and negativity that the media, others in football and by the looks of things plenty of fans seem he'll bent on spouting. A positive attitude, spirit and belief that we can be better.... Tell me that is such a bad thing?

 

the current board are not getting flack because of KLs investment choices - I have always stated since Lowe's day that we should never rely on owners gifting huge wedges of cash to the club... And she is entitled to her own management of the finances. However, I would suggest that it was NOT some pipe dream of CL that was shattered, but that we lost that driving force when we lost Cortese, then MO, Shaw, Lallana, and our talisman in Lambert.. Plus who ever else will go.

 

No the grief they board get is not about money, but because when took 5 years to build and and delivered 5 years of progress, has taken 5 minutes to dismantle - and whilst players agents and even Cortese and MP are partly to blame, as with Lowe, the buck stops with those in control... Or are they only responsible for the the good things like stripes?

 

Now,we may see a new start, a new era of progress under KL and RK.. Great if we do, but why the need to start again from scratch? One thing is clear to anyone who knows their football. That side of held together would have been even better this year with maybe only another decent CB to add and some LB cover... And that is the biggest shame in all this. Our board gets flack because for whatever reason, we won't ever see how good we could have been... Because it was under their watch this all happened... Where it might have taken us is not the point, others around us will also improve, but it would have been nice to see.... Given that for a club of our size, getting a crop of talent together like that is not going to happen that often....

 

My feelings in a nutshell

[SaintSteve]

Dream harder and be ambitious. Thats all it takes. It doesn't depend on shed loads of other peoples money, filling your massive stadium each week or worldwide brands, no sir.

 

Turnover 2012/13

£363m Manchester United

£283m Arsenal

£271m Manchester City

£260m Chelsea

£72m Southampton.

 

£86m Everton...

[Dig Dig]

Of course becoming some kind of European powerhouse was never going to happen for us but with the trajectory that we have been on, it's a shame that any ambition to achieve something tanglible and meaningful at elite level with the squad we had is grinding to a halt.

 

We are selling off players for top fee's to top sides, in fact even half of our first 11 could be gone. We did this mostly through developing players with the club and quality coaches through shared experiences with the fans. With a few decent additions in the right places along with our playing style, I do believe he could have had a good go at the top 6 next season. We were not that far off Everton who were in the race for 4th right until the end and we could have had a similar crack ourselves, that I'm sure of, maybe even a cup with the right depth in squad.

 

Ulitmately I don't think it would have been unreasonable to expect another season out of players who are barely into long term deals so that when the time comes that they go, at least we might have a little european adventure ourselves which would put us into a better position in terms of going about replacing them.

[Junior Mullet]

Dream harder and be ambitious. Thats all it takes. It doesn't depend on shed loads of other peoples money, filling your massive stadium each week or worldwide brands, no sir.

 

Turnover 2012/13

£363m Manchester United

£283m Arsenal

£271m Manchester City

£260m Chelsea

£72m Southampton.

 

Those were the four champions league teams from the previous year. It would be better to compare our turnover against the likes of Chelsea or man city when they were breaking into the top four (that was a long time ago but you could compare their turnover to the top teams at that time I guess). I remember both those teams being in the second flight. Both had been **** for years. They had no right to break the monopoly of the top teams but they did. they did it by buying top players, we could have done it by producing and developing top players with a handful of top class signings - that was the way cortese saw it and it looked feasible. We weren't as far away as some of you think.

[View From The Top]

Of course becoming some kind of European powerhouse was never going to happen for us but with the trajectory that we have been on, it's a shame that any ambition to achieve something tanglible and meaningful at elite level with the squad we had is grinding to a halt.

 

We are selling off players for top fee's to top sides, in fact even half of our first 11 could be gone. We did this mostly through developing players with the club and quality coaches through shared experiences with the fans. With a few decent additions in the right places along with our playing style, I do believe he could have had a good go at the top 6 next season. We were not that far off Everton who were in the race for 4th right until the end and we could have had a similar crack ourselves, that I'm sure of, maybe even a cup with the right depth in squad.

 

Ulitmately I don't think it would have been unreasonable to expect another season out of players who are barely into long term deals so that when the time comes that they go, at least we might have a little european adventure ourselves which would put us into a better position in terms of going about replacing them.

 

We had that chance in 2 cups, the club couldn't be bothered.

[John B]

We weren't as far away as some of you think.

 

I think your analysis is flawed so what makes think we weren't that far away as we hardly beat any of the teams above us although we did beat Liverpool who had Suarez missing

[CB Fry]

Those were the four champions league teams from the previous year. It would be better to compare our turnover against the likes of Chelsea or man city when they were breaking into the top four (that was a long time ago but you could compare their turnover to the top teams at that time I guess). I remember both those teams being in the second flight. Both had been **** for years. They had no right to break the monopoly of the top teams but they did. they did it by buying top players, we could have done it by producing and developing top players with a handful of top class signings - that was the way cortese saw it and it looked feasible. We weren't as far away as some of you think.

Chelsea and Man City spent an effing fortune. An effing, sodding fortune. Both of them. A fortune. Millions and millions and millions of pounds.

 

So what exactly is your point?

[Junior Mullet]

I think your analysis is flawed so what makes think we weren't that far away as we hardly beat any of the teams above us although we did beat Liverpool who had Suarez missing

 

We lacked cutting edge all season. Our first choice defence was as good as any in the prem when fit and our midfield was outstanding. We needed a top quality striker to finish the chances we created. Chelsea were the only team that had a hold over us last season.

 

When I say we weren't far off I mean we were probably only three good players in key positions away from being extremely competitive.

[Dellman]

We weren't far off, we were fourth until the goaly broke his hand. At that point we needed to strengthen but the money or the will dried up and NC left.From then on it has been confusion. btw the Liebherr investment has grown to £200million so she ought to think it money well spent

[CB Fry]

We weren't far off, we were fourth until the goaly broke his hand. At that point we needed to strengthen but the money or the will dried up and NC left.From then on it has been confusion. btw the Liebherr investment has grown to £200million so she ought to think it money well spent

We were never going to finish fourth.

 

Even Cortese himself spoke about not over-spending in his "ask now if...but how" routine so don't kid yourself that we would have spent another 30 mil in January if he was still there.

[Sour Mash]

It's good to see another reference to climbing Everest, we've not had one of those for a while.

 

So for the ambitious posters amongst us, how are we to fund this ambition? How are we to match the £100k a week Lallana is meant to be on at Liverpool and the £160k a week Shaw is rumoured to be on?

 

It's easy to post on a computer about the club lacking ambition and if only we were more like richard Branson, but where is the money coming from to make this ambition real? One thing is for sure, with commercial income Lower than Watford, cortese wasn't planning on funding it through sponsorship deals.

There's not been one single post on these forums explaining what the club should have actually have done differently. Just crying about dreams.

[St Chalet]

2014/15 will be a rebuild year, much like our first season in League 1 was. I'd take mid table and a decent showing in the cups right now.

 

This will be year 1 of the next 5 year plan, the big vacuum for us fans is the espousal of what that 5 year target is.

[Dig Dig]

There's not been one single post on these forums explaining what the club should have actually have done differently. Just crying about dreams.

 

Don't sell all your top players in one hit?

[Sour Mash]

Don't sell all your top players in one hit?

We haven't sold all of our top players in one go.

 

What would you suggest a board should do about a player pushing for a move, going on strike?

[St Chalet]

Every player seems to have an excuse for leaving:

 

Lambert : Boyhood Club

Lallana : Wants to play CL

Shaw : Wants to have a threesome and it's easier up north

Lovren : Wants a pay rise now we've solved his Lyon nightmare

Morgan : Wants to stay visible to Deschamps

 

Say what you like about the board, these boys would have been angling for moves if Il Duce had still been here spending Kat's money. In the same way I believed Cortese's exit was short term pain for long term gain, we need to move on with a new group of players that are committed to a new plan.

[VectisSaint]

There's not been one single post on these forums explaining what the club should have actually have done differently. Just crying about dreams.

 

There have. Either up the investment level to push on, mainly by adding strength in depth, or as NC saw as Plan B sell to a consortium that was willing to invest more. The Club went for Plan C, keep things tight and self sustaining. Plan C was not the worst decision in the world but it did end the drdeam.

[Sour Mash]

There have. Either up the investment level to push on, mainly by adding strength in depth, or as NC saw as Plan B sell to a consortium that was willing to invest more. The Club went for Plan C, keep things tight and self sustaining. Plan C was not the worst decision in the world but it did end the drdeam.

Yeah, that's sort of my point, the sum total of views is to either pump a load of money in or sell off to an unknown, unspecified, possibly non-existent organistation. Great list of options.

[CB Fry]

There have. Either up the investment level to push on, mainly by adding strength in depth, or as NC saw as Plan B sell to a consortium that was willing to invest more. The Club went for Plan C, keep things tight and self sustaining. Plan C was not the worst decision in the world but it did end the drdeam.

What was this consortium that was going to buy the club from the Leibherrs who had and have absolutely no intention of selling the club whatsoever?

And what effing "consortium" is going to take on Abramovic and Shiekh Mansour, plus some of world football's biggest and richest brands? Maybe we could have a fans buy out to fund it.

 

So there's one plan dealt with.

[Goatboy]

There have. Either up the investment level to push on, mainly by adding strength in depth, or as NC saw as Plan B sell to a consortium that was willing to invest more. The Club went for Plan C, keep things tight and self sustaining. Plan C was not the worst decision in the world but it did end the drdeam.

 

Wasn't ML's plan to be an established, self-sustaining Premier League Club? Plan A surely?

[CB Fry]

Wasn't ML's plan to be an established, self-sustaining Premier League Club? Plan A surely?

Yes, and it was Cortese's vision as well.

 

It's in all his interviews - the idea that he was going to "up the investment" is nonsense. He always spoke of us not being able to compete financially, and doing it in a different way.

 

The vision Cortese had did not have us paying 18 year old left backs £160k a week.

 

So the "dream" truly is that for the assorted dins on here, even Cortese didn't share what they have in their heads.

Edited 5 July, 2014 by CB Fry

[Dig Dig]

We haven't sold all of our top players in one go.

 

What would you suggest a board should do about a player pushing for a move, going on strike?

 

You think they would have all gone on strike?

[Sour Mash]

You think they would have all gone on strike?

Who knows. Lallana and Lovren look like they have made moves in that direction. What is your suggestion for dealing with significant moves by players to double their wages and create moves to CL clubs?

[Dig Dig]

Who knows. Lallana and Lovren look like they have made moves in that direction. What is your suggestion for dealing with significant moves by players to double their wages and create moves to CL clubs?

 

Just don't agree to sell them all? If they really felt they might have to stay, there is no way that some of them would be acting as some reports suggest. They know they will be allowed to leave but just want it done quick so they can go on holiday and not have to report back to Saints. I doubt any of them would actually risk going on strike in all reality.

 

I think the club are not opposed to selling at all and the players know that.

[CB Fry]

Who knows. Lallana and Lovren look like they have made moves in that direction. What is your suggestion for dealing with significant moves by players to double their wages and create moves to CL clubs?

As long as you sell them a "dream" and a "vision" of maybe one day playing in the Champions League, the attraction of definitely playing in the Champions League in three months time for 100k a week pretty much melts away.

[View From The Top]

Just don't agree to sell them all? If they really felt they might have to stay, there is no way that some of them would be acting as some reports suggest. They know they will be allowed to leave but just want it done quick so they can go on holiday and not have to report back to Saints. I doubt any of them would actually risk going on strike in all reality.

 

I think the club are not opposed to selling at all and the players know that.

 

So your solution is just to say no and you expect that players would just accept that?

[Dig Dig]

So your solution is just to say no and you expect that players would just accept that?

 

Just say no to some, yes. Nothing unreasonable about that, no one sells their best players in this way for footballing reasons. What could the players do in all reality? Go on some mass player strike, making themselves look like massive ****s in the process?

[Sour Mash]

So your solution is just to say no and you expect that players would just accept that?

And "the dream" goes on happily ever after. If a player if actively pushing for a move, it is very difficult for a club to manage and integrate them over a season.

 

If it was down to me, I'd tell them "tough ****, play or you're stuck in the reserves", but I don't run a football club. The current lot running us have to make tough, practical decisions for the good of the club. There is no clear cut "right" or "wrong" decision, but I do believe they are acting in our best interests.

[Turkish]

So your solution is just to say no and you expect that players would just accept that?

 

Say no or demand £50m a leg or something before we talk because if Rio Feridnand cost £30m in 2001 then Dejan Lovern must be worth at least £150m now.

[Killers Knee]

Its Southampton. It doesnt matter what your trade or profession is, but if you are there at the prime of your life, you are a failure. Its a city for the start and end of ones career, only losers would stick around during their prime.

[Dig Dig]

And "the dream" goes on happily ever after. If a player if actively pushing for a move, it is very difficult for a club to manage and integrate them over a season.

 

If it was down to me, I'd tell them "tough ****, play or you're stuck in the reserves", but I don't run a football club. The current lot running us have to make tough, practical decisions for the good of the club. There is no clear cut "right" or "wrong" decision, but I do believe they are acting in our best interests.

 

You're only talking about worst case scenario's, plenty of players have got their heads down and played even if they fancy a move away. They are professionals in the most part. How often do players go on strike anyway? Those that do are of a certain type.

[CB Fry]

Just say no to some, yes. Nothing unreasonable about that, no one sells their best players in this way for footballing reasons. What could the players do in all reality? Go on some mass player strike, making themselves look like massive ****s in the process?

Which ones are you saying no to?

 

I like the fact we have given up on players believing in a "vision" and we're now basically on to some kind of hostage situation.

 

How does that kind of thing look like to players we might want to sign, by the way?

 

Does it make us look good, or do you think it might make us look bad?

[Dig Dig]

Which ones are you saying no to?

 

I like the fact we have given up on players believing in a "vision" and we're now basically on to some kind of hostage situation.

 

How does that kind of thing look like to players we might want to sign, by the way?

 

Does it make us look good, or do you think it might make us look bad?

 

When you say "we" do you mean me? I haven't spoken of any vision but of the pragmatism of selling your best players in a summer and the detriment it would have.

 

Laughable to be talking about hostage situations when we're actually talking about players potentially having to work another year of recently signed contracts for which they are already obscenely paid.

 

And as for making us look bad.....