Matt O'Riley

Yeah, but the price should be £30m. Anything less and we aren't actually improving on the process of player trading at all.

We received £25m for a crocked Tierney 5 years ago; £25m for Jota last season too. Both great players, but O'Riley's season last year at the very least matches anything they did for us and his potential is arguably higher than theirs when they left.

Even if we do get £30m for him, do we genuinely think it would get reinvested properly? We sell players for good money all the time and our transfer model stays the same, our youth set up is still rotten and our facilities are still average. Where's the development here?

Getting to the next level isn't just about selling at the right time. We need to reinvest that money and show some ambition. Otherwise it's pointless. So I'm getting to the stage now where I'd rather keep him for another 6-12 months if that's possible. His quality is worth more to us on the park than millions gathering dust in the bank.

 

Do you not want Celtic to stay in the top-flight and get the money that comes with it?

 

Yep. Course that would be the height of our ambition..... for how many years has it been in there overall? Lol..

Some accolade to look back on..

You can cherry pick players from us, Ajax and a host of other teams now when you're in the top flight. It certainly isn't because of the size of your club, that's for sure..

 

Absolute nonsense!

Southampton's average matchgoing fanbase is far bigger than all three regardless of the league they are in.

Last season the Scottish top league...

Hearts - 18k
Hibs - 16k
Aberdeen -16k

Southampton average in the Premier League - 30k
Southampton average in the 2nd tier - 29k
Southampton average in the 3rd tier - 22k

So even as a 3rd tier club they had bigger attendances than Hearts, Hibs & Aberdeen in the Scottish top tier.

Southampton are also looking to expand St Mary's to circa 40k, and currently has 25k season ticket holders and a waiting list.

To think Hearts, Hibs & Aberdeen have a bigger fanbase is delusional.

 

At no point have I said Southampton are a 'bigger' club than Celtic or that we could do it without PL money. So what is the issue?

My point was pointing out the 'diddy club' label is demonstrably nonsense.

 

Nonsense

A club 'yo-yo-ing' is going up and down in quick succession.

Having 8 year, 27 year and 11 year spells in the top flight is not short-term up and down.

 

why are you still here lol. You will never change people's opinion on Southampton just being another dull side in English football same as we won't change your opinion on Southampton being a step down from Celtic.

 

Even if we put aside the the PL money...

Saints have a large global fanbase (more Twitter, a large matchgoing fanbase of 30k+ averages, a modern stadium they are looking to expand to 40k+, a better training ground than Celtic and a very good academy. What makes them 'diddy' in 2024?

 

Professional footballers do not see it as a step down. That is what really matters, not that of the views of Saints or Celtic fans.

If Celtic played in the EPL then a move to Southampton would be a step down, I've never said otherwise. But in the current situation for both clubs a move to Southampton is a stepping stone progression for a player. As it puts them in a position to get a really big move like van Dijk, Wanyama etc did.

 

Regardless pay the 30m he's worth or shove it

 

I'd be surprised if he seen Southampton as a stepping stone , with some of the other teams that have been linked he could quite easily miss that part out . If Southampton offer the money and the club accepts then he has a decision to make.

 

van Dijk and Wanyama both took the next stepping stone from Celtic to Southampton in order to get to Liverpool & Spurs. So why not O'Riley? It gives him a platform to get a really big move in 1 to 2 years time, plus a wage rise and money in his agent's pocket.

 

Couldn't care less whether Southampton have 100,000 or 1,000 at their games.. pay a respectable and fair fee and best of luck to them

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It's not a slight on Southampton because i actually don't mind them and generally, I don't give a * where players go after they leave here as long as we get the money we want and they perform well enough to get a move but I think this is probably the first time where I would care where he goes.

Southampton play in the richest league in the world but he has had quite a few links with so many great clubs that I would hope he would go abroad. Leverkusen, Atalanta, Inter, Juventus and A. Madrid.... these are bigger and better clubs than Southampton, who all play European football. None of them are running the risk of relegation and some of them are steeped in incredible history.

 

So what? If none of those clubs bid or bid to an acceptable level, then he won't be joining them. If Southampton meet what Celtic want, are you ruling out the possibility of him moving?

 

I didn't say that. Ironically, Atalanta are closer to signing him than you are.

 

Tbf mate, you don't have all that without PL money.

 

How do you know that? What makes it 'ironic'?

 

But they do, so what is your point?

Plus in any case, they had 29k+ average when in the 2nd tier and 22k average when in the 3rd tier. PL money wasn't needed for that.

 

You started your post with "even putting the PL money aside"