Cortese used to talk about pushing for a Champions League spot. He's gone now (probably because the funds to do so weren't forthcoming) and it's pretty clear that's not the ambition any more.

With that scaling-back in mind, you can't blame any of the players for wanting to go elsewhere and the club have done well to get the fees they have.

Fuck me though, we need to start spending soon. I'm gonna reserve judgment until the transfer window closes, and optimistically predict that around half of what we've made (£60m once Rodriguez and Schneiderlin are gone?) will be reinvested. Enough to keep us competitive at least.

Can't imagine Koeman signed up for an asset-strip and relegation battle either, so that's something to cling on to.

Is there actually a reason as to why all the players are leaving?
The club weren't in debt were they?

Something must be terribly wrong behind the scenes; can't remember seeing an exodus like this in my lifetime...

They are leaving because they are getting paid massive prices for these players and the players want to move to bigger clubs, win win situation. They should be able to find players to finish in top half for way less than they've received.

(28/07/2014, 22:02)rustee1 Wrote: They are leaving because they are getting paid massive prices for these players and the players want to move to bigger clubs, win win situation.

It's not so much the players leaving that's a concern, more the lack of replacements.

4 or 5 more alongside Tadic and Pelle in the £7-10m bracket should see us straight, but the danger is that the board will think they can replace everyone who's gone with kids from the academy, that's what's worrying me.

I reckon we should have a look at this guy.

Ralph Kreuger's been doing the rounds this afternoon...

“Any reports that Rodriguez or Schneiderlin are leaving or we are in engaged in transfer conversations are totally off the mark.

“They will not be sold.”

Can only imagine there's been discussions and they've agreed to stay. Wouldn't make such a bold statement otherwise would you? Would you?

Nice to hear some good news at last. Schneiderlin's easily our best player now (probably was last year too) and with Lallana and Lambert gone Rodriguez's goals are needed more than ever.

Onwards and upwards, hopefully.

Don't get too excited Scotty, Morgan tweeted this a few hours ago:

"6 years of an amazing journey #saintsfc DESTROYED in 1 hour !!!"

As a Southampton fan, I can not believe the exeodus!! Its absolute madness!! We finished 8th last season, only a few points behind Manchester United and now we must be near favorites for relegation, purely because we didnt hold our players to their contracts. Its an absolute shambles, it really is

(29/07/2014, 16:42)ScottyRampant Wrote: Can only imagine there's been discussions and they've agreed to stay. Wouldn't make such a bold statement otherwise would you? Would you?

So there were discussions, Morgan still wanted to go but Ralph stood firm.

Kind of well done him, but isn't it a a touch late to be showing a bit of backbone (£95m later)? Schneiderlin probably feels that if he kicks up enough of a stink (Lovren-style) he'll get the move anyway.

And he probably will.

When did footballers all become such dicks?

Unfortunately for Southampton. What's happening to them this year was always going to be the case.
They were a squad of good young players. Who aren't going to stay at a 'small' club like Southampton. They're obviously going to want to push their careers on further with a bigger club.

Have to feel sorry for them, they've been completely ripped apart. Unless they've already got signings lined up they could struggle to bring any big names in as well, would anyone really want to be going to a club where all the players seemingly want to leave?