After all this I will probably end up with a perfect replica, but clicked the wrong button and have Ings on the back
£30m?? Thats great business! Disappointed for the club that he as left us after we investing so much effort (and faith) in his recovery. Disappointed for Danny that his 'dream move' ended up with another mid table side. Ralph always said it would take a silly offer for the club to see him and that's exactly what has happened. We'll never know but it would be interesting to know whether Danny forced the move and we actually negotiated the price to £30m or whether that was the offer and we told Danny we were letting him go. I'm less worried about JWP. Niaively perhaps I think he is more likely to show loyalty but more importantly I don't think Villa will cough up the £80m plus required for Saints to say 'agreed' because they still need 2 or 3 players to build a decent squad. As others have said, there is a big question mark over how he will actually fit into the Villa team. Whereas here I can see Che stepping up to fill the lead striker role and forming an awesome understanding with Tella.
True, but I would say Danny was already proven at the top level. That’s the thing, we have to buy someone we think will be a goal scorer. It’s a gamble everyone tries to make. But if we get it wrong the consequences could be grave
I’d love to see Adams lead the line and grab a hatful but I don’t see it happening. I think he is more of a Shane long Mk 2. Bit of an upgrade but not a 15 goal a season striker.
Buying a proven goal scorer in the Prem doesn't mean they will get goals Torres when he went to Chelsea for example so like you said its a gamble whatever they do.
He's a far better footballer than Shane but I agree he's not a natural finisher at this level. Brings more than enough to be worth his place in the team. One of those who seems to be great with instinctive/first time finishes but if given time to think will miss more than he scores. Someone (sorry can't remember who) said earlier that we need more goals from midfield which I completely agree with.
Yes he is, I think his contribution will always be more than just goals. Yes but we’ve invested in Walcott, still have Djenepo/Redmond et al. So I don’t see us buying a AM who can bang em in!
Was at the game tonight and I can honestly say that it was one of the strangest atmospheres’ I’ve seen at a game. I said to my son that if Ings isn’t here tonight it’s because he’s leaving only for Twitter to explode 15 minutes later with news of his sale. I was sat near the Saints bench and pretty sure Vesty wasn’t amongst the players, though I may be wrong? Apart from that, I think it’s great business from the club to get a projected £30 million for a near on 30 year old with 11 months left on his contract, who clearly was never going to stay weather a BIG club came in or not. He would probably have gone to spuds for £18 million or so, on the 31st August, leaving us right in the ****.
Agree - get past the initial shock which is always the case when a transfer happens without us having even an inkling - and it makes sense. I reckon Ralph will see this as an opportunity rather than a loss. Reckon Ings is certainly on his way to being a 10 goal a season player (injuries mounting, edging to 30), and whilst I'd prefer to have kept him, this keeps us moving forward and I trust Ralph 100% in the transfer market. More than any manager in the PL, he buys to suit his desired, clearly-defined playing style, and we will likely get a few more players than we would have been otherwise this summer to help him accomplish that. I'd expect Ings to apply himself at Villa, and if he can keep injuries at bay, could do well - but totally dependent on their new signings all bedding in. They have bought a few providers to pre-empt Grealish leaving, but they do all have to hit the ground running. That's not easy, by any means. Age profile in our squad will be decreasing, and that's what a club, with little cash flow and with with their eye on a sustainable future should be doing. And near enough a full month to find what we want.
The choice was, surprise, surprise, money in the hand is better than might get in the hand. Personally, I've detached any emotion regarding him playing for whoever, he did well for us, but clearly had no interest in staying, so no point in hanging about. He will not I'm afraid be on the same shelf of admiration as Rickie and a certain other number 7!
Don't you just love watching Ralph prove that wrong season after season, though? It's what's so great about this club.
Re: relegation candidates 1978-2005 Southampton FC, relegation candidates. 27 years of worry for some, 27 years of meltdowns for some. 27 years of being miserable for some. Not me. One year of pain - 2005. I loved my youth.
Torres will always be remembered for that reason, because he flopped at Chelsea. That does show it’s not that common for a world class player to completely loose ability.