Whose career is it anyway ?

[david in sweden]

most of us would admit football has a special place in our lives, and life is planned around the next kick-off, although easier when it was always Sat. @ 3pm.

 

Saints are beginning to look like a successful business ....who mean business, but as "customers", we fans maybe expecting something... that isn't there.

I won't use the word loyalty....but for those of us who have / have had jobs that we enjoy...and can survive on the salary....and are content to stay in the one job for decades - even their entire working life....and even turn down promotions ()..so as to stay somewhere they are satisfied with.

 

But what about those with a limited career span....like footballers. At the highest level...10 years (if you're lucky). A bad injury... and it may not be that long, and so the prospect of a job in another city....or another country, with a higher pay scale may seems quite attractive in the short term.

 

This thread was prompted by yet another " scam article " this time about Toby Alderweireld's " suggested " preference to move to another (nameless) team, and that (it suggests) he doesn't think Southampton is an exciting place to live....(there are surely mixed views on that one - even amongst fans).

 

Players will move for different reasons, and not JUST money. Older fans remind us that the legendary post-war Saints striker Charlie Wayman enjoyed his time at the Dell, but that his Northern-born wife....didn't like So'ton quite so much, and so they moved back up North. Although some on here have argued with me on this point - it seems very few players born in the Greater London area are happy to stay on the South Coast, and return to the Capital....for various reasons.

 

The bottom line is that our favourite players are, on average, employed by SFC for a period of 2-5 years, and at this level - very few for much longer than that.

If we see another exodus of players in the summer (and remembering that Toby A. is only on loan, anyway)....then so be it. It's their choice.

We may be sad to see some go.. and for those others, who just don't fit in ..we'll be glad to see the back of them...such is life.

 

At the end of the day ..(or better said - at the start of the next season)....we want a squad that is content with their lot, and enjoy life at SMS.

....the others....in search or glory and wealth, will make life-changing decisions that they ....may /or may not regret in times to come.

 

Whilst money may give security in the long run - it doesn't always buy happiness, as many discover - sooner or later.

For those who are transferred out, Saints may re-coup their investment, (and hopefully a bit more, too) ....and will be left with some fond memories and a bigger bank balance ......Such IS life.

[AussieDog]

Generally speaking, I'm more disappointed when the "home grown" players move on. There are odd exceptions (Lambert being the most recent), but of the current side the only one I would feel a tinge of regret over would be Fonte as he is the last regular from Div 1 days. At the end of the day, they all go anyway. It's more important to have a management team with a plan (and budget) for the future.