Saints bag Bertrand after Morgan meltdown

Article by e-Southampton's Sam Wilkes

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They say never meet your heroes. Mine was Matthew Le Tissier, but when I did meet him he didn’t disappoint!

In Bar Risa on a Thursday night, Malibu and coke in hand, he was every bit the gentleman as he listened to me drunkenly blabber on about how he was my inspiration, how the goal against Arsenal was one of my favourite moments EVER and could I buy him a pint.

He politely refused but signed a cast I had on my hand at the time.

When I started writing for e-Football, these were the players that I wanted to write about. The legends of St Mary’s who won hearts and minds as the Saints moved from League 1 to the Premier League.

These are players that had been with us through thick and thin and were committed to the cause. This was a band of brothers, some of who had been at the club since boyhood.

The names and exploits tripped of the tongue – three English Saints along with Gaston, Lovren, Schneiderlin and Yoshida at the World Cup.

What has happened since is nothing short of heart-breaking.

But you try to stay positive.

Rickie fully deserved his move to his boyhood club and left with the club and the fan’s blessing. Shaw was a very good youngster and we got a great fee for him.

Lallana? Hang on, why do you want to go? You are the club captain and you want to be here for the rest of your career, you even said so when you signed your new contract. Well at least you never play a full game. Hopefully we can sign somebody who has the ability to play for 90 minutes.

And that’s probably your lot. We can rebuild after this.

Dejan? Your head is where??? How did it get there? Have you seen a doctor? Well at least you will remain classy and act like the model professional we signed.

If you’re wanted Champion’s League football you probably chose the wrong club to begin with but at least you can leave with dignity. No? Not even that? Insult the fans and throw a strop. Fine, get lost, we don’t need you.

We can probably move Chambers into central defence anyway. Oh wait, that’s not going to happen now either. What is going on??

Please for the love of Le God, somebody at the club tell us something. Should I bring my boots for the first game of the season? I am probably in slightly better shape than Shaw anyway.

Step forward Chairman Ralph. Despite worries about talk of franchises and overtime, he came across really well. He was assured, calm, almost humorous and gave the fans the reassurances they need.

That is perfect, thank you Ralph. I can rest easy.

Life as a Saints fan is never that easy though. Within minutes, Morgan had enigmatically tweeted like an attention seeking teen; “6 years of an amazing journey #saintsfc DESTROYED in 1 hour!!!”.

In the words John McEnroe is now embarrassingly touting in insurance adverts, “you cannot be serious”.

But this is how I expect the rest of the transfer window to continue. Agents use players to force moves and “bigger” clubs eschewing academies in favour of poaching from those that do.

Is it hard? Yes. Would I like it any other way? Probably but I do know that it is never a dull moment with the South coast’s top club.

On an actual positive note, Pellè especially looks a real talent and Tadić has yet to even get started.

Add to that Champion’s League winner Ryan Bertrand, who has signed on loan from Chelsea with an option to buy, the talk of a “meltdown” is cooling.

It is not time to give up; it is time for new heroes.

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