[Link] Hooper to Southampton

If any of our top players leave for a Southampton or similar run of the mill, bottom half of the table, team in the EPL, then it shows a complete lack of ambition IMO. I really can't see Hooper going to Southampton if i'm honest.

 

I would agree with you - although with the exception of our English players.

It's not beyond the realms of belief that some of our players would prefer to play football in their own homeland.

 

Getting into the last 16 was so * important, in all probability, players like Hooper would happily leave for teams like Southampton if we only had the SPL.

Doubt he will leave after being one of the key players to get us into the final rounds of most prestigious competition in the world.

If he does, like others have said, it shows complete lack of ambition and good luck to him. I don't want unambitious players playing for us anyway.

 

Fair point, but if these guys want to progress and go as far as they can, which i'm guessing all of them would want to do so, then going to teams like Southampton would be a backwards step and quite a silly move IMO. Should a team from the EPL, playing in Europe and challenging for Champions League football come in for him or any others, then it's understandable. Any other teams, and it is purely down to money and not to benefit their playing careers, which should be number 1 priority to be fair.

 

Hooper is better than Southampton.

 

We know the obvious answers here mate, and I agree with you to an extent.

I also try to put myself in the player's shoes here when it comes to this type of topic - would a guy like Hooper stay at Celtic if an English team came calling for him when:

He is fond of the manager
There would be a big difference in wages offered
Back home (to an extent)
Up against better opposition
"Better" chances of getting into the England squad

I hope I am wrong nd none of these are in Hooper's thought, but they very well could be - regardless of the strength of Southampton's team.

 

Not unless Southampton making the last 16 of the champions league escaped my attention?

 

Man Utd and Arsenal are through to the last 16 :icon_mrgreen::bbpd:
nah, meant in the league.

If it was you or I, then we'd be telling a wee * team like Southampton to * off.

But others might be very interested - plus I'm sure a better grade of English team will have their eye on Hoops.

 

He would only be playing in the EPL...... (author now genuflects ...all hail EPL) for a half season! Them and Reading are the two leading contenders that WILL more then likely be sent down to the Championship. To this continuing story line I say no * chance this will ever happen!

 

I couldn't give a * about the EPL - just to make it known what my stance on it is.

Southampton are 15th in the league, doing not too bad.

As I say, Hooper is a fan of Adkins, would provide them with more firepower, and I think he would definitely make the move if he were overlooked regularly by Hodgson.

Anyway, as I say, I think bigger and better EPL clubs will be looking at him.

 

£15m & Gaston Ramirez

 

He could do a lot better than Saints.

 

I can't see him going to Southampton if he decides to leave. I would think he would be able to find a team in the top 8 who would be interested in his services. I think the Liverpool link is more realistic, or perhaps a Villa, Spurs, Everton or Newcastle type sized team. The clubs struggling near the bottom would be desperate to land his signature, but if he has any ambition, he should be holding out for a decent club with some longevity.

I doubt he will leave prior to the end of the season though!

 

I actually think there are two teams crying out for a Gary Hooper type striker in the Premiership - Arsenal and Liverpool.

 

Southampton could not afford Hooper, Case Closed imo

 

he already is.

would take a daft offer from a big club.

Southampton will probably look like they're trying to their fans by insulting us with a £6m offer. we all know that that isn't enough.

it's a dead deal. even if we do accept a ludicrous bid from Southampton, why would he swap medals, trophies and the Champions League for half a season of EPL action?

 

:smiley-laughing002:

The top sides in the Premiership are as toothless as I've seen them in my lifetime with the exception of the two Manchester teams. I think Hooper will leave at some point to pursue his ambition of being part of the England squad, but it won't be to a club of Southampton's stature and it will be for around the £10m mark.

 

hahahahaha

 

- Southampton had a net spend of over £30 million in the summer, which was the 7th largest in Europe.
- They are owed by the estate of a multi billionaire.
- Average over 30,000 this season despite being in the bottom half of the league.
- Have early plans to expand St Mary's to between 45,000 to 50,000.
- Are currently constructing a £15 million development at their training ground.
- Have a category 1 academy, one of the best in the UK.

£15+ million training ground development

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRzmU2VvB_M&feature=g-subs-u"]TRAINING GROUND: December 2012 Update - YouTube[/ame]

Early stadium expansion plans



They aren't quite the "diddy little English club" many of you are making them out to be. They have a sizeable fanbase, very good infrastructure (at the stadium, academy, training ground) and owners with both high ambition and large resources to meet the ambition.

Laugh all you want, but even in the Champions League last 16, Celtic in the Scottish league system can't compete with Southampton. Could Celtic have signed the likes of Gaston Ramirez for £12 million?

 

The money being spent is over-inflated and quite frankly ridiculous and unsustainable.
What happens when the sugar daddies leave the club?
I quite like Southampton. They have produced some top players in recent years.

But to even compare them to a global brand like Celtic is rather laughable.

Any good luck to you's and any other strikers you want to sign.