Ryan Bertrand

[Barsiem]

10 minutes ago, JRM said:

Agree he was absolutely top quality left back in his prime, 19 England caps so still a decent number of appearances but should have had more. 

We'll struggle to replace him, Matt Targett would have been worth holding onto. 

Have to disagree re Targett.  He needed 1st team football to develop and took 18months as a 1st choice villain to become a good premier league fullback.  We got great money for him as well to reinvest in the squad.  Now we could do with him but it was the right decision to let him go when we did

Ryan has been a great servant - sad to see him go

[TWar]

Great player, has been one of our best and most important players since we rejoined the prem. Obviously this season he has shown age has caught up to him but I personally will remember him at his best in 2015/16 where he was amazing. Wish him the best of luck for the future.

Edited 12 May, 2021 by TWar

[LeBizzier69]

24 minutes ago, Greenridge said:

Or any other manager.

He was thanking the current senior management team, so not sure why he’d mention previous managers in that sentence. Omitting the person who picks the current team strikes me as odd.

[DrSuess1979]

28 minutes ago, davefizzy14 said:

Ryan has been a truly great servant to our club. Great player and person (his written statement on Instagram today shows this) - when he signed for us back in the summer of 2014 initially on loan, I thought we had bought ourselves a quality player to be honest. Then we made it permanent the following January for £10 million, what a brilliant piece of business that turned out to be. Good luck Ryan and all the best for the future, your always be welcomed back with open arms - once a Saint always a Saint

This 100% all the best bertee 

[Neef]

Great player for the club, argubaly one of our best PL signings of this era. 

Sad to see him go to be honest. He seemed like a great player to have around for those coming up, and still is very useful in a Premier League squad.

Will also always remember how he was rumoured to be very influential in organising the wage deferral the players took last year when the pandemic first hit. 

[Eric The Red]

45 minutes ago, davefizzy14 said:

Ryan has been a truly great servant to our club. Great player and person (his written statement on Instagram today shows this) - when he signed for us back in the summer of 2014 initially on loan, I thought we had bought ourselves a quality player to be honest. Then we made it permanent the following January for £10 million, what a brilliant piece of business that turned out to be. Good luck Ryan and all the best for the future, your always be welcomed back with open arms - once a Saint always a Saint

100% agree, very sad to see him go. Need to get in someone who has the pace stamina and skill to match Bertie at his best

[LuckyNumber7]

I remember being quite disappointed when we originally signed him on loan as he hadn't been great at Villa, but happy to say he well and truly proved me wrong and has been a great servant for the club for seven years. Also seems like a decent bloke and quite intelligent, would like to see him return in some capacity after he retires.

Undoubtedly was at his best under Koeman and has kind of been in slow decline since then but particularly the last year or so, not helped by the quality of the players around him regressing too. Therefor a parting of the ways is probably best for all concerned.

Thanks for the service Ryan and good luck wherever you go next.

[rooney]

A very good signing for us at the time and Ryan has served Club and Country well. Time to move on though now  and we wish him every good fortune. 

[eurosaint]

His body language and general demeanour perhaps gave out signals that he didn't care but I'm pretty sure that was not actually the case !

For that reason I was not happy that he was made captain but if you read the likes of Adam Blackmore it seems that he is rational, sensible, intelligent and businesslike !

In any case he has been a great servant to our club and deserves our best wishes for the future !

Good luck Ryan 👍

Edited 12 May, 2021 by eurosaint

[Toadhall Saint]

2 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

 

A great servant for us. Good luck to him I say.

[RobM]

The fact he called out our board and not Ralph, and the fact he made specific reference to playing style, ability to express himself, etc, suggests some significant misalignment with Ralph. I have huge respect for Bertrand and what he has done for us, but if any player can't get fully onboard with the managers style, it's right to move on. I wish him well.

[Rebel]

1 hour ago, Barsiem said:

Have to disagree re Targett.  He needed 1st team football to develop and took 18months as a 1st choice villain to become a good premier league fullback.  We got great money for him as well to reinvest in the squad.  Now we could do with him but it was the right decision to let him go when we did

Ryan has been a great servant - sad to see him go

The only problem with selling Targett was with McQueen's injury and Vokins as the next in line from the academy (and not good enough or anywhere near ready enough) it left us with only one Left Back in Ryan Bertrand and no cover -  and this summer without a first team left back at all.  The money from selling Targett needed to be spent on replacing him the summer we sold him - or at least some of it.

Now we are desperate for a left back and any club selling us a left back this summer will be adding a couple of million to the price knowing we are desperate.

We should have kept Targett and played him more - giving him the time to develop - and by now he would probably would have bene first choice left back for us or as good as.   

And then know we would be letting Bertrand go and replacing him with a young prospect at £5M or so to give competition and cover for Targett - instead we are probably going to have to pay £12-15M or more for a first choice left back.

It was a decision that proves we have no idea about squad planning or succession planning - and how desperate we were/are for a decent Director of Football to take a strategic view - or that we were very desperate for cash at the time.

 

[the saint in winchester]

Even the Saints FC statement indicates it was mutually agreed he should pursue his career elsewhere.

Yes, I'm sure we would have loved Targett to stay with us and play second fiddle for the last couple seasons, but it was the right thing to let him move on, and getting £17M for him was a very good offer.

Rico Henry would be ideal, but I think Brentford will make it up this time. They are the form side of the playoff candidates. Hopefully we can a decent replacement.

[JustinSFC]

3 hours ago, skintsaint said:

GG. Thanks for the effort down the years RB!

Ok...whos coming in then

Reckon we'll make a pretty solid play for Williams.

Bertrand will full well know Ralph wants him, we went pretty public about it and doubt he's going to want to sit on our bench because the consistent theme with Hasenhuttl is, if he doesn't fancy you you're basically frozen out.

Edited 12 May, 2021 by JustinSFC

[Billy the Kidd]

7 minutes ago, Rebel said:

The only problem with selling Targett was with McQueen's injury and Vokins as the next in line from the academy (and not good enough or anywhere near ready enough) it left us with only one Left Back in Ryan Bertrand and no cover -  and this summer without a first team left back at all.  The money from selling Targett needed to be spent on replacing him the summer we sold him - or at least some of it.

Now we are desperate for a left back and any club selling us a left back this summer will be adding a couple of million to the price knowing we are desperate.

We should have kept Targett and played him more - giving him the time to develop - and by now he would probably would have bene first choice left back for us or as good as.   

And then know we would be letting Bertrand go and replacing him with a young prospect at £5M or so to give competition and cover for Targett - instead we are probably going to have to pay £12-15M or more for a first choice left back.

It was a decision that proves we have no idea about squad planning or succession planning - and how desperate we were/are for a decent Director of Football to take a strategic view - or that we were very desperate for cash at the time.

 

This seems rather subjective to say the least.

We have been looking for LBs for a while now, even had RB stayed, we needed someone to take over the baton in 6-12 months. 

That at the very least is succession planning. We even tried to get Brandon Williams all of last season on loan, likely with a view to purchase. That again is succession planning.

Did you think we were going to just wake up on 1 July or whine RBs contract officially ends and think ‘has anyone seen Ryan, he hasn’t shown up for work’.

Also, youre saying we are going to have to pay £12-15m for RBs replacement - I’d agree. Didnt we get £16-17m for Targett? So that means we got more for the outgoing player than we will spend on the incoming one? And what if, we there is every possibility, we get RBs replacement that is better than Targett?

[Rebel]

16 minutes ago, Billy the Kidd said:

This seems rather subjective to say the least.

We have been looking for LBs for a while now, even had RB stayed, we needed someone to take over the baton in 6-12 months. 

That at the very least is succession planning. We even tried to get Brandon Williams all of last season on loan, likely with a view to purchase. That again is succession planning.

Did you think we were going to just wake up on 1 July or whine RBs contract officially ends and think ‘has anyone seen Ryan, he hasn’t shown up for work’.

Also, youre saying we are going to have to pay £12-15m for RBs replacement - I’d agree. Didnt we get £16-17m for Targett? So that means we got more for the outgoing player than we will spend on the incoming one? And what if, we there is every possibility, we get RBs replacement that is better than Targett?

I think the reality was we were desperate for cash - and spent the money or most of it on Djneppo.  

But yes I think its bad squad planning - having just 1 right back and 1 left back doesn't look like good planning (not unless you are hoping for no injuries, suspensions or loss of form). And yes on the 1st July I think they will wake up and think shit we haven't got a left back in the first team squad - we really need to buy 2 now.

 

[JustinSFC]

Also, Alex Crook is still full of shit.

[Chapel End]

A great player for us for several years and he deserves plenty of credit for that and as Blackmore said he us a decent guy and definitely not the person some on here made him out to be.

Good luck and best wishes Ryan 

Edited 12 May, 2021 by Chapel End

[Lighthouse]

1 minute ago, Rebel said:

I think the reality was we were desperate for cash - and spent the money or most of it on Djneppo.  

But yes I think its bad squad planning - having just 1 right back and 1 left back doesn't look like good planning (not unless you are hoping for no injuries, suspensions or loss of form). And yes on the 1st July I think they will wake up and think shit we haven't got a left back in the first team squad - we really need to buy 2 now.

 

This is all standard stuff for most clubs, I’m not sure how you’ve arrived at the conclusion we were ‘desperate’ about anything. Selling our reserve LB for a considerable amount of money allowed us to spend it in another area which was a priority. I vaguely recall it being Adams who was signed not long after Targett left, Djenepo arrived early on in the window. In any case it was all part of a transfer strategy for that summer and allowed us to spend in other areas which were a priority, I.e. a shortage of goals up front.

 

Why you the professional recruitment team of a Premier League football club will not realise we now need a LB and ‘suddenly’ realise on 1st July I’ve no idea.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

At the very least this gives clarity for both sides. For Bertie, I think he would have something lined up already, and for us it gives us plenty of time to try and get our first choice replacement, rather than arse about last minute as we quite often do.

[SKD]

Meh. Absolutely Great under Koeman, been pretty average since. 

Thanks for the service but time to move on and best for both parties. 

Will no doubt end up at a big club. Previously didn’t want to move away from his Surrey home, so it’ll be interesting to see where he goes and if that’s changed. 

[Billy the Kidd]

39 minutes ago, Rebel said:

I think the reality was we were desperate for cash - and spent the money or most of it on Djneppo.  

But yes I think its bad squad planning - having just 1 right back and 1 left back doesn't look like good planning (not unless you are hoping for no injuries, suspensions or loss of form). And yes on the 1st July I think they will wake up and think shit we haven't got a left back in the first team squad - we really need to buy 2 now.

 

We did need the cash yes, and I still think it was good business.

At the start of the season, we had cover for both positions. But both turned out no where near good enough when called on.  Partly bad planning, however we tried to get Williams and were told near the end of the window it wasnt happening.  With how bad both were, I saw the sense of not having them around. 

And I literally have no answer to you saying about waking up on 1st July thinking shit, we have no left back - are you not aware they have already been looking for a LB for 1st team, and are looking at possible cover for both Left and Right back? - anyhow, will leave you to think that if it makes you happy😂 

[It's There]

3 hours ago, davefizzy14 said:

Ryan has been a truly great servant to our club. Great player and person (his written statement on Instagram today shows this) - when he signed for us back in the summer of 2014 initially on loan, I thought we had bought ourselves a quality player to be honest. Then we made it permanent the following January for £10 million, what a brilliant piece of business that turned out to be. Good luck Ryan and all the best for the future, your always be welcomed back with open arms - once a Saint always a Saint

Totally agree. I don't get the bashing. He was quality and should always be respected for what he did with us. I wish him well, for the next phase in his career.

[Billy the Kidd]

42 minutes ago, Chapel End said:

A great player for us for several years and he deserves plenty of credit fir that and as Blackmore said he us a decent guy and definitely not the person some on here made him out to be.

Good luck and best wishes Ryan 

Ah what does Blackmore know, he has a shit attitude as well 😉

[Roo1976]

So where do we suppose he might end up then?.........Wet spam ...or..Newcastle?......BTW good player for us early on when he could be bothered, went off the pace over the last 2 seasons TBH.

[Saint Keef]

Can we please get a LB whose initials are not RB. Too bloody confusing for me!

Anyway, no denying he has been a great signing and servant of the club, but over the past season (and possibly two) I have noticed a decline in his pace and ability to get back quickly once he has gone forward, so I agree this is the right move for him. maybe he'll go to one of the newly promoted clubs. Watford? or drop down to the Championship. 

Obviously need to replace him, but I also wonder whether a back 3 would work. We looked quite solid when Salisu came on last night and we seemed to go to a back 3 with Jack Stephens (yes I know he had a brain fart, but overall he hasn't been that bad filling in for RB) moving across to the right  of Vesti and Salisu to the left. Mind you, if Vesti goes we'll be looking for a CB as well as a LB. Whatever, it could be a busy Summer. Let's hope we act early.

I don't have great knowledge of The Championship, but if we are looking for a LB that gets forward in a similar vein to KWP, Omar Richards at Reading looks decent and they having missed out on promotion I have heard they will need to sell some good players. 

[East Kent Saint]

Thanks Bertie , a good signing despite his poor time at Villa , Saints gave him another chance and he has done well for us overall . 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

12 minutes ago, Roo1976 said:

So where do we suppose he might end up then?.........Wet spam ...or..Newcastle?......BTW good player for us early on when he could be bothered, went off the pace over the last 2 seasons TBH.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him at Palace

[S-Clarke]

I remember when we signed him, there was collective uproar on here that we were replacing £32m Shaw with a freebie loan who had been relegated the season previous with Villa.

I guess it's a lesson to give everyone a chance, no matter where or what they're coming from. 

We have enjoyed Bertrand at the peak of his career and I'm glad that he was here throughout that. He has provided us some wonderful memories, particularly in the Koeman years. It was probably one of the best £15m we've spent in recent times, an absolutely no thrills full back who rarely provided any glaring issues. We've been pretty comfortable for 7 years at LB because of Ryan being around.

Sadly his legs have started to go a little, he cannot get up and down the pitch with the same vigour that he used to. That massively impacts our game as it requires the full backs to press hard and stretch, so he's struggled a little bit with the intensity over the last 12 months I've felt.

Overall though a great servant for us, lots of good memories - but now is the right time for both the club and himself to follow different paths. Hopefully he finishes his career at a decent club and maybe one day comes back here in a different capacity.

[Badger]

15 minutes ago, Roo1976 said:

So where do we suppose he might end up then?.........Wet spam ...or..Newcastle?......BTW good player for us early on when he could be bothered, went off the pace over the last 2 seasons TBH.

I suspect Leicester. Has a connection with Rodgers, and if they're in the CL next season it will give opportunity for game time.

 

[Badger]

Shame it has come to an end as it inevitably had to at some point. To the club and his credit it appears to have been done with dignity on both sides. His 'message' seems far more sincere than Nivea's.

RB was a better signing than I expected coming after his spell at Villa, and we certainly didn't miss Shaw. 

We've certainly had our moneys worth over the course of his time with us, although there were also some half-arsed displays ,2017/18 springs to mind, his reckless clearance away at Everton under Hughes with Southgate in the stands possibly cost him a place in the WC squad which taken over the previous couple of years should have been his. 

Has looked a bit stale at times this season, I expect when we see him playing elsewhere next season he'll look rejuvenated and 10 years younger. Hope we replace wisely though.

[Micky]

Great servant to the club, good pro.  Nice statement from him as well, I wish him all the best.  Could end up at Arsenal.

[Chapel End]

On 11/05/2021 at 12:50, DT said:

Time to move on. Has seemingly been playing at 70% effort for about two years. Need to unearth a new gem and get as much for him as possible from Chelsea or whoever wants a good back up

70%!! 🙄

You do post some utter rubbish.

No manager would allow that.

 

[Lighthouse]

36 minutes ago, Badger said:

I suspect Leicester. Has a connection with Rodgers, and if they're in the CL next season it will give opportunity for game time.

 

Too far to commute, assuming the stories about him still living in Surrey are true. It'll almost certainly be one of the London clubs. 

[Billy the Kidd]

24 minutes ago, Chapel End said:

70%!! 🙄

You do post some utter rubbish.

No manager would allow that.

 

The biggest bollocks is he wants a fee for a player out of contract 🤑

[Billy the Kidd]

16 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

Too far to commute, assuming the stories about him still living in Surrey are true. It'll almost certainly be one of the London clubs. 

Quite possibly but Villa wasn't local either.

[qwertyell]

2 hours ago, JustinSFC said:

Reckon we'll make a pretty solid play for Williams.

Bertrand will full well know Ralph wants him, we went pretty public about it and doubt he's going to want to sit on our bench because the consistent theme with Hasenhuttl is, if he doesn't fancy you you're basically frozen out.

The right footed right back Brandon Williams?

I would hope our club knows he only got some minutes at left back last season for United because they were desperate and had no back up - much like Stephens is getting a run out on the left at the moment for us. And no-one would possibly argue he's a left back either. Or would they?

Since Luke Shaw got fit and they signed Alex Telles, Williams hasn't featured at left back. Because he's not a left back. He's got his minutes this season at right back. His actual position.

It would be bizarre for the club to go all out to sign as a left back replacement a guy who's main position isn't left back. Not that I'd put it past us.

His versatility makes him a handy squad player - and an attractive loan option -  but he'd be a poor full time left back replacement. What with him not being a left back and all.

Call me old fashioned, but I think a left back should a) be a left back and b) able to cross the ball on the run with his left foot.

[S-Clarke]

8 minutes ago, qwertyell said:

The right footed right back Brandon Williams?

I would hope our club knows he only got some minutes at left back last season for United because they were desperate and had no back up - much like Stephens is getting a run out on the left at the moment for us. And no-one would possibly argue he's a left back either. Or would they?

Since Luke Shaw got fit and they signed Alex Telles, Williams hasn't featured at left back. Because he's not a left back. He's got his minutes this season at right back. His actual position.

It would be bizarre for the club to go all out to sign as a left back replacement a guy who's main position isn't left back. Not that I'd put it past us.

His versatility makes him a handy squad player - and an attractive loan option -  but he'd be a poor full time left back replacement. What with him not being a left back and all.

Call me old fashioned, but I think a left back should a) be a left back and b) able to cross the ball on the run with his left foot.

I think he's equally as adept on either side to be honest, obviously being right footed helps the attacking element from that side, but I think he's perfectly capable of producing a similar game at left back.

I think we will also buy a natural left back though, but someone with an eye on the future rather than a ready made starter (Our market will be the Diallos/Salisu's etc). Williams would be the immediate addition on a loan whilst the new permanent signing grows accustomed to this league and our ways.

Edited 12 May, 2021 by S-Clarke

[T *]

Didn't look too miserable here 😂

 

[JustinSFC]

46 minutes ago, qwertyell said:

The right footed right back Brandon Williams?

I would hope our club knows he only got some minutes at left back last season for United because they were desperate and had no back up - much like Stephens is getting a run out on the left at the moment for us. And no-one would possibly argue he's a left back either. Or would they?

Since Luke Shaw got fit and they signed Alex Telles, Williams hasn't featured at left back. Because he's not a left back. He's got his minutes this season at right back. His actual position.

It would be bizarre for the club to go all out to sign as a left back replacement a guy who's main position isn't left back. Not that I'd put it past us.

His versatility makes him a handy squad player - and an attractive loan option -  but he'd be a poor full time left back replacement. What with him not being a left back and all.

Call me old fashioned, but I think a left back should a) be a left back and b) able to cross the ball on the run with his left foot.

He's a left back.

He played right back last night V Leicester and that's the first time I've personally seen him play there.

Wikipedia has him as left back aswell and mention he's capable at right back.

Last night at right back he was pretty bad.

[stknowle]

Would echo the thoughts above re being underwhelmed when he signed but then being proven wrong to be so. Always thought it was a disgrace he was dropped from the world cup squad in favour of Ashley fucking Young after playing in (I think) every qualifier. Does look grumpy but then maybe that's why. A good solid consistent performer for us. Goodbye and good luck.

[Manuel]

21 minutes ago, T * said:

Didn't look too miserable here 😂

 

Ha ha, good find

[Chez]

Bertrand has been absolutely fantastic for us over the years. He has been underrated by many. He should have gone to the world cup when he was at his best, and could have provided England cover as a CB as part of the three as he did for us, but its wasn't to be. 

The key has always been his first touch, positioning, pace and decision making, especially his ability to assess distances and know when to tackle and when to jockey. He never sold himself and had the pace to prevent anyone beating him all end up.

His pace has got both the side and himself out of jail a lot. He has lost a step over the last year or so and that has reduced his effectiveness a lot.

I felt the ideal scenario was to keep him, on a lessor wage, but look for competition this summer, not an understudy. He's not as good as he was, but he is still decent.

It should not be underestimated how good a player he has been and finding two quality left backs with our budget will be tough. KWP has worked out well. That wont happen every time.

I am kind of glad the club hasn't overstretched itself to keep him, but nervous about how we fill that gap. Omar Richards would be have been ideal. I'm not sure who is next in line.

 

[Streaky]

2 hours ago, Saint Keef said:

Can we please get a LB whose initials are not RB. Too bloody confusing for me!

Anyway, no denying he has been a great signing and servant of the club, but over the past season (and possibly two) I have noticed a decline in his pace and ability to get back quickly once he has gone forward, so I agree this is the right move for him. maybe he'll go to one of the newly promoted clubs. Watford? or drop down to the Championship. 

Obviously need to replace him, but I also wonder whether a back 3 would work. We looked quite solid when Salisu came on last night and we seemed to go to a back 3 with Jack Stephens (yes I know he had a brain fart, but overall he hasn't been that bad filling in for RB) moving across to the right  of Vesti and Salisu to the left. Mind you, if Vesti goes we'll be looking for a CB as well as a LB. Whatever, it could be a busy Summer. Let's hope we act early.

I don't have great knowledge of The Championship, but if we are looking for a LB that gets forward in a similar vein to KWP, Omar Richards at Reading looks decent and they having missed out on promotion I have heard they will need to sell some good players. 

Rico Henry for me. Whether or not we can afford him I dont know. Brentford will probably want north of 20m

[Chez]

24 minutes ago, JustinSFC said:

He's a left back.

He played right back last night V Leicester and that's the first time I've personally seen him play there.

Wikipedia has him as left back aswell and mention he's capable at right back.

Last night at right back he was pretty bad.

Very decent left back in the games that I've watched him play and he can provide cover for right back. Perfect type of player for us. Whether he can perform to the standard KWP has, I am not sure.

[Whitey Grandad]

3 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

This is all standard stuff for most clubs, I’m not sure how you’ve arrived at the conclusion we were ‘desperate’ about anything. Selling our reserve LB for a considerable amount of money allowed us to spend it in another area which was a priority. I vaguely recall it being Adams who was signed not long after Targett left, Djenepo arrived early on in the window. In any case it was all part of a transfer strategy for that summer and allowed us to spend in other areas which were a priority, I.e. a shortage of goals up front.

 

Why you the professional recruitment team of a Premier League football club will not realise we now need a LB and ‘suddenly’ realise on 1st July I’ve no idea.

This won’t have come as a surprise to either party. They will have been talking bout options for some time now.

[LiberalCommunist]

To have served out seven seasons here is a commendable achievement, and a rarity. I wish him well in future endevours. 

But, very happy with our clubs decision. A two or three year deal would have had yet another player stopping us from our previous recruitment policy. 

Brave & responsible. Recruit well to complete the process. 

 

 

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, Lighthouse said:

Too far to commute, assuming the stories about him still living in Surrey are true. It'll almost certainly be one of the London clubs. 

For professional footballers the important location is the training ground and not the main stadium. In Chelsea’s case that is Chobham. Arsenal’s is at London Colney just south of the M25 to the north of London. Tottenham’s is just on the East to the north of Enfield. Geographically it is a mile from where I used to live in the 1960’s. 
 

I don’t think he will be going to either of these two.

[Lallana's Left Peg]

I wish him well, can't complain based on the service he gave the club and overall body of work.

But can't help but think selfishly in the short-term that its now two left backs we need to buy this summer with what I am assuming is a small transfer budget which isn't supplemented by his departure because we won't receive a fee for him.

[Whitey Grandad]

2 minutes ago, Lallana's Left Peg said:

I wish him well, can't complain based on the service he gave the club and overall body of work.

But can't help but think selfishly in the short-term that its now two left backs we need to buy this summer with what I am assuming is a small transfer budget which isn't supplemented by his departure because we won't receive a fee for him.

On the other hand it will free up his wages which I don’t suppose will have been cheap.