sadoldgit Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Like The Titanic, there are players who really should never have left Southampton. I'll start with Steve Williams. One of the best young talents we have ever produced. He was a joy to behold running the midfield with Alan Ball and a long England career was there for the taking. Sadly he signed for Arsenal and it all started to go pear shaped. He never really fulfilled his potential at Highbury (although I see he comes in at 38 in a top 50 of Arsenal players) and the long England career never happened. I used to work around the Highbury area and often saw him running the streets with Tony Woodcock. I was tempted to tell him he had made a huge mistake but he had been an Arsenal supporter as a kid so I suppose it was a Rickie Lambert situation. Steve played 279 games for Saints scoring 18 goals. He played 95 games for Arsenal scoring 4 times. He only got 6 England caps. What a waste.
Saint IQ Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 From my time, Hassan Kachloul, Dean Richards, The Ox, Lambert, Chambers and Shaw. Ox, Chambers and Shaw left too early the other 3 should of never left and careers went massively downhill afterwards
Tom Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 I'd add Beattie to that list. Beattie didn't want to leave. He was told by Redknapp that he either had to sell Beattie or Niemi and was told that Redknapp had chosen Beattie.
Mattenrod Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 From my time, Hassan Kachloul, Dean Richards, The Ox, Lambert, Chambers and Shaw. Ox, Chambers and Shaw left too early the other 3 should of never left and careers went massively downhill afterwards I disagree about Ox. He played at Euro 2012 - there was no way he would have been selected after a season in the Championship with Saints.
Colinjb Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Beattie didn't want to leave. He was told by Redknapp that he either had to sell Beattie or Niemi and was told that Redknapp had chosen Beattie. Seriously? Hadn't heard that before. I would echo Hassan Kachloul and Rickie. Even if I can understand Rickie's desire to play for his home club. David Prutton seemed to go into full journeyman mode after departing us too.
Tom Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Seriously? Hadn't heard that before. I would echo Hassan Kachloul and Rickie. Even if I can understand Rickie's desire to play for his home club. David Prutton seemed to go into full journeyman mode after departing us too. Serious. Beattie told me this himself when he was out on his own, during the day, looking for people to drink with him on Sunday afternoon in 90 degrees in summer 2013. Felt a little sorry for him really.
Colinjb Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Serious. Beattie told me this himself when he was out on his own, during the day, looking for people to drink with him on Sunday afternoon in 90 degrees in summer 2013. Felt a little sorry for him really. Taking that on face value, certainly sounds as though he regretted leaving. I remember seeing his celebration when scoring for Stoke v The Skates at the Brittania and it clearly meant to more to him then a simple late equaliser.
sadoldgit Posted 16 July, 2015 Author Posted 16 July, 2015 From my time, Hassan Kachloul, Dean Richards, The Ox, Lambert, Chambers and Shaw. Ox, Chambers and Shaw left too early the other 3 should of never left and careers went massively downhill afterwards Great shame about Dean Richards. We got good money for him but he was quality. Died young. Tragic.
Whitey Grandad Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Great shame about Dean Richards. We got good money for him but he was quality. Died young. Tragic. Sad indeed. Life is not fair.
Saint IQ Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 I disagree about Ox. He played at Euro 2012 - there was no way he would have been selected after a season in the Championship with Saints. Barely gets a look in now though, Arsenal have so many midfielders
RedAndWhite91 Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 The Titanic should have left Southampton though, just a shame it sunk... Much like Lambert's career. I still love Rickie for what he done for us, but he made his bed. Players like Shaw and Chambers, it's still too early to tell whether they made a mistake or not. There wasn't anything last season that showed me that they have improved at their new clubs. Of course you have got Chambers' England call ups, but that simply comes part and parcel of playing for a big club, regardless of whether you're any good or not.
Foxstone Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Great shame about Dean Richards. We got good money for him but he was quality. Died young. Tragic. He was indeed a class act... Just thinking that Wetherall and Bragstad were our priority centre back targets at the time but we lost out on them.. Then we got Deano and he was streets ahead of the other two in every way!
tajjuk Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 You could argue the grass isn't always greener for a lot of our high profile departures. Even the mighty Bale struggled for a couple of years at Spurs. I think both Walcott and the Ox are not the players they could have been due to lack of games at key development times. Chambers could be another to add to this list, Shaw too has struggled making that step up. These are young guys in their late teens who would be playing first team footie here spending more time on the bench. I think moving at 24-25 is a better option for these players, both Morgan and Lallana I think have made moves at the right time, Lallana wouldn't be the player he is if he'd jumped ship at 19/20. You could argue Clasie as well, making the moves at the right time, showing some loyalty to the club that developed you and getting good regular seasons under your belt will stand these players in better stead for the future. Though even then there is no guarantees, as Bridge showed wasted his peak years sitting on the bench at Chelsea. Bank Balances got swollen and they probably got a higher profile to get England chances but really I think a few of these guys might regret moving so early when they look back at the their career. But they might look at a big pile of cash and think not.
Chez Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Danny Wallace. Pretty sure it was his disgruntled agent that angled for the move. Personally I never felt it would work at United (lots of good players seemed to flop around that time) and Southampton seemed very much like his adopted home having left London as a youngster.
simo Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 (edited) Lawrie mac (not a player but still....) Edited 16 July, 2015 by simo
shurlock Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Richard Hall (never mind it was an injury that derailed his career)
shurlock Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Actually think Surman suffered from being our sellable asset during administration.
Brizzie Saints Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Danny Wallace. Pretty sure it was his disgruntled agent that angled for the move. Personally I never felt it would work at United (lots of good players seemed to flop around that time) and Southampton seemed very much like his adopted home having left London as a youngster.THe reason danny wallace flopped was because he was diagnosed with MS, terrible disease and career ending for a footballer. http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/22/southampton-danny-wallace-multiple-sclerosis
Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 I'm not convinced that Lovren or Lallana have bettered themselves by leaving.
scotty Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Actually think Surman suffered from being our sellable asset during administration. I was gutted when drew left. One of my favourite players.
Saint_clark Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Actually think Surman suffered from being our sellable asset during administration. Imagine how good he could have been if we'd managed to keep him throughout the league one seasons and the back to back promotions.
derry Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Charlie Livesey Selling Charlie Livesey was arguably the start of the rise of SFC. A fee plus Cliff Huxford bought George O'Brien and Richard Connor and promotion to Div 2. Paine and Sydenham in that team joined by Chivers moved on to Div 1, the rest is history.
VectisSaint Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Matt Oakley - effectively discarded by Gormless George having just got back to his form after injury. Never wanted to leave and would have been another one club Matt if only GB had had some sense and offered more than a one year contract. Went on to give good service at Derby and Leicester, when we really could have done with him at Saints. Even Burley eventually realised what a mistake he had made when he tried to sign him for Palace. Mick Channon - at least he realised relatively quickly it was a mistake to go to Man City and came back for a few more great years.
Mr X Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 SRL is the main one from this year, was only ever going to be a bench warmer at his spiritual club but totally understand Liverpool is his club, cant help feeling he would be doing better if he was still here though, I think ricky needs the smaller knit club to get the best out of him. Lallana, lovren shaw & chambers haven't exactly been great since they left! lets hope its the same with Morgan & Clyne! remember andrew surman pretty good for us but where is he now Bournemouth?
Torres Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Jan-Paul Saeijs - left Saints for bigger and better things but is now back to playing in front of less than 1000 people in the Dutch 3rd tier.
SaintLiam Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Chambers and Shaw. Big prospects who opted for big money big club moves. Chambers almost guaranteed to fade into obscurity, Shaw is still in contention for the LB spot but I wouldn't think for much longer.
Saints foreva Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Chambers. Can't see him getting much game time there this season.
Mowgli Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 One of the most depressing stories in football has to be the decline of Wayne Bridge after he left Saints. Culminating in the comment he allegedly made to a fan when frozen out at Man City and linked with a return to Saunts. 'Would love to... Can't afford it mate...'
Saint Charlie Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Chambers definitely. His move only got him a big pay rise, senior England caps and an FA Cup winners medal in his first season.
scotty Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Berkovic Wasn't he another Toby? Except nobody seemed to realise he was just on loan?
rpb Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Selling Charlie Livesey was arguably the start of the rise of SFC. A fee plus Cliff Huxford bought George O'Brien and Richard Connor and promotion to Div 2. Paine and Sydenham in that team joined by Chivers moved on to Div 1, the rest is history. The move didn't do much for Charlie's career though, he seemed to disappear without trace at Chelsea.
Saint IQ Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 You could argue the grass isn't always greener for a lot of our high profile departures. Even the mighty Bale struggled for a couple of years at Spurs. I think both Walcott and the Ox are not the players they could have been due to lack of games at key development times. Chambers could be another to add to this list, Shaw too has struggled making that step up. These are young guys in their late teens who would be playing first team footie here spending more time on the bench. I think moving at 24-25 is a better option for these players, both Morgan and Lallana I think have made moves at the right time, Lallana wouldn't be the player he is if he'd jumped ship at 19/20. You could argue Clasie as well, making the moves at the right time, showing some loyalty to the club that developed you and getting good regular seasons under your belt will stand these players in better stead for the future. Though even then there is no guarantees, as Bridge showed wasted his peak years sitting on the bench at Chelsea. Bank Balances got swollen and they probably got a higher profile to get England chances but really I think a few of these guys might regret moving so early when they look back at the their career. But they might look at a big pile of cash and think not. Bridge actually started a lot for Chelsea for first 2 or 3 years before they got Cashely Cole in
Lighthouse Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Jan-Paul Saeijs - left Saints for bigger and better things but is now back to playing in front of less than 1000 people in the Dutch 3rd tier. He was never ours and he wanted to stay. Infact as I recall he was openly in the Dutch media shouting come and get me in 2009 but we didn't. Shame, with players like Neal Trotman and Chris Perry in the team, it's not as if we moved on to better things. Would have been nice to hang on to him. Surman and Skacel too, although the latter was long since disillusioned with life at Saints. A midfield with those two, Morgan and Lallana might well have taken us into the playoffs. Back to the OP. I'd say things will probably work out for Shaw and Lallana eventually. The other 3 from last summer I'm not so sure about. Chambers I can see ending up as a journeyman, he caught the first wave to hit the shore and broke to early, instead of waiting for the bigger waves behind it. Beattie was having a poor season anyway, it's doubtful he'd have done any better for us than he did at Everton. When the goals of Camera, Crouch and Phillips couldn't paper over the cracks (read gaping chasms) in our defence, I think we'd still have gone down with him.
tajjuk Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 He left and played regularly for Chelsea for a few years, won the Premier League, FA Cup, League cup, England caps, played in the Champions League and made a lot of money. Why on earth would he regret that or think staying at southampton would have helped things? He'd have 3 fewer medals that's for sure. He only played 87 league games in 6 seasons, no real regular football after the first season. I doubt he regrets the move, probably regrets staying there for so long though.
beatlesaint Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Steve Williams for sure. Phil Boyer (never have forgiven Lawrie for that one), The Ox and Rickie.
krissyboy31 Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 THe reason danny wallace flopped was because he was diagnosed with MS, terrible disease and career ending for a footballer. http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/22/southampton-danny-wallace-multiple-sclerosis Yes. we'll never know how good he could have been. Brother Rodney qualifies though. Never the same player for Leeds IMO.
Norm Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 Selling Charlie Livesey was arguably the start of the rise of SFC. A fee plus Cliff Huxford bought George O'Brien and Richard Connor and promotion to Div 2. Paine and Sydenham in that team joined by Chivers moved on to Div 1, the rest is history. That put a big smile on my face
ozzmeister Posted 16 July, 2015 Posted 16 July, 2015 The Titanic should have left Southampton though, just a shame it sunk... Much like Lambert's career. I still love Rickie for what he done for us, but he made his bed. Players like Shaw and Chambers, it's still too early to tell whether they made a mistake or not. There wasn't anything last season that showed me that they have improved at their new clubs. Of course you have got Chambers' England call ups, but that simply comes part and parcel of playing for a big club, regardless of whether you're any good or not. Bales first few seasons as Spurs were deemed poor (didn't he have a year of only being on a Spurs losing side) - he came good though as I think Shaw and Chambers will do.
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